Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Steelers Preview show on w d v
E Pittsburgh, presented by UNI Bet. The only thing better
than a Steelers win is the Steelers win that pays
double down on your team with UNI Bet, proud partner
of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here are your hosts, Mike Pursuita,
Matt Williamson, and Meryll Hodge. Good even being and welcome
to another Thursday, United edition of Steelers Preview right here
(00:21):
on your Steelers Flagship one or two point five d
V and s n R on Mike Pursuita joined is
always by Matt Williamson. Merrill Hodge will be along directly
as we continue getting you ready for the Steelers and
the Ravens. But that's not the only game that the
Steelers well, I don't want to say it's not the
only game they're focused on, because they better be focused
(00:43):
on Baltimore, but it is far from the only impactful
game in terms of whether this season can extend into
the postseason or not. What to Expect is brought to
you by Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the
benefits and Matt, I expect Miami to beat New England
even without Towah, because I think New England has just
(01:05):
done winning. I think the offense is broke. I have
not been impressed all year long. And uh, if that happens,
that's uh, that's all. She wrote. As NFL research, our
buddies in the NFL research have phrased it Pittsburgh's most
simple path to the playoffs. And they said most simple.
(01:26):
They don't want to get all the tie game possibilities
and all that stuff. But here's a simple path. The
Steelers win their last two, Miami loses its last two.
If if Miami is to lose its last two, that
means New England beats Miami, then New England would have
to in turn lose to Buffalo. Now I think Patriots
are capable losing to anybody. Act Also, the Jets would
(01:48):
have to lose to Seattle and then beat Miami on
the regular seasons last week, so uh possible. It's not
you know, on it. It's not like hitting the lottery.
I mean, they needed Indianapolis to lose last year with
Jackson the last year. But I'm not optimistic about Dolphins Patriots.
Maybe I've had two high opinion of Miami all year.
(02:11):
I don't think Teddy Bridgewater will make the mistakes the
tour has been making, and I think that's actually in
the short term, not that I'm down on tour, but
in the short term, I think that might help the Dolphins.
And again, I think the Patriots stink. I think the
Patriots offense stinks and better better, it looks like some
of their best players are Andre Stevenson's banged up. I
do like the Patriots defense, but they're kind of a
(02:33):
broken team right now. Miami's on a four game losing streak, though,
I mean, they have their own issues, to say the least.
They don't run the ball particularly well. They've had like
one good game or running the football you know up
up in the weather. I mean, I think it's a chance.
I will probably pick Miami to win the game, though,
I mean, they're a better football team, but that said, uh,
you know, that's why they play the game. Steelers could
(02:54):
be taking on the Ravens still with a playoff heart beating.
In terms of the practice particip the patient stuff from today,
no train norwood for the second consecutive day, but that
seems to be much less of an issue as Terrell
Edmonds is back to full participation as of today. Uh No,
(03:14):
Larry Ogan job Now that was listed as toe slash
not injury related personal. I think he's at that point
where he's yeah, but he's been massaged through the last
couple of weeks. Miles jack was limited. Uh the official
reason groin slash not injury related personal. Now some of
the not injury related stuff. A couple of these guys
(03:36):
attended Frank o'harris funeral. They weren't gonna practice anyway. But
for the most part, the Steelers looking pretty good and
pretty healthy. The Ravens Uh no Lamar Jackson for the
second straight day today, so that that is looking very unlikely.
Clay As Campbell knee didn't work and Marcus Peters, yes
he does. Marcus Peters calf also did not work out.
(03:59):
The Ravens not have Lamar Jackson, Kenyan Drake, Marcus Peters,
Kalas Campbell, and Devin Duverney, who is I think their
best wide receiving. He's now on injured reserve, so he
is out of the picture. So Baltimore banged up again,
as the Ravens seemingly have been for the last couple
of years. But boy, hats off to John Harbor getting
(04:20):
this group to ten and five and into the playoffs.
Without question, They're always phenomenal on special teams. They keep
getting better and better on defense. The Roquan Smith trade
had a lot to do with that too. They're doing
some creative things on defense as well. Like for example,
they played Atlanta, who's a heavy run team. They only
had two cornerbacks play any snaps last week. You know,
like Hambleton's, their huge safety is coming down and covering
(04:43):
the slot now a high percentage. He's been doing a lot,
He's doing a lot of different things for him. They
keep rotating their fronts and we know exactly what they
are on offense. I mean they have zero passing game,
I mean I really do. And their run game is
diverse and it can take over a game. But you
know what you're getting. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
(05:03):
reminds you to sack hunger and get food. Volunteer or
donate at Pittsburgh Food Bank dot org. Uh. The Ravens
ran for two fifteen yards even though they were down
to their second spring and eventually their third string quarterback
in their victory over the Steelers on December The eleventh.
