May 29, 2025 • 38 mins
The Steelers have completed the first week of OTA workouts, and the Blitz shares some observations.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Stueler and Moats are on the air. This is the
Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to seven Home of
the Black and gold s n R Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's going on Steelers Nation Radio. It is high noon
or a little bit thereafter on a Thursday afternoon, and
that could only mean one thing. It is time to
go inside the electric factory here on your twenty four
to seven Home of the Black and the Golden Steelers
Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio on Steelers Audio Network, Wesler,
Arthur Motes. You know the drill, decade of experience, really
(00:56):
good head of hair and one way to get involved
on this. You've got questions, comments, concerns, reactions, criticisms, thoughts,
anything and everything in between. You know where to get
at us if you want to get involved. It's on
Twitter on x at Wesley Uller at the body fifty two.
Duh boy, Arthur Motes. It is a Thursday week. One
(01:17):
of OTA's is in the books. I was down there
once again today.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Let's go. Let's go.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
You could sense the energy that the end of a
work week was approaching.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Okay, well, now how paint that picture with that looked
like though, well, real quick.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
That real quickly, I was gonna ask you, do you
you have some energy here as the weekend is approaching?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Oh man, come on, I'm getting closer to graduation. Man,
we we you know, doing the whole uh social life thing,
you know, yeah, man, speaking for the students, hosting parties
and everything in between. Man, so definitely can't go play well.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
All the best to you and yours as you navigate
what is a very happy and exciting time also better
you know, also bittersweet and emotional in a lot of
ways as well too, So I hope it all goes
as smoothly as possible for you, for your wife, for
your for everybody involved here.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Over shot out, shut out. Man.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I've seen some of the adorable things that you and
your wife have been posting on Instagram with KK about
to graduate, and uh yeah, like I'm I'm already even
though that that's still sixteen years away, for fifteen sixteen
years away from me, I'm already like, oh man, that
is going to hit me like a ton of bricks.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
And like it half is fast too. You should be like, hey, man,
keep living though, that's the whole the man. You either
going in that direction or you go in a different
direction that isn't always the best, you know, So for us, man,
we just appreciate all a little.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Man, you know that, no doubt about it, no doubt
about it. High energy in the Motes household this weekend,
high energy Day three of practice down there at OTA's
Arthur Motes. And I have a couple theories on this
that I want to run by you.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Okay, okay, okay, A few.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Different reasons I think it was high energy today, all right.
The first is, as we just kind of mentioned, it's
the last day of a work week, right every that
always puts a pep in everybody's step as soon as
we get through this shift. You know, we got a
few days off here before we got to get back
to work, which is always a good feeling. It was also,
you know, Tuesday was the first day, so that's kind
(03:16):
of the first day jitters and knocking off the rust
and all that. Yesterday the weather was terrible, like, it
poured down rain the whole time. Today was finally a
nice day. It was you know, it was a little overcast,
but the sun was out as well too. It was
about seventy degrees, you know, sixty eight sixty nine seventy
degrees in there, nice weather for outdoor athletics. So I
(03:36):
think all those things kind of you know, led to
what felt like a higher energy practice than the first two.
And not that those were low energy. But as anyone knows,
it's every day at work is different. It's not always
the same, right, And yeah, man, I just today it
really felt like for for for all of those reasons
(03:57):
and some more you know, things that we could get
into a well. But I don't know if you wanted
to talk about that and your experience obviously with getting
back into into these things, but it felt like there
was an extra pep in everybody's step today, a little
higher energy practice for a few different reasons.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
No, like I said, Man, if that is the case,
like I said, from how you viewed it, man, shout
out to them, dudes, Man, I know for me, Man,
you already know I keep the same vintagy all the time. Man,
especially as potastes to this sport, is like, if you
not out here having fun, you wasted my time in
you have time, so keep that energy over there. It's
so yeah, man, you even see how I look at
you sometimes when you can play about the weather, I'm like,
(04:34):
why do you keep saying not good weather or this
isn't Like have you never played football in the rain?
Do you know how much fun that is to go
out there? Like I'm pretty sure they.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Have a snow globe game last year.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
You know what I'm saying, Like we actually enjoyed some
of this, So yeah, man, uh, I like it. But
I will say that, regardless of what might have been
going on behind the scenes to make a person feel
more up or not, whenevery you get a chance to
get out there and you're playing whenever you get a chance.
And you also know that this weekend as well. But
(05:06):
why is it important? Because this is also an evaluation period.
So at times this is where coach Tomlin I don't
want to say he'll set the trap, but it's like
what you said, right, most people do what at the
end of the work week, Oh all right, now let's
get out there, really go right? And coach is like, well,
what happened at the beginning of the work week that
(05:26):
didn't matter. Yesterday where it was Wednesday, that didn't matter either.
So he's looking for certain people to do that because
we talk about how time and location can't matter we
talk about how you want to be the McDonald's number one.
It doesn't matter where you are in the world, it's
the Big Mac. And those are the things that we're
constantly just trying to reiterate and reinforce. And this is
usually one of those first go arounds where it's like, hey,
(05:47):
some of you guys upped it right. Some of you
guys said, all right, because we're at the end of
the week, let's put what we call an exclamation point
on our work stamp it. But you also got the
other side that does what at the end of the
work week. They take the deep breath, Oh, I've made
it casual will Friday, right, and that's all will and good.
(06:09):
But you take your foot off in the fourth quarter,
what happens you lose?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Right or no, there's no casual Friday in the National
Football League?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Right? Or if you wait to work hard until the
fourth quarter with two minutes left, man, you might have
already had the game out out of hand by then,
you know. So those are the things that we would
always kind of just reiterate and like I said, man
for some of these younger guys, because not everybody is
going to make and everybody is gonna play a super
long time. So I want the listener to understand that
(06:37):
not everybody has my mindset. All right, this is just
the mindset that I adapted that a lot of the
dudes that play longer than me typically had. But that
was kind of how we would always envision it. So
it's literally the perspective of it's always glass half full,
it's always good. Heck, even when we talk attendance, right,
(06:57):
who didn't show up? Oh my god, this is such
a big deal. It's only a big deal to media
and fans because you know, we say, as players, people here,
Next man up, And because they don't fully understand it,
they try to just weaponize it. Right, Well, you see
the next one up. This guy should have been good.
Next man I should have been dead. Next man up
is layers to it. Next man up also means Okay,
(07:19):
you're not here for practice, regardless of if it's voluntary mandatory,
regardless of if you wanted to be here, if you injured,
or if you're holding out, whatever it is. We're looking
at the guy that's here because now by you not
being here, that opens up a door that creates an
opportunity and a lot of us that play in this
league and that last as long as we do. It
(07:40):
all started off of an opportunity. Mine came off of
a guy getting hurt. You talk about James Harrison, it
came because Joey Porter got suspended. Right, Everybody has a
last year. Everybody has a different way that this opportunity
presents itself. And you can either complain and focus on
what you don't have and what isn't going right and
(08:02):
what the others are doing, or you could say, bro,
I got the heck of an opportunity to get all
these reps today. I hope he never comes back. And
that's the mindset you take with it. Man.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
And you don't think Skylett Thompson's loving this.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
You don't think Nason Rudolph, Will Howard, They're not enjoying
the fact that no Aaron Rodgers is here.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Heck t, we's been enjoying.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I was literally about to say OPPORTUNI I was about
to say it's certain wide receivers right now that have
really enjoyed themselves. Heck is people on defense that are like, yo,
I'm getting more reps with the ones maybe than I
would ever have gotten. That matters, But that's the mindset.
It's like, man, we got too much negative going on
to focus on that. You got to focus on what
is going to get us close to that championship. And
(08:47):
it's less about who isn't here, It's less about what
isn't going right. Weather time, man, am I on East coast? West?
Go no, no, no. Wherever we are, it's a great day.
It's a great time to play. Football is always great
for this thing. And like you said, man, we get
to versus wanting to, we get to and that's the day.
Like I said, man, this is the foundation though, and
(09:10):
that's when you can hear like me getting excited about
it because this is typically when these conversations are had,
that first real week of OTA work, because you've got
a chance to get the young guys with the old guys,
the new vets with the guys that have been here forever.
