November 5, 2024 • 25 mins
Matt and Tom break down the upcoming matchup between the Steelers and the Commanders
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got some work to do. This is the Advanced.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Scout with Tom Opperman and Mac Williamson Matt, before we
break down Steelers and Commanders and what's a massive game
coming out of the Steelers bye week? What are your
thoughts on today's trade deadline actions Mike Williams and Preston
Smith the new Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Yeah, I didn't see the Smith move coming at all.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I liked it, though, Matt, I wanted help on the
D line, and like you, I expected it to just
not happen. So I was pleasantly surprised.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I thought it might be more of a nose tackle type.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Right in the middle line.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
But he's a quality player. He stops a run, he's long,
he's physical. Made me initially think maybe Herbig's note as
ready as we thought, but who knows. And I just
think they never want to be short there again.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Can he eat into Ogunjobi too and play some end if.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
You want to? Kind of?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I think he has like fifty snaps between the tackles,
you know, and that would be kind of a Nascar
third and eight third and long stuff. So he has,
but he's not going to be a three to four
end he's not gonna be cam.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Now, what about Mike Williams, Because I was not underwhelmed
by it like a lot of people, I hear, because
I kind of thought they weren't going to do anything Matt.
So I was kind of just like, oh, thank god
they got somebody. I think there were better players out there,
for sure, but this is a pretty good fit.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
My concern is fifth round picks seemed like a lot,
you know, just with what Deanta went for.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And Hopkins went for the same thing.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, and it seemed like a buyer's market and they
played seller prices. Now that being said, he's been very
underwhelming as a Jet but and I know there's.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Been a long time ago.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
He's played three games with the Chargers last year and
was dominant. I mean like he has stretches of his
career where he has been a dominant player. And I
don't know if that's still in him or not, but
I'm excited to see it.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I'm excited to see it too, at least try to
see if there's some of that still in there. And
I think Russ's bread and butter right now. Is that
deep ball, back shoulder throw you saw Van Jefferson make
a catch on that actually against the Giants. But Mike
Williams should be able to do a lot better than
Van Jeffson's. Yes, that's still his specialty with it, even
if he's lost a step. For people don't know, and
(02:20):
I know this is a fact, he had a plane
ticket from New York to Pittsburgh. I mean, so they
were really interested back then, you know, and just theility
and here's an offer you can't refuse.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Probably gave him more than the Steelers. What who knows.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I know he wanted to go to the Jets initially,
but I also am excited to see. You know, he's
going from a very toxic situation and a quarterback in
Rogers who's become very toxic very quickly.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
He's got to be hard to be around to.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
The opposite and Russell Wilson like he's mister Positivity, he's
miss he's like rehabilitated Russ like, come on in, I'll i'll,
I'll rehab you up. To Mike Williams, he's going obviously,
you're going from a three and six team to a
six and two team. That's great, yeah, but you're going
from such a difference as far as the attitude of
the quarterback is concerned too, and not just the level
of play.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
For funny, brought that up because I was making that
joke on the drive just a minute ago about Zadarius Smith.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I mean, you get to leave Cleveland to go to Detroit.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I know, like that's like, well, that's what I felt
with d hop too woke up or went to bed
two and six woke up. But by the way, how
did the league let him go there?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
And I was joking about that earlier. I'm like, everybody
lost their mind. How did they let Xavier Worthy go
to the Chiefs?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Who let Hopkins go to the chief What do you
think about Washington's edition? Marshaun Lattimore love it. It's a
big move for that franchise.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Big move.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I think they're in the right spot to do it.
Day two. Pick for a quality number one corner. Yes,
do we assume all these guys play?
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I assume. I think Latimore is gonna follow Pickens.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
How hard is it for Mike Williams to run a
go route?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
I'd say I don't think he's going to play the
second most wide receiver now.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I think Van Jefferson will play more in this game
than he will moving forward if Mike Williams is healthy
while they try to break Mike in. But Mike's gonna go.
He's gonna run a go route. He's gonna do some
small russels down there. I'm going to throw a back
shoulder deep ball, adjusting the air, catch it, and I.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Think within a week or two he'll be the clear
number two.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I think he will be two. Calvin will be the
three in. Van will kind of be that Miles Boyken
roll right like. He'll come in and jumbo maybe do
some blocking. But I really want to eat it a
lot Van instead of Calvin.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Yeah, I'm not sure Calvin's been impressive.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
It's now a suddenly a better problem to have it. Yeah, exactly,
because you're now debating those two US three A three
B as opposed to two A.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Just stay healthy.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Let's take a look at the serious history between these
two teams before you get into the matchup. Washington won
the last meeting between these franchises, but the Steelers won
the previous six. Overall, Washington leads the series forty three,
thirty three and three going back to nineteen thirty three.
It's always rare, Matt when we find a team that's
got the better of the Steelers, but this is one
Usually you had a twelve game winning streak between nineteen
(05:02):
thirty eight nineteen forty five, as well as the seven
game winning streak between nineteen sixty five and nineteen sixty nine.
Then the Steelers got good, and since the merger in
nineteen seventy the Steelers have won eight of the twelve meetings.
Was zero postseason meetings between these two clubs. They played
a lot more pre merger. Yeah, yeah, the Steelers weren't
the Steelers. They were actually a joke. So it changed
(05:23):
drastically and they don't meet each other that often.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
You know.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I was talking on the Standard, like this is such
a rare game for Commanders fans to see Pittsburgh going
into that stadium. I'm pretty sure the last one was
Monday Night football ab twerking in the end zone.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
I think you're right that it's it's.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Rare for Pittsburgh to go there, and with Washington at
seven and two. Like I was looking at tickets prices,
this is one of the most expensive tickets on the
Commander schedule. And got Dallas and Philly that comes there
every year, But like this is a big deal for them,
like they're a serious team. They feel like a serious
team again.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I think, like the cheapest tickets in town.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Yeah, like the Schier era, you know, And they used
to be, you know, back in the eighties with Joe Gibbs,
a franchise like the Steelers, a cornerstone in the NFL,
and it's been a dry desert for twenty five plus years.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It's amazing how quickly they've washed the stink off of
that ownership. I thought it a lot completely different team,
and I know they're a different name, but they're starting
to remind you of Yeah, this was a a lynchpin
franchise of the NFL, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Joe Gibbs and the Hogs and yeah, I mean they
were really really good and it's strong NFC.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
So the Commanders are undefeated at home this year. They
have a perfect four and oh. This is the first
time Washington has started a season seven and two or
better since nineteen ninety six. This is the best stat
for Steelers fans though heading into this one for his career.