I don't think that's gonna happen again this time. And
I have mad respect for that Ravens running game, but
(05:24):
the Steelers have finally won me over. I had my
doubts going down to Atlanta. I had my doubts going
into that Carolina game, and I had my doubts going
against Josh Jacobs, the NFL's leading rusher last Saturday Christmas
Eve against the Raiders. Uh. They have figured out the
run d thing, and in that Raiders game, Matt, they
also did not get crushed. Uh in the passing game,
(05:45):
which we have seen happen multiple times this year. Terrell Edmunds,
the coordinator, was talking about it today on the South Side,
and he said the two objectives or stop Jacobs up
front and stop Davante Adams on the back end. The
coverages were designed to to let him heat up, and
they took their chances with Waller and Rent Fro and
(06:06):
Hollands and anybody else. And it's funny to play the
game ended. It was rent for a running down the
scene and that's where the ball went and it ended
up getting intercepted. Yeah. I mean there was an open
Waller late in the game where car kind of airmailed
to the sidelines too, But all in all, it was
a great game plan. Um, the Raiders are more challenging
because of the atoms factor, obviously, you know, I mean that,
(06:29):
I commend you know. It was a lot of Pierre
banging him at the line of scrimmage with Kz over
the top, Minka on Waller quite a bit, you know,
And I think you'll see that with Andrews in this game.
I mean, Andrews is really there, their only weapon receiver
of note, and his numbers are really really down the
last eight weeks or so. Um, this one's gonna be
(06:50):
more sell out to run as opposed to a two
pronged defensive approach that they pulled off so well. Yeah,
but I think they've got a lot of practice at
that lately with the teams they have played, and again
I think the pride factor. I just don't see them
getting pushed around by Baltimore again the way they did.
The Ravens were more physical in the first game. Of course,
the three interceptions of block field goal were crucial plays.
(07:11):
But I thought Baltimore was a better team because of
how physical they were in the trenches. And I'd be
shocked if that's his predominant in this game. And you know,
the Ravens uh passing numbers are just mini school. It's
it doesn't look professional, but they're still finding ways to
win games. But it was interesting to me watching the
Atlanta Baltimore game my DVR of it, A couple of
(07:36):
things really stood out. Tyler Huntley actually hit a touchdown
pass to DeMarcus Robinson Um. I'm still not sure he
caught it, but it was stood review and they gave
it to him. That was the first touchdown scored by
a Ravens wide receiver, first touchdown reception scored by Ravens
wide receiver since week three, first touchdown by a wide
(07:57):
receiver since week eight, and it was the four touchdown
pass of Tyler Huntley's career, the first one not to
a guy named Mark Andrews. I mean, he really looks
Andrew's way. Andrews has been fighting some injuries, but their
receivers are so nondescript and they almost never even have
a second one on the field. I mean it's always
Ricard who's a monster, but he's a blocker, a running back,
(08:21):
and two big tight ends and some receiver who is
Sammy Watkins off the Scrappyep or the Sean Jackson off
the scrap Peep a month ago? He is not. He
is no longer than man. I don't know if you're
Silver Linings playbook fan, well, one of the running teams,
and that was about an Eagles fan, you know, and
there's this guy kept saying, Deshan Jackson is the man
(08:43):
psychiatrist that one of the characters was seeing. He's not
the man's man. There was also a point in that
game the Ravens were trying again to get it into
the end zone from enclose and failing to do so,
and Huntley had Andrews want to come back to the
pylon and he didn't throw it, and Andrews kind of
lost it a little bit on and he was his
hands were going up in the air and he was pointing,
(09:04):
give me the ball. You know, you don't usually see
that out of him. But as you mentioned, his numbers
are down, and they've been They've been playing with one
hand tied behind their back for a long time down there,
and I think it's starting to wear on them with offensively,
I mean, the defense is really really carrying the team,
and it's really hard to play against. I expect a
lot of punts in this game, and I don't think
(09:25):
that's all bad. I mean, any drive that ends with
a kick in this game, okay, you know, be patient,
try to stick with that run game. Teams don't run
on the Ravens, but they're not going to go out
to a big lead in my opinion. And if your Steelers, conversely,
you're probably even though you got run on badly two
D fifteen yards, you probably want the same game. Just
take away the three interceptions and the block field goal.
