July 1, 2025 • 38 mins
The Steelers made a big splash with a massive trade with the Miami Dolphins. The Blitz reacts.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Culer and Motes are on the air. This is the
Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold A scan are Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's going on still is Nation, Arthur Motes, Wesley Eulett
and the building. Of course, it is the Steelers Blitz.
And as we are on the Steelers Audio Network, of
course it is still is Nation Radio as well. We
have Big Time News above Stealer's Nation. Now. Usually at
this part of the show, I'm supposed to talk about
(00:55):
the decade an NFL experience one of us has and
the immaculate head of hair that one of us has.
Usually we talked about how the show was always interactive
as well, especially on Twitter at dub Body fifty two
and at Wesley Euler the body and the good head.
But today is it a typical day? In fact, Wes,
(01:16):
as I'm sitting here recording it, I'm starting to have
that feeling I had six years ago when it was
the other when we found out about a certain player
being traded and joining the Black and Goal leaving Miami
coincidence right by the day with Mika Fitzpatrick Man, just
how crazy that felt to now six years later. Whoo,
(01:39):
life comes at you fast, because for those of you
that do not know, yesterday old Mark con and the
Pittsburgh Steelers were active. Okay, they were on the phone
with the Miami Dolphins, and we traded three time All
Pro safety Mica Fitzpatrick and our seventh round draft pick
for this year's draft to the Miami Dolphins, or excuse me,
(02:03):
uh to the our seventh throng draft pick to the
Miami Dolphins four Jayleen Ramsey. They're a three time All
Pro corner, John Newsmith, there, Pro Bowl tight end, and
their fifth round draft pick. Okay, so they get Mink
Fitzpatrick in the seventh we get Jayalen Ramsey, John Newsmith
(02:28):
and a fifth wes, what the heck is going on? Man?
Holy spokes, Holy spokes bro processing with me? Man, how
the heck are you interpreting this? What is your like?
What was the knee jerk? Wow? Wowsers?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
I mean that that was the That was the knee jerk.
That was the instant reaction. I think the most when
stuff like this happens, Like the most twenty twenty five
thing that I do is I immediately double and triple
a check the accounts on Twitter and stuff that are
reporting this right, because now everyone's got parody accounts.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Everyone could You could pay.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
A couple of bucks a month and get yourself a
check mark and your account's verified and your name can
be ad darn Schefter instead of Adam Schefter. But it
looks like Adam with the way that it's typed on
the screen, or Tom Pelasorrow, but one of the o's
is actually a zero in his last name. So my
first reaction was like, okay, this and how the story
(03:25):
kind of broke too was like the Steelers are acquiring
acquiring Jalen Ramsey and he actually put that out on
his social media accounts right away that.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I jumped the good. I definitely, I definitely jumped the good.
Break it down real quick, West because you break it
down of how the information was.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Part it was.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
It was not an alert for for for Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It was communicated to us.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
It was the Steelers have acquired Jalen Ramsey. Was the
first piece of.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
News three time all pro Jayleen all.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Right sweet and he posts an awesome like fifty second
hype video.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
News break news legendary.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Videos of like Mel Bunt and Rod Woodson just killing.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Guys and he's doing the he'll work getting. I'm like, yo,
never reminded me of an active base. I'm like, I
know that he'll work out, bro, he'll work out undefeated.
Oh something. It had everybody so hyped. Oh my gosh,
Oh my gosh. It was all on Claude nine.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
And then a few minutes later it started to get
reported by the big Adam Schefters of the world and
all of our local media buddies here that are you know,
the true beat reporters in this, in this kind.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Of orbit of Steelers media.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
That Mega Fitzpatrick and John whu Smith were involved in
this as well too, that it was not just the Steelers,
weren't just trading a draft pick for for Jalen Ramsey,
oh No, that this was a multiplayer deal, and that
John new Smith was also coming to Pittsburgh and Mega
fitzpatri was going back to Miami, the team that drafted
him back. I'm like, double and triple check and all
(05:09):
these accounts. Wait, you know this is the real Mark
Cabali and the real Dale Ali and the real you know,
the all those guys du Lac and Alan Saunders and
all those guys that you know, do real Yeoman's work
in the reporting department.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Uh, And yes, I mean I was.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I was surprised when the news first broke that it
was just the Steelers are acquiring Jalen Ramsey, Arthur Motes.
I was a little surprised at that, just because I
felt like, and I know, there had been reports that
the Steelers and the Dolphins had had conversations both around
John new Smith and around Jalen Ramsey, but those were
reports were always and from the most credible people like
(05:47):
Adam Schefter, you know that that that that they were
kind of basic talks, and then it seemed unlikely anything
was going to get done, and then bang, the Steelers
have acquired Jalen Ramsey. Awesome, all right, sweet, Wait a minute,
there's another this. Wait a minute, there's another layer to this.
I mean, this is this is the kind of stuff
I think that you know, you might expect if you're
(06:09):
an NBA fan, you might expect if you're like a
Dallas Cowboys fan, and some of these teams that are
always the la Rams, like always wheeling and dealing and
making big trades. But for this to happen the way
it did this time of year, two in, which is
kind of usually like the only quote unquote quiet time,
And we were just laughing about that, like the only
way you're gonna be in the news if you get
(06:30):
in trouble, you get a contract extension, or.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
You get traded.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
That's about it.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Here we are, I mean this, Yeah, I don't think
it's I don't think it's being exaggerating. I don't think
it's being hyperbolic that you can legitimately say that this
is the biggest trade in Steelers franchise history. So yeah,
Wowser's the first word you used there. I think was
a pretty good one.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah, one thousand percent. I know people will bring up
from a historical standpoint, the Jerome Bettest move, But the
Jerome Bettest move didn't involve us shipping out a three
times All Pro currently in his prime player. That's very different.
Even when we acquire Minca Fitzpatrick. Yes, giving up a
first round draft pick at that time on the hills
of Big Ben being injured was shocking, but it still
(07:14):
didn't include a three times All Pro currently in his prime,
heart and soul of the defense type of guy. So yeah,
and I'm with you, man, it was funny you obviously
know I do you know YouTube? Uh? You know YouTube
content and stuff like that outside of the Steelers channel.
And man, I just laughing to myself because the MINCA
news or the Jalen Ramsey news breaks and like most
(07:36):
of us that do you know YouTube stuff? Man, you
gotta quickly get a reaction video up there so we'll
all recording our content just like yo. Man, You're like, bro,
it's gonna be Jalen Ramsey, you can have jp J.
You got me go on the back and hit Deshaun Elliott. Man,
this is fire. And before you could even finish upload it,
when that thing came back and says Minca included in
(07:58):
the deal, like wait a second, stop it stopping? Wait
a minute, Wait a minute. That part was crazy. Yeah,
the way that they articulated the information was very unique,
to say the least. I'm like, Yo, why would y'all
knowing these type of names included in this deal? You
(08:20):
have to put all that out there once. Man, John
new Smith is like the forgotten step child and he's
a pro bowler. Getting twelve.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Three Pro bowl guys that are all that are involved
in this trade, I mean, how often.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Does that happen? People? Don't even talk about John neu Smith.
He's not even It's like, bro, that's a whole Pro
Bowl tight end right now, getting twel you got a
twelve million dollar like new contract, Like, yeah, that's a
massive deal. As you had like nine yards and last
year he would have been our second leading receiver last year,
the past two years.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Offense and touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Hollering about wide receiver two. I think y'all should be
paying attention to what we're trying to do here. Okay,
they don't care where you get the nine hundred yards
from as long as you get them. Okay. Yeah, and
this is one of the players right here. Man. But yeah, dude,
complete shock man, pulling back the curtain as well. Man.
You know I got I got my ladies, but I
(09:15):
also got a little son in here, man. And you
know we love our steelless man. He has the jerseys
and there's certain players he's.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Hitting that peak.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
He's hitting that.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Ten years old like it is never as much fun
as he's having.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Right now to be like he gets and for him,
you know, he gets to meet these dudes man, get jerseys,
you know, just have relationships stuff like that. It's just
cool for him but man, I just remember yesterday I
tell him, Yo, we got Jalen Ramsey. My man, alright,
let's go lock damn we got Jayalen. He flex. He's like,
(09:49):
y'all can't wait to get that. I'm like, ya, got
you right know it is the A couple of minutes later,
I told you, I start to see that, oh, Mink
is involved in the Dell. I got a text with like, hey,
little buddy, Minka is gone. We traded him for Mica
all caps to Spike.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Yeah, devastated, devastated.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Do the pain in the text just all caps thousand
o's no, yeah, bro, yeah man, I felt for my god. Man.
