May 11, 2023 • 22 mins
Brian Batko of the Post-Gazette joins the Blitz to talk the release of Arthur Maulet and who could fill that role this year. He also gives his thoughts on the upcoming schedule release.
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Speaker 1 (00:20):
He's the Steelers Glitz with Wesley Wheler and Arthur Mots
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold sn R.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Back on the Blitz here on a Thursday, as we
anxiously await the NFL schedule release this evening. We are
joined now by a gentleman who knows a thing or
two about that everything else going on with the Steelers.
Of course, he's our day one, our good friend of
the show. Mister Brian Bacho covers the Steelers for the
Post Gazette. Mister Baco, how are things at the at
the Baco estate. It's May here, the weather's changing. You've
(00:51):
been getting out on that tractor and cutting some grass.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, I just did that yesterday.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I'm losing my voice a little bit, and it's like
probably seventy percent from yelling at my three year old.
Ten percent allergy slash sickness.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Ten percent. We had a very intense beer league.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Softball game Tuesday night, and ten percent doing karaoke after
beer League softball. So so I'm hurting a little bit here,
and I've got a wedding Friday night, so that's gonna
be I've got to recover.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
So are you officially questionable? Are you doubtful?
Speaker 5 (01:25):
He's probable?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Probably were you?
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Yeah, we don't even do probable in the NFL anymore,
but I'm at the very least.
Speaker 6 (01:33):
Okay, I wanted to leave a lad on you, and
I was gonna let your availability be the guy for
this weekend.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
But you know, just let me know ahead of time.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, I might not be one hundred percent, but obviously
we got a we gotta gout through it.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
It's wedding season.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Baby.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
We've got five of them between now and October, my
wife and I and like, get reduce your baby ones.
Two siblings of hers getting married, two of yeah, like
two of my best friends and then a close family friend.
So none of those weddings where you're sitting on the
sideline talking to one dude news at your table, because
(02:09):
it's like, no, these are all ones that I'm gonna
be mixing it up.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Oh yeah, you're involved.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Man, You are involved.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You are You are certainly involved. I've already had to
inform a couple loved ones that I'm probably not going
to be able to make it to their weddings.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
But we'll see what happens with the schedule.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Release of course, this evening, before we get to some
of those schedule release things with you, Brian, I did
want to ask you. The big Steeler centric news of
the day, I guess, is, of course the release of
Arthur Malette, Steelers slot cornerback, who I think had harved
out a nice role for himself here in the wake
of Mike Hilton, a position that means a lot for
(02:44):
the Steelers and that we know now you got to
find the next man up in that regard, you're surprised
by this and with that, I mean, do you think
they have that guy on the roster or you maybe
now going shopping a little bit as well.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Not particularly surprised.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I think you know, was a backloaded two year deal
for Malette, as the Steelers tend to do with players
of that caliber, and you.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Know, I think you know he served his purpose while
he was here.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Nobody expected him to be Mike Hilton two point zero,
but they needed a scrappy guy against the run to
do those things in the nickel and for the most
part he did when he got his opportunities. Put a
little bit limited in coverage, of course, as you're always
going to be for the most part, at his size.
I don't think he really had the kind of you know,
necessary juice that Mike Hilton had from sideline to sideline either.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
But I mean, hey, he was an.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
NFL caliber player, but he was also kind of just
a guy as far as NFL defenders go for the
most part. So I don't know that they'll go shopping again.
I think they're going to take a look at some
of the in house options, whether it's Chandon Sullivan who
they signed on Day three of the draft, which that
told you maybe Arthur Molett's days here were numbered, because
(03:55):
they're kind of similar in terms of their NFL experience
and in their resume.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
But I also think they'll.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Experiment with some different things, like a Patrick Peterson moving inside.
You know, I think Demante Casey was doing some of
that last year in camp before he got hurt. And
then you even have you know, a Mika Fitzpatrick, who
we know that he's comfortable and really good playing that
deep post with the Steelers. But if you want to
(04:22):
try to get him around the ball more coming off
the season he had, you might have to get a
little bit creative with your schematics.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
Now, are you concerned at all with you know some
of the just alternatives that we were talking about, right, Minka,
Pat p.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Even a Kanu Knill.
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Right, all of those guys primarily play other positions, and
the slot would be, you know, something that they're doing
as an addition to what they.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Are already comfortable with.
Speaker 6 (04:49):
So we know that it's not going to maximize, it's
not going to be to the same level, whereas when
we talk about let you talk Channis Sullivan, that's what
they do exclusively, right, So is there any concern with that?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Yeah, definitely, I mean I think it could be a
concern for sure. It could be a weak spot of
this defense with Cam Sutton gone. I mean we know
that you know he he wore both hats too, but
he was brought up in the organization to do that.
I mean, he initially got his feet wet as an
inside corner here, and you know he kind of he
was able to expand his role because of his versatility
(05:24):
as football IQ on the ceiling. As Mike Toumlan would say, So,
I think they've got other guys who can do that too.
But you're right, I think there's something to be said
for having a guy whose primary responsibility is that position.