(09:45):
And I mean the Ravens scored thirteen point yeah, beat
him seventeen fifteen or whatever the hell it takes. I mean,
make a thrower to get pickings one on one like
you did. I mean they moved to football with Robisky
quite well in that game. Steele's Crew and DV is
brought to you by you. About the only thing better
than Steelers win is a Steelers win. That pace double
down on your team. With Univet proud partner of the
(10:07):
Pittsburgh Steelers, We're gonna ratchet up the pace considerably. When
we come back. Merril Hodge will join us, and as always,
Meryl will be talking running the ball and stopping the run,
two things that uh you usually get around talking to
when you're talking Steelers Ravens with Matt Williamson. I'm Mike
Pursuit of This is Steelers Preview right here on your
Steelers Flagship one or two point five d V E
(10:30):
and S n R. Back to the Steelers Preview show
presented by UNI on DV. Welcome back Steelers Preview, Mike
Pursuit of Matt Williamson. As always a Thursday night edition
of Steelers Previews, We'll get you ready for the Steelers
and the Ravens Sunday in Baltimore. You can get up
with the latest sideline apparel, hats or jerseys of your
(10:53):
favorite players, Authentic memorabilia, custom items, and exclusives you can
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Steelers pro shops. Those are located at Acquisure Stadium, Grove
City Premium Outlets, or Tanger Outlets. You can also visit
us online at shop dots Steelers dot com. Time now
to welcome in our factor back of the one and
(11:15):
only Merril Hodge. Meryl, I hope you got everything you
wanted for Christmas. I guess for you, that would mean
want a new bow and arrow and a new gun,
something new, something to go, reduced the animal populations. How's
it going? Actually, I'm good, boys man. I had great Christmas.
We got absolutely nothing. We didn't exchange gifts and the
(11:37):
best Christmas ever. We didn't need anything. And they know
what Steelers one, that's all and how they want and
the energy that came with that and emotions that came
with that on that game, and that was that was
good for steel Nation to help them a little bit
through a steel I mean, it's gonna take a while
to um just um Franko Harris's losses. You mean that
(12:04):
that will be along. That takes a long time. I've
had a caring place here in Pittsburgh for almost thirty
years as chairman of it, and um, I lost my
mom at a young age, so I understand the sting
of death. And the one thing I learned about the
grieving process is there is no time cable to it.
So but it helped with the process. Yeah, I think
(12:25):
that's a great way to put it there. It was
an emotional night, and I gotta tell you, you know,
the emotion of it aside, it's it's impossible to separate
the two. But just from an XS and O standpoint,
the way the game played out, Cam Hayward Meryll, I
don't know that I've seen all like better and it
(12:45):
you know, it started with the emotion of Hayward being
the last of the defensive starters introduced and carrying that
thirty two flag on the field, and I don't know,
he looked to me like a guy who just found
another gear. Not that he's not a great player, but
he knew it was Franco Knight, and he knew what
everybody was feeling, and he just went out and refused
(13:08):
to let the Raiders win that game, didn't he. I'll
tell you this, I'm glad you brought him up because
you know, obviously, I mean, everybody has great respect for
him and how he plays. I've never seen him play
like that. Um he recks games, you know, and has moments,
but he was a I mean, he was a force.
(13:29):
I mean a I mean it force. You know, he
won the UM I'm part I created this Way to
Play program. I Hey, we talked about it, you know,
a couple of a few months ago. He won the
award this week and he wanted by that one play
where he took the guard and sacked up car Um
and he you know, basically sacked him by taking the
car and pushing him back into the quarterback, which was
(13:52):
one of the stupidest places I've ever seen him. He's
got a lot of places like that. I us see
that all the time. But he uh, he definitely played
with a certain sense of energy and emotion and you
could tell it, and it was it was impressive. It
was impressive. Um, hopefully, could you know, keep that energy
going because you're gonna need it. They're gonna need it
for this week. You know. I mean this this team,
(14:14):
they are committed her on the football. They loved her
on the football and in the first one they won,
and how they ran the football at him. So going
down that alley, I mean, what was different in your
mind when they played the Ravens in terms of run
defense as opposed to most of the Falcons game, Carolina game,
other you know, big run teams. The most successis game
(14:38):
you know. Yeah, Well I'll say this, Um, We'll just
let's just use the two games back to back that
they just mentioned, the raven game how they played and
then how they played Carolina the pack of game. So UM,
what was interesting is that the Ravens actually um created
some runs and targeted the bubbles of the three four,
(15:00):
so the bubble like and actually, as a runner, ICE
always like to play against the three four because there's
two natural bubbles, there's two uncovered guys, and they used
over the guards. I don't know, I just a runner.
