August 6, 2025 • 43 mins
Labs and Tom talk about the Rookies and hear from Derrick Harmon and Jack Sawyer. Bryant McFadden joins the show
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Iheartradios Live coverage job about twenty twenty five Steelers training camp.
He is presented by Fatx where Now meets Next and
also brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System,
by Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza
and Drafthouse by Tom's Appliances, South Hills Auto, Laurel, Highlands
(00:28):
Visitors Bureau, Wemax, Select Realty, the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop,
and by US Steel Labs.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Something that you have to keep an eye on at
every single training camp across the NFL is how are
your rookies doing? You know, are they seamlessly transitioning to
the NFL game, the NFL lifestyle? Is it a little
bit bumpier for them that you might want it to be?
And I gotta be honest with you, Labs for pretty
much all of the Steelers draft picks, in fact, let's
just lump them all in there. They seem to be
(00:57):
doing a very good job up here at camp.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yes, you know, the the first three picks Derek Harmon
second round pick was DK Metcalf, the next pick was
Caleb Johnson and then Jack Sawyer. All of those players
I think have shown very shown themselves very well up
(01:21):
here at camp.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
You know, I didn't really have my doubts about that
number two pick. Yeah, I feel like he feel like
he was going to do an okay job at camp.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, you know, as they say, he passes the eye test.
But uh, you know, yes, it's a very nice workie class,
it really is. You know, a lot of excitement about
Will Howard. We talked about him, and you know, you
just really don't know how what course that's going to
take now based on the hand injury from yesterday's practice.
(01:52):
Even the seventh round pick, Dante Kent.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Right, Kent, Yes, yes, that's correct.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
You know, he was showing some nice things too. And
you know, last seventh round picks, it's kind of a
crapshoot with those guys. So yeah, another, I think it's
another good draft for Omar Kahn and Andy Widele. And
you know, Derek Harmon, he's a number one pick and
he's the only starter listed on the initial depth chart
(02:23):
of this twenty twenty five season, so certainly he has
lived up the team's expectations to this point.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, and Derek Harmon, you know, first team on the
depth chart, as you mentioned, and we talked about that yesterday.
You know, that doesn't just happen for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
especially at this early point in camp, Labs. I'm a nerd.
I was thinking about the depth chart a little bit yesterday.
I'm not gonna lie to you. And Mike Tomlin likes
to dangle carrots out in front of these guys, right
Like people made such a big deal about Caleb Johnson
(02:53):
being the third string running back. Well, he's getting reps
with the first team and he's getting reps with the
second team, and they're giving him a lot of weighty
carries up at practice. Roman Wilson was another one that
was kind of further down than what his actual participation
is like in practice. And I just think that's a
motivation factor sometimes for Mike Tomlin in these early iterations
of these depth charts. But with Derek Harmon, I mean,
(03:13):
they obviously are super high on his talent or else
you wouldn't take him in the first round, but they
must just think that it has been seamless for him
coming to an NFL camp and taking to the NFL game.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Yeah, I'm defensive line coach Carl Dunbar. I think he
said this right after the pick or during the draft.
Excuse me. You know, he's just we're gonna put him
in with the starters right away. So that's what happened,
and you know, I think it's going to remain to
be seen exactly how those defensive linemen end end up
(03:46):
being configured. You know, different personnel packages, nickel, if they
played dime, if they played big nickel, if they played
regular three four. You know, who are the defensive linemen
out there and where will they be? But Derek Harmon,
I think is you know, he just he shows up.
I mean you see him especially on some eleven on
(04:08):
eleven drills, seven shots, He's got his hands on some things, passes.
I mean, yeah again, I mean there's there's a lot
of things that happened. You know, he's wearing it. All
the defensive players wear gold shirts, and a lot of
times you'll see a gold shirt flash, you know, the
(04:28):
color around the line of scrimmage, and I put my
binoculars on it and a lot of times it's number
ninety nine, which is Derek harm So excited to see him,
you know, take this next step kind of in his
rookie season with these preseason games, but I think the
Steelers got themselves a good one.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Let's hear from Derek Carmon after practice yesterday it looked.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Like on Sunday that eventually there was you, Sunny, works
at Uya and Keanu basically all the young guys. And
at the same time, what's that been like union working
with those in particular as younger guys.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
And this depends on mine KB.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
Like I said, K, this is third year, so you
know he know what it is in this league on
me and Ya Like I said, KB, cam Tz all
have been great vets. It feel good because you see
the future of the D line and see how we
can really compete together at a high level.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
What kind of resources can you have been having been
in your business?
Speaker 6 (05:20):
Ask how years over a very great resource man, always
getting my uh tips and reminders and just tell me
little details on a on a front end and back
end of things. And I take a lot of things
from the older guys, cause, like I said, if we've
been in this world before being in the world a
long time, so I'm trying to pick everybody's bring in
that room.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
Kind uh how of left field question? But growing up,
did you watch a lot of the Steelers defense NFL Like,
what did you kind of know about the identity of Spall?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Yes, sing No, what I've seen is it's a lot
of hard nose football around here. Man, a defense with
some attitude to him. They got to compete at a
high level, man, and you gotta have that little edge
to you to play on this defense. Like you guys
are getting there most defferent Sir Patrick.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Weed said over the weekend you talked about ask him
about like you, it's not just going after the quarter
and that's going to the run, but also keeping the
linebackers clean. He said, it's something that you guys already
were comfortable doing and asking him, here are we doing
this right when you got here?
Speaker 5 (06:09):
What's that been like keeping that as part of your game?
Speaker 8 (06:11):
And how long has that been something that you've alway
keep focusing on.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Just from my defense is been college from Michigan State
to Oregon. I take pride in that run and if
my linebakers is free to shoot that gap and well
I got them two big guys on me, Hey let's
make a play. I feel like that's my play too
because I helped that them to lining up from my
linebander making that play, So it excites me like I
made the tackle too.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Have you have you seen had those normal where you're
you're holding up your guys and all of a sudden
you see the queen or Wilson's flying through those deaths.
Speaker 6 (06:39):
Most definitely, man, if you see all the family these
past few padded practices.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
At Steelers rookie and first round pick this year, Derek
Harmon labs his size really is impressive too. I mean
you noted that you see these flashes and you put
on those binoculars and I'm sure he fills up all
of your binoculars when you look at him. I mean,
it's it's impressive how athletic someone that big can be.
But that's just how the colleges are putting him out
these days.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, Derek Carmon is listed here at you know, six
four three twenty four. I don't want to get in
a way of that, No, you don't. And you know
he is mobile too.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
So it's a little extra scary.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yes, I think it was in remember the Titans. Mobile
Agile and hostile kind of describes Derek Harmon. Yeah, he's
he's everything that the Steelers needed. And by that I
mean from this draft, which was top of the depth
(07:37):
chart talent at defensive line, because you know Larry Ogan
Jobi was old, older, and you know they cut ties
with him. Cam Heyward is thirty six or he's going
to be thirty six. You know, you can't play forever.
And you know, defensive linemen are guys that good ones
(08:00):
top of the depth chart. Defensive linemen are too expensive
and unrestricted free agency.
Speaker 8 (08:06):
So you got him.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You got to draft him and then develop your own
And I think this guy, you know, fits the bill
for what they were looking for, what they need.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
Now.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
It's all of the draft picks that are really impressing
so far, especially their fourth round pick. Jack Sawyer has
certainly made an impact. And it's not just edg Rushing.
We heard from Mike Tomlin in the first hour of
the show Today Labs and he noted his impact on
special teams, and you know, that's something that I don't
want to say. I had doubts of Jack Sawyer being
able to participate at that aspect of the game, but
(08:40):
the dude just didn't do it. At Ohio State Labs,
I mean, he was their star player. He was like
their TJ Watt, So You always have to wonder a
little bit when they get to the NFL how willing
they are to do that.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
But this kid, I think is going to be willing
to do anything.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
If if Mike Tomlin told him to go out there
and hold the ball for the kicker, I think Jack
Sawyer would be willing to do it.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yeah, and Jack Sawyer there is a little bit of
a physical freaqu when it comes to the position. You know,
he's a little bit bigger excuse me than most NFL
edge guys. And you know that because of the way
he carries that weight in the athleticism that comes along
(09:18):
with it, that makes him an asset, maybe even more
than most. In defending the run, he's a big man.
He can hold the point, hold the corner, and you
know we've seen him make some plays in the running
game already. You know, you can't really tell what kind
of a pass rusher he is because you're not allowed
(09:40):
to touch the quarterback or hit the quarterback in practice.
But you know, starting on Saturday night in Jacksonville, we
may get a look at that too. So I think
he's a nice compliment in Nick Krbig. You know, if
you have them both out on the field at the
same time. One guy is more he's large and more
(10:00):
physical maybe and the other guy is smaller and more athletic.
You know, if you have to kind of generalize about them,
and you need for those guys at that position on
this team because certainly, you know, first of all, because
of injuries, and second of all, because the Steelers like
to rotate their edge guys so that they are in
(10:22):
they're fresh, fresher at the point of the game when
critical plays have to be made. So for the Steelers
having four edge guys who are competent players is I
would say mandatory. And I think Jack Sawyer is going
to be one of those and a nice and a
(10:43):
nice part of that quartet.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
He was picked in the fourth round, LABS, would you
consider that, you know, maybe being in the rough if
you were going to use the term of diamond in
the rough or a steal in the draft like that
is getting a little bit later into the draft. You're
on the third day, the first round of the third day.
But when that pick came across and Jack Sawyer became
a Steeler, my eyes kind of lit up even on
draft day and I was like, Wow, surprised that he's
(11:05):
still there to be honest with you, and boy, this
just feels like it fits perfectly.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know that Jack Sawyer would
have translated for a team that wanted to play a
four to three because I don't think he can be
an outside linebacker in a two hundred and sixty pounds
and that might be too light to be a defensive
(11:31):
end four team that wants to play a four to three. So,
you know, from a scheme fit thing, you know, the
Steelers maybe were able to capitalize on the fact that
in terms of his weight and height, he's something of
a tweener in the eyes of a lot of NFL teams.
(11:52):
He's too big for a outside linebacker in a four
to three and he's too small for defensive end in
a four to three. So all those four to three
teams were probably maybe not sure of where Jack Sawyer
might fit in in their particular uh defense, and so
they didn't pick them. And so that's how guys like
that fall.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Jack Sawyer spoke to the media falling practice yesterday. Let's
hear what the rookie out of Ohio State had to say.
