October 6, 2022 • 42 mins
Matt Williamson and Mike Prisuta are joined by Merril Hoe to break down the Bills and Steelers matchup this Sunday t Highmark Stadium.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Steelers Preview Show on w d v
E Pittsburgh, presented by Unibet. The only thing better than
a Steelers win is the Steelers win that pays double
down on your team. With Unibet, proud partner of the
Pittsburgh Steelers, here are your hosts, Mike Pursuita, Matt Williamson
and Meryl Hodge. Good in then you welcome to another
edition of the Steelers Preview. Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson
(00:23):
with you here tonight on the Steelers Flagship one at
two point five d v E and s n R
until eight o'clock. We will be joined for our second
segment as we always are, by Meryl Hodge and Uh, Matt.
I know traditionally we take a pretty deep dive into
the impending matchup. A little different approach is gonna be
(00:44):
deployed or or taken tonight because this isn't just Steelers
at the Bills at his career start number one for
Kenny Pickett and Uh, I gotta tell you, I was
there at act for Sure Stadium on Sunday and I
saw everything unfold as unfolded. I've been doing this since
the third to the last game of the nineteen eighties
(01:06):
six season. And I gotta tell you that enthusiasm was real. Uh,
it resonated with the players. It was an energizing debut
for Kenny Pickett to start the second half the stealer's
first possession of the third quarter. And while the game
ultimately got away and one in three doesn't look too
(01:26):
good entering a stretch where you're gonna play Buffalo, Tampa,
Miami and Philly, I'm of the opinion that the Kenny
Pickett here is off and running. And uh, I think
that is a development that trumps all others. Yeah, I
think it really does. I mean the two words I
used after that game. We're disappointing, I mean losing to
the Jets and the way they did and exciting. You know,
(01:49):
the excitement is real. You know, we've seen a first
round quarterback here since Ben. There's probably a lot of
fans that don't remember that or you know, all the
excitement that goes with it. The poll poise his style
of play, I think translates to making a smoother transition
than most. You know, I mean that the term NFL
ready for draft picks at that quarterback position I think
(02:10):
is a fallacy, but it's exciting. It could be. It
gets still around a lot. He's NFL ready, He's like, no,
you're not. I mean, unfortunately, it is a Trabisky's expense.
I didn't think he was playing poorly, but I also
thought it was pretty clear that he's not elevating those
around him, that this isn't the offense that we need
to succeed. That's going to point, that's very fort its right,
(02:32):
that's going to any points at three points, and then
they got three more because the Jets decided to rough
the pass or on a hail Mary and Chris Boswell
decided to make a fifty nine yard field. Call me crazy,
I don't think that's sustainable. I don't think you draw
it up that way. Hopefully they rough the hail mary.
Call right, yeah? And I think what picking pick it
(02:53):
can bring to the table is sustainable. I mean the accuracy,
the field vision, the running the plays as they're drawn up,
the willingness to let it fly. I mean that might
be the number one thing that it is really exciting
about this young man. Let's kick things off by telling
you what to expect that's brought to you by Brian
(03:15):
Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits and Matt.
Everybody knows who the Bills are. Everybody knows who the
Steelers are. Right about now, just some confirming numbers. The
Steelers are thirty in total offense. The Bills are tied
for first in total defense, Steelers are and scoring offense.
The Bills are second in scoring defense, the Steelers are
(03:37):
in passing offense. The Bills are first in passing defense.
Flipping around, uh, Buffalo is third in total offensive, Steelers
twenty four in total defense, Buffalo fiveth in scoring offense,
the Steelers fifteen and scoring defense. And here's the biggie
Buffalo first in third down offense, the Steelers six. I
think all that adds up to a long day and
(03:59):
Orchard Park I think so as well. I mean, the
Bills are a very good football team. I have great
respect for the organization, the quarterback, the coach, the way
they built this team. And it's their turn, you know,
I mean, they're they're taking a shot. I think they're
the best team in the league right there with the
Chiefs and Eagles. With those three teams stand alone, um,
(04:20):
you just kind of capped it off. But any metric
or stat that you look at on either side of
the ball for Buffalo, they're pretty much near the top.
And then you look at the tape or the video
or however you've watched games, and you see Josh Allen
and you see Von Miller, and you see a secondary
that doesn't seem to mind not having two of its
best players who, by the way, or two of the
(04:40):
best of what they do in the league, Mica Hide
and White. Uh. This this Buffalo team is locked and loaded.
You know. I bring this up periodically. The way I
prepare for this show and my week of Steelers coverage
is always go to the Steelers game. And then I
rewatched the Steelers game, and I watched whoever that they're
(05:00):
gonna play next, because I taped that game on direct
TV and watched the second half of that Buffalo Baltimore
game was just majestic on Buffalo's part. There they were
way behind, and they closed within twenty to ten right
at the end of the first half, and then pitched.
Uh the second half, shut up, and they did what
they wanted to do offensively. In defensively, Baltimore got one
drive late and then Buffalo dug in at the two
(05:22):
yard line kept him out of the end zone. John
Harbaugh went for the touch rather than the field goal, which,
by the way, I like aggressiveness, but you can't do that, right,
I don't think so. I mean that was that just
screamed fear of It was four minutes left. You gotta
take the lead, don't you? And uh, they didn't, and
Buffalo ended up going down. And at the end of
(05:43):
the game, Devin Singletary had a run inside the five
and I suspected he went down. Now he got tackled,
but it looked like he wasn't fighting it off. And
then they ran a sneak without and he was looking
at the ground the whole time to make sure he
didn't cross the goal line. He got the first down,
and then Baltimore didn't have any time outs and they
just took a couple of knees and then kicked the
(06:04):
field goal to win the game. Uh, they're they're incredibly
well peopled. Uh here's how well coached the Bills are.
They did not score a touchdown on their opening drive
at Baltimore. That snapped a streak of eight consecutive games
in which they had done that it's awesome. And coming
out of the break, they have outscored their opponents by
(06:25):
forty four points in third quarters quarters. That that leads
the lake. That's that's one of two of my favorite
stats about the Bills. One of them is in the
third quarter, I mean halftime adjustments. I mean it screams that.
But how about this on their defense too. Their defense
in the second half of games has faced twenty drives. Okay,
(06:46):
that's normal. They've given up points on one of them.
That's points. That's and and the other things. When their
safeties were falling left and right in Miami within the
they have anybody left on the field. Since we got
the defense here, let me quickly remind everybody out there
that the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is reminding you
to sack hunger and get food. Volunteer or donate at
(07:06):
Pittsburgh Food Bank dot org. I mentioned the two. For
a lot of teams, they'd be devastating injuries if you
lose it Tradavious White and Micah Hide, it doesn't seem
to matter for Buffalo and the Bills basically play five guys.
They play their nickel in part because their their secondaries.
It's too good. Uh Number seven, Uh is too good
(07:26):
not to be on the field. Their nickel guy, Tehron Johnson.
Johnson and the two inside linebackers Tremaine Edmonds and Matt Milano.
You gotta play those guys. They do everything well. They
you know, they get away with having two linebackers on
the field against heavy personnel against four wide and those
guys do everything well. Milano's the quarterback of it all.
(07:48):
Like you said, they're missing two of their best. I mean,
player and high to have been a elite pair of safeties,
you know for a handful of years now um and
now Plawyers leading the league and interceptions, he's got half
of one more and make a first round corner in
the mix. Throw them in there, and that's their Levi
Wallace replacement. And it's a big upgrade in terms of athleticism,
you know, I mean, he's a rookie. My favorite part though,
(08:10):
is the defensive line. I mean, they're just also missing
a couple of key guys and you don't even know it.
You know, they go nine deep on their offensive line.
It's like hockey lines. Just keep bringing those fresh guys
in and they keep assaulting. They rarely blitzsteam in the league,
and they get there. Uh. It's almost like this Buffalo team.
(08:32):
It reminds me of what the Steelers aspire to be. Sure, yeah,
but Steelers and Steelers have gotten away over the years
from blitzing. They'd like to rush four and cover with seven. Uh.
They'd like to be able to defend the run in
the past, which I guess everybody would, but the same personnel. Yeah,
keep the same guys out there so you don't get
out guests. Uh, dominating quarterback, very good offensive line which
(08:56):
is healthy and experienced, and it gets the job done.
They can run it or they can throw it. Uh,
they're really good old special teams. Uh. This is uh
the total package. You know, I thought Kansas City was
better than Buffalo last year, and I know that that game.
I don't want to say it was one on the
coin flip, but I'm not going to say that if
Buffalo had won the coin flip in overtime, it wouldn't
(09:17):
have won the game. I mean, hey, they had to
play defense first and they couldn't do it. But this
to me looks like the team. I haven't seen everybody yet,
and I necessarily haven't studied Billy yet. Those are the
only ones in the same league, right, Yeah, is in
my opinion, And honestly, even the Bill's lost I kind
of referenced it in Miami wasn't total outlier type of
(09:41):
game too. I mean the Bills ran close to a
hundred plays in that game and the total night yards. Yeah,
and Miami ran like thirty five and somehow Miami end
up winning the game. Um, the heat and the exhaustion,
exhaustion of it all, you know, it was part of it.
But if they play that one again, I still think
(10:02):
Buffalo wins eight out of ten. Yeah, I would agree,
and I was I'm pretty impressive with Miami as well. Yeah,
they're good with that receiver combo and if two is healthy,
defensive aggressive, Yeah, But just this Buffalo team, I think
he said that's their turn. I feel that way, it's
their time. Probably learned a lot last year, and you know,
(10:23):
they kind of pushed their chips all in on Von
Miller and it's a perfect situation for Miller. If you
look at that defensive line, there's a lot of former
first round picks, second round picks, were so bash them, Oliver.