I used to like that because I just felt that
they they end up being more options with it, especially
depending on how your linebackers played. UM. Now that's not
true with them. How the you know, when the Steelers
have had their great defenses, I mean those linebackers are
(15:23):
violent and they wrecked the entire running games, so you know,
but anyway, they attacked that, they ran right at that
those bubbles. You know, they got the nose blocked, they
got both inside backers block, and they got some of
the biggest runs off of that. UM and they really
targeted that had had an interesting concert, which I hadn't
(15:43):
seen him do a lot of by the way, so
it was kind of an added wrinkle. And based on
their shifts and motions, the Steelers adjusted and jumped into
the three four and shifted over, so they knew how
to get them to the three four. They knew how
to get them into the three four and the way
they could attack it um and then anticipate what you're
gonna get in response. Yeah, Well they knew that the Stevens, however,
(16:06):
they were gonna shift because they would shift and as
soon as the Ravens would shift, the Stevens would shift
to their three four. So they knew how to trigger that.
And one of the biggest runs it was early in
the game they did that was that they probably they
had them like three or four times with that run
in the game, got big runs on them too, And
really how they ended the game, they went right to
(16:26):
their staple run. They're in their power oh um, and
then you've got to deal with that, and that's a
strong side run and they double people. They pulled two
people in it. I mean, you've got a massive body
going on one side of the ball. They're predominantly a
right handed team, which a lot of running teams are,
and the Stevens they just couldn't handle it. You know,
they couldn't win it. They didn't win to the double team.
They didn't win any individual blobs, and they just got
(16:48):
they got smothered. Okay, now you go to the very
first game, I mean first very first playing Caroline at
the Panther game. Um, the Panthers are going to run
the football. They do an initial shift. Well the Steelers did.
They take the deva. They gave a completely different look.
I think. I remember, I don't think I've ever seen
the look. I know they've conceptually done stuff like this before.
(17:10):
But they shifted their defensive line over. It didn't look
like a three or four by the way, and they
had all four linebackers over on the same side. And
they brought Edmonds down into the box, so he was
off the ball in the middle as opposed to the edge. Yeah,
so they did a lot of he was right in
the middle, you know. And then he and he had
you know, Um has six great instincts, you know he
I mean, he could play inside linebacker, I believe too.
(17:33):
I think he would. He would be wicked there too,
because he does such a good job of timing things
and anticipating things and reading things. I Mean, these guys
no tendencies. They know what's coming. I mean, not every
plays a secret player. You studied that team. You know
what's coming. Um, and they did a lot of that
in this game. They were constantly moving their fronts, given
different looks, crazy looks, and the Panther just couldn't handle it.
(17:57):
And now I have spent not that they're gonna do
that exact thing sing, but I expect something like that
in this matchup. I expect different movements, I said, different fronts.
I expect different looks, people lining up and making it
hard to identify who the blocked. And that's ultimately what
happened with the Panthers or they just couldn't identify people
they must be and then they wanted the last scrimmage
(18:18):
and they had people coming off the ball and win
it two. And that's what you're gonna need in this game.
But I I clearly I'm gonna watch for that. I
clearly think that's going to happen. Exactly what it's going
to be, I don't know. But that's what we're always
interesting to me because they do such a good job
when they when they choose to play like that, um
and they've done up to the Ravens before you know,
most of the time they've handled the Ravens. I was
a little surprised how how just generically they played, and
(18:41):
I guess they felt like they could they could handle it.
So based on the first match up, that's why I
expect to see maybe more what you saw the Carolina
game versus what you saw in the first matchup. Yeah,
I was gonna mention the Ravens scheme. Obviously, they play
a different brand of offensive football than anybody else in
the league, but I think the familiarity with it is
a huge advantage, you know. I mean, teams like the
(19:02):
NFC teams that play the Ravens look like they have
no clue how to handle it, especially when Lamar's in there.
But I think the Steelers have a pretty big advantage
that way, and it didn't show up last week the
last time they played. You're exactly right. That's why I
was so surprised, you know, because they have Listen, there's
been times and this isn't I don't know, I mean,
it's just they literally there has been times when the
(19:23):
Ravens go about they shift their tight end. Okay, so
they got two tight ends right side, let's say they
shift over to the other side. I have seen the
Steelers actually, as soon as that shift happens, all of
them are just and go right to where the ball's coming.
I mean, like they know what's coming just based on
how that shift went. They knew where the ball is coming.
(19:44):
They already get up in the alignment. And sometimes the
guy who's got to flop with him has already jumped
over before the shift happens. He's waiting for you. So
to your point about knowing their tendencies and knowing how
what they're gonna do and knowing them, you're right. That's
why it was kind of interesting that they ran it
so well and they didn't handle it very well. That's um.