Speaker 8 (12:19):
You feel it all.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Connected with Harmon and Black. You guys are all kind
of brought here for the same purpose. Yeah, yeah, I
mean we got we all us three had a great
relationship as well with other guys too, so you know, no, no,
we're the we're the you know, the new guys here
in the new class and came coming in together being
here since rookie OTAs with each other, so we've got
a good chance to develop a friendship and in a
relationship out in the football field as well. We excited
(12:41):
are you take to get into your first NFL game
this weekend? Yeah, super excited. You know it's gonna be uh,
it's gonna be pretty cool. We you know, be able
to put the patch on and get out in the
stadium for the first time as a Steeler, So uh,
you know, we're all really anxious about it, you know,
looking forward to it and preparing as much as we can.
What has been your biggest adjustment check? Yeah, I just
think that, you know, just taking the steps and you know,
learn the way that we do things here and trying
(13:01):
to learn as much as I can from TJ and
those guys, and Nick Kurby has been great, Alex HIGs,
but they've all been super good with with all of
us young guys and helping us, you know, elevate our
growth and continue to take steps in the right direction
every day. What's been like you see it from the
outside and then you interact with them. It's like, is
it weird to have like t J watch showing you
what you're doing. Yeah, No, it's awesome. I mean, you know,
no better guy you'd want to learn from. And he's
(13:23):
been great, you know, good guy off the field too,
So being able to learn from him and see how
he attacks, you know, every day, whether it's on the
field or off the field and recovery, it's been great
for me already.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
What's the biggest thing you learned as on a high
state pluck guy for the competition to.
Speaker 5 (13:37):
Be to be able to perform at this level. Yeah,
I think it's just you know, we always you know,
playing at the highest state, We're playing against you know,
the best in the country weekend and week out, and
obviously in the playoffs, you know, we played for the
best teams in the country four straight weeks. So I
think just going against guys who you know are going
to play at the next level. What you're at now
is prepared us and helped us. What's your thoughts of
Latrobe in the first couple of weeks of camp. Yeah,
(13:57):
I think it's grudifalier. This is awesome. We get to
come to a destination camp and get away and and
just be here focused on ball and it's been fun
and I like the competitiveness to it and uh, you know,
it's been fun. Are the techniques that much different at
this level or is it just going to get some
better people. Well, I mean you're going to get as
better people and there's some different things you know to
learn to help, you know, help your game with this
next level since it's different, but you know, nothing too
(14:18):
nothing too different, but just trying to pick up as
much as I can. I know it's made of TJ
switching sides of the pass but rush. How much does
that help you and some of the other younger pass rushers. Yeah,
I think that, Uh, you know, we're all trying to
be as versatile as we can be, so, you know,
playing both sides of the ball so teams can't game
plan for you know, the best player in the league, Uh,
you know, definitely will help him and obviously helps us too,
(14:39):
give us a chance to you know, rush from a
different side, feel you know, feel the game out from
both sides. So I think it's beneficial to everybody.
Speaker 8 (14:45):
In college.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
Were you primarily one side or did you switch sides rush.
Speaker 8 (14:49):
From different decisions?
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Yeah, I would rush from both sides.
Speaker 7 (14:51):
You know.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Last year I played a lot on the left just
because me and JT just gotten a groove on on
our on the sides we were playing at So uh.
But you know, being able to get here and being
able to play both sides feel come people do them both.
How tough is it to be comfortable doing both? I
mean how different are the moves.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Coming from either side?
Speaker 5 (15:05):
I mean they're the same. It's just you know, working
on the opposite side. You know, you're kind of twisting
and turning on the other side of your body. So
something you've got to get used to in practice. But
it's been going good. Jack, How well do you feel
like you know the playbook? So yeah, I feel good.
I feel confident what I know and knowing the defense
and being able to do my job out there. So
I think for me, just continue to you know, study
it and continue to practice it and and you know,
(15:27):
hopefully by the time game ers run this week, and.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Be ready to roll, specifically in the pass rush departments
and the one on one reps you gets.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
What do you feel like you learned about maybe the
way your game plays at this level in that regard, right, Yeah,
I mean I think that, uh, you know, I think
I'm a versatile player. You know, I think I can
you know, I got a good power and I'm able
to bend as well. And I think that the way
we play a defense allows you to showcase all that
and be able to use you know, every every facet
again of your game that you can use. So I
think it's been good. One thing is showing you a
(15:57):
move or anything that's coming to easy. You do think
he's uh, you know, he's been great with me. So
he's been he's been trying to help me, you know,
you know, refine and retool all my moves and give
me a little trip tips and tricks that he does
when he does certain moves I like to use. And
I'm just trying to pick up everything he tells me,
so trying to be a sponge. Well, kind of what's
kind of your mindset going into this game week?
Speaker 9 (16:16):
What ways are you hoping you see your game kind
of jump in the next couple of days heading into
the game. S.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
Yeah, I'm excited, obviously, super exciting the first time, you know,
first professional game, you know, for all of us, all
of us rookies and first time guys, you know, even
though it's preseason and we're treating as if it's a game,
because first time you get to suit up and run
to play against someone else at this level. So I
hope this is looking for a good week of practice,
prepared as much as we can, you know, keeping your
body and check and doing all the stuff you need
to do so when you get the field, you're ready
(16:40):
to play like one first that you feel like improved. Yeah,
I think I'm trying to improve in all areas. Obviously
we all are, but you know, I think I'm I'm
thinking of just making steps daily in all the right areas. Uh,
he's looking forward and can continue to grow and every
facet of the game, you know, not really just hone
in on one, but but really you know, trying to
work at the whole body of work and get better
at all. Thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Steelers rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer talking to the media after
practice yesterday, A lot of opportunity for him with Alex
high Smith on the mend to make some place here
in these next couple of practices and in the preseason
game in Jacksonville on Saturday. Whenlabs and I come back,
we'll talk a little bit about Roman Wilson, who has
been in pressing and been able to string a couple
of practices together, and we'll hear from Roman himself, and
(17:24):
Labs and I will also talk about if the team
will be in pads or not today. Brian McFadden's going
to join us to end the show as well, So
a lot still to get to on the Training Camp
Report on Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy AM and the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 10 (17:39):
This report is sponsored by Think it Up, Iheartradios Live
(18:06):
coverage job about twenty twenty five Steelers training Camp.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
He's presented by Padex where Now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System, by
Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza and
Drafthouse by Tom's Appliances, South Hill's Auto, Laurel, Highlands Visitors Bureau, Wemax,
Select Realty, the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop, and by US steel.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Tom Off from n and Bob Labriola on the Training
Camp Reports. Going to be joined by former Steeler Brian
McFadden to wrap up the show in our next segment,
so you don't want to miss that, But Labs, before
we welcome Brian onto the show, I wanted to talk
a little bit about Roman Wilson. Calvin Austen not able
to practice yesterday as he's dealing with a little bit
of injury problems. Roman Wilson once again stepped up and
(18:57):
put on a pretty impressive performance. And yes, his practice
and if I'm keeping score at home, which I am,
I think that's now two practices now where he's really
turned some heads.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Yeah, Roman Wilson is I won't say stepping it up
because that might sound like, you know, he hasn't put
being he hasn't been putting forth the effort, and that's
not what I mean. But he is really showing up more,
making more plays. And I think one of the things
(19:27):
you know that may have helped him is in a
recent media availability, Aaron Rodgers was very complimentary of Roman
Wilson and he said, you know, and I'm paraphrasing, he said,
you know what, Roman Wilson needs to get out of
his own head and just play. He said, you know,
he's always worried about is he doing it right? You know,
(19:50):
he's asking me, you know, am I in the right
spot for you? And those things. And he said, you know,
I'm just trying to tell him to play because he's
talented and just you know, go out there. And again
I'm paraphrasing, let the game come to you and let
your natural abilities shine through and come out. So maybe
(20:11):
Roman Wilson is doing that more. I really don't know,
but yesterday he had I think a very good practice.
A few days before that, he made really an NFL
caliber contested catch deep into the end zone on Joey
Porter Junior. And these are the kinds of things that
(20:36):
certainly get the note of the attention of the starting quarterback.
And you know, I think that it will reflect positively
on Roman Wilson's playing time moving forward.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
From a personal standpoint, I have to imagine it was
such a relief for him to get that first padded
practice under his belt this year because that was when
it happened last year. The injury to him was the
first day that they put the pads on in twenty
twenty four camp, you kind of can take a look
at that and get through that practice and he's had
more than a few padded practices now and kind of
check that box right and be like, you know what,
(21:09):
I got a little bit further than I did last year,
even though you didn't get much further. And you noted
something earlier on a training camp report that we did
this camp session that he looked like he really spent
time in the offseason to prep his body to be
able to handle the riggers of the NFL beef up
a little bit. Not to say that you know, he's huge,
but just he looks more NFL in shape now, yes,
(21:30):
And you.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Know that's that's one of the most, if not the
most critical thing for a young player, especially a rookie.
You have to be able to string practices together. From
a physical standpoint, you need to be able not to
be injured or nicked or somehow sidelined, because if you're
(21:52):
on the field, you're repping your you know, working your craft,
going through repetitions with the quarterbacks and your other team.
That's how you get better. I mean, you know we
talked before about mental reps. Mental reps aren't any good
for a guy who hasn't had any real physical reps
at this level. And that's what happened to Roman Wilson
(22:13):
last year. This year, it's the total opposite. He has
not missed an on field session since OTAs began, which
was in May, and that's exactly what he needed. He's
getting a chance to get on the field, improve, get coached,
you know, all of those things he missed out on
(22:35):
last year. And you know, he's starting to show in
my mind what the Steelers saw in him when they
made him a third round pick last not you know,
two aprils ago.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Certainly playing time to be had in that wide receiver room.
So it's good to see Roman Wilson put a good
foot forward here in camp. Let's hear what the young
wide receiver had to say after practice yesterday.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
You make that connection between you and Aaron Rodgers growing today?
How do you play?
Speaker 7 (23:01):
That's going to.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
Developing three camp. I'll just taking a step by step.
Speaker 9 (23:05):
Day by day. I tell myself, you know, don't get
too high, don't get too late, just be consistent and
just keep chicking away. So An you guys like to
say it showed up today, but you know it, just
come back tomorrow and try to repeat it because it's.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
So good to see, you know, actually make some catches
and find that connect you.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
It's one thing to like talk about and go through
it to actually see it from the last time, actually
show up on the coat.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Does that make it feel better?