You know they've invested in it. They want that depth,
but they go get the older Hall of Famer who's
coming off a Super Bowl win on his way to
(10:43):
try to win a third one Miller I'm talking about.
He can be the mentor. He can play fifty of
the snaps and stay fresh for the end of games
and the season. They're built for the long haul, and
they're pretty impressive. They're very impressive. Uh. The practice participation
reports are lengthy, lengthy on both sides. For the Steelers,
(11:06):
Cam Sutton limited for a second consecutive day growing hamstring. UH.
Levi Wallace limited second consecutive day foot Terrell Edmonds upgrades
too limited from did not practice. He's trying to get
over a concussion. Uh. Make of Fitzpatrick upgraded too limited
but did not practice with a knee. Uh. That's pretty
much the secondary. Mike Thomas already said a Kelly Kelley
(11:28):
Witherspoon is not gonna play. I think the Steelers a
piece something together there, but even healthy against these guys,
it's a handful number. Now the Bills have a much
longer list than the Steelers. Will have to see what
happens come Sunday. But I'll just give you the names
of some of the players who either did not practice
or were not full participants. Christian Benford, cornerback. He's been starting,
(11:52):
but he's heart. Jamison Crowder the third wide receiver, Gabe
Davis the second wide receiver, was actually full participant uh today,
but Tremaine Edmonds didn't work today. Uh, Dawson Knox the
tight end. Uh At Oliver one of those talented defensive
lineman you mentioned, and Jordan Phillips another one. Uh. Those
(12:15):
guys were both limited. Jordan Poyer two picks against Baltimore,
the surviving safety. He hasn't practiced yet this week, so
Buffalo banged up as well, and again doing this without
White and Micah Hyde. It's uh, it's beyond impressive. Uh. So, well,
we'll see what lineups can be cobbled together. But uh,
(12:37):
this this one is about as tough a matchup as
the Steelers have had, I guess since the Kansas City
playoff game last year. Yeah. I mean, there's a few
things I could point to for optimism. Um, but you're
reaching a little bit, and you know, you would hope
after the style of play the Buffalo had to do
indoor in Miami and then come back in Baltimore. They
(12:58):
go to Casey as you to mention, you know, next week,
is this one of those sandwich games? Probably not, didn't think. Yeah,
I mean it's maybe, and maybe they overlook them a little,
you know. I mean, Um, they don't run the ball
especially well in a traditional manner and a non Josh
Allen manner. But yeah, he runs it pretty well. He
runs it pretty well, and they don't really have to
lean on a running game. So and they have some
(13:21):
injuries and the Steelers have Kiddy Pickett as an ex factor.
You know, who knows if that continues to inspire the offense,
if the defense can clean up its fourth quarter issues.
That Jets game was strange. Uh, you know, they gave
up one drive basically in three quarters and it took
a trick play to finish that one. Okay, hats off
to the Jets for a well designed, well timed uh,
(13:43):
a bit of trickery. But then the fourth quarter comes
around and they just can't stop him. It was as
if they remembered T. J. Watt wasn't playing in the
fourth quarter and Steelers played a lot of man coverage
in that game. Um, and I think Wilson started the
finger and figure it out and get a little more
comfortab well, not that he's Josh Allen or a superstar
or he should carve you up to that manner um.
(14:05):
They had some injuries. I really thought the middle of
the field past offense was atrocious. Yeah, it's all Austin,
the defensive coordinator, talked about that today and he said
where the ball ends up is irrelevant. You got to
stop him from completing it. But right, but they found
something they like, you meg, you know, the combination of
man and too deep that they were playing and they
weren't getting the pressure. I kept waiting for him to
go to the blitz and they never did, and it
(14:27):
was kind of death by a thousand cuts. That second
kind of trusted Wilson to lose it for him, and
he didn't. You know, that second drive in particular, I
was thinking, well, if they blitz and they throw it
over your head, at least you have time to get
the ball back. Yeah. Good point. I mean, a big
play doesn't hurt you quite as bad. The way the
way and ended, they just you know, when they have
sixteen seconds, tough one to endure. But again, the Kenny
(14:48):
picket here apparently off and running, and uh, I think
that is uh topic A which we're going to continue
to u um unpack that tonight. When we come back,
we will be joined by the third member of our team,
Meryl Hodge. We'll join us, and UH, I want to
get Meryll talking about some of these intangibles that people
(15:09):
have been thrown around with Kenny Pickett, because I think
I know what they mean. He's actually experienced what they mean,
and he's been in the huddle with guys who uh
exude leadership and I'm guessing some who don't. So uh
we'll talk to Meryl about that. With Matt Williamson, UM,
Mike Pursuita, we're gonna be here until eight o'clock tonight,
getting you ready for Steelers bills and the Kenny Pickett
(15:31):
here all right here on your Steelers Flagship one or
two point five d V and S n R. Back
to the Steelers Preview Show presented by UNIVET on d
v E. Welcome back, Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson with
you tonight until eight o'clock. Steelers Preview on d V
is brought to you by UNIVET. The only thing better
(15:51):
than the Steelers winn is a Steelers win the page.
Double down on your team with Univet, proud partner of
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Time now to welcome to third member
of our full house back field to the show, Meryl
Hodge joining us. Merrill, how are you tonight? Well, gentlemen,
I'm not bad, uh in ninety degrees and we're just
walking off the green and where we're where is the
(16:14):
green located? Arizona? I was gonna say swiftly, penfle me,
but on swiftly, but you're like, oh, that would be
impossible at this time. Well, hey, I was really like
the lovely desert. I was really looking forward to talking
to you this week. I know you're a video guy
and a nuts and bolts guy and a facts guy,
(16:37):
but this is also a game of emotion, and it's
pretty emotional round here. With Kenny Pick had taken his
first steps in the NFL, and and and the anticipation
and and what people are perceiving not only what he
can do on the field, but how he's been carrying
himself and what he's been saying, and the leadership he's
(16:57):
been resonating. He looks to me like a guy Meryl.
If I thought up a cliche or a caricature of
what I think a quarterback should be, it's Kenny Pickett.
And and the last guy that struck me in that
type of fashion might be Bubby Brister. All right, well
let just do this. I'm not around him in the
(17:19):
locker room picket. And if he carries himself like I mean,
you know that kind of confidence you need, you know,
to play in every position. You know something, just display
it differently. Obviously, well he displayed it in uh in robust,
a robust way. I haven't let's say, you know, I
(17:43):
have a scene now, but I've watched I want to
watch thinking about Dave Um from that structure. You know
that that's always a value when you can, you know,
that's why I've always have been You interview, interview a guy,
you're around a guy, you're in the meeting, and you
just you just have a better temperature of a guy.
Then you know, just a little added degree should I
(18:05):
say about you know what you see on tape now
you say those type of things that I'd be exciting
for Steve fans and for the organization. That's how that's
what you need. You need somebody like that. Now let's
go back, let's go to him inside the white line,
because the end the day, you can be robust and
even talk a great game, and then then she can't play. Um,
(18:27):
he can play. And the one thing I loved about
him when, of course, let me back up alutely, when
I go watch college, I have zero idea about a guy.
I just you know, you watch him, you see him
on TV on Saturdays, but that doesn't give you any idea.
Hear things about him, I still don't give you any idea.
So really, tape tells you everything. And so I didn't
know what to expect. And I plugged that tape and
(18:49):
I was like, oh my gosh. I watched a few
other guys quarterbacks already they were coming out, and I'm like, okay,
they were horrendous. I mean, like even laughable. Like I
can't even believe we're talking about at them in the
first round. It's a disservice actually to them. They got
no shot. They get drafted in the first round. That
they do, they're gonna bury that organization. That being said,
when you put pick it in, it was like, holy count.
(19:12):
I mean there's a there's about four things that I
look for right off the bat. If you're going to
transition to the NFL, you have to display this. You
first have to be a very good quick decision maker.
I don't care what your system is. I would prefer
the processtem because then I can tell you, you know
how he pumps into the posts. He played the protystem,
and you can tell that he would he would. He
(19:33):
could process things quickly. He was accurate, and then the
next page another thing. He's gotta be. The next thing,
He's got to be a very accurate. He's got to
throw with anticipation, and gotta have pocket presents. And he
had all of that plus you know, then he started
building on things. The way he managed you know, downs
and distance, I managed the team where they were on
the field. Um, I was just like, I don't know
(19:55):
that I had anybody that I could quite say. It
was like that. You know, Joe Burrow is freakish in
a lot of ways. Um, I don't think he man
eats things quite as well as pick It does, or
did in college, you know, and when you went out
and when you walked through the preson he did the
same thing. He's a very quick, decisive decision, and that
(20:16):
is such an important aspect of being successful in the
NFL um um That's where actually Trabisky had struggled. And
he struggled in college too, So this wasn't like a
something that just came out or the NFL exposed. He
struggled in college. You know, I can tell him a
note to have with tra risky, just like in Decisive.
I don't know if that's he can't throw it or
(20:38):
he doesn't know that. Either one of them are bad.
And you know, you can't hold onto the ball in
this in this league and be successful. So with can
you get an entire week of prap and work? And
you know, I would expect that things from him. You know,
still a rookie. You know he's gonna have growing pank
everybody does, but the skill set that he has, he'll
(21:02):
have fewer those than most. It makes all sense in
the world. And I totally agree with you. Do you
do you see them changing much schematically with a different
quarterback in there? I mean I would assume there'll still
be a lot of design quarterback movement, similar route concepts.
