January 13, 2023 • 22 mins
Stan discusses the upcoming weekend that will feature the first round of the playoffs that the Steelers barely missed out on. Stan is joined by Matt Williamson who breaks down how the Steelers can build on the team from this season, and he shares his picks for the Wild Card round.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Mostly going to be the guys that we saw all
year getting significant playing time next year. So I think
that's very important. This is saving on Steelers. I'm Alway
and welcome to all in Steelers Nations and welcome to
the Savan on Steelers podcast. I am stand Savan, your host.
Glad you were able to find us. Hope you enjoy
the content we have here on the podcast, which we
(00:23):
post up twice weekly. UM. If you enjoy this, please
tell your friends, neighbors, relatives, UM, the guy across the street, whatever, um,
that you found this podcast and you just have to
go to Steelers dot com to listen to it. Very simple.
I remind you can also listen to my daily talk
show on ESPN Pittsburgh. It's on seventy a m over
(00:43):
the air every weekday, Monday through Friday noon until two pm.
Or if you're not able to get it you're out
of town, you can just download the I heart Media
app and listen to it that way, and you can
just pick it up there. Download the i heart Media app.
It's free and you can listen to it there. The
Steelers season, of course, is over, and I'll say out front,
(01:08):
this is not meant to lament the playoff system. Everybody
knows what it is. Before you go in, you know
that every game you play could be significant. You're only
playing seventeen, especially against a f C foes, you know
that if you lose that game, it hurts you numerically
and your overall record, which could affect your playoff participation.
(01:30):
But also you're playing teams a f C teams uh
that you lose the tiebreaker if you lose a game
to them in the regular season. Such was the case
for the Steelers against Miami. So this in no way
is meant to construe or to be construed as some
complaint about the system. The system is great, it's fine.
The Steelers had a good chance to beat Miami. They
(01:52):
did not. They have their hands on interceptions, they did
not hold onto them. So that's not what this is
all about. But this is all about is that I
think that they were have given much more of a
resistance to the Buffalo Bills in the Miami will. I
could be wrong. Who knows Buffalo could come out flat,
(02:13):
Buffalo could take Miami for granted. I doubt that will happen,
and I doubt frankly that Sailors would have been able
to beat Buffalo under the best of circumstances. Buffalo by
all accounts, Uh, DeMar Hamlin is gonna be present for
that game. What an emotional just a mere fact that
he's out of the hospital. What an emotional list it's
(02:34):
going to be for the Buffalo Bills. As DeMar Hamlin
is with the team on the sideline, you can just
imagine what that scene is going to be. You can
just imagine how energized the Buffalo Bills are going to be.
And they don't need much energizing. Um, They're They're pretty
(02:55):
formidable on their own. They're tremendous football team, and they
can each in so many ways. And I don't think
the Steelers would have been able to beat them, um,
but I do think they would have provided more resistance
and maybe a better game than the Miami Dolphins. Will
we'll see. But that's not really the subject of the
(03:16):
podcast today. It's where the Steelers are at now. This
is not a guarantee, it's not automatic. It doesn't necessarily
mean that because they finished the season winning seven of
nine and that they showed progress in several different areas
of concern within the confines of the last regular season,
(03:37):
because that could be totally interrupted. It might not mean anything,
but I do think the Steelers are in a good place.
That doesn't mean they've arrived. It doesn't mean that they
don't have a lot of improvement to make, both with
the players who are currently on the roster, but with
those they managed to add, either in free agency, via trade,
(03:58):
or certainly the draft. There's a lot of work yet
to be done. It's not exactly there. Yeah, they went
seven and nine, it's great, but they didn't exactly beat
a murderers row of contending teams and the only playoff
team they beat was Baltimore. We all know that they
were ravaged by injuries. That's not to take away from
(04:19):
their accomplishments. It's just a reality check just the way
it is. But I do think they've answered some questions.
And even though they beat weaker opponents, they did win.
They won games the last half of the season that
they were losing earlier in the season. That I think
(04:39):
is something to consider, and so that's why I believe
they're in a better place. They still have a lot
of work to do. The offensive line did gel and
they performed well, but they're still not good enough where
(05:02):
you can say, well, here's a strength. They're adequate. They
did improve. Good for them. They were a big reason
why the offense was able to move the ball more consistently.
But let's also not to forget that they failed miserably
in the red zone in the Raiders game, in the
Baltimore game. They scored one touchdown in each of those games.