Speaker 8 (23:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (23:29):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
It seems like you're really food in and of your
breaks at several different levels of your hiles. What exactly
time you've been working on with you to try to
make the things.
Speaker 6 (23:37):
Sharp of it we're talking about right now.
Speaker 9 (23:40):
I get kind of wide in my stance. He wants
me to get more get my feet in front of myself,
which I just need to work on, like edge break
top in a lot of different things coming negative about
my breaks. It's just, you know, it's been a real
blessing working a little cozy.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Do you feel like you're taking big strides out of
here at cool for Is it like a three percent
every day.
Speaker 9 (23:58):
Just getting just take a little day by day?
Speaker 5 (24:01):
How do you feel like you're right, loung was coming
when you line up on the outside.
Speaker 9 (24:05):
It's been good, Like I said, day by day inside
outside wherever I'm winding up at if I say it's good.
It could always get better.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
So just think of day by day earlier in the
camp when you never were missconnections between you and Aaron.
Speaker 9 (24:16):
What's what's the conversations like, because it seems like it's
very hands.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
On in terms of get your blaming things and kind
of walking through. It's been pretty good.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (24:22):
I feel like.
Speaker 9 (24:24):
No matter where you go and you got new guys
coming around, they've been in different things. You know, it's
it takes a second fourth to click and uh, you know,
just keep working on it.
Speaker 5 (24:33):
What happened on the sliding catch that start? Start seven shots?
That's a good way to start practice. Just a little
bit of a scramble drill?
Speaker 9 (24:38):
Oh you throw a good ball, just trying to make
a play.
Speaker 8 (24:41):
Did swing that drill?
Speaker 5 (24:42):
Did you get a hand on it?
Speaker 9 (24:43):
Or heck?
Speaker 7 (24:44):
Was man?
Speaker 9 (24:44):
I'm not either look at a film for that one,
but you guess I would have made about the film.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Feel like it's been like your rival as far as
the colds or who you can go after this with
mostar kid, I don't know.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
You might have to ask someone else.
Speaker 9 (24:55):
I don't feel like I have a rival yet.
Speaker 5 (24:57):
I've got a maybe maybe swam maybe soon when everything clicks.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
How do you feel like your skill set could fit Aaron,
because I mean you did a lot with in breaking
routes in college and cold grout runner underneath.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
How do you take that mess up with some of
the things.
Speaker 8 (25:09):
That Aaron Mortson is looking for?
Speaker 9 (25:11):
Oh, kind of just like what you said, just being
open deep down the field and intermediate down the field,
low process, things like that, you know, just trying to
be open to all the times. You know, I want
him to want to use me and I want to
be that guy.
Speaker 8 (25:22):
So tell me that.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
And one of people have talked about Roger and Bottles
Hall of Fame and Little Howards here Mason's didn't worked
with him last year.
Speaker 8 (25:31):
What you learned about catching passes from Mason? From Mason?
Speaker 9 (25:34):
Yeah, hold on, I learned from Christmass from Mason.
Speaker 8 (25:39):
I mean, he's my His.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
Locker's next to mine.
Speaker 8 (25:42):
You talk a lot of ball talk a lot of film.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
I just like working with him.
Speaker 9 (25:46):
He's just a guy, just like man, just get open.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
I'm gonna feaess you the ball.
Speaker 9 (25:48):
So I just like his trust, his confidence, and I
love playing with him.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Calvin said, lots of YouTube have worked got a really
closely about the past while what's it been like working
with him and howid how does he help you get
better even if not your.
Speaker 9 (26:02):
Last Yeah, I was just talking about this over there,
just going through my injuries, telling me a lot, gave
me a lot of advice, gave me a lot of wisdom,
tell me out on the football field a lot. And
you know, I look up for him. He's like a
big brother and I feel like he's always got the
right answers from me.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
That's there.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Was wide receiver Roman Wilson speaking to the media following
practice yesterday. Excited to see him make some big plays
in training camp, look forward to see him have an
impact in the game on Saturday against Jacksonville. When we
come back, Labs and I are going to be joined
by former Steeler defensive back Bryant McFadden.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
So that's on the way.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
On the training camp report, Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy
AM and the Steelers audio.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Network Iheartradios live coverage about twenty twenty five Steelers training camp.
He's presented by Fadex where Now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light Independence Health System by
Pennsylvania One Call System by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza and
(27:03):
Draft House by Tom's Appliances, South Hills Auto, Laurel Highlands
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Pro Shop, and by US steel.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Tom Out from n and Bob Labriola on the training
camp Report. Please to be joined now by former Steeler
defensive back and two time Super Bowl champion Brian McFadden,
who's hanging around campus today and taking in practice. Bran,
thanks for sitting down with us, man.
Speaker 8 (27:27):
Thank you for having me. Man. It's a pleasure man
to be here.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
So Brant, your first look at this campus was twenty
years ago. Game here, two thousand and five second round
pick out of Florida State. You know, how's it changed.
Speaker 7 (27:42):
It hasn't, It hasn't. The aura is still the same.
It smells the same.
Speaker 8 (27:49):
You know, it's a monumental place.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
You know, La Tropia has birth six championship teams here
going back to the seven to most recently in the
two thousand and eight season for US, So it means
something because this is the foundation of creating a championship
like atmosphere, championship like season. And I love the Pittsburgh
Steel has been holding sight here since the sixties because
(28:15):
it builds a sense of togetherness that's felt throughout the season.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
So you come here in two thousand and five, you're
joining a team that was fifteen and one in two
thousand and four. What were your expectations of yourself as
a rookie and then when you go out here and
then what role did you end up with that first
team you were on.
Speaker 8 (28:35):
Individually speaking, my expectations was.
Speaker 7 (28:37):
Just to show the guys that I belong. That was
very very important for me, just to get that sense
of assurance, like they believe in me. And I wanted
to be a part and I wanted our entire draft
class to be a part of a building block because
to your point in over four, they were the best
team in the National Football League. They didn't win the
Super Bowl, but they were the best team in the
(28:59):
National Football League in fifteen and one. So I wanted
to make sure I was a part of adding to
that and being a part of our draft class.
Speaker 8 (29:06):
That helped.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
And if you look at our draft class, of course
Keith Miller was outstanding. You know, I made opportunities that
was there for me, you know, Trey essence stepped up.
You know, Nate Washington made plays. You know, John Cohn
was a part of it as well. Greg Warren was
our long snapper forever. You know, chris Key moatu Man.
(29:27):
We had quite a few players, you know, Arnold Harrison
was was held on special teams. Andre Frasier, you know,
Ryan Waller. We had a lot of guys that contributed
and throughout that rookie year for us, and it made
us feel very, very like like we actually earned our keep.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
So you mentioned wanting to come here and show that
you belonged. Was there a moment that happened when Matt
dawned on you. Yes, I do belong.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
I'll say in the regular season Cincinnati, when we played
Cincinnati in Cincinnati, and and I was in the lineup
because of an injury, and I was really called upon
to play a lot, and I made quite a few
players that led us beating Cincinnati in Cincinnati, because remember
they came and beat us in hines Field. But that
(30:14):
was the first opportunity during the regular season with like, yeah,
I kind of found my rhythm and God started seeing
like okay, yeah, young kid from Florida State can go.
You know, we can count on him and then that
kind of led to having a real good successful playoff.
Speaker 8 (30:28):
Run, you know for us as well.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
So the rally and cry, I think it's fair to
say in the two thousand and five season was Jerome
Bettis get Jerom to back home to Detroit for the
Super Bowl. I believe Joey Porter, though, was the emotional
leader of that team. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 8 (30:45):
No question? Man Peas was.
Speaker 7 (30:48):
He was a leader on and off the football field.
But he was the guy who didn't mind verbally letting
you know what needs to be done. And I think
every team needs to.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
Have that guy.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
You have different leaders who lead in different ways. Joey
was a guy who led on the football field and
he led in the locker room. And if there was
some things that he didn't see that was operating the
right way, he would speak on it. And we all
respected him. So we all listen and you know, watching
us from afar, Joey would get things going to the
football field. He was a tone setter, you know, doing
(31:18):
pregame warm ups, He's looking for someone to get in
an altercation with for no reason, and we just follow suit. Oh,
Joey's mad at such and so let's get mad at
messof also just a sense of motivation just to be
mad and pissed off and take you to a whole
another place mentally that you need to go. And no question,
Joey is is a great teammate. He's a great dude.
I love Joy from top to bottom man.
Speaker 8 (31:40):
And I'm happy that he's going into the Hall of
Honors this year. Is well deserved.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
So that team needed to win. After the Bengals beat
the Steelers in Pittsburgh, dropped the record is seven and five.
You had to win your last four and get a
little bit of help to get into the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
So that happened.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Sixth seed, So after beating the Bengals, got a little
revenge there in Cincinnati, Uh, go back to Indianapolis to
play the number one seeded Colts because you lost to
them in November on that Monday night game that was
that it was an ugly score twenty six to seven.
(32:22):
Did it feel ugly for you guys as players too?
Speaker 7 (32:25):
And it felt like it was that game was five
hours long? How long that game happened that Monday night
at RCA Dome. And I remember when we lost that
game and me and the guys talked about this last night.
Bill Coward told us in the locker room when we
got embarrassed on national.
Speaker 8 (32:38):
TV, don't worry. We will be in this same locker
room in January playoff time. That's what he said.
Speaker 7 (32:46):
And none of us second guest what he said. We
all believed it even though we got embarrassed. And coach
said that town.
Speaker 8 (32:53):
Was a great team. Right there were ten and er
I think that coach team in five was.
Speaker 7 (32:56):
Actually better than the coach team that won the Super
Bowl when you look at their number. Yes, when they
beat Chicago. I think that five team was better than
the team actually won the Super Bowl. But we felt
like we would get back to that point and we
felt like we would beat them, and it happened.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
So okay, So now we're at we're back in the
RCA dumb for the Divisional round game against the Colts.
The rallying cry, fumble the ball down at the goal
line as part of that defense. You were on the sideline,
What did you see? What did you feel as.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
That was happening?
Speaker 7 (33:30):
Yo, we were We were so fired up that we
were going to win the game because when Jerome came
in office, got the ball we were like, we're going
to touchdown. Jerome was going to steal it. So we
were actually watching the game. We were literally facing the
fans that were heckling, heckling us the entire game. Now
we're talking trash to them. So just imagine this is
the field. We're looking back this way. We're talking crazy
(33:50):
to them, cussing them out, not paying attention because we're like,
we're going to score.