That's why I was a little bit you know, I
thought they could go outside and inside corner in this draft.
(05:45):
I thought it could be Joey Porter Junior at the
top of the second round, and I figured they'd maybe
circle back in the third or fourth to pick up
an undersized nickel defender. But they ultimately didn't go that way.
Chann and Sullivan kind of amounts to, you know, their
addition at that spot. And then the other name that
I will mention, I think is Trey Norwood. He's he's
(06:08):
played that role in the dime. Will they give him
a chance to show what he can do in the
nickel as the primary slot?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I think they like a lot of his attributes as well.
He's got some physical limitations too that we've seen when
he plays the free safety spot. But you know, there's
no shortage of bodies and options that they can throw
at the position, and at the end of the day,
try to get your best eleven out there.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
Yeah, I'm glad you brought up Trade Norwood too, man,
because he's one of those guys I think for him
to be able to survive on this roster, especially with
some of the guys we brought in, He's going to
have to be able to show that type of versatility.
You know that he could not just play safety, but
can do some of that slast stuff at at least
a varsity level.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Because he was following in the footsteps of Cam Sutton
for the last definitely on TEW years. I mean, he
was in his hip pocket the same way that a
young broadcaster would try to attach himself to a Wesley
Yuehler of the industry. And that's or what did with Campsuck.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
That's right, hey, and that's what we're hoping Joey Porter Jr.
Does with with Patrick Peterson.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
And Corey Trice for that matter.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Serious, that's okay, hold on real quick, you gotta you
need to be I'm glad you brought up Corey Trice here,
Brian Becko, because I said this last week and Motzy
about laughed me off the show.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
I got, I gotta, I gotta, I gotta.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I got a thing for Corey Trice, Okay, and I
got a feeling. Motes got it, a lot of our
listeners got it. We got some tweets about it. You
ready for this?
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Okay?
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Corey Trice real name, No gimmicks.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
That is a child of the of the two thousands.
Right there with that reference, was Obie Trice?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Was he in D twelve?
Speaker 6 (07:54):
He was?
Speaker 5 (07:54):
He was in D twelve? That's right on a couple
on a couple of eminem songs.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Of course too, got some teeth, Yeah, they gotta hope
Corey Trice got some teeth on the outside there. We'll
see what he can do out, you know, in camp,
and and I guess you know, we got rookie mini
camp this weekend.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
This weekend. It's football in shorts, as you know.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
But if it's football, baby, if any player can you know,
show a little bit of something, it's it's a skill position, dude,
a perimeter receiver, a corner like.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
Mister mister Beck say that again. Man, This is for
the at least, this is for the space plays.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
This for the pretty guy.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It's like, you know, somebody's like, what are we gonna
see out of Roger Jones?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Like nothing, you can see that from drill to trill.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
It's conditioning.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Look out how hard he's running from the from show
to the next.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Man, if you.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
Play in that box, if you're a physical player in
the box, this is not for you this is conditioning, Okay,
that's what this.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Or like you know a Jalen Warren last year, like
there's nothing really nobody knew who he was many camp.
I mean once once the pat started popping, you know,
then he proved his worth. But uh yeah, I mean
it's still gonna be good just to see players in
person because there are first impressions that you can draw
from guys in this environment.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Like I remember four years ago.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
You know, not to bring up any sore subjects, but
you know, seeing Devin Bush in his first rookie camp,
I mean, the lack of size for him and that
challenge was so much more apparent seeing him in person
around other NFL bodies and those weren't even the vets.
I mean those were just the other rookies, and it
still stood out to me just how small he was.
(09:31):
So you know, Roderick Jones in Darnet, Washington, that'll be
the flip side.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
It'll be obvious how big they are.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
When we first saw Najie Harris, let me get let
me bring up the vibes we first saw Naji Harrigos
on campus. I mean he was just even bigger than
you would expect. Reading a six two two thirty on
the UH on the scouting report.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
So it's it's good to see.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
But at the same time, yeah that you know, everybody
makes so much of this because people are dying for content,
but you know, it's it's rookie camp.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
It's a grain of salt.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I can pretty much guarantee Mike Tomlin will tamp down
any sort of hype questions when he meets with the
media on Saturday.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Indeed he will.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Our buddy Brian Baco will be there if there is
anything worth the hype, of course, you know mister Bacco
will report it. Make sure you're checking out all his
work in the PG following him on Twitter at Brian Baco.
Another speaking of content things for the masses and for
those who do what we do for a living. There cousin.
NFL schedule released tonight at eight o'clock, So certain things
(10:34):
have leaked out here a little bit. As we were
joking about. You know, we know it's going to be
Detroit and Kansas City to start the season. It appears,
you know, some other Monday night football games have been released,
the Christmas Day schedule, some things like that. Let me
ask you this, do you have a wish list? Do
you have a a or I should say, maybe just
a wish as it relates to this schedule. You know,
Motzi was saying he wants the Steelers trip to Las
(10:56):
Vegas to follo at a good time because his family
might make a trip out there and do a little
something something for that game. I was saying, I want
the Steelers to play in Houston on October fifteenth because
WVU plays at Houston that week as well too, and
I could double dip there and make a you know,
make a little uh, make a little dude's.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
Weekend out of it.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Do you have a do you have Is there something
at the top of your wish list as it relates
to the Steelers schedule that will be released?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
What about ten hours from now as we record this?