(20:06):
That's why I just think you're gonna see something different
in this one. Not all the time, and you can't
do it all the time, but I think you've got
to create. Um. You can't make it easy on him,
And the best way to not make easy on which
they see is did that and they just lined up
and so here we are, um given to the staff
of the ball. Make it hard on him. You know,
(20:26):
you can slam scrape, and I've gotta be careful of
doing that too much too, because if you get people
out of saints. You know, I'm just sending it to
our perspective. We'd like you to do that. Yeah, you
might blow up a run or two, but we're gonna
get you. We're gonna pin your linebacker and he's not
gonna scrape and we're out and we're out the whole.
So you gotta be careful when you do that. But
I think the mixture of that, and they've always blended
(20:47):
that stuffing very well, but I think it's going to
require that, especially on the road. Meryll, put your Ravens
offensive coordinator hat on now, and I got a two
partner for you. If if you're Baltimore, do you do
the same thing that worked so well too in our
fifteen rushing yards the first time and say, hey, they
didn't stop us last time, they're not stopping us this time.
(21:08):
Or do you anticipate that the Steelers will change things
up and try to change up in advance of their
change up? And if you want to go that way,
how much different can the Ravens be given the vast
limitations of this offense without Lamar Jackson? Right? Um? Well,
they there's gonna always be wrinkles, you know, there's little
(21:28):
subtle wrinkles every match up. I mean, no matter when
you replay your opponent, we should do it all the time.
And don't matter who we played, Houston or Cincinnati, Cleveland,
we always had little wrinkles. So but ninth cent of
your offense is what you do. Okay, that's exactly I mean,
that's how you're gonna win games. And those wrinkles can hill.
(21:51):
I don't think as any doubt they try to target
them where they had those big runs. The power, oh
is gonna be We talked about every time they're running
that they're gonna probably run it eight times. Now they're
gonna running in a bunch of different ways, but they're
gonna run eight to ten times the thirty sometimes that
they run it maybe even more. Um, they're outside zone,
their inside zones, and they're gonna probably have a wrinkler too,
(22:12):
you know, and it maybe come off of the like
you'd like you mentioned, and um, this would be a
good thing for them, is to give them the Steelers
the look where they ran right at those two bubbles
and then right throw something off of it or have
another wrinkle off of it. Because but you gotta challenge them.
You got to see if they know how to if
they're gonna handle it. Um, I wouldn't doubt that for
(22:33):
a second. You just I would never just assume and
they're gonna do They're gonna defend that better. Well, let's
see if they defend it. I'm not easily what everybody
does they they Let's make them prove to us they
can defend that. So, Meryl, the Ravens last week didn't
have a single wide receiver run more than eight routes,
Like that's unheard of at this level. Like is that sustainable? No? No,
(22:57):
not doing champion noting, not not doing a champ a ship.
You know, Listen, as much as I'm I had a
fanatic about the running game and how important is that's
just one phase of an offense. And if that is
all you have, then as far as you're gonna go, um,
you've got to be able to compliment that, you know,
and then that that passing game has to have phases, Toad.
You know. That's why I mean, there's a when I
(23:18):
look at the passing game, like the running game, running game,
you've gotta be able to go strong, side, side, inside, outside, Okay,
I can attack it in a bunch of different ways. Well,
the passing game same way. I got short, intermediate, in vertical,
I can attack you in all three layers. UM, once
you've completely draw offense like that, then you have a
dangerous offense. And the reason phases and having a lot
(23:39):
of phases are critical because of how good this game
is and how talented everybody is and how smart everybody is,
they're gonna be able to neutralize something. So you've got
to be able to use something else to win games.
And when you just have one thing, you're eventually going
to run to a team that can handle that, you know,
or they're gonna put you in a position where that's
just not enough to catch up. You know, we got
(24:00):
twenty eight points, we got a quarter left. We're not
gonna We're not gonna hit a six yard round a
seventy year on the eight yard run here to get
back in. That happens in college. It just doesn't happen
in the NFL. So, you know, but that's the thing
that keeps some in games. It's a great way to build.
You know, a Land is doing that. UM Detroit has
done that and their offense has expanded. That's the problem
(24:23):
actually with the Ravens, and that is going to be
ultimately their demise. They do not have a quarterback there
Lamar or otherwise that has that capacity. So they're always
going to be limited. They're gonna be able to do
some things on the passing the game. In their effect
you can see some you know, they hit a big
player pass it. But let's say, oh he can throw it,
Yes he can't. There as throws he can make. But
(24:43):
when you think of all the phases that are required
to be a champion, the Super Bowl champion, that they
just don't have that. He's never had that. He didn't
have it in Louisville, and he has not developed developed
in the National Football League. So they laughed at and
they know that. That's why they try all the things
that they do. Know that you just look at their
design and their play called. They tell you what they think.