Mike Tomlin is twelve and four in games after the
Steelers buy and it's currently on a six game winning
streak in such scenarios. Washington's really good. Matt will lay
(06:50):
that out in the next ten to fifteen. But something
about this, I just feel like, as a Steelers win
coming off the Buya Washington, I feel like has to
come back down a little bit to earth. Pittsburgh's a
perfect team to do that against. Not embarrassing for them
to lose to Pittsburgh in any sense, even though it's home.
I think it's gonna be a tight game, but I
don't know. Early in the week we're doing this on
a Tuesday. I'm leaning towards the Steelers me too.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I have not really broken down the matchups, you know, thoroughly,
thoroughly or not ready to make a pick. But you
can Zach Frasier back. You're giving Cam Hayward to weak off,
you know what I mean. You have rotation for the
outside even like Quardill Patterson, and you know so, I
think it's not a great time to play the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
That even that Tomlins stat aside.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Looking at the Steelers offense, they have averaged five point
two yards per play, but over their past three games,
the Steelers average five point nine yards per play, so
that's a pretty big increase.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
And there was there was a change in a pretty
important pay And.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Of course, you know Washington gives up five point seven
yards per play. Only six defenses are worst. Washington's defense
allowed twenty nine point three points per game through their
first three games, but sixteen point eight in the last six.
What do you think is clicked for them? I know
they have a defensive minded head coach, so it's a
time before that defense gets better.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
They're pretty good up the middle, although one of their
best players, Jonathan Allen, is out, but they drafted Newton's Yeah,
I think he might even be off the year.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I'm not sure he definitely, he's on IR for sure.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
But they're good at defensive tackle. Wagner and Luvu on
the second level are high quality players.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Still Wagner to this day.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yeah, and he's the brains of the operation and.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
They recovered a fumble against the Giants last week.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
He's still playing well. I mean, he's gonna be in
the Hall of Fame, but he's playing at bad level now.
But I find interesting though, is side note him and
Russell Wilson are in the same draft class in Seattle, Like, do.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
You think they're gonna be in each other's heads in
this game.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
That's a really good match Yeah, just a.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Mental and chirping and I mean they were drafted one
round apart.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Maybe the two best Seattle Seahawks ever.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Definitely two best drafticks.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
I think Ross is for sure the best Seahawk ever.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I mean he's the quarterback water Jones.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
You know, he's a little before your time, but I
used to watch Walter Jones tap in my Browns days.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
He is my guy.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
He didn't give him a ring, mat I mean, Russell
Wilson gave a ring. Got him to the second one too.
Put it this way, Russ is probably gonna have a
statue put outside of that stadium one day. I would
think Babby Wagner's going in that Hall of Fame and
all of it. That's a great call as far as
that matchup.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
The Russ versus just dawn on me this morning. Yeah,
I'm like, these guys know each other.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Well, what about Clellon Farrell. That guy was a pretty
good high draft pick for the Raiders once upon a time.
He's bounced around. What's he doing in Washington a little bit?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
They get a couple of those guys like Fowler is
their sack leader. He was another really high paid that
they are.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
People remember for a long time. He's been around the block.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Yeah right, these are early picks that are talented, that
have underachieved considering their draft slot. But they're well coached defense,
to be honest. I mean, like everyone, I'm surprised how
good Washington season has gone. But in the preseason I
thought many they're lacking a lot on defense, and they're
lacking a lot in the offensive line. I was definitely
(10:01):
wrong about the offensive line. The offensive line's been phenomenal.
It's not household names. We'll get to that side of
the ball. But the defense is overachieved too. I mean,
it's a good defensive coaching staff.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I want to get back to Frankie Luvu because I
remember talking to you about him last year when the
Steelers were in the market for an inside linebacker and
he was a free agent. You've always been pretty high
on him.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Yeah, he's an underrated player and he's a really good
pass rusher. They'll blitz him a fair amount. Everyone would like.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
His style play.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
The Commanders allowed just one hundred and eighty three point
three passing yards per game, that's fifth best in the NFL.
And then they just went out and got Marshall on Latimore,
so they got an even better corner than what they've
been working with. But the kryptonite Matt and I think
this might be the story on who wins the game.
If the Steelers can get going on the ground against Washington,
that's where they're weak. They give up one hundred and
forty three rushing yards per game. Yeah, that's the fourth most.
(10:50):
The Giants last week rushed for like one hundred and
forty yards against them. You can run on this defense.
They are soft against the run, and that's playing right
into the Steelers' hands, especially the Steelers the past three weeks.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Yeah, and Fraser coming back and a little more rested,
I expect the Steelers to be a really difficult physical
matchup for Washington. I mean Darnell, Washington and Nause and
they're all big, powerful people.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
As a team, Pittsburgh has used play action on thirty
one point four percent of their dropbacks. That's the third
highest percentage in the league. And it's night and day
compared to the offenses of Matt Canada to the Arthur
Smith offenses, and Russell Wilson is fifteen to twenty two
for two hundred and seventy five yards when using play action.
I think the game plan is simple not to you know,
discredit what we just said about that Commander's defense and
(11:36):
it's been playing better. Pound the ball on the ground,
have a ton of success running the football with nause
and you can get them to bite on some of
these play actions. And Williams are picking should be open
downfield for a deep threat.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah, I think it's pretty clear. I think you're a
hundred percent right. And to take it a step further
and we'll get to it. You want to keep Washington's
offense on the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, that's it's a really hit maybe the best offensive
football Detroit.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Statistically, it's right at the top. Sure that. I think
I'd rather probably take Detroit. Yeah, I would take Detroit.