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Well, first off, most do you plan on taking the
whole fam the kids to Vegas Viva?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Well?
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Yeah, yeah, So the thing is this man, my father
in law and his wife, they're in county, so they
love going to Vegas all the time. Bring the grandkids,
slash word trip for pop.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
And get a little time with wife. You know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
It's just so funny. Like last time I was in Vegas.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
There were a lot of families with little kids on
the strip, and I'm kind of like, on one hand,
I could see this would be fun. There's a lot
to do and a lot going on. But at the
same time, it is since city. So I'm like, yeah,
I go back. I mean, your kids are old enough
now that they would they'd be I.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Think it's just a right. So I look at it
like this. During the daytime, that's when the kids are
out his family time. But remember I also said father
in law, which represents grand babysitter and grandma. Yet see
you're already quote one. Okay, so that's why do you
wipe you there? So now we go thro the work
to the parental to the eye. Now this has fun.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
It's like, yeah, yeah, that that's why I need to
like that, because it's like a perfect sneo all around,
built in babysitter, quality time, family time, and.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I get to run around vas.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Yes, now that you get a good weekend for that
for me.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
So I'm kind of hoping the you know, as a
beat writer, you're always looking at where the off week
is gonna be.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
I hope the off week.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Is at a time that I can get a chance
to go down to a Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Valls football game. I've got an uncle who lived.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Right outside Knoxville. I've been wanting to do that for
a few years now since they moved there. So that's
kind of what I'm hoping for, is that there ago.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
A couple of years when Pitt was winning there.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Yeah, well, Steelers played that weekend, So that's what I'm saying, Like,
I mean, it's it's difficult if they're at home, but
so if it's a bye week, for sure, that would
be nice. Obviously, you want those West Coast swings as
late in the season as we were.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Saying that too, and La La in December right back.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
And you want Cleveland like week two, and you want
Indye like week four. So yeah, I mean, those are
the weather considerations as far as like the opener. I
was kind of looking at this today and somebody mentioned
to me like, oh, I heard that the Steelers might
open against the Titans or the Jags. I was like, Okay,
I don't know where that's coming from, but maybe, and
(13:41):
then I kind of got around to thinking, Trevor Lawrence,
Kenny Pickett week one could be a very interesting.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Way to start off the season a little.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Measuring stick game for the last two first quarterbacks taken.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
I like that one as well too. That's that's pretty good.
That's that's interesting.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
There.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
I tell you what now real quick. The last sorry
because all I let you jump in there, mote, but
the last time the Steelers had a home opener or
a week one home opener was twenty fourteen, correct, And
I believe.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
That was eight years against the Browns.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Was it the brown you said twenty fourteen.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
That's that's my first Uh that was the Browns first
on one, Yeah, yeah, you're right.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
I think a year two before that they opened at
home against the Titans. But you're right that that was
the Browns.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
That was the ab the ab uh this is.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
And then the Titans game was that Detroit over the line,
uh huh?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
And it was the rolled up That was the last
Steelers game that I went to as a fan.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Was that was that one?
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (14:40):
Didn't didn't turn out very well, ended up losing that case.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Yeah, but twenty fourteen better fortune? All good? All good?
You know, we brought something positive to the city.
Speaker 6 (14:49):
I like it. I like it. But speaking of man
that Trevor Lawrence matchup. What are some of the just
quarterback matches that you're potentially looking forward to seeing at
what time of year does it matter to you you
know that this matchup happens.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
So I think you know, you'd like to try to
catch the Texans in the Colts early in the season,
right before either of those young studs can maybe get
up to speed, uh in this season. On the flip side,
you probably want to see a Jimmy g or Matt
Stafford later in the year so that their arm.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Might have fallen off by that point.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
But yeah, I mean, I just think in general, like
if you play a young team that's building, and teams
that face the Steelers last year also benefited from this,
you want to see them early in the season. So
if I'm the Steelers, I say, yeah, bring on the
Certainly you want the Cardinals early. You know, Kyler Murray
might miss this whole year, but if he does come
(15:44):
back at some point, it's gonna be late. So yeah,
So if I'm the Steelers, I say give me the
Cardinals early. Niners who knows what's going on with their
with their qbs and Texans and Cole who could be
starting rookies. You know, i'd want to see them early
in the season, before they get a chance to kind
of figure some things out and get adjusted to life
(16:05):
in the NFL. And you know, you know, it seems
like lately the schedule makers have loved loading up the
back half of the season with the Steeler rivalry games
Steeler Ravens, Steelers Browns.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
I think it's been two years in a row.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
They don't, you know, they don't even come close to
facing the Ravens until like December, so.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
And it's usually within like three weeks apart. Yeah, December
and December seventeen, Like what are we doing?
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Kind of strange too, but yeah, I mean, hey, schedule releases.