(05:25):
The yes, they did score four against the Browns. I'm
not sure the Browns were all in given their history,
but there's more work to be done. There are other
places to add other than the offensive line, defensive line,
(05:51):
inside linebacker, cornerback, all different kinds of areas. But that
doesn't mean that they haven't improved. I've said this before,
You've heard me said before. They are in much might
say much better shape right now than they were a
year ago. Today, so many questions marks, more question marks
(06:13):
even than now. Matt Williamson teams up with Dale Lally
on The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio weekday afternoons four
to six pm Eastern. He's a guest on my radio
show every Friday at one. He really is a guru
(06:34):
for the Steelers and the entire NFL and now that
the season is over, I thought it a good time
to bring Matt on the podcast. And Matt, do you
believe that the strong finish with some awards? But the
strong finish seven and two conserve as a springboard to
(06:55):
next season without question, especially the off because I don't
think there's gonna be a lot of subtractions from the offense.
I mean, you're gonna bring back almost the same eleven starters,
maybe add some sprinkle in some some things, the first
time left tackle maybe or whatever. But I mean it's
mostly going to be the guys that we saw all
(07:18):
year getting significant playing time next year. So I think
that's very important, especially when you consider the age of
the quarterback and his experience. So as a whole, without question,
I mean, I mean, I think tanking is terrible in
the NFL because you have to overcome accepting losing. The
Steelers never accepted losing, and they can build off the
(07:40):
momentum that they had. I absolutely believe that. And um,
you know, and not to mention that they should add
quite a bit in free agency as well as the draft.
Well what are the intriguing stories? I mean, they found
out who their quarterback is, Um, it looks like a
very promising why receiver group, especially with giving Austin back
next year. Um, you not only have a top running
(08:01):
back that we've seen performed like one, but the required
backup is a solid edition in Jail and Warren. The
offensive line improved incrementally, Um, and we're able to stay together.
But does that mean that you don't add? In other words,
if you do are able to get a stud tackle
(08:22):
or a center or guard that you don't add and
say this is not a finished product talking about the
offensive line. Yeah, and you didn't even mentioned Pat Fryarmouth.
I think he's on course to be in one of
the better tight ends in the league. Is he George
as well? Um? Offensively, I think you add mostly through
(08:42):
the draft. And I actually wrote an article about this
this past week where defense is going to be more spending,
and I know people don't want to hear that because
they are already spending a lot on defense. But I
think center and especially left tackle, you need to address somewhere.
Maybe the first round for the left coal, but probably
not outside the top three or four picks. And you know,
(09:04):
maybe you find a guy in the second day on
day two that needs a little more time in the
weight room, or played in a small school, or just
doesn't have a lot of experience, you know, somebody like that.
That's a little bit more of a project. Um because
the depth on the offensive line, to me is very worried.
So I mean the front five as constructed is good
(09:25):
enough to me. I mean, I think it's an average
to maybe even above average line. But they missed a
total of forty snaps between those five. That's not going
to keep up, you know, And I don't know what's
behind them in terms of like guys like Davis, I
don't really want to find out, to be honest with you,
because thing's gonna have got a lot uglier. So at
(09:45):
a minimum, I think you need to draft depth that
could turn into starters before long. Just a draft question.
Because their second day guy is the first one overall
on the second day, do you treat that differently because
that guy in essence is the last pick of the
first round in a way, I mean, what I think
(10:09):
is great about having that pick is all the gms
in front office folks and scouts retire for the evening
after Thursday night, have a long day to think about. Man.
I can't believe player X is still there, and you
call those Steelers, you know, I mean, or the Steelers
do the same thing and say, man, we had that
this was our sixteen rank guy overall, and he's still
(10:31):
sitting there. We're just gonna run to the podium the
day that things open, and you have all that time
to reflect and reset your board. But I think the
biggest key is kind of I talked about to begin with,
is Man, I mean, you're gonna get more offers for
that pick than your usual second round pick where you
only have fifteen, ten minutes or whatever to make the selection.
I've asked this and people ask me all the time,
(10:52):
and I'm sure you've got it as well. Um, just
and I realized that what transpires in free agency will
in some way affect what they do in the draft.
But as we look at it now, um, we don't
know what the free agent market will bring. But as
you look at it now, how do you prioritize we
we've heard offensive line, Um, we've heard inside backer, we've
(11:15):
heard corner, we've heard um, you know, the next Cam
Hayward if you can find him. How do you rank it?