I'd take the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I think they're close to the Ravens though. Ravens are
so scary, especially with Deonta. He didn't even play like
they haven't even had him up to the speed yet. But
once he is, there's just a plethora of up It
shouldn't be allowed that Lamar is getting this good at
passing the football.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I'd say he's becoming pocket pass.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Top five pocket passer in the league right now. Yeah,
it's unfair. They're supposed to be like fifteenth in pocket passing.
Lamar running quarterback I ever seen like, come on, but
he's become remarkable, certainly on his way to a third
MVP award.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Third, we'll get the.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Second street sure, yeah right, see that being said, though,
I don't think the Steelers will have any like look
ahead past Washington. I think Washington's such a popular team
in the NFL right now, and everybody's talking about them
in the amazing start, Like Pittsburgh will be hungry in
this one.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
I think so too, especially coming off a bye.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah, I mentioned the Steelers. They're averaging one hundred and
thirty eight point one rushing yards per game. That's eighth
best in the league. You look at this offense, Matt
and Arthur Spient, they're like thirteenth in square they're eighth
and rushing different from what we've seen last year. Absolutely,
and they're getting better too.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Like it's it's closive plays.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, it's not like they were at thirteen and there's
just kind of plateaued there.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Right they had there?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Yeah, this should be a top ten offense. Sooner or
not later. If it keeps going the way it is.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
That might be ambitious. But I like where you're going. Close.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Yeah, they're not that far off, right, and it certainly
has been the last two weeks with the quarterback change.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Now we get to Washington's offense. Yeah, it's good, and
this is a big test for the Steelers defense. Twenty
nine point two points per game is only behind the
Lions and the Ravens, and their yards per game three
hundred and ninety two yards is only behind Baltimore in
San Francisco. Now, Pittsburgh's no slouch either. Their ninth best
as far as yards allowed per game is concerned with
(13:49):
three hundred and ten, and only the Chargers give up
fewer points per game. Steelers give up fourteen point nine
points per game. Chargers around twelve got even better after
what they did to the Browns this past week.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah, yeah, but this will be an easy test for Washington, obviously.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
That's the thing I'm kind of getting at, Matt. I
know that I feel like there's a little bit of
nerves with Steelers fans when it comes to what's this
defense gonna look like against Washington. Washington can run the
ball and Steelers sometimes they've been had on the ground
this year.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
I think there's more pressure on Washington's offense to prove
it against Pittsburgh's defense.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
I can see that. Can you move Cam Hayward and
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
The Giants. Giants are probably the best defense they've faced
so far. The Commanders, I'd.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Have to think about it, but that doesn't sound crazy.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And the Steelers is just a step above what the
New York Giants have to offer.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
So it's it's deeper, it's better on the back seven.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
By the way, were you surprised that Daniels wasn't sacked
last week?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Because New York sacks like the quarterback eight times a game.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
And they brought more blitz than ever.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Yeah, sixty percent of the time.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
They's a good line.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
He only had pressure twenty percent of the time.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
I know.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I don't know if it's just a down day by
the Giants, but it's that's a much better line than
people think in Washington, and Daniels isn't easy to get
the ground on a ridiculous season.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, I mean he's the runaway rookie of the year. Yeah,
he should get some MV boats. I think too. Yeah,
I don't think he'll win it.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
But I don't either. I bet he'll get some attention.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
On a per drive basis, Washington's offense is first and
yards per drive forty four point six. They're first in
points per drive three point one to nine, their fourth
and touchdowns per drive point three to three.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
I say that bullet points terrifying.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Their first their first, and field goals per drive point
three to one. They're best in punts per drive point
twenty four, they never use their punter, and their best
in turnovers per drive. Yeah, that's the thing that's so
surprising about Daniels. He's protecting the football. Yes, rookies don't
do that, Even the great rookies usually are a little
loose with it.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
One little nugget that has gone their way, though, is
I think they've fumbled ten or eleven times.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Little ballock there and they lost to them.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah, yeah, they lost one.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
This is another scary bullet point. Washington's offense converts a
set of downs into a new set of downs or
a touchdown eighty percent of the time, eight out of
ten times. Yeah, they're getting a first down, they're getting
a touchdown on you. So three and ounts aren't going
to happen very often against Washington and the Steelers in league.
By the way, folks, yeah, yeah, by far, the Steelers
(16:04):
defense is at sixty eight percent. As far as limiting that,
only six defenses are better.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Than Yeah, that's good. That is good.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Uh, this is a great Steelers defense that in terms
of points allowed per quarter, the Steelers average five point
five in the first, three point eight in the second.
They have not allowed a point in the third quarter
this year, zero point zero in the third, and then
five point six in the fourth quarter, So it gets
a little uptick there.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
A couple of those were garbage time when you have
the leads type of things, though too well.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
You mentioned Jayden Daniels and his brilliance. The on pace
numbers for him are three thousand, six hundred and seventy
three yards and he's on pace to run for eight
hundred and sixty seven yards on top of that of
anyone with at least fifty pass attempts. Daniels ranks third
in completion percentage at seventy one point five percent. But
he is not a check down Charlie at all, because
he's fifth in yards per attempt eight point five three
(16:52):
yards down the field.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
It's a well designed offense. He's looking really, really comfortable.
He's highly highly accurate with the ball. Tremendous runner, of
course everyone knew that, but I think he's wise beyond
his years mentally too.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
And he's got a number one receiver in Terry McLaurin.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
He only caught pickins.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Numbers are really similar, you know, like they're both clearly
the ones and you know, amongst the best.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
In the league right now.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
He only caught two passes for nineteen yards against New York.
But the thing about those two passes is they were
both in the end zone, so they were two touchdowns
for Terry McLaurin. That was a season low target share
fifteen point eight percent.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
They didn't throw the ball ton in that game either.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
No, they only had nineteen targets last week at Washington Commanders.