And everybody has a different way that they go about
their work. Everybody is different with it the mindset, the mentality,
(09:31):
the approach to perspective. But this is where we start
to get everybody aligned and having that same vision. When
we start talking about having one common goal and the
messaging always being the same. This is how that happens.
But you got to go through the journey. And this
is literally like step stage one and a half of
(09:54):
one hundred stages that we're gonna have to get through
this year. And we've seen how the past couple of
years we keep getting stuck right at stage like stage
tennis six, tennisea this because we were right in that range,
all right. So we're trying to get to these next
couple of steps, next couple of stages. But this is
(10:15):
where it starts, though, and this is where you build
that foundation. So, like I said, man, I love it
for all these dudes, man, But hopefully as it continues
to progress, more guys will have that mindset that you
kind of heard me talk about where it doesn't matter
what is going or it doesn't matter who is or
is not. If you're here, it's a great opportunity for
us to get better today, man, And the first r
(10:36):
will be getting better is.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Showing up one hundred percent. And I know you know
you talk about this all the time. There is obviously
things that you that you do to get yourself ready
and put yourself in the best position, but the only
way to get better at playing football is by playing football,
and you don't get much opportunity to play football.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
I mean, look think league wide, right, you see receivers
on boats, you know, on y'all's having fun. And that's fine,
this is voluntary, I get it. But this is also
when we started asking ourselves what is the main thing.
Did you make it to this level? Did you become
the twenty million dollars thirty million dollars a year player
by not working, by not practicing, by not showing up
(11:20):
to this or did you receive that compensation, those accolades
and awards because you obsessed over this, because you said
that there isn't anything bigger than this. And that's when
we always have to reiterate to ourselves to make the
main thing the main thing. Or one of the things
I love from coach Tomlin that he typically says I
(11:43):
always caught it as a second contract guy. I didn't
hear it the first go around. But he talks about
not getting tired of doing the little things. A lot
of people get tired of the routine stuff because it's like, man,
I do it a thousand times, Wes, how many times
do we you prepare for a show where hey, you
got your notes, I got my notes. Then we come
up here and we do the show for you know,
they a lot of time. Now, imagine if we got
(12:04):
to the point where we say, man, we've been preparing
for six seven years, I'm tired prepared. Let's just show up. Man,
we'll be over here like all right. We might get
away with it on occasion, but you're gonna see a
drastic dipth in the quality. Yeah, in the in the production.
And those are the things that we talk about where
it's like, you can't get tired of the routine stuff.
(12:26):
You can't get tired of the little things. Heck, even
in your marriage. You hold your wife's hand, right you
was holding when you first met her. Don't stop hold
it because you've been married for ten plus y Come on, man, hey,
you told that she was beautiful the first day you
met her. Why you stop seeing that after year five? Right?
You would get her flowers every three weeks when you first,
you know, was trying to court her. Now you've been
(12:46):
married for a little while. Now all of a sudden
you just cool with it because you're becoming more casual
about it's become more familiar. But more importantly, you're minimizing
the routine. You're saying that now the stuff that has
made you you it doesn't matter anymore, and that can't
be the case. So this is that timeframe where once
again you hit all of those messages. Hey Cam, how
(13:10):
many times you worked on your steps coming out of
your stands? TJ whit? How many times have you shot
your hands on the on the past blocking dummy to
just get the proper technique and landing point? Teacher's done
a thousand times? You know how can tell you just
done a thousand times because I've done it a thousand
times with the one we were playing. So with that, though,
you see where the quality remains and where the floor
(13:32):
can stay extremely high while also elevating the ceiling on
top of that. But it really just falls back to
once again, not getting tired with the routine, not getting
tired with what we consider our norm every single day.
Attack it like.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
It's the first day, absolutely, and you know, spoken like
a guy who defied the odds with the ten year
NFL career when the average career is only two and
a half.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Got a STAFL.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
NFL not for long unless you are maybe then it's.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Don't you Jinx be like that. All right, man, do
you do this to be Ricky Bible? Don't you do
this now?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Obviously some just more observations and talking points for you
from today and from the week. Also. Keanu Benton sat
down with herself and Matt Williamson today for a few minutes,
so you know some uh some some obvious uh, you know,
good talking.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I mean, get to Wes, just tell them who you are.
You fly private. You casually have conversations over brunch with
Steeler players. It is what it is. First round is undrafted,
second money, you know. I mean, it doesn't matter, and
you fly private. I forgot to say that too. Don't
forget that you can now part of that statement is true.
(14:46):
You're the man, bro, You're the man.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
The brunch statement completely the opposite. I go and hide corner,
I go and hide in the corner. You sound like
my dad. My Dad's always like, hey, do you say
do you say hello to all these people on the road?
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Myself, I don't want you there. You eating the same
potato chips that they just made. All right, you got
that nice wedding soup over there. You got Kevin the
back chefing it up to what he does. I know
you in there and dapting everybody up, just hob nobbing it,
getting all the different juice concoccions that they got going
on over there. Or you want to you want the
orange juice, you want the apple juice, you want the
(15:23):
mixed juice, you want the strawberry ju I know how
he gets down, baby, I know, I know.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
I am not at the facility as much as I
used to be. But one thing that has not changed
and will never change. Only two people are undefeated in
this world bother time and the chefs at the Steelers
Cafeteria on the south east side of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there
(15:50):
were some delicious ribbis and scallops today for lunch.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I'm just saying, sushi man, scallops, like this is it.
This isn't the capt you grew up in. I still
stay in the.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Corner by myself and don't make a word church mouse.
We gotta get to break more from OTAs more from
week one. All of that stuff also later on in
the program, Steelers Hall of Honor twenty twenty five class
nominations are now open. Who should be getting into this class?
(16:26):
We'll get into some of that, but you can get
those thoughts in now, or at least have some time
to think about that ahead of time that was redundant.
I should just go to break. Wes Ruhler, Arthur Motes.
It is the Steelers Blitz. It's Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
This is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Huler and Arthur
Mose on your twenty four seven home of the Black
and Gold. Cas Skin are.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Back on the Blitz. Here as week one of o
t a's in the books. A quick reminder, but there'll
be another week of ot as next week, the first
week in June Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then the following week,
same schedule Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday. But it's mandatory time, manor
(17:22):
that means, that means, that means that, like Marshawn Lynch
would say, you know, there's gonna be some fines involved
if you are not there and not fulfilling your obligations.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
We me and you are under contract. I don't know
if we're under those contracts though, so we might be okay,
just throwing it out there, but don't don't quote me
on that.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I'll have to check with my attorneys for lawyers or
whatever fancy.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Term one of them important with the suits in the briefing.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
So one out of three weeks done? Uh, first of
the two optional weeks and then you know again here
uh the third and I just gotta.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Cut you off. Man, As an alum, I have a
grievance with how you lumping in OTAs in mini camp.
I'm gonna need you to just separate the two. Don't
be three week in it? No no, no no no
no no no, no no no. You have a week remaining
of OTAs and then a singular week of mini camp.
All right, just just just yeah, can me give me
some clarity on.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Okay, you're the one, you're the one with a decade
of NFL experience. Who am I?
Speaker 3 (18:24):
And it used to be a time where it used
to be a time back in the day. Man, you
better have to fight for that art. It's a clear
this is the line. Okay, this is no longer OTA,
this is mini camp. Okay, so just make sure we
clarifying that. And for those of you that are like, yeah,
most man, why you act like that? Actually, from a
time perspective, there is a little bit more of a
(18:45):
time commitment for the mini camp portion, which is mandatory
in comparison to the OTA's OTA day. I mean, you
might be out of there by twelve thirty one o'clock
for your traditional mini camp days. Those are supposed to
reflect in season work day, which for those of you
that aren't privy, it's a lot longer of a workday.