Matt Well? I basically have an offseason plan in place
in my my noggin already, and I would spend money
on Cam Sutton, Edmonds, Kzy and Ogan Job and then
(11:38):
from there, I think that leaves you a left tackle,
a slot receiver which nobody talks about. But I as
much as I'm excited about Austin, I'm still adding a
deep threat out of the slot somewhere that's probably like
a third round pick though, a top corner prospect, and
a Cam Hayward replacement slash modern day knows um. As
(12:01):
soon as I signed my Steelers, which easier said than done,
I'm going outside the organization for the linebacker. And there's
too much proof of rookie linebackers struggling, no better proof
than what we saw here with Bush. You know that
first contract linebackers get manipulated by today's offenses. I'm going
to spend money outside the organization, maybe on both Edmunds
(12:24):
and I can give you a list of names of
off the ball linebackers that are professional, massive upgrades. And
then that leaves me basically left tackle, center, wide receiver, corner,
d line and the way that I'm not deep into
draft prep. Don't get me wrong, but the way that
this first round looks like it's shaping up. Left tackle
(12:45):
and especially corner look to be pretty prevalent in the
middle of the first round by all accounts, and we
know that those two positions get pushed up drastically though
they'll get overdrafted, especially tackle. So I'm not guaranteeing a
tackle will be there when the Steeler pick, but I
think a corner is probably in the mix. And if
I'd go corner in the first round, which seems like
(13:06):
it's lines up pretty well as we sit here in January,
I would love to add some sort of tackle on
Day two. And that's probably a project. I mean, that's
probably a guy that doesn't walk into camp and you know,
own that job, but it probably has a lot of
upside and a big pound defensive lineman. And on the
day two, can you find that Cam Heyward replacement? Um?
(13:32):
Given where they're going to draft, Um, can you wait
on that? And you mentioned doesn't look good? Okay, it
doesn't look good. Yeah, I mean this draft, Jalen Carter
from Georgia is gonna be long gone. He's gonna be
a top four pick. And then there's the Clemson kid Breezy,
who I don't expect to still be there when the
Steelers pick, and my opinion on him can change. I've
(13:52):
only studied them a little, um, but he would be
the only one that I see that would be worth
that selection, and he would be a conversation if he's
still there, I'm guessing he won't be. And then it
looks like there's a pretty good drop off that there's
no one else worthy of a top twenty picks. So
this might not be the year. Maybe you, you know,
bring back Oak and Joby, draft a bigger body, a
(14:13):
Lulu replacement in the second round, and then next year's
first round pick is the Tailor replacement or maybe signed
Javon Hargreave. Yeah, if you're nice to get in back. Um. Yeah,
that being said, is this actually a benefit to have
multiple needs so that if the guy isn't there, you say,
all right, we didn't get that guy, but we also
(14:36):
have a need here, so it's not like we're now,
what do we do? And they've got three four different
directions that they can go, yeah, and multiple picks to
do it. And you know, maybe somebody's calling you to
move back, move up, especially with that that early second rounder.
I mean, there's a lot of flexibility to UM. It's
hard to comment on that because I do think they'll
(14:57):
be very busy in free agency, that their needs will
very quickly getting narrowed down. But I think you're right
that you know there. I don't think it's gonna be
pigeonholed where they have to take player X in round
one position at and round one and looking at this,
it's a new front office. Uh, and we really haven't
seen them operate. UM. They did not conduct the last draft.
(15:19):
That was Kevin Colberg's draft, which started out to be
a pretty good draft. But the one thing that I'm wondering,
maybe it's just you know, grabbing onto a comment and
holding on for dear life, but the fact that they
traded Claypool like they did UM and got a second
round pick from a team they knew was gonna be bad,
not maybe not this bad. I know that anybody thought
(15:42):
that they would sing a little bit. Yeah they did
look out a little bit, But UM, does that give
you a positive vibe with the Andy widel Um and
Omar Khan that they made that move just a matter
of fact that they made it Um, And the fact
that I think they viewed him. To me, his days
as a Steeler ended and he pulled that those Shenanigans
in Minnesota. To me, that was the end um what
(16:05):
he did. And I didn't think they had I didn't
think they had a great fit for him on the
offense either, because Pickens and Johnson were better outside guys.
They're trying to make them into a big power slot.
But he doesn't like the block people near the ball.
So yes, I mean, we have not seen a lot
of moves, you know, from Omar and Andy yet, you know,
but if this is any indication, it was tremendous. And
(16:28):
when I was on your show immediately after it happened,
I said, wow, I didn't think they'd get this much
of a haul, and I didn't know it was going
to be the thirty second pick overall, I mean just
a second in general, straight up, for Claypool, I would
always take the second, even if it was the last
pick in the second round. Um. It's hard to analyze
this new front office, of course, but if you look
(16:49):
at where they came from, you know, Omar is a
cap guy by trade, which makes me think that their
early picks are going to be on expensive positions, left tackles, corners,
things of that nature, you know. I mean, just like
we talked about, it's probably on an accident that's lining
up that way too. I mean, I'm sure he's smart
enough that you go shopping in the free agent market
(17:09):
or corners and left tackles. You're paying a hundred fifty
bucks for a hundred dollar player, you know. I mean,
it's just bad business because there's a shortage and White,
I mean, his background implies that, assuming he believes where
he came from. I mean, the Eagles stressed big people
more than any team in the league. You know, they'll
take an extra offensive lineman, an extra defensive lineman when
(17:31):
that's not their top need. So I assume with their
background they'll follow suit. But who knows, Well, don't prove
out to this weekend's games. Any game in particular um
stands out to you, intrigue you, Lawrence verse Herbert. I
think is the one I'm looking forward to the most.