You know, some people kind of look down on It's
like we've known the teams that they're going to play
for five months, But you know, what's the big deal.
I don't think it is a big deal. People want
to know.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
People want to know what they're going to plan their
fall around.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
The people like us who do this for a living,
and obviously the you know, if you're listening to Steeler
Nation Radio, you're probably a fan who's pinging from city
to city once September gets here, So you kind of
want to have a chance to plan that out, book
your flights, your hotels, round up your boys or your
your in laws for your in house babysitters, uh to
go with on these trips with you, No.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Absolutely, we know for for a lot of people whose
schedule and lives and things like that, not just for
people who work the games and and things like that,
have careers around the team.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Get into the West Coast season, so there's gonna have
some saving.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
All.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
We know. Hey, Steeler Nation South as well too.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
I was gonna say to Houston, Yeah, there's there's a
lot of opportunities for you know, last year the Steelers
didn't leave the East Coast time zone. So if you're
potentially located, if you're on the West Coast, you gotta
fly out. You know this way, maybe now team closer
to you, big trip, get the babysitters lined up, all
those things. Like mister Baco was saying, it is it's
a it's the NFL has mastered this mote and I
(17:50):
talked about this to start the show. They have these
huge offseason dates the combine the draft schedule release being
one of those as well. To certainly and you know
we'll be We'll be back here next week break it
all down for you guys, just one or two more.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
I want to say this though, mister Baco and and
mister Westley, if any of you guys need baby sitting
while y'all out there traveling, just know you know Arthur
most babysitting services man.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
I'm a one. I got a lot of experience. I'd
have had three come through this day and they all still.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
Here as well.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
All Right, everything I got y'all, all right, I got y'all.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
He'll be good, but he won't be cheap. That's the
one thing about.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
It for a peace of mind, you know.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yeah, mister Baco, the last one I've got for you, uh,
a little bit of a left turn here, but I
I don't think this is really putting you on the spot.
We got this question from a listener earlier in the week,
and i'd just be interested to get your take on it.
One team in the NFL that, uh, that didn't have
such a great season last year we most and I
were kind of going with didn't make the playoffs last year,
(18:57):
that you think could really take off, that could take
a big step forward this year, And do you have
a sleeper team that you think could end up, you know,
going to the playoffs making some noise.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Man, you know, it's it's tough because I do feel
like it's so concentrated in the AFC that you almost
don't want to.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Pick somebody from that position.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
But that almost makes you more of a sleeper if
you are in that division. So man, I guess I
feel like, if you know, are the Jets too obvious
at this point with Rogers because I feel like they've.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
Got a tough division.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Yeah, they've got such a range of outcomes, Like I
could see that going well for them.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I could see that blowing up.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
In their face, right, Like I could see I could
see them being one of the better teams in football,
or I could see them being on the outside looking
Winna Yeah, I mean if he yeah, if he's if
he's washed. Like we talked a few months ago, I
didn't think it was gonna happen. I could not picture
Rogers with the Jets, But now it's happened, so uh
(19:59):
so that'll be an interesting one.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
And everybody is crawying.
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Everybody's saying this, So Brad, they didn't got the division.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, we'll see, Yeah, I guess that one's that's too easy.
I mean, hey, if Jordan Love is that dude, you know,
the Packers can can get right back in this thing too.
So I guess the Lions are a sexy pick. I
was surprised to see them getting that Prime Week one
game against talk about that.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
That's a little weird to me. Like, you know, sure,
I get it.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
The Lions are cool and all with Dave Campbell, he's funny,
but like you know, Jared jarry Goff is not one
of the like twenty five most intriguing quarterbacks for to watch.
So uh so we'll see what happens. I guess boil
that down to I'm not really buying the Lions hype
as a sleeper team.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Ooh, there we go. Well it seems the league is
a little bit with them the season again.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Yeah, it seems that way, right.
Speaker 5 (20:54):
Seriously, we'll see, we will see.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Obviously, all these questions will become answers tonight eight o'clock
and a network anywhere you get your sports news, they're
going to be talking about this this evening. We're back
to break it down next week. As always, Brian Backo
make sure you're checking out his coverage of everything Steelers
in draft and schedule related.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
In the PG.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
He doesn't do CAP He hasn't changed his number since
the seventh grade. Buddy, thank you for taking the time
as always. Rest up those vocals, all right, listen, Morgan
walland already went down on the vocal i R this week.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
All right. We can't be losing. We can't be losing,
Brian Bacho, So take care of your BECO.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Step your game.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
What man, Yeah, I'm following into the Morgan Wallen camp
of risking permanent vocal cord damage if I keep doing
this pot this show right now.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
There he goes our day one, our good friend of
the show, mister Brian Becko. We're going to take a
break and we come back on the other side. I
want to talk a little bit more about Arthur Malette
with Arthur Motes the am Twins, and then I have
a hypothetical for Mozi as well too as it relates
to Kenny Pickett in this year's draft. We'll do all
of that and get to your tweets to close this
thing out when we come back on the other side.