(25:04):
Why are they do Would you just mentioned that if
you had a really good quarterback and you thought this
quarterback County was really good, is that what you would
do as a play calling. No, you're doing that because
you want a hiding and you're hiding and you just
you just can't win a championship like that. Let's put
the xs and o's aside for a second and talk
about emotion, because these games Pittsburgh and Baltimore are always
(25:26):
emotional games. We've seen in recent weeks. Larry Ogan Job
had his hair on fire in Carolina. You know, went
to college down there. Uh, he's got some ties to
their cam. Hayward led the charge on Franco night. Uh,
what are the odds? Somebody at t J watt uh
A Minka Fitzpatrick, somebody just rises up for the Steelers
(25:48):
and says, you know what, these guys beat us at
home last game. It's not happening again. And somebody plays
Superman and everybody else just kind of grabs onto the
cape defensively and goes along for the ride a little bit. Well,
you know, listen, I arrival. I looked at this rival
like the Houston Oilersburg you know, the House of Pain
and how they were built, you know, as oh, it's
(26:08):
almost very similar. I mean, yeah, that that's true. That
that did not this, you know, it's I don't think
Mike Tom you know, you're called John Harball Harves and
talks about what a great dance partner is dot. I
don't think Chuck Mill had the same thoughts about Jerry Glanville.
That's very true. That is that is huge or spot
(26:29):
on brother. Um. So that being said, though, but the
environment when you step inside those white lines, I mean
it's gonna be a fist fight at the fifty and
you know that. I mean you're gonna you're gonna drag
yourself off the field. So you know, I think everybody
has to come with that, that attitude. There's surely somebody
could spark it Mife that you mentioned, and you know,
any one of those guys that think could do that
(26:51):
and probably will do that. I need to do that
because you know, as as swim a hope as they
haven't get in the playoffs, le they still got it.
There's some teams that don't have any and you know,
to be able to finish with two wins early three, um,
would be really I think an incredible season for you know,
all the turnover and the new learning and the transitioning
(27:14):
of a quarterback, losing the legend and then bringing in
new guys, you know, as a credit to the organization,
how they fought through everything and not let not let
it get out of control. That would be the best
rally as a group since what year, Meryl about eighty nine? Right, Mike,
it's gonna be two thousand and three a matter of days,
(27:37):
and it's still gonna come back to men's nine, and
we're gonna still talk about I gotta make a question
for you, and I was, I'm a big believer that
a quarterback has made it in this league when they
(27:57):
can consistently excel in the red zone own and then
the intermediate areas ten to twenty yards. To me, those
are the hardest throws to consistently complete at this level.
And I was really looking at the numbers, and I
think that the tape follows this as well. Kenny's really
struggling in those two areas. Is that a concern? Is
that rookie growing pains? You know? Where are you on
that subject? Well? I think they're obviously, I think he's
(28:24):
he's they're growing things. What he did in college, he
really performed them well, so that I don't get nervous
about that. I'm not concerned about that now. I would
be if I'm like boy, I never started to do
an in colleague either, you know, because this is this
is what happens when you're looking at evaluating the guy
and you're you're trying to transition in so you know,
(28:44):
if your match your point, you look for things like that,
you know, and if they don't have those things along
with all the other things that are required, um, and
they start rearing their ugly head. You're like, oh boy,
but he did it in college, and he did it
really well. And there are moments where he's done it better. UM.
A touchdown that he threw, you know, to the end
that he was he was decisive then with authority, and
(29:07):
he processed it and he made and he made you know,
that ends up being the game when he throw. So
he performed better down there than he has to this point,
which is growth. And the one thing that I files
thought he did at college that really caught my attention
is how he manages um his drives and manages games
(29:27):
and gets points and and he he he actually keeps
the play that you know, people say he gets through
the ball too quick, and like, how are you kidding me?
That is what makes he's executing the play on first
and ten. If they take the dig away from you
or the post away from it, but they give you
the check down in the flat, that's what you should
do now at second and two versus trying to throw
the dig. And now we're second and ten, I'll give
(29:51):
you a guy. I'll give you a great example is
Jay Cutler. This is why Jay Cutler got ran out
of the league. This is why Jay Cutler got bench
to Chicago. Remember got Ben to Chicago. I was like, hum,
you know what I mean. I know that he has
a big arm. Okay. Jay Cutler liked his big arm,
and he tried to use that big arm, but he
would never execute play. Well, I'm gonna look at the
very first drive, and it was typical almost like I
(30:12):
just described. They ran a call of play where it
had a dig, but the coverage took it away. The
flat was open. He tried still a dick. Now a
second and tent. Well, they played another coverage. They try
to run a post and take that away. Well, he said,
taking the checkdown. He tries to post. Now a third
and ten, Well, third and ten ain't easy. They blitzed him.