I adore those two young quarterbacks. I think both these
(17:53):
teams are trending the right direction. I think that one
will be the most competitive game. Unfortunately, I mean, I
don't think Miami and Baltimore can compete. I don't think
the Vikings or the Giants are true contenders, so I'm
super excited about it. I'm gonna watch every snap, of course,
but it's not a great slate of games as playoff
(18:15):
games go. Would the Steelers, given where they were when
their season ended against Cleveland, being better position to at
least give the Bills more of a test than Miami
figures to be. You know, we all watched the Miami game.
There's they're inept. I mean, they're just inept. And that
was against the Jets. So the Jets have a good defense,
(18:37):
uh coming defense. But I mean with the Steelers been
a position maybe not to win, but maybe not get
blown out. I think so. I mean, as they're constructed today,
I think the Steelers are a noticeably better team then
not only the Dolphins, but the Ravens, the Seahawks, the Giants.
(18:58):
I know they're not competing with the NFC teams, but
they would not be one of the worst two or
three teams in the playoffs in my opinion. I mean,
I did probably be tent or something along those lines.
I wouldn't like their chances in Buffalo. I mean I
were feeling. You know, Hamlin is gonna be there, and
this team is really healthy and exciting and gonna be
a brutal place to play. But Miami, Miami's awful right now.
(19:21):
I mean, with the third string quarterback, they really have
very little chance of competing. I think the Steelers at
least compete. It really looks like, if you're looking at
the a f C the chalk um, does Cincinnati stack
up evenly with Kansas City or Buffalo? I think so yeah,
(19:41):
And I might even make them number one. But you know,
they put all that all that investment into their offensive
line and I don't think they really fixed it, you know,
and now the right tackle and the right guard are
both out, so if they get derailed, maybe that's why
they don't run the ball super well. But I think
they're more well rounded in general than the Bills or
(20:04):
the Chiefs. And to me, if you're ranking those quarterbacks,
it's Mahomes Burrows slightly over Alan. I mean, I really
think he's gotten to that level and that they're the
best three quarterbacks on the planet right now and in
the NFC. Um. Do you believe in the Eagles, Yes,
very much so. I love how they're constructed. Going back
(20:27):
to Andy Whitel's background of the both lines of scrimmage.
I think they have the best roster in the league.
They're very well coached. I'm sure Brock Purty will the
rail the Niners at some point, but boy, that's a
great roster too. And I don't see the rest of
the NFC be particularly competitive. I'm not fond of where
(20:48):
the Cowboys are at. I thought they could be a
you know, in the hunt in the NFC, but it
doesn't look that way right now. Well, next week we'll
have an opportunity. The field will be in half. I
always say, um that this weekend is the best weekend
of the year, but you know, when you look forward
to next weekend, when the weed is separated from the chap,
when you have you know, doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, Uh,
(21:11):
you can't beat that for football junkies. Absolutely. I mean,
I think we'll get rid of some of the riff
raff out of this mix and this will be a
great weekend. But I don't think we're gonna be seeing,
you know, to a third string back up or you know,
the Ravens type backups. All those guys will be cast
away and within the hurt a little bit. All right,
That sounds good to me. Um and the broadcasting riff raff. However,
(21:34):
you can never get rid of us. We'll be back
next week to talk about it. Thank you, Matt. Alright,
stay and take care. We'll see you. Are you YouTube
mess Matt Williamson joined him on the Drive Dale Lolly
Um weekday afternoons four to six on Steelers Nation Radio.
We'll see how the weekend plays out. Enjoy the games.
Whoever you root for or root against, Um, have at it,
(21:57):
have a good time again. The podcast is of ailable
at Steelers dot com. Just go to Steelers dot com
and you can listen to it there, or you can
download the i heart Media app. Get it there. You
can listen to my daily radio show s a M.
In Pittsburgh ESPN Pittsburgh either live at high noon Monday
through Friday am. Or you can download the i heart
(22:22):
Media app that's free and listen to the podcast and
listen to it live that matter each weekday afternoon. Thanks
for joining me today, Steelers Nation. I appreciate it. I
hope you enjoyed us. Savereign on Steelers. Have a great weekend.