(21:59):
Wesley Uler Arth rees, you're listening to Steelers Nation Radio
He's the Steelers Glitz with Wesley Wheler and Arthur Mots
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold sn R.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Back on the Blitz here on a Thursday, as we
anxiously await the NFL schedule release this evening. We are
joined now by a gentleman who knows a thing or
two about that everything else going on with the Steelers.
Of course, he's our day one, our good friend of
the show. Mister Brian Bacho covers the Steelers for the
Post Gazette. Mister Baco, how are things at the at
the Baco estate. It's May here, the weather's changing. You've
(00:51):
been getting out on that tractor and cutting some grass.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, I just did that yesterday.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I'm losing my voice a little bit, and it's like
probably seventy percent from yelling at my three year old.
Ten percent allergy slash sickness.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Ten percent. We had a very intense beer league.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Softball game Tuesday night, and ten percent doing karaoke after
beer League softball. So so I'm hurting a little bit here,
and I've got a wedding Friday night, so that's gonna
be I've got to recover.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
So are you officially questionable? Are you doubtful?
Speaker 5 (01:25):
He's probable?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Probably were you?
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Yeah, we don't even do probable in the NFL anymore,
but I'm at the very least.
Speaker 6 (01:33):
Okay, I wanted to leave a lad on you, and
I was gonna let your availability be the guy for
this weekend.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
But you know, just let me know ahead of time.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, I might not be one hundred percent, but obviously
we got a we gotta gout through it.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
It's wedding season.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Baby.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
We've got five of them between now and October, my
wife and I and like, get reduce your baby ones.
Two siblings of hers getting married, two of yeah, like
two of my best friends and then a close family friend.
So none of those weddings where you're sitting on the
sideline talking to one dude news at your table, because
(02:09):
it's like, no, these are all ones that I'm gonna
be mixing it up.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Oh yeah, you're involved.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Man, You are involved.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
You are You are certainly involved. I've already had to
inform a couple loved ones that I'm probably not going
to be able to make it to their weddings.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
But we'll see what happens with the schedule.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Release of course, this evening, before we get to some
of those schedule release things with you, Brian, I did
want to ask you. The big Steeler centric news of
the day, I guess, is, of course the release of
Arthur Malette, Steelers slot cornerback, who I think had harved
out a nice role for himself here in the wake
of Mike Hilton, a position that means a lot for
(02:44):
the Steelers and that we know now you got to
find the next man up in that regard, you're surprised
by this and with that, I mean, do you think
they have that guy on the roster or you maybe
now going shopping a little bit as well.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Not particularly surprised.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I think you know, was a backloaded two year deal
for Malette, as the Steelers tend to do with players
of that caliber, and you.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Know, I think you know he served his purpose while
he was here.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Nobody expected him to be Mike Hilton two point zero,
but they needed a scrappy guy against the run to
do those things in the nickel and for the most
part he did when he got his opportunities. Put a
little bit limited in coverage, of course, as you're always
going to be for the most part, at his size.
I don't think he really had the kind of you know,
necessary juice that Mike Hilton had from sideline to sideline either.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
But I mean, hey, he was an.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
NFL caliber player, but he was also kind of just
a guy as far as NFL defenders go for the
most part. So I don't know that they'll go shopping again.
I think they're going to take a look at some
of the in house options, whether it's Chandon Sullivan who
they signed on Day three of the draft, which that
told you maybe Arthur Molett's days here were numbered, because
(03:55):
they're kind of similar in terms of their NFL experience
and in their resume.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
But I also think they'll.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Experiment with some different things, like a Patrick Peterson moving inside.
You know, I think Demante Casey was doing some of
that last year in camp before he got hurt. And
then you even have you know, a Mika Fitzpatrick, who
we know that he's comfortable and really good playing that
deep post with the Steelers. But if you want to
(04:22):
try to get him around the ball more coming off
the season he had, you might have to get a
little bit creative with your schematics.
Speaker 6 (04:29):
Now, are you concerned at all with you know some
of the just alternatives that we were talking about, right, Minka,
Pat p.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Even a Kanu Knill.
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Right, all of those guys primarily play other positions, and
the slot would be, you know, something that they're doing
as an addition to what they.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Are already comfortable with.
Speaker 6 (04:49):
So we know that it's not going to maximize, it's
not going to be to the same level, whereas when
we talk about let you talk Channis Sullivan, that's what
they do exclusively, right, So is there any concern with that?
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Yeah, definitely, I mean I think it could be a
concern for sure. It could be a weak spot of
this defense with Cam Sutton gone. I mean we know
that you know he he wore both hats too, but
he was brought up in the organization to do that.
I mean, he initially got his feet wet as an
inside corner here, and you know he kind of he
was able to expand his role because of his versatility
(05:24):
as football IQ on the ceiling. As Mike Toumlan would say, So,
I think they've got other guys who can do that too.
But you're right, I think there's something to be said
for having a guy whose primary responsibility is that position.
That's why I was a little bit you know, I
thought they could go outside and inside corner in this draft.
(05:45):
I thought it could be Joey Porter Junior at the
top of the second round, and I figured they'd maybe
circle back in the third or fourth to pick up
an undersized nickel defender. But they ultimately didn't go that way.