He's got to throw the ball away now. He did
(30:33):
that almost the entire game. And that was his m O.
That was his biggest problem, Like he couldn't manage himself.
The best time he did is when Mike Marx was there.
You know, and I've done Mike for a long time
and you know, but Mike had to write him like
every down, every play, you know, emphasize if it's not there,
check it down, it's not there to give it to
the flat it's not there to give it to you know.
And after a while that's just you know, that's where
(30:55):
I did. The coach has all the power, no control,
you know, you can teach him and put up to
him everything, and they need to do what they should
be doing. Well. Once they are on the white lines,
all games, all bets are off, you know, if the
players are gonna do what they want to do. That's
why trust the player. Having smart players is vital and
winning a championship you must have them, Mary, last thing
I got for you. Uh, there's a chance that by
(31:17):
the time the ball kicks off Sunday, it's over. In
terms of the postseason. If if Miami beats New England,
that's the ballgame. Does that have any kind of effect
or is it Steelers Ravens. They're still gonna play. It's
pro football and jobs are on the line. That's that's
the bottom line. Jobs are always on the line, man,
(31:39):
And you're getting paid to play and plaid to win. Um,
you know, while on scholarship. Um uh, now, there's obviously
a little bit disappointment. Can't take more that, I mean
the emotions of the chiefs, but board and change how
you play. Yeah, I wouldn't. I wouldn't think. I wouldn't
think it would. If you're if you're in a boxing match,
you're probably not too worried on who won the fight
(32:00):
before your fight. Otherwise it's not gonna end. Well yeah, yeah,
you got that right. And let me just say this.
If you're a coach, you know you probably staff and
you see anybody that let's say that does happen. Let's
say Miami does win. Okay, well I don't think Minami's
gonna beat them, but let's say they do. Um and okay,
(32:21):
you know what I have it. If I see anybody quit,
that's all I need to know. Then you gonna be
on the team next year. I do my very best
to make sure that that's not how you win. That's
how you build a championship. I can just tell you
that not with people like that. You find out who
you build, who you keep around and build championships with.
In moments like this, you know that's not the one
(32:41):
When you're seven and Oh, it's when you've done it,
went through a year like this, you know who's quit,
who stayed that, who fought hard, who played hard, who
still was responsible and prepared every week and played the
same way and try to get better That that's how
you build your team. Beautiful stuff. Maryland is always happy
New Year, and we'll look forward to doing it again
(33:02):
at least one more time next week in advance of
Steelers Browns. I look forward to it. Man, Go Steelers.
Meryl Hodges here on the preview. Man, he gets cranked
up about that running game stuff done. Yeah, it's been
a theme the last month or so and he just
been spot on the last month or so. Uh. Still
got a few details to get to before we call
(33:22):
it a night, So keep it here with Matt Williamson
on Mike PURSUITA. You are listening to Steelers preview right
here on your Steelers Slagship one or two point five
d V and s n R. Back to the Steelers
Preview Show presented by Univet on DV. Welcome back, Mike
pursued In. Matt Williamson with you until eight o'clock tonight. Boy,
(33:45):
I could talk for hours with Meryl when he gets
solved up like he was tonight talking running game and
emotions and Franco and Cam. I mean, there's some hot
button topics for that guy that there were against Chatt
is the Steelers predictive and trivia game and to questions,
make picks and win prizes. You can play on your
own against Steeler Nation in our new public group, or
(34:06):
you can create your own private group to compete against
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You're a professional. They're just answers. Uh. You can play
in Chad exclusively in the Steeler's official mobile app and
our question this week, these are all over under Kenny
(34:28):
Pickett over under twenty five and a half completions. Who
I think I'm going under on every offensive thing, period,
no matter what. And I don't care what the line is.
Just give me the under anything offensive related. Yeah, that
makes a lot of sense to me too, And I
don't I think uh, And I thought we saw a
very conservative game from Pickett again until they absolutely had
(34:52):
to let it rip a little bit on that last drive.
But I think it's gonna be play. It's safe, try
to move it, try to play field position, try to
kick it when you can. There's gonna be a lot
of rollout keepers that he runs for whatever he can
get where he can throw it away rather than risk
throwing it to them. I just think they're gonna play
that way unless they absolutely have to not play that way.