Speaker 8 (33:53):
It's JB.
Speaker 7 (33:54):
And then we just saw them cheering, so we're like,
why they cheering a touchdown? Then we look back we
saw Nick Harper running with the football. So now we
go from how did he get the ball? Why is
he running?
Speaker 9 (34:06):
What?
Speaker 8 (34:07):
What happened? So we went into a state of shop.
Speaker 7 (34:10):
Ben made the miracle, like the immaculate tackle, right, we
got the immaculate reception.
Speaker 8 (34:16):
Let's call that the immaculate tackle. And we're like, oh shoot.
Speaker 7 (34:19):
So now we run in the football field and coach
lebou was kind of stunned, and I remember James Ferry
was like, Diggy, give us a call.
Speaker 8 (34:26):
We're in the hull a waiting for a call.
Speaker 7 (34:28):
They get a defensive call, and coach Leabo was kind
of like stun He finally gave a call and I
remember I'm in the huder.
Speaker 8 (34:33):
I said, oh shoot, I know he coming. He's coming
my way.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
Rookie.
Speaker 7 (34:39):
I'm like, please, Peyton, throw the ike side. Please just
throw the ike side the entire game. That's the tire drive.
The first play, he threw the ike to Marvin. The
next play he came to me and I'm like, oh,
Reggie called an en route. I made the tackle.
Speaker 8 (34:52):
I'm like, oh shoot. And I just didn't want to
let the team down. I didn't.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
I didn't want to let the team down because I
felt that much about them. I didn't want to be
the reason why we didn't advance. And everything went solid
those two places.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
Yeah, no, I'm gonna I'm gonna give you a little
props here. Thirty one seconds left, second and two from
the Steelers twenty eight yard line. Peyton man came at
you again with Reggie Wayne. They're looking to get closer
for that field goal or they still score a touchdown.
You broke up that pass to Reggie Wayne. Take me
(35:25):
through that play.
Speaker 8 (35:26):
We were in a fire zone.
Speaker 7 (35:28):
And I know some people always assume fire zone Pittsburgh's
zone for the corners.
Speaker 8 (35:33):
It's basically manded man, and I remember Chris Hope. He came.
He was on my side.
Speaker 7 (35:38):
I think it was Sea Hope, and he wasn't disguising
our courage. I'm like, Hope, he gonna know we and
Manda Man, so hold your courbage. But Hope is locked
in not listening to me, and I'm like, it's like
one on one drills. I don't have no safety help
and I said, I know he's coming my way. So
in fire zone concepts, we were supposed to man turn
(35:58):
because we're playing man turned to the wide receiver. But
for some reason, I zone turned it, which I turned
to Peyton and it actually helped me because I saw
the ball leave peyton hands instantly and I was able
to kind of locate the football and find it. But Reggie,
if you look at the play, he still was trying
to catch it. Even though I broke it up the
first time, he was still trying to make an effort to.
Speaker 8 (36:18):
Catch the football.
Speaker 7 (36:19):
And that's why I kept fighting til we hit the
ground and I realized the ball came out.
Speaker 8 (36:23):
And in that play everything was slow motion. I didn't
hear nothing.
Speaker 7 (36:27):
I didn't come back down to real time, real noise,
until we both hit the ground and I finally breathed.
Speaker 8 (36:34):
It was like I was holding my breath the entire time.
Got up, I breathed. I hear the crowd cheering for us,
the crowd, you know, not cheering for the coach.
Speaker 7 (36:42):
I mean, in terms of thought, it was a pi
And the next play, I said, Oh, he's coming back again,
and I'm like, man, I think he's trying to win
the game, because they were already in field goal right
to your point. It was almost like you're trying to
win it, but they were in some communication era. It
was a hitch and go to the next play and
I zone turned again. I saw the ball come up
and I almost make that play, and I'm like, I
had an opportunity to be really really the hero, and
(37:06):
you know, you missed the field goal. And I didn't
know how big that play was, honestly until later on,
when people are like, man, if you don't make that play,
we don't go to the super Bowl if you don't
make that play. Jerome doesn't finish his career with a championship.
Bill Kayer, who eventually retired a year and two years
down the line, he doesn't go into the Hall of
(37:27):
Fame with the championship. If you don't make that play,
we can't get the fifth. That led to us being
the first organization to get six championship. So just the
domino effect. And at the time, I just I just
didn't want to let the guys down. But everyone, to
your point, was saying that, you know, that's something that
will always go down and steal a history.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
So okay, you were also a part of what I
think is the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history,
James Harrison's picked six against the Cardinals in Tampa. Okay,
take me through that one you were on the field,
then take me through the whole thing.
Speaker 7 (38:03):
James wasn't supposed to be where he was, and James
always was a fairly disciplined player, but for some reason
he was undisciplined. And that's the thing about great players.
Even when they're not where they're supposed to be, good
things usually happen. That's why James is who he is,
and I think he should get into the Hall of
Fame as well. But James was supposed to blitz and
(38:24):
if you look at the concept, it was a pick route.
It was gonna cause ike and the shade to run
into each other, and usually those players are very, very
successful because most defenses in that area of the football field,
they're paying man the man, and that's what they anticipated.
Speaker 8 (38:36):
And even with me talking to Kurt after the fact, just.
Speaker 7 (38:39):
Having discussions with him about that play, he said, I
knew James was blitzing. I knew James Harrison was blitzing.
I knew exactly where to go to football, so I
knew he was blitzed. I knew exactly who was gonna
be wide open. The play was gonna be wide open,
and he said James wasn't supposed to be. That's why
the ball hit him get in the chest because James
first two steps was forward like he was coming, and
then all of a sudden he dropped back into his credit,
(39:00):
James tells this story all the time. He knew he
wasn't gonna get there, so I don't If I know
I can't get there, I might as well try to
help him courage, which he did.
Speaker 8 (39:09):
And when he caught the football.
Speaker 7 (39:10):
That was one thing because we took points off the board,
But just the ability to go.
Speaker 8 (39:15):
The length of the football field.
Speaker 7 (39:18):
And score and put points on the scoreboard is one
of the main reasons why we won that Super Bowl
because they had momentum. Orst case scenario, they kicked three points,
get get three points, and they get the ball out
of halftime.
Speaker 8 (39:30):
That was the thing. They were getting the ball after half,
and you know.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
How it is.
Speaker 8 (39:33):
You steal a possession, get another possession the third court.
That's great.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
So instead of them first case scenario are getting three points,
they get nothing and we get seven, all because of James'
ability to get there.
Speaker 8 (39:44):
Not to mention the guy's blocking for him.
Speaker 3 (39:46):
That's talk to me about that.
Speaker 7 (39:48):
That was special because the weekend ten for leading up
to the game, we were catching interceptions in practice and
we weren't returning to football, and I remember Dick Leboll
and Mike Thoma emphasize and were highlighting, this is not
gonna win this ball game.
Speaker 8 (40:00):
We want you guys to practice like it's Sunday. When
you catch an interception, go find somebody to block. If
you don't have the football, and whoever has the football,
go score.
Speaker 7 (40:09):
So that every other day after that, whenever we call
interceptions in practice, we were turning the length of the
football field. And that same picture that you saw during
James Harrison's return was what we were showing the week
of practices. That's why good coaching is so important. That's
why it felt because they saw something that we didn't
think was a big deal. We're like, man, we wouldn't
do this in a game, but we're just doing it now.
(40:31):
We don't feel like running length. No, if you're gonna
do this in a game practice, how are you going
to play in the game, Which led to that because
if those coach let Boll and Mike Toman don't high
like that, we don't know if James Harrison scored.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Where were you though on that play?
Speaker 7 (40:45):
Well, actually was I was on the sideline that on
that particular play. Will Gabe was on the opposite side,
So the three corners was the shade and and Will
and I was literally standing right by a coach lebowl
vanished point from the sideline. But I knew the play
call and I knew exactly what was going to happen.
And you know, from my view because we repped it,
(41:06):
we like the pick route was coming, It's gonna be
hard to defend, but we were just hoping that maybe
the pressure could get there to make it a difficult throw.
No one thought James was gonna do what James did.
Speaker 10 (41:18):
So.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
Post post football and we'll get you out of here
on this. We only got about a minute left. You're
you're you should be interviewing me. I mean, you have
yourself a little media business kind of thing going.
Speaker 8 (41:34):
Man. It's a pleasure. Man. I've been a football analyst
for CBS now for some years.
Speaker 7 (41:38):
I covered college football Saturday, NFL Sunday, Monday and Thursday.
Speaker 8 (41:42):
I love it. It keeps me connected. Man.
Speaker 7 (41:44):
I've been on a training camp tour. Of course, I'm
here today covering training camp, you know, for the Steelers.
But last week I was the Rams, the Chargers, the Cowboys,
the Raiders. Monday I was with the Falcons.
Speaker 8 (41:56):
Uh. So it's it's it's a it's a dope experience, man.
Speaker 7 (41:59):
I get a chance to talk about Baul and because
of my energy, my enthusiasm, it's not a boring day
in my life.
Speaker 8 (42:06):
I love it, man. I get a chance to have
share moments with you.
Speaker 7 (42:09):
People are listening to me who I don't know, and
I love giving them the experiences that I've had because
it's been a blessing of a life that God has
blessed me with. And he continues to bless me to
do everything that I've been able to do. In the
words of the great Dick Larbo is a great day
to be alive. Sometimes we forget it, but it is
so why don't we take advantage of it right? Treat
every day like it's a game seven, like there's no tomorrow.
If you do that, you're gonna win.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
Brian, thanks so much, man, this was awesome stuff. It
was great walking down memory lane with you. Enjoy your
time at Stealers practice today.
Speaker 8 (42:38):
Man, Thank you for having me. Anytime you guys need me,
just phone a friend. I'm here.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
That's Brian McFadden. Great talking to him. Two times Super
Bowl champion with your Pittsburgh Steelers. That's gonna do it
for labs and me today. We will be back tomorrow.
I will be back tomorrow at noon. We will hear
coach Tomlin's press conference before the preseason game against Jacksonville,
and we'll update you on what happened at practice today,
which is getting underway in just about a minute from now.
We got west Eeler Matt Williamson next with the Drive
(43:04):
on Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy am and the Steelers
Audio network
Iheartradios Live coverage job about twenty twenty five Steelers training camp.