I mean, they're not gonna scrap everything that they've done. Yeah, well,
(21:23):
I hear, I can think about what good coaching should do.
You just you have a system, you have you know,
things that he likes and does better than the other thing.
Those things that you the cater to, cater to him,
cater to what he does well, what he feels good about,
what he likes. Um. Now you've got also trying to
attack your opponent in this process. You know, you gotta
(21:45):
work together as a team. You know, what do you like? Um,
what he took confidence? And how can we attack him?
You know? UM, So it'll be interesting to see what
you know. You know, you still have staples. You know
your offense is built on staples, and you gotta be
able to execute those staples an eighty cents of time.
You know you have wrinkles. But the other stuff you
gotta be really good at. You gotta be able to execute. Um.
(22:07):
They know it's coming to come, but you're gonna execute it.
You know you're gonna perform them. So, UM, it will
be interesting to see what they what they do though
you know, I don't think you'll see like a completely
different thing, to be honest with you, UM, but UM,
it will be interesting to see you. I'm just what
I'm excited just watching the execute the offense. I just
(22:28):
I want to see him, want to see him play,
you know with um no, you know Andy Kappain of
preseason or you know, getting thrown in with somebody else's
game plan, you know, and having very few reps to prepare,
so we're not going to see that, and that that
would be nice to get a good a good field
(22:49):
for can ticket. From that perspective, I want to go
back to the intangible stuff for a second. Marrill. You know,
Ben Roethlisberger had so much success early. I think his
persona was kind of like the resume. He became big
bend almost overnight and a super Bowl quarterback quickly, and
it was just, hey, this guy's won. This is the
guy that can lead us your gout, Bobby, you mentioned
(23:11):
that word robust. I mean, does that stuff really matter?
I know we in the media like to make a
big deal out of it, and it's been fascinating to
me to listen to Piketts teammates talking about how how
impressed they are with his poise and his confidence and
his leadership abilities. The Calvin Austin, the third, the receiver
(23:32):
who hasn't been activated yet. He was talking about when
he's screwing up, we're not being as as locked in
his picket pick it will give him what what Austin
called a face, you know, just a look like, hey,
get it together, and guys respond to that. Is there
any truth to the romanticism of the huddle during a
big drive and follow me boys and all that kind
(23:54):
of stuff you see in Friday night lights and uh
and Varsity blues and uh, what's a Texas one? Uh? Perraman,
I'm leaving that out. I don't know. I can't believe
forgetting It's one of the greatest movies of all the time,
and I'm forgetting it. Um anyway, you know what you don't.
I'm getting about it as you Yes, as you think
(24:14):
about it. Yes, that is there is great value in that,
and that matters and you get a little extra out. Um.
You hold people accountable when you step in the huddle
at yours. Um you trust the guy from that perspective
to um, you know, he expects you to be great
on top of your games. I means he'll be on
top of his game. Um, damn movie. I can't believe
(24:37):
I forgot that. Yeah did, Yeah, I'm excited about kiddy. Man,
I'm losing it here, but absolutely, you know, don't Bob
gave us a lot of energy, a lot of energy.
I mean he was the kind of guy that when
you got the huddle man, you know, um, and you
(24:57):
have to have a guy like that too, that believes
in it, gives you energy. And when that's what I'm hearing,
this guy give them give them energy. So I mean
that's all good things to be honest. That is, um,
the things that you would never know you know, um,
you know just by the silence of tape, you don't
get to know those. That's why it's so import when
you're an evaluating process. You get to know the guy.
(25:18):
It's best you can and what you can anticipate when
he steps into a huddle and he gets this opportunity.
So those are all good signs of guys. Um the
energy they need that energy, They really need that energy
and leadership. I also think he brings a calmness and
a composure too. I mean he's not frenetick in the pocket.
(25:39):
You can see you can very easily see that he's
going through his reads the way the play is drawn up.
You know, pressure comes at him. He doesn't panic, he
doesn't drop his eyes, and I'm sure that you know
translates to the practice field to huddle all those things
as well. Yeah, well you know those things are you know,
I call him, you know that there's those of flutters,
(26:00):
expect him to to do well because no not that's
your evidence. By the way, I say, there's your evidence.
You know you can all but only go by the evidence.
You know that you that you've seen to this point. Um,
he is not put on display anything but that. So, UM,
you know there's gonna be there's always gonna be a
(26:21):
little bit in the game, and um, you know they're
gonna come up of stuff that he haven't seen on tape.
How do you respond to that? You know, how do
you how do your instincts kick in? We'll see, Um,
but I I think I'm I know, the the energy
is exciting and I should be. I you know, I
don't think this is a there's a hype that you know,
(26:42):
wore off face. You know, you're like trying to make
you guys, something's really not that's not the case. Um,
if he really has a chance to be, you know,
really a really good player. If that's not a special player,
you know, insally with the skill set that he has. Uh.
I think Josh Allen's already that. And I think this
(27:03):
this Buffalo team's got a shot at being a special team.
When when I say special, I mean the kind of
team that has a parade at the end of the year.
How good do the Bills look to you, Meryl, Well,
they've gotten they've gotten better because you know, like I'll
tell you, last year, the senior defense the best. They
had the best game plan and they pulled they executed
(27:25):
it better than anybody that played the Buffalo Bill last year.
Now I'm being said the Bills did cater to them
a little bit, like they only ran the ball. I think, Um,
I don't even know how many times they ran it,
but it was probably handful. And I'm talking when it
run it not the quarterbacks, but they maybe ten the runners.
I think it was in the fourth quarter where they
were like, hey, why don't try to run a couple
(27:46):
of runs and uh, they went from like the fifties
and the ten and like two runs something. They just
and I don't think they ended up scoring on not
playing anyway, or it was too late in the game.
Whatever it was. Um, but they were just probably gonna
throw it all over the place. Now from that perspective,
the back end was incredible. How they covered. I don't
think they ever brought more than five more than four
(28:07):
guys ever, but they did do some things schematically to
get pressure on him and break down their protection scheme wise,
they did a really a lot of a lot of
great things actually, and they did a lot of great
things when t J. Watt was not in there. So
you know, that's another thing to think about because when
we're talking, everybody driving and driving and listen, but I
had t J. Watt the true However, they did some
(28:29):
really good things that t J wasn't on the field,
because you know, t J left feel quite a bit
in that game. And I mean, listen, you had that
fact bumble. You know, there was, you know, a game
changer most probably the critical part of the game. So
I'm not ignoring now, I'm just saying they did some
things schematical wise that could be very effective that I
think they have to get back to you. But they
gotta be alert that then run the ball better and
(28:50):
more than they did the last time. And that's where
you gotta be really concerned because you get caught up
in you know, depend and Josh Allen and all of
a sudden to play later they've got they're on forty
on you you know, forty yards on the down side,
scoring territory and just like that by running. So I
think they're more balanced. Um, I think they assessed themselves
last year. If they do that, then they they have
(29:14):
a strong chance to win the Super Bowl without it down.
May I got a two partner about Josh Allen for you.
I mean, can you remember a quarterback who came to
the league and their accuracy improved? Like like Alan, I mean,
that is so rare. And then the other one for
you is does he remind you at all of an
early career big Bend? Well, yeah, the way his physical size,
(29:37):
why he like you know where he moves and you know,
like and like he's the guy that getting there. He's like,
we get there, Well, who do we get there with?
Because Kenny Finish, you know that was always bad. I
rememberbably so many deeper corners. We can get there. We
just so we got a guy that can get him down.
It's like, you know that sets the problem. We don't
(29:58):
know when getting down to take reservation. But yeah, so
Josh is like that too, and you know, speaking his accuracy,
you know, um, you know, you're right. His deep ball
was actually where you know, we're trying to think a
lot of people had. You know, I'm talked about you know,
(30:19):
when needs to wyoming because my son played at by
U S. They playing the mold game there or against Josh.
So I've seen Josh, I know Josh like personally, but
he his deep ball, I think you're fifty yards when
we're watching. So he was like, you didn't know where
I was gonna go and I didn't know why. It's like, hey,
(30:39):
that would go a harder twenty yards. I mean, they
all of his play, so for him to harness that
area of it, I think he is a is one
of those learning curves from an evaluator aspect. But he
wasn't that bad otherwise, you know, if you took him,
if you want below fifty because I remember he doesn't
(30:59):
talk about boy with his ability to be all he
brings an explosive oming, have you gotta be explosive in
our league? Twin? So he brings that, but you know,
can they harness that and develop it? Which listens to
his credit, you know they have done that. You know
they have done that, and they have made they make us,
(31:21):
They make a field. You have to you have to
protect all the entire field. You know, your coverage is
This is not the show to do it all. But
you know when you talk about defense coordinators defended, somebody
likes him with a lesser versus a lesser arm just
coverage glides. It just makes things so much easier in
your play calling. The things you don't have to worry
(31:41):
about that you do have to worry about with Josh
Allen and then the boys that exist under that, that
becomes dangerous. You know, it's not just his overall ability
to move, thank you, that that unknown dangerous, but what
he does with his threat on the football, the respect
(32:02):
you have to give him vertically, and then what it
exposes underneath. And that's why I can go back to
what the Steelers did that Week one. It was the
most impressed thing I saw all year. On the Buffalo Bills. Well,
I mean I don't I don't expect this because I
don't expect them to just drop back and throw too.
And they're more season even in their passing than they
(32:22):
were last year too, so that that adds another layer.