(19:06):
Usually it is about that eight am to you know,
three four and afternoon type of concept in comparison to
what's happening right now and doing the OTA's portion. So
I just wanted to throw that out there, man, So
shout out to a week of OTA's remaining before we
get to the real day.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Yes, get three three of the six OTAs practices now
in the books. And uh, you know, Keanu Benten was
the one who joined us today after practice, and it
was funny, like right before he sat down, we were
kind of laughing about how the different kind of plethora
of things that guys on the team will be doing
(19:44):
over the next few days. You know, some of them
who Pittsburgh is not their full time home, they'll be
they'll be hopping on a flight later today to get
up to get up out of here for a few days.
Some of the people that have, you know, the the
Camp Haywards of the world that have that have been
with the team for a long time and live and
make their home and their families in Pittsburgh. Obviously they're
(20:05):
they're just going home. Some guys are are kind of
in between. So we were kind of.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
A hotel man, you sick, like, hey, bro at the
hotel name. But I know y'all actually like pull up one.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yes, I got a ke I got a Keanu Benton
fishing thing that I'm gonna say something very similar here.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Just just and just you know.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
And and and Matt Williamson was laughing. I know all
of our our our Steelers Nation radio regulars know. But
you know, Matt worked as a scout in college and
in the NFL pitt Akron, the Cleveland Browns. We don't
hold that against him. We still love them.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
And he talked about he talked.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
About how they would always kind of like give a
message to some of the guys that are like, hey,
you know, for some of you that are these ot
as are more important than others. If you're going home
for the weekend, you better make sure you're back next week,
because like, we don't want here on Tuesday. Sorry, my
flight got delayed. I'm missing practice even though it's optional.
You know, for some of you, it's more important.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Man, I've seen so many people support that argument. Hey,
he missed his flight. No you got it? No, d
that's so jacked up. Hey, man, you should have flew
the day before they play. I don't care if you Hey,
if you definitely should have came in on Sunday, All right,
No one tell you're flying on Monday. You better come
in ahead of time.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
You are. If you are Mega Fitzpatrick and you missing
ota practice because of that, okay, that might fly. But
for some people that ain't gonna be good.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
That ain't gonna Hey, Minka got hurt riding a bike,
not in a football place, and it was okay. If
you don't know who you are, you don't even ride
the bike. You catch what I'm saying. You don't ride
the bike, like, exactly right. I don't care or that
you don't ride the bike. You could look at the bike,
(22:00):
don't even stand next to the bike like. That's the
severity of it. That's the reality of it. You know,
it's the truth. That's why you laugh.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
So we we're we're we're kind of laughing about all
those the the again, the differences of what everybody might
be doing over the next few days. And so Keanu
Benton sits down and so we ask, you know, hey,
what do you what do you got playing for the
next few days? And he goes, Tomorrow is gonna be
a workday for me still as well on Friday, he goes,
but then then I'm gonna relax Saturday, Sunday, I'm gonna
(22:30):
do a little fishing. And so we didn't we didn't
make it like we we asked him off air about
where he likes to go fishing. That's what I was
laughing with, you say in the hotel thing, because I
was like, I need to know. I was like, I
need to know your spots. Now is a Wisconsin guy
who I'm sure knows some fishing. But I was like,
I'm not going to ask you this on the air
because I don't want you to.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
I don't want you to up like that.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
But it was nice to.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Get act if you think about it, though, Man man
that the Sasquatch. This schedule release with him, Kim and
Herbert was fire like everybody was dire laughing watching it,
Like yo, I like what I'm saying with him, though, Man,
he's definitely getting more comfortable out here, sure is.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
And you know, along those lines, one of the things
that he mentioned to us. And it's funny, like, I know,
we have these conversations every year about certain players in OTAs,
But how quickly you go from being the young pup
in the room, who's the one who needs help? Of
like where am I parking? Where's this meeting room? Where
exactly is the practice field? What's our schedule?
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Where we go?
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Where's the cafeteria? Two? Just in your third year, now
you're the one that everyone's looking to. You know, You're
the one that Derek Harmon is asking for help. You're
the one that Ya Black is asking for help. You're
the one that all these young guys and that.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
But you gotta remember, though, man, like yeah, but because
of how short of a shelf life the average career
span is, by the time you're in year three, you
are a veteran ve Yeah, Like, I remember those same feelings. Man,
in year three, you're just like I don't even feel
comfortable being a leader. I don't even feel comfortable to
get into the line just yet, Like where is my
(24:05):
vet and it's just like, yo, you're that guy. So
you have to figure it out and it sucks at times.
But the good thing for Canu he gotta kill a
Cam here too, still shout out the Cam, Hey what man? Yeah,
you're right after three years you look at it. Derek
Carlin to Ya Black for sure looking at him like
he uh, what's the answer?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
And I think two and he obviously spoke about how
huge Cam has been for him since day one and
still is now in year three. That was one of
the low hanging fruit questions that we obviously had to
ask him about. Yeah, just having a guy like Cam
out there, you know, who's been here forever, still busting
(24:48):
his hump and like you said, attacking every practice like
it might be his last one, and as an opportunity
to get better. I think that's a nice resource for
four guys like Derek Harmon and Ya Black to have
the like legit ultimate veteran Hall of Fame credentials, you know,
(25:08):
legend of an organization type in Cam Heyward, and a
guy like Keanu Benten who's a few years into this thing,
like the the the juxtaposition to be able to learn
from both of those guys, is probably a pretty pretty
nice luxury.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
I would imagine, no, one thousand percent, because it gives
you different perspectives, and that's what we're all looking at.
I mean, we obviously here talking about the still specifically,
but it's all just, you know, the parallel to life. Right.
We don't know what we don't know, and that's largely
due to we've only been exposed to whatever experiences we've
had up until this point. So when we're looking for
(25:43):
more information about how to handle, you know, recovering your body,
or how to watch tape or how to prepare for
certain opponents, Well, the guy that's been doing it for
six years is going to have a different perspective than
the guy that's done it for twelve years compared to
the guy who's only done it for two years. But
if you do it the right way with these conversations,
you'll be able to pick up nuggets from each and
(26:05):
every one of them because they're gonna see things differently.
Their mindset on certain things are gonna change. And I
think of my mindset when I was in college compared
to dude's mindsets when they're in college right now, it's
a different world. Nil So if you feel like, because
I've already lived that, I know everything about it, then
I think you're also doing yourself a disservice. And that's
(26:27):
the part where I even look at guys like Cam
and TJ and it's like, yeah, you see how I mean,
I know, watching them do certain drills, you didn't get
that from you. You got that from the young guy
because that's what they used to do in college. But
these are the different things that they're implementing their due
to the different level that now we can implement certain
parts of that. But if you're so just bullish and
(26:50):
feeling like you already have it already figured out, then
you never get that chance. But for like you said, man,
a guy like Keanu to have all the different pieces
around him, the Cams of the world and the Arikrmers
of the world, and then the flips out with to
Derek Carmon, to have a Keanu Benton and the Cam
Heyward who are even further along in this thing, They're
gonna be able to lean on each other so much,
(27:10):
and realistically, we're gonna need them to. We're gonna need
that group to develop, We're gonna need that group to
grow and be productive sooner rather than later, because number one,
we know that was one of our weaknesses last year
in terms of run defense, and that starts up front.
Then number two, we talk about losing one of our
key members who's been a starter in the rotation the
past couple of years in Larry Ogan Jobi. So there
(27:32):
are multiple moving pieces here that yes, we're optimistic that
these younger guys can't step up, but until they actually
do it, they're gonna have to be gaining experience and
learning on the fly. And that's the part where I'm
saying they gotta all work together with that they man
to get it accomplished. But I do think that the
(27:52):
different perspectives are gonna pay dividends for them though.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
I completely agree and uh yeah, it was uh he
seems like a guy who and I told you on
our Tuesday episode of the Blitz earlier this week kind
of how about when we talked to Troy Faltanu, there
was a clear kind of onus, a message from him
that Hey, if we're trying to get to where we
(28:17):
want to go, we know it. The team knows it.
Mike Tomlin and all the coaching staff know it. Like
our offensive line has to be one of the best
in the league, has to take a step forward. We
have to be that unit that they've drafted us to be.
With two first round picks and a second round pick
and a fourth round pick and a veteran guard, super
Bowl champion who was your highest free agent signing a
(28:37):
couple of years ago, the expectations of that offensive line group.