So McLaurin now has at least ninety eight receiving yards
or a touchdown in his last seven games. Very consistent
from Terry McLaurin.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Productive.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yes, this is his best quarterback he's ever had, right,
And I think that target share against New York is
more of an anomaly, right, Yeah, he feeds McLaurin a lot.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I mean, if they only throw nineteen times and shares,
each percentage means more than you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, nineteen targets last week in Washington's offense, six of
them went to Noah Brown. He was the one who
caught the helm mary against the Chicago Bears. Yeah, thirty
one point six percent target share was a season high.
So it's Noah Brown, it's Terry McLaurin. How's Luke McCaffrey doing.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Okay, I mean, frankly, it's McLaurin and the Pips. I
mean it's sort of similar to the Steelers where McCaffrey, Brown,
and Denamie Brown all sort of split time, situational.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Any one of them could be the two on any gime. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Yeah, And but shockby doing research on him was they're
getting a lot out of zach Ertz.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
I mean, he's really the second option. He's kind of
the friar moth, you know.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Just gonna get to him. He's the only tight end
you have to worry about for.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
This guy's Yeah, draft, it's not pretty high.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Zach Ertz ran around on sixty percent of Daniel's dropbacks
last week against New York. No other commander's tight end
even reached twenty nine percent. Urtz is washington second leading
receiver thirty three catches in three hundred and fifty yards.
No other commander's tight end has more than three catches
or thirty four receiving yards.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Yeah, they're not even they're not even looking on the field, right.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
So zach Ertz is the only one that you have
to be worried about. And he's probably their second best
receiving threat next to Flauren. And he's but he's older,
he's not what he.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Used to be. I always talking about this.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I mean, like Keith Miller dian of his career, let
alone gates and witting the guys that couldn't even run
smart tight ends that are been around the block, fade
away real slow. They get that old man game at
the y, and he has that he knows exactly where
to sit.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Down on the zone. It's not dynamics a good point,
you know.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
So if you think you're gonna get any reprieve when
they run the football, you're dead wrong. Because Washington generates
one hundred sixty three point nine rushing yards per game.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Daniel certainly helps, but their running game in general is
really good.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
And it's no coincidence that the two teams that he's
behind the Washington and Jaden Daniels is Baltimore with Lamar
and Philly with.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
With her Hurts, So it does inflate things, but they're
big game is good to.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Philly and Baltimore is the Henry and Barkley aspect too.
And Brian Robinson is no slouch either. No, he was
last week and I got to keep an eye on
his status.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
For this week. But not a bad player.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
He's not in the Barklay or Henry class, Don't get
me wrong. He might be flirting with that class right
below them, though a lot better than I expect, probably
like in the NAJ class right now, I.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Would I would say so. And they're getting a lot
out of Austin Eckler too.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
That was a really good signing from them last week when.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
I think a huge thing they did in the offseason Ertz, Wagner, Eklar,
give me some veterans to change the stink of this build.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Quinn all over it, ye, Dan Quinn is a really
good football coach if people forget like because he was
a recycle, and so people are obviously usually like, oh, great,
you're recycling dan Quinn. Great, it's dude. Went to the
Super Bowl with the Falcons. Should have won the damn
Super Bowl with the Falcons, and people forget that they
didn't fall apart immediately after that when they blew it
to the Patriots. They went to the playoffs again the
(20:40):
next year. They were a fine football team. They're actually
a Julio Jones catch that he should make away from
beating the Eagles in the first round of that playoff
and he goes to Dallas. He reinvent that defense was
great in Dallas for the past. Dallas is done anyway,
but it's one of the worst parts of that team
and the thing that might have undone them ultimately. But yeah,
(21:02):
he's a great coach. And I'll tell you what the
Cliff Kingsbury higher. I mean, the Steelers hired a good
offensive quarter of the run, right, but I think the
Cliff Kingsbury one might be the one of the offseason.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, I mean he knows how to work with the
active quarterback, you know, running quarterback. This has changed. But
I mean the first couple of weeks of the season
anytime that Daniels was quote pressured, he just ran. Now
he's past that, but I mean, they just a lot
of easy buttons for him.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Washington rush for one hundred and forty nine yards last
week without Brian Robinson. Chris Rodriguez and Austin Eckler led
the team with eleven carries. Apiece was Rodriguez that led
the team with fifty two rushing yards. Eckler played every
snap on Washington's first two series and Rigaz had just
one first half snap. Then they started going to Rodriguez
in the second half with the lead.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
I mean a little. It wasn't garbage time, but they
all too. Yeah, they don't want to beat.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Him up to we want to protect him. The Commanders
have thirty six runs of ten plus yards. That's six most.
The Steelers have only allowed twenty two such runs, though,
that's fifth best. And Daniels leads the league in quarterback
scrambles on designed pass plays with forty.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, he'll just tuck it and go.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Yeah, but you said that's getting better. He's starting to
go through his reads a little bit more.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, So he's just more comfortable as a pocket passer.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
How about the Commanders are a perfect eleven for eleven
on fourth down this season. That's very cool, especially for
a rookie. Nothing about him is a rookie. He's not
playing like he's effiicient. He's smart. Yeah, pre snap to
post snap is the accuracy boyat the accuracy pushing the
ball down field too, So it's not like it's just
all easy passes. He's phenomenal. Yeah, slam dunk pick from
(22:36):
the Commanders. And another year where it looks like the
number two pick is going to be better than the
number one pick at that position.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Would be absolutely One special team thing I would throw
out there too, is both these kickers are on pace
to set the NFL record for most field goals in
the season.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
He's the All pros right here, the NFC and the
AFC All Pro.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
You think this guy doesn't kick him from far though?
Speaker 3 (22:55):
I mean he's he's a short yardage guy. I mean
he's had three attempts from fifty or great.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Boss lives there. Yes, it's really only he only kicks
from fifty or long ago.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Speaking of kind of a weaker leg. They have the
most because they score a lot too kickoff returns against
not touchbacks. I mean actually in the hands of a
returner running the football, that'd be a good week, you know.