He is presented by Fatx where Now meets Next and
also brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System,
by Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza
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(00:28):
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and by US Steel Labs.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Something that you have to keep an eye on at
every single training camp across the NFL is how are
your rookies doing? You know, are they seamlessly transitioning to
the NFL game, the NFL lifestyle? Is it a little
bit bumpier for them that you might want it to be?
And I gotta be honest with you, Labs for pretty
much all of the Steelers draft picks, in fact, let's
just lump them all in there. They seem to be
(00:57):
doing a very good job up here at camp.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Yes, you know, the the first three picks Derek Harmon
second round pick was DK Metcalf, the next pick was
Caleb Johnson and then Jack Sawyer. All of those players
I think have shown very shown themselves very well up
(01:21):
here at camp.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
You know, I didn't really have my doubts about that
number two pick. Yeah, I feel like he feel like
he was going to do an okay job at camp.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, you know, as they say, he passes the eye test.
But uh, you know, yes, it's a very nice workie class,
it really is. You know, a lot of excitement about
Will Howard. We talked about him, and you know, you
just really don't know how what course that's going to
take now based on the hand injury from yesterday's practice.
(01:52):
Even the seventh round pick, Dante Kent.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Right, Kent, Yes, yes, that's correct.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
You know, he was showing some nice things too. And
you know, last seventh round picks, it's kind of a
crapshoot with those guys. So yeah, another, I think it's
another good draft for Omar Kahn and Andy Widele. And
you know, Derek Harmon, he's a number one pick and
he's the only starter listed on the initial depth chart
(02:23):
of this twenty twenty five season, so certainly he has
lived up the team's expectations to this point.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, and Derek Harmon, you know, first team on the
depth chart, as you mentioned, and we talked about that yesterday.
You know, that doesn't just happen for the Pittsburgh Steelers,
especially at this early point in camp, Labs. I'm a nerd.
I was thinking about the depth chart a little bit yesterday.
I'm not gonna lie to you. And Mike Tomlin likes
to dangle carrots out in front of these guys, right
Like people made such a big deal about Caleb Johnson
(02:53):
being the third string running back. Well, he's getting reps
with the first team and he's getting reps with the
second team, and they're giving him a lot of weighty
carries up at practice. Roman Wilson was another one that
was kind of further down than what his actual participation
is like in practice. And I just think that's a
motivation factor sometimes for Mike Tomlin in these early iterations
of these depth charts. But with Derek Harmon, I mean,
(03:13):
they obviously are super high on his talent or else
you wouldn't take him in the first round, but they
must just think that it has been seamless for him
coming to an NFL camp and taking to the NFL game.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Yeah, I'm defensive line coach Carl Dunbar. I think he
said this right after the pick or during the draft.
Excuse me. You know, he's just we're gonna put him
in with the starters right away. So that's what happened,
and you know, I think it's going to remain to
be seen exactly how those defensive linemen end end up
(03:46):
being configured. You know, different personnel packages, nickel, if they
played dime, if they played big nickel, if they played
regular three four. You know, who are the defensive linemen
out there and where will they be? But Derek Harmon,
I think is you know, he just he shows up.
I mean you see him especially on some eleven on
(04:08):
eleven drills, seven shots, He's got his hands on some things, passes.
I mean, yeah again, I mean there's there's a lot
of things that happened. You know, he's wearing it. All
the defensive players wear gold shirts, and a lot of
times you'll see a gold shirt flash, you know, the
(04:28):
color around the line of scrimmage, and I put my
binoculars on it and a lot of times it's number
ninety nine, which is Derek harm So excited to see him,
you know, take this next step kind of in his
rookie season with these preseason games, but I think the
Steelers got themselves a good one.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Let's hear from Derek Carmon after practice yesterday it looked.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Like on Sunday that eventually there was you, Sunny, works
at Uya and Keanu basically all the young guys. And
at the same time, what's that been like union working
with those in particular as younger guys.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
And this depends on mine KB.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
Like I said, K, this is third year, so you
know he know what it is in this league on
me and Ya Like I said, KB, cam Tz all
have been great vets. It feel good because you see
the future of the D line and see how we
can really compete together at a high level.
Speaker 7 (05:17):
What kind of resources can you have been having been
in your business?
Speaker 6 (05:20):
Ask how years over a very great resource man, always
getting my uh tips and reminders and just tell me
little details on a on a front end and back
end of things. And I take a lot of things
from the older guys, cause, like I said, if we've
been in this world before being in the world a
long time, so I'm trying to pick everybody's bring in
that room.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
Kind uh how of left field question? But growing up,
did you watch a lot of the Steelers defense NFL Like,
what did you kind of know about the identity of Spall?
Speaker 6 (05:44):
Yes, sing No, what I've seen is it's a lot
of hard nose football around here. Man, a defense with
some attitude to him. They got to compete at a
high level, man, and you gotta have that little edge
to you to play on this defense. Like you guys
are getting there most defferent Sir Patrick.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Weed said over the weekend you talked about ask him
about like you, it's not just going after the quarter
and that's going to the run, but also keeping the
linebackers clean. He said, it's something that you guys already
were comfortable doing and asking him, here are we doing
this right when you got here?
Speaker 5 (06:09):
What's that been like keeping that as part of your game?
Speaker 8 (06:11):
And how long has that been something that you've alway
keep focusing on.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Just from my defense is been college from Michigan State
to Oregon. I take pride in that run and if
my linebakers is free to shoot that gap and well
I got them two big guys on me, Hey let's
make a play. I feel like that's my play too
because I helped that them to lining up from my
linebander making that play, So it excites me like I
made the tackle too.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Have you have you seen had those normal where you're
you're holding up your guys and all of a sudden
you see the queen or Wilson's flying through those deaths.
Speaker 6 (06:39):
Most definitely, man, if you see all the family these
past few padded practices.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
At Steelers rookie and first round pick this year, Derek
Harmon labs his size really is impressive too. I mean
you noted that you see these flashes and you put
on those binoculars and I'm sure he fills up all
of your binoculars when you look at him. I mean,
it's it's impressive how athletic someone that big can be.
But that's just how the colleges are putting him out
these days.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, Derek Carmon is listed here at you know, six
four three twenty four. I don't want to get in
a way of that, No, you don't. And you know
he is mobile too.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
So it's a little extra scary.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yes, I think it was in remember the Titans. Mobile
Agile and hostile kind of describes Derek Harmon. Yeah, he's
he's everything that the Steelers needed. And by that I
mean from this draft, which was top of the depth
(07:37):
chart talent at defensive line, because you know Larry Ogan
Jobi was old, older, and you know they cut ties
with him. Cam Heyward is thirty six or he's going
to be thirty six. You know, you can't play forever.
And you know, defensive linemen are guys that good ones
(08:00):
top of the depth chart. Defensive linemen are too expensive
and unrestricted free agency.
Speaker 8 (08:06):
So you got him.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You got to draft him and then develop your own
And I think this guy, you know, fits the bill
for what they were looking for, what they need.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
Now.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
It's all of the draft picks that are really impressing
so far, especially their fourth round pick. Jack Sawyer has
certainly made an impact. And it's not just edg Rushing.
We heard from Mike Tomlin in the first hour of
the show Today Labs and he noted his impact on
special teams, and you know, that's something that I don't
want to say. I had doubts of Jack Sawyer being
able to participate at that aspect of the game, but
(08:40):
the dude just didn't do it. At Ohio State Labs,
I mean, he was their star player. He was like
their TJ Watt, So You always have to wonder a
little bit when they get to the NFL how willing
they are to do that.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
But this kid, I think is going to be willing
to do anything.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
If if Mike Tomlin told him to go out there
and hold the ball for the kicker, I think Jack
Sawyer would be willing to do it.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Yeah, and Jack Sawyer there is a little bit of
a physical freaqu when it comes to the position. You know,
he's a little bit bigger excuse me than most NFL
edge guys. And you know that because of the way
he carries that weight in the athleticism that comes along
(09:18):
with it, that makes him an asset, maybe even more
than most. In defending the run, he's a big man.
He can hold the point, hold the corner, and you
know we've seen him make some plays in the running
game already. You know, you can't really tell what kind
of a pass rusher he is because you're not allowed
(09:40):
to touch the quarterback or hit the quarterback in practice.
But you know, starting on Saturday night in Jacksonville, we
may get a look at that too. So I think
he's a nice compliment in Nick Krbig. You know, if
you have them both out on the field at the
same time. One guy is more he's large and more
(10:00):
physical maybe and the other guy is smaller and more athletic.
You know, if you have to kind of generalize about them,
and you need for those guys at that position on
this team because certainly, you know, first of all, because
of injuries, and second of all, because the Steelers like
to rotate their edge guys so that they are in
(10:22):
they're fresh, fresher at the point of the game when
critical plays have to be made. So for the Steelers
having four edge guys who are competent players is I
would say mandatory. And I think Jack Sawyer is going
to be one of those and a nice and a
(10:43):
nice part of that quartet.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
He was picked in the fourth round, LABS, would you
consider that, you know, maybe being in the rough if
you were going to use the term of diamond in
the rough or a steal in the draft like that
is getting a little bit later into the draft. You're
on the third day, the first round of the third day.
But when that pick came across and Jack Sawyer became
a Steeler, my eyes kind of lit up even on
draft day and I was like, Wow, surprised that he's
(11:05):
still there to be honest with you, and boy, this
just feels like it fits perfectly.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
Yeah, I mean, I don't know that Jack Sawyer would
have translated for a team that wanted to play a
four to three because I don't think he can be
an outside linebacker in a two hundred and sixty pounds
and that might be too light to be a defensive
(11:31):
end four team that wants to play a four to three. So,
you know, from a scheme fit thing, you know, the
Steelers maybe were able to capitalize on the fact that
in terms of his weight and height, he's something of
a tweener in the eyes of a lot of NFL teams.
(11:52):
He's too big for a outside linebacker in a four
to three and he's too small for defensive end in
a four to three. So all those four to three
teams were probably maybe not sure of where Jack Sawyer
might fit in in their particular uh defense, and so
they didn't pick them. And so that's how guys like
that fall.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Jack Sawyer spoke to the media falling practice yesterday. Let's
hear what the rookie out of Ohio State had to say.