I was just like, yeah, we're learning a lot about
the circle of NFL life, all right. Started out with
a Kenny pick a Jersey. Kenny Pickett turned into a
George Pickens. And George Pickens was a naj A Nase
(10:37):
you know what I mean. It was a Russ or
Russ was a Phils. Yeah, Phils has now turned to
a Meenca. I'm looking at that TJ. Jersey. I'm scared.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Now, hold on, not yet, not yet. We're not scared yet,
all right, No, not yet.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Not. I'm like man, all right, the fifty five Jersey
have are perfect. All right, those are good. He's solid
where there's yeah, he got a fresh dk Metcalfe in there.
We're like, Okay, at least for this year, we're good. Okay,
we're good for this year. At least that here getting there.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
That's devastating.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
I feel like that. You know the meme, I'm the
little cartoon dude sitting in that chair, house on fire.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
This is fun, fun, this is fun.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I'm good because.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
It's like me.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
He's it's like me when the Steelers traded Santonio Holmes.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
That's what he's going through right now. Just about man.
It's devastating, it really is.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
It is for my guy. Man. It was because and
you know, like you've been to the crib, you know
what I mean, So like I can hear him, you know,
everybody's like.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
A It's like it is. The the timing of it
is nuts. The scale of it is nuts.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
We literally up to a bombshell trade. Bro think about that.
That's what we woke up to yesterday.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
At the one time a year where we don't think
bombshell trades are gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Here, we think about it. As we as we were about
to come up here and say, all right, how do
we make this enough time to uh, you know, get
us close to vacation. Now we're looking at it, We're like,
who boy, this is crazy. This is chaos. Man, It's nuts.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
And I am glad though that it happened earlier in
the week, is you and I've got me to some
long holiday weekends ahead of us. But this is like
again in terms of significance, like this is whether it
winds up being a home run move for the Steelers,
whether whether this season doesn't go all the way that
(12:40):
we all hope and think it can go, whether somewhere in.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Between this is going to be.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
This is a significant milestone moment in the history of
the franchise and Omar Khan's tenures. Certainly even for somebody
like Mike Tomlin who's got two decades in this thing,
like this is a significant moment for him as well,
to significant like this is one of the most significant
moves in the history of nearly one hundred year old franchise.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
So we're gonna get ready to go to break real quick, because,
like I said, this is gonna be one of those days. Man.
We got plenty to to unpack with this trade. Specifically,
Like I said, we get back, I want to discuss
what we like specifically about this move. You know me,
but uh, this is crazy, but we.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Really I literally was like, all right, we're gonna have
to start coming up with some fun content ideas, Like
wait a minute, but like make a really is it
on our team right now?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Jayalen Ramsey isn't our team right? Like, all right, we're
going to break. We're going to break real, just real
quick real.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
I just tell you that.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
On Friday. I saw mattin Dale. On Friday, they did
a like a whole show where they power ranked their
top twenty five Steelers, and I was literally thinking, I
like that, Yeah, okay, I'm gonna we're gonna find a
way to steal this for some content next week because
we're gonna need it because nothing's gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
What are we gonna talk about?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Huh?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Jokes on me?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
I always say, man moves like this either somebody's gonna
look really good in a year from now or its
people get fired. All right, specifically how it works one
or the other. But this is this is spicy, So
let's go to break real quick. When we get back,
we will talk what we like specifically about this trade.
Don't touch that down. I'm Arthur most That's what Steula
and this is the Steelers Blitz.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
This is the Steelers Flitz with Wesley Huler and Arthur
Mose on your twenty four seven home of the Black
and Gold.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Askin are Arthur Motes Wes le Hueler back for the
second segment of today's show. Of course, it's the Steelers Blitz.
Some one Steals Nation Radio and yes that means we're
on the Steels Audio network as well. But uh, we're
reacting to the initial after the math of Minka Fitzpatrick,
three times All Pro safety, being traded to the Miami
(15:06):
Dolphins along with a seventh round draft pick two the
Miami Dolphins four three time All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey,
Pro Bowl tight end John new Smith and their fifth
round draft pick. All right, baby, let's peel back these
layers West, Let's pull them back. Let's pull them bag baby. Specifically,
(15:26):
We're only gonna focus on what we like about this
What do we like about this trade initially?
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Okay, a couple of different Let me, I'll give you
a couple quick list, a couple instant reaction things, and
then I'll expand on them a little bit more for you.
What I like about this trade is it feels like
the most aggressive to me that the Steelers have ever
been on a single season in my lifetime. What I like, Okay,
(15:56):
what I like about this trade is your yes, trading
a significant Pro Bowl part of your team, but you're
getting two significant Pro Bowl parts, one on each side
of the football in return. And what I like about
this trade is I feel like John U. Smith is
a really nice piece for Arthur Smith's offense. And I
(16:17):
also feel like Motzi there is a real onus for
this team to have a different end of the season
than they've been having for the last four or five years.
Mm hm. And like kind of in a way that
definition of insanity, like, if you keep doing what you're doing,
if you keep having the same players, you're gonna most
likely keep getting what you're getting. I like kind of
(16:38):
the Again, that kind of gets back to my first
point of this feels like the most aggressive and I
still even hesitate to say all in, but it feels
like maybe the most all in the Steelers have ever
felt in a single season in my lifetime. Yeah, I
like it for Arthur Smith and what it means for
his offense. I mean, you now have Aaron Rodgers. You
(16:59):
now have two tight ends that are incredibly capable with
some solid depth behind them. That offensive line takes a
step forward. I still think we all think they're gonna
add a piece at wide receiver, not some significant Pro
Bowl type acquisition now, but there's still I think we'll
add another nice piece, complimentary piece at wide receiver. So
(17:21):
and you know what, I got one more thing for
you to touch on here, and then we could get
into any of these more specifically wherever you want to
go with it. I also think they've wanted to play
more man demand concepts as a secondary on defense, and
I think now with the addition of Jalen Ramsey, with
the addition of Jarius Slay, with the exit of Dante Jackson,
(17:41):
I think that gets a little bit easier for them
to do as well on defense. So a lot that
I like for Arthur Smith, a lot that I like
for Ta Tarrell Austin, a lot that I like for
just the what feels like a real sense of urgency
from the organization. Again, I'm thirty four years old, and
I don't typically say that, like every year is an opportunity,
but this one feels a little bit more aggressive. So
(18:03):
those are that's kind of a very wide spreading. What
I like about this just kind of on the surface.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Honestly, man, I'm with you. I think you're spot on
and all of those things. And something that you did
say that I want to actually emphasize is, yeah, they
are all in on this season, but they didn't mortgage
the future.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Great point.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I think that's masterful. How do you go all in
on this season? How do you maximize your potential for
this year without jeopardizing your future? How do I get
a chance to go and actually compete for the confetti
while still giving me a chance to if I want
to move up in the draft and find a long
term answer at any position? Right Because some people, they
(18:49):
might swear that the dream quarterback is out there next year.
Others might say, yeah, I think you're overrating them. Maybe
it's past rushing, maybe it's wide received, maybe it's running
it, and maybe it's whatever you know, but you still have
all those options on the table. I love that. But
like you said, man, you're all in for this year.
You don't sign Aaron Rodgers, you don't sign in trade
(19:10):
for John new Smith. There's when I said sign because
he got a significant pain increase after the trade. He
went from getting six to getting twelve. Shot at Drew
roseenhusehot know teen Roseenhouse over here? All right, that's my mass.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Hey, hey, Arthur Moris, is doubling A good thing?
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Is doubling?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Speak from experience, I would say yeah. I would say yeah,
it definitely is. Yep yep, yep, yep, yep. I swear
by it, all right. I'm a big believer in doublin
Then come if you care, if you triple it a whole.