Fast forward to forty eight hours later, and it was
kind of same shoe.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Different foot.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Hearing from Keanu Benten, like, we've had the investment here,
we have the pedigree here. Now it is it is
time for us to be one of those nasty defensive lines.
So he was.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
He was.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
He was another one too, like I told you on
Tuesday with with Faltanu like ready ready to go and
really get going here.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
You had to think for him specifically. You know, he
had a little bit, we don't want to say a
sophomore slump, but he didn't experience the big jumping production
that we typically associate with guys like him who had
you know, super productive first years. So in a way
he almost looks at it as I have ground to cover.
I gotta make up ground and not to you know,
(29:32):
be I guess like putting another player down. But in
a way, I'm sure he's heard of the Demarvin Leao
and how that was a guy that you know, nice
draft pick, showed some flash year one, lot of expectations,
but unfortunately it just has it all the way materialized
to be that consistent player. And in turn, we've brought
(29:55):
in a louder Milk, we brought in a Bent, and
we brought an Hawayya Black. We paid a Larry Joby
and we paid him, and we paid Amant Trevis Adam
on top of drafting and Derek Carman. So those are
the parts where you can kind of see the cautionary
the cautionary tail of They're not going to just wait
on me to develop. I'm gonna have to figure this
(30:19):
out sooner rather than later. And I could see him
being eager to go out there and prove that this
year because this is a big year for him. When
you get to year three, it's time to make it.
It's time to make a move. You're either a guy
that we feel like we can invest in, that we
think is a core member, a foundational piece, or you're
a guy that we're looking to replace an upgrade. You
(30:39):
don't want to be able to getting replaced an upgraded category. Man,
Now you got to talk about relocating families and friends,
and that ain't cool. Man, You would much rather stay put.
But this is that year, man, where you really have
to decide which which version are you gonna be. Are
you gonna just be a rotational guy that has high
upside but never really materialize into that type of player,
(31:03):
or you're gonna be the guy that shows up. And
now we're saying, okay, we already know you pass the
test from a visual standpoint, we know athletically you're gifted.
We call you a dancing bear for crying out loud.
And now it's like, okay, now let's put it to
you know, every single thing together. Just put it all
(31:23):
together and do it every single week. Because he's flash.
He's had moments where we're like, yeah, this kid could
be our best d lineman in a year or two.
He has that type of talent, that type of potential.
But at the same time, you'll see where the pad
level gets a little high end short yard situation or
you know, in scenarios where he might get a little fatigued,
and that's something that has a larger guy, he has
(31:43):
to ultimately be more intentional about going against or battling
against that. Cam Heya was a great person to watch
and learn from with that though, because Cam's a big
dude that also you know, at times plays high. So
for him, he's focused so much on his technique and
his condition and that you hardly ever see that pop
up and that's why his floor is so much higher.
(32:07):
And I just think for Kendo Bim, if he can
figure that out this time frame, this time, this you know,
spring time frame right here, that is going to ultimately
put him in that position to pay dividends come you know,
the fall.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
I completely concur Professor Motes, and yeah, was nice to
get to chat with him today and I hope he
has some great success fishing this weekend as hopefully the
weather is looking up a little bit here in western
Pennsylvania as well. Mozi, one more break to get to
here in the first hour of the program, we'll close
down some Ota conversation on the other side when we
(32:45):
return was Shooler Arthur Motes. You are listening to the
Steelers Blitz.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
He's the Steeler Blitz with Wesley Euler and Arthur Motes
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold Skin.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Are all right, Arthur Motes as we close down this
first hour of the Steelers Blitz here after closing down
the first week of OTA practices on the South Side
for your Pittsburgh Steelers a couple of minutes before or
left here in this hour, I should say, and one
(33:29):
thing that I kind of took away from this week
and particularly this Thursday as well too, is we've seen
a lot or I certainly have seen an uptick in
the guys that they the guys that they are looking
to to prove it this season. Let's put it that
(33:49):
that that reason for a litany of different reasons. It
might be like a Troy Foutanu Roman Wilson situation where
it was because of injuries, right, It might it might
just be a Peyton Wilson type situation where it's year
two and now the expectations, can we give you a
greater role, can we put a little bit more on
your plate? Or are you going to take that step forward?
(34:12):
The young offensive lineman? You know, like it really felt
like again particularly today on day three, like those guys
in those types of conversations and those types of positions
that I just mentioned. We're really getting some reps and
we're really getting some work.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
Well, shoot, that's what you need to see, I'll tell
you that. But more portly, man, whenever we're talking about,
like you said, these opportunities, man, letting dudes get chances,
letting guys get chances to number one, prove what they're worth,
Prove that they deserve a spot, even during this time
of year, whereas ninety guys out there, and the only
way to do that is by whenever you get a
(34:50):
single rep, you got to justify it. Younger dudes, man,
they get typically better opportunities this time of year. But
as a whole, that's what you can got to do.
And except if you know, for I could like to
talk with this for hours or hours hours about just yo,
this is what this is, how this works. This is
the post piece for that one right there.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
But it was like every time, it was like every
time I looked up today.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
The middle, let's go, like you said, take advantage of
these opportunities, man, because we know once the big dog
a wide receiver gets in, how many targets you're getting
in practice, but how many reps you're gonna get right
paying a little bit different on defense, but as a whole,
that is the reality of it, and that's gonna also
be the case come training camp time frame as well.
(35:39):
Take advantage of these opportunities and for every time that
the big dog isn't out there for whatever the reason is,
this is how you make up space. This is how
you cover ground and show them that, yes, even though
I might not be out there in the games, just shit,
I've been working, I've been in the lab. And once again,
(36:00):
this is where you prove it. This is this is
the first stage of your proven ground. We know the
real proof of ground isn't about too much from now
beautiful at all. Right, that's when you get to find
out if you really a killer, if you're just talking
about it. You know the crowd, come on, man, you
know the drill man. This is when we find out
were you just ig working out or were you really
(36:22):
working out? Cause there's a lot of ig lifters. And
then you got the guys that lift weights. Which category
are you in because because for a fact, you're only
lying to yourself. Baby, you ain't lying to me. When
we put them pads on, you can't lie to me.
Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no no. You
go out of yourself, though you can out of yourself.
So you've been working hard, you've been in the lab,
you've been grinding, you've been taking avantage these opportunities. Oh yeah, man,
(36:46):
DK's and here, okay, great, someone run me a half
tail route just because oh man gotta take the extra rep.
Why he ain't here? If he would see, I wouldn't
have to take the extra rep. You complaining about the
wrong name, big fella, you better take all those extra
reps you got, because, like I said, once he gets here,
once these other player years are more a part of it.
You don't get these opportunities anymore. You don't get to
call a coach man, can I Can I get another
(37:06):
rep in practice? No? Take your three and shut up.
Like that's the reality of it, man. But I like
it though, man, And it's also good to hit there
making the most of it in terms of both Wilson's,
but mainly on the Roman side, cause, like I said,
I feel really good about Payton. I see Payton. Peyton
looked apart, he amped up. I talked the part shit
I've talked to him. I know he's good yeah, man,
(37:28):
he was. He was busy today and he was looking up.
Oh yeah, that's for sure. That's for sure. It was
slowing down for him at the end of last year.
Like you can start to see little things on tape.
And that's the part where I'm just like, Okay, you
about to have a bigger opportunity, a bigger role. Make
the most of it, man, stay healthy, make the most
of it. Though we got his ultra talented.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Certainly something that we will continue to monitor throughout the
off season and as we get ready for training camp
and the regular season. But now we have to get
to our last break here or close down the first hour,
I should say, our number two. On the other side,
nominations open for the Steelers Hall of Honor twenty twenty
five class.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Other than the two hosts of the Steelers Blitz, your
favorite radio hosts ever? Who could be up for nomination.
