Wild Card Round at Chiefs Pt. 1

Hour 1 of the Steelers Preview special playoff episode as Matt Williamson and Mike Prisuta break down the Steelers Chiefs Wild Card weekend matchup. The two are joined by Merril Hoge in this hour to help break down the matchup.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to a special playoff edition of the Steelers Preview
Show on w d v E Pittsburgh, brought to you
by FedEx and Ford. Here's your hosts, Mike Pursuita and
Matt Williamson. Good evening and welcome to our playoff edition
of the preview on Mike pursued It along with Matt
Williamson will be here till nine o'clock tonight because it
is a playoff edition of Steelers Preview right here on

(00:22):
your Steelers flagship one or two point five d v
E and S and our Merrill Hodge will be joining
us as always in an hour number two. We're gonna
dig into the DV Morning Show archives just a bit
and bringing some cam heyward uh. And we're also gonna
hear from a guy I go way back with, Adam Tisher,
who is the reporter for ESPN dot com Kansas City. Matt,

(00:45):
would you believe it if I told you Adam Tisher
was my sports editor at the Michigan State News. Alias
many moons ago, many moons of good stuff. I'm looking
forward to that. A lot of trips across the Midwest,
going to uh, exotic places like Champagne, or Bannon West Lafayette, Indiana,
and the Big ten circuits were. But we're talking about

(01:06):
Steelers in Chiefs tonight, and I'm here to tell you
it's getting intriguing. I get that the Chiefs are better
than the Steelers. I get that they are thirteen point
favorites and another thirteen point famous because I just checked
it right before we came on. The Kansas City minus
third team that'll cost. The odds are moving around a

(01:26):
little bit, but the number is pretty solid. Ben Roethlisberger
thinks they stink and they can't win. Of course he
has said that. But getting intriguing because of familiar face
out on the practice field today, Wide receiver Juju Smith
shoot their first day back since he suffered that shoulder
injury that required surgery in Week five against Denver. Now

(01:50):
normally least these things take at least a week if
not to they like to, you know, ease drives back,
but not really in a position to do that because
Sunday might be the last game of the year. Mike
Tomlin asked if Juju Smith Schuster was an option for
Sunday after practice today and he said, I don't know that,
which to me means maybe maybe maybe. I mean, from

(02:11):
what I understand, it's maybe optimistic that we'll see him.
I mean, who's to say I wasn't down there. I
think that would be a big boost to this team.
I mean, you tried out five skill guys Juju, Claypool,
Deonte Harris, Friar Muth pretty strong and I think, you know,
lines playing a little bit better lately, especially in protection.
So what kind isn't it? Yeah, I'm excited to ask

(02:34):
Meryl about it. I just thought they were a lot
more assignment sound these last couple of weeks, and no
one were rushers are coming from and doing the right things. So, um,
I'm certainly I'm not gonna sit here and say, boy,
I think the Seeress don win this game all of
a sudden. But you know, Tyreek Hills really banged up,
you know, so some of the practice news today is
not encouraging for him. Um, So I'm more encouraged now

(02:56):
than when I saw the draw to begin with, more
like toming on Juju Smith Schuster today He's worked hard
in rehabilitation and has gotten himself to this point and
we simply started the twenty one day window. We'll look
at it and see how it feels and check his
level of conditioning. Good to have him out here, but
it's just part of the process. Obviously he's not gonna

(03:16):
make a big deal out of it. But if there
was no chance he would play, I would think Mike
Toma would have said that, and again he did not,
right right, I mean, I think it's huge news. I'm
trying to talk to Meryl about it for sure. And
one thing we've talked about a lot over the last
No what's eighteen Thursdays is just peripheral blocking. You ride
receivers and tight ends, and I think Juju is the

(03:37):
best of the bunch really of the receiver room by far.
Brings a more physicality to the slot. Uh. We're both
in the run game as a runner and after the catch,
and just a bigger body there than they've had lately too.
So he's a welcome welcome edition. Yeah, if nothing else
met a third and short option. Yeah, you know they've
come up with some let's say interesting play calls. All right,

(03:59):
let's say stupid play calls. Let's take place that had
no chance whatsoever to work. I still go back to
the Baltimore game. Uh, where Ben Roethlisberger through its sideways
on third and two and Juju Smith Schuster caught it
and put his shoulder down and ran through Marlon Humphrey.
It got the first down. If he can do that
to Morlon Humphrey, he can do that, then the Chief's

(04:19):
defensive back. Yeah. I mean, it's been mind boggling, to
be honest with you, how often they throw short of
the sticks on third downs. I mean, it's the worst
in the league, and it's a problem, and it's almost
I mean, well, that's why the line looks better. He's
not holding the ball very long. That's a big part

(04:41):
of it. But I do think ju Ju's ability after
the catch is big in that situation. You know, third
and five, get him on four or five yards down field,
drag a smaller defensive back. Um, So we'll see. I
hope he plays quite a bit. Conditioning is a big thing.
Flank or screen, shallow cross, anything they can get out
of him would be preferable. And then maybe throws a

(05:02):
bit of a curve in the dirt to the Chiefs.
They might not be right up to speed on how
to deal with him, So we'll see where that goes. Also,
James Washington activated today from the reserve COVID nineteen list.
That's my understanding, Matt. He's still on the pay no
mind list as it comes to playing wide receivers and
throwing them the ball. What happened to this guy? I
don't understand it, but maybe I remember when they drafted him.