Now you're cook him with grease. All right. So I
think of John new Smith being in this thing, it's like, man,
the that's that's, that's, that's we're trying to win right now. Man,
I needed a weapon on offense. I needed something that
(19:48):
was productive. We lost a GP. Who gave you how
much yards last year? Oh?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
It's weird, very similar, very equivalent.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
It's weird when you bring when you speak that language,
it's funny when you talk like that. How many touchdowns
did he have in comparison to John new It's interesting
when you talk like.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
That less touchdowns, didn't he then? So it's a few
more but less touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
So you could make a case that you you you
kind of match that production, just with a different perspective
on it. And isn't that what we could kind of
say on defense too? Yes, Micah is all world, but
isn't Jaylen Ramsey also all world? Hey, Mika's toping isn't
up to Hey, Mika is a future Hall of Famer?
Isn't Jaylor's gonna be a future the same conbos right
(20:30):
in my is Kobe Bryant in the Rays, Coey Bran
in betweenty one? Okay, which one do you want?
Speaker 3 (20:37):
One?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Well? I don't. I don't like that eight when that
fro he had, I want feeling of that fro. Man Ah,
that's twenty four? Oh you see, come on man with
the Nike it's like, bro, pick your poison. Man. I
felt like defensively, we just shifted perspectives. I love what
you brought us, specifically about wanting to play more. Man,
why is that important? Everybody is still under this illusion that,
Hey man, it's coach Tambland, it's coach Talbland. He could
(20:59):
never not be the dc IS coach Tomlin, coach Simon
has the dacy the past two years while y'all lying
to yourselves, and if you actually watch the tape, you
would actually see that. So you have to go back
and start looking at what does t A really like?
What does he want? He likes man, He wants to
be able to mix up them courverages behind you and
have a front for this going to rush. Why do
you think we pay the front for the way that
(21:20):
we pay the front for But they swear's coach Toma,
This coach coach almost the blessing to death bullshit and
run cover two Tampa two specifically, I think old school
Tavay buccaneer is Derrick Brooks and covery. That's what he
wants to run, correct But Ta he likes this man stuff.
He likes that. Let me get up in your face.
And what better way to do that than huh who
used to be the corner in Detroit? It was Amanda
(21:41):
Man corner back in Detroit, Man Geez actually might have
been about five six and the other ago Darius that guy.
So you're bringing in a guy that already has marror
a play Manda Man right, super Bowl champion. On top
of that, let's emphasize super Bowl chi it matters on
this roster. Before Darius Slay came here, how many people
(22:04):
were we seeing we're Super Bowl champions? We just let
the one guy that we did have lead. In terms
of Russell Wilson, he's gone.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Yeah, is Alanton Roberts as well?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Told yes, yes, with the Patriots?
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Yes, but I get what you're saying. I mean it
was a very short.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
But no, no, no, but so listen to me, right, one
guy was a quarterback that half people didn't even want
to put out there because of the injury. So where
are you getting that from? And then the other guy
was the linebacker that was rotational, wouldn't even be the
full time guy based off of athleticsm So, once again,
where are we filling that consistently? Yes, you can communicate that,
(22:41):
but it doesn't hit the same when you're not looking
at the guy saying, yo, he is nice, nice, Right,
this is very different. You're bringing in Aaron Rodgers. You
know what they say when Aaron Rodgers walks in, There
isn't a debate about, man, do we want Russ over fields?
Do we want to start Kittie, it's Aaron freaking Rogers
in the discussion period, like and his champion, super Bowl Champion.
(23:03):
It's certain things that come with that. Now you look
on that defense Jalen Ramsey, Champion, Darius Slay Champion, Love,
Minka Love, TJ Love, Cam, They're not champions. These dudes
haven't even been to a super Bowl yet, right, Me
and Cam went the furthest of that group AFC Championship game.
(23:24):
We're talking about dudes that have been there and had
that confetti rain on them. So when you're talking about
how they prepare, when you're talking about how they practice,
when you're talking about how they conduct themselves on the road,
how they conduct themselves in the meeting rooms, these are
all dudes we talking about that have seen Dan, You're
a hundred million dollars in their career. We're talking about
(23:44):
CEOs of their positions, right of their professions like this,
that's what we are bringing in here. I think that
this is a huge movement in terms of being all
in on this season, not just from a experience standpoint,
not from a talent standpoint, but like we said, not
having to mortgage the future because you can get out
of a lot of this in a year from now.
(24:07):
But when we look at Jayalen Ramsey, I feel Jalen,
this is his Charles Woodson Green Bay Packers era. We've
seen him as a raider, when he was a full
time corner. Now we're seeing him corner Swiss Army knife,
slot safety, moving around different beasts, saying animal. Right, we're
saying man on different beasts. So however you want to
say it, but you see what he's on. I think
(24:28):
of that man. I'm like, this is what we are
bringing in. Yes, it hurts to lose a Minka because
of the youth. Right twenty eight years old, we still
feel like he has so many more positive years left. Sure,
but with all due respecting, you know what we're saying,
we say, with all due respect, we've got to bring
up the negative. You look at the past two years
and what have we clamored about, specifically turnovers. How many
(24:49):
times we've come up here and we have to justify
the lack of statistical production based off what we see
on film. But you're looking at the dollar amount and
who also was ready to get a new deal. Let's
not forget that. Correct already getting money, but he's ready
to get a new deal. You're looking at what has
happened over the past two years. You're talking about one interception,
(25:10):
whereas you look at what Jalen Ramsey has done. I mean,
pick a year. You know, it's that late part is different.
We want to take the ball away. Jalen Ramsey takes
the ball away. You want a player that can impact
the game on a more consistent basis than how we
(25:31):
feel Mika impacts it at safety because when we say, oh,
they just avoid him when he's here, Oh, they just
avoided when he's there. They people will look at that
as an indictment on the Steelers. Hey, well why do
you use them like that? And it's like, well, how
do you want to use them to safety? Like he's
not playing Manda Man on the slice, not playing Manda
Man on the outside corner. He's not you know what
I mean. Like he's a middlefield dude. So these are
(25:52):
the limitations to that based off of his skill set.
You're not going to have that issue of Jalen Ramsey.
Jayleen Rams you can go put him out there on
your outside receiver, Go play that guy. That's your guy today. Hey,
you want to play them with a slot. Hey, that's
your slot today. You want to play in safety? You're
playing the Chiefs. I think got Travis Kelsey, Hey, you're
my safety this week. The difference you see it so yes,
(26:15):
with Minka excelled in from a physicality above the neck
and all the production that he had, Jalen Ramsey gives
you just as much, just a different vantage point with it,
a different perspective on it. But like I said, man,
it's a lot. That's a lot, man, that we've just
been hitting on. Like I said, with the Jalen Ramsey
portion of this thing as well, Man, I do want
to make sure we spend a little bit of time
(26:36):
talking about John new Smith as well. So we're gonna
take a quick break when we get back though, let's
also hit on what we like about John new Smith
being an auditioned here as well. Man. But you try,
I know the drud, don't touch that down. I'm Arthur Motes.
That's what's the Euler and this is this state is Blitz.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Euler and Arthur Motes
on your.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Twenty four to seven Home of the Black and Gold
Skin R final segment of the first hour Arthur mos
Weslewers Steelers Blitz and yeah, a lot has taken place
in still his nation amongst the past forty eight hours. Man,
we have a three time All Pro safety being shipped
out Nika Fitzpatrick, but we've also received it three times
(27:29):
All Pro Corner and Jalen Ramsey. Yeah, the Pro Bowl
tight end, John Newsmith. And speaking of John new Smith,
like I said, I had to make sure that we
talked about him in the first hour because I don't
want to be like everybody else and just be forgetting
old John new Smith, John Newsmith, the pro bowler, John
new Smith, the pay upgrade, John new Smith matters. So
(27:51):
if you could, man, could you share your thoughts on
John news Smith joining the squad Man with that could
potentially mean to that tight end room as well.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
You know, if anybody who listens to this program knows
we don't talk about those offensive guys around here very much, right,
well that's not true. We just give more love to
the defensive guys. As half of the show played defense
in the NFL for a decade and the other half
grew up a Pittsburgh Steeler fan baptized by defense in
the NFL.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
But John new Smith, the yeah, this is significant.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
For the uh the U Philadelphia born tight end by
the way players college.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
You would know he was a Philly guy. You would
you would you? Kelly Greenheart couldn't help you.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
Huh what do you talk? I mean, I don't know
what you're talking about. I'm just saying it was born
in Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Listen, man, when when they're when they're are Philly memorabilia
on your wedding at your wedding represented, Man, you learn
a lot about a person. Man, all right, he's learned
a lot about a person. You're a Philly die. You're
a Philly guy. Bro Kelly Greener, you such a Kelly Greener.