I'm concerned. I know that they have. Yeah, there are
several layers of those, Meryl great stuff. We'll look forward
to breaking this game down and looking ahead to Tampa
Bay next week. Al Right, guys, go Steelers man. Have
a great night. Meryl Hodge, as he always joined us
on the preview, get up with the latest sideline apparel,
(32:45):
hats or jerseys of your favorite players, authentic memorabilia, custom items,
and exclusives you can only find directly from the team
at one of the official Steelers pro shops located at
Acquiser Stadium, Grove City, Premium Mountlets, or Tanger Outlets. You
can also visit us on line at shop dot Steelers
dot com. One more segment to go here on the preview,
(33:06):
so keep it here until the other side of the
break with Matt Williamson on Mike PURSUITA. We're gonna be
here until eight o'clock. This is Steelers Preview on your
Steelers Flagship one or two point five d V and
s n R. Back to the Steelers Preview Show presented
by Uni Bet on DV. Welcome back, Mike and Matt,
(33:27):
with you till eight o'clock tonight. As well get you
ready for the Steelers and the Bills. Here on the preview.
Ins Chat is the Steelers predictive and trivia game. Answer questions,
make picks and win prizes. Play on your own against
Steeler Nation in our new public group, or create your
own private group to compete against family and friends. You
can play ins Chat exclusively in the Steelers official mobile app.
(33:49):
Matter you are you familiar with the ins Chat now?
I am. I'll get I'll get on it now. It's
pretty simple. They just they ask a question or two
and the app to give him an answer. This week's
uh predictive question Alex Highsmith over under one and a
half sacks in Buffalo. We'll go under. I mean that's
a pretty hefty number, to be honest with you. Yeah,
(34:09):
that guy's hard to do. So there, there you go.
That's all it texts. It's totally hard touchdowns. Uh, just
something to enhance your enjoyment of the game. And for me,
when you're crunching numbers in that kind of fashion, it
always enhances it, no doubt about it. I just I
want before we move ahead, I want to clarify something
I said with Merril last segment. Uh, Ben Roethlisberger had
(34:33):
a presence like nobody I've ever been around. But I
think with Ben it was more this guy will win
the game for us. We gotta yeah, we gotta find
a way to be in it, and he will win it.
Bubby Brister had a person like the swashbuckling guns, slinging, tobacco, chewing,
occasionally hard drinking. I don't think he'd find me saying
(34:56):
that he was. He was a dude, and he was
the qb OH. I think there's a ton to be
said for that. You know, Montana and the Super Bowl.
You know, just cool. And that's the team I'll never
forget was the team they got beat to tend the
first two games fifty one nothing by Cleveland, forty one
(35:18):
to ten at Cincinnati, and ended up in the playoffs.
They beat Houston and Houston on a Gary Anderson field
goal in overtime, and they lost to the Broncos by
a point that they were that close to get into
the a f C Championship game where they would have
played the Browns again. And then Denver beat the Browns
and got its doors blown off by San Francisco. But uh,
that team had swagger Man. That team had personality. That
(35:41):
team had characters and character. And again, maybe I've watched
too many football movies, but I think there's a little
value of that. And you think a lot of it
came from the quarterback. You know, obviously it's supposed to
write yeah, and its supposed to I mean, that's the
way it's drawn up. And it sure seems like Pickett
has that in spades. He's got a coolness about him.
He's great, you guys. I mean the media. I mean,
(36:01):
I I know people on both sides of the building
down in the south side, they all adore him. On
and off the field. They follow him. I think there's
a time to be said for that. And as Merrill
pointed out, he's pretty good between the lines. He talked
this week about the way he responded when he came in,
and you know, the play everybody wanted to ask him
about was the eighteen yard passed down to see the
pat Friarmouth on which he got crushed by Quinn and Williams.
(36:24):
And he saw Quint and Williams coming and and did
you notice when he got up he started barking at
the Jets and laughing, and a lot of Hynes worn
in him there right, like, it's not all you got.
I asked him what he said. He goes, oh, I
don't remember, It's just part of the game. And then
he went on to say how normally he's not that emotional.
He prefers not to get too high or get too low,
(36:45):
which is a lot of people promote that as a theory,
you know, stay even, but he said he sensed the
team needed energy when he came in, so he so
he put it on his sleeve a little bit more. No,
I think this is a guy who is not played
it down yet, and he's he's assessing what kind of
leadership is needed and which type he should apply. Are
(37:08):
you kidding me? Stuff? Right? Have you been doing this
for ten years under an assumed name? I mean, I
know the Joe Burrow comparisons are lofty, but you do
see some of that. You know, where Burrow goes to
a nightmare of an organization, it makes in his own overnight,
and Pickets go into a much more stable situation than
Burrow did as a first overall pick. You saw those results.
(37:30):
I'm not saying he's going to the super Bowl next
year or anything like that, but you mentioned that play
he scrambled to his right, got a first down with
his legs and kind of gave one of the defenders
a little look. You know they got caught on camera,
you know, you know, stick it where the sun doesn't
shine kind of look, you know. And I loved it.
The other two plays that really stuck with me, and
I was like, where have these been? Because I thought
(37:51):
I was going to see this all season. The second
of his two touchdowns, play fake de Naji Harris and
then he boots right and he's got ironmouth is an
option if he wants it, and he decides no, I'm
gonna keep it, cuts it back and he runs through
Mosley and white Head put his shoulder down and got
in the end zone. And then the last third down
(38:11):
before the two screw ups third and three, and he
notices he has pickings one on one outside with the
cornerback not named Sauce Gardner. I'm going there back shoulder first.
I thought that played. I thought that played won the game. Yeah,
that's the beauty is pre snappery. I mean, I mentioned
Burrow and I'm not complayer Aaron on the Burrow as much,
(38:32):
but when when Burrow had Chase one on one, he
might as well throw up on the scoreboard. I'm going
jamar chase one on one, you know, like that's a
gutsy trust move by quarterbacks. And Mitch didn't do that
very often. I thought a little bit the short of
the stick. But he didn't do that very I still
don't know why. And he didn't use his legs, and
I don't know why. You know, I don't get it.
They talked from art ruining the second on down in
(38:54):
the off season. Need mobility at the quarterback position. Mike
Tomlin was talking about it during the season last year
and Rooney emphasized, well, we need a guy who can run,
but he's also got to be able to read a
defense and complete a pass. Okay, I thought Mr Rbisky
was that guy. And then in training camp they talked
about both Pickett and Rabinsky talked about how, hey, we
(39:15):
love this wide receiving corps. When we see one on
one on the outside, we're taking that shot. And Kenny
Pickett detailed it to the extreme. He said, if they're stacked,
which means if the receiver is ahead of the defensive
back and the defensive backs in trail position, the ball
is going deep. If they're even and the receiver hasn't
shaken the guy. It's going back shoulder. But one way
(39:37):
or another, that one on one ball is going to
be thrown. And we saw that so infrequently. And they
have the receivers to hand, and they have receivers and
I don't know why that was the case that I
don't know what. Oh he was mentioned by those guys. Yeah,
I don't know. And Mike Thomas, heart of hearts what
compelled him to make the call when he did. But
(39:59):
I had seen enough of the Trabisky offense to think, well,
this is not gonna be as advertising and it's not
gonna work, so so why not why not pull the plug?
Just to span of what you say, And I mean,
I think a lot of it was we're getting matchups here,
we like one on ones or guys breaking free verse
coverages that we predicted and the ball's not coming out
(40:19):
and that makes coaches crazy, you know. And well, and
we heard Merrill a week or so ago say he
was noticing the receivers were being affected, the potential pass
catchers frustration and how they were running their routes and
things of that nature, and it was just it was
heading in the wrong direction, and uh, it's uh, it's
a new deal. The game has changed. You mentioned back
(40:41):
shoulder throws. I mean like there's sort of a new
invention in the history of the NFL, you know, and
Pickett's been doing in his whole life, I'm sure. But
that's a confident throw. I mean, I'm gonna throw behind
my receiver, knowing if that corner reads it and breaks
on it just a little, it's a pick six, you know,
Like a lot of people are afraid to throw backs older,
and this guy isn't already. You know. Steel's preview on
(41:03):
DV is brought to you by a Uni bet. The
only thing better than the Steelers win is a Steelers win.
That paced double down on your team with Uni bet
prop partner of the Steelers map. We got about a
minute and a half left and about a couple more
numbers off you. Kenny Pickett will be the first rookie
quarterback to start a game this year. Bailey Zappy may
or may not start for New England, you will. Last year,
(41:25):
rookie starters were three and thirteen. The year before they
were won five and one. You gotta go all the
way back to rookies were four four and one in
nine starts. What is the biggest hurdle do you suppose?
Is it just that? Yeah, I was gonna saying they
get they get drafted high because the teams stay a
big part of it. If you do a study on
(41:46):
rookie quarterbacks over like the last ten years, they usually
end up between like twenty and twenty five best quarterback
in the league. Even the ones that have good years
don't excel. It's just that hard. I mean, the speed
of the game is the biggest thing, and uh, you know,
probably right behind that is handling both success and failure
at at this level. Again, I think Kenny Pickett can
(42:06):
handle anything part of that gets thrown at him. So
this ought to be fun in Buffalo. It ought to
be fun the rest of the season. I don't know
where it's going or what what's gonna happen, but uh,
it feels like possibly possibilities all of a sudden, and
as Mike Tomin likes to say, maybe some short term
misery for long term benefit. That's gonna do it for
(42:28):
us tonight. Thanks to you, Jake behind the glass, for
keeping us on the air. Thank you for finding us however,
and wherever you found us, we'll do it again next
Thursday in advance of Steelers Buccaneers. Until then, for Matt
Williams and Mike, pursuit of this has been Steelers Preview
on your Steelers flagship one or two point five d
V and S n R. Goodnight, everyone,
This is the Steelers Preview Show on w d v
E Pittsburgh, presented by Unibet. The only thing better than
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down on your team. With Unibet, proud partner of the
Pittsburgh Steelers, here are your hosts, Mike Pursuita, Matt Williamson
and Meryl Hodge. Good in then you welcome to another
edition of the Steelers Preview. Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson
(00:23):
with you here tonight on the Steelers Flagship one at
two point five d v E and s n R
until eight o'clock. We will be joined for our second
segment as we always are, by Meryl Hodge and Uh, Matt.
