November 6, 2025 • 44 mins
Mark is joined by former Steeler Trai Essex to talk Steelers Josh Yohe joins to talk Pens ahead of the game vs Caps tonight
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Joining me now is a two time Super Bowl champion
with the Steelers. Got a great podcast going with Charlie Batch.
Always a pleasure to talk to Trey essex Tray. We
always talk with you about the O line first, is
fun to getting a lot better.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
That seems the contensus that he's really come on strong.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
He has, and for him to only be playing essentially
his rookie year with him only playing one game last year,
I didn't really impress with how much he's improved over
this first half of the season.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
It was a little up and down.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I thought he started out actually kind of strong and
kind of dipped the second and third and fourth weekend season,
but picked it right back up after the bye weekend.
He's been playing some really outstanding ball as of Blake.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
One thing you notice about him, because I always say, Trey,
you could tell an old lineman's playing good if you
can see it on the network feed, he looks really strong,
like he's just overwhelming some people physically.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
He is, and he's just he has a nasty disposition
that he plays with. And that's the first thing you
notice what that jumps off film about him. He wants
to attack the offender. He punches with both hands. He'll
punch you with two hands. And so the thing that
I like to, you know, highlight about Austin Lineman for
so long, so many people thought we only did one
(01:15):
of two things.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
We were either run.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Blocking or pass blocking, and it looked the same time.
No old lineman got moves too. And that's as a.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Vet you get to know that a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
But he's showing moves that vents show already in his
second year in the NFL, with him dropping the nose
tackle when they put his hands out, getting him over balanced.
He's just really showing a depth of knowledge at the
position that usually isn't for somebody who's only had nine
career starts.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Now is brodarn Jones at least doing okay? That also
seems to be a consensus he's.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Getting better, but I was I'm I'm not gonna say critical,
but I am a little cautious to heap too much
praise on him. There's still a lot of things in
his game that has to it better.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
So and it seems to be mostly mentally based.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I think there's a confidence issue because he doesn't display
the same nasty position on a consistent basis. You see
it every now and again, and you see that he's
he gets excited about the game, and you love that
that natural joy that he shows for the game. You
can build upon that, But there are some weight room
issues that he has to get to. He doesn't throw
his hands like Troy does. He doesn't have the experience
(02:25):
Toy does. But he's been in the league for three years,
and whether he has the experience or not, he's going
to have to pick it up because that teams are
going to see that and have seen it on film
and they've.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Been throwing pressure his way.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
If there's anybody that needs help right now, and that
we have to devote more offensive resources to one side
the ball with the other is usually Broughter.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I generally like how the offense is operating trade. The
one thing I don't like is I think they abandon
the run too quickly, and that's happened the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Why are they doing that? And who do you think
is deciding that.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
It's not even a.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So our offense because we don't utilize the middle field
like we used to, because our offensive line is young,
and Aaron feels he needs to get the ball out faster.
There are a lot of side adjustment that Aaron will
do when it is a called run play, that he'll
see something quick right away, that he'll get the ball
to one of his playmakers. That's why you see so
many quick screens. That's why he sees many short dump
(03:22):
boffs because Aaron has seen something in the defense and
he wants to get the ball out of the sands
right away, and some of those plays are called run plays. Now, granted,
I still think Arthur needs to call it more, especially
last week versus the Green Bay, when we only rent
it one time in the third quarter three times in
the whole second half. This time he attempted a little
bit more. We didn't have as much success in the
run give as I thought we should have, especially with
(03:43):
the middle of that offense playing the way they've been playing.
Between Mason, Isaac and Zach. I thought they've been getting
a lot of push in the run game. We gotta
be more consistent. We got to develop more of a
identity as far as.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
What we want to run other than the outside toss.
We love the outside toss.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Arthur is well verse than that, and we have done
it really well whenever we run it for the most part,
especially out of that big personnel package, but we have
to hit the interior runs a lot more often, a
lot more consistent.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Would you have got somebody at the deadline? I would have, yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
It just it seems like the offensive signings they have.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
They signed DK obviously brought Aaron.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
The NBS signing was a little underwhelming. I guess you
could say, yeah, and you can't out of matchine you
don't bring enough VET to keep him on the practice squad.
They'll go through the motions and he'll probably be elevated
a few games here once he gets up to speed
with the playbook. But I mean they they did grab
a safety before the trade deadline, and Kyle.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Duggar and that duo back there with him and Ramsey.
I liked well.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I saw this past game, even though a lot of
coverages just had to be a little vanilla with Kyle
coming in on Wednesday and having to play seventy seven
out of seventy eight snaps, so they weren't exotic in
the play book. But I do like that pick up,
and they seemed to pay some dividends early.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Well, you were right about them keeping the coverage is simple,
but they really shuffled the deck up front. They gave
you that four to three look. Some they used three
inside back or some they used three edge guys. Some
I like the way they did that, and I hope
they keep doing it.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yeah, and you can only do that because we're usually.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Doing that at nickel and dime situations. For the most part,
outside of Deshaun Elliott Real Peppers, we had a lot
of bodies that were healthy.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
In the secondary.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
We had JPJ and Slave even though he got hurt,
hadn't been playing the best. He came back into a
decent job. But you're able to do those different packages
when you have more bodies to play with.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Obviously, with Allix being back.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
And Nick Herbig being back, they got some really great
play out of Payston Wilson, Peyton Wilson, and the surprise
Malik Harrison getting that start actually an inside linebacker in
instead of cool Hunkle. So they had somebodies to throw
out there, and so they can be little versatile in
their personnel.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
We're talking to Trey six.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
This segment brought to us by eighty four Lumber Dynasty,
partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah, I thought Dugart did good.
Would you keep Ramsey at safety now?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Period? I know he's gonna play there this week? What
about when guys get healthy?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
No, I keep him there.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
He seemed What I did not know about his game
was how physical he was. Before he came here. I
thought he was just a man, a man corner get
at coverage, okay, at tackling. I didn't think he had
that this dog that he's showing him now. I love
this leadership he's that he's displaying. He seems to really
love being here. And that one play, in particular on
(06:37):
third down when Titans have given us so many problems
these last few years, Tyler Craft a week before, when
he came up and just knocked the mess out of
Tyler Warren to stop for that third down, that told me, okay, okay,
he likes that position. He's seeing things clear clearly. And
I think whatever you get a cornerback like that, you
think about the role Wotson and Charles Woodson is how
(06:58):
they were able to in their career. They did it
by moving to safety, and I think that might.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Be the move for him.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Trey.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
We all love to win over Indy. It was a
weird win though, I mean.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
You can't rely on six takeaways and they only won
by seven. I know, Indy cut up at garbage time,
but still, yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It was still some things that are lingering that give
me pause to really truly get a full brand of
confidence behind the squad. When you give up the leads
that they've given up in the fourth quarter, when you
can't run a fourmat offense, when your defense can't get
off the field and they can drive down the field
and school where we at one point up twenty seven
(07:37):
to seven and they put.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Up twenty points in that fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
So you want to be able to lean on your
defense and lean on a supposedly power offense that's built
around big folks to grind out these type of victories.
Because that's what you're gonna have to do in January
and February, December, January, February, and that's all we all know.
That's what we're waiting for, is what we're going to
do when we get to the playoffs. If we make
(08:03):
to the playoffs, which I think we have a get
very good chance. Candas Rand the ball work in the
playoffs because it hasn't been the last few years.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yeah, I mean the defense. I mean the turnovers, it's
a slippery slope. If they beat New England that way too.
I just hope they can play you know the other stuff,
the other you know things, the sacks, etc. On a
little more consistent basis. Up, What are you making this
Chargers game tray? Because they got big problems all those
injuries on the offensive line. They've lost three tackles, but
(08:30):
they got a good quarterback with Herbert. They can run
the ball, and I think they played pretty tough football,
hard football they do.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
They play at Jim Harbeck hardball brand of football.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
And regardless of these injuries, they're still finding a way
to move the ball downfield. They're not scoring a bunch
in the middle of the pack as far as scoring,
but they're like a top ten offense, still top ten
running team, despite the fact that they've lost their two
starting running backs, there's two starting tackles, and they're still
finding a way to grind out yards in the run game.
And obviously Herbert with that receiving court that he has
(09:01):
with McConkie and Quinton Johnson and then the Angeles one
in Keenan Allen, He's finding way us to get the
ball downfield and get up get huge chuck of yardage,
which we've been systable too. So the one thing that
I will say took me gave me confidence about the
team after this coach was they.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Stopped the run.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
They stopped that the best running back in the best
offensive line in football at the time.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
And if they can keep that going, if they can.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Build upon that, then this defense has has a good future.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
For the rest of the season.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
And if they can win this game trade I mean,
I thought Baltimore was gonna jump right up their backside.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
I thought they were gonna come on strong.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
If they can win at LA and that's a winnable
game and go to six and three, they will have
gone through what started out as a bad patch and
kept Baltimore at arm's.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Length, right, and then they got Cincinnati back at home.
So yeah, this is definitely the Every game is the
biggest game of the season when you get to it,
but this game is definitely crucial Sunday night away. We
don't want this Coast game to look like a fluke.
I mean, we lost the two previous games to this anyway,
so it would be a thing where we've lost three
(10:09):
out of four games.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
If we don't win this game, and it will.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Look like this was the gauntlet that everybody said it
would be for us, and so this game is definitely crucial.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Well, one another thing trade.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Like I said earlier, I like the offense most of
what it's done this year, But why has John Husmith disappeared?
I understand that they like Darnell Washington, but they should
like John new Smith a little bit more than they do.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Yeah, he needs to get involved somehow, especially since we
can't get the ball to DK more than two times
for six yards a game. Somebody else has to be
eating up the yard as I love what Calvin obviously
is doing. But John new came here in that trade
because he's a weapon that Arthur Smith has been familiar with,
and he came off his career best year last years
and he's in a contract year, so he know he's
(10:51):
hungry and he wants to prove that he can go
out there and do the same things he did last year.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
So I agree, I think he needs to be utilized more.