(05:28):
I thought, Wow, I'm shocked he's still there in the
second round. This is a good player, but there's always
so many receivers in the draft. Good ones fault. That's
not crazy. But I almost remember saying on the air,
if he doesn't make it, we might look back and say,
he's not an elite size guy. He's not an elite
speed guy. He's not a super polished route runner. I mean,

(05:51):
I don't see massive negatives in those areas. But I'm
not sure what his calling card is. You know, what's
he hang his hat on. What's he really good at?
You know? It was used to be the combat catch. Yeah,
and it wasn't that. It's not that. I mean it
was that once in a while here and there, not
nearly often enough. And I think that's where, Hey, if
you're not gonna build me out a little bit, I'm

(06:11):
gonna throw it somewhere else like that kind of. I
remember during the Duck Mason Rudolph year, he dropped the
one against the Jets in the end zone and it
was a wide receiver on a safety, which is a
matchup you gotta win. Yeah, and Duck through a good
ball and he dropped it and he dropped it and
then Juju dropped it on the next tip and everybody,

(06:32):
you can't win with Duck? How this works? Right? Right? Right? People?
Just remember the bad Duck plays obviously, which you know
more of them. I'll acknowledge he's got plenty. Yeah. I mean,
do you think Washington will even be active if Juju
is because McLoud certainly will be. Yeah, that's a great question.
I mean I just thought it now. I'm not really sure.

(06:55):
Maybe Cody White plays a little special teams, Yeah, I
don't know if he still gets a hat. Uh, James Washington,
guy that they thought a lot of when they drafted him. Yeah. Absolutely,
he's gonna be playing somewhere else next year for probably
minimum wage and yeah, fighting for maybe a number three spot. Right.
It's uh. I didn't see that coming, to be honest

(07:15):
with you. I expected more when they took him took
him to be very honest with you. Ben Rolinson's murder
A full participant today. Peck and shoulder. He's following his
usual trajectory. Uh Nagi. Harris did not work for the
second consecutive day. Elbow Mike Thomlins said they're gonna put
him through his paces tomorrow and that that would be
telling unquote about his availability for the Chiefs. Matt, I'm

(07:37):
operating under the assumption that since he came back and
finished the Baltimore game, he's gonna start the Kansas City.
I'd be shocked if he doesn't. I mean, it's always
hard for all any of us to comment on injuries.
It's not my elbow, but I mean, coming back into
that game with the brace and you know, the competitiveness
of the young man, the importance of the game. I
would think he'll be out there. But will it be

(07:59):
aent of the snaps type of role. Who knows. I mean,
he they're gonna need to be. I mean that there's
a big drop off obviously. Arthur Mallett the nickel corner concussion.
He was upgraded from limited to fully. Glad he's feeling better.
I don't want to wish concussion on anybody. Absolutely, but
I think in their nickel, UH, they're best served having

(08:21):
a killer Witherspoon and Joe Hayden play outside in camp.
Sutton playe. I think that gets your best football players
on the field. And I'm not down on Milette. He's fine,
you know. And and if you're gonna have dime packages
against four receiver sets, he can be one of the
two slots there, and he offers a little physicality near
the line of scrimmage. But I do think that the
the outside tandem of Witherspoon and Hayden was Sutton in

(08:44):
the slot. It's pretty formidable. We took with us for
a long time, but making up for it. He's making
up for it. I think both of us have said
a couple of times. I'd be on the phone with
his agent SAP try to bring him back. Frey Turner
need didn't work today. I don't know if that's just
a maintenance thing. Uh didn't show up on Wednesday, and
Dan Moore, junior to the rookie left tackle ankle full

(09:05):
participant for the second consecutive day. Joe Haig was not
a disasters and left tackle, but I would go back
to more. I would clearly, and it sure gets you
should get the impression that they just look at him
as the left tackle. You know, there's no competition, there's
no throw chokes at left tackle. Bring banner in it, right,
you know, Dan Moore is the left tackle. Get used

(09:28):
to it and probably for years to come. Who's who's
to say. I think he's getting better, though, I mean,
and you're right about hey, gat. I thought the old
line I kind of mentioned earlier in the show really
did a nice job in protection. Didn't get much movement
whatsoever in the running game, but that's kind of a
Ravens thing too. Kind of moving the Brandon Williams of
the world is easier said than done. But I am

(09:49):
excited to talk to Meryl about it. I thought they've
been much better assignment sound, you know. I mean, they've
been doing doing their job. I don't think that's gonna
be uh an issue against the Chiefs. What's that moving them?
I think you can get these guys blocked. Yeah, I
think so too. I think when they get blocked, they
stay blocked. Other than Chris Jones, you're talking about in
the run game or in general in general. Yeah, Chris

(10:10):
Jones is a total superstar. I mean, I think he's
a great, great player right there. I often say he's
right there with Cam Hayward as the second best interior
D line in the league. Couldn't be any more different
than Cam. I mean, he has extreme ups and some
downs and yeah he does um. But boy, when he
brings it, he's a real load, that's for sure. But
you're right. I mean, they're not the most difficult front

(10:32):
to get blocked, including their linebackers. And I agree with you.
I think that offensive line is playing a little better.
We might have a conditioned to just not let that
compute right because we saw it for the first you know,
three and a half months of the season. But maybe
just in time, maybe maybe we shall see Kansas City.
You mentioned Tyreek Hill banged up. He was limited today
after being a full go yesterday with that heel that

(10:55):
he either injured or aggravated in the warm up before
the Denver game. Uh last Saturday. A couple of running
backs Darryl Williams toe limited and Clyde Edwards Hilaire did
not practice after being limited yesterday. Everybody else is full
go for Kansas City. I don't think you care who
the running back is not really I mean I found

(11:16):
it odd when they drafted Edwards Laire in the first round.
They were a total powerhouse at that point. Was a
real luxury pick. But I don't think they're noticeably better
or worse without him. Um. I saw a stat that
definitely translates that they they generate the least yards after
contact of any backfield in the league. It sounds about right,

(11:38):
you know. I mean they're not special, special players, but
they get a lot of light boxes to run against.
What do you think of their line? I think it's
better because Mahomes started throwing the ball quicker and because
he's start pretty good at running away. I think there's
a lot to do with it, and I think people
forget that just because they blew up the line. It
wasn't a disaster all last year. It was hurt. They