I know traditionally we take a pretty deep dive into
the impending matchup. A little different approach is gonna be
(00:44):
deployed or or taken tonight because this isn't just Steelers
at the Bills at his career start number one for
Kenny Pickett and Uh, I gotta tell you, I was
there at act for Sure Stadium on Sunday and I
saw everything unfold as unfolded. I've been doing this since
the third to the last game of the nineteen eighties
(01:06):
six season. And I gotta tell you that enthusiasm was real. Uh,
it resonated with the players. It was an energizing debut
for Kenny Pickett to start the second half the stealer's
first possession of the third quarter. And while the game
ultimately got away and one in three doesn't look too
(01:26):
good entering a stretch where you're gonna play Buffalo, Tampa,
Miami and Philly, I'm of the opinion that the Kenny
Pickett here is off and running. And uh, I think
that is a development that trumps all others. Yeah, I
think it really does. I mean the two words I
used after that game. We're disappointing, I mean losing to
the Jets and the way they did and exciting. You know,
(01:49):
the excitement is real. You know, we've seen a first
round quarterback here since Ben. There's probably a lot of
fans that don't remember that or you know, all the
excitement that goes with it. The poll poise his style
of play, I think translates to making a smoother transition
than most. You know, I mean that the term NFL
ready for draft picks at that quarterback position I think
(02:10):
is a fallacy, but it's exciting. It could be. It
gets still around a lot. He's NFL ready, He's like, no,
you're not. I mean, unfortunately, it is a Trabisky's expense.
I didn't think he was playing poorly, but I also
thought it was pretty clear that he's not elevating those
around him, that this isn't the offense that we need
to succeed. That's going to point, that's very fort its right,
(02:32):
that's going to any points at three points, and then
they got three more because the Jets decided to rough
the pass or on a hail Mary and Chris Boswell
decided to make a fifty nine yard field. Call me crazy,
I don't think that's sustainable. I don't think you draw
it up that way. Hopefully they rough the hail mary.
Call right, yeah? And I think what picking pick it
(02:53):
can bring to the table is sustainable. I mean the accuracy,
the field vision, the running the plays as they're drawn up,
the willingness to let it fly. I mean that might
be the number one thing that it is really exciting
about this young man. Let's kick things off by telling
you what to expect that's brought to you by Brian
(03:15):
Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits and Matt.
Everybody knows who the Bills are. Everybody knows who the
Steelers are. Right about now, just some confirming numbers. The
Steelers are thirty in total offense. The Bills are tied
for first in total defense, Steelers are and scoring offense.
The Bills are second in scoring defense, the Steelers are
(03:37):
in passing offense. The Bills are first in passing defense.
Flipping around, uh, Buffalo is third in total offensive, Steelers
twenty four in total defense, Buffalo fiveth in scoring offense,
the Steelers fifteen and scoring defense. And here's the biggie
Buffalo first in third down offense, the Steelers six. I
think all that adds up to a long day and
(03:59):
Orchard Park I think so as well. I mean, the
Bills are a very good football team. I have great
respect for the organization, the quarterback, the coach, the way
they built this team. And it's their turn, you know,
I mean, they're they're taking a shot. I think they're
the best team in the league right there with the
Chiefs and Eagles. With those three teams stand alone, um,
(04:20):
you just kind of capped it off. But any metric
or stat that you look at on either side of
the ball for Buffalo, they're pretty much near the top.
And then you look at the tape or the video
or however you've watched games, and you see Josh Allen
and you see Von Miller, and you see a secondary
that doesn't seem to mind not having two of its
best players who, by the way, or two of the
(04:40):
best of what they do in the league, Mica Hide
and White. Uh. This this Buffalo team is locked and loaded.
You know. I bring this up periodically. The way I
prepare for this show and my week of Steelers coverage
is always go to the Steelers game. And then I
rewatched the Steelers game, and I watched whoever that they're
(05:00):
gonna play next, because I taped that game on direct
TV and watched the second half of that Buffalo Baltimore
game was just majestic on Buffalo's part. There they were
way behind, and they closed within twenty to ten right
at the end of the first half, and then pitched.
Uh the second half, shut up, and they did what
they wanted to do offensively. In defensively, Baltimore got one
drive late and then Buffalo dug in at the two
(05:22):
yard line kept him out of the end zone. John
Harbaugh went for the touch rather than the field goal, which,
by the way, I like aggressiveness, but you can't do that, right,
I don't think so. I mean that was that just
screamed fear of It was four minutes left. You gotta
take the lead, don't you? And uh, they didn't, and
Buffalo ended up going down. And at the end of
(05:43):
the game, Devin Singletary had a run inside the five
and I suspected he went down. Now he got tackled,
but it looked like he wasn't fighting it off. And
then they ran a sneak without and he was looking
at the ground the whole time to make sure he
didn't cross the goal line. He got the first down,
and then Baltimore didn't have any time outs and they
just took a couple of knees and then kicked the
(06:04):
field goal to win the game. Uh, they're they're incredibly
well peopled. Uh here's how well coached the Bills are.
They did not score a touchdown on their opening drive
at Baltimore. That snapped a streak of eight consecutive games
in which they had done that it's awesome. And coming
out of the break, they have outscored their opponents by
(06:25):
forty four points in third quarters quarters. That that leads
the lake. That's that's one of two of my favorite
stats about the Bills. One of them is in the
third quarter, I mean halftime adjustments. I mean it screams that.
But how about this on their defense too. Their defense
in the second half of games has faced twenty drives. Okay,
(06:46):
that's normal. They've given up points on one of them.
That's points. That's and and the other things. When their
safeties were falling left and right in Miami within the
they have anybody left on the field. Since we got
the defense here, let me quickly remind everybody out there
that the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is reminding you
to sack hunger and get food. Volunteer or donate at
(07:06):
Pittsburgh Food Bank dot org. I mentioned the two. For
a lot of teams, they'd be devastating injuries if you
lose it Tradavious White and Micah Hide, it doesn't seem
to matter for Buffalo and the Bills basically play five guys.
They play their nickel in part because their their secondaries.
It's too good. Uh Number seven, Uh is too good
(07:26):
not to be on the field. Their nickel guy, Tehron Johnson.
Johnson and the two inside linebackers Tremaine Edmonds and Matt Milano.
You gotta play those guys. They do everything well. They
you know, they get away with having two linebackers on
the field against heavy personnel against four wide and those
guys do everything well. Milano's the quarterback of it all.
(07:48):
Like you said, they're missing two of their best. I mean,
player and high to have been a elite pair of safeties,
you know for a handful of years now um and
now Plawyers leading the league and interceptions, he's got half
of one more and make a first round corner in
the mix. Throw them in there, and that's their Levi
Wallace replacement. And it's a big upgrade in terms of athleticism,
you know, I mean, he's a rookie. My favorite part though,
(08:10):
is the defensive line. I mean, they're just also missing
a couple of key guys and you don't even know it.
You know, they go nine deep on their offensive line.
It's like hockey lines. Just keep bringing those fresh guys
in and they keep assaulting. They rarely blitzsteam in the league,
and they get there. Uh. It's almost like this Buffalo team.
(08:32):
It reminds me of what the Steelers aspire to be. Sure, yeah,
but Steelers and Steelers have gotten away over the years
from blitzing. They'd like to rush four and cover with seven. Uh.
They'd like to be able to defend the run in
the past, which I guess everybody would, but the same personnel. Yeah,
keep the same guys out there so you don't get
out guests. Uh, dominating quarterback, very good offensive line which
(08:56):
is healthy and experienced, and it gets the job done.
They can run it or they can throw it. Uh,
they're really good old special teams. Uh. This is uh
the total package. You know, I thought Kansas City was
better than Buffalo last year, and I know that that game.
I don't want to say it was one on the
coin flip, but I'm not going to say that if
Buffalo had won the coin flip in overtime, it wouldn't
(09:17):
have won the game. I mean, hey, they had to
play defense first and they couldn't do it. But this
to me looks like the team. I haven't seen everybody yet,
and I necessarily haven't studied Billy yet. Those are the
only ones in the same league, right, Yeah, is in
my opinion, And honestly, even the Bill's lost I kind
of referenced it in Miami wasn't total outlier type of
(09:41):
game too. I mean the Bills ran close to a
hundred plays in that game and the total night yards. Yeah,
and Miami ran like thirty five and somehow Miami end
up winning the game. Um, the heat and the exhaustion,
exhaustion of it all, you know, it was part of it.