But there's a lot of guys I think need to
be elized. I think Jalen Warren needs the ball more.
Like we were alluding to earlier with the run game.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I think Pat Fryer move needs the ball more and
we need to find a way to get DK the
ball more.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Than two times in the game. So yes, John New.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Needs to be utilized more, but this offense in general,
he needs to find a way to sustain drives and
stay on the field so we can win a time
of possession so we have more time to get it
to these weapons.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Yeah, I agree with all of that. I just I just,
I mean, I don't know who to pin DK. Not
getting stats on DK the game plan. I know he's
dropped a.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Few, yeah, dropped a few.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, And there's no I can't blame it on Arthur.
He's trying to get him the ball, He's trying to
get it to him early, and like he dropped that
one over the middle of this time, he's dropped a
couple of other ones that would have been bigger plays
for him. And so even still he spent all that
money too. Catches for six yards just doesn't vibe with me,
right when you when you paid.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
This man all this money.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Granted, we won the game, thank goodness, and we can
lean on that, but we definitely need him to be
more productive as well as John Newsmiff.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
And all that.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
If we're not going to bring in that vaunted number
two receiver that we've all been talking about getting the
last two or three years.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Trey has always great stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
I appreciate it, taking a time, good stuff with Charlie
on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
We'll do it again soon.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Appreciate it. Mark how a good one.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
That's the great Trey essis love having him on. Now
we can get some calls in if you're so inclined.
You're probably not, but I don't care. Eight three three
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Listen all day for your chance. It's some X strake
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The X people are freaking out over this year is
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When you got a young trophy?
Speaker 1 (13:12):
White Oh's money to I can't even quote the big
o'bowski right goodbye.
Speaker 8 (13:16):
DX at one five nine.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
If you're going to the Penguins game tonight, how disappointed
are you that Morishov's not starting? How excited are you
to see Sid versus Ovi and Ben Kendall play on
Sid's Live Your Thoughts at A three three four one
two w XDX. I'm I'm just so disappointed with Morishov
not playing. I don't think it's the right thing to
do for the franchise, don't think it's the right thing
(13:42):
to do for the fans.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
And what's gained by him not playing? Exactly? What is
the purpose of him not playing?
Speaker 1 (13:49):
That's the thing I get the least, because now he's
going to make his NHL debut Saturday, twelve thirty pm
start time at New Jersey.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
It's college football Saturday.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Nobody's gonna see, nobody's gonna care in one of that
sense of community, like the Flurry debut at Melon Arena
back in O three.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Just very frustrating.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I'm sure the Penguins muse and Dupus disagree with me.
They're wrong. They're stupid for doing this rather not starting
more shoff.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Good talk with Trey Essex.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
And I do want to reiterate one thing we discussed,
which is the Steelers offensive line has really.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Come on, no doubt on that. You've got fatan who
playing like a beast.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
You got Roderick Jones playing okay, Spencer Anderson's done pretty
good filling in for Ciamalu, and of course you got
the hillbilly at center and McCormick.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
You don't hear about him at guards, so we must
be doing a pretty good job.
Speaker 9 (14:50):
Now.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
One thing I I you know, we only have trade
for so long. And one thing I didn't bring up
when we were talking is.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Jones. Next year's his fourth year.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
You got to decide whether or not to pick up
the fifth year on his rookie contract, the option.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
What do you do?
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Trey said, he has to earn it, and I get it.
But if you trade it up to get him to
be your long term left tackle and you don't even
pick up the fifth on his rookie contract, that's not
an indictment of him, that's an indictment of the organization
for trading up to get him and then doing so
(15:31):
poorly in developing him. By putting a bit right tackle
for the first two years, I'm making him a swing
tackle for all intents and purposes and breaking his confidence.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
So if they cut him, well, don't pick up his
fifth year option.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Rather, that'll be on the Steelers more than it's on Jones,
because really, this is Jones's rookie year at left tackle,
the position he was specifically.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Drafted to play to Frank, Frank, you're own with Mark.
Speaker 10 (16:03):
Hey, Mark, So first off, correct if I'm wrong. It's
he's been alternating goalwis one and one since the.
Speaker 11 (16:10):
Beginning of the season.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yes, yes, okay, so.
Speaker 10 (16:15):
It seems like he's sticking to that, and I guess
I did it. But for him, being like a developmental
type coach like you, doesn't you think it'd be best
to throw No.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
No, no, no, This is what developmental coach would do,
you know, sticking to routine and just letting players, you know,
have normalcy.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
But uh, but that it's not the time for normalcy.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
This is a a number one goaltender prospect.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Uh, he's the next star player for the Penguins. Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
He came up because of injury. So it's a sudden,
like thrown together thing. But people want to see the
guy play, and the Penguins are built should be quiet.
The Penguins are built on stars and events and this
was a chance to christen the star and have an
event and it might fail, but.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Hey, no risk and no biscuit.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
It's a mistake not to play him exactly.
Speaker 10 (17:07):
And now do you think I hate to say this
is maybe touston to call, but could this seem like
maybe once we get down the road, even maybe a
year or two.
Speaker 12 (17:17):
Is News always gonna want to stick.
Speaker 10 (17:19):
To his developmental concept when sometimes you need to coach
with the moment, especially.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
News News won't be the coach when the team's championship contender.
He's a developmental coach, and I don't I'm not insulting
him by saying this, but I believe his stay will
be not short, but but however temporary. Thank you for
the call. That's that's no knock on the guy. I
just think that's the job he was brought in to do.
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Speaker 1 (19:39):
The penguins point tonight, who cares? I'm pissed joining me
now to talk about it. From the athletic, it's Josh Shoey, Josh.
I can't believe they're not starting more shopping goal. What
reason could there possibly be to not.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
I've been racking my brain for about five hours trying
to think of one, and from a business standpoint and
a hockey standpoint, I simply can't think of one. Business wise. Obviously,
it's a bad move. You had a chance on a
national televised game to sell some tickets and to just
generate some interest from Penguins fans all around the world
who've been clamoring to see this kid for a couple
(20:14):
of years now. And from a hockey standpoint, when you
look at the next three games, which I assume you'
or Shove will play one of them, Washington has by
far the least potent offense statistically of those three. And
in the other two, you play in New Jersey where
they never ever play well. And then you have a
game on Sunday against La the second night of it,
back to back, when the Kings will have had three
(20:35):
days of breast entering that game. This was the most
comfortable game for him to play, in my opinion, And
I just I have not yet heard of reason from
anybody why it makes any sense.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Yeah, and I'm not dumb enough to think that him
playing tonight would generate a big walk up, because there's
no such thing in sports anymore as a big walk up.
But Derek expecting a good crowd anyway, because the Caps
are playing here. A lot of Taps fans apparently bought
tickets thinking it might be the OV nine hundred night
and Caps fans travel well anyway. But if the Ticketmaster
(21:08):
map is to be believed, Josh, not many tickets available.
But to me, that's all the more reason to play
more a shop, give the fans who do come potentially
a big moment to keep them coming back.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
No, there's no question whenever he makes his debut it'll
be a big deal. But when you'd rather be on
home ice against alex Ovechkin instead of being in Newark
on a Saturday afternoon, or or back at home during
an NFL Sunday, like, I think, it's kind of a
no brainer. From a business standpoint, I think that goes
without saying, Mark, I think maybe the penguin's overthought things
(21:43):
a little bit too much. And I don't know whose
decision that was. It was Damn Muse or Kyle Dubis
or Andy Kyoto or some combination of the three or
somebody else. I don't know, but it doesn't make sense.
And also from your shops, like you know, he's deserving
of this opportunity. Look at the numbs he's put up.
This might be Alex Ovechkin's last NHL season, This.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Could be the last chance.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
For all we know, that he ever gets to play
against him. I have to think that would have meant
a lot to him to make his NHL debut against
the most famous Russian player there's ever been.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, it just shows lack of recognizing an occasion. I
will Ben Kendall do on Sid's wing and wide. Does
it strike you as a good fit?
Speaker 5 (22:23):
It does, simply put and I hate to make comparisons
to star players already for the eighteen year old kid,
but he reminds me of Jake Denzil so much just
the way he plays the game from a hockey I
q standpoint, from the hands that he has. But also
my favorite thing about Kendall, and nobody really talks about this,
there's a fearlessness to his game, like he will take
(22:46):
a beating in front of the net, he will go
to the corners. After Toronto took the lead the other night,
in a terrible third period for the Penguins, Kendall got
a shift with the Gunny Malkin and he took the
puck out wide on the right wing, and he barged
it a net and almost it was very much at
Jake Gonzel or Brian Russ looking play. Those are the
guys Sid wants to play with. He loves people who
(23:06):
will go down low with him, who will work with him.
And even though Kendall's not big, I had somebody in
the organization told me last week that he's hockey strong,
which I think is a really good way.
Speaker 9 (23:16):
To put it.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
He doesn't get knocked off bucks, he tends to win
a lot of battles down low. Combine that just with
his natural hockey IQ. I could see him and Sid
being a really good fit. Even though I know the
Penguins love him at center, I don't blame them for.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Trying this no, especially given the injury situation and Sid
really lacking anyone to play with besides Brian Russ Now
staying with Kindall, should he run the power play on
that left half wall, be the quarterback?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Should things go through him? Because I can see it.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
He has more power play acumen than Crosby or Malkin.
And that seems hard to believe, but you know it's true.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Oh, I mean, if you're going to long, especially at Sid,
who's one of the five greatest players who ever lived,
the power plays been his strength, per se. He still
puts up a lot of numbers on the power play
because he's so great. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
I don't think the game comes naturally to sit. The
game slows down, and it just naturally slows down on
the power play, right, So kid.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
But Kendall has that knack.