I mean you did get your name mentioned on a
Super Bowl broadcast.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
I will tell you this. I'll tell you this too.
A cheese steak would be delicious right now, wouldn't it.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
I I just can't believe you, man, sandwich.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Give me both.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
This is a This is a significant addition for the
offense for Aaron Rodgers, for Arthur Smith and you and
I had a conversation. The whole offseason kind of blends
together because we have a lot of those bigger picture converts.
It's very little of this what we're doing on the show, like,
it's a lot more bigger picture conversations. And one of
(29:35):
those that I I think we did a segment or
two on it, like a month ago. Questions that I
pose to you is how do you start to blend now,
you know, heading into year two of Arthur Smith, how
do you start to blend the personnel that you have
versus what he wants the personnel to be and what
he wants the offense to ultimately be. Because we all
know that's a process. You don't you can't come you know,
(29:57):
there's not the transfer portal where you can have already
guys leave the roster and and bring in thirty guys
that fit your system right like now these college football
programs can do. You can have a hand a few,
you can have a little handful of turnover every year,
but it's gonna take some time. We talked about does
that look like more twelve and thirteen personnel sets? Does
(30:17):
that look like more usage of the tight ends? And
you bring in now a tight end that has played
five seasons with two different franchises before for Arthur Smith,
a tight end who every in his five years with
Arthur Smith, more receptions every year, more yards every year.
He had double digit average reception yards. I mean the
(30:38):
years that he's played in Arthur Smith's offense, twelve point
nine yards per reception, twelve point five, ten point nine,
eleven point six, like with with touchdowns and yardage increases.
This is this is going to be a significant piece.
I mean, like you mentioned, you know, this for all
intents and purposes, could be should be that kind of
(31:01):
second playmaker that we've been looking for. I know it's
not the traditional you know, a guy that's gonna line
up on the perimeter, you know DK, like like DK
and George Pickens would have been type thing. But I
expect this to be a massive addition for the Steelers offense,
the type of personnel that they want to run, the
way that they want to operate. And yeah, for a
(31:24):
guy who's coming off a career season, uh still twenty
nine years old, this this feels like it could be
a just again, a massive piece of the Steelers offense.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Yeah, I mean, everything at least surface level looks good.
We obviously know he'll turn thirty was I think it's
an August time frame, But yeah, like training. Oh yeah,
it's like training camp soil. But it's like he still
is on the right side of it, you know what
I mean. The production still looks good, the athleticisms looks good.
I just this was this was the one. Though it's
(31:56):
still just I don't want to say it's a head scratcher,
but I'm just like, man, we really leaning into it
like that? Or is this the part A to a
part be is about to happen. I'm nervous. I'm nervous, man,
But I like this though. I definitely like the move though. Man,
we talk about Johnny Smith. Availability to me is one
(32:18):
of the being the things that are key. And you
look at him, man, outside of one not even yeah,
the only year at the least money games he's played
was the second year in the league, played thirteen games
with twelve starts. Outside of that, this dude is constantly,
you know, full participant man starting a good amount. And
you do like to see that right there, because we say, man,
(32:39):
you don't want to bring in guys that aren't available.
Even with Jalen Rams. You look at him, Man, dude
plays and starts all the time.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
The one time he did it, we played ten games
the same year when we could play ten games like
two years ago. Man, they both had the like weird
injury thing, but outside of that, it's like, man, these
are healthy players. These are guys that are available, and
that's what you want if you're going to make big moves,
if you're going to change. You know, I don't want
to say culture because I dont feel like we're changing culturely,
but if we're changing almost identity wise, because I do
(33:10):
feel like that is what we are shifting to. You
want to have guys that are going to be able
to actually implement that new change. They're going to actually
be able to, you know, consistently show up so that
way you can at least feel like I'm getting whether
it works or not, I at least want to see
it consistently, if that makes sense, right, And I feel like,
(33:31):
you know, with guys like John new and guys like Jalen,
they show up, they're available. John new Man, I mean
I know for him, he has to be feeling some
type of excitement knowing that he's going back to Arthur
smith Man because of how much success that those two
guys specifically have had together, and not just that you
look at the targets when he's there. That's thing that
(33:51):
stood out to meet the targets his last year when
he was with Arthur Smith in tend to say sixty
five targets. His last year where he was with Arthur
Smith and Atlanta's seventy targets. MKA last year he had
one hundred and eleven targets. We know that won't be
the case per se here with the DK, Metcalf with
the Rogers with you know a Mooth, but he got
(34:14):
seventy targets in Atlanta. Man, Yeah, it's like that made that. Yeah,
that doesn't happen by accident. Man, you want to know
who your wide receiver for two is seventy and then
the last mosone was sixty.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Five and you know had Mouth had seventy eight targets
last ye years there. Man, So you know, Mooth gets
his once again, d K gets his once again. John
new Smith, you know, I think fills in a lot
of the gaps there.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
Then obviously we know a lot of other guys are
still going to be involved in terms of guys like
Calvin Austin and Rowan Wilson and Robert Woods and some
other you know people who could potentially or will uh
have a say in this thing as well too. So
it's it's starting to come. You can start to see
the play come together nice.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
I see it.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
And in a lot of ways, like it's it's gonna
it's gonna be a unique fun. The Steelers are not
going to be the only team in the NFL that
wants to to use their tight ends and and and
run the football while still having a dynamic playmaker on
the outside.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
In fact, who does.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Baltimore got to say, most of the best teams in
the NFL, in fact, do operate that way.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
I was like familiar. I know Buffalo got too tight
end of the teams I was.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
Gonna say, a lot of like the last the teams
that were in the divisional round and the and the
and the and the and the conference championship round playing played.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Lot of tight end ball, a lot of tight end ball.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
But it is, it's it's it's a little different from
the A B and juju, you know, like it's it's
it's it's a little bit different I think than this
Arthur Smith offense that is gonna I think really lean
into some tight end usage this year. I didn't even
mention Darnell Washington there, who we know is gonna gonna
have a big part of this. So yeah, like it's
it's gonna be fun to watch. It's gonna be again
(36:16):
not completely unique, but a little bit different at the
same time. And with a guy like Aaron Rodgers, who
is so good above the shoulders, when you're going to
have playmakers now just just everywhere on the football field,
I mean on with two tight ends, with a guy
like DK, with everybody else who's gonna be involved, With
(36:39):
a mind like Aaron Rodgers too, who's gonna be able
to assess defenses and know where he can attack and
know that he doesn't really have any weaknesses anywhere, I
think there is a lot here that you can start
to really like. And I think, without a doubt, I
don't know how you couldn't think the Steelers are a
better football team now than they were, you know, when
(37:01):
the season ended in January.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
That makes two of us, but we don't have makea Fitzpatrick.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
So there is a significant, significant, no.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Doubt, our physicality did take a little bit of a dip,
just a little bit. Our our playmaking offense and defense,
though for sure it took a nice step up, a
nice step up, but yeah, we did. Just just you know,
if it's plus three over, there is minus one on
that one, all right. But other than that though, I
like it. I like it. So let's do this real quick, man.
(37:32):
Let's take our final break for this first hour. Man,
get back on the right schedule, because, like I said,
in the second half, we gotta start talking about some
of you know, what we think could make us a
little bit uneasy about these moves, man. And you know,
if we would have maybe handled anything differently as well,
you know, put your GM hat on, dust it off
a little bit. Don't touch that down though, I'm our
(37:53):
the most. That's Wes Sieuler And this is the Steels
Blitz on Still's Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Culer and Motes are on the air. This is the
Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold A scan are Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's going on still is Nation, Arthur Motes, Wesley Eulett
and the building. Of course, it is the Steelers Blitz.