But if they play that one again, I still think
(10:02):
Buffalo wins eight out of ten. Yeah, I would agree,
and I was I'm pretty impressive with Miami as well. Yeah,
they're good with that receiver combo and if two is healthy,
defensive aggressive, Yeah, But just this Buffalo team, I think
he said that's their turn. I feel that way, it's
their time. Probably learned a lot last year, and you know,
(10:23):
they kind of pushed their chips all in on Von
Miller and it's a perfect situation for Miller. If you
look at that defensive line, there's a lot of former
first round picks, second round picks, were so bash them, Oliver.
You know they've invested in it. They want that depth,
but they go get the older Hall of Famer who's
coming off a Super Bowl win on his way to
(10:43):
try to win a third one Miller I'm talking about.
He can be the mentor. He can play fifty of
the snaps and stay fresh for the end of games
and the season. They're built for the long haul, and
they're pretty impressive. They're very impressive. Uh. The practice participation
reports are lengthy, lengthy on both sides. For the Steelers,
(11:06):
Cam Sutton limited for a second consecutive day growing hamstring. UH.
Levi Wallace limited second consecutive day foot Terrell Edmonds upgrades
too limited from did not practice. He's trying to get
over a concussion. Uh. Make of Fitzpatrick upgraded too limited
but did not practice with a knee. Uh. That's pretty
much the secondary. Mike Thomas already said a Kelly Kelley
(11:28):
Witherspoon is not gonna play. I think the Steelers a
piece something together there, but even healthy against these guys,
it's a handful number. Now the Bills have a much
longer list than the Steelers. Will have to see what
happens come Sunday. But I'll just give you the names
of some of the players who either did not practice
or were not full participants. Christian Benford, cornerback. He's been starting,
(11:52):
but he's heart. Jamison Crowder the third wide receiver, Gabe
Davis the second wide receiver, was actually full participant uh today,
but Tremaine Edmonds didn't work today. Uh, Dawson Knox the
tight end. Uh At Oliver one of those talented defensive
lineman you mentioned, and Jordan Phillips another one. Uh. Those
(12:15):
guys were both limited. Jordan Poyer two picks against Baltimore,
the surviving safety. He hasn't practiced yet this week, so
Buffalo banged up as well, and again doing this without
White and Micah Hyde. It's uh, it's beyond impressive. Uh. So, well,
we'll see what lineups can be cobbled together. But uh,
(12:37):
this this one is about as tough a matchup as
the Steelers have had, I guess since the Kansas City
playoff game last year. Yeah. I mean, there's a few
things I could point to for optimism. Um, but you're
reaching a little bit, and you know, you would hope
after the style of play the Buffalo had to do
indoor in Miami and then come back in Baltimore. They
(12:58):
go to Casey as you to mention, you know, next week,
is this one of those sandwich games? Probably not, didn't think. Yeah,
I mean it's maybe, and maybe they overlook them a little,
you know. I mean, Um, they don't run the ball
especially well in a traditional manner and a non Josh
Allen manner. But yeah, he runs it pretty well. He
runs it pretty well, and they don't really have to
lean on a running game. So and they have some
(13:21):
injuries and the Steelers have Kiddy Pickett as an ex factor.
You know, who knows if that continues to inspire the offense,
if the defense can clean up its fourth quarter issues.
That Jets game was strange. Uh, you know, they gave
up one drive basically in three quarters and it took
a trick play to finish that one. Okay, hats off
to the Jets for a well designed, well timed uh,
(13:43):
a bit of trickery. But then the fourth quarter comes
around and they just can't stop him. It was as
if they remembered T. J. Watt wasn't playing in the
fourth quarter and Steelers played a lot of man coverage
in that game. Um, and I think Wilson started the
finger and figure it out and get a little more
comfortab well, not that he's Josh Allen or a superstar
or he should carve you up to that manner um.
(14:05):
They had some injuries. I really thought the middle of
the field past offense was atrocious. Yeah, it's all Austin,
the defensive coordinator, talked about that today and he said
where the ball ends up is irrelevant. You got to
stop him from completing it. But right, but they found
something they like, you meg, you know, the combination of
man and too deep that they were playing and they
weren't getting the pressure. I kept waiting for him to
go to the blitz and they never did, and it
(14:27):
was kind of death by a thousand cuts. That second
kind of trusted Wilson to lose it for him, and
he didn't. You know, that second drive in particular, I
was thinking, well, if they blitz and they throw it
over your head, at least you have time to get
the ball back. Yeah. Good point. I mean, a big
play doesn't hurt you quite as bad. The way the
way and ended, they just you know, when they have
sixteen seconds, tough one to endure. But again, the Kenny
(14:48):
picket here apparently off and running, and uh, I think
that is uh topic A which we're going to continue
to u um unpack that tonight. When we come back,
we will be joined by the third member of our team,
Meryl Hodge. We'll join us, and UH, I want to
get Meryll talking about some of these intangibles that people
(15:09):
have been thrown around with Kenny Pickett, because I think
I know what they mean. He's actually experienced what they mean,
and he's been in the huddle with guys who uh
exude leadership and I'm guessing some who don't. So uh
we'll talk to Meryl about that. With Matt Williamson, UM,
Mike Pursuita, we're gonna be here until eight o'clock tonight,
getting you ready for Steelers bills and the Kenny Pickett
(15:31):
here all right here on your Steelers Flagship one or
two point five d V and S n R. Back
to the Steelers Preview Show presented by UNIVET on d
v E. Welcome back, Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson with
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(15:51):
than the Steelers winn is a Steelers win the page.
Double down on your team with Univet, proud partner of
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Time now to welcome to third member
of our full house back field to the show, Meryl
Hodge joining us. Merrill, how are you tonight? Well, gentlemen,
I'm not bad, uh in ninety degrees and we're just
walking off the green and where we're where is the
(16:14):
green located? Arizona? I was gonna say swiftly, penfle me,
but on swiftly, but you're like, oh, that would be
impossible at this time. Well, hey, I was really like
the lovely desert. I was really looking forward to talking
to you this week. I know you're a video guy
and a nuts and bolts guy and a facts guy,
(16:37):
but this is also a game of emotion, and it's
pretty emotional round here. With Kenny Pick had taken his
first steps in the NFL, and and and the anticipation
and and what people are perceiving not only what he
can do on the field, but how he's been carrying
himself and what he's been saying, and the leadership he's
(16:57):
been resonating. He looks to me like a guy Meryl.
If I thought up a cliche or a caricature of
what I think a quarterback should be, it's Kenny Pickett.
And and the last guy that struck me in that
type of fashion might be Bubby Brister. All right, well
let just do this. I'm not around him in the
(17:19):
locker room picket. And if he carries himself like I mean,
you know that kind of confidence you need, you know,
to play in every position. You know something, just display
it differently. Obviously, well he displayed it in uh in robust,
a robust way. I haven't let's say, you know, I
(17:43):
have a scene now, but I've watched I want to
watch thinking about Dave Um from that structure. You know
that that's always a value when you can, you know,
that's why I've always have been You interview, interview a guy,
you're around a guy, you're in the meeting, and you
just you just have a better temperature of a guy.
Then you know, just a little added degree should I
(18:05):
say about you know what you see on tape now
you say those type of things that I'd be exciting
for Steve fans and for the organization. That's how that's
what you need. You need somebody like that. Now let's
go back, let's go to him inside the white line,
because the end the day, you can be robust and
even talk a great game, and then then she can't play. Um,
(18:27):
he can play. And the one thing I loved about
him when, of course, let me back up alutely, when
I go watch college, I have zero idea about a guy.
I just you know, you watch him, you see him
on TV on Saturdays, but that doesn't give you any idea.
Hear things about him, I still don't give you any idea.
So really, tape tells you everything. And so I didn't
know what to expect. And I plugged that tape and
(18:49):
I was like, oh my gosh. I watched a few
other guys quarterbacks already they were coming out, and I'm like, okay,
they were horrendous. I mean, like even laughable. Like I
can't even believe we're talking about at them in the
first round. It's a disservice actually to them. They got
no shot. They get drafted in the first round. That
they do, they're gonna bury that organization. That being said,
when you put pick it in, it was like, holy count.
(19:12):
I mean there's a there's about four things that I
look for right off the bat. If you're going to
transition to the NFL, you have to display this. You
first have to be a very good quick decision maker.
I don't care what your system is. I would prefer
the processtem because then I can tell you, you know
how he pumps into the posts. He played the protystem,
and you can tell that he would he would. He
(19:33):
could process things quickly. He was accurate, and then the
next page another thing. He's gotta be. The next thing,
He's got to be a very accurate. He's got to
throw with anticipation, and gotta have pocket presents. And he
had all of that plus you know, then he started
building on things. The way he managed you know, downs
and distance, I managed the team where they were on
the field. Um, I was just like, I don't know
(19:55):
that I had anybody that I could quite say. It
was like that. You know, Joe Burrow is freakish in
a lot of ways. Um, I don't think he man
eats things quite as well as pick It does, or
did in college, you know, and when you went out
and when you walked through the preson he did the
same thing. He's a very quick, decisive decision, and that
(20:16):
is such an important aspect of being successful in the
NFL um um That's where actually Trabisky had struggled. And
he struggled in college too, So this wasn't like a
something that just came out or the NFL exposed. He
struggled in college. You know, I can tell him a
note to have with tra risky, just like in Decisive.
I don't know if that's he can't throw it or
(20:38):
he doesn't know that. Either one of them are bad.
And you know, you can't hold onto the ball in
this in this league and be successful. So with can
you get an entire week of prap and work? And
you know, I would expect that things from him. You know,
still a rookie. You know he's gonna have growing pank
everybody does, but the skill set that he has, he'll
(21:02):
have fewer those than most. It makes all sense in
the world. And I totally agree with you. Do you
do you see them changing much schematically with a different
quarterback in there? I mean I would assume there'll still
be a lot of design quarterback movement, similar route concepts.