Mostly going to be the guys that we saw all
year getting significant playing time next year. So I think
that's very important. This is saving on Steelers. I'm Alway
and welcome to all in Steelers Nations and welcome to
the Savan on Steelers podcast. I am stand Savan, your host.
Glad you were able to find us. Hope you enjoy
the content we have here on the podcast, which we
(00:23):
post up twice weekly. UM. If you enjoy this, please
tell your friends, neighbors, relatives, UM, the guy across the street, whatever, um,
that you found this podcast and you just have to
go to Steelers dot com to listen to it. Very simple.
I remind you can also listen to my daily talk
show on ESPN Pittsburgh. It's on seventy a m over
(00:43):
the air every weekday, Monday through Friday noon until two pm.
Or if you're not able to get it you're out
of town, you can just download the I heart Media
app and listen to it that way, and you can
just pick it up there. Download the i heart Media app.
It's free and you can listen to it there. The
Steelers season, of course, is over, and I'll say out front,
(01:08):
this is not meant to lament the playoff system. Everybody
knows what it is. Before you go in, you know
that every game you play could be significant. You're only
playing seventeen, especially against a f C foes, you know
that if you lose that game, it hurts you numerically
and your overall record, which could affect your playoff participation.
(01:30):
But also you're playing teams a f C teams uh
that you lose the tiebreaker if you lose a game
to them in the regular season. Such was the case
for the Steelers against Miami. So this in no way
is meant to construe or to be construed as some
complaint about the system. The system is great, it's fine.
The Steelers had a good chance to beat Miami. They
(01:52):
did not. They have their hands on interceptions, they did
not hold onto them. So that's not what this is
all about. But this is all about is that I
think that they were have given much more of a
resistance to the Buffalo Bills in the Miami will. I
could be wrong. Who knows Buffalo could come out flat,
(02:13):
Buffalo could take Miami for granted. I doubt that will happen,
and I doubt frankly that Sailors would have been able
to beat Buffalo under the best of circumstances. Buffalo by
all accounts, Uh, DeMar Hamlin is gonna be present for
that game. What an emotional just a mere fact that
he's out of the hospital. What an emotional list it's
(02:34):
going to be for the Buffalo Bills. As DeMar Hamlin
is with the team on the sideline, you can just
imagine what that scene is going to be. You can
just imagine how energized the Buffalo Bills are going to be.
And they don't need much energizing. Um, They're They're pretty
(02:55):
formidable on their own. They're tremendous football team, and they
can each in so many ways. And I don't think
the Steelers would have been able to beat them, um,
but I do think they would have provided more resistance
and maybe a better game than the Miami Dolphins. Will
we'll see. But that's not really the subject of the
(03:16):
podcast today. It's where the Steelers are at now. This
is not a guarantee, it's not automatic. It doesn't necessarily
mean that because they finished the season winning seven of
nine and that they showed progress in several different areas
of concern within the confines of the last regular season,
(03:37):
because that could be totally interrupted. It might not mean anything,
but I do think the Steelers are in a good place.
That doesn't mean they've arrived. It doesn't mean that they
don't have a lot of improvement to make, both with
the players who are currently on the roster, but with
those they managed to add, either in free agency, via trade,
(03:58):
or certainly the draft. There's a lot of work yet
to be done. It's not exactly there. Yeah, they went
seven and nine, it's great, but they didn't exactly beat
a murderers row of contending teams and the only playoff
team they beat was Baltimore. We all know that they
were ravaged by injuries. That's not to take away from
(04:19):
their accomplishments. It's just a reality check just the way
it is. But I do think they've answered some questions.
And even though they beat weaker opponents, they did win.
They won games the last half of the season that
they were losing earlier in the season. That I think
(04:39):
is something to consider, and so that's why I believe
they're in a better place. They still have a lot
of work to do. The offensive line did gel and
they performed well, but they're still not good enough where
(05:02):
you can say, well, here's a strength. They're adequate. They
did improve. Good for them. They were a big reason
why the offense was able to move the ball more consistently.
But let's also not to forget that they failed miserably
in the red zone in the Raiders game, in the
Baltimore game. They scored one touchdown in each of those games.