Speaker 9 (24:18):
Yes, no, he does.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
And I don't know where they should use him moving forward,
because I'll tell you what. I've seen him playing on
the bumper in practice and he really do it well.
So that's something to consider. I will say this, no
matter whether it should go through or him or not,
I don't know if he's ready for that, but I
do think even when this team's completely healthy, that he
should be somewhere on the top power play unit. And
(24:41):
if that means taking Malkin off, that's okay. I would
compare it to what Washington did years ago when they
had Nick Baxtrom on the right wing wall and he
had one timers with Ovechkin and Oshi and John Carlson
all right handed shots. Now the Penguins could have that
when you've got Carlson and Raquel and Rust and kinda
wall health. That could be a really interesting look on
(25:02):
the power play and one for them to consider. He's
just a total natural Mark. I mean everything he does
in the offensive zone, especially, but also defensively, but now
everything he does the game just he processes information at
a much higher level than almost any teenager I've ever watched.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
It's a soccer backer on Josh. He has that football vision.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Is it good or bad that Heinen's back because he's recycled.
He's starting, but he was ripping it up at Wilkes
And he's kind of learned to play center late in
his career, hasn't he It's fine.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
He's not a terrible NHL player. He's the kind of
guy that will drive you nuts if you watch him
for eighty two games because he's just so low intensity
that it can be painful. But he has some scoring touch.
He's never really going to hurt you. I think for
a rebuilding team, you don't want him out there eighty
two nights a year, But if you need him to
come up for a month when people are banged up,
(25:55):
he's actually a nice guy to have around. This is
a guy who can know he's scored fifteen to twenty
in the NHL. He's not a bad hockey player, and
I'll give him credit, and I'll say the same thing
for Ryan Graves Mark on this level. On those two
guys could have gone to wilkes Bury and pouted and
been down in the dumpson and they didn't. By all accounts,
They've worked hard and especially in the case of Heine,
(26:15):
and played really well. So I have no problem with
him being rewarded. And as a short term guy, you
need people like that in the organization who are decent
NHL players who can fill in from time to time,
because the Penguins, as we all know, are really dealing
with a rash of injuries right now, which is very
unfortunate given how well they've been playing.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
We're talking to Josh Elwey of the Athletic here on
the Mark Madden Show. Yeah, I'm not displeased to see
Graves back. For one thing, it's not too hard to
get in the lineup on the left side of that
Penguins defense, and they got guys hurt there. Second off,
I think muse a system which is more systematic and
doesn't require Ryan Graves to try to play the same
(26:56):
way as Chris Latang. I think he might do better
in this set up, although to be fair, it was
the same setup as in the preseason and he got cuts.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
Yeah, he didn't look great in the preseason, but yeah,
we'll see. The fact is, I think, especially with defenceman,
coaching changes can be a really big deal for them.
Speaker 12 (27:16):
Now.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
I'm not comparing Eric Carlson with Ryan Graves, but Eric
Carlson too, was a big disappointment his first two seasons
in Pittsburgh. He's been way better this season, and obviously
I think the new coaching regime has something to do
with that. And in Graves case, like as awful as
he was last season, I thought he was marginally better
last year than he was the year before when he
was a complete disaster.
Speaker 9 (27:36):
We'll see.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
He's going to have his minutes sheltered. Whenever he does play,
He's not going to be out there twenty two minutes
to night. He might not kill them in a third
pairing role, and that's all you can ask for right now.
Speaker 9 (27:47):
But we'll see.
Speaker 5 (27:47):
I give him credit. I think his attitude throughout all
of this has been really good. And yes, I know
he's still getting paid, so I know there's some people
say he's a millionaire. I'm not going to feel bad
for him, but it's not easy going back to the
minor leagues. When you've been in the NHL for years,
a lot of guys would just pout and collect their paycheck.
But I don't think he's one of those guys.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Ov got goal number nine hundred last night. He only
has three this season. I think he might be about done.
But I wish he'd have got the goal tonight. I
respect Ovie and it's fun to see stuff like that.
Although the goal was kind of a typical because it
was that checks hockey backhand to spin, a rama type thing.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
It was kind of a thinking man's goal, which isn't
a knock on Obie, but that's just not what we
think of when we think of him scoring goals. You know,
the goal that's set the record last spring was the
classic Obie goal, the one timer from the left circle,
which is probably where he scored I'm sure more than
half of his goals in his career. But no, I
agree with you. I think anytime you get a chance
(28:46):
to see history, whether it's a rival or not, or
somebody you like or not. They play eighty two games
a year, that's a lot. Sometimes you need something to
entice you a little bit, and something like that would
have been cool. And I do think things have thought
between the Penguins and Capitals over the years. The Penguins
fans actually gave Obi a very lengthy standing ovation when
(29:07):
Washington was in town right after he broke the record
the last game.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
Of the season last year.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
That was actually a pretty cool moment. And Mark, there's
no garan.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
I think he'll get the same tonight.
Speaker 5 (29:16):
He might and there's no guarantee he'll be back after
this season. A lot of people that I know in
Washington think this is probably his last season. So that
means if you're a Penguins fan, you probably only have
two more chances to see Crosby and ovech Get and
Malkin all the same sheet of ice together. That's a
pretty big deal.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
How about Tonight's the ninety ninth meeting of Crosby and Ovechkin.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
I kind of feel like they should fight.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
I actually said that to Sit in the locker room yesterday,
and he looked at me without smiling, and he said,
how do you know we won't? And I finally broke
a smile myself because he was just being funny to
Speaking of thought, things have certainly thought between those two.
But I have always said Mark that when those two
were on the same sheet of ice. Sure it was
like that in the Boston Garden when Bird and Magic
(30:02):
played each other. These are two of the players of
all time who have been going at it for twenty
years and countless memorable moments for classic playoff series. All
four of them were No, if you're a hockey fan,
you have to appreciate seeing these two together for however
many more years it will be. And like I said,
I know a lot of people in Washington who who
(30:24):
really think this might be Obuchtions last year, and we
know there's could be Malklins as well. So there's only
so many of these memories left.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Yeah, And whenever you hear Ov talk now, does he
look a bit worn out when he plays? I mean,
not bad, but just like you know forty, But he
also sounds a bit worn out when he talks, even
after he scored goal number nine hundred last night. I
never had much dot sid would not last Ov, But
now I think we're seeing that come to pass.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Where the ping was at right now.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Josh, because I'm sure you've looked at the Eastern Conference standings.
How about only six points separate first from sixteen in
the conference standings, FLD is in last place at six
six and one. No team has more regulation losses than
it does wins, which A is crazy the standings being
(31:13):
packed that tight, and B shows how screwy the loser
point really is.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
It seems like every time I look at the scores
around the league, every single one is a three point game.
They have to be on a record chattering pace for
overtime games, which I don't really know is a good thing.
Maybe it is, maybe it is, and I don't know.
We always say in the Eastern Conference stinks. It's easy
to say that, but really I would say the conference
doesn't have a dominant team. I don't know that any
(31:41):
of the teams in the East are really terrible. Some
might be better than others, but it's never been this close.
And as for the Penguins, hey, it's been a great start,
but they're in the middle of a really tough stretch
mark They've lost two in a row, and they are
playing against a very good Capitals team tonight, and then
this weekend two teams in the and Kings who historically
give them a lot of problems. I don't want to
(32:04):
say it's danger time for the Penguins. If you're thinking
about them, you know, staying in playoff position or that
kind of thing. But you might want to get three
out of six points in those three games if you're
the Penguins, because then you don't play again for five
days until you play in Sweden. So I think these
are really important games. And I think Tonight' says because listen,
they let two points get away in Toronto with their
(32:24):
worst period of the season. You don't want to let
that linger. I think it's a sign of a good
team if you've come right back and beat one of
your arrivals. So I actually think this is the biggest
game of the young season so far.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
I agree.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Do you think the Penguins like some of the decisions
like sticking with the goalie rotation and calling up Pinen
instead of a Tristan braz Is because they're enamored with
that eight four and two start and want to prop it.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Up maybe a little bit. I understand the goalie rotation
thing because both goalies have been good, but you can't
keep doing that. Ever, it's okay to change things up
a little bit. I suspect you know that they've been
doing it because it's working. If it's if it ain't broke,
(33:09):
don't fix it, right. I think that's been the mindset,
and that's fine. They're kind of playing it safe, and
I don't mind the hiding thing because it's for a
week or two. That's what veterans. I know, everyone wants
to see all the younger I understand if you're the
Penguin's not bringing all the young guys having seven rookies
on the ice at once, I understand that you could
(33:30):
kind of do it bit by bit. But sure, I
think they're a little surprised by what the record is
right now, quite honestly, and sometimes that can impact well.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
That game was weird because the first two periods they
totally dominated, and while you hate blowing that game, you've
got to take away something good from those first two
periods as well.
Speaker 5 (33:51):
Yeah, I know, after the game, somebody has Tom Musough
you don't want to remember this game anymore, and he
basically corrected corrected with him and said, no, we can
take a lot away from this game, and he referenced
the second period in particular, which, in the words of
Brian Russ, I don't think Toronto had the puck the
whole period like he might be right. That was flawless,
clinical hockey. That was the best period I've seen the
(34:12):
Penguins play in probably two or three years at least.
It was unbelievable how dominant they were. Hockey is a
funny game. You can't always maintain that level of play,
and in the Penguins case, they really fell apart in
a bad time in Toronto, because boy, that would have
been some kind of a nice win for them. Let's
see how they respond. I think we'll learn a lot
about the overall depth that this team has with the injuries,
(34:34):
and also just the mental toughness that it has, because
I think the Capitol is like they haven't been playing great, right.
Ohbi got his big goal last night, second night of
a back to back. They won six to one last night.