(12:00):
got hurt, right, I mean the Super Bowl was a
bunch of backups. So it's been decent, and he certainly
makes it look better than it is. I've never been
a huge Orlando Brown fan. I mean, heavy footed guy
and isn't the masher in the run game you'd think
he is. I do like the two rookies especially Humphrey
the center is I think going to be a star

(12:21):
and has a lot of Pro Bowls in his future. Dune,
he's living up to the massive contract and right tackle.
Where you want definitely don't want to be the weakest
is where they're the weakest. A little match up issue,
maybe a little match up issue with I don't think
their backs and tight ends are particularly good blockers either,
especially if edwards layers in the game. You know, it's
interesting to talk about Creed Humphrey. Um, And Yeah, I

(12:43):
think he's having a good year and I think he's
a good player. I would rather have Friarmo. Yeah. I
don't know why both teams can't be happy, you know
what I mean. It's not like the Steelers were wrong.
Are you sensing what I'm sensing from some Steelers face?
I can't stand. Oh, we should have had Creed Humphrey
the int Green. I think Kendrick Green is gonna be
the long term center. Um, I would kend Green might

(13:05):
be a long term guard something. Right, I wouldn't necessarily
go back to him. Uh. Oh, I would have hosted
our play vacation and right, I don't know what they
were doing at punter. I know they're trying to stand
behind Presley Harvard the third and they bring him to
camp next year's number one. Uh stand behind him then,
but get him off the field. I didn't understand that

(13:27):
at all. And then it cost him again. He was
poor again. Um, the only thing I could possibly think of.
And this is a bit of a reach, but people
don't think about this stuff. Maybe they trust Harvin Moore
as a holder. Maybe. I mean it's important, it's possible,
although they got through the games when he didn't play
ball went through between the uprights. Either way, Boss is

(13:48):
pretty good. Chris Boss will pretty good at their kickers
in this game. Um. That so both teams are gonna
be pretty much healthy. Maybe uh maybe a problem for
Hill maybe not. That would certainly help, uh, but the
running back situation for Kansas City probably less significant than
it would be for a team who actually wanted to
run the ball. And we're both in agreement. I think

(14:09):
the Steelers are gonna be okay with Harris Uh see place,
what do you think he doesn't reaggravate it or you
know you see them as having a puncher's chance in
this one. Uh, Chiefs gotta play down a little bit,
and they gotta play up a little bit. To me,
to have a puncher's chance, you have to win the
turnover battle, probably more than by one turnover too, you

(14:32):
know what I mean? Plus two and turnover, I think
you're in it. I'll take you one step further. Steelers
can't have any right, that's a good point. You can't
trade them four to two, all right, You're giving them
the ball in a short field is doom, you know,
I mean every time. And to take a step further
two with turnovers, I think you know, a surprise on side, uh,

(14:52):
fake punt, you know, something like that might be in
the cards to steal on extra possession. You talked about
that today we both did the Steelers Stuff Come Matchup
show with Missy Matthews and our buddy Meryl Hodge, and
I thought that was a great suggestion. Yet another lose
color outside of the lines A little bit sure, I mean,
what's you know? There's a lot of expectations here. You're
playing with house money, and frankly you're the inferior team.

(15:14):
I think everybody would probably recognize that. And he throw
something at them that you haven't before and try to
steal one you know, surprise on side on the second
kick off or whatever. Open. How about that opening kick
might as well opening kick in the second half. Boom high.
I like it. We've got a lot more to get
to tonight. We have an extra hour in store for you,

(15:35):
so keep it right here. Matt and I are gonna
be here until nine o'clock tonight. When we come back,
we'll be joined by the third member of our team.
Meryl Hodge. Has been with us each and every week
this season, as we have gotten you ready for each
and every game, and that's not gonna change. So keep
it here with Matt Williamson and Mike pursuit of you're
listening to Steelers Preview readier on your Steelers Flagship one

(15:57):
or two point five d V Back to the Steelers
Previews Show, brought to you by FedEx and Ford On DV.
Welcome back to the Preeview. Mike pursued It and Matt
Williamson with you until nine o'clock Tonighttime now to welcome
the third member of our full house back field into
the huddle, Meryl Hodge, joining us as he does each

(16:18):
and every week. Merrill, I know you're fired up for
the playoffs. You day, right, I am brother had some
great experiences in u Kse in the playoffs. M had
we not had a block punt, we beat him, Um,
and we've probably given me the ball a few more

(16:40):
times and the only time I'll ever say that in
any particular game. But we made a mistake and getting
away from what was killing him in the first half.
But it's interesting, uh interesting you went there because I
know you want to talk about some of the mental
mental excuse me, mental mistakes you think the Steelers can
clean up, and wants to talk about offensive line play.

(17:01):
But I got a question for you. I've got this
thought floating around in my head that one of the
ways the Steelers can maybe get on the other side
of this is if somebody rises up and plays their
best game of the season, whether that's Nagy Harris or
whether that's hat Friar Muth or uh Chase Claypool Um,
they got some possibilities. And I wanted to ask you,

(17:24):
first of all, do you know how many hundred yard
rushing games you had in the regular season? Well, I know,
actually I think I know I had one. At the
end of the season against Tampa you had nine yards
against Tampa the answer is none. The answer is none.

(17:47):
And then you go in the playoffs and against Houston
seventeen for a hundred five point eight a to carry
and then at den Verse sixteen for a hundred and
twenty seven point five per Ry eight catches sixty yards.
I know we talked about this before the Steelers played
the Broncos. But you became a monster in that postseason?