I think we're on the shortlist, motes, I think we
made the finalists.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I'm nervous about that.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Are still some substantial names that are up for nomination
or that can be put up by you, the fans
for nomination. We should say, we'll talk about all of
that to kick off our number two. When we return
on the other side by Schueler Arthur Motes. It's the
Steelers Blitz Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Stueler and Moats are on the air. This is the
Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to seven Home of
the Black and gold s n R Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's going on Steelers Nation Radio. It is high noon
or a little bit thereafter on a Thursday afternoon, and
that could only mean one thing. It is time to
go inside the electric factory here on your twenty four
to seven Home of the Black and the Golden Steelers
Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio on Steelers Audio Network, Wesler,
Arthur Motes. You know the drill, decade of experience, really
(00:56):
good head of hair and one way to get involved
on this. You've got questions, comments, concerns, reactions, criticisms, thoughts,
anything and everything in between. You know where to get
at us if you want to get involved. It's on
Twitter on x at Wesley Uller at the body fifty two.
Duh boy, Arthur Motes. It is a Thursday week. One
(01:17):
of OTA's is in the books. I was down there
once again today.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Let's go. Let's go.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
You could sense the energy that the end of a
work week was approaching.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Okay, well, now how paint that picture with that looked
like though, well, real quick.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
That real quickly, I was gonna ask you, do you
you have some energy here as the weekend is approaching?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Oh man, come on, I'm getting closer to graduation. Man,
we we you know, doing the whole uh social life thing,
you know, yeah, man, speaking for the students, hosting parties
and everything in between. Man, so definitely can't go play well.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
All the best to you and yours as you navigate
what is a very happy and exciting time also better
you know, also bittersweet and emotional in a lot of
ways as well too, So I hope it all goes
as smoothly as possible for you, for your wife, for
your for everybody involved here.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Over shot out, shut out. Man.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
I've seen some of the adorable things that you and
your wife have been posting on Instagram with KK about
to graduate, and uh yeah, like I'm I'm already even
though that that's still sixteen years away, for fifteen sixteen
years away from me, I'm already like, oh man, that
is going to hit me like a ton of bricks.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
And like it half is fast too. You should be like, hey, man,
keep living though, that's the whole the man. You either
going in that direction or you go in a different
direction that isn't always the best, you know, So for us, man,
we just appreciate all a little.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Man, you know that, no doubt about it, no doubt
about it. High energy in the Motes household this weekend,
high energy Day three of practice down there at OTA's
Arthur Motes. And I have a couple theories on this
that I want to run by you.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Okay, okay, okay, A few.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Different reasons I think it was high energy today, all right.
The first is, as we just kind of mentioned, it's
the last day of a work week, right every that
always puts a pep in everybody's step as soon as
we get through this shift. You know, we got a
few days off here before we got to get back
to work, which is always a good feeling. It was also,
you know, Tuesday was the first day, so that's kind
(03:16):
of the first day jitters and knocking off the rust
and all that. Yesterday the weather was terrible, like, it
poured down rain the whole time. Today was finally a
nice day. It was you know, it was a little overcast,
but the sun was out as well too. It was
about seventy degrees, you know, sixty eight sixty nine seventy
degrees in there, nice weather for outdoor athletics. So I
(03:36):
think all those things kind of you know, led to
what felt like a higher energy practice than the first two.
And not that those were low energy. But as anyone knows,
it's every day at work is different. It's not always
the same, right, And yeah, man, I just today it
really felt like for for for all of those reasons
(03:57):
and some more you know, things that we could get
into a well. But I don't know if you wanted
to talk about that and your experience obviously with getting
back into into these things, but it felt like there
was an extra pep in everybody's step today, a little
higher energy practice for a few different reasons.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
No, like I said, Man, if that is the case,
like I said, from how you viewed it, man, shout
out to them, dudes, Man, I know for me, Man,
you already know I keep the same vintagy all the time. Man,
especially as potastes to this sport, is like, if you
not out here having fun, you wasted my time in
you have time, so keep that energy over there. It's
so yeah, man, you even see how I look at
you sometimes when you can play about the weather, I'm like,
(04:34):
why do you keep saying not good weather or this
isn't Like have you never played football in the rain?
Do you know how much fun that is to go
out there? Like I'm pretty sure they.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Have a snow globe game last year.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
You know what I'm saying, Like we actually enjoyed some
of this, So yeah, man, uh, I like it. But
I will say that, regardless of what might have been
going on behind the scenes to make a person feel
more up or not, whenevery you get a chance to
get out there and you're playing whenever you get a chance.
And you also know that this weekend as well. But
(05:06):
why is it important? Because this is also an evaluation period.
So at times this is where coach Tomlin I don't
want to say he'll set the trap, but it's like
what you said, right, most people do what at the
end of the work week, Oh all right, now let's
get out there, really go right? And coach is like, well,
what happened at the beginning of the work week that
(05:26):
didn't matter. Yesterday where it was Wednesday, that didn't matter either.
So he's looking for certain people to do that because
we talk about how time and location can't matter we
talk about how you want to be the McDonald's number one.
It doesn't matter where you are in the world, it's
the Big Mac. And those are the things that we're
constantly just trying to reiterate and reinforce. And this is
usually one of those first go arounds where it's like, hey,
(05:47):
some of you guys upped it right. Some of you
guys said, all right, because we're at the end of
the week, let's put what we call an exclamation point
on our work stamp it. But you also got the
other side that does what at the end of the
work week. They take the deep breath, Oh, I've made
it casual will Friday, right, and that's all will and good.
(06:09):
But you take your foot off in the fourth quarter,
what happens you lose?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Right or no, there's no casual Friday in the National
Football League?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Right? Or if you wait to work hard until the
fourth quarter with two minutes left, man, you might have
already had the game out out of hand by then,
you know. So those are the things that we would
always kind of just reiterate and like I said, man
for some of these younger guys, because not everybody is
going to make and everybody is gonna play a super
long time. So I want the listener to understand that
(06:37):
not everybody has my mindset. All right, this is just
the mindset that I adapted that a lot of the
dudes that play longer than me typically had. But that
was kind of how we would always envision it. So
it's literally the perspective of it's always glass half full,
it's always good. Heck, even when we talk attendance, right,
(06:57):
who didn't show up? Oh my god, this is such
a big deal. It's only a big deal to media
and fans because you know, we say, as players, people here,
Next man up, And because they don't fully understand it,
they try to just weaponize it. Right, Well, you see
the next one up. This guy should have been good.
Next man I should have been dead. Next man up
is layers to it. Next man up also means Okay,
(07:19):
you're not here for practice, regardless of if it's voluntary mandatory,
regardless of if you wanted to be here, if you injured,
or if you're holding out, whatever it is. We're looking
at the guy that's here because now by you not
being here, that opens up a door that creates an
opportunity and a lot of us that play in this
league and that last as long as we do. It
(07:40):
all started off of an opportunity. Mine came off of
a guy getting hurt. You talk about James Harrison, it
came because Joey Porter got suspended. Right, Everybody has a
last year. Everybody has a different way that this opportunity
presents itself. And you can either complain and focus on
what you don't have and what isn't going right and
(08:02):
what the others are doing, or you could say, bro,
I got the heck of an opportunity to get all
these reps today. I hope he never comes back. And
that's the mindset you take with it. Man.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
And you don't think Skylett Thompson's loving this.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
You don't think Nason Rudolph, Will Howard, They're not enjoying
the fact that no Aaron Rodgers is here.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Heck t, we's been enjoying.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I was literally about to say OPPORTUNI I was about
to say it's certain wide receivers right now that have
really enjoyed themselves. Heck is people on defense that are like, yo,
I'm getting more reps with the ones maybe than I
would ever have gotten. That matters, But that's the mindset.
It's like, man, we got too much negative going on
to focus on that. You got to focus on what
is going to get us close to that championship. And
(08:47):
it's less about who isn't here, It's less about what
isn't going right. Weather time, man, am I on East coast? West?
Go no, no, no. Wherever we are, it's a great day.
It's a great time to play. Football is always great
for this thing. And like you said, man, we get
to versus wanting to, we get to and that's the day.
Like I said, man, this is the foundation though, and
(09:10):
that's when you can hear like me getting excited about
it because this is typically when these conversations are had,
that first real week of OTA work, because you've got
a chance to get the young guys with the old guys,
the new vets with the guys that have been here forever.