Chann and Sullivan kind of amounts to, you know, their
addition at that spot. And then the other name that
I will mention, I think is Trey Norwood. He's he's
(06:08):
played that role in the dime. Will they give him
a chance to show what he can do in the
nickel as the primary slot?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I think they like a lot of his attributes as well.
He's got some physical limitations too that we've seen when
he plays the free safety spot. But you know, there's
no shortage of bodies and options that they can throw
at the position, and at the end of the day,
try to get your best eleven out there.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
Yeah, I'm glad you brought up Trade Norwood too, man,
because he's one of those guys I think for him
to be able to survive on this roster, especially with
some of the guys we brought in, He's going to
have to be able to show that type of versatility.
You know that he could not just play safety, but
can do some of that slast stuff at at least
a varsity level.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Because he was following in the footsteps of Cam Sutton
for the last definitely on TEW years. I mean, he
was in his hip pocket the same way that a
young broadcaster would try to attach himself to a Wesley
Yuehler of the industry. And that's or what did with Campsuck.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
That's right, hey, and that's what we're hoping Joey Porter Jr.
Does with with Patrick Peterson.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
And Corey Trice for that matter.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Serious, that's okay, hold on real quick, you gotta you
need to be I'm glad you brought up Corey Trice here,
Brian Becko, because I said this last week and Motzy
about laughed me off the show.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
I got, I gotta, I gotta, I gotta.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I got a thing for Corey Trice, Okay, and I
got a feeling. Motes got it, a lot of our
listeners got it. We got some tweets about it. You
ready for this?
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Okay?
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Corey Trice real name, No gimmicks.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
That is a child of the of the two thousands.
Right there with that reference, was Obie Trice?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Was he in D twelve?
Speaker 6 (07:54):
He was?
Speaker 5 (07:54):
He was in D twelve? That's right on a couple
on a couple of eminem songs.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Of course too, got some teeth, Yeah, they gotta hope
Corey Trice got some teeth on the outside there. We'll
see what he can do out, you know, in camp,
and and I guess you know, we got rookie mini
camp this weekend.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
This weekend. It's football in shorts, as you know.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
But if it's football, baby, if any player can you know,
show a little bit of something, it's it's a skill position, dude,
a perimeter receiver, a corner like.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
Mister mister Beck say that again. Man, This is for
the at least, this is for the space plays.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
This for the pretty guy.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
It's like, you know, somebody's like, what are we gonna
see out of Roger Jones?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Like nothing, you can see that from drill to trill.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
It's conditioning.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Look out how hard he's running from the from show
to the next.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
Man, if you.
Speaker 6 (08:41):
Play in that box, if you're a physical player in
the box, this is not for you this is conditioning, Okay,
that's what this.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Or like you know a Jalen Warren last year, like
there's nothing really nobody knew who he was many camp.
I mean once once the pat started popping, you know,
then he proved his worth. But uh yeah, I mean
it's still gonna be good just to see players in
person because there are first impressions that you can draw
from guys in this environment.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Like I remember four years ago.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
You know, not to bring up any sore subjects, but
you know, seeing Devin Bush in his first rookie camp,
I mean, the lack of size for him and that
challenge was so much more apparent seeing him in person
around other NFL bodies and those weren't even the vets.
I mean those were just the other rookies, and it
still stood out to me just how small he was.
(09:31):
So you know, Roderick Jones in Darnet, Washington, that'll be
the flip side.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
It'll be obvious how big they are.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
When we first saw Najie Harris, let me get let
me bring up the vibes we first saw Naji Harrigos
on campus. I mean he was just even bigger than
you would expect. Reading a six two two thirty on
the UH on the scouting report.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
So it's it's good to see.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
But at the same time, yeah that you know, everybody
makes so much of this because people are dying for content,
but you know, it's it's rookie camp.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
It's a grain of salt.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I can pretty much guarantee Mike Tomlin will tamp down
any sort of hype questions when he meets with the
media on Saturday.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Indeed he will.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Our buddy Brian Baco will be there if there is
anything worth the hype, of course, you know mister Bacco
will report it. Make sure you're checking out all his
work in the PG following him on Twitter at Brian Baco.
Another speaking of content things for the masses and for
those who do what we do for a living. There cousin.
NFL schedule released tonight at eight o'clock, So certain things
(10:34):
have leaked out here a little bit. As we were
joking about. You know, we know it's going to be
Detroit and Kansas City to start the season. It appears,
you know, some other Monday night football games have been released,
the Christmas Day schedule, some things like that. Let me
ask you this, do you have a wish list? Do
you have a a or I should say, maybe just
a wish as it relates to this schedule. You know,
Motzi was saying he wants the Steelers trip to Las
(10:56):
Vegas to follo at a good time because his family
might make a trip out there and do a little
something something for that game. I was saying, I want
the Steelers to play in Houston on October fifteenth because
WVU plays at Houston that week as well too, and
I could double dip there and make a you know,
make a little uh, make a little dude's.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
Weekend out of it.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Do you have a do you have Is there something
at the top of your wish list as it relates
to the Steelers schedule that will be released?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
What about ten hours from now as we record this?