(18:08):
How'd you pull it off? And it's just the kind
of thing that can happen. Well, like, honestly, those things
can't happen on the playoffs. I mean obviously happened every
year somebody, you know, you know there's gonna be some story. Um,
somebody is going to era up for the k S CNS,
could be both. Um. You know that's kind of think
what's magical about the playoffs. There's certain things that do

(18:31):
um unfolding the playoffs. Maybe they've been perculating all year.
You know that that particular run I had was you know,
I could be remembering eighty nine how bad we were,
and I had I had started out the year just
beat up. I mean, I separated my shoulder and can't
hurt my hand string, I mean and it wasn't unil

(18:51):
towards the end of year. I actually started feeling a
lot better. It was around the Miami game, quite honest,
or maybe the Houston game where we played and went
home and things just started to take off. You know. Um,
you know in the playoffs. Um, if there was ever
an example that I lived, that I lived, it is like,
just do your job, you know, like, don't don't try

(19:13):
to be a hero, because that's how a lot of
teams are gonna lose games. There's gonna be guys out
there trying to be a hero. It's gonna happen this year.
You know. As much as we're talking about some things
that can magically happen, this happens just as much, maybe
if not more. People want to be a hero. People
want to be the m v P. People want to
you know, show up in the playoffs and they don't
do their job and you cost yourself, You cost yourself wins. Um.

(19:37):
I've seen it over and over. I could say almost
every Super Bowl there's been plays and moments like that,
Tons of playoff games moments like that. So that's why
I would I looked at how they played against can't
say the first time. It was probably one of their
worst games ever from a mental perspective. I mean the
bush that they made in coverage, they list made it

(19:59):
easy Kansas City to march up and down the field
in the first half. You know, now, can those mistakes
be eliminated with certainty? If they are, do they move
the ball up and down the field? No, they don't.
It's much harder. Um, there's a lot of a lot
more a bigger challenge for for the Chiefs. And then
on the office side, they did about the same thing.

(20:19):
You know that the fumble have been they had on
that that what was going to be a screen. Shoot,
you got your center, you got somebody in the gap,
center and guard, nobody's over the guard. Center doesn't reach him,
guard doesn't help him, and it causes a fumble that
should never happen. You got two on one. You should
never let that. That should never happen. Ye just drops

(20:40):
the ball coming to get along in the route, or
are you gonna get the first down? Another turnover? You know?
Can you eliminate those and change those? Absolutely? So that's
why I'm saying you just those things which are ultimately
in their control, you change those. That game would have
been different. I'm not saying they would have won, and
they're still gonna need their best game, but you clean

(21:01):
up those things and this will be a different game.
This will be a much more compelling game than that
first matchup. That brings me the offensive line conversation we're
having is. I mean, the Steeler or the line got
very little push in the run game against Baltimore, and
that's not uncommon against the Ravens. But I really think
the last week or two the communication upfront has been better.

(21:22):
The assignments are much better, particularly in protection, you know,
picking up stunts, knowing who to block, and that includes
the running backs and tight ends and the helpers. I mean,
so I think there's progress here, yes, and I think
that Kansas City has given up. They've been gashed. There's
ways to do that, but you do gotta all be
on the same page, you know, um and play better

(21:44):
than they did last the last time that they've faced them.
They have had moments since that Kansas City game. I
still will go back to the Cleveland game, which was
one of their best performances as a as a group,
and that includes the tight ends UM and then need
that type of performance in this one, you know, because
Kansas is gonna pressure him too. You know, they're gonna

(22:04):
do some things to you know, challenge everybody. They're gonna
make everybody play. You know, everybody thinks it's a quarterback quarterback.
Didn't see that. They listen, you got five guys, a
tight end and a running back and a wide receiver.
Often times he's in the hot process. All must see
the things. It's not just your quarterback. So they're gonna
have to be dialed in there as well. Um. But

(22:26):
if they can ra on the ball, that does put
them in a position of power that now we control
the environment. That's why the control the temple is so important.
If you do all of that, and you know what,
harder to blitz the team that's in control, very much hard.
But if you're always set along third long, which I
believe in that Kansas City game, I remember right, they
were constantly like that, Um, it makes it much harder

(22:48):
on you to um generate points and get film position. Well.
Alaza Harris didn't do much against the Ravens, didn't play
much against the Ravens, but he was able to get
back in the game in the second half after see
almost the entire first half with that elbow injury, and
he makes a great catch and turns that into a
catch and run first down on what became the game

(23:08):
winning drive. And in that fifteen yard run. Uh, you
look at that, You look at what they're able to
do against Cleveland. As Matt said, you start seeing it
kind of come together upfront. Maybe better late than never
with the running game they've been working on since the spring. Well,
I can tell you this, I mean how you said,
it's very true. Better late than never. Um. One thing

(23:31):
that I have always kind of experienced in these playoff runs.
If you've had a weakness all year, it usually and
you haven't corrected it. He gets exposed in the playoffs
that that is almost true. When that's truth every team,
not just Stevens. That's true with every team. So let's
hope that they do have things really ironed out and

(23:53):
buttoned up, because they can if they can run the
ball like they did against Cleveland. Let me just say
this game on I mean this is it ain't just
about beating Kansas City. You could go on a unique run.
You know that nobody could foresee from how they had
played all year, it would take it would take the
effort that you had to get Cleveland though, that's how

(24:15):
you're gonna have to play. And if they they've already
done it like that, so they've have shown they can't
play like that. So I think this game will be
interesting to find out if they if they come out
and they do play like that, because if they do
get nause you know, going and they control the temple
on this one, that will be that's trout cancer doesn't

(24:36):
like to play like that. That would get them out
of their rhythm um and it would get a team
that is already expected to lose with with momentum and
an ease about him. And I say an ease about
him because I've been in this experience, in this situation
as a player, both sides of it. It's hard to

(24:57):
get Kansas City to buy into there, and that they're
they're coming in as an underdog. We gotta watch them
out and we just we just throw out of them.
You know, we just beat them. But players don't really
look at all the mental errors that were made that
made it much easier. Coaches see that were the players
you can point out to a player, but the player, right,
we beat about fourteen or fift you know whatever, we
beat him by it. It wasn't really that hard and

(25:18):
can tell it. Yeah, that's that's how least that's how
they think. You know, a coach see the difference. He's like, god, lady,
you know these things can be cleaned up. Um. And
then if you look in at what the Steelers are thinking, like, shoot, man,
we did most of that to ourselves. We did we
did most of it to ourselves. And then you started
seeing that you're what kind of dog are you? I am?