Speaker 8 (12:19):
You feel it all.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Connected with Harmon and Black. You guys are all kind
of brought here for the same purpose. Yeah, yeah, I
mean we got we all us three had a great
relationship as well with other guys too, so you know, no, no,
we're the we're the you know, the new guys here
in the new class and came coming in together being
here since rookie OTAs with each other, so we've got
a good chance to develop a friendship and in a
relationship out in the football field as well. We excited
(12:41):
are you take to get into your first NFL game
this weekend? Yeah, super excited. You know it's gonna be uh,
it's gonna be pretty cool. We you know, be able
to put the patch on and get out in the
stadium for the first time as a Steeler, So uh,
you know, we're all really anxious about it, you know,
looking forward to it and preparing as much as we can.
What has been your biggest adjustment check? Yeah, I just
think that, you know, just taking the steps and you know,
learn the way that we do things here and trying
(13:01):
to learn as much as I can from TJ and
those guys, and Nick Kurby has been great, Alex HIGs,
but they've all been super good with with all of
us young guys and helping us, you know, elevate our
growth and continue to take steps in the right direction
every day. What's been like you see it from the
outside and then you interact with them. It's like, is
it weird to have like t J watch showing you
what you're doing. Yeah, No, it's awesome. I mean, you know,
no better guy you'd want to learn from. And he's
(13:23):
been great, you know, good guy off the field too,
So being able to learn from him and see how
he attacks, you know, every day, whether it's on the
field or off the field and recovery, it's been great
for me already.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
What's the biggest thing you learned as on a high
state pluck guy for the competition to.
Speaker 5 (13:37):
Be to be able to perform at this level. Yeah,
I think it's just you know, we always you know,
playing at the highest state, We're playing against you know,
the best in the country weekend and week out, and
obviously in the playoffs, you know, we played for the
best teams in the country four straight weeks. So I
think just going against guys who you know are going
to play at the next level. What you're at now
is prepared us and helped us. What's your thoughts of
Latrobe in the first couple of weeks of camp. Yeah,
(13:57):
I think it's grudifalier. This is awesome. We get to
come to a destination camp and get away and and
just be here focused on ball and it's been fun
and I like the competitiveness to it and uh, you know,
it's been fun. Are the techniques that much different at
this level or is it just going to get some
better people. Well, I mean you're going to get as
better people and there's some different things you know to
learn to help, you know, help your game with this
next level since it's different, but you know, nothing too
(14:18):
nothing too different, but just trying to pick up as
much as I can. I know it's made of TJ
switching sides of the pass but rush. How much does
that help you and some of the other younger pass rushers. Yeah,
I think that, Uh, you know, we're all trying to
be as versatile as we can be, so, you know,
playing both sides of the ball so teams can't game
plan for you know, the best player in the league, Uh,
you know, definitely will help him and obviously helps us too,
(14:39):
give us a chance to you know, rush from a
different side, feel you know, feel the game out from
both sides. So I think it's beneficial to everybody.
Speaker 8 (14:45):
In college.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
Were you primarily one side or did you switch sides rush.
Speaker 8 (14:49):
From different decisions?
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Yeah, I would rush from both sides.
Speaker 7 (14:51):
You know.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Last year I played a lot on the left just
because me and JT just gotten a groove on on
our on the sides we were playing at So uh.
But you know, being able to get here and being
able to play both sides feel come people do them both.
How tough is it to be comfortable doing both? I
mean how different are the moves.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Coming from either side?
Speaker 5 (15:05):
I mean they're the same. It's just you know, working
on the opposite side. You know, you're kind of twisting
and turning on the other side of your body. So
something you've got to get used to in practice. But
it's been going good. Jack, How well do you feel
like you know the playbook? So yeah, I feel good.
I feel confident what I know and knowing the defense
and being able to do my job out there. So
I think for me, just continue to you know, study
it and continue to practice it and and you know,
(15:27):
hopefully by the time game ers run this week, and.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Be ready to roll, specifically in the pass rush departments
and the one on one reps you gets.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
What do you feel like you learned about maybe the
way your game plays at this level in that regard, right, Yeah,
I mean I think that, uh, you know, I think
I'm a versatile player. You know, I think I can
you know, I got a good power and I'm able
to bend as well. And I think that the way
we play a defense allows you to showcase all that
and be able to use you know, every every facet
again of your game that you can use. So I
think it's been good. One thing is showing you a
(15:57):
move or anything that's coming to easy. You do think
he's uh, you know, he's been great with me. So
he's been he's been trying to help me, you know,
you know, refine and retool all my moves and give
me a little trip tips and tricks that he does
when he does certain moves I like to use. And
I'm just trying to pick up everything he tells me,
so trying to be a sponge. Well, kind of what's
kind of your mindset going into this game week?
Speaker 9 (16:16):
What ways are you hoping you see your game kind
of jump in the next couple of days heading into
the game. S.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
Yeah, I'm excited, obviously, super exciting the first time, you know,
first professional game, you know, for all of us, all
of us rookies and first time guys, you know, even
though it's preseason and we're treating as if it's a game,
because first time you get to suit up and run
to play against someone else at this level. So I
hope this is looking for a good week of practice,
prepared as much as we can, you know, keeping your
body and check and doing all the stuff you need
to do so when you get the field, you're ready
(16:40):
to play like one first that you feel like improved. Yeah,
I think I'm trying to improve in all areas. Obviously
we all are, but you know, I think I'm I'm
thinking of just making steps daily in all the right areas. Uh,
he's looking forward and can continue to grow and every
facet of the game, you know, not really just hone
in on one, but but really you know, trying to
work at the whole body of work and get better
at all. Thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Steelers rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer talking to the media after
practice yesterday, A lot of opportunity for him with Alex
high Smith on the mend to make some place here
in these next couple of practices and in the preseason
game in Jacksonville on Saturday. Whenlabs and I come back,
we'll talk a little bit about Roman Wilson, who has
been in pressing and been able to string a couple
of practices together, and we'll hear from Roman himself, and
(17:24):
Labs and I will also talk about if the team
will be in pads or not today. Brian McFadden's going
to join us to end the show as well, So
a lot still to get to on the Training Camp
Report on Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy AM and the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 10 (17:39):
This report is sponsored by Think it Up, Iheartradios Live
(18:06):
coverage job about twenty twenty five Steelers training Camp.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
He's presented by Padex where Now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light, Independence Health System, by
Pennsylvania One Call System, by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza and
Drafthouse by Tom's Appliances, South Hill's Auto, Laurel, Highlands Visitors Bureau, Wemax,
Select Realty, the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Shop, and by US steel.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Tom Off from n and Bob Labriola on the Training
Camp Reports. Going to be joined by former Steeler Brian
McFadden to wrap up the show in our next segment,
so you don't want to miss that, But Labs, before
we welcome Brian onto the show, I wanted to talk
a little bit about Roman Wilson. Calvin Austen not able
to practice yesterday as he's dealing with a little bit
of injury problems. Roman Wilson once again stepped up and
(18:57):
put on a pretty impressive performance. And yes, his practice
and if I'm keeping score at home, which I am,
I think that's now two practices now where he's really
turned some heads.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Yeah, Roman Wilson is I won't say stepping it up
because that might sound like, you know, he hasn't put
being he hasn't been putting forth the effort, and that's
not what I mean. But he is really showing up more,
making more plays. And I think one of the things
(19:27):
you know that may have helped him is in a
recent media availability, Aaron Rodgers was very complimentary of Roman
Wilson and he said, you know, and I'm paraphrasing, he said,
you know what, Roman Wilson needs to get out of
his own head and just play. He said, you know,
he's always worried about is he doing it right? You know,
(19:50):
he's asking me, you know, am I in the right
spot for you? And those things. And he said, you know,
I'm just trying to tell him to play because he's
talented and just you know, go out there. And again
I'm paraphrasing, let the game come to you and let
your natural abilities shine through and come out. So maybe
(20:11):
Roman Wilson is doing that more. I really don't know,
but yesterday he had I think a very good practice.
A few days before that, he made really an NFL
caliber contested catch deep into the end zone on Joey
Porter Junior. And these are the kinds of things that
(20:36):
certainly get the note of the attention of the starting quarterback.
And you know, I think that it will reflect positively
on Roman Wilson's playing time moving forward.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
From a personal standpoint, I have to imagine it was
such a relief for him to get that first padded
practice under his belt this year because that was when
it happened last year. The injury to him was the
first day that they put the pads on in twenty
twenty four camp, you kind of can take a look
at that and get through that practice and he's had
more than a few padded practices now and kind of
check that box right and be like, you know what,
(21:09):
I got a little bit further than I did last year,
even though you didn't get much further. And you noted
something earlier on a training camp report that we did
this camp session that he looked like he really spent
time in the offseason to prep his body to be
able to handle the riggers of the NFL beef up
a little bit. Not to say that you know, he's huge,
but just he looks more NFL in shape now, yes,
(21:30):
And you.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
Know that's that's one of the most, if not the
most critical thing for a young player, especially a rookie.
You have to be able to string practices together. From
a physical standpoint, you need to be able not to
be injured or nicked or somehow sidelined, because if you're
(21:52):
on the field, you're repping your you know, working your craft,
going through repetitions with the quarterbacks and your other team.
That's how you get better. I mean, you know we
talked before about mental reps. Mental reps aren't any good
for a guy who hasn't had any real physical reps
at this level. And that's what happened to Roman Wilson
(22:13):
last year. This year, it's the total opposite. He has
not missed an on field session since OTAs began, which
was in May, and that's exactly what he needed. He's
getting a chance to get on the field, improve, get coached,
you know, all of those things he missed out on
(22:35):
last year. And you know, he's starting to show in
my mind what the Steelers saw in him when they
made him a third round pick last not you know,
two aprils ago.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
Certainly playing time to be had in that wide receiver room.
So it's good to see Roman Wilson put a good
foot forward here in camp. Let's hear what the young
wide receiver had to say after practice yesterday.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
You make that connection between you and Aaron Rodgers growing today?
How do you play?
Speaker 7 (23:01):
That's going to.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
Developing three camp. I'll just taking a step by step.
Speaker 9 (23:05):
Day by day. I tell myself, you know, don't get
too high, don't get too late, just be consistent and
just keep chicking away. So An you guys like to
say it showed up today, but you know it, just
come back tomorrow and try to repeat it because it's.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
So good to see, you know, actually make some catches
and find that connect you.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
It's one thing to like talk about and go through
it to actually see it from the last time, actually
show up on the coat.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Does that make it feel better?
Speaker 8 (23:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (23:29):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
It seems like you're really food in and of your
breaks at several different levels of your hiles. What exactly
time you've been working on with you to try to
make the things.