So I think we'll actually see him return kicks this week.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
A right our key matchups wide receiver Terry McLaurin for
the Commanders versus Steelers corner Joey Porter Junior Maliku Neighbors
against Joey for the most part, it was like seven
for seventy, but it was kind of a quiet seven
for seventy. A couple of plays that he left out
there that Neighbors could have had a bigger impact. But
you know, it's not going to be two catches for
(23:44):
ten yards every time you played Devonte Adams, and that
type of player, Neighbors is going to get some on you.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Mclaurin's gonna get So McLaurin could.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Get five catches for seventy yards, but I'll take that.
I would take that today and keep him out of
the end zone. If you can end his streak of
at least ninety eight yards or a touchdown, I think
that's a pretty damn good day from Port.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I think you can probably win.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
I think so too. And then the other matchup that
you highlight Steelers offensively, it's Najie Harris versus linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
I should have made that rush.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
I was just gonna say, yeah, that the mental game
between the quarterback and the defense and the actual quarterback
of the Steelers, So well, yeah, right, who do you
think has the advantage in that one?
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Always a quarterback, always right, I would say, But Wagner's
Hall of Fame mind too.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
But you hope Russ has the.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
I know that, you know that yeah thing going on.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
It's like, but I'm not doing that, Bobby. You might
think I'm doing that. In Seattle.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
I can see them actually like chuckling at each other
before the stap sometimes something.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Pre snap or something like that, where you know, Bobby
points something out and is like you caught that motion?
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Huh'd be cool if they were both miked up, you know,
like after the.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Play inside the Yeah, who you trying to fool?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
And I've seen that in practice fifteen years.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Did the same thing against way back when or whatever.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
You know.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Right, game is at one o'clock in Washington. Are pre
game coverage starts at nine. Steelers Audio Network pre game
kicks in at eleven, and then you hand things off
to Rob King Craig Wolfley, Max Starks, and Missy Matthews
down in Washington for the Commanders and the Steelers. Matt
and I will be back again next week. Thanks as
always for giving us a listen. We will be previewing
(25:17):
the Baltimore Ravens. Don't look ahead, those Steelers fans got
a big one against Washington to get through first. This
has been the Advanced Scout
We got some work to do. This is the Advanced.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Scout with Tom Opperman and Mac Williamson Matt, before we
break down Steelers and Commanders and what's a massive game
coming out of the Steelers bye week? What are your
thoughts on today's trade deadline actions Mike Williams and Preston
Smith the new Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Yeah, I didn't see the Smith move coming at all.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I liked it, though, Matt, I wanted help on the
D line, and like you, I expected it to just
not happen. So I was pleasantly surprised.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I thought it might be more of a nose tackle type.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Right in the middle line.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
But he's a quality player. He stops a run, he's long,
he's physical. Made me initially think maybe Herbig's note as
ready as we thought, but who knows. And I just
think they never want to be short there again.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Can he eat into Ogunjobi too and play some end if.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
You want to? Kind of?
Speaker 3 (00:51):
I think he has like fifty snaps between the tackles,
you know, and that would be kind of a Nascar
third and eight third and long stuff. So he has,
but he's not going to be a three to four
end he's not gonna be cam.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Now, what about Mike Williams, Because I was not underwhelmed
by it like a lot of people, I hear, because
I kind of thought they weren't going to do anything Matt.
So I was kind of just like, oh, thank god
they got somebody. I think there were better players out there,
for sure, but this is a pretty good fit.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
My concern is fifth round picks seemed like a lot,
you know, just with what Deanta went for.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And Hopkins went for the same thing.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Yeah, and it seemed like a buyer's market and they
played seller prices. Now that being said, he's been very
underwhelming as a Jet but and I know there's.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Been a long time ago.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
He's played three games with the Chargers last year and
was dominant. I mean like he has stretches of his
career where he has been a dominant player. And I
don't know if that's still in him or not, but
I'm excited to see it.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I'm excited to see it too, at least try to
see if there's some of that still in there. And
I think Russ's bread and butter right now. Is that
deep ball, back shoulder throw you saw Van Jefferson make
a catch on that actually against the Giants. But Mike
Williams should be able to do a lot better than
Van Jeffson's. Yes, that's still his specialty with it, even
if he's lost a step. For people don't know, and
(02:20):
I know this is a fact, he had a plane
ticket from New York to Pittsburgh. I mean, so they
were really interested back then, you know, and just theility
and here's an offer you can't refuse.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Probably gave him more than the Steelers. What who knows.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I know he wanted to go to the Jets initially,
but I also am excited to see. You know, he's
going from a very toxic situation and a quarterback in
Rogers who's become very toxic very quickly.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
He's got to be hard to be around to.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
The opposite and Russell Wilson like he's mister Positivity, he's
miss he's like rehabilitated Russ like, come on in, I'll i'll,
I'll rehab you up. To Mike Williams, he's going obviously,
you're going from a three and six team to a
six and two team. That's great, yeah, but you're going
from such a difference as far as the attitude of
the quarterback is concerned too, and not just the level
of play.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
For funny, brought that up because I was making that
joke on the drive just a minute ago about Zadarius Smith.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I mean, you get to leave Cleveland to go to Detroit.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I know, like that's like, well, that's what I felt
with d hop too woke up or went to bed
two and six woke up. But by the way, how
did the league let him go there?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
And I was joking about that earlier. I'm like, everybody
lost their mind. How did they let Xavier Worthy go
to the Chiefs?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Who let Hopkins go to the chief What do you
think about Washington's edition? Marshaun Lattimore love it. It's a
big move for that franchise.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Big move.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I think they're in the right spot to do it.
Day two. Pick for a quality number one corner. Yes,
do we assume all these guys play?
Speaker 1 (03:49):
I assume. I think Latimore is gonna follow Pickens.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
How hard is it for Mike Williams to run a
go route?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
I'd say I don't think he's going to play the
second most wide receiver now.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I think Van Jefferson will play more in this game
than he will moving forward if Mike Williams is healthy
while they try to break Mike in. But Mike's gonna go.