And as we are on the Steelers Audio Network, of
course it is still is Nation Radio as well. We
have Big Time News above Stealer's Nation. Now. Usually at
this part of the show, I'm supposed to talk about
(00:55):
the decade an NFL experience one of us has and
the immaculate head of hair that one of us has.
Usually we talked about how the show was always interactive
as well, especially on Twitter at dub Body fifty two
and at Wesley Euler the body and the good head.
But today is it a typical day? In fact, Wes,
(01:16):
as I'm sitting here recording it, I'm starting to have
that feeling I had six years ago when it was
the other when we found out about a certain player
being traded and joining the Black and Goal leaving Miami
coincidence right by the day with Mika Fitzpatrick Man, just
how crazy that felt to now six years later. Whoo,
(01:39):
life comes at you fast, because for those of you
that do not know, yesterday old Mark con and the
Pittsburgh Steelers were active. Okay, they were on the phone
with the Miami Dolphins, and we traded three time All
Pro safety Mica Fitzpatrick and our seventh round draft pick
for this year's draft to the Miami Dolphins, or excuse me,
(02:03):
uh to the our seventh throng draft pick to the
Miami Dolphins four Jayleen Ramsey. They're a three time All
Pro corner, John Newsmith, there, Pro Bowl tight end, and
their fifth round draft pick. Okay, so they get Mink
Fitzpatrick in the seventh we get Jayalen Ramsey, John Newsmith
(02:28):
and a fifth wes, what the heck is going on? Man?
Holy spokes, Holy spokes bro processing with me? Man, how
the heck are you interpreting this? What is your like?
What was the knee jerk? Wow? Wowsers?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
I mean that that was the That was the knee jerk.
That was the instant reaction. I think the most when
stuff like this happens, Like the most twenty twenty five
thing that I do is I immediately double and triple
a check the accounts on Twitter and stuff that are
reporting this right, because now everyone's got parody accounts.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Everyone could You could pay.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
A couple of bucks a month and get yourself a
check mark and your account's verified and your name can
be ad darn Schefter instead of Adam Schefter. But it
looks like Adam with the way that it's typed on
the screen, or Tom Pelasorrow, but one of the o's
is actually a zero in his last name. So my
first reaction was like, okay, this and how the story
(03:25):
kind of broke too was like the Steelers are acquiring
acquiring Jalen Ramsey and he actually put that out on
his social media accounts right away that.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I jumped the good. I definitely, I definitely jumped the good.
Break it down real quick, West because you break it
down of how the information was.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Part it was.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
It was not an alert for for for Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
It was communicated to us.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
It was the Steelers have acquired Jalen Ramsey. Was the
first piece of.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
News three time all pro Jayleen all.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Right sweet and he posts an awesome like fifty second
hype video.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
News break news legendary.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Videos of like Mel Bunt and Rod Woodson just killing.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Guys and he's doing the he'll work getting. I'm like, yo,
never reminded me of an active base. I'm like, I
know that he'll work out, bro, he'll work out undefeated.
Oh something. It had everybody so hyped. Oh my gosh,
Oh my gosh. It was all on Claude nine.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
And then a few minutes later it started to get
reported by the big Adam Schefters of the world and
all of our local media buddies here that are you know,
the true beat reporters in this, in this kind.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Of orbit of Steelers media.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
That Mega Fitzpatrick and John whu Smith were involved in
this as well too, that it was not just the Steelers,
weren't just trading a draft pick for for Jalen Ramsey,
oh No, that this was a multiplayer deal, and that
John new Smith was also coming to Pittsburgh and Mega
fitzpatri was going back to Miami, the team that drafted
him back. I'm like, double and triple check and all
(05:09):
these accounts. Wait, you know this is the real Mark
Cabali and the real Dale Ali and the real you know,
the all those guys du Lac and Alan Saunders and
all those guys that you know, do real Yeoman's work
in the reporting department.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Uh, And yes, I mean I was.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
I was surprised when the news first broke that it
was just the Steelers are acquiring Jalen Ramsey, Arthur Motes.
I was a little surprised at that, just because I
felt like, and I know, there had been reports that
the Steelers and the Dolphins had had conversations both around
John new Smith and around Jalen Ramsey, but those were
reports were always and from the most credible people like
(05:47):
Adam Schefter, you know that that that that they were
kind of basic talks, and then it seemed unlikely anything
was going to get done, and then bang, the Steelers
have acquired Jalen Ramsey. Awesome, all right, sweet, Wait a minute,
there's another this. Wait a minute, there's another layer to this.
I mean, this is this is the kind of stuff
I think that you know, you might expect if you're
(06:09):
an NBA fan, you might expect if you're like a
Dallas Cowboys fan, and some of these teams that are
always the la Rams, like always wheeling and dealing and
making big trades. But for this to happen the way
it did this time of year, two in, which is
kind of usually like the only quote unquote quiet time,
And we were just laughing about that, like the only
way you're gonna be in the news if you get
(06:30):
in trouble, you get a contract extension, or.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
You get traded.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
That's about it.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Here we are, I mean this, Yeah, I don't think
it's I don't think it's being exaggerating. I don't think
it's being hyperbolic that you can legitimately say that this
is the biggest trade in Steelers franchise history. So yeah,
Wowser's the first word you used there. I think was
a pretty good one.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah, one thousand percent. I know people will bring up
from a historical standpoint, the Jerome Bettest move, But the
Jerome Bettest move didn't involve us shipping out a three
times All Pro currently in his prime player. That's very different.
Even when we acquire Minca Fitzpatrick. Yes, giving up a
first round draft pick at that time on the hills
of Big Ben being injured was shocking, but it still
(07:14):
didn't include a three times All Pro currently in his prime,
heart and soul of the defense type of guy. So yeah,
and I'm with you, man, it was funny you obviously
know I do you know YouTube? Uh? You know YouTube
content and stuff like that outside of the Steelers channel.
And man, I just laughing to myself because the MINCA
news or the Jalen Ramsey news breaks and like most
(07:36):
of us that do you know YouTube stuff? Man, you
gotta quickly get a reaction video up there so we'll
all recording our content just like yo. Man, You're like, bro,
it's gonna be Jalen Ramsey, you can have jp J.
You got me go on the back and hit Deshaun Elliott. Man,
this is fire. And before you could even finish upload it,
when that thing came back and says Minca included in
(07:58):
the deal, like wait a second, stop it stopping? Wait
a minute, Wait a minute. That part was crazy. Yeah,
the way that they articulated the information was very unique,
to say the least. I'm like, Yo, why would y'all
knowing these type of names included in this deal? You
(08:20):
have to put all that out there once. Man, John
new Smith is like the forgotten step child and he's
a pro bowler. Getting twelve.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Three Pro bowl guys that are all that are involved
in this trade, I mean, how often.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Does that happen? People? Don't even talk about John neu Smith.
He's not even It's like, bro, that's a whole Pro
Bowl tight end right now, getting twel you got a
twelve million dollar like new contract, Like, yeah, that's a
massive deal. As you had like nine yards and last
year he would have been our second leading receiver last year,
the past two years.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Offense and touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Hollering about wide receiver two. I think y'all should be
paying attention to what we're trying to do here. Okay,
they don't care where you get the nine hundred yards
from as long as you get them. Okay. Yeah, and
this is one of the players right here. Man. But yeah, dude,
complete shock man, pulling back the curtain as well. Man.
You know I got I got my ladies, but I
(09:15):
also got a little son in here, man. And you
know we love our steelless man. He has the jerseys
and there's certain players he's.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Hitting that peak.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
He's hitting that.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Ten years old like it is never as much fun
as he's having.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Right now to be like he gets and for him,
you know, he gets to meet these dudes man, get jerseys,
you know, just have relationships stuff like that. It's just
cool for him but man, I just remember yesterday I
tell him, Yo, we got Jalen Ramsey. My man, alright,
let's go lock damn we got Jayalen. He flex. He's like,
(09:49):
y'all can't wait to get that. I'm like, ya, got
you right know it is the A couple of minutes later,
I told you, I start to see that, oh, Mink
is involved in the Dell. I got a text with like, hey,
little buddy, Minka is gone. We traded him for Mica
all caps to Spike.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Yeah, devastated, devastated.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Do the pain in the text just all caps thousand
o's no, yeah, bro, yeah man, I felt for my god. Man.