Speaker 6 (23:37):
Sharp of it we're talking about right now.
Speaker 9 (23:40):
I get kind of wide in my stance. He wants
me to get more get my feet in front of myself,
which I just need to work on, like edge break
top in a lot of different things coming negative about
my breaks. It's just, you know, it's been a real
blessing working a little cozy.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Do you feel like you're taking big strides out of
here at cool for Is it like a three percent
every day.
Speaker 9 (23:58):
Just getting just take a little day by day?
Speaker 5 (24:01):
How do you feel like you're right, loung was coming
when you line up on the outside.
Speaker 9 (24:05):
It's been good, Like I said, day by day inside
outside wherever I'm winding up at if I say it's good.
It could always get better.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
So just think of day by day earlier in the
camp when you never were missconnections between you and Aaron.
Speaker 9 (24:16):
What's what's the conversations like, because it seems like it's
very hands.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
On in terms of get your blaming things and kind
of walking through. It's been pretty good.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (24:22):
I feel like.
Speaker 9 (24:24):
No matter where you go and you got new guys
coming around, they've been in different things. You know, it's
it takes a second fourth to click and uh, you know,
just keep working on it.
Speaker 5 (24:33):
What happened on the sliding catch that start? Start seven shots?
That's a good way to start practice. Just a little
bit of a scramble drill?
Speaker 9 (24:38):
Oh you throw a good ball, just trying to make
a play.
Speaker 8 (24:41):
Did swing that drill?
Speaker 5 (24:42):
Did you get a hand on it?
Speaker 9 (24:43):
Or heck?
Speaker 7 (24:44):
Was man?
Speaker 9 (24:44):
I'm not either look at a film for that one,
but you guess I would have made about the film.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Feel like it's been like your rival as far as
the colds or who you can go after this with
mostar kid, I don't know.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
You might have to ask someone else.
Speaker 9 (24:55):
I don't feel like I have a rival yet.
Speaker 5 (24:57):
I've got a maybe maybe swam maybe soon when everything clicks.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
How do you feel like your skill set could fit Aaron,
because I mean you did a lot with in breaking
routes in college and cold grout runner underneath.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
How do you take that mess up with some of
the things.
Speaker 8 (25:09):
That Aaron Mortson is looking for?
Speaker 9 (25:11):
Oh, kind of just like what you said, just being
open deep down the field and intermediate down the field,
low process, things like that, you know, just trying to
be open to all the times. You know, I want
him to want to use me and I want to
be that guy.
Speaker 8 (25:22):
So tell me that.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
And one of people have talked about Roger and Bottles
Hall of Fame and Little Howards here Mason's didn't worked
with him last year.
Speaker 8 (25:31):
What you learned about catching passes from Mason? From Mason?
Speaker 9 (25:34):
Yeah, hold on, I learned from Christmass from Mason.
Speaker 8 (25:39):
I mean, he's my His.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
Locker's next to mine.
Speaker 8 (25:42):
You talk a lot of ball talk a lot of film.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
I just like working with him.
Speaker 9 (25:46):
He's just a guy, just like man, just get open.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
I'm gonna feaess you the ball.
Speaker 9 (25:48):
So I just like his trust, his confidence, and I
love playing with him.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Calvin said, lots of YouTube have worked got a really
closely about the past while what's it been like working
with him and howid how does he help you get
better even if not your.
Speaker 9 (26:02):
Last Yeah, I was just talking about this over there,
just going through my injuries, telling me a lot, gave
me a lot of advice, gave me a lot of wisdom,
tell me out on the football field a lot. And
you know, I look up for him. He's like a
big brother and I feel like he's always got the
right answers from me.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
That's there.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Was wide receiver Roman Wilson speaking to the media following
practice yesterday. Excited to see him make some big plays
in training camp, look forward to see him have an
impact in the game on Saturday against Jacksonville. When we
come back, Labs and I are going to be joined
by former Steeler defensive back Bryant McFadden.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
So that's on the way.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
On the training camp report, Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy
AM and the Steelers audio.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Network Iheartradios live coverage about twenty twenty five Steelers training camp.
He's presented by Fadex where Now meets Next and also
brought to you by bud Light Independence Health System by
Pennsylvania One Call System by Live Casino, Calciente Pizza and
(27:03):
Draft House by Tom's Appliances, South Hills Auto, Laurel Highlands
Visitors Bureau, we Max Select Real Team, the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pro Shop, and by US steel.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Tom Out from n and Bob Labriola on the training
camp Report. Please to be joined now by former Steeler
defensive back and two time Super Bowl champion Brian McFadden,
who's hanging around campus today and taking in practice. Bran,
thanks for sitting down with us, man.
Speaker 8 (27:27):
Thank you for having me. Man. It's a pleasure man
to be here.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
So Brant, your first look at this campus was twenty
years ago. Game here, two thousand and five second round
pick out of Florida State. You know, how's it changed.
Speaker 7 (27:42):
It hasn't, It hasn't. The aura is still the same.
It smells the same.
Speaker 8 (27:49):
You know, it's a monumental place.
Speaker 7 (27:53):
You know, La Tropia has birth six championship teams here
going back to the seven to most recently in the
two thousand and eight season for US, So it means
something because this is the foundation of creating a championship
like atmosphere, championship like season. And I love the Pittsburgh
Steel has been holding sight here since the sixties because
(28:15):
it builds a sense of togetherness that's felt throughout the season.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
So you come here in two thousand and five, you're
joining a team that was fifteen and one in two
thousand and four. What were your expectations of yourself as
a rookie and then when you go out here and
then what role did you end up with that first
team you were on.
Speaker 8 (28:35):
Individually speaking, my expectations was.
Speaker 7 (28:37):
Just to show the guys that I belong. That was
very very important for me, just to get that sense
of assurance, like they believe in me. And I wanted
to be a part and I wanted our entire draft
class to be a part of a building block because
to your point in over four, they were the best
team in the National Football League. They didn't win the
Super Bowl, but they were the best team in the
(28:59):
National Football League in fifteen and one. So I wanted
to make sure I was a part of adding to
that and being a part of our draft class.
Speaker 8 (29:06):
That helped.
Speaker 7 (29:07):
And if you look at our draft class, of course
Keith Miller was outstanding. You know, I made opportunities that
was there for me, you know, Trey essence stepped up.
You know, Nate Washington made plays. You know, John Cohn
was a part of it as well. Greg Warren was
our long snapper forever. You know, chris Key moatu Man.
(29:27):
We had quite a few players, you know, Arnold Harrison
was was held on special teams. Andre Frasier, you know,
Ryan Waller. We had a lot of guys that contributed
and throughout that rookie year for us, and it made
us feel very, very like like we actually earned our keep.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
So you mentioned wanting to come here and show that
you belonged. Was there a moment that happened when Matt
dawned on you. Yes, I do belong.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
I'll say in the regular season Cincinnati, when we played
Cincinnati in Cincinnati, and and I was in the lineup
because of an injury, and I was really called upon
to play a lot, and I made quite a few
players that led us beating Cincinnati in Cincinnati, because remember
they came and beat us in hines Field. But that
(30:14):
was the first opportunity during the regular season with like, yeah,
I kind of found my rhythm and God started seeing
like okay, yeah, young kid from Florida State can go.
You know, we can count on him and then that
kind of led to having a real good successful playoff.
Speaker 8 (30:28):
Run, you know for us as well.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
So the rally and cry, I think it's fair to
say in the two thousand and five season was Jerome
Bettis get Jerom to back home to Detroit for the
Super Bowl. I believe Joey Porter, though, was the emotional
leader of that team. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 8 (30:45):
No question? Man Peas was.
Speaker 7 (30:48):
He was a leader on and off the football field.
But he was the guy who didn't mind verbally letting
you know what needs to be done. And I think
every team needs to.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
Have that guy.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
You have different leaders who lead in different ways. Joey
was a guy who led on the football field and
he led in the locker room. And if there was
some things that he didn't see that was operating the
right way, he would speak on it. And we all
respected him. So we all listen and you know, watching
us from afar, Joey would get things going to the
football field. He was a tone setter, you know, doing
(31:18):
pregame warm ups, He's looking for someone to get in
an altercation with for no reason, and we just follow suit. Oh,
Joey's mad at such and so let's get mad at
messof also just a sense of motivation just to be
mad and pissed off and take you to a whole
another place mentally that you need to go. And no question,
Joey is is a great teammate. He's a great dude.
I love Joy from top to bottom man.
Speaker 8 (31:40):
And I'm happy that he's going into the Hall of
Honors this year. Is well deserved.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
So that team needed to win. After the Bengals beat
the Steelers in Pittsburgh, dropped the record is seven and five.
You had to win your last four and get a
little bit of help to get into the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (31:59):
So that happened.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Sixth seed, So after beating the Bengals, got a little
revenge there in Cincinnati, Uh, go back to Indianapolis to
play the number one seeded Colts because you lost to
them in November on that Monday night game that was
that it was an ugly score twenty six to seven.
(32:22):
Did it feel ugly for you guys as players too?
Speaker 7 (32:25):
And it felt like it was that game was five
hours long? How long that game happened that Monday night
at RCA Dome. And I remember when we lost that
game and me and the guys talked about this last night.
Bill Coward told us in the locker room when we
got embarrassed on national.
Speaker 8 (32:38):
TV, don't worry. We will be in this same locker
room in January playoff time. That's what he said.
Speaker 7 (32:46):
And none of us second guest what he said. We
all believed it even though we got embarrassed. And coach
said that town.
Speaker 8 (32:53):
Was a great team. Right there were ten and er
I think that coach team in five was.
Speaker 7 (32:56):
Actually better than the coach team that won the Super
Bowl when you look at their number. Yes, when they
beat Chicago. I think that five team was better than
the team actually won the Super Bowl. But we felt
like we would get back to that point and we
felt like we would beat them, and it happened.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
So okay, So now we're at we're back in the
RCA dumb for the Divisional round game against the Colts.
The rallying cry, fumble the ball down at the goal
line as part of that defense. You were on the sideline,
What did you see? What did you feel as.
Speaker 5 (33:29):
That was happening?
Speaker 7 (33:30):
Yo, we were We were so fired up that we
were going to win the game because when Jerome came
in office, got the ball we were like, we're going
to touchdown. Jerome was going to steal it. So we
were actually watching the game. We were literally facing the
fans that were heckling, heckling us the entire game. Now
we're talking trash to them. So just imagine this is
the field. We're looking back this way. We're talking crazy
(33:50):
to them, cussing them out, not paying attention because we're like,
we're going to score.