Seemed like this is a pretty good time to catch
the Capitals. I don't think you're gonna get a.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Pretty good time to play.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Morrishoff too, and Josh, I'm really pissed, as you know,
we talked earlier today. I mean I'm really pissed. And
part of it is I don't think the GM and
coach understand what this team's built on and understand this market.
And I think hockey in general has long since forgotten.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
It's in the entertainment business.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
That's a really good way to put it. It's kind
of tone deaf more than anything to me.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
And it's just as there are debates like the Steelers
getting what's his name, Jacoby Meyers the receiver that Jacksonville got. Hey,
I don't care, b there's two sides of that story.
There's not two sides this story. I am one hundred
percent right.
Speaker 9 (35:32):
No, you are.
Speaker 5 (35:33):
And listen, the Penguins as we've known them since nineteen
eighty four. If it all about star power, that that's
just what this franchise is, Okay, And in Miroshav, I've
had enough people in the organization tell me they think
this might be a star. So when he gets recalled
and he gets a practice the day before and you're
playing Obie on national television in Pittsburgh, like, come on,
(35:56):
it's too easy of a script to pass up. I
can't believe he's not starting tonight.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
I'm so mad, Josh, I might drink before I go
to the game. We'll see you down there.
Speaker 5 (36:05):
Oh, I'll drive you home if necessary.
Speaker 9 (36:08):
It's fine.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
That's Josh hooey. Now, It's time to ask Mark Anything.
Eight three three four one two wxdx. That's eight three
three four one two wxdx. Or you can leave a
talk back via the microphone icon at the iHeartMedia app.
But conaw and ask Mark Anything. Eight three three four
one two w xdx.
Speaker 5 (36:29):
It's time to submit your questions for Ask Mark Anything.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Use your free iHeartRadio app and tap the microphone icon
to send your questions to the super genius instantly.
Speaker 13 (36:42):
Tonight's the Pens hit the ice against the Capitals. Game
time is seven thirty. Our coverage starts at six thirty.
Listen to every game and the best Pens coverage on
your home at the Pittsburgh Penguins one oh five nine DX.
Speaker 7 (36:58):
This hour, the Mark Maddon shows Bronti you by buzz light,
bradly served a good time bar and grill and a
millfel stopping good time bar and grill and enjoy fourteen
dollars butt line talk.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
And now the super genius Mark Madden.
Speaker 8 (37:11):
They're gonna nail us no matter what we do, so
we might as well have a good time. Toe got
hoe got tx A one o five nine. You talk
too much, always saying what's on your mind.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Asthma getting brought to us by People's Natural Gas People's
in essense of the utilities company, Safe Reliable natural Gas Energy,
People's hypengas dot com. We got a bunch of talkbacks,
only one phone called get Calls, and I like to
do an asthma getting the old fashioned way. Eight three
three four one two wxdx. Next segment's gonna be basically
(37:58):
as Mark anything too, because the list is.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Really short, and you'll see why.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
So get your calls in now that number again, eight
three three four one two w xd x. And then
we got the Hockey Night Show Extra Hockey Talk from
six till six thirty, so I can rage mindlessly about
how pissed I am about morishof not playing for thirty
minutes more. You know, the people who think this is
(38:23):
no big deal. All they want to talk about is
the Steelers. If you're a penguinsman, this should be a
big deal. Let's go to Joe in Ocean City. Joe,
you're on with double M.
Speaker 9 (38:35):
Yeah, Mark, Today is Pat Tillman's birthday. Okay, And for
years I've always wondered, I don't know if I've ever
heard you really sneak on him. I mean I might
have missed it or something like that. I was just
always curious of how you felt about, you know, what
he did leaving the league and going.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
And then from what I've read, and I've read extensively
on it, by the way, I don't think Pat left, Yeah,
there any obligation to serve his country. I think Pat
wanted to test himself in war. Isn't that the impression
you got from everything you've read?
Speaker 9 (39:09):
From what I saw was the interview about his grandson
the day after nine to eleven, was the interview he
did or he spoke of his grandfather in World War two,
and he said they kind of put him in check
and he had felt like he hadn't really accomplished anything,
and he did want to test his medals. So yeah,
I do kind of I agree with you on that.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
Yeah, really fair enough.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
I mean, I give the guy credit for walking away
from millions to prove himself to himself. You know, whether
it makes him a national hero, a Medal of honor winner,
whether it makes him any more noble than anybody who
died in combat, I don't know about that. But I
give the guy credit. He's a man.
Speaker 9 (39:48):
Have you heard the cover up. I mean, have you
read it into the cover up and everything?
Speaker 1 (39:52):
Well, he was supposedly killed by friendly fire. That's the case, right, No.
Speaker 9 (39:58):
Oh, well it was killed by fly fire, but it
was there was a lot more too. It's a I
recommend me digging. I mean, I made other story in
sports thoughts, you know what I mean, dig into It's
a pretty crazy story when when now that you know,
years have passed, when his mother went through, you know,
dealing with the government and everything. I mean, it's it
(40:20):
turned out to be a pretty insane cover up, a
pretty disgusting story.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Story has always started off. But I appreciate the call
and I will for sure check it out. Thank you.
Let's go to Mike. Mike ask Mark anything?
Speaker 11 (40:34):
Hey, Mark? Yeah, about your chef. I mean, I'm disappointed
as well. You were saying about uh us Naught's kind
of knowing the situation, and I agree with that there.
But whenever he started the season with Crosby Malkin kindle
with tang In Brunick, I thought that was pretty neat
and I am surprised that he didn't do something similar.
Speaker 12 (40:54):
Here with from yourself.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
Well, the eight four and two start has them hypnotized.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
Being tied for second overall in the Eastern Conference has
them hypnotized. They don't get that it's fool's goal very likely,
and they want to prop it up as long as
they can by way of sustaining interest. But if you
want to sustain interest, you want to create hype. Play
this kid tonight, but it ain't gonna happen.
Speaker 11 (41:16):
Yeah, I agree. I don't know if it's perhaps maybe
like the rotation that they.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Have, or I don't know, they want ro.
Speaker 1 (41:24):
It's shilovs his turn. It's mused, good term, it's mused
being tone death. Let's go to a talkback.
Speaker 14 (41:30):
If Muse is a transitional style coach, what type of
coach do you think would be the type that will
get them to the next cup. Would it be an
authoritarian or some other type of personality.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
I never said he was a transitional coach. I said
he was a developmental coach. They'll get I can't name
a name. I don't think it'll be an authoritarian because
really those guys don't exist or prosper in any sport.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
Now.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
I think it'll be more of a tactical coach. At
that point, let's go to a talk.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
Back, Hey Mark.
Speaker 1 (42:07):
If Mrshov plays incredibly well, do you think the Penguins
a look at trying to trade Tristan Jarry to keep
Mrshov in Pittsburgh. I don't know that's a good question.
I think they'd love to trade Jarry. I'm not sure
that's predicated on Morrishof's development. Let's say Morrishof wasn't playing
great in Wilkes and Tristan Jarry was playing well enough
(42:28):
to trade I think they trade him just to get
that contract off the books, and you know, to stick
with what was the plan of keeping Morishof and Wilkes
our year. Maybe you'd call up Philip Larson or Joel Blumquist,
who his hurt. But boy, he's a bum. So I
don't know exactly what the intent in goal is. But
they'd love to trade Jarry. They would for sure love
(42:50):
to trade Jarry. Let's go to Graham. Graham, ask Mark anything.
Speaker 12 (42:56):
Hey Mark, I think the biggest disappointment tonight is that
if they go with the rotation, Mirosov will start in
New Jersey and then they play a home game and
then they go to Sweden. So you might not see
Mirasov at home for a good bit if they stick
with that rotation.
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Yeah, it's just stupid. I can't describe how stupid this is.
Thank you for the cor Let's go to Cosmo. Cosmo,
you're on with double M.
Speaker 5 (43:22):
Mark.
Speaker 15 (43:23):
Who will have a more electric trade deadline? The twenty
twenty five Pittsburgh Steelers or the twenty twenty six Pittsburgh Pirates.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
I don't know. The Steelers didn't trade for Skiings, did they.
Speaker 9 (43:41):
Good?
Speaker 2 (43:41):
Try good good? No, they didn't.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
It could have could be a little in through the
outdoor action. I feel you. That's pretty funny. Let's go
to a talkback.
Speaker 9 (43:49):
Mark.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
How many more games does TJ.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
Watt have to perform like you did against the Colts
to have earned his contract? I think he needs to
make impact on every game he plays to truly earn
that contract, not major like he did against Indy. But
that's the only time he's made major impact all year?
Am I right? I think so? He's been pretty good
(44:12):
in two other games. So let's say in three out
of eight games he's made impact.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
That's not enough.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
And I don't care about the double teams and the chips.
You make the most, you do the most that one color.
But up a good point that if Shiloffs plays at
home tonight and Sunday and then they go to Sweden,
who knows when Pittsburgh fans are going to see morishoff.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
It's just what they did is dumb. It's dumb.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
It shows no sense of the occasion and no understanding
of what this franchise is. As good as Kyle is
at his job, he doesn't get this market and what
this team really is.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
And the same obviously goes for the coach five ninety X.
Speaker 7 (44:52):
Now it's your chance to win one thousand dollars. Just
enter
Joining me now is a two time Super Bowl champion
with the Steelers. Got a great podcast going with Charlie Batch.
Always a pleasure to talk to Trey essex Tray. We
always talk with you about the O line first, is
fun to getting a lot better.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
That seems the contensus that he's really come on strong.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
He has, and for him to only be playing essentially
his rookie year with him only playing one game last year,
I didn't really impress with how much he's improved over
this first half of the season.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
It was a little up and down.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
I thought he started out actually kind of strong and
kind of dipped the second and third and fourth weekend season,
but picked it right back up after the bye weekend.