He's gonna run a go route. He's gonna do some
small russels down there. I'm going to throw a back
shoulder deep ball, adjusting the air, catch it, and I.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Think within a week or two he'll be the clear
number two.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
I think he will be two. Calvin will be the
three in. Van will kind of be that Miles Boyken
roll right like. He'll come in and jumbo maybe do
some blocking. But I really want to eat it a
lot Van instead of Calvin.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Yeah, I'm not sure Calvin's been impressive.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
It's now a suddenly a better problem to have it. Yeah, exactly,
because you're now debating those two US three A three
B as opposed to two A.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Just stay healthy.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Let's take a look at the serious history between these
two teams before you get into the matchup. Washington won
the last meeting between these franchises, but the Steelers won
the previous six. Overall, Washington leads the series forty three,
thirty three and three going back to nineteen thirty three.
It's always rare, Matt when we find a team that's
got the better of the Steelers, but this is one
Usually you had a twelve game winning streak between nineteen
(05:02):
thirty eight nineteen forty five, as well as the seven
game winning streak between nineteen sixty five and nineteen sixty nine.
Then the Steelers got good, and since the merger in
nineteen seventy the Steelers have won eight of the twelve meetings.
Was zero postseason meetings between these two clubs. They played
a lot more pre merger. Yeah, yeah, the Steelers weren't
the Steelers. They were actually a joke. So it changed
(05:23):
drastically and they don't meet each other that often.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
You know.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I was talking on the Standard, like this is such
a rare game for Commanders fans to see Pittsburgh going
into that stadium. I'm pretty sure the last one was
Monday Night football ab twerking in the end zone.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
I think you're right that it's it's.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Rare for Pittsburgh to go there, and with Washington at
seven and two. Like I was looking at tickets prices,
this is one of the most expensive tickets on the
Commander schedule. And got Dallas and Philly that comes there
every year, But like this is a big deal for them,
like they're a serious team. They feel like a serious
team again.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I think, like the cheapest tickets in town.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Yeah, like the Schier era, you know, And they used
to be, you know, back in the eighties with Joe Gibbs,
a franchise like the Steelers, a cornerstone in the NFL,
and it's been a dry desert for twenty five plus years.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It's amazing how quickly they've washed the stink off of
that ownership. I thought it a lot completely different team,
and I know they're a different name, but they're starting
to remind you of Yeah, this was a a lynchpin
franchise of the NFL, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Joe Gibbs and the Hogs and yeah, I mean they
were really really good and it's strong NFC.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
So the Commanders are undefeated at home this year. They
have a perfect four and oh. This is the first
time Washington has started a season seven and two or
better since nineteen ninety six. This is the best stat
for Steelers fans though heading into this one for his career.
Mike Tomlin is twelve and four in games after the
Steelers buy and it's currently on a six game winning
streak in such scenarios. Washington's really good. Matt will lay
(06:50):
that out in the next ten to fifteen. But something
about this, I just feel like, as a Steelers win
coming off the Buya Washington, I feel like has to
come back down a little bit to earth. Pittsburgh's a
perfect team to do that against. Not embarrassing for them
to lose to Pittsburgh in any sense, even though it's home.
I think it's gonna be a tight game, but I
don't know. Early in the week we're doing this on
a Tuesday. I'm leaning towards the Steelers me too.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I have not really broken down the matchups, you know, thoroughly,
thoroughly or not ready to make a pick. But you
can Zach Frasier back. You're giving Cam Hayward to weak off,
you know what I mean. You have rotation for the
outside even like Quardill Patterson, and you know so, I
think it's not a great time to play the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
That even that Tomlins stat aside.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Looking at the Steelers offense, they have averaged five point
two yards per play, but over their past three games,
the Steelers average five point nine yards per play, so
that's a pretty big increase.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
And there was there was a change in a pretty
important pay And.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Of course, you know Washington gives up five point seven
yards per play. Only six defenses are worst. Washington's defense
allowed twenty nine point three points per game through their
first three games, but sixteen point eight in the last six.
What do you think is clicked for them? I know
they have a defensive minded head coach, so it's a
time before that defense gets better.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
They're pretty good up the middle, although one of their
best players, Jonathan Allen, is out, but they drafted Newton's Yeah,
I think he might even be off the year.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I'm not sure he definitely, he's on IR for sure.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
But they're good at defensive tackle. Wagner and Luvu on
the second level are high quality players.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Still Wagner to this day.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yeah, and he's the brains of the operation and.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
They recovered a fumble against the Giants last week.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
He's still playing well. I mean, he's gonna be in
the Hall of Fame, but he's playing at bad level now.
But I find interesting though, is side note him and
Russell Wilson are in the same draft class in Seattle, Like, do.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
You think they're gonna be in each other's heads in
this game.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
That's a really good match Yeah, just a.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Mental and chirping and I mean they were drafted one
round apart.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Maybe the two best Seattle Seahawks ever.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Definitely two best drafticks.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
I think Ross is for sure the best Seahawk ever.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I mean he's the quarterback water Jones.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
You know, he's a little before your time, but I
used to watch Walter Jones tap in my Browns days.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
He is my guy.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
He didn't give him a ring, mat I mean, Russell
Wilson gave a ring. Got him to the second one too.
Put it this way, Russ is probably gonna have a
statue put outside of that stadium one day. I would
think Babby Wagner's going in that Hall of Fame and
all of it. That's a great call as far as
that matchup.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
The Russ versus just dawn on me this morning. Yeah,
I'm like, these guys know each other.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Well, what about Clellon Farrell. That guy was a pretty
good high draft pick for the Raiders once upon a time.
He's bounced around. What's he doing in Washington a little bit?
Speaker 3 (09:29):
They get a couple of those guys like Fowler is
their sack leader. He was another really high paid that
they are.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
People remember for a long time. He's been around the block.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
Yeah right, these are early picks that are talented, that
have underachieved considering their draft slot. But they're well coached defense,
to be honest. I mean, like everyone, I'm surprised how
good Washington season has gone. But in the preseason I
thought many they're lacking a lot on defense, and they're
lacking a lot in the offensive line. I was definitely
(10:01):
wrong about the offensive line. The offensive line's been phenomenal.