(25:40):
That plays a role. It does play a role in
this um. We'll see how it unfolds. But I'd like
being in the Steelers position from that perspective because it
is hard to get Kanca City to see that, and
they're gonna see it. If it starts to term, it
might be too late, which is a Dannie Steelers And
the news of the day is Juju Smith Schuster was

(26:02):
back on the on the practice field. You know, I mean,
what would that mean to this offense. I think that'd
be a big shot in the arm and helping both face. Yeah,
I agree with you. I mean, you know he's such
a man. He just you know, what that guy puts
on his work boots and comes to play. You know
that I'm telling you that you love players like that.
You know they step in the huddle and you're like, like,

(26:23):
you don't. This is what I mean. I want. I
want to be down that guy's team. And that's how
Jiuju plays. You know, he does all the things that
don't get recognized. I mean we'll acknowledge him at times
because you know they go unnoticed. He does so many
things like that throughout the course of every game that
makes the difference in a lot of place and so

(26:44):
to have him back and that especially in the box running.
You know some of the key blocks that he makes
that that would be that would be a boosting arm
if they could get him. And he makes places to
catch the ball. To me, you know, on third down,
he's a weapon. Can't sleep on it. He's to get
one on one matchups. And I don't think they're third
best guys as good as him. In Kansas City. Well,
I know it's not so advantage advantage Steelers, Meryl. Is

(27:08):
it a reach to suggest that losing Juju Smith Schuster
as early as they did had a negative impact on
Chase Claypool. I don't know what the locker. I don't
know what the meeting rooms are like. You know, I
don't know where his impact is. I can't answer that,
you know, if I knew, you know, what meetings were like,
you know, and he was you know, and I knew that.

(27:29):
You know what you said, how he played things he
did really affected Claypool Pool and got him going, and
then not having him there. I was just thinking more
of the way he blocks people. You could see it
on tape, you could. You could see it on the
practice field, you know, as you mentioned, put the put
the boots on. Maybe those guys don't ever utter a
sentence to one another, but he's out there doing it.
Just being around him everything Claypool. You know, it's a

(27:52):
little harder to lollygag around in that kind of environment. Yeah,
very true. You know what the problem is, he was
doing this and Juju was playing too, you know, he
was he started out the season like that, you know,
and so based on the evidence, you know, I don't
know that they had much of effect on him. You know,
this is this is something where Claypool is going to
really just have to I had to look in the mirror.

(28:16):
It's hard to do this, but most every This is
the most successful all successful people businesses I've ever been around, experienced,
and I noticed for myself personally, the number one ingredients
to successive people is they'll self evaluate, you know, hope
they have if they look at themselves, and then they
make the fair judgments and assessments and corrections they make them,

(28:40):
they create a plan, and then they take action to
move forward. If you never self evaluate and it's never you,
it's hard to ever grow. Which is hard. It's hard
to grow. It's hard. It will be hard for Claypool
to be a better player and grow as a player.
But hopefully he does. You know, hopefully he does, because
if he did that she would be surely um detrimental
to other teams an advantage for the Steelers. Let's flip

(29:02):
it the other side of the ball here. I mean
Pat Mahomes is obviously a unbelievably special football player, and
I think this is a bit of a learning curve
for him this year because earlier in the year they
were turning the ball over a lot. He was very
loose with the football for neddeck in the pocket and
every team's kind of play in the chiefs the same
I mean an awful high percentage of two high safeties.

(29:26):
Nobody's blitzing them, you know, very low percentage of blitz
and they're making them kind of matriculate the ball down
the field. I mean, is that what you expect the
Steelers do too? Yes, I think you know that's the goals.
So you don't want to get an explosive place. You know,
if you can control the tempo of the game. The
next thing you have to add into that if you
want to win consistently in the NFL, and this will

(29:46):
be very piblical in the in the playoff runt, you
have to have explosive place. You know, you have to
have game changing place. Um, if you can ill avoid
them doing that and you do force them to make
six to eight throws per drive, the odds are they're
not going to do that. And I'm just gonna tell
you this, that's just kind of the NFL average. But

(30:09):
I mentioned this earlier today. They have not been very
good with just as some of the fundamentally routine routes
plant curls, flat curl COMBA. I mean, I'm telling you
they have been out of sync at times that you
like to shake your head, like what the heck goes.
I mean you didn't like that's a new value that
he's going to. That's kelsey um. You know, let's starry hill.

(30:31):
I mean they have done that a lot. They've had
a lot of miscues that are not on the same
pace for whatever reason. That is, um, And that's been
consistent throughout the year. You know that that didn't just
you know you saw it the last time they played.
It manifests itself the entire year. So if you can
make them play like that, there is a chance you're

(30:52):
gonna get an opportunity for a pick um. That's no
matter if you capitalize on on that. But I don't
think there's any any doubt if if they end up
putting eight nine play drives together and they beat you
and they have no explosive plays, that's that's how they're
gonna have to beat us, you know, I mean you can't.