He's been playing some really outstanding ball as of Blake.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
One thing you notice about him, because I always say, Trey,
you could tell an old lineman's playing good if you
can see it on the network feed, he looks really strong,
like he's just overwhelming some people physically.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
He is, and he's just he has a nasty disposition
that he plays with. And that's the first thing you
notice what that jumps off film about him. He wants
to attack the offender. He punches with both hands. He'll
punch you with two hands. And so the thing that
I like to, you know, highlight about Austin Lineman for
so long, so many people thought we only did one
(01:15):
of two things.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
We were either run.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Blocking or pass blocking, and it looked the same time.
No old lineman got moves too. And that's as a.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Vet you get to know that a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
But he's showing moves that vents show already in his
second year in the NFL, with him dropping the nose
tackle when they put his hands out, getting him over balanced.
He's just really showing a depth of knowledge at the
position that usually isn't for somebody who's only had nine
career starts.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Now is brodarn Jones at least doing okay? That also
seems to be a consensus he's.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Getting better, but I was I'm I'm not gonna say critical,
but I am a little cautious to heap too much
praise on him. There's still a lot of things in
his game that has to it better.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
So and it seems to be mostly mentally based.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
I think there's a confidence issue because he doesn't display
the same nasty position on a consistent basis. You see
it every now and again, and you see that he's
he gets excited about the game, and you love that
that natural joy that he shows for the game. You
can build upon that, But there are some weight room
issues that he has to get to. He doesn't throw
his hands like Troy does. He doesn't have the experience
(02:25):
Toy does. But he's been in the league for three years,
and whether he has the experience or not, he's going
to have to pick it up because that teams are
going to see that and have seen it on film
and they've.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Been throwing pressure his way.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
If there's anybody that needs help right now, and that
we have to devote more offensive resources to one side
the ball with the other is usually Broughter.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I generally like how the offense is operating trade. The
one thing I don't like is I think they abandon
the run too quickly, and that's happened the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Why are they doing that? And who do you think
is deciding that.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
It's not even a.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
So our offense because we don't utilize the middle field
like we used to, because our offensive line is young,
and Aaron feels he needs to get the ball out faster.
There are a lot of side adjustment that Aaron will
do when it is a called run play, that he'll
see something quick right away, that he'll get the ball
to one of his playmakers. That's why you see so
many quick screens. That's why he sees many short dump
(03:22):
boffs because Aaron has seen something in the defense and
he wants to get the ball out of the sands
right away, and some of those plays are called run plays. Now, granted,
I still think Arthur needs to call it more, especially
last week versus the Green Bay, when we only rent
it one time in the third quarter three times in
the whole second half. This time he attempted a little
bit more. We didn't have as much success in the
run give as I thought we should have, especially with
(03:43):
the middle of that offense playing the way they've been playing.
Between Mason, Isaac and Zach. I thought they've been getting
a lot of push in the run game. We gotta
be more consistent. We got to develop more of a
identity as far as.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
What we want to run other than the outside toss.
We love the outside toss.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
Arthur is well verse than that, and we have done
it really well whenever we run it for the most part,
especially out of that big personnel package, but we have
to hit the interior runs a lot more often, a
lot more consistent.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Would you have got somebody at the deadline? I would have, yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
It just it seems like the offensive signings they have.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
They signed DK obviously brought Aaron.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
The NBS signing was a little underwhelming. I guess you
could say, yeah, and you can't out of matchine you
don't bring enough VET to keep him on the practice squad.
They'll go through the motions and he'll probably be elevated
a few games here once he gets up to speed
with the playbook. But I mean they they did grab
a safety before the trade deadline, and Kyle.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Duggar and that duo back there with him and Ramsey.
I liked well.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I saw this past game, even though a lot of
coverages just had to be a little vanilla with Kyle
coming in on Wednesday and having to play seventy seven
out of seventy eight snaps, so they weren't exotic in
the play book. But I do like that pick up,
and they seemed to pay some dividends early.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Well, you were right about them keeping the coverage is simple,
but they really shuffled the deck up front. They gave
you that four to three look. Some they used three
inside back or some they used three edge guys. Some
I like the way they did that, and I hope
they keep doing it.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Yeah, and you can only do that because we're usually.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Doing that at nickel and dime situations. For the most part,
outside of Deshaun Elliott Real Peppers, we had a lot
of bodies that were healthy.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
In the secondary.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
We had JPJ and Slave even though he got hurt,
hadn't been playing the best. He came back into a
decent job. But you're able to do those different packages
when you have more bodies to play with.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Obviously, with Allix being back.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
And Nick Herbig being back, they got some really great
play out of Payston Wilson, Peyton Wilson, and the surprise
Malik Harrison getting that start actually an inside linebacker in
instead of cool Hunkle. So they had somebodies to throw
out there, and so they can be little versatile in
their personnel.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
We're talking to Trey six.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
This segment brought to us by eighty four Lumber Dynasty,
partner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah, I thought Dugart did good.
Would you keep Ramsey at safety now?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Period? I know he's gonna play there this week? What
about when guys get healthy?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
No, I keep him there.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
He seemed What I did not know about his game
was how physical he was. Before he came here. I
thought he was just a man, a man corner get
at coverage, okay, at tackling. I didn't think he had
that this dog that he's showing him now. I love
this leadership he's that he's displaying. He seems to really
love being here. And that one play, in particular on
(06:37):
third down when Titans have given us so many problems
these last few years, Tyler Craft a week before, when
he came up and just knocked the mess out of
Tyler Warren to stop for that third down, that told me, okay, okay,
he likes that position. He's seeing things clear clearly. And
I think whatever you get a cornerback like that, you
think about the role Wotson and Charles Woodson is how
(06:58):
they were able to in their career. They did it
by moving to safety, and I think that might.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Be the move for him.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Trey.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
We all love to win over Indy. It was a
weird win though, I mean.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
You can't rely on six takeaways and they only won
by seven. I know, Indy cut up at garbage time,
but still, yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It was still some things that are lingering that give
me pause to really truly get a full brand of
confidence behind the squad. When you give up the leads
that they've given up in the fourth quarter, when you
can't run a fourmat offense, when your defense can't get
off the field and they can drive down the field
and school where we at one point up twenty seven
(07:37):
to seven and they put.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Up twenty points in that fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
So you want to be able to lean on your
defense and lean on a supposedly power offense that's built
around big folks to grind out these type of victories.
Because that's what you're gonna have to do in January
and February, December, January, February, and that's all we all know.
That's what we're waiting for, is what we're going to
do when we get to the playoffs. If we make
(08:03):
to the playoffs, which I think we have a get
very good chance. Candas Rand the ball work in the
playoffs because it hasn't been the last few years.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yeah, I mean the defense. I mean the turnovers, it's
a slippery slope. If they beat New England that way too.
I just hope they can play you know the other stuff,
the other you know things, the sacks, etc. On a
little more consistent basis. Up, What are you making this
Chargers game tray? Because they got big problems all those
injuries on the offensive line. They've lost three tackles, but
(08:30):
they got a good quarterback with Herbert. They can run
the ball, and I think they played pretty tough football,
hard football they do.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
They play at Jim Harbeck hardball brand of football.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
And regardless of these injuries, they're still finding a way
to move the ball downfield. They're not scoring a bunch
in the middle of the pack as far as scoring,
but they're like a top ten offense, still top ten
running team, despite the fact that they've lost their two
starting running backs, there's two starting tackles, and they're still
finding a way to grind out yards in the run game.
And obviously Herbert with that receiving court that he has
(09:01):
with McConkie and Quinton Johnson and then the Angeles one
in Keenan Allen, He's finding way us to get the
ball downfield and get up get huge chuck of yardage,
which we've been systable too. So the one thing that
I will say took me gave me confidence about the
team after this coach was they.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Stopped the run.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
They stopped that the best running back in the best
offensive line in football at the time.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
And if they can keep that going, if they can.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Build upon that, then this defense has has a good future.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
For the rest of the season.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
And if they can win this game trade I mean,
I thought Baltimore was gonna jump right up their backside.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
I thought they were gonna come on strong.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
If they can win at LA and that's a winnable
game and go to six and three, they will have
gone through what started out as a bad patch and
kept Baltimore at arm's.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Length, right, and then they got Cincinnati back at home.
So yeah, this is definitely the Every game is the
biggest game of the season when you get to it,
but this game is definitely crucial Sunday night away. We
don't want this Coast game to look like a fluke.
I mean, we lost the two previous games to this anyway,
so it would be a thing where we've lost three
(10:09):
out of four games.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
If we don't win this game, and it will.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Look like this was the gauntlet that everybody said it
would be for us, and so this game is definitely crucial.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Well, one another thing trade.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Like I said earlier, I like the offense most of
what it's done this year, But why has John Husmith disappeared?
I understand that they like Darnell Washington, but they should
like John new Smith a little bit more than they do.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Yeah, he needs to get involved somehow, especially since we
can't get the ball to DK more than two times
for six yards a game. Somebody else has to be
eating up the yard as I love what Calvin obviously
is doing. But John new came here in that trade
because he's a weapon that Arthur Smith has been familiar with,
and he came off his career best year last years
and he's in a contract year, so he know he's
(10:51):
hungry and he wants to prove that he can go
out there and do the same things he did last year.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
So I agree, I think he needs to be utilized more.
But there's a lot of guys I think need to
be elized. I think Jalen Warren needs the ball more.
Like we were alluding to earlier with the run game.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I think Pat Fryer move needs the ball more and
we need to find a way to get DK the
ball more.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Than two times in the game. So yes, John New.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Needs to be utilized more, but this offense in general,
he needs to find a way to sustain drives and
stay on the field so we can win a time
of possession so we have more time to get it
to these weapons.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Yeah, I agree with all of that. I just I just,
I mean, I don't know who to pin DK. Not
getting stats on DK the game plan. I know he's
dropped a.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
Few, yeah, dropped a few.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, And there's no I can't blame it on Arthur.