It's not household names. We'll get to that side of
the ball. But the defense is overachieved too. I mean,
it's a good defensive coaching staff.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I want to get back to Frankie Luvu because I
remember talking to you about him last year when the
Steelers were in the market for an inside linebacker and
he was a free agent. You've always been pretty high
on him.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Yeah, he's an underrated player and he's a really good
pass rusher. They'll blitz him a fair amount. Everyone would like.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
His style play.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
The Commanders allowed just one hundred and eighty three point
three passing yards per game, that's fifth best in the NFL.
And then they just went out and got Marshall on Latimore,
so they got an even better corner than what they've
been working with. But the kryptonite Matt and I think
this might be the story on who wins the game.
If the Steelers can get going on the ground against Washington,
that's where they're weak. They give up one hundred and
forty three rushing yards per game. Yeah, that's the fourth most.
(10:50):
The Giants last week rushed for like one hundred and
forty yards against them. You can run on this defense.
They are soft against the run, and that's playing right
into the Steelers' hands, especially the Steelers the past three weeks.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Yeah, and Fraser coming back and a little more rested,
I expect the Steelers to be a really difficult physical
matchup for Washington. I mean Darnell, Washington and Nause and
they're all big, powerful people.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
As a team, Pittsburgh has used play action on thirty
one point four percent of their dropbacks. That's the third
highest percentage in the league. And it's night and day
compared to the offenses of Matt Canada to the Arthur
Smith offenses, and Russell Wilson is fifteen to twenty two
for two hundred and seventy five yards when using play action.
I think the game plan is simple not to you know,
discredit what we just said about that Commander's defense and
(11:36):
it's been playing better. Pound the ball on the ground,
have a ton of success running the football with nause
and you can get them to bite on some of
these play actions. And Williams are picking should be open
downfield for a deep threat.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah, I think it's pretty clear. I think you're a
hundred percent right. And to take it a step further
and we'll get to it. You want to keep Washington's
offense on the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Yeah, that's it's a really hit maybe the best offensive
football Detroit.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Statistically, it's right at the top. Sure that. I think
I'd rather probably take Detroit. Yeah, I would take Detroit.
I'd take the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I think they're close to the Ravens though. Ravens are
so scary, especially with Deonta. He didn't even play like
they haven't even had him up to the speed yet. But
once he is, there's just a plethora of up It
shouldn't be allowed that Lamar is getting this good at
passing the football.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I'd say he's becoming pocket pass.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Top five pocket passer in the league right now. Yeah,
it's unfair. They're supposed to be like fifteenth in pocket passing.
Lamar running quarterback I ever seen like, come on, but
he's become remarkable, certainly on his way to a third
MVP award.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Third, we'll get the.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
Second street sure, yeah right, see that being said, though,
I don't think the Steelers will have any like look
ahead past Washington. I think Washington's such a popular team
in the NFL right now, and everybody's talking about them
in the amazing start, Like Pittsburgh will be hungry in
this one.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
I think so too, especially coming off a bye.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah, I mentioned the Steelers. They're averaging one hundred and
thirty eight point one rushing yards per game. That's eighth
best in the league. You look at this offense, Matt
and Arthur Spient, they're like thirteenth in square they're eighth
and rushing different from what we've seen last year. Absolutely,
and they're getting better too.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Like it's it's closive plays.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Yeah, it's not like they were at thirteen and there's
just kind of plateaued there.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
Right they had there?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Yeah, this should be a top ten offense. Sooner or
not later. If it keeps going the way it is.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
That might be ambitious. But I like where you're going. Close.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Yeah, they're not that far off, right, and it certainly
has been the last two weeks with the quarterback change.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Now we get to Washington's offense. Yeah, it's good, and
this is a big test for the Steelers defense. Twenty
nine point two points per game is only behind the
Lions and the Ravens, and their yards per game three
hundred and ninety two yards is only behind Baltimore in
San Francisco. Now, Pittsburgh's no slouch either. Their ninth best
as far as yards allowed per game is concerned with
(13:49):
three hundred and ten, and only the Chargers give up
fewer points per game. Steelers give up fourteen point nine
points per game. Chargers around twelve got even better after
what they did to the Browns this past week.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah, yeah, but this will be an easy test for Washington, obviously.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
That's the thing I'm kind of getting at, Matt. I
know that I feel like there's a little bit of
nerves with Steelers fans when it comes to what's this
defense gonna look like against Washington. Washington can run the
ball and Steelers sometimes they've been had on the ground
this year.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
I think there's more pressure on Washington's offense to prove
it against Pittsburgh's defense.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
I can see that. Can you move Cam Hayward and
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
The Giants. Giants are probably the best defense they've faced
so far. The Commanders, I'd.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Have to think about it, but that doesn't sound crazy.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And the Steelers is just a step above what the
New York Giants have to offer.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
So it's it's deeper, it's better on the back seven.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
By the way, were you surprised that Daniels wasn't sacked
last week?
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Because New York sacks like the quarterback eight times a game.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
And they brought more blitz than ever.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Yeah, sixty percent of the time.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
They's a good line.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
He only had pressure twenty percent of the time.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
I know.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
I don't know if it's just a down day by
the Giants, but it's that's a much better line than
people think in Washington, and Daniels isn't easy to get
the ground on a ridiculous season.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, I mean he's the runaway rookie of the year. Yeah,
he should get some MV boats. I think too. Yeah,
I don't think he'll win it.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
But I don't either. I bet he'll get some attention.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
On a per drive basis, Washington's offense is first and
yards per drive forty four point six. They're first in
points per drive three point one to nine, their fourth
and touchdowns per drive point three to three.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
I say that bullet points terrifying.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Their first their first, and field goals per drive point
three to one. They're best in punts per drive point
twenty four, they never use their punter, and their best
in turnovers per drive. Yeah, that's the thing that's so
surprising about Daniels. He's protecting the football. Yes, rookies don't
do that, Even the great rookies usually are a little
loose with it.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
One little nugget that has gone their way, though, is
I think they've fumbled ten or eleven times.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Little ballock there and they lost to them.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah, yeah, they lost one.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
This is another scary bullet point. Washington's offense converts a
set of downs into a new set of downs or
a touchdown eighty percent of the time, eight out of
ten times. Yeah, they're getting a first down, they're getting
a touchdown on you. So three and ounts aren't going
to happen very often against Washington and the Steelers in league.