(05:25):
The yes, they did score four against the Browns. I'm
not sure the Browns were all in given their history,
but there's more work to be done. There are other
places to add other than the offensive line, defensive line,
(05:51):
inside linebacker, cornerback, all different kinds of areas. But that
doesn't mean that they haven't improved. I've said this before,
You've heard me said before. They are in much might
say much better shape right now than they were a
year ago. Today, so many questions marks, more question marks
(06:13):
even than now. Matt Williamson teams up with Dale Lally
on The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio weekday afternoons four
to six pm Eastern. He's a guest on my radio
show every Friday at one. He really is a guru
(06:34):
for the Steelers and the entire NFL and now that
the season is over, I thought it a good time
to bring Matt on the podcast. And Matt, do you
believe that the strong finish with some awards? But the
strong finish seven and two conserve as a springboard to
(06:55):
next season without question, especially the off because I don't
think there's gonna be a lot of subtractions from the offense.
I mean, you're gonna bring back almost the same eleven starters,
maybe add some sprinkle in some some things, the first
time left tackle maybe or whatever. But I mean it's
mostly going to be the guys that we saw all
(07:18):
year getting significant playing time next year. So I think
that's very important, especially when you consider the age of
the quarterback and his experience. So as a whole, without question,
I mean, I mean, I think tanking is terrible in
the NFL because you have to overcome accepting losing. The
Steelers never accepted losing, and they can build off the
(07:40):
momentum that they had. I absolutely believe that. And um,
you know, and not to mention that they should add
quite a bit in free agency as well as the draft.
Well what are the intriguing stories? I mean, they found
out who their quarterback is, Um, it looks like a
very promising why receiver group, especially with giving Austin back
next year. Um, you not only have a top running
(08:01):
back that we've seen performed like one, but the required
backup is a solid edition in Jail and Warren. The
offensive line improved incrementally, Um, and we're able to stay together.
But does that mean that you don't add? In other words,
if you do are able to get a stud tackle
(08:22):
or a center or guard that you don't add and
say this is not a finished product talking about the
offensive line. Yeah, and you didn't even mentioned Pat Fryarmouth.
I think he's on course to be in one of
the better tight ends in the league. Is he George
as well? Um? Offensively, I think you add mostly through
(08:42):
the draft. And I actually wrote an article about this
this past week where defense is going to be more spending,
and I know people don't want to hear that because
they are already spending a lot on defense. But I
think center and especially left tackle, you need to address somewhere.
Maybe the first round for the left coal, but probably
not outside the top three or four picks. And you know,
(09:04):
maybe you find a guy in the second day on
day two that needs a little more time in the
weight room, or played in a small school, or just
doesn't have a lot of experience, you know, somebody like that.
That's a little bit more of a project. Um because
the depth on the offensive line, to me is very worried.
So I mean the front five as constructed is good
(09:25):
enough to me. I mean, I think it's an average
to maybe even above average line. But they missed a
total of forty snaps between those five. That's not going
to keep up, you know, And I don't know what's
behind them in terms of like guys like Davis, I
don't really want to find out, to be honest with you,
because thing's gonna have got a lot uglier. So at
(09:45):
a minimum, I think you need to draft depth that
could turn into starters before long. Just a draft question.
Because their second day guy is the first one overall
on the second day, do you treat that differently because
that guy in essence is the last pick of the
first round in a way, I mean, what I think
(10:09):
is great about having that pick is all the gms
in front office folks and scouts retire for the evening
after Thursday night, have a long day to think about. Man.
I can't believe player X is still there, and you
call those Steelers, you know, I mean, or the Steelers
do the same thing and say, man, we had that
this was our sixteen rank guy overall, and he's still
(10:31):
sitting there. We're just gonna run to the podium the
day that things open, and you have all that time
to reflect and reset your board. But I think the
biggest key is kind of I talked about to begin with,
is Man, I mean, you're gonna get more offers for
that pick than your usual second round pick where you
only have fifteen, ten minutes or whatever to make the selection.
I've asked this and people ask me all the time,
(10:52):
and I'm sure you've got it as well. Um, just
and I realized that what transpires in free agency will
in some way affect what they do in the draft.
But as we look at it now, um, we don't
know what the free agent market will bring. But as
you look at it now, how do you prioritize we
we've heard offensive line, Um, we've heard inside backer, we've
(11:15):
heard corner, we've heard um, you know, the next Cam
Hayward if you can find him. How do you rank it?