I was just like, yeah, we're learning a lot about
the circle of NFL life, all right. Started out with
a Kenny pick a Jersey. Kenny Pickett turned into a
George Pickens. And George Pickens was a naj A Nase
(10:37):
you know what I mean. It was a Russ or
Russ was a Phils. Yeah, Phils has now turned to
a Meenca. I'm looking at that TJ. Jersey. I'm scared.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Now, hold on, not yet, not yet. We're not scared yet,
all right, No, not yet.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Not. I'm like man, all right, the fifty five Jersey
have are perfect. All right, those are good. He's solid
where there's yeah, he got a fresh dk Metcalfe in there.
We're like, Okay, at least for this year, we're good. Okay,
we're good for this year. At least that here getting there.
Speaker 4 (11:10):
That's devastating.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
I feel like that. You know the meme, I'm the
little cartoon dude sitting in that chair, house on fire.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
This is fun, fun, this is fun.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I'm good because.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
It's like me.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
He's it's like me when the Steelers traded Santonio Holmes.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
That's what he's going through right now. Just about man.
It's devastating, it really is.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
It is for my guy. Man. It was because and
you know, like you've been to the crib, you know
what I mean, So like I can hear him, you know,
everybody's like.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
A It's like it is. The the timing of it
is nuts. The scale of it is nuts.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
We literally up to a bombshell trade. Bro think about that.
That's what we woke up to yesterday.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
At the one time a year where we don't think
bombshell trades are gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Here, we think about it. As we as we were about
to come up here and say, all right, how do
we make this enough time to uh, you know, get
us close to vacation. Now we're looking at it, We're like,
who boy, this is crazy. This is chaos. Man, It's nuts.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
And I am glad though that it happened earlier in
the week, is you and I've got me to some
long holiday weekends ahead of us. But this is like
again in terms of significance, like this is whether it
winds up being a home run move for the Steelers,
whether whether this season doesn't go all the way that
(12:40):
we all hope and think it can go, whether somewhere in.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Between this is going to be.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
This is a significant milestone moment in the history of
the franchise and Omar Khan's tenures. Certainly even for somebody
like Mike Tomlin who's got two decades in this thing,
like this is a significant moment for him as well,
to significant like this is one of the most significant
moves in the history of nearly one hundred year old franchise.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
So we're gonna get ready to go to break real quick, because,
like I said, this is gonna be one of those days. Man.
We got plenty to to unpack with this trade. Specifically,
Like I said, we get back, I want to discuss
what we like specifically about this move. You know me,
but uh, this is crazy, but we.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Really I literally was like, all right, we're gonna have
to start coming up with some fun content ideas, Like
wait a minute, but like make a really is it
on our team right now?
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Jayalen Ramsey isn't our team right? Like, all right, we're
going to break. We're going to break real, just real
quick real.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
I just tell you that.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
On Friday. I saw mattin Dale. On Friday, they did
a like a whole show where they power ranked their
top twenty five Steelers, and I was literally thinking, I
like that, Yeah, okay, I'm gonna we're gonna find a
way to steal this for some content next week because
we're gonna need it because nothing's gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
What are we gonna talk about?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Huh?
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Jokes on me?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
I always say, man moves like this either somebody's gonna
look really good in a year from now or its
people get fired. All right, specifically how it works one
or the other. But this is this is spicy, So
let's go to break real quick. When we get back,
we will talk what we like specifically about this trade.
Don't touch that down. I'm Arthur most That's what Steula
and this is the Steelers Blitz.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
This is the Steelers Flitz with Wesley Huler and Arthur
Mose on your twenty four seven home of the Black
and Gold.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Askin are Arthur Motes Wes le Hueler back for the
second segment of today's show. Of course, it's the Steelers Blitz.
Some one Steals Nation Radio and yes that means we're
on the Steels Audio network as well. But uh, we're
reacting to the initial after the math of Minka Fitzpatrick,
three times All Pro safety, being traded to the Miami
(15:06):
Dolphins along with a seventh round draft pick two the
Miami Dolphins four three time All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey,
Pro Bowl tight end John new Smith and their fifth
round draft pick. All right, baby, let's peel back these
layers West, Let's pull them back. Let's pull them bag baby. Specifically,
(15:26):
We're only gonna focus on what we like about this
What do we like about this trade initially?
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Okay, a couple of different Let me, I'll give you
a couple quick list, a couple instant reaction things, and
then I'll expand on them a little bit more for you.
What I like about this trade is it feels like
the most aggressive to me that the Steelers have ever
been on a single season in my lifetime. What I like, Okay,
(15:56):
what I like about this trade is your yes, trading
a significant Pro Bowl part of your team, but you're
getting two significant Pro Bowl parts, one on each side
of the football in return. And what I like about
this trade is I feel like John U. Smith is
a really nice piece for Arthur Smith's offense. And I
(16:17):
also feel like Motzi there is a real onus for
this team to have a different end of the season
than they've been having for the last four or five years.
Mm hm. And like kind of in a way that
definition of insanity, like, if you keep doing what you're doing,
if you keep having the same players, you're gonna most
likely keep getting what you're getting. I like kind of
(16:38):
the Again, that kind of gets back to my first
point of this feels like the most aggressive and I
still even hesitate to say all in, but it feels
like maybe the most all in the Steelers have ever
felt in a single season in my lifetime. Yeah, I
like it for Arthur Smith and what it means for
his offense. I mean, you now have Aaron Rodgers. You
(16:59):
now have two tight ends that are incredibly capable with
some solid depth behind them. That offensive line takes a
step forward. I still think we all think they're gonna
add a piece at wide receiver, not some significant Pro
Bowl type acquisition now, but there's still I think we'll
add another nice piece, complimentary piece at wide receiver. So
(17:21):
and you know what, I got one more thing for
you to touch on here, and then we could get
into any of these more specifically wherever you want to
go with it. I also think they've wanted to play
more man demand concepts as a secondary on defense, and
I think now with the addition of Jalen Ramsey, with
the addition of Jarius Slay, with the exit of Dante Jackson,
(17:41):
I think that gets a little bit easier for them
to do as well on defense. So a lot that
I like for Arthur Smith, a lot that I like
for Ta Tarrell Austin, a lot that I like for
just the what feels like a real sense of urgency
from the organization. Again, I'm thirty four years old, and
I don't typically say that, like every year is an opportunity,
but this one feels a little bit more aggressive. So
(18:03):
those are that's kind of a very wide spreading. What
I like about this just kind of on the surface.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Honestly, man, I'm with you. I think you're spot on
and all of those things. And something that you did
say that I want to actually emphasize is, yeah, they
are all in on this season, but they didn't mortgage
the future.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Great point.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I think that's masterful. How do you go all in
on this season? How do you maximize your potential for
this year without jeopardizing your future? How do I get
a chance to go and actually compete for the confetti
while still giving me a chance to if I want
to move up in the draft and find a long
term answer at any position? Right Because some people, they
(18:49):
might swear that the dream quarterback is out there next year.
Others might say, yeah, I think you're overrating them. Maybe
it's past rushing, maybe it's wide received, maybe it's running
it, and maybe it's whatever you know, but you still have
all those options on the table. I love that. But
like you said, man, you're all in for this year.
You don't sign Aaron Rodgers, you don't sign in trade
(19:10):
for John new Smith. There's when I said sign because
he got a significant pain increase after the trade. He
went from getting six to getting twelve. Shot at Drew
roseenhusehot know teen Roseenhouse over here? All right, that's my mass.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
Hey, hey, Arthur Moris, is doubling A good thing?
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Is doubling?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Speak from experience, I would say yeah. I would say yeah,
it definitely is. Yep yep, yep, yep, yep. I swear
by it, all right. I'm a big believer in doublin
Then come if you care, if you triple it a whole.