(35:15):
And I don't see how the Ravens are gonna score
a ton of points if they don't turn it over.
I mean, this game might be ten nine. I mean,
I really think it has a chance to be unbelievably
low scoring the way both these defenses are playing, where
the quarterbacks are at, strengths and weaknesses of the team
overall familiarity, I mean, not only they know each other
extremely well, as well as the coaching staffs, but they
just played a couple of weeks ago. I mean, so
(35:36):
I don't think there's gonna be a lot of mystery here.
And it's probably to come down to Boswell war Tucker. Tucker,
by the way, uh, I still think he's the best
in the business. Now. We have talked a number of
times this year about how good kickers are now and
how everybody bombs from way downtown. But uh, Justin Tucker
at a fifty five yard are blocked at home in
(35:57):
that Atlanta game. Baltimore beat Atlantic seventeen to nine last Sunday.
It's a second straight week he's had a field goal blocked.
He's had three blocked this season. Only had five of
those in his first ten years in the league. Wow,
I didn't realize it was that few in the first
ten years. It was aware of the ones recently. I mean,
obviously the field goal block. That one's gonna remembers Clais Campbell,
who's questionable for this one, getting ahold of one of
(36:19):
the Steelers. But I wonder, I mean, I don't know
enough about special teams that they have a weakness. There
is that the same approach everyone's taking. Who knows? I
mean broken down my field goal protection tape. I mean,
if it keeps happening, you think there's something. There's the
miss and and Justin Tucker so critical. I'm sure anything
(36:40):
and everything that they can get accomplished. Hey, I know
you're a big stats guy. You are the author of
Matt Stats on Steelers dot com and other places. Uh,
you know, we talked about this last game, but it
bears repeating without Lamar Jackson since two thousand and eighteen,
the Ravens are eight and eleven. With them, they're forty
five and sixteen. Yeah, I mean reflect as much Steelers
(37:05):
defense with him without t J Watt. This has been
kind of a running team this year with t J
Watt there six and two and it's not even he's
all I mean, not not right. They're one and six
without him and the pretty strong trends six and two
verses one and six. He's got to be during VP.
(37:27):
I hear what you're saying, and I'm not discounting that
because he has such impact and the way they prepare
all week and I'm sure he's gonna be secure in
the edge and you know, maybe he doesn't even get
a chance to get sacks in this game. But I
think a big thing with you know, since Watt's return
is also Cazy's return. I mean, Casey to me was
very important this past week. And you know, is he
(37:49):
t J Watt? Of course not. But they've been pretty
healthy and they're getting a lot of contributions from a
lot of guys, and nobody was better than Cam Heyward
last week. That was remarkable. I don't say this lightly
I don't think I've seen him play better, and I've
seen him at some games, and I'm starting maybe this
is the trap you fall into. It's the end of
the year. I don't think they're gonna make the playoffs.
(38:12):
But if they end up nine and eight or eight,
eight and one, um, something along those lines, does that
tell you that this season wasn't the disaster that it
appeared to be. A two and six. I mean, honestly,
if they get beat these last two games, I'm gonna
say it's not a disaster. I mean that the the
offense grew as a whole. I think you've identified a
(38:34):
lot of strengths the personality of the team. You've also
identified some weaknesses, you know, as well of you know
what to go do this offseason. I think they're becoming
more and more clear. You know who's who's in it
for the long haul here. Everybody's auditioning, you know. So
I do think if this is their version of a rebuild,
I'll take it. Turning the page on the quarterback and
(38:55):
getting that figured out and some of the young guys.
What was interesting here in matt Canada today on the
south side, talk about that winning drive against the Raiders,
and he said, hey, we had two second year guys
and two first year guys, and he's talking about Pickens
and pick it and then Nagy Harrison pat and there
that's the core of a pretty good offense. Absolute, you know,
(39:17):
and you had a little bit and you know right there,
we're gonna be growing pains. I'll tell you one thing though,
Uh you talk about most valuable players and guys who
fit that bill. The great regret for me in retrospect,
he's not going and get ro Kuan Smith in August
because the Ravens went and got him before the deadline
and he has transformed their defense. I actually wrote an
article this week about, Hey, the Steeler d looks a
(39:38):
lot better, but the off the ball linebacker play, to me,
is leaves a lot to be desired and is really
right rising up my off season wish list. Yeah, I
think that's that's right up there, along with other ones too.
But we're back defensive line. Probably keep going, but there's plenty.
We'll save that for next week at the very earliest.
(39:58):
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(40:19):
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