And everybody has a different way that they go about
their work. Everybody is different with it the mindset, the mentality,
(09:31):
the approach to perspective. But this is where we start
to get everybody aligned and having that same vision. When
we start talking about having one common goal and the
messaging always being the same. This is how that happens.
But you got to go through the journey. And this
is literally like step stage one and a half of
(09:54):
one hundred stages that we're gonna have to get through
this year. And we've seen how the past couple of
years we keep getting stuck right at stage like stage
tennis six, tennisea this because we were right in that range,
all right. So we're trying to get to these next
couple of steps, next couple of stages. But this is
(10:15):
where it starts, though, and this is where you build
that foundation. So, like I said, man, I love it
for all these dudes, man, But hopefully as it continues
to progress, more guys will have that mindset that you
kind of heard me talk about where it doesn't matter
what is going or it doesn't matter who is or
is not. If you're here, it's a great opportunity for
us to get better today, man, And the first r
(10:36):
will be getting better is.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Showing up one hundred percent. And I know you know
you talk about this all the time. There is obviously
things that you that you do to get yourself ready
and put yourself in the best position, but the only
way to get better at playing football is by playing football,
and you don't get much opportunity to play football.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
I mean, look think league wide, right, you see receivers
on boats, you know, on y'all's having fun. And that's fine,
this is voluntary, I get it. But this is also
when we started asking ourselves what is the main thing.
Did you make it to this level? Did you become
the twenty million dollars thirty million dollars a year player
by not working, by not practicing, by not showing up
(11:20):
to this or did you receive that compensation, those accolades
and awards because you obsessed over this, because you said
that there isn't anything bigger than this. And that's when
we always have to reiterate to ourselves to make the
main thing the main thing. Or one of the things
I love from coach Tomlin that he typically says I
(11:43):
always caught it as a second contract guy. I didn't
hear it the first go around. But he talks about
not getting tired of doing the little things. A lot
of people get tired of the routine stuff because it's like, man,
I do it a thousand times, Wes, how many times
do we you prepare for a show where hey, you
got your notes, I got my notes. Then we come
up here and we do the show for you know,
they a lot of time. Now, imagine if we got
(12:04):
to the point where we say, man, we've been preparing
for six seven years, I'm tired prepared. Let's just show up. Man,
we'll be over here like all right. We might get
away with it on occasion, but you're gonna see a
drastic dipth in the quality. Yeah, in the in the production.
And those are the things that we talk about where
it's like, you can't get tired of the routine stuff.
(12:26):
You can't get tired of the little things. Heck, even
in your marriage. You hold your wife's hand, right you
was holding when you first met her. Don't stop hold
it because you've been married for ten plus y Come on, man, hey,
you told that she was beautiful the first day you
met her. Why you stop seeing that after year five? Right?
You would get her flowers every three weeks when you first,
you know, was trying to court her. Now you've been
(12:46):
married for a little while. Now all of a sudden
you just cool with it because you're becoming more casual
about it's become more familiar. But more importantly, you're minimizing
the routine. You're saying that now the stuff that has
made you you it doesn't matter anymore, and that can't
be the case. So this is that timeframe where once
again you hit all of those messages. Hey Cam, how
(13:10):
many times you worked on your steps coming out of
your stands? TJ whit? How many times have you shot
your hands on the on the past blocking dummy to
just get the proper technique and landing point? Teacher's done
a thousand times? You know how can tell you just
done a thousand times because I've done it a thousand
times with the one we were playing. So with that, though,
you see where the quality remains and where the floor
(13:32):
can stay extremely high while also elevating the ceiling on
top of that. But it really just falls back to
once again, not getting tired with the routine, not getting
tired with what we consider our norm every single day.
Attack it like.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
It's the first day, absolutely, and you know, spoken like
a guy who defied the odds with the ten year
NFL career when the average career is only two and
a half.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Got a STAFL.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
NFL not for long unless you are maybe then it's.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Don't you Jinx be like that. All right, man, do
you do this to be Ricky Bible? Don't you do
this now?
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Obviously some just more observations and talking points for you
from today and from the week. Also. Keanu Benton sat
down with herself and Matt Williamson today for a few minutes,
so you know some uh some some obvious uh, you know,
good talking.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I mean, get to Wes, just tell them who you are.
You fly private. You casually have conversations over brunch with
Steeler players. It is what it is. First round is undrafted,
second money, you know. I mean, it doesn't matter, and
you fly private. I forgot to say that too. Don't
forget that you can now part of that statement is true.
(14:46):
You're the man, bro, You're the man.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
The brunch statement completely the opposite. I go and hide corner,
I go and hide in the corner. You sound like
my dad. My Dad's always like, hey, do you say
do you say hello to all these people on the road?
Speaker 3 (15:02):
Myself, I don't want you there. You eating the same
potato chips that they just made. All right, you got
that nice wedding soup over there. You got Kevin the
back chefing it up to what he does. I know
you in there and dapting everybody up, just hob nobbing it,
getting all the different juice concoccions that they got going
on over there. Or you want to you want the
orange juice, you want the apple juice, you want the
(15:23):
mixed juice, you want the strawberry ju I know how
he gets down, baby, I know, I know.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
I am not at the facility as much as I
used to be. But one thing that has not changed
and will never change. Only two people are undefeated in
this world bother time and the chefs at the Steelers
Cafeteria on the south east side of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there
(15:50):
were some delicious ribbis and scallops today for lunch.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I'm just saying, sushi man, scallops, like this is it.
This isn't the capt you grew up in. I still
stay in the.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Corner by myself and don't make a word church mouse.
We gotta get to break more from OTAs more from
week one. All of that stuff also later on in
the program, Steelers Hall of Honor twenty twenty five class
nominations are now open. Who should be getting into this class?
(16:26):
We'll get into some of that, but you can get
those thoughts in now, or at least have some time
to think about that ahead of time that was redundant.
I should just go to break. Wes Ruhler, Arthur Motes.
It is the Steelers Blitz. It's Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
This is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Huler and Arthur
Mose on your twenty four seven home of the Black
and Gold. Cas Skin are.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Back on the Blitz. Here as week one of o
t a's in the books. A quick reminder, but there'll
be another week of ot as next week, the first
week in June Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then the following week,
same schedule Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday. But it's mandatory time, manor
(17:22):
that means, that means, that means that, like Marshawn Lynch
would say, you know, there's gonna be some fines involved
if you are not there and not fulfilling your obligations.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
We me and you are under contract. I don't know
if we're under those contracts though, so we might be okay,
just throwing it out there, but don't don't quote me
on that.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I'll have to check with my attorneys for lawyers or
whatever fancy.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Term one of them important with the suits in the briefing.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
So one out of three weeks done? Uh, first of
the two optional weeks and then you know again here
uh the third and I just gotta.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Cut you off. Man, As an alum, I have a
grievance with how you lumping in OTAs in mini camp.
I'm gonna need you to just separate the two. Don't
be three week in it? No no, no no no
no no no, no no no. You have a week remaining
of OTAs and then a singular week of mini camp.
All right, just just just yeah, can me give me
some clarity on.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Okay, you're the one, you're the one with a decade
of NFL experience. Who am I?
Speaker 3 (18:24):
And it used to be a time where it used
to be a time back in the day. Man, you
better have to fight for that art. It's a clear
this is the line. Okay, this is no longer OTA,
this is mini camp. Okay, so just make sure we
clarifying that. And for those of you that are like, yeah,
most man, why you act like that? Actually, from a
time perspective, there is a little bit more of a
(18:45):
time commitment for the mini camp portion, which is mandatory
in comparison to the OTA's OTA day. I mean, you
might be out of there by twelve thirty one o'clock
for your traditional mini camp days. Those are supposed to
reflect in season work day, which for those of you
that aren't privy, it's a lot longer of a workday.
(19:06):
Usually it is about that eight am to you know,
three four and afternoon type of concept in comparison to
what's happening right now and doing the OTA's portion. So
I just wanted to throw that out there, man, So
shout out to a week of OTA's remaining before we
get to the real day.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Yes, get three three of the six OTAs practices now
in the books. And uh, you know, Keanu Benten was
the one who joined us today after practice, and it
was funny, like right before he sat down, we were
kind of laughing about how the different kind of plethora
of things that guys on the team will be doing
(19:44):
over the next few days. You know, some of them
who Pittsburgh is not their full time home, they'll be
they'll be hopping on a flight later today to get
up to get up out of here for a few days.