Now you're cook him with grease. All right. So I
think of John new Smith being in this thing, it's like, man,
the that's that's, that's, that's we're trying to win right now. Man,
I needed a weapon on offense. I needed something that
(19:48):
was productive. We lost a GP. Who gave you how
much yards last year? Oh?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
It's weird, very similar, very equivalent.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
It's weird when you bring when you speak that language,
it's funny when you talk like that. How many touchdowns
did he have in comparison to John new It's interesting
when you talk like.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
That less touchdowns, didn't he then? So it's a few
more but less touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
So you could make a case that you you you
kind of match that production, just with a different perspective
on it. And isn't that what we could kind of
say on defense too? Yes, Micah is all world, but
isn't Jaylen Ramsey also all world? Hey, Mika's toping isn't
up to Hey, Mika is a future Hall of Famer?
Isn't Jaylor's gonna be a future the same conbos right
(20:30):
in my is Kobe Bryant in the Rays, Coey Bran
in betweenty one? Okay, which one do you want?
Speaker 3 (20:37):
One?
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Well? I don't. I don't like that eight when that
fro he had, I want feeling of that fro. Man Ah,
that's twenty four? Oh you see, come on man with
the Nike it's like, bro, pick your poison. Man. I
felt like defensively, we just shifted perspectives. I love what
you brought us, specifically about wanting to play more. Man,
why is that important? Everybody is still under this illusion that,
Hey man, it's coach Tambland, it's coach Talbland. He could
(20:59):
never not be the dc IS coach Tomlin, coach Simon
has the dacy the past two years while y'all lying
to yourselves, and if you actually watch the tape, you
would actually see that. So you have to go back
and start looking at what does t A really like?
What does he want? He likes man, He wants to
be able to mix up them courverages behind you and
have a front for this going to rush. Why do
you think we pay the front for the way that
(21:20):
we pay the front for But they swear's coach Toma,
This coach coach almost the blessing to death bullshit and
run cover two Tampa two specifically, I think old school
Tavay buccaneer is Derrick Brooks and covery. That's what he
wants to run, correct But Ta he likes this man stuff.
He likes that. Let me get up in your face.
And what better way to do that than huh who
used to be the corner in Detroit? It was Amanda
(21:41):
Man corner back in Detroit, Man Geez actually might have
been about five six and the other ago Darius that guy.
So you're bringing in a guy that already has marror
a play Manda Man right, super Bowl champion. On top
of that, let's emphasize super Bowl chi it matters on
this roster. Before Darius Slay came here, how many people
(22:04):
were we seeing we're Super Bowl champions? We just let
the one guy that we did have lead. In terms
of Russell Wilson, he's gone.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Yeah, is Alanton Roberts as well?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Told yes, yes, with the Patriots?
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Yes, but I get what you're saying. I mean it
was a very short.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
But no, no, no, but so listen to me, right, one
guy was a quarterback that half people didn't even want
to put out there because of the injury. So where
are you getting that from? And then the other guy
was the linebacker that was rotational, wouldn't even be the
full time guy based off of athleticsm So, once again,
where are we filling that consistently? Yes, you can communicate that,
(22:41):
but it doesn't hit the same when you're not looking
at the guy saying, yo, he is nice, nice, Right,
this is very different. You're bringing in Aaron Rodgers. You
know what they say when Aaron Rodgers walks in, There
isn't a debate about, man, do we want Russ over fields?
Do we want to start Kittie, it's Aaron freaking Rogers
in the discussion period, like and his champion, super Bowl Champion.
(23:03):
It's certain things that come with that. Now you look
on that defense Jalen Ramsey, Champion, Darius Slay Champion, Love,
Minka Love, TJ Love, Cam, They're not champions. These dudes
haven't even been to a super Bowl yet, right, Me
and Cam went the furthest of that group AFC Championship game.
(23:24):
We're talking about dudes that have been there and had
that confetti rain on them. So when you're talking about
how they prepare, when you're talking about how they practice,
when you're talking about how they conduct themselves on the road,
how they conduct themselves in the meeting rooms, these are
all dudes we talking about that have seen Dan, You're
a hundred million dollars in their career. We're talking about
(23:44):
CEOs of their positions, right of their professions like this,
that's what we are bringing in here. I think that
this is a huge movement in terms of being all
in on this season, not just from a experience standpoint,
not from a talent standpoint, but like we said, not
having to mortgage the future because you can get out
of a lot of this in a year from now.
(24:07):
But when we look at Jayalen Ramsey, I feel Jalen,
this is his Charles Woodson Green Bay Packers era. We've
seen him as a raider, when he was a full
time corner. Now we're seeing him corner Swiss Army knife,
slot safety, moving around different beasts, saying animal. Right, we're
saying man on different beasts. So however you want to
say it, but you see what he's on. I think
(24:28):
of that man. I'm like, this is what we are
bringing in. Yes, it hurts to lose a Minka because
of the youth. Right twenty eight years old, we still
feel like he has so many more positive years left. Sure,
but with all due respecting, you know what we're saying,
we say, with all due respect, we've got to bring
up the negative. You look at the past two years
and what have we clamored about, specifically turnovers. How many
(24:49):
times we've come up here and we have to justify
the lack of statistical production based off what we see
on film. But you're looking at the dollar amount and
who also was ready to get a new deal. Let's
not forget that. Correct already getting money, but he's ready
to get a new deal. You're looking at what has
happened over the past two years. You're talking about one interception,
(25:10):
whereas you look at what Jalen Ramsey has done. I mean,
pick a year. You know, it's that late part is different.
We want to take the ball away. Jalen Ramsey takes
the ball away. You want a player that can impact
the game on a more consistent basis than how we
(25:31):
feel Mika impacts it at safety because when we say, oh,
they just avoid him when he's here, Oh, they just
avoided when he's there. They people will look at that
as an indictment on the Steelers. Hey, well why do
you use them like that? And it's like, well, how
do you want to use them to safety? Like he's
not playing Manda Man on the slice, not playing Manda
Man on the outside corner. He's not you know what
I mean. Like he's a middlefield dude. So these are
(25:52):
the limitations to that based off of his skill set.
You're not going to have that issue of Jalen Ramsey.
Jayleen Rams you can go put him out there on
your outside receiver, Go play that guy. That's your guy today. Hey,
you want to play them with a slot. Hey, that's
your slot today. You want to play in safety? You're
playing the Chiefs. I think got Travis Kelsey, Hey, you're
my safety this week. The difference you see it so yes,
(26:15):
with Minka excelled in from a physicality above the neck
and all the production that he had, Jalen Ramsey gives
you just as much, just a different vantage point with it,
a different perspective on it. But like I said, man,
it's a lot. That's a lot, man, that we've just
been hitting on. Like I said, with the Jalen Ramsey
portion of this thing as well, Man, I do want
to make sure we spend a little bit of time
(26:36):
talking about John new Smith as well. So we're gonna
take a quick break when we get back though, let's
also hit on what we like about John new Smith
being an auditioned here as well. Man. But you try,
I know the drud, don't touch that down. I'm Arthur Motes.
That's what's the Euler and this is this state is Blitz.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Euler and Arthur Motes
on your.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Twenty four to seven Home of the Black and Gold
Skin R final segment of the first hour Arthur mos
Weslewers Steelers Blitz and yeah, a lot has taken place
in still his nation amongst the past forty eight hours. Man,
we have a three time All Pro safety being shipped
out Nika Fitzpatrick, but we've also received it three times
(27:29):
All Pro Corner and Jalen Ramsey. Yeah, the Pro Bowl
tight end, John Newsmith. And speaking of John new Smith,
like I said, I had to make sure that we
talked about him in the first hour because I don't
want to be like everybody else and just be forgetting
old John new Smith, John Newsmith, the pro bowler, John
new Smith, the pay upgrade, John new Smith matters. So
(27:51):
if you could, man, could you share your thoughts on
John news Smith joining the squad Man with that could
potentially mean to that tight end room as well.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
You know, if anybody who listens to this program knows
we don't talk about those offensive guys around here very much, right,
well that's not true. We just give more love to
the defensive guys. As half of the show played defense
in the NFL for a decade and the other half
grew up a Pittsburgh Steeler fan baptized by defense in
the NFL.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
But John new Smith, the yeah, this is significant.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
For the uh the U Philadelphia born tight end by
the way players college.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
You would know he was a Philly guy. You would
you would you? Kelly Greenheart couldn't help you.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
Huh what do you talk? I mean, I don't know
what you're talking about. I'm just saying it was born
in Philadelphia.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Listen, man, when when they're when they're are Philly memorabilia
on your wedding at your wedding represented, Man, you learn
a lot about a person. Man, all right, he's learned
a lot about a person. You're a Philly die. You're
a Philly guy. Bro Kelly Greener, you such a Kelly Greener.