He's trying to get him the ball, He's trying to
get it to him early, and like he dropped that
one over the middle of this time, he's dropped a
couple of other ones that would have been bigger plays
for him. And so even still he spent all that
money too. Catches for six yards just doesn't vibe with me,
right when you when you paid.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
This man all this money.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Granted, we won the game, thank goodness, and we can
lean on that, but we definitely need him to be
more productive as well as John Newsmiff.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
And all that.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
If we're not going to bring in that vaunted number
two receiver that we've all been talking about getting the
last two or three years.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Trey has always great stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
I appreciate it, taking a time, good stuff with Charlie
on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
We'll do it again soon.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
Appreciate it. Mark how a good one.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
That's the great Trey essis love having him on. Now
we can get some calls in if you're so inclined.
You're probably not, but I don't care. Eight three three
four one two w XDX eight three three four one
two w XDX.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
It's the Mark Madden Show On one O five nine
The X one oh five nine DX has your shot
at X draug cash because we're nice.
Speaker 6 (12:42):
Thirteen times a day, nine am through nine pm, d
X will give you the keyword at the top of
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This is your money.
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Listen all day for your chance. It's some X strake
on one five nine.
Speaker 7 (13:02):
The X people are freaking out over this year is
sold out radio. Mark Madden, Hey, Mark.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
When you got a young trophy?
Speaker 1 (13:12):
White Oh's money to I can't even quote the big
o'bowski right goodbye.
Speaker 8 (13:16):
DX at one five nine.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
If you're going to the Penguins game tonight, how disappointed
are you that Morishov's not starting? How excited are you
to see Sid versus Ovi and Ben Kendall play on
Sid's Live Your Thoughts at A three three four one
two w XDX. I'm I'm just so disappointed with Morishov
not playing. I don't think it's the right thing to
do for the franchise, don't think it's the right thing
(13:42):
to do for the fans.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
And what's gained by him not playing? Exactly? What is
the purpose of him not playing?
Speaker 1 (13:49):
That's the thing I get the least, because now he's
going to make his NHL debut Saturday, twelve thirty pm
start time at New Jersey.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
It's college football Saturday.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Nobody's gonna see, nobody's gonna care in one of that
sense of community, like the Flurry debut at Melon Arena
back in O three.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Just very frustrating.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
I'm sure the Penguins muse and Dupus disagree with me.
They're wrong. They're stupid for doing this rather not starting
more shoff.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Good talk with Trey Essex.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
And I do want to reiterate one thing we discussed,
which is the Steelers offensive line has really.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Come on, no doubt on that. You've got fatan who
playing like a beast.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
You got Roderick Jones playing okay, Spencer Anderson's done pretty
good filling in for Ciamalu, and of course you got
the hillbilly at center and McCormick.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
You don't hear about him at guards, so we must
be doing a pretty good job.
Speaker 9 (14:50):
Now.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
One thing I I you know, we only have trade
for so long. And one thing I didn't bring up
when we were talking is.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Jones. Next year's his fourth year.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
You got to decide whether or not to pick up
the fifth year on his rookie contract, the option.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
What do you do?
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Trey said, he has to earn it, and I get it.
But if you trade it up to get him to
be your long term left tackle and you don't even
pick up the fifth on his rookie contract, that's not
an indictment of him, that's an indictment of the organization
for trading up to get him and then doing so
(15:31):
poorly in developing him. By putting a bit right tackle
for the first two years, I'm making him a swing
tackle for all intents and purposes and breaking his confidence.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
So if they cut him, well, don't pick up his
fifth year option.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Rather, that'll be on the Steelers more than it's on Jones,
because really, this is Jones's rookie year at left tackle,
the position he was specifically.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Drafted to play to Frank, Frank, you're own with Mark.
Speaker 10 (16:03):
Hey, Mark, So first off, correct if I'm wrong. It's
he's been alternating goalwis one and one since the.
Speaker 11 (16:10):
Beginning of the season.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yes, yes, okay, so.
Speaker 10 (16:15):
It seems like he's sticking to that, and I guess
I did it. But for him, being like a developmental
type coach like you, doesn't you think it'd be best
to throw No.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
No, no, no, This is what developmental coach would do,
you know, sticking to routine and just letting players, you know,
have normalcy.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
But uh, but that it's not the time for normalcy.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
This is a a number one goaltender prospect.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Uh, he's the next star player for the Penguins. Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
He came up because of injury. So it's a sudden,
like thrown together thing. But people want to see the
guy play, and the Penguins are built should be quiet.
The Penguins are built on stars and events and this
was a chance to christen the star and have an
event and it might fail, but.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Hey, no risk and no biscuit.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
It's a mistake not to play him exactly.
Speaker 10 (17:07):
And now do you think I hate to say this
is maybe touston to call, but could this seem like
maybe once we get down the road, even maybe a
year or two.
Speaker 12 (17:17):
Is News always gonna want to stick.
Speaker 10 (17:19):
To his developmental concept when sometimes you need to coach
with the moment, especially.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
News News won't be the coach when the team's championship contender.
He's a developmental coach, and I don't I'm not insulting
him by saying this, but I believe his stay will
be not short, but but however temporary. Thank you for
the call. That's that's no knock on the guy. I
just think that's the job he was brought in to do.
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Speaker 6 (18:46):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six one x.
Speaker 7 (18:50):
Seven dollar Energy Fund Weather Center. This report is sponsored
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than mostly Cloudie overnight, dropping down to an overnight low
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That's the sound of downy, unstoppable sin beads going into
your washing machine and giving your clothes freshness that lasts
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Speaker 2 (19:27):
There it is again, and now the super genius Mark Madden.
I'm not sure.
Speaker 8 (19:33):
Just big and it's soft, and I use a bunch
of pillows and I swore.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
The exit one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
The penguins point tonight, who cares? I'm pissed joining me
now to talk about it. From the athletic, it's Josh Shoey, Josh.
I can't believe they're not starting more shopping goal. What
reason could there possibly be to not.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
I've been racking my brain for about five hours trying
to think of one, and from a business standpoint and
a hockey standpoint, I simply can't think of one. Business wise. Obviously,
it's a bad move. You had a chance on a
national televised game to sell some tickets and to just
generate some interest from Penguins fans all around the world
who've been clamoring to see this kid for a couple
(20:14):
of years now. And from a hockey standpoint, when you
look at the next three games, which I assume you'
or Shove will play one of them, Washington has by
far the least potent offense statistically of those three. And
in the other two, you play in New Jersey where
they never ever play well. And then you have a
game on Sunday against La the second night of it,
back to back, when the Kings will have had three
(20:35):
days of breast entering that game. This was the most
comfortable game for him to play, in my opinion, And
I just I have not yet heard of reason from
anybody why it makes any sense.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Yeah, and I'm not dumb enough to think that him
playing tonight would generate a big walk up, because there's
no such thing in sports anymore as a big walk up.
But Derek expecting a good crowd anyway, because the Caps
are playing here. A lot of Taps fans apparently bought
tickets thinking it might be the OV nine hundred night
and Caps fans travel well anyway. But if the Ticketmaster
(21:08):
map is to be believed, Josh, not many tickets available.
But to me, that's all the more reason to play
more a shop, give the fans who do come potentially
a big moment to keep them coming back.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
No, there's no question whenever he makes his debut it'll
be a big deal. But when you'd rather be on
home ice against alex Ovechkin instead of being in Newark
on a Saturday afternoon, or or back at home during
an NFL Sunday, like, I think, it's kind of a
no brainer. From a business standpoint, I think that goes
without saying, Mark, I think maybe the penguin's overthought things
(21:43):
a little bit too much. And I don't know whose
decision that was. It was Damn Muse or Kyle Dubis
or Andy Kyoto or some combination of the three or
somebody else. I don't know, but it doesn't make sense.
And also from your shops, like you know, he's deserving
of this opportunity. Look at the numbs he's put up.
This might be Alex Ovechkin's last NHL season, This.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Could be the last chance.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
For all we know, that he ever gets to play
against him. I have to think that would have meant
a lot to him to make his NHL debut against
the most famous Russian player there's ever been.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, it just shows lack of recognizing an occasion. I
will Ben Kendall do on Sid's wing and wide. Does
it strike you as a good fit?
Speaker 5 (22:23):
It does, simply put and I hate to make comparisons
to star players already for the eighteen year old kid,
but he reminds me of Jake Denzil so much just
the way he plays the game from a hockey I
q standpoint, from the hands that he has. But also
my favorite thing about Kendall, and nobody really talks about this,
there's a fearlessness to his game, like he will take
(22:46):
a beating in front of the net, he will go
to the corners. After Toronto took the lead the other night,
in a terrible third period for the Penguins, Kendall got
a shift with the Gunny Malkin and he took the
puck out wide on the right wing, and he barged
it a net and almost it was very much at
Jake Gonzel or Brian Russ looking play. Those are the
guys Sid wants to play with. He loves people who
(23:06):
will go down low with him, who will work with him.
And even though Kendall's not big, I had somebody in
the organization told me last week that he's hockey strong,
which I think is a really good way.
Speaker 9 (23:16):
To put it.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
He doesn't get knocked off bucks, he tends to win
a lot of battles down low. Combine that just with
his natural hockey IQ. I could see him and Sid
being a really good fit. Even though I know the
Penguins love him at center, I don't blame them for.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Trying this no, especially given the injury situation and Sid
really lacking anyone to play with besides Brian Russ Now
staying with Kindall, should he run the power play on
that left half wall, be the quarterback?
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Should things go through him? Because I can see it.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
He has more power play acumen than Crosby or Malkin.