(31:12):
You know, that's that's that's how you go. That's how
that's you have to swallow that. That's just the way
it is. But I would gamble on that. I'll take
it that direction. Yeah, keep the score down a little bit,
at least make them right you're in it in the end.
They could do some more time to score, right, Meryl,
We talked about, you know, maybe the Chiefs get a
little sleepy on this game because they just beat the

(31:33):
Steelers so badly and the players might have a you know,
um certain comfort level that maybe they shouldn't have. Is
it also theoretically possible that after three straight conference championship
games and two straight Super Bowls, they've been waiting for
the playoffs all season and they just come out foming
at the mouth and flying good. You know, that's that

(31:56):
is That's then though, That's I think the magic of
the playoffs. You just you don't know what is going
to blossom and bloom or die. I mean you just
know that's there's that's those those things are going to happen.
Who's gonna Who's going to be the one that explodes

(32:17):
in blossoms? And you know, I that's what's kind of
exciting about the playoffs is that that those are gonna happen.
Who knows? You know, you can see. That's why the NFL,
to me, is so great. The anticipation of things. You know,
seven days or six days to get ready for a matchup,
and this is you know, you lose you're done. Okay,
this is Invested three, your best of five, investor seven.

(32:38):
I mean, you're done. Um. That's what makes it great.
That's why it's compelling, you know. Um, and a lot
is riding on it, so it'll it'll be interesting. But
I said, you know, if you've never really fixed the problem,
it ususually manifests itself. Well, they have never fixed that
problem in Kansas City, has not just it's been there

(32:58):
all year. You know, They've been very inconsistent in their
passing games. So so I'm just staying from experience. I
don't see that being corrected. I I think I see
that being their demise this game or another one. I
just think that ends up being the thing that bites.
And you don't think they have a running game they
can lean on, do you? They just you know, they

(33:20):
don't emphasize it. It's not a priority enough. And so
I mean, I think they do some good things with
their running game, it's just not in their overall play
calling makeup. You know. It's kind of a sidebar brought
to a team that clearly doesn't have this and doesn't
have those championship qualities. Is the rams. I mean, they
got exposed against the San Francisco forty niners. You were

(33:42):
up by five, you got the ball on your forty
left in the game, and you get five yards in
three runs and you give it back to them. That
game should be over from a championship perspective and point
when they have to run it, they can't. So I
don't know, I can't see could really run it if

(34:03):
they have to. Now I'd think a little more on
them in the RAMS, but that's the RAMS. Big problem
is well, yeah, yeah, they you know, and Clyde Laire
can be I'd like him. I think he's just he's
like a fire hider. But he's so he's been injured

(34:23):
so much. You know, a guy like that who you
thought would never get hurt, he's hurt all the time. Yeah,
and he's got you know, he hasn't just played long
enough or consistent enough to be you know, to trust.
You know, so I would agree with you. You know,
there's not really a guy you trust. And listen, then
that death not in Andy's makeup, and then you know

(34:43):
they're like, we're gonna take it out of our quarterbacks hands.
That's how they look at it. That's you listen, there's
a lot of I can kind of understand that. But
here's I am telling you this for a fact. This
is true. Teams win championships, and the more phases that
you have in ways that you can win, the better
chance you have winning a super Bowl. That's why I mean,

(35:04):
I love I actually like Cincinnati's chances. Wow, Cincinnati, Cincinnati
can play. They can shoot. The first time that played
the Raiders, they could not throw the football very well.
The Raiders did a good job, but the gas in
the run the controlled the game. You know, they just
they leaned on that and they beat the Raiders and
their defense didn't let him score. You know, they've got
in bad spots. You know, that's that's that's what good

(35:26):
teams do. You know, Tennessee, they can run the ball.
They're gonna smash it. I'm not so convinced that the
quarterback can compliment that in the way he does. Now
he has all these your series back, so that might
be he might be Okay, I'm being ready. Next week,
you study him well on that. Now he's got these
guys back, and see if there's different. But something missing there.

(35:49):
I know a side tracked out of the ste this,
but you know, I go back to. That's why it's
plass great. You know you're gonna get things. Something's gonna
pop up. We didn't see either. That does happen, there is,
but if you have not corrected a weakness, it does
get exposed in the playoffs. Meryl, I know you're pretty
close with Ben Roethlisberger. Did he call you up last
Tuesday night and say, hey, Meryl, I'm doing my weekly

(36:12):
Wednesday interview thing with the media. I'm gonna tell him
we stink and we have no chance to win. What
do you think about that? Good idea? Why not? You know, listen,
you know, I don't know what Pulsey has, you know,
unless he got a good pulse for his teammates, you
know in that locker room, you know, and and they're
actually they're looking for him, watching him. You know, how

(36:34):
do you handle that? He's been he's been through it
all favored not favored, wild guard guy who went to
Super Bowl, um um um. And you know, I guess
that's how he felt is the best way to to
help help the team. As they looked at it, you know,
it would be my guests. You know, he didn't get
my views on it, but I heard it. I was

(36:57):
like a good idea, tell me really stick, that's not bad?
Like who why why you SHO can say, don't you
show up? Put your second team out? There will be
still be just You've been around the block a few
times as we know. Back to Casey's offense, Marrow, I
mean Tyreek, I mean even the last time Steo's played him,

(37:18):
he was on the COVID list. He really hasn't done
much had much production since that time. And now he's
got this heel injury. He was really hobbling around last week.
I think he barely practiced today, if at all. I mean,
if he's not himself or his clearly you know, hindering,
really worried about that heel and hobbling around. Are you

(37:39):
selling out to take away Kelsey Well? I I yes,
I do believe. I can't let him wreck my game.
He's the next guy, you know, and if Tyra Hill
isn't you know, blowing blowing the top off, and that
he'll is a problem unless I would expect if it
is what what I think he could be with that

(37:59):
you've got a big bruising significants. That's hard man, When
you fetter wound is hard. From a speed guy to
be effective like he wants to be affect you. So yeah,
and I'm sure that there's there's a plan for both
of them. Quite honestly, you know, how can we neutralize
both of them? Um? But if you know Kyrot is
not on the field a lot and he is not

(38:20):
as effective, that just that does love is lighten the load.
You know that Kelsey's um the only get you mean,
the other guys can do some damage too, though, you
know you can't sleep on those guys, you know. But
but you can't let Kelsey wreck things because he does
such a good job and she catches the ball, you know, Mike,
you mentioned like I think your top seven things you know, tackle,

(38:42):
you know that is that's probably one of the most
important things. You just don't let these cats get going
after they catch it. It's okay to catch it. They're
gonna catch it, you know what, they're pros. Okay, they
get paid to do this stuff too. But let's just
not let them catch it for ten and then hang
fifteen on us the next fifteen off to ten, you know,
catching tack them right there? Make him do it again.