I mean you did get your name mentioned on a
Super Bowl broadcast.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
I will tell you this. I'll tell you this too.
A cheese steak would be delicious right now, wouldn't it.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
I I just can't believe you, man, sandwich.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Give me both.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
This is a This is a significant addition for the
offense for Aaron Rodgers, for Arthur Smith and you and
I had a conversation. The whole offseason kind of blends
together because we have a lot of those bigger picture converts.
It's very little of this what we're doing on the show, like,
it's a lot more bigger picture conversations. And one of
(29:35):
those that I I think we did a segment or
two on it, like a month ago. Questions that I
pose to you is how do you start to blend now,
you know, heading into year two of Arthur Smith, how
do you start to blend the personnel that you have
versus what he wants the personnel to be and what
he wants the offense to ultimately be. Because we all
know that's a process. You don't you can't come you know,
(29:57):
there's not the transfer portal where you can have already
guys leave the roster and and bring in thirty guys
that fit your system right like now these college football
programs can do. You can have a hand a few,
you can have a little handful of turnover every year,
but it's gonna take some time. We talked about does
that look like more twelve and thirteen personnel sets? Does
(30:17):
that look like more usage of the tight ends? And
you bring in now a tight end that has played
five seasons with two different franchises before for Arthur Smith,
a tight end who every in his five years with
Arthur Smith, more receptions every year, more yards every year.
He had double digit average reception yards. I mean the
(30:38):
years that he's played in Arthur Smith's offense, twelve point
nine yards per reception, twelve point five, ten point nine,
eleven point six, like with with touchdowns and yardage increases.
This is this is going to be a significant piece.
I mean, like you mentioned, you know, this for all
intents and purposes, could be should be that kind of
(31:01):
second playmaker that we've been looking for. I know it's
not the traditional you know, a guy that's gonna line
up on the perimeter, you know DK, like like DK
and George Pickens would have been type thing. But I
expect this to be a massive addition for the Steelers offense,
the type of personnel that they want to run, the
way that they want to operate. And yeah, for a
(31:24):
guy who's coming off a career season, uh still twenty
nine years old, this this feels like it could be
a just again, a massive piece of the Steelers offense.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Yeah, I mean, everything at least surface level looks good.
We obviously know he'll turn thirty was I think it's
an August time frame, But yeah, like training. Oh yeah,
it's like training camp soil. But it's like he still
is on the right side of it, you know what
I mean. The production still looks good, the athleticisms looks good.
I just this was this was the one. Though it's
(31:56):
still just I don't want to say it's a head scratcher,
but I'm just like, man, we really leaning into it
like that? Or is this the part A to a
part be is about to happen. I'm nervous. I'm nervous, man,
But I like this though. I definitely like the move though. Man,
we talk about Johnny Smith. Availability to me is one
(32:18):
of the being the things that are key. And you
look at him, man, outside of one not even yeah,
the only year at the least money games he's played
was the second year in the league, played thirteen games
with twelve starts. Outside of that, this dude is constantly,
you know, full participant man starting a good amount. And
you do like to see that right there, because we say, man,
(32:39):
you don't want to bring in guys that aren't available.
Even with Jalen Rams. You look at him, Man, dude
plays and starts all the time.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
The one time he did it, we played ten games
the same year when we could play ten games like
two years ago. Man, they both had the like weird
injury thing, but outside of that, it's like, man, these
are healthy players. These are guys that are available, and
that's what you want if you're going to make big moves,
if you're going to change. You know, I don't want
to say culture because I dont feel like we're changing culturely,
but if we're changing almost identity wise, because I do
(33:10):
feel like that is what we are shifting to. You
want to have guys that are going to be able
to actually implement that new change. They're going to actually
be able to, you know, consistently show up so that
way you can at least feel like I'm getting whether
it works or not, I at least want to see
it consistently, if that makes sense, right, And I feel like,
(33:31):
you know, with guys like John new and guys like Jalen,
they show up, they're available. John new Man, I mean
I know for him, he has to be feeling some
type of excitement knowing that he's going back to Arthur
smith Man because of how much success that those two
guys specifically have had together, and not just that you
look at the targets when he's there. That's thing that
(33:51):
stood out to meet the targets his last year when
he was with Arthur Smith in tend to say sixty
five targets. His last year where he was with Arthur
Smith and Atlanta's seventy targets. MKA last year he had
one hundred and eleven targets. We know that won't be
the case per se here with the DK, Metcalf with
the Rogers with you know a Mooth, but he got
(34:14):
seventy targets in Atlanta. Man, Yeah, it's like that made that. Yeah,
that doesn't happen by accident. Man, you want to know
who your wide receiver for two is seventy and then
the last mosone was sixty.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Five and you know had Mouth had seventy eight targets
last ye years there. Man, So you know, Mooth gets
his once again, d K gets his once again. John
new Smith, you know, I think fills in a lot
of the gaps there.
Speaker 2 (34:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
Then obviously we know a lot of other guys are
still going to be involved in terms of guys like
Calvin Austin and Rowan Wilson and Robert Woods and some
other you know people who could potentially or will uh
have a say in this thing as well too. So
it's it's starting to come. You can start to see
the play come together nice.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
I see it.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
And in a lot of ways, like it's it's gonna
it's gonna be a unique fun. The Steelers are not
going to be the only team in the NFL that
wants to to use their tight ends and and and
run the football while still having a dynamic playmaker on
the outside.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
In fact, who does.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Baltimore got to say, most of the best teams in
the NFL, in fact, do operate that way.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
I was like familiar. I know Buffalo got too tight
end of the teams I was.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
Gonna say, a lot of like the last the teams
that were in the divisional round and the and the
and the and the and the conference championship round playing played.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Lot of tight end ball, a lot of tight end ball.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
But it is, it's it's it's a little different from
the A B and juju, you know, like it's it's
it's it's a little bit different I think than this
Arthur Smith offense that is gonna I think really lean
into some tight end usage this year. I didn't even
mention Darnell Washington there, who we know is gonna gonna
have a big part of this. So yeah, like it's
it's gonna be fun to watch. It's gonna be again
(36:16):
not completely unique, but a little bit different at the
same time. And with a guy like Aaron Rodgers, who
is so good above the shoulders, when you're going to
have playmakers now just just everywhere on the football field,
I mean on with two tight ends, with a guy
like DK, with everybody else who's gonna be involved, With
(36:39):
a mind like Aaron Rodgers too, who's gonna be able
to assess defenses and know where he can attack and
know that he doesn't really have any weaknesses anywhere, I
think there is a lot here that you can start
to really like. And I think, without a doubt, I
don't know how you couldn't think the Steelers are a
better football team now than they were, you know, when
(37:01):
the season ended in January.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
That makes two of us, but we don't have makea Fitzpatrick.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
So there is a significant, significant, no.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Doubt, our physicality did take a little bit of a dip,
just a little bit. Our our playmaking offense and defense,
though for sure it took a nice step up, a
nice step up, but yeah, we did. Just just you know,
if it's plus three over, there is minus one on
that one, all right. But other than that though, I
like it. I like it. So let's do this real quick, man.
(37:32):
Let's take our final break for this first hour. Man,
get back on the right schedule, because, like I said,
in the second half, we gotta start talking about some
of you know, what we think could make us a
little bit uneasy about these moves, man. And you know,
if we would have maybe handled anything differently as well,
you know, put your GM hat on, dust it off
a little bit. Don't touch that down though, I'm our
(37:53):
the most. That's Wes Sieuler And this is the Steels
Blitz on Still's Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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