Matt Well? I basically have an offseason plan in place
in my my noggin already, and I would spend money
on Cam Sutton, Edmonds, Kzy and Ogan Job and then
(11:38):
from there, I think that leaves you a left tackle,
a slot receiver which nobody talks about. But I as
much as I'm excited about Austin, I'm still adding a
deep threat out of the slot somewhere that's probably like
a third round pick though, a top corner prospect, and
a Cam Hayward replacement slash modern day knows um. As
(12:01):
soon as I signed my Steelers, which easier said than done,
I'm going outside the organization for the linebacker. And there's
too much proof of rookie linebackers struggling, no better proof
than what we saw here with Bush. You know that
first contract linebackers get manipulated by today's offenses. I'm going
to spend money outside the organization, maybe on both Edmunds
(12:24):
and I can give you a list of names of
off the ball linebackers that are professional, massive upgrades. And
then that leaves me basically left tackle, center, wide receiver, corner,
d line and the way that I'm not deep into
draft prep. Don't get me wrong, but the way that
this first round looks like it's shaping up. Left tackle
(12:45):
and especially corner look to be pretty prevalent in the
middle of the first round by all accounts, and we
know that those two positions get pushed up drastically though
they'll get overdrafted, especially tackle. So I'm not guaranteeing a
tackle will be there when the Steeler pick, but I
think a corner is probably in the mix. And if
I'd go corner in the first round, which seems like
(13:06):
it's lines up pretty well as we sit here in January,
I would love to add some sort of tackle on
Day two. And that's probably a project. I mean, that's
probably a guy that doesn't walk into camp and you know,
own that job, but it probably has a lot of
upside and a big pound defensive lineman. And on the
day two, can you find that Cam Heyward replacement? Um?
(13:32):
Given where they're going to draft, Um, can you wait
on that? And you mentioned doesn't look good? Okay, it
doesn't look good. Yeah, I mean this draft, Jalen Carter
from Georgia is gonna be long gone. He's gonna be
a top four pick. And then there's the Clemson kid Breezy,
who I don't expect to still be there when the
Steelers pick, and my opinion on him can change. I've
(13:52):
only studied them a little, um, but he would be
the only one that I see that would be worth
that selection, and he would be a conversation if he's
still there, I'm guessing he won't be. And then it
looks like there's a pretty good drop off that there's
no one else worthy of a top twenty picks. So
this might not be the year. Maybe you, you know,
bring back Oak and Joby, draft a bigger body, a
(14:13):
Lulu replacement in the second round, and then next year's
first round pick is the Tailor replacement or maybe signed
Javon Hargreave. Yeah, if you're nice to get in back. Um. Yeah,
that being said, is this actually a benefit to have
multiple needs so that if the guy isn't there, you say,
all right, we didn't get that guy, but we also
(14:36):
have a need here, so it's not like we're now,
what do we do? And they've got three four different
directions that they can go, yeah, and multiple picks to
do it. And you know, maybe somebody's calling you to
move back, move up, especially with that that early second rounder.
I mean, there's a lot of flexibility to UM. It's
hard to comment on that because I do think they'll
(14:57):
be very busy in free agency, that their needs will
very quickly getting narrowed down. But I think you're right
that you know there. I don't think it's gonna be
pigeonholed where they have to take player X in round
one position at and round one and looking at this,
it's a new front office. Uh, and we really haven't
seen them operate. UM. They did not conduct the last draft.
(15:19):
That was Kevin Colberg's draft, which started out to be
a pretty good draft. But the one thing that I'm wondering,
maybe it's just you know, grabbing onto a comment and
holding on for dear life, but the fact that they
traded Claypool like they did UM and got a second
round pick from a team they knew was gonna be bad,
not maybe not this bad. I know that anybody thought
(15:42):
that they would sing a little bit. Yeah they did
look out a little bit, But UM, does that give
you a positive vibe with the Andy widel Um and
Omar Khan that they made that move just a matter
of fact that they made it Um, And the fact
that I think they viewed him. To me, his days
as a Steeler ended and he pulled that those Shenanigans
in Minnesota. To me, that was the end um what
(16:05):
he did. And I didn't think they had I didn't
think they had a great fit for him on the
offense either, because Pickens and Johnson were better outside guys.
They're trying to make them into a big power slot.
But he doesn't like the block people near the ball.
So yes, I mean, we have not seen a lot
of moves, you know, from Omar and Andy yet, you know,
but if this is any indication, it was tremendous. And
(16:28):
when I was on your show immediately after it happened,
I said, wow, I didn't think they'd get this much
of a haul, and I didn't know it was going
to be the thirty second pick overall, I mean just
a second in general, straight up, for Claypool, I would
always take the second, even if it was the last
pick in the second round. Um. It's hard to analyze
this new front office, of course, but if you look
(16:49):
at where they came from, you know, Omar is a
cap guy by trade, which makes me think that their
early picks are going to be on expensive positions, left tackles, corners,
things of that nature, you know. I mean, just like
we talked about, it's probably on an accident that's lining
up that way too. I mean, I'm sure he's smart
enough that you go shopping in the free agent market
(17:09):
or corners and left tackles. You're paying a hundred fifty
bucks for a hundred dollar player, you know. I mean,
it's just bad business because there's a shortage and White,
I mean, his background implies that, assuming he believes where
he came from. I mean, the Eagles stressed big people
more than any team in the league. You know, they'll
take an extra offensive lineman, an extra defensive lineman when
(17:31):
that's not their top need. So I assume with their
background they'll follow suit. But who knows, Well, don't prove
out to this weekend's games. Any game in particular um
stands out to you, intrigue you, Lawrence verse Herbert. I
think is the one I'm looking forward to the most.