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Well, first off, most do you plan on taking the
whole fam the kids to Vegas Viva?
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Well?
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Yeah, yeah, So the thing is this man, my father
in law and his wife, they're in county, so they
love going to Vegas all the time. Bring the grandkids,
slash word trip for pop.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
And get a little time with wife. You know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
It's just so funny. Like last time I was in Vegas.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
There were a lot of families with little kids on
the strip, and I'm kind of like, on one hand,
I could see this would be fun. There's a lot
to do and a lot going on. But at the
same time, it is since city. So I'm like, yeah,
I go back. I mean, your kids are old enough
now that they would they'd be I.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Think it's just a right. So I look at it
like this. During the daytime, that's when the kids are
out his family time. But remember I also said father
in law, which represents grand babysitter and grandma. Yet see
you're already quote one. Okay, so that's why do you
wipe you there? So now we go thro the work
to the parental to the eye. Now this has fun.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
It's like, yeah, yeah, that that's why I need to
like that, because it's like a perfect sneo all around,
built in babysitter, quality time, family time, and.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I get to run around vas.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Yes, now that you get a good weekend for that
for me.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
So I'm kind of hoping the you know, as a
beat writer, you're always looking at where the off week
is gonna be.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
I hope the off week.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Is at a time that I can get a chance
to go down to a Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Valls football game. I've got an uncle who lived.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Right outside Knoxville. I've been wanting to do that for
a few years now since they moved there. So that's
kind of what I'm hoping for, is that there ago.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
A couple of years when Pitt was winning there.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Yeah, well, Steelers played that weekend, So that's what I'm saying, Like,
I mean, it's it's difficult if they're at home, but
so if it's a bye week, for sure, that would
be nice. Obviously, you want those West Coast swings as
late in the season as we were.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Saying that too, and La La in December right back.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
And you want Cleveland like week two, and you want
Indye like week four. So yeah, I mean, those are
the weather considerations as far as like the opener. I
was kind of looking at this today and somebody mentioned
to me like, oh, I heard that the Steelers might
open against the Titans or the Jags. I was like, Okay,
I don't know where that's coming from, but maybe, and
(13:41):
then I kind of got around to thinking, Trevor Lawrence,
Kenny Pickett week one could be a very interesting.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
Way to start off the season a little.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Measuring stick game for the last two first quarterbacks taken.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
I like that one as well too. That's that's pretty good.
That's that's interesting.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
There.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
I tell you what now real quick. The last sorry
because all I let you jump in there, mote, but
the last time the Steelers had a home opener or
a week one home opener was twenty fourteen, correct, And
I believe.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
That was eight years against the Browns.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Was it the brown you said twenty fourteen.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
That's that's my first Uh that was the Browns first
on one, Yeah, yeah, you're right.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
I think a year two before that they opened at
home against the Titans. But you're right that that was
the Browns.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
That was the ab the ab uh this is.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
And then the Titans game was that Detroit over the line,
uh huh?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
And it was the rolled up That was the last
Steelers game that I went to as a fan.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Was that was that one?
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (14:40):
Didn't didn't turn out very well, ended up losing that case.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Yeah, but twenty fourteen better fortune? All good? All good?
You know, we brought something positive to the city.
Speaker 6 (14:49):
I like it. I like it. But speaking of man
that Trevor Lawrence matchup. What are some of the just
quarterback matches that you're potentially looking forward to seeing at
what time of year does it matter to you you
know that this matchup happens.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
So I think you know, you'd like to try to
catch the Texans in the Colts early in the season,
right before either of those young studs can maybe get
up to speed, uh in this season. On the flip side,
you probably want to see a Jimmy g or Matt
Stafford later in the year so that their arm.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Might have fallen off by that point.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
But yeah, I mean, I just think in general, like
if you play a young team that's building, and teams
that face the Steelers last year also benefited from this,
you want to see them early in the season. So
if I'm the Steelers, I say, yeah, bring on the
Certainly you want the Cardinals early. You know, Kyler Murray
might miss this whole year, but if he does come
(15:44):
back at some point, it's gonna be late. So yeah,
So if I'm the Steelers, I say give me the
Cardinals early. Niners who knows what's going on with their
with their qbs and Texans and Cole who could be
starting rookies. You know, i'd want to see them early
in the season, before they get a chance to kind
of figure some things out and get adjusted to life
(16:05):
in the NFL. And you know, you know, it seems
like lately the schedule makers have loved loading up the
back half of the season with the Steeler rivalry games
Steeler Ravens, Steelers Browns.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
I think it's been two years in a row.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
They don't, you know, they don't even come close to
facing the Ravens until like December, so.
Speaker 4 (16:22):
And it's usually within like three weeks apart. Yeah, December
and December seventeen, Like what are we doing?
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Kind of strange too, but yeah, I mean, hey, schedule releases.
You know, some people kind of look down on It's
like we've known the teams that they're going to play
for five months, But you know, what's the big deal.