(39:05):
You help me to send you a copy tho seven
points of victory. Yeah, why not? I like the Steelers
matchup show today. I got a spot. I elevated my game,
I took over. I didn't let the game come to me.
The playoffs do to people like you. You see, we
didn't see that comment. Yeah, I can flash in depend

(39:28):
and wondering where it was in October November when never
really needed it. Both of you, guys, Meryl the ball
in his hands and the playoffs and you with your
list here last thing I got four of you. We
got about two minutes. The greatest thing you ever heard,
like an inspirational speech from a coach or a player,
and the dumbest thing you ever heard it you know,
before you run out for a kickoff for halftime or

(39:48):
something of that sort. Probably best on it. I mean,
I'll tell you what we went on. Want to run
through the wall wall, remember Chuck Nolan, before we played
the Miami Dolphins, we used to get used used to.
You know, we put up our first down, third down.
We're gonna plug Dard direction, all this stuff, al stuff
we're gonna get. We're gonna get done when the toss

(40:09):
so forth and so on, first plays the game so forth,
he said, guys, I really want this one. Man. We're
like what because it was uh John Shula bro we
tore Miami up to by the way, we had like
three picks on Miami. I remember one of the interceptions, Yes, yeah,

(40:32):
you know what, and then chuck with next See he's
never said anything like that. We knew that. That's why
when he said I'd really like to win this one,
We're like who We could wait to get out there,
and I remember Dwayne Woods picks off Dan Marino. Dan
Marino's on the sideline before Dwyne woods gets to be
end zone. That's how bad if we call him. And

(40:55):
then the one that you know this is this is
nothing against Rod Rust. Rod Rust great, great as your coach,
great guy. We're eating and making any name. I think
the score might have been fifties and already at halftime,
I mean we're getting our doors blown off in Cleveland.
I mean Cleveland blown our doors off at home. And
I remember Rod Rush as we're walking back on the field,
he said, Maryland, this is gonna be the greatest comeback ever.

(41:20):
Was okay, Uh, we're going didn't work, Mabe. Our show
will do a comeback next week if the Steelers can
figure out case love him man, I hope. So there's
a lot of good signs and go Steveler's baby. Keep

(41:40):
Thursday Night open. That was Meryl Hodge who was fifty
points down, the greatest comeback. Yeah, I got a laugh
in his face too. A lot more to get to
before we're finished tonight. We got an extra hour here
on Steelers Previous, so keep it here with Matt Williamson
and Mike PURSUITA. You're on the Steelers Flagship one or
two points I have DV and s n R Back

(42:02):
to the Steelers Preview show, brought to you by FedEx
and Ford on DV. Welcome back to Steelers Preview, a
special playoff edition. A special two hour edition of Steelers
Preview Tonight. Mike Pursuit and Matt Williamson with you until
nine o'clock tonight on your Steels Flagship one or two
point five DV, E and s n R. Matt. The

(42:22):
interesting day for t. J. Watt in Baltimore on Sunday.
He tied the record, but did not break the record,
the NFL single season sacks record two instances where he
very well could have got the record. You know, I
mean the first one, I didn't quite understand why that
wasn't rule to sack. But well, and then the aborted
play before, right, I think it wasn't a sack because

(42:44):
he picked the ball up and started running forward. Okay,
so they thought he was a ball carrier or I
didn't see it explained that way. That that's just the
way I saw the replay, Okay, Um. I think what's
really interesting. Of course, she's a phenomenal player. I think
he's a winning defensive player of the year, all that
good stuff. But we talked about earlier. I mean, they're right,
tackle situation is gonna be gonna be widely. Who's their

(43:05):
weakest link on the offensive line. They're tight ends are
built to catch the ball, not the block, and their
running backs aren't great in protection either, especially Edwards Hilaire.
So of course they're going to help like crazy on
what as every team does. But I don't think their
helpers are great, and I don't think their primary blocker
is great. So I think he has a big day.

(43:27):
I mean I really do, and I don't know that
people realize that. I mean it was only a couple
of weeks ago, so maybe they're on top of it,
but tyreek Hill barely played. He was coming off COVID
in the last matchup. Kelsey didn't play. There was no
friar Mouth. I know, you know he's high on your
list of guys to talk about. Two and what was
a shell of himself in that game. I mean, he
was gotten it out, but he was a shell of himself.

(43:47):
I referenced to you at the start of the show
my seven keys to victory. Yes, and um, we're not
gonna go over all of them here, but I wanted
to bring up number one, which is contained Patrick Mahomes,
because we started talking about t. J. Watt and my
theory is this guy will annihilate you when he gets
out of the pocket. I've never seen anybody is good

(44:08):
at playing that street ball kind of break the defense down.
He's got two things that's separating from anybody else who
plays this kind of game, in my opinion, and they're
you know, more and more quarterbacks are playing this kind
of scale. He's I've never seen anybody hold that line
of scrimmage like a first basement, almost like he could
stretch and throw. He's still got the toes back, so

(44:30):
it's not an illegal forward pass and the other. The
other thing is most guys, you know, when Baker Mayfield
scrambles right, he's throwing right this guy. It could go
anywhere in the field. It could go sideways, it could
go across the middle, it could go everywhere where. Your
coach told you never try to throw back across the
field while you're moving. The ely did tell you not
to do. He breaks all the rules. And earlier in