Some of the people that have, you know, the the
Camp Haywards of the world that have that have been
with the team for a long time and live and
make their home and their families in Pittsburgh. Obviously they're
(20:05):
they're just going home. Some guys are are kind of
in between. So we were kind of.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
A hotel man, you sick, like, hey, bro at the
hotel name. But I know y'all actually like pull up one.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yes, I got a ke I got a Keanu Benton
fishing thing that I'm gonna say something very similar here.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Just just and just you know.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
And and and Matt Williamson was laughing. I know all
of our our our Steelers Nation radio regulars know. But
you know, Matt worked as a scout in college and
in the NFL pitt Akron, the Cleveland Browns. We don't
hold that against him. We still love them.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
And he talked about he talked.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
About how they would always kind of like give a
message to some of the guys that are like, hey,
you know, for some of you that are these ot
as are more important than others. If you're going home
for the weekend, you better make sure you're back next week,
because like, we don't want here on Tuesday. Sorry, my
flight got delayed. I'm missing practice even though it's optional.
You know, for some of you, it's more important.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Man, I've seen so many people support that argument. Hey,
he missed his flight. No you got it? No, d
that's so jacked up. Hey, man, you should have flew
the day before they play. I don't care if you Hey,
if you definitely should have came in on Sunday, All right,
No one tell you're flying on Monday. You better come
in ahead of time.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
You are. If you are Mega Fitzpatrick and you missing
ota practice because of that, okay, that might fly. But
for some people that ain't gonna be good.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
That ain't gonna Hey, Minka got hurt riding a bike,
not in a football place, and it was okay. If
you don't know who you are, you don't even ride
the bike. You catch what I'm saying. You don't ride
the bike, like, exactly right. I don't care or that
you don't ride the bike. You could look at the bike,
(22:00):
don't even stand next to the bike like. That's the
severity of it. That's the reality of it. You know,
it's the truth. That's why you laugh.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
So we we're we're we're kind of laughing about all
those the the again, the differences of what everybody might
be doing over the next few days. And so Keanu
Benton sits down and so we ask, you know, hey,
what do you what do you got playing for the
next few days? And he goes, Tomorrow is gonna be
a workday for me still as well on Friday, he goes,
but then then I'm gonna relax Saturday, Sunday, I'm gonna
(22:30):
do a little fishing. And so we didn't we didn't
make it like we we asked him off air about
where he likes to go fishing. That's what I was
laughing with, you say in the hotel thing, because I
was like, I need to know. I was like, I
need to know your spots. Now is a Wisconsin guy
who I'm sure knows some fishing. But I was like,
I'm not going to ask you this on the air
because I don't want you to.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
I don't want you to up like that.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
But it was nice to.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Get act if you think about it, though, Man man
that the Sasquatch. This schedule release with him, Kim and
Herbert was fire like everybody was dire laughing watching it,
Like yo, I like what I'm saying with him, though, Man,
he's definitely getting more comfortable out here, sure is.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
And you know, along those lines, one of the things
that he mentioned to us. And it's funny, like, I know,
we have these conversations every year about certain players in OTAs,
But how quickly you go from being the young pup
in the room, who's the one who needs help? Of
like where am I parking? Where's this meeting room? Where
exactly is the practice field? What's our schedule?
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Where we go?
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Where's the cafeteria? Two? Just in your third year, now
you're the one that everyone's looking to. You know, You're
the one that Derek Harmon is asking for help. You're
the one that Ya Black is asking for help. You're
the one that all these young guys and that.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
But you gotta remember, though, man, like yeah, but because
of how short of a shelf life the average career
span is, by the time you're in year three, you
are a veteran ve Yeah, Like, I remember those same feelings. Man,
in year three, you're just like I don't even feel
comfortable being a leader. I don't even feel comfortable to
get into the line just yet, Like where is my
(24:05):
vet and it's just like, yo, you're that guy. So
you have to figure it out and it sucks at times.
But the good thing for Canu he gotta kill a
Cam here too, still shout out the Cam, Hey what man? Yeah,
you're right after three years you look at it. Derek
Carlin to Ya Black for sure looking at him like
he uh, what's the answer?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
And I think two and he obviously spoke about how
huge Cam has been for him since day one and
still is now in year three. That was one of
the low hanging fruit questions that we obviously had to
ask him about. Yeah, just having a guy like Cam
out there, you know, who's been here forever, still busting
(24:48):
his hump and like you said, attacking every practice like
it might be his last one, and as an opportunity
to get better. I think that's a nice resource for
four guys like Derek Harmon and Ya Black to have
the like legit ultimate veteran Hall of Fame credentials, you know,
(25:08):
legend of an organization type in Cam Heyward, and a
guy like Keanu Benten who's a few years into this thing,
like the the the juxtaposition to be able to learn
from both of those guys, is probably a pretty pretty
nice luxury.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
I would imagine, no, one thousand percent, because it gives
you different perspectives, and that's what we're all looking at.
I mean, we obviously here talking about the still specifically,
but it's all just, you know, the parallel to life. Right.
We don't know what we don't know, and that's largely
due to we've only been exposed to whatever experiences we've
had up until this point. So when we're looking for
(25:43):
more information about how to handle, you know, recovering your body,
or how to watch tape or how to prepare for
certain opponents, Well, the guy that's been doing it for
six years is going to have a different perspective than
the guy that's done it for twelve years compared to
the guy who's only done it for two years. But
if you do it the right way with these conversations,
you'll be able to pick up nuggets from each and
(26:05):
every one of them because they're gonna see things differently.
Their mindset on certain things are gonna change. And I
think of my mindset when I was in college compared
to dude's mindsets when they're in college right now, it's
a different world. Nil So if you feel like, because
I've already lived that, I know everything about it, then
I think you're also doing yourself a disservice. And that's
(26:27):
the part where I even look at guys like Cam
and TJ and it's like, yeah, you see how I mean,
I know, watching them do certain drills, you didn't get
that from you. You got that from the young guy
because that's what they used to do in college. But
these are the different things that they're implementing their due
to the different level that now we can implement certain
parts of that. But if you're so just bullish and
(26:50):
feeling like you already have it already figured out, then
you never get that chance. But for like you said, man,
a guy like Keanu to have all the different pieces
around him, the Cams of the world and the Arikrmers
of the world, and then the flips out with to
Derek Carmon, to have a Keanu Benton and the Cam
Heyward who are even further along in this thing, They're
gonna be able to lean on each other so much,
(27:10):
and realistically, we're gonna need them to. We're gonna need
that group to develop, We're gonna need that group to
grow and be productive sooner rather than later, because number one,
we know that was one of our weaknesses last year
in terms of run defense, and that starts up front.
Then number two, we talk about losing one of our
key members who's been a starter in the rotation the
past couple of years in Larry Ogan Jobi. So there
(27:32):
are multiple moving pieces here that yes, we're optimistic that
these younger guys can't step up, but until they actually
do it, they're gonna have to be gaining experience and
learning on the fly. And that's the part where I'm
saying they gotta all work together with that they man
to get it accomplished. But I do think that the
(27:52):
different perspectives are gonna pay dividends for them though.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
I completely agree and uh yeah, it was uh he
seems like a guy who and I told you on
our Tuesday episode of the Blitz earlier this week kind
of how about when we talked to Troy Faltanu, there
was a clear kind of onus, a message from him
that Hey, if we're trying to get to where we
(28:17):
want to go, we know it. The team knows it.
Mike Tomlin and all the coaching staff know it. Like
our offensive line has to be one of the best
in the league, has to take a step forward. We
have to be that unit that they've drafted us to be.
With two first round picks and a second round pick
and a fourth round pick and a veteran guard, super
Bowl champion who was your highest free agent signing a
(28:37):
couple of years ago, the expectations of that offensive line group.