I don't think it is a big deal. People want
to know.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
People want to know what they're going to plan their
fall around.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
The people like us who do this for a living,
and obviously the you know, if you're listening to Steeler
Nation Radio, you're probably a fan who's pinging from city
to city once September gets here, So you kind of
want to have a chance to plan that out, book
your flights, your hotels, round up your boys or your
your in laws for your in house babysitters, uh to
go with on these trips with you, No.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Doubt about that.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Absolutely, we know for for a lot of people whose
schedule and lives and things like that, not just for
people who work the games and and things like that,
have careers around the team.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Get into the West Coast season, so there's gonna have
some saving.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
All.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
We know. Hey, Steeler Nation South as well too.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
I was gonna say to Houston, Yeah, there's there's a
lot of opportunities for you know, last year the Steelers
didn't leave the East Coast time zone. So if you're
potentially located, if you're on the West Coast, you gotta
fly out. You know this way, maybe now team closer
to you, big trip, get the babysitters lined up, all
those things. Like mister Baco was saying, it is it's
a it's the NFL has mastered this mote and I
(17:50):
talked about this to start the show. They have these
huge offseason dates the combine the draft schedule release being
one of those as well. To certainly and you know
we'll be We'll be back here next week break it
all down for you guys, just one or two more.
Speaker 6 (18:03):
I want to say this though, mister Baco and and
mister Westley, if any of you guys need baby sitting
while y'all out there traveling, just know you know Arthur
most babysitting services man.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
I'm a one. I got a lot of experience. I'd
have had three come through this day and they all still.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
Here as well.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
All Right, everything I got y'all, all right, I got y'all.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
He'll be good, but he won't be cheap. That's the
one thing about.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
It for a peace of mind, you know.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yeah, mister Baco, the last one I've got for you, uh,
a little bit of a left turn here, but I
I don't think this is really putting you on the spot.
We got this question from a listener earlier in the week,
and i'd just be interested to get your take on it.
One team in the NFL that, uh, that didn't have
such a great season last year we most and I
were kind of going with didn't make the playoffs last year,
(18:57):
that you think could really take off, that could take
a big step forward this year, And do you have
a sleeper team that you think could end up, you know,
going to the playoffs making some noise.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Man, you know, it's it's tough because I do feel
like it's so concentrated in the AFC that you almost
don't want to.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Pick somebody from that position.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
But that almost makes you more of a sleeper if
you are in that division. So man, I guess I
feel like, if you know, are the Jets too obvious
at this point with Rogers because I feel like they've.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
Got a tough division.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Yeah, they've got such a range of outcomes, Like I
could see that going well for them.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I could see that blowing up.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
In their face, right, Like I could see I could
see them being one of the better teams in football,
or I could see them being on the outside looking
Winna Yeah, I mean if he yeah, if he's if
he's washed. Like we talked a few months ago, I
didn't think it was gonna happen. I could not picture
Rogers with the Jets, But now it's happened, so uh
(19:59):
so that'll be an interesting one.
Speaker 4 (20:01):
And everybody is crawying.
Speaker 6 (20:03):
Everybody's saying this, So Brad, they didn't got the division.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, we'll see, Yeah, I guess that one's that's too easy.
I mean, hey, if Jordan Love is that dude, you know,
the Packers can can get right back in this thing too.
So I guess the Lions are a sexy pick. I
was surprised to see them getting that Prime Week one
game against talk about that.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
That's a little weird to me. Like, you know, sure,
I get it.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
The Lions are cool and all with Dave Campbell, he's funny,
but like you know, Jared jarry Goff is not one
of the like twenty five most intriguing quarterbacks for to watch.
So uh so we'll see what happens. I guess boil
that down to I'm not really buying the Lions hype
as a sleeper team.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Ooh, there we go. Well it seems the league is
a little bit with them the season again.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Yeah, it seems that way, right.
Speaker 5 (20:54):
Seriously, we'll see, we will see.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Obviously, all these questions will become answers tonight eight o'clock
and a network anywhere you get your sports news, they're
going to be talking about this this evening. We're back
to break it down next week. As always, Brian Backo
make sure you're checking out his coverage of everything Steelers
in draft and schedule related.
Speaker 5 (21:12):
In the PG.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
He doesn't do CAP He hasn't changed his number since
the seventh grade. Buddy, thank you for taking the time
as always. Rest up those vocals, all right, listen, Morgan
walland already went down on the vocal i R this week.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
All right. We can't be losing. We can't be losing,
Brian Bacho, So take care of your BECO.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Step your game.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
What man, Yeah, I'm following into the Morgan Wallen camp
of risking permanent vocal cord damage if I keep doing
this pot this show right now.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
There he goes our day one, our good friend of
the show, mister Brian Becko. We're going to take a
break and we come back on the other side. I
want to talk a little bit more about Arthur Malette
with Arthur Motes the am Twins, and then I have
a hypothetical for Mozi as well too as it relates
to Kenny Pickett in this year's draft. We'll do all
of that and get to your tweets to close this
thing out when we come back on the other side.
(21:59):
Wesley Uler Arth rees, you're listening to Steelers Nation Radio
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!