I adore those two young quarterbacks. I think both these
(17:53):
teams are trending the right direction. I think that one
will be the most competitive game. Unfortunately, I mean, I
don't think Miami and Baltimore can compete. I don't think
the Vikings or the Giants are true contenders, so I'm
super excited about it. I'm gonna watch every snap, of course,
but it's not a great slate of games as playoff
(18:15):
games go. Would the Steelers, given where they were when
their season ended against Cleveland, being better position to at
least give the Bills more of a test than Miami
figures to be. You know, we all watched the Miami game.
There's they're inept. I mean, they're just inept. And that
was against the Jets. So the Jets have a good defense,
(18:37):
uh coming defense. But I mean with the Steelers been
a position maybe not to win, but maybe not get
blown out. I think so. I mean, as they're constructed today,
I think the Steelers are a noticeably better team then
not only the Dolphins, but the Ravens, the Seahawks, the Giants.
(18:58):
I know they're not competing with the NFC teams, but
they would not be one of the worst two or
three teams in the playoffs in my opinion. I mean,
I did probably be tent or something along those lines.
I wouldn't like their chances in Buffalo. I mean I
were feeling. You know, Hamlin is gonna be there, and
this team is really healthy and exciting and gonna be
a brutal place to play. But Miami, Miami's awful right now.
(19:21):
I mean, with the third string quarterback, they really have
very little chance of competing. I think the Steelers at
least compete. It really looks like, if you're looking at
the a f C the chalk um, does Cincinnati stack
up evenly with Kansas City or Buffalo? I think so yeah,
(19:41):
And I might even make them number one. But you know,
they put all that all that investment into their offensive
line and I don't think they really fixed it, you know,
and now the right tackle and the right guard are
both out, so if they get derailed, maybe that's why
they don't run the ball super well. But I think
they're more well rounded in general than the Bills or
(20:04):
the Chiefs. And to me, if you're ranking those quarterbacks,
it's Mahomes Burrows slightly over Alan. I mean, I really
think he's gotten to that level and that they're the
best three quarterbacks on the planet right now and in
the NFC. Um. Do you believe in the Eagles, Yes,
very much so. I love how they're constructed. Going back
(20:27):
to Andy Whitel's background of the both lines of scrimmage.
I think they have the best roster in the league.
They're very well coached. I'm sure Brock Purty will the
rail the Niners at some point, but boy, that's a
great roster too. And I don't see the rest of
the NFC be particularly competitive. I'm not fond of where
(20:48):
the Cowboys are at. I thought they could be a
you know, in the hunt in the NFC, but it
doesn't look that way right now. Well, next week we'll
have an opportunity. The field will be in half. I
always say, um that this weekend is the best weekend
of the year, but you know, when you look forward
to next weekend, when the weed is separated from the chap,
when you have you know, doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, Uh,
(21:11):
you can't beat that for football junkies. Absolutely. I mean,
I think we'll get rid of some of the riff
raff out of this mix and this will be a
great weekend. But I don't think we're gonna be seeing,
you know, to a third string back up or you know,
the Ravens type backups. All those guys will be cast
away and within the hurt a little bit. All right,
That sounds good to me. Um and the broadcasting riff raff. However,
(21:34):
you can never get rid of us. We'll be back
next week to talk about it. Thank you, Matt. Alright,
stay and take care. We'll see you. Are you YouTube
mess Matt Williamson joined him on the Drive Dale Lolly
Um weekday afternoons four to six on Steelers Nation Radio.
We'll see how the weekend plays out. Enjoy the games.
Whoever you root for or root against, Um, have at it,
(21:57):
have a good time again. The podcast is of ailable
at Steelers dot com. Just go to Steelers dot com
and you can listen to it there, or you can
download the i heart Media app. Get it there. You
can listen to my daily radio show s a M.
In Pittsburgh ESPN Pittsburgh either live at high noon Monday
through Friday am. Or you can download the i heart
(22:22):
Media app that's free and listen to the podcast and
listen to it live that matter each weekday afternoon. Thanks
for joining me today, Steelers Nation. I appreciate it. I
hope you enjoyed us. Savereign on Steelers. Have a great weekend.
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