Speaker 8 (33:53):
It's JB.
Speaker 7 (33:54):
And then we just saw them cheering, so we're like,
why they cheering a touchdown? Then we look back we
saw Nick Harper running with the football. So now we
go from how did he get the ball? Why is
he running?
Speaker 9 (34:06):
What?
Speaker 8 (34:07):
What happened? So we went into a state of shop.
Speaker 7 (34:10):
Ben made the miracle, like the immaculate tackle, right, we
got the immaculate reception.
Speaker 8 (34:16):
Let's call that the immaculate tackle. And we're like, oh shoot.
Speaker 7 (34:19):
So now we run in the football field and coach
lebou was kind of stunned, and I remember James Ferry
was like, Diggy, give us a call.
Speaker 8 (34:26):
We're in the hull a waiting for a call.
Speaker 7 (34:28):
They get a defensive call, and coach Leabo was kind
of like stun He finally gave a call and I
remember I'm in the huder.
Speaker 8 (34:33):
I said, oh shoot, I know he coming. He's coming
my way.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
Rookie.
Speaker 7 (34:39):
I'm like, please, Peyton, throw the ike side. Please just
throw the ike side the entire game. That's the tire drive.
The first play, he threw the ike to Marvin. The
next play he came to me and I'm like, oh,
Reggie called an en route. I made the tackle.
Speaker 8 (34:52):
I'm like, oh shoot. And I just didn't want to
let the team down. I didn't.
Speaker 7 (34:56):
I didn't want to let the team down because I
felt that much about them. I didn't want to be
the reason why we didn't advance. And everything went solid
those two places.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
Yeah, no, I'm gonna I'm gonna give you a little
props here. Thirty one seconds left, second and two from
the Steelers twenty eight yard line. Peyton man came at
you again with Reggie Wayne. They're looking to get closer
for that field goal or they still score a touchdown.
You broke up that pass to Reggie Wayne. Take me
(35:25):
through that play.
Speaker 8 (35:26):
We were in a fire zone.
Speaker 7 (35:28):
And I know some people always assume fire zone Pittsburgh's
zone for the corners.
Speaker 8 (35:33):
It's basically manded man, and I remember Chris Hope. He came.
He was on my side.
Speaker 7 (35:38):
I think it was Sea Hope, and he wasn't disguising
our courage. I'm like, Hope, he gonna know we and
Manda Man, so hold your courbage. But Hope is locked
in not listening to me, and I'm like, it's like
one on one drills. I don't have no safety help
and I said, I know he's coming my way. So
in fire zone concepts, we were supposed to man turn
(35:58):
because we're playing man turned to the wide receiver. But
for some reason, I zone turned it, which I turned
to Peyton and it actually helped me because I saw
the ball leave peyton hands instantly and I was able
to kind of locate the football and find it. But Reggie,
if you look at the play, he still was trying
to catch it. Even though I broke it up the
first time, he was still trying to make an effort to.
Speaker 8 (36:18):
Catch the football.
Speaker 7 (36:19):
And that's why I kept fighting til we hit the
ground and I realized the ball came out.
Speaker 8 (36:23):
And in that play everything was slow motion. I didn't
hear nothing.
Speaker 7 (36:27):
I didn't come back down to real time, real noise,
until we both hit the ground and I finally breathed.
Speaker 8 (36:34):
It was like I was holding my breath the entire time.
Got up, I breathed. I hear the crowd cheering for us,
the crowd, you know, not cheering for the coach.
Speaker 7 (36:42):
I mean, in terms of thought, it was a pi
And the next play, I said, Oh, he's coming back again,
and I'm like, man, I think he's trying to win
the game, because they were already in field goal right
to your point. It was almost like you're trying to
win it, but they were in some communication era. It
was a hitch and go to the next play and
I zone turned again. I saw the ball come up
and I almost make that play, and I'm like, I
had an opportunity to be really really the hero, and
(37:06):
you know, you missed the field goal. And I didn't
know how big that play was, honestly until later on,
when people are like, man, if you don't make that play,
we don't go to the super Bowl if you don't
make that play. Jerome doesn't finish his career with a championship.
Bill Kayer, who eventually retired a year and two years
down the line, he doesn't go into the Hall of
(37:27):
Fame with the championship. If you don't make that play,
we can't get the fifth. That led to us being
the first organization to get six championship. So just the
domino effect. And at the time, I just I just
didn't want to let the guys down. But everyone, to
your point, was saying that, you know, that's something that
will always go down and steal a history.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
So okay, you were also a part of what I
think is the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history,
James Harrison's picked six against the Cardinals in Tampa. Okay,
take me through that one you were on the field,
then take me through the whole thing.
Speaker 7 (38:03):
James wasn't supposed to be where he was, and James
always was a fairly disciplined player, but for some reason
he was undisciplined. And that's the thing about great players.
Even when they're not where they're supposed to be, good
things usually happen. That's why James is who he is,
and I think he should get into the Hall of
Fame as well. But James was supposed to blitz and
(38:24):
if you look at the concept, it was a pick route.
It was gonna cause ike and the shade to run
into each other, and usually those players are very, very
successful because most defenses in that area of the football field,
they're paying man the man, and that's what they anticipated.
Speaker 8 (38:36):
And even with me talking to Kurt after the fact, just.
Speaker 7 (38:39):
Having discussions with him about that play, he said, I
knew James was blitzing. I knew James Harrison was blitzing.
I knew exactly where to go to football, so I
knew he was blitzed. I knew exactly who was gonna
be wide open. The play was gonna be wide open,
and he said James wasn't supposed to be. That's why
the ball hit him get in the chest because James
first two steps was forward like he was coming, and
then all of a sudden he dropped back into his credit,
(39:00):
James tells this story all the time. He knew he
wasn't gonna get there, so I don't If I know
I can't get there, I might as well try to
help him courage, which he did.
Speaker 8 (39:09):
And when he caught the football.
Speaker 7 (39:10):
That was one thing because we took points off the board,
But just the ability to go.
Speaker 8 (39:15):
The length of the football field.
Speaker 7 (39:18):
And score and put points on the scoreboard is one
of the main reasons why we won that Super Bowl
because they had momentum. Orst case scenario, they kicked three points,
get get three points, and they get the ball out
of halftime.
Speaker 8 (39:30):
That was the thing. They were getting the ball after half,
and you know.
Speaker 5 (39:33):
How it is.
Speaker 8 (39:33):
You steal a possession, get another possession the third court.
That's great.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
So instead of them first case scenario are getting three points,
they get nothing and we get seven, all because of James'
ability to get there.
Speaker 8 (39:44):
Not to mention the guy's blocking for him.
Speaker 3 (39:46):
That's talk to me about that.
Speaker 7 (39:48):
That was special because the weekend ten for leading up
to the game, we were catching interceptions in practice and
we weren't returning to football, and I remember Dick Leboll
and Mike Thoma emphasize and were highlighting, this is not
gonna win this ball game.
Speaker 8 (40:00):
We want you guys to practice like it's Sunday. When
you catch an interception, go find somebody to block. If
you don't have the football, and whoever has the football,
go score.
Speaker 7 (40:09):
So that every other day after that, whenever we call
interceptions in practice, we were turning the length of the
football field. And that same picture that you saw during
James Harrison's return was what we were showing the week
of practices. That's why good coaching is so important. That's
why it felt because they saw something that we didn't
think was a big deal. We're like, man, we wouldn't
do this in a game, but we're just doing it now.
(40:31):
We don't feel like running length. No, if you're gonna
do this in a game practice, how are you going
to play in the game, Which led to that because
if those coach let Boll and Mike Toman don't high
like that, we don't know if James Harrison scored.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Where were you though on that play?
Speaker 7 (40:45):
Well, actually was I was on the sideline that on
that particular play. Will Gabe was on the opposite side,
So the three corners was the shade and and Will
and I was literally standing right by a coach lebowl
vanished point from the sideline. But I knew the play
call and I knew exactly what was going to happen.
And you know, from my view because we repped it,
(41:06):
we like the pick route was coming, It's gonna be
hard to defend, but we were just hoping that maybe
the pressure could get there to make it a difficult throw.
No one thought James was gonna do what James did.
Speaker 10 (41:18):
So.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
Post post football and we'll get you out of here
on this. We only got about a minute left. You're
you're you should be interviewing me. I mean, you have
yourself a little media business kind of thing going.
Speaker 8 (41:34):
Man. It's a pleasure. Man. I've been a football analyst
for CBS now for some years.
Speaker 7 (41:38):
I covered college football Saturday, NFL Sunday, Monday and Thursday.
Speaker 8 (41:42):
I love it. It keeps me connected. Man.
Speaker 7 (41:44):
I've been on a training camp tour. Of course, I'm
here today covering training camp, you know, for the Steelers.
But last week I was the Rams, the Chargers, the Cowboys,
the Raiders. Monday I was with the Falcons.
Speaker 8 (41:56):
Uh. So it's it's it's a it's a dope experience, man.
Speaker 7 (41:59):
I get a chance to talk about Baul and because
of my energy, my enthusiasm, it's not a boring day
in my life.
Speaker 8 (42:06):
I love it, man. I get a chance to have
share moments with you.
Speaker 7 (42:09):
People are listening to me who I don't know, and
I love giving them the experiences that I've had because
it's been a blessing of a life that God has
blessed me with. And he continues to bless me to
do everything that I've been able to do. In the
words of the great Dick Larbo is a great day
to be alive. Sometimes we forget it, but it is
so why don't we take advantage of it right? Treat
every day like it's a game seven, like there's no tomorrow.
If you do that, you're gonna win.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
Brian, thanks so much, man, this was awesome stuff. It
was great walking down memory lane with you. Enjoy your
time at Stealers practice today.
Speaker 8 (42:38):
Man, Thank you for having me. Anytime you guys need me,
just phone a friend. I'm here.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
That's Brian McFadden. Great talking to him. Two times Super
Bowl champion with your Pittsburgh Steelers. That's gonna do it
for labs and me today. We will be back tomorrow.
I will be back tomorrow at noon. We will hear
coach Tomlin's press conference before the preseason game against Jacksonville,
and we'll update you on what happened at practice today,
which is getting underway in just about a minute from now.
We got west Eeler Matt Williamson next with the Drive
(43:04):
on Fox Sports Pittsburgh nine seventy am and the Steelers
Audio network
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