Fast forward to forty eight hours later, and it was
kind of same shoe.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Different foot.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Hearing from Keanu Benten, like, we've had the investment here,
we have the pedigree here. Now it is it is
time for us to be one of those nasty defensive lines.
So he was.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
He was.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
He was another one too, like I told you on
Tuesday with with Faltanu like ready ready to go and
really get going here.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
You had to think for him specifically. You know, he
had a little bit, we don't want to say a
sophomore slump, but he didn't experience the big jumping production
that we typically associate with guys like him who had
you know, super productive first years. So in a way
he almost looks at it as I have ground to cover.
I gotta make up ground and not to you know,
(29:32):
be I guess like putting another player down. But in
a way, I'm sure he's heard of the Demarvin Leao
and how that was a guy that you know, nice
draft pick, showed some flash year one, lot of expectations,
but unfortunately it just has it all the way materialized
to be that consistent player. And in turn, we've brought
(29:55):
in a louder Milk, we brought in a Bent, and
we brought an Hawayya Black. We paid a Larry Joby
and we paid him, and we paid Amant Trevis Adam
on top of drafting and Derek Carman. So those are
the parts where you can kind of see the cautionary
the cautionary tail of They're not going to just wait
on me to develop. I'm gonna have to figure this
(30:19):
out sooner rather than later. And I could see him
being eager to go out there and prove that this
year because this is a big year for him. When
you get to year three, it's time to make it.
It's time to make a move. You're either a guy
that we feel like we can invest in, that we
think is a core member, a foundational piece, or you're
a guy that we're looking to replace an upgrade. You
(30:39):
don't want to be able to getting replaced an upgraded category. Man,
Now you got to talk about relocating families and friends,
and that ain't cool. Man, You would much rather stay put.
But this is that year, man, where you really have
to decide which which version are you gonna be. Are
you gonna just be a rotational guy that has high
upside but never really materialize into that type of player,
(31:03):
or you're gonna be the guy that shows up. And
now we're saying, okay, we already know you pass the
test from a visual standpoint, we know athletically you're gifted.
We call you a dancing bear for crying out loud.
And now it's like, okay, now let's put it to
you know, every single thing together. Just put it all
(31:23):
together and do it every single week. Because he's flash.
He's had moments where we're like, yeah, this kid could
be our best d lineman in a year or two.
He has that type of talent, that type of potential.
But at the same time, you'll see where the pad
level gets a little high end short yard situation or
you know, in scenarios where he might get a little fatigued,
and that's something that has a larger guy, he has
(31:43):
to ultimately be more intentional about going against or battling
against that. Cam Heya was a great person to watch
and learn from with that though, because Cam's a big
dude that also you know, at times plays high. So
for him, he's focused so much on his technique and
his condition and that you hardly ever see that pop
up and that's why his floor is so much higher.
(32:07):
And I just think for Kendo Bim, if he can
figure that out this time frame, this time, this you know,
spring time frame right here, that is going to ultimately
put him in that position to pay dividends come you know,
the fall.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
I completely concur Professor Motes, and yeah, was nice to
get to chat with him today and I hope he
has some great success fishing this weekend as hopefully the
weather is looking up a little bit here in western
Pennsylvania as well. Mozi, one more break to get to
here in the first hour of the program, we'll close
down some Ota conversation on the other side when we
(32:45):
return was Shooler Arthur Motes. You are listening to the
Steelers Blitz.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
He's the Steeler Blitz with Wesley Euler and Arthur Motes
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold Skin.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Are all right, Arthur Motes as we close down this
first hour of the Steelers Blitz here after closing down
the first week of OTA practices on the South Side
for your Pittsburgh Steelers a couple of minutes before or
left here in this hour, I should say, and one
(33:29):
thing that I kind of took away from this week
and particularly this Thursday as well too, is we've seen
a lot or I certainly have seen an uptick in
the guys that they the guys that they are looking
to to prove it this season. Let's put it that
(33:49):
that that reason for a litany of different reasons. It
might be like a Troy Foutanu Roman Wilson situation where
it was because of injuries, right, It might it might
just be a Peyton Wilson type situation where it's year
two and now the expectations, can we give you a
greater role, can we put a little bit more on
your plate? Or are you going to take that step forward?
(34:12):
The young offensive lineman? You know, like it really felt
like again particularly today on day three, like those guys
in those types of conversations and those types of positions
that I just mentioned. We're really getting some reps and
we're really getting some work.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
Well, shoot, that's what you need to see, I'll tell
you that. But more portly, man, whenever we're talking about,
like you said, these opportunities, man, letting dudes get chances,
letting guys get chances to number one, prove what they're worth,
Prove that they deserve a spot, even during this time
of year, whereas ninety guys out there, and the only
way to do that is by whenever you get a
(34:50):
single rep, you got to justify it. Younger dudes, man,
they get typically better opportunities this time of year. But
as a whole, that's what you can got to do.
And except if you know, for I could like to
talk with this for hours or hours hours about just yo,
this is what this is, how this works. This is
the post piece for that one right there.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
But it was like every time, it was like every
time I looked up today.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
The middle, let's go, like you said, take advantage of
these opportunities, man, because we know once the big dog
a wide receiver gets in, how many targets you're getting
in practice, but how many reps you're gonna get right
paying a little bit different on defense, but as a whole,
that is the reality of it, and that's gonna also
be the case come training camp time frame as well.
(35:39):
Take advantage of these opportunities and for every time that
the big dog isn't out there for whatever the reason is,
this is how you make up space. This is how
you cover ground and show them that, yes, even though
I might not be out there in the games, just shit,
I've been working, I've been in the lab. And once again,
(36:00):
this is where you prove it. This is this is
the first stage of your proven ground. We know the
real proof of ground isn't about too much from now
beautiful at all. Right, that's when you get to find
out if you really a killer, if you're just talking
about it. You know the crowd, come on, man, you
know the drill man. This is when we find out
were you just ig working out or were you really
(36:22):
working out? Cause there's a lot of ig lifters. And
then you got the guys that lift weights. Which category
are you in because because for a fact, you're only
lying to yourself. Baby, you ain't lying to me. When
we put them pads on, you can't lie to me.
Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no no. You
go out of yourself, though you can out of yourself.
So you've been working hard, you've been in the lab,
you've been grinding, you've been taking avantage these opportunities. Oh yeah, man,
(36:46):
DK's and here, okay, great, someone run me a half
tail route just because oh man gotta take the extra rep.
Why he ain't here? If he would see, I wouldn't
have to take the extra rep. You complaining about the
wrong name, big fella, you better take all those extra
reps you got, because, like I said, once he gets here,
once these other player years are more a part of it.
You don't get these opportunities anymore. You don't get to
call a coach man, can I Can I get another
(37:06):
rep in practice? No? Take your three and shut up.
Like that's the reality of it, man. But I like
it though, man, And it's also good to hit there
making the most of it in terms of both Wilson's,
but mainly on the Roman side, cause, like I said,
I feel really good about Payton. I see Payton. Peyton
looked apart, he amped up. I talked the part shit
I've talked to him. I know he's good yeah, man,
(37:28):
he was. He was busy today and he was looking up.
Oh yeah, that's for sure. That's for sure. It was
slowing down for him at the end of last year.
Like you can start to see little things on tape.
And that's the part where I'm just like, Okay, you
about to have a bigger opportunity, a bigger role. Make
the most of it, man, stay healthy, make the most
of it. Though we got his ultra talented.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
Certainly something that we will continue to monitor throughout the
off season and as we get ready for training camp
and the regular season. But now we have to get
to our last break here or close down the first hour,
I should say, our number two. On the other side,
nominations open for the Steelers Hall of Honor twenty twenty
five class.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Other than the two hosts of the Steelers Blitz, your
favorite radio hosts ever? Who could be up for nomination.
I think we're on the shortlist, motes, I think we
made the finalists.
Speaker 3 (38:18):
I'm nervous about that.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
Are still some substantial names that are up for nomination
or that can be put up by you, the fans
for nomination. We should say, we'll talk about all of
that to kick off our number two. When we return
on the other side by Schueler Arthur Motes. It's the
Steelers Blitz Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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