I mean, they're not gonna scrap everything that they've done. Yeah, well,
(21:23):
I hear, I can think about what good coaching should do.
You just you have a system, you have you know,
things that he likes and does better than the other thing.
Those things that you the cater to, cater to him,
cater to what he does well, what he feels good about,
what he likes. Um. Now you've got also trying to
attack your opponent in this process. You know, you gotta
(21:45):
work together as a team. You know, what do you like? Um,
what he took confidence? And how can we attack him?
You know? UM, So it'll be interesting to see what
you know. You know, you still have staples. You know
your offense is built on staples, and you gotta be
able to execute those staples an eighty cents of time.
You know you have wrinkles. But the other stuff you
gotta be really good at. You gotta be able to execute. Um.
(22:07):
They know it's coming to come, but you're gonna execute it.
You know you're gonna perform them. So, UM, it will
be interesting to see what they what they do though
you know, I don't think you'll see like a completely
different thing, to be honest with you, UM, but UM,
it will be interesting to see you. I'm just what
I'm excited just watching the execute the offense. I just
(22:28):
I want to see him, want to see him play,
you know with um no, you know Andy Kappain of
preseason or you know, getting thrown in with somebody else's
game plan, you know, and having very few reps to prepare,
so we're not going to see that, and that that
would be nice to get a good a good field
(22:49):
for can ticket. From that perspective, I want to go
back to the intangible stuff for a second. Marrill. You know,
Ben Roethlisberger had so much success early. I think his
persona was kind of like the resume. He became big
bend almost overnight and a super Bowl quarterback quickly, and
it was just, hey, this guy's won. This is the
guy that can lead us your gout, Bobby, you mentioned
(23:11):
that word robust. I mean, does that stuff really matter?
I know we in the media like to make a
big deal out of it, and it's been fascinating to
me to listen to Piketts teammates talking about how how
impressed they are with his poise and his confidence and
his leadership abilities. The Calvin Austin, the third, the receiver
(23:32):
who hasn't been activated yet. He was talking about when
he's screwing up, we're not being as as locked in
his picket pick it will give him what what Austin
called a face, you know, just a look like, hey,
get it together, and guys respond to that. Is there
any truth to the romanticism of the huddle during a
big drive and follow me boys and all that kind
(23:54):
of stuff you see in Friday night lights and uh
and Varsity blues and uh, what's a Texas one? Uh? Perraman,
I'm leaving that out. I don't know. I can't believe
forgetting It's one of the greatest movies of all the time,
and I'm forgetting it. Um anyway, you know what you don't.
I'm getting about it as you Yes, as you think
(24:14):
about it. Yes, that is there is great value in that,
and that matters and you get a little extra out. Um.
You hold people accountable when you step in the huddle
at yours. Um you trust the guy from that perspective
to um, you know, he expects you to be great
on top of your games. I means he'll be on
top of his game. Um, damn movie. I can't believe
(24:37):
I forgot that. Yeah did, Yeah, I'm excited about kiddy. Man,
I'm losing it here, but absolutely, you know, don't Bob
gave us a lot of energy, a lot of energy.
I mean he was the kind of guy that when
you got the huddle man, you know, um, and you
(24:57):
have to have a guy like that too, that believes
in it, gives you energy. And when that's what I'm hearing,
this guy give them give them energy. So I mean
that's all good things to be honest. That is, um,
the things that you would never know you know, um,
you know just by the silence of tape, you don't
get to know those. That's why it's so import when
you're an evaluating process. You get to know the guy.
(25:18):
It's best you can and what you can anticipate when
he steps into a huddle and he gets this opportunity.
So those are all good signs of guys. Um the
energy they need that energy, They really need that energy
and leadership. I also think he brings a calmness and
a composure too. I mean he's not frenetick in the pocket.
(25:39):
You can see you can very easily see that he's
going through his reads the way the play is drawn up.
You know, pressure comes at him. He doesn't panic, he
doesn't drop his eyes, and I'm sure that you know
translates to the practice field to huddle all those things
as well. Yeah, well you know those things are you know,
I call him, you know that there's those of flutters,
(26:00):
expect him to to do well because no not that's
your evidence. By the way, I say, there's your evidence.
You know you can all but only go by the evidence.
You know that you that you've seen to this point. Um,
he is not put on display anything but that. So, UM,
you know there's gonna be there's always gonna be a
(26:21):
little bit in the game, and um, you know they're
gonna come up of stuff that he haven't seen on tape.
How do you respond to that? You know, how do
you how do your instincts kick in? We'll see, Um,
but I I think I'm I know, the the energy
is exciting and I should be. I you know, I
don't think this is a there's a hype that you know,
(26:42):
wore off face. You know, you're like trying to make
you guys, something's really not that's not the case. Um,
if he really has a chance to be, you know,
really a really good player. If that's not a special player,
you know, insally with the skill set that he has. Uh.
I think Josh Allen's already that. And I think this
(27:03):
this Buffalo team's got a shot at being a special team.
When when I say special, I mean the kind of
team that has a parade at the end of the year.
How good do the Bills look to you, Meryl, Well,
they've gotten they've gotten better because you know, like I'll
tell you, last year, the senior defense the best. They
had the best game plan and they pulled they executed
(27:25):
it better than anybody that played the Buffalo Bill last year.
Now I'm being said the Bills did cater to them
a little bit, like they only ran the ball. I think, Um,
I don't even know how many times they ran it,
but it was probably handful. And I'm talking when it
run it not the quarterbacks, but they maybe ten the runners.
I think it was in the fourth quarter where they
were like, hey, why don't try to run a couple
(27:46):
of runs and uh, they went from like the fifties
and the ten and like two runs something. They just
and I don't think they ended up scoring on not
playing anyway, or it was too late in the game.
Whatever it was. Um, but they were just probably gonna
throw it all over the place. Now from that perspective,
the back end was incredible. How they covered. I don't
think they ever brought more than five more than four
(28:07):
guys ever, but they did do some things schematically to
get pressure on him and break down their protection scheme wise,
they did a really a lot of a lot of
great things actually, and they did a lot of great
things when t J. Watt was not in there. So
you know, that's another thing to think about because when
we're talking, everybody driving and driving and listen, but I
had t J. Watt the true However, they did some
(28:29):
really good things that t J wasn't on the field,
because you know, t J left feel quite a bit
in that game. And I mean, listen, you had that
fact bumble. You know, there was, you know, a game
changer most probably the critical part of the game. So
I'm not ignoring now, I'm just saying they did some
things schematical wise that could be very effective that I
think they have to get back to you. But they
gotta be alert that then run the ball better and
(28:50):
more than they did the last time. And that's where
you gotta be really concerned because you get caught up
in you know, depend and Josh Allen and all of
a sudden to play later they've got they're on forty
on you you know, forty yards on the down side,
scoring territory and just like that by running. So I
think they're more balanced. Um, I think they assessed themselves
last year. If they do that, then they they have
(29:14):
a strong chance to win the Super Bowl without it down.
May I got a two partner about Josh Allen for you.
I mean, can you remember a quarterback who came to
the league and their accuracy improved? Like like Alan, I mean,
that is so rare. And then the other one for
you is does he remind you at all of an
early career big Bend? Well, yeah, the way his physical size,
(29:37):
why he like you know where he moves and you know,
like and like he's the guy that getting there. He's like,
we get there, Well, who do we get there with?
Because Kenny Finish, you know that was always bad. I
rememberbably so many deeper corners. We can get there. We
just so we got a guy that can get him down.
It's like, you know that sets the problem. We don't
(29:58):
know when getting down to take reservation. But yeah, so
Josh is like that too, and you know, speaking his accuracy,
you know, um, you know, you're right. His deep ball
was actually where you know, we're trying to think a
lot of people had. You know, I'm talked about you know,
(30:19):
when needs to wyoming because my son played at by
U S. They playing the mold game there or against Josh.
So I've seen Josh, I know Josh like personally, but
he his deep ball, I think you're fifty yards when
we're watching. So he was like, you didn't know where
I was gonna go and I didn't know why. It's like, hey,
(30:39):
that would go a harder twenty yards. I mean, they
all of his play, so for him to harness that
area of it, I think he is a is one
of those learning curves from an evaluator aspect. But he
wasn't that bad otherwise, you know, if you took him,
if you want below fifty because I remember he doesn't
(30:59):
talk about boy with his ability to be all he
brings an explosive oming, have you gotta be explosive in
our league? Twin? So he brings that, but you know,
can they harness that and develop it? Which listens to
his credit, you know they have done that. You know
they have done that, and they have made they make us,
(31:21):
They make a field. You have to you have to
protect all the entire field. You know, your coverage is
This is not the show to do it all. But
you know when you talk about defense coordinators defended, somebody
likes him with a lesser versus a lesser arm just
coverage glides. It just makes things so much easier in
your play calling. The things you don't have to worry
(31:41):
about that you do have to worry about with Josh
Allen and then the boys that exist under that, that
becomes dangerous. You know, it's not just his overall ability
to move, thank you, that that unknown dangerous, but what
he does with his threat on the football, the respect
(32:02):
you have to give him vertically, and then what it
exposes underneath. And that's why I can go back to
what the Steelers did that Week one. It was the
most impressed thing I saw all year. On the Buffalo Bills. Well,
I mean I don't I don't expect this because I
don't expect them to just drop back and throw too.
And they're more season even in their passing than they
(32:22):
were last year too, so that that adds another layer.