And that seems hard to believe, but you know it's true.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Oh, I mean, if you're going to long, especially at Sid,
who's one of the five greatest players who ever lived,
the power plays been his strength, per se. He still
puts up a lot of numbers on the power play
because he's so great. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (24:06):
I don't think the game comes naturally to sit. The
game slows down, and it just naturally slows down on
the power play, right, So kid.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
But Kendall has that knack.
Speaker 9 (24:18):
Yes, no, he does.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
And I don't know where they should use him moving forward,
because I'll tell you what. I've seen him playing on
the bumper in practice and he really do it well.
So that's something to consider. I will say this, no
matter whether it should go through or him or not,
I don't know if he's ready for that, but I
do think even when this team's completely healthy, that he
should be somewhere on the top power play unit. And
(24:41):
if that means taking Malkin off, that's okay. I would
compare it to what Washington did years ago when they
had Nick Baxtrom on the right wing wall and he
had one timers with Ovechkin and Oshi and John Carlson
all right handed shots. Now the Penguins could have that
when you've got Carlson and Raquel and Rust and kinda
wall health. That could be a really interesting look on
(25:02):
the power play and one for them to consider. He's
just a total natural Mark. I mean everything he does
in the offensive zone, especially, but also defensively, but now
everything he does the game just he processes information at
a much higher level than almost any teenager I've ever watched.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
It's a soccer backer on Josh. He has that football vision.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Is it good or bad that Heinen's back because he's recycled.
He's starting, but he was ripping it up at Wilkes
And he's kind of learned to play center late in
his career, hasn't he It's fine.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
He's not a terrible NHL player. He's the kind of
guy that will drive you nuts if you watch him
for eighty two games because he's just so low intensity
that it can be painful. But he has some scoring touch.
He's never really going to hurt you. I think for
a rebuilding team, you don't want him out there eighty
two nights a year, But if you need him to
come up for a month when people are banged up,
(25:55):
he's actually a nice guy to have around. This is
a guy who can know he's scored fifteen to twenty
in the NHL. He's not a bad hockey player, and
I'll give him credit, and I'll say the same thing
for Ryan Graves Mark on this level. On those two
guys could have gone to wilkes Bury and pouted and
been down in the dumpson and they didn't. By all accounts,
They've worked hard and especially in the case of Heine,
(26:15):
and played really well. So I have no problem with
him being rewarded. And as a short term guy, you
need people like that in the organization who are decent
NHL players who can fill in from time to time,
because the Penguins, as we all know, are really dealing
with a rash of injuries right now, which is very
unfortunate given how well they've been playing.
Speaker 1 (26:36):
We're talking to Josh Elwey of the Athletic here on
the Mark Madden Show. Yeah, I'm not displeased to see
Graves back. For one thing, it's not too hard to
get in the lineup on the left side of that
Penguins defense, and they got guys hurt there. Second off,
I think muse a system which is more systematic and
doesn't require Ryan Graves to try to play the same
(26:56):
way as Chris Latang. I think he might do better
in this set up, although to be fair, it was
the same setup as in the preseason and he got cuts.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
Yeah, he didn't look great in the preseason, but yeah,
we'll see. The fact is, I think, especially with defenceman,
coaching changes can be a really big deal for them.
Speaker 12 (27:16):
Now.
Speaker 5 (27:16):
I'm not comparing Eric Carlson with Ryan Graves, but Eric
Carlson too, was a big disappointment his first two seasons
in Pittsburgh. He's been way better this season, and obviously
I think the new coaching regime has something to do
with that. And in Graves case, like as awful as
he was last season, I thought he was marginally better
last year than he was the year before when he
was a complete disaster.
Speaker 9 (27:36):
We'll see.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
He's going to have his minutes sheltered. Whenever he does play,
He's not going to be out there twenty two minutes
to night. He might not kill them in a third
pairing role, and that's all you can ask for right now.
Speaker 9 (27:47):
But we'll see.
Speaker 5 (27:47):
I give him credit. I think his attitude throughout all
of this has been really good. And yes, I know
he's still getting paid, so I know there's some people
say he's a millionaire. I'm not going to feel bad
for him, but it's not easy going back to the
minor leagues. When you've been in the NHL for years,
a lot of guys would just pout and collect their paycheck.
But I don't think he's one of those guys.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Ov got goal number nine hundred last night. He only
has three this season. I think he might be about done.
But I wish he'd have got the goal tonight. I
respect Ovie and it's fun to see stuff like that.
Although the goal was kind of a typical because it
was that checks hockey backhand to spin, a rama type thing.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
It was kind of a thinking man's goal, which isn't
a knock on Obie, but that's just not what we
think of when we think of him scoring goals. You know,
the goal that's set the record last spring was the
classic Obie goal, the one timer from the left circle,
which is probably where he scored I'm sure more than
half of his goals in his career. But no, I
agree with you. I think anytime you get a chance
(28:46):
to see history, whether it's a rival or not, or
somebody you like or not. They play eighty two games
a year, that's a lot. Sometimes you need something to
entice you a little bit, and something like that would
have been cool. And I do think things have thought
between the Penguins and Capitals over the years. The Penguins
fans actually gave Obi a very lengthy standing ovation when
(29:07):
Washington was in town right after he broke the record
the last game.
Speaker 4 (29:09):
Of the season last year.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
That was actually a pretty cool moment. And Mark, there's
no garan.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
I think he'll get the same tonight.
Speaker 5 (29:16):
He might and there's no guarantee he'll be back after
this season. A lot of people that I know in
Washington think this is probably his last season. So that
means if you're a Penguins fan, you probably only have
two more chances to see Crosby and ovech Get and
Malkin all the same sheet of ice together. That's a
pretty big deal.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
How about Tonight's the ninety ninth meeting of Crosby and Ovechkin.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
I kind of feel like they should fight.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
I actually said that to Sit in the locker room yesterday,
and he looked at me without smiling, and he said,
how do you know we won't? And I finally broke
a smile myself because he was just being funny to
Speaking of thought, things have certainly thought between those two.
But I have always said Mark that when those two
were on the same sheet of ice. Sure it was
like that in the Boston Garden when Bird and Magic
(30:02):
played each other. These are two of the players of
all time who have been going at it for twenty
years and countless memorable moments for classic playoff series. All
four of them were No, if you're a hockey fan,
you have to appreciate seeing these two together for however
many more years it will be. And like I said,
I know a lot of people in Washington who who
(30:24):
really think this might be Obuchtions last year, and we
know there's could be Malklins as well. So there's only
so many of these memories left.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Yeah, And whenever you hear Ov talk now, does he
look a bit worn out when he plays? I mean,
not bad, but just like you know forty, But he
also sounds a bit worn out when he talks, even
after he scored goal number nine hundred last night. I
never had much dot sid would not last Ov, But
now I think we're seeing that come to pass.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
Where the ping was at right now.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Josh, because I'm sure you've looked at the Eastern Conference standings.
How about only six points separate first from sixteen in
the conference standings, FLD is in last place at six
six and one. No team has more regulation losses than
it does wins, which A is crazy the standings being
(31:13):
packed that tight, and B shows how screwy the loser
point really is.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
It seems like every time I look at the scores
around the league, every single one is a three point game.
They have to be on a record chattering pace for
overtime games, which I don't really know is a good thing.
Maybe it is, maybe it is, and I don't know.
We always say in the Eastern Conference stinks. It's easy
to say that, but really I would say the conference
doesn't have a dominant team. I don't know that any
(31:41):
of the teams in the East are really terrible. Some
might be better than others, but it's never been this close.
And as for the Penguins, hey, it's been a great start,
but they're in the middle of a really tough stretch
mark They've lost two in a row, and they are
playing against a very good Capitals team tonight, and then
this weekend two teams in the and Kings who historically
give them a lot of problems. I don't want to
(32:04):
say it's danger time for the Penguins. If you're thinking
about them, you know, staying in playoff position or that
kind of thing. But you might want to get three
out of six points in those three games if you're
the Penguins, because then you don't play again for five
days until you play in Sweden. So I think these
are really important games. And I think Tonight' says because listen,
they let two points get away in Toronto with their
(32:24):
worst period of the season. You don't want to let
that linger. I think it's a sign of a good
team if you've come right back and beat one of
your arrivals. So I actually think this is the biggest
game of the young season so far.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
I agree.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Do you think the Penguins like some of the decisions
like sticking with the goalie rotation and calling up Pinen
instead of a Tristan braz Is because they're enamored with
that eight four and two start and want to prop it.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Up maybe a little bit. I understand the goalie rotation
thing because both goalies have been good, but you can't
keep doing that. Ever, it's okay to change things up
a little bit. I suspect you know that they've been
doing it because it's working. If it's if it ain't broke,
(33:09):
don't fix it, right. I think that's been the mindset,
and that's fine. They're kind of playing it safe, and
I don't mind the hiding thing because it's for a
week or two. That's what veterans. I know, everyone wants
to see all the younger I understand if you're the
Penguin's not bringing all the young guys having seven rookies
on the ice at once, I understand that you could
(33:30):
kind of do it bit by bit. But sure, I
think they're a little surprised by what the record is
right now, quite honestly, and sometimes that can impact well.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
That game was weird because the first two periods they
totally dominated, and while you hate blowing that game, you've
got to take away something good from those first two
periods as well.
Speaker 5 (33:51):
Yeah, I know, after the game, somebody has Tom Musough
you don't want to remember this game anymore, and he
basically corrected corrected with him and said, no, we can
take a lot away from this game, and he referenced
the second period in particular, which, in the words of
Brian Russ, I don't think Toronto had the puck the
whole period like he might be right. That was flawless,
clinical hockey. That was the best period I've seen the
(34:12):
Penguins play in probably two or three years at least.