(44:52):
the season he wasn't getting away with it quite as much.
There was a lot more tip balls. He was having
worse luck. He was forcing things. But boy starting to
really find himself. And I mentioned when we talked to
Meryl a little bit that I think he's maturing, Like
I'm not comparing compare my Homes and Brady. But Brady,
if you give him the death by thousand paper cuts,
he'll kill you with paper cuts. And he's very content

(45:14):
to do it. I mean, some of these Josh Allen
Mahomes type guys, they get a little impatient. I'm not
gonna just dump it off the Clyde Edwards hlare thirty
times in a row. But he's getting a little more
patient and growing up a little bit too. The other
thing on one the on the reason I should say
I wanted to bring that up a recall when we
were prepping people for the Chiefs game in December and

(45:36):
they had just played the Chargers and Joey Bosa is
it's about a good at pass rushers there is And
he rushed like an idiot Matt because he just had
no feel forgiven the guy Elane getting past him and
letting him just step up and go and throw on
the run and run himself and gain thirty five yards
if he felt like it. It just it happened three

(45:58):
or four times. Yeah, this has been driving me crazy
all years. Seems like every game I watch, the pass
rush does not respect the quarterbacks ability to run. In
Kansas City, did it against Drew Luck and he ran
and he ran for two touchdowns and he's not even
a good big gaping lanes. Yeah, just begging you to run.

(46:19):
People think about that with Lamars of the world, but
just about any quarterback. I mean, Seriars did it against Herbert.
You know, here's a huge lane against the Chargers, he
just scrambles with as big long as Elle strides e
seven seven or eight times. I mean, and I don't
have enough time to get into it. And I frankly
I don't explain it as well as I wish I did.
But pass rush plan is important. It's not just rush

(46:42):
up the field as fast as you can. There's more
to it than beating the man in front of you.
You know, like Bud the pree would run past the
quarterback time and time again. Right. I mean, there's distinct
pass rush plans and it's more important against my Homes
than anybody, and it really is. But he can get
you from the pocket, of course too. But I almost
there's that. I would rather that too. I mean, at

(47:02):
least here's the rules still apply. You know, you're the
play is being designed. It's not street ball all of
a sudden and Tyreek Hill. It's kind of like a
b in in Ben at one point. I mean, when
the play broke down, the defense has had to be terrified.
You know. We're talking to Joe Hayden today after practice
and he made that same point. He said, with Mahomes,

(47:23):
it's not the first route that gets you. It's not
the timing of it, it's when he gets outside. He
compared it to Ben back in the day. I believe
it's how Hayden phrased you know, words to that effect,
right right, I'm not giving the line up against Brown
a lot. And with that and those guys will just
start running around and you get a six CeNSE going
and you know where your guys are. Andres happened absolutely

(47:46):
and again to your point, every blade of the grass
needs to be covered too, and it's a long time,
it's late in the down. His ability to put the
ball anywhere he wants is just remarkable, and he's not
afraid to let it fly. And the Steelers handle this,
I mean sometimes they have, sometimes they have not. I
think defensively they're gonna be okay. I expect fewer mistakes,

(48:10):
you know, coverage errors, things like that. I think this
hill injuries bigger than people are letting on third day. Yeah,
I really thought he looked compromised last week. No, definitely
big time. I mean, like you shouldn't have been out there. Yeah, right,
me too. Um. I'm not saying the Steelers gonna blow
their doors off, No, but but that's just I mean,
to me, what makes that team special. Here's those three guys.

(48:34):
Those three guys. No no offense to Chris Jones, no
offense to Creed Humphrey. I mean, the Pringles of the
world didn't well against the Steelers too, you know, right
what makes Green based specials Aaron, Rodgers and Vante of course,
of course, right well, used to make the Steelers special
was Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell exactly. You know, the other
guys are fine, but the spokes on a wheel. You know,
you want as many good players as you can find.

(48:56):
And you know t J. Watt is certainly potential influencer
make a it's Patrick maybe, But these games come down
to the guys who get paid to win the game, right,
And Casey's got three elite ones. I mean, as good
of a a trio as I can remember in any
time in my life, you know. I mean, Plus, Kelsey
and Hill are so different, you know, I mean it's

(49:16):
hard to take both away. I mean it's right there.
I mean, I might, with all respect eightman his rings.
I'd rather play against Troy than Pat too, you know
what I mean, I would agree with you. Um so yeah,
if Starry Kill is compromised, Uh, that's a big edge.
I do agree with Meryl that I think Kansas City

(49:37):
might get a little sleepy on this one, just because
they played them on December and it was thirty to
nothing in the third quarter. The way that Meryl phrased
that was was interesting too, obviously from a player's perspective,
like you don't sit there and go, boy, they're making
a lot of mistakes about against us. It's more like
we're just better to these guys where the Steelers are going.

(49:59):
I just made a critical mistake and I killed the team.
If I would have done the right thing, I at
least get in the way or you know what I mean.
And of course coaches see it the ladder. You know
that's gonna do it for our number one. But keep
it here. We've got another hour to come as we
continue getting you ready for the Steelers at the Kansas
City Chiefs. Something. I've never been narrowhead. I have not.
Oh yes I have. I mean I was in Khaki's

(50:21):
and Brown's gear and you know, but I smelled it
on the way and it was a little jealous. I
just wanted to kind of pull over the side and
hang out and meet some new friends. Yeah, I've never
I've never enjoyed it, but I've I've worked in a lot.
It's a beautiful place. I'd be an awful place to play,
just miserable our thing. But we'll get into that and
a whole bunch of other stuff when we get on
the other side of the Break with Matt Williamson on

(50:43):
Mike Pursuit of you're listening to Steelers Preview right here
on your Steelers flagship one or two point five d
V and S n R