I'm concerned. I know that they have. Yeah, there are
several layers of those, Meryl great stuff. We'll look forward
to breaking this game down and looking ahead to Tampa
Bay next week. Al Right, guys, go Steelers man. Have
a great night. Meryl Hodge, as he always joined us
on the preview, get up with the latest sideline apparel,
(32:45):
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dot com. One more segment to go here on the preview,
(33:06):
so keep it here until the other side of the
break with Matt Williamson on Mike PURSUITA. We're gonna be
here until eight o'clock. This is Steelers Preview on your
Steelers Flagship one or two point five d V and
s n R. Back to the Steelers Preview Show presented
by Uni Bet on DV. Welcome back, Mike and Matt,
(33:27):
with you till eight o'clock tonight. As well get you
ready for the Steelers and the Bills. Here on the preview.
Ins Chat is the Steelers predictive and trivia game. Answer questions,
make picks and win prizes. Play on your own against
Steeler Nation in our new public group, or create your
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can play ins Chat exclusively in the Steelers official mobile app.
(33:49):
Matter you are you familiar with the ins Chat now?
I am. I'll get I'll get on it now. It's
pretty simple. They just they ask a question or two
and the app to give him an answer. This week's
uh predictive question Alex Highsmith over under one and a
half sacks in Buffalo. We'll go under. I mean that's
a pretty hefty number, to be honest with you. Yeah,
(34:09):
that guy's hard to do. So there, there you go.
That's all it texts. It's totally hard touchdowns. Uh, just
something to enhance your enjoyment of the game. And for me,
when you're crunching numbers in that kind of fashion, it
always enhances it, no doubt about it. I just I
want before we move ahead, I want to clarify something
I said with Merril last segment. Uh, Ben Roethlisberger had
(34:33):
a presence like nobody I've ever been around. But I
think with Ben it was more this guy will win
the game for us. We gotta yeah, we gotta find
a way to be in it, and he will win it.
Bubby Brister had a person like the swashbuckling guns, slinging, tobacco, chewing,
occasionally hard drinking. I don't think he'd find me saying
(34:56):
that he was. He was a dude, and he was
the qb OH. I think there's a ton to be
said for that. You know, Montana and the Super Bowl.
You know, just cool. And that's the team I'll never
forget was the team they got beat to tend the
first two games fifty one nothing by Cleveland, forty one
(35:18):
to ten at Cincinnati, and ended up in the playoffs.
They beat Houston and Houston on a Gary Anderson field
goal in overtime, and they lost to the Broncos by
a point that they were that close to get into
the a f C Championship game where they would have
played the Browns again. And then Denver beat the Browns
and got its doors blown off by San Francisco. But uh,
that team had swagger Man. That team had personality. That
(35:41):
team had characters and character. And again, maybe I've watched
too many football movies, but I think there's a little
value of that. And you think a lot of it
came from the quarterback. You know, obviously it's supposed to
write yeah, and its supposed to I mean, that's the
way it's drawn up. And it sure seems like Pickett
has that in spades. He's got a coolness about him.
He's great, you guys. I mean the media. I mean,
(36:01):
I I know people on both sides of the building
down in the south side, they all adore him. On
and off the field. They follow him. I think there's
a time to be said for that. And as Merrill
pointed out, he's pretty good between the lines. He talked
this week about the way he responded when he came in,
and you know, the play everybody wanted to ask him
about was the eighteen yard passed down to see the
pat Friarmouth on which he got crushed by Quinn and Williams.
(36:24):
And he saw Quint and Williams coming and and did
you notice when he got up he started barking at
the Jets and laughing, and a lot of Hynes worn
in him there right, like, it's not all you got.
I asked him what he said. He goes, oh, I
don't remember, It's just part of the game. And then
he went on to say how normally he's not that emotional.
He prefers not to get too high or get too low,
(36:45):
which is a lot of people promote that as a theory,
you know, stay even, but he said he sensed the
team needed energy when he came in, so he so
he put it on his sleeve a little bit more. No,
I think this is a guy who is not played
it down yet, and he's he's assessing what kind of
leadership is needed and which type he should apply. Are
(37:08):
you kidding me? Stuff? Right? Have you been doing this
for ten years under an assumed name? I mean, I
know the Joe Burrow comparisons are lofty, but you do
see some of that. You know, where Burrow goes to
a nightmare of an organization, it makes in his own overnight,
and Pickets go into a much more stable situation than
Burrow did as a first overall pick. You saw those results.
(37:30):
I'm not saying he's going to the super Bowl next
year or anything like that, but you mentioned that play
he scrambled to his right, got a first down with
his legs and kind of gave one of the defenders
a little look. You know they got caught on camera,
you know, you know, stick it where the sun doesn't
shine kind of look, you know. And I loved it.
The other two plays that really stuck with me, and
I was like, where have these been? Because I thought
(37:51):
I was going to see this all season. The second
of his two touchdowns, play fake de Naji Harris and
then he boots right and he's got ironmouth is an
option if he wants it, and he decides no, I'm
gonna keep it, cuts it back and he runs through
Mosley and white Head put his shoulder down and got
in the end zone. And then the last third down
(38:11):
before the two screw ups third and three, and he
notices he has pickings one on one outside with the
cornerback not named Sauce Gardner. I'm going there back shoulder first.
I thought that played. I thought that played won the game. Yeah,
that's the beauty is pre snappery. I mean, I mentioned
Burrow and I'm not complayer Aaron on the Burrow as much,
(38:32):
but when when Burrow had Chase one on one, he
might as well throw up on the scoreboard. I'm going
jamar chase one on one, you know, like that's a
gutsy trust move by quarterbacks. And Mitch didn't do that
very often. I thought a little bit the short of
the stick. But he didn't do that very I still
don't know why. And he didn't use his legs, and
I don't know why. You know, I don't get it.
They talked from art ruining the second on down in
(38:54):
the off season. Need mobility at the quarterback position. Mike
Tomlin was talking about it during the season last year
and Rooney emphasized, well, we need a guy who can run,
but he's also got to be able to read a
defense and complete a pass. Okay, I thought Mr Rbisky
was that guy. And then in training camp they talked
about both Pickett and Rabinsky talked about how, hey, we
(39:15):
love this wide receiving corps. When we see one on
one on the outside, we're taking that shot. And Kenny
Pickett detailed it to the extreme. He said, if they're stacked,
which means if the receiver is ahead of the defensive
back and the defensive backs in trail position, the ball
is going deep. If they're even and the receiver hasn't
shaken the guy. It's going back shoulder. But one way
(39:37):
or another, that one on one ball is going to
be thrown. And we saw that so infrequently. And they
have the receivers to hand, and they have receivers and
I don't know why that was the case that I
don't know what. Oh he was mentioned by those guys. Yeah,
I don't know. And Mike Thomas, heart of hearts what
compelled him to make the call when he did. But
(39:59):
I had seen enough of the Trabisky offense to think, well,
this is not gonna be as advertising and it's not
gonna work, so so why not why not pull the plug?
Just to span of what you say, And I mean,
I think a lot of it was we're getting matchups here,
we like one on ones or guys breaking free verse
coverages that we predicted and the ball's not coming out
(40:19):
and that makes coaches crazy, you know. And well, and
we heard Merrill a week or so ago say he
was noticing the receivers were being affected, the potential pass
catchers frustration and how they were running their routes and
things of that nature, and it was just it was
heading in the wrong direction, and uh, it's uh, it's
a new deal. The game has changed. You mentioned back
(40:41):
shoulder throws. I mean like there's sort of a new
invention in the history of the NFL, you know, and
Pickett's been doing in his whole life, I'm sure. But
that's a confident throw. I mean, I'm gonna throw behind
my receiver, knowing if that corner reads it and breaks
on it just a little, it's a pick six, you know,
Like a lot of people are afraid to throw backs older,
and this guy isn't already. You know. Steel's preview on
(41:03):
DV is brought to you by a Uni bet. The
only thing better than the Steelers win is a Steelers win.
That paced double down on your team with Uni bet
prop partner of the Steelers map. We got about a
minute and a half left and about a couple more
numbers off you. Kenny Pickett will be the first rookie
quarterback to start a game this year. Bailey Zappy may
or may not start for New England, you will. Last year,
(41:25):
rookie starters were three and thirteen. The year before they
were won five and one. You gotta go all the
way back to rookies were four four and one in
nine starts. What is the biggest hurdle do you suppose?
Is it just that? Yeah, I was gonna saying they
get they get drafted high because the teams stay a
big part of it. If you do a study on
(41:46):
rookie quarterbacks over like the last ten years, they usually
end up between like twenty and twenty five best quarterback
in the league. Even the ones that have good years
don't excel. It's just that hard. I mean, the speed
of the game is the biggest thing, and uh, you know,
probably right behind that is handling both success and failure
at at this level. Again, I think Kenny Pickett can
(42:06):
handle anything part of that gets thrown at him. So
this ought to be fun in Buffalo. It ought to
be fun the rest of the season. I don't know
where it's going or what what's gonna happen, but uh,
it feels like possibly possibilities all of a sudden, and
as Mike Tomin likes to say, maybe some short term
misery for long term benefit. That's gonna do it for
(42:28):
us tonight. Thanks to you, Jake behind the glass, for
keeping us on the air. Thank you for finding us however,
and wherever you found us, we'll do it again next
Thursday in advance of Steelers Buccaneers. Until then, for Matt
Williams and Mike, pursuit of this has been Steelers Preview
on your Steelers flagship one or two point five d
V and S n R. Goodnight, everyone,
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