It was unbelievable how dominant they were. Hockey is a
funny game. You can't always maintain that level of play,
and in the Penguins case, they really fell apart in
a bad time in Toronto, because boy, that would have
been some kind of a nice win for them. Let's
see how they respond. I think we'll learn a lot
about the overall depth that this team has with the injuries,
(34:34):
and also just the mental toughness that it has, because
I think the Capitol is like they haven't been playing great, right.
Ohbi got his big goal last night, second night of
a back to back. They won six to one last night.
Seemed like this is a pretty good time to catch
the Capitals. I don't think you're gonna get a.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Pretty good time to play.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
Morrishoff too, and Josh, I'm really pissed, as you know,
we talked earlier today. I mean I'm really pissed. And
part of it is I don't think the GM and
coach understand what this team's built on and understand this market.
And I think hockey in general has long since forgotten.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
It's in the entertainment business.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
That's a really good way to put it. It's kind
of tone deaf more than anything to me.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
And it's just as there are debates like the Steelers
getting what's his name, Jacoby Meyers the receiver that Jacksonville got. Hey,
I don't care, b there's two sides of that story.
There's not two sides this story. I am one hundred
percent right.
Speaker 9 (35:32):
No, you are.
Speaker 5 (35:33):
And listen, the Penguins as we've known them since nineteen
eighty four. If it all about star power, that that's
just what this franchise is, Okay, And in Miroshav, I've
had enough people in the organization tell me they think
this might be a star. So when he gets recalled
and he gets a practice the day before and you're
playing Obie on national television in Pittsburgh, like, come on,
(35:56):
it's too easy of a script to pass up. I
can't believe he's not starting tonight.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
I'm so mad, Josh, I might drink before I go
to the game. We'll see you down there.
Speaker 5 (36:05):
Oh, I'll drive you home if necessary.
Speaker 9 (36:08):
It's fine.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
That's Josh hooey. Now, It's time to ask Mark Anything.
Eight three three four one two wxdx. That's eight three
three four one two wxdx. Or you can leave a
talk back via the microphone icon at the iHeartMedia app.
But conaw and ask Mark Anything. Eight three three four
one two w xdx.
Speaker 5 (36:29):
It's time to submit your questions for Ask Mark Anything.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Use your free iHeartRadio app and tap the microphone icon
to send your questions to the super genius instantly.
Speaker 13 (36:42):
Tonight's the Pens hit the ice against the Capitals. Game
time is seven thirty. Our coverage starts at six thirty.
Listen to every game and the best Pens coverage on
your home at the Pittsburgh Penguins one oh five nine DX.
Speaker 7 (36:58):
This hour, the Mark Maddon shows Bronti you by buzz light,
bradly served a good time bar and grill and a
millfel stopping good time bar and grill and enjoy fourteen
dollars butt line talk.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
And now the super genius Mark Madden.
Speaker 8 (37:11):
They're gonna nail us no matter what we do, so
we might as well have a good time. Toe got
hoe got tx A one o five nine. You talk
too much, always saying what's on your mind.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
Asthma getting brought to us by People's Natural Gas People's
in essense of the utilities company, Safe Reliable natural Gas Energy,
People's hypengas dot com. We got a bunch of talkbacks,
only one phone called get Calls, and I like to
do an asthma getting the old fashioned way. Eight three
three four one two wxdx. Next segment's gonna be basically
(37:58):
as Mark anything too, because the list is.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Really short, and you'll see why.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
So get your calls in now that number again, eight
three three four one two w xd x. And then
we got the Hockey Night Show Extra Hockey Talk from
six till six thirty, so I can rage mindlessly about
how pissed I am about morishof not playing for thirty
minutes more. You know, the people who think this is
(38:23):
no big deal. All they want to talk about is
the Steelers. If you're a penguinsman, this should be a
big deal. Let's go to Joe in Ocean City. Joe,
you're on with double M.
Speaker 9 (38:35):
Yeah, Mark, Today is Pat Tillman's birthday. Okay, And for
years I've always wondered, I don't know if I've ever
heard you really sneak on him. I mean I might
have missed it or something like that. I was just
always curious of how you felt about, you know, what
he did leaving the league and going.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
And then from what I've read, and I've read extensively
on it, by the way, I don't think Pat left, Yeah,
there any obligation to serve his country. I think Pat
wanted to test himself in war. Isn't that the impression
you got from everything you've read?
Speaker 9 (39:09):
From what I saw was the interview about his grandson
the day after nine to eleven, was the interview he
did or he spoke of his grandfather in World War two,
and he said they kind of put him in check
and he had felt like he hadn't really accomplished anything,
and he did want to test his medals. So yeah,
I do kind of I agree with you on that.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
Yeah, really fair enough.
Speaker 1 (39:31):
I mean, I give the guy credit for walking away
from millions to prove himself to himself. You know, whether
it makes him a national hero, a Medal of honor winner,
whether it makes him any more noble than anybody who
died in combat, I don't know about that. But I
give the guy credit. He's a man.
Speaker 9 (39:48):
Have you heard the cover up. I mean, have you
read it into the cover up and everything?
Speaker 1 (39:52):
Well, he was supposedly killed by friendly fire. That's the case, right, No.
Speaker 9 (39:58):
Oh, well it was killed by fly fire, but it
was there was a lot more too. It's a I
recommend me digging. I mean, I made other story in
sports thoughts, you know what I mean, dig into It's
a pretty crazy story when when now that you know,
years have passed, when his mother went through, you know,
dealing with the government and everything. I mean, it's it
(40:20):
turned out to be a pretty insane cover up, a
pretty disgusting story.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Story has always started off. But I appreciate the call
and I will for sure check it out. Thank you.
Let's go to Mike. Mike ask Mark anything?
Speaker 11 (40:34):
Hey, Mark? Yeah, about your chef. I mean, I'm disappointed
as well. You were saying about uh us Naught's kind
of knowing the situation, and I agree with that there.
But whenever he started the season with Crosby Malkin kindle
with tang In Brunick, I thought that was pretty neat
and I am surprised that he didn't do something similar.
Speaker 12 (40:54):
Here with from yourself.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
Well, the eight four and two start has them hypnotized.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
Being tied for second overall in the Eastern Conference has
them hypnotized. They don't get that it's fool's goal very likely,
and they want to prop it up as long as
they can by way of sustaining interest. But if you
want to sustain interest, you want to create hype. Play
this kid tonight, but it ain't gonna happen.
Speaker 11 (41:16):
Yeah, I agree. I don't know if it's perhaps maybe
like the rotation that they.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Have, or I don't know, they want ro.
Speaker 1 (41:24):
It's shilovs his turn. It's mused, good term, it's mused
being tone death. Let's go to a talkback.
Speaker 14 (41:30):
If Muse is a transitional style coach, what type of
coach do you think would be the type that will
get them to the next cup. Would it be an
authoritarian or some other type of personality.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
I never said he was a transitional coach. I said
he was a developmental coach. They'll get I can't name
a name. I don't think it'll be an authoritarian because
really those guys don't exist or prosper in any sport.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
Now.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
I think it'll be more of a tactical coach. At
that point, let's go to a talk.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
Back, Hey Mark.
Speaker 1 (42:07):
If Mrshov plays incredibly well, do you think the Penguins
a look at trying to trade Tristan Jarry to keep
Mrshov in Pittsburgh. I don't know that's a good question.
I think they'd love to trade Jarry. I'm not sure
that's predicated on Morrishof's development. Let's say Morrishof wasn't playing
great in Wilkes and Tristan Jarry was playing well enough
(42:28):
to trade I think they trade him just to get
that contract off the books, and you know, to stick
with what was the plan of keeping Morishof and Wilkes
our year. Maybe you'd call up Philip Larson or Joel Blumquist,
who his hurt. But boy, he's a bum. So I
don't know exactly what the intent in goal is. But
they'd love to trade Jarry. They would for sure love
(42:50):
to trade Jarry. Let's go to Graham. Graham, ask Mark anything.
Speaker 12 (42:56):
Hey Mark, I think the biggest disappointment tonight is that
if they go with the rotation, Mirosov will start in
New Jersey and then they play a home game and
then they go to Sweden. So you might not see
Mirasov at home for a good bit if they stick
with that rotation.
Speaker 1 (43:11):
Yeah, it's just stupid. I can't describe how stupid this is.
Thank you for the cor Let's go to Cosmo. Cosmo,
you're on with double M.
Speaker 5 (43:22):
Mark.
Speaker 15 (43:23):
Who will have a more electric trade deadline? The twenty
twenty five Pittsburgh Steelers or the twenty twenty six Pittsburgh Pirates.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
I don't know. The Steelers didn't trade for Skiings, did they.
Speaker 9 (43:41):
Good?
Speaker 2 (43:41):
Try good good? No, they didn't.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
It could have could be a little in through the
outdoor action. I feel you. That's pretty funny. Let's go
to a talkback.
Speaker 9 (43:49):
Mark.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
How many more games does TJ.
Speaker 1 (43:52):
Watt have to perform like you did against the Colts
to have earned his contract? I think he needs to
make impact on every game he plays to truly earn
that contract, not major like he did against Indy. But
that's the only time he's made major impact all year?
Am I right? I think so? He's been pretty good
(44:12):
in two other games. So let's say in three out
of eight games he's made impact.
Speaker 2 (44:17):
That's not enough.
Speaker 1 (44:18):
And I don't care about the double teams and the chips.
You make the most, you do the most that one color.
But up a good point that if Shiloffs plays at
home tonight and Sunday and then they go to Sweden,
who knows when Pittsburgh fans are going to see morishoff.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
It's just what they did is dumb. It's dumb.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
It shows no sense of the occasion and no understanding
of what this franchise is. As good as Kyle is
at his job, he doesn't get this market and what
this team really is.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
And the same obviously goes for the coach five ninety X.
Speaker 7 (44:52):
Now it's your chance to win one thousand dollars. Just
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