By the way, folks, yeah, yeah, by far, the Steelers
(16:04):
defense is at sixty eight percent. As far as limiting that,
only six defenses are better.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Than Yeah, that's good. That is good.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Uh, this is a great Steelers defense that in terms
of points allowed per quarter, the Steelers average five point
five in the first, three point eight in the second.
They have not allowed a point in the third quarter
this year, zero point zero in the third, and then
five point six in the fourth quarter, So it gets
a little uptick there.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
A couple of those were garbage time when you have
the leads type of things, though too well.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
You mentioned Jayden Daniels and his brilliance. The on pace
numbers for him are three thousand, six hundred and seventy
three yards and he's on pace to run for eight
hundred and sixty seven yards on top of that of
anyone with at least fifty pass attempts. Daniels ranks third
in completion percentage at seventy one point five percent. But
he is not a check down Charlie at all, because
he's fifth in yards per attempt eight point five three
(16:52):
yards down the field.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
It's a well designed offense. He's looking really, really comfortable.
He's highly highly accurate with the ball. Tremendous runner, of
course everyone knew that, but I think he's wise beyond
his years mentally too.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
And he's got a number one receiver in Terry McLaurin.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
He only caught pickins.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Numbers are really similar, you know, like they're both clearly
the ones and you know, amongst the best.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
In the league right now.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
He only caught two passes for nineteen yards against New York.
But the thing about those two passes is they were
both in the end zone, so they were two touchdowns
for Terry McLaurin. That was a season low target share
fifteen point eight percent.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
They didn't throw the ball ton in that game either.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
No, they only had nineteen targets last week at Washington Commanders.
So McLaurin now has at least ninety eight receiving yards
or a touchdown in his last seven games. Very consistent
from Terry McLaurin.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Productive.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Yes, this is his best quarterback he's ever had, right,
And I think that target share against New York is
more of an anomaly, right, Yeah, he feeds McLaurin a lot.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I mean, if they only throw nineteen times and shares,
each percentage means more than you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, nineteen targets last week in Washington's offense, six of
them went to Noah Brown. He was the one who
caught the helm mary against the Chicago Bears. Yeah, thirty
one point six percent target share was a season high.
So it's Noah Brown, it's Terry McLaurin. How's Luke McCaffrey doing.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Okay, I mean, frankly, it's McLaurin and the Pips. I
mean it's sort of similar to the Steelers where McCaffrey, Brown,
and Denamie Brown all sort of split time, situational.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Any one of them could be the two on any gime. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Yeah, And but shockby doing research on him was they're
getting a lot out of zach Ertz.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
I mean, he's really the second option. He's kind of
the friar moth, you know.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Just gonna get to him. He's the only tight end
you have to worry about for.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
This guy's Yeah, draft, it's not pretty high.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Zach Ertz ran around on sixty percent of Daniel's dropbacks
last week against New York. No other commander's tight end
even reached twenty nine percent. Urtz is washington second leading
receiver thirty three catches in three hundred and fifty yards.
No other commander's tight end has more than three catches
or thirty four receiving yards.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Yeah, they're not even they're not even looking on the field, right.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
So zach Ertz is the only one that you have
to be worried about. And he's probably their second best
receiving threat next to Flauren. And he's but he's older,
he's not what he.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Used to be. I always talking about this.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I mean, like Keith Miller dian of his career, let
alone gates and witting the guys that couldn't even run
smart tight ends that are been around the block, fade
away real slow. They get that old man game at
the y, and he has that he knows exactly where
to sit.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Down on the zone. It's not dynamics a good point,
you know.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
So if you think you're gonna get any reprieve when
they run the football, you're dead wrong. Because Washington generates
one hundred sixty three point nine rushing yards per game.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Daniel certainly helps, but their running game in general is
really good.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
And it's no coincidence that the two teams that he's
behind the Washington and Jaden Daniels is Baltimore with Lamar
and Philly with.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
With her Hurts, So it does inflate things, but they're
big game is good to.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Philly and Baltimore is the Henry and Barkley aspect too.
And Brian Robinson is no slouch either. No, he was
last week and I got to keep an eye on
his status.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
For this week. But not a bad player.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
He's not in the Barklay or Henry class, Don't get
me wrong. He might be flirting with that class right
below them, though a lot better than I expect, probably
like in the NAJ class right now, I.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Would I would say so. And they're getting a lot
out of Austin Eckler too.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
That was a really good signing from them last week when.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
I think a huge thing they did in the offseason Ertz, Wagner, Eklar,
give me some veterans to change the stink of this build.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Quinn all over it, ye, Dan Quinn is a really
good football coach if people forget like because he was
a recycle, and so people are obviously usually like, oh, great,
you're recycling dan Quinn. Great, it's dude. Went to the
Super Bowl with the Falcons. Should have won the damn
Super Bowl with the Falcons, and people forget that they
didn't fall apart immediately after that when they blew it
to the Patriots. They went to the playoffs again the
(20:40):
next year. They were a fine football team. They're actually
a Julio Jones catch that he should make away from
beating the Eagles in the first round of that playoff
and he goes to Dallas. He reinvent that defense was
great in Dallas for the past. Dallas is done anyway,
but it's one of the worst parts of that team
and the thing that might have undone them ultimately. But yeah,
(21:02):
he's a great coach. And I'll tell you what the
Cliff Kingsbury higher. I mean, the Steelers hired a good
offensive quarter of the run, right, but I think the
Cliff Kingsbury one might be the one of the offseason.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, I mean he knows how to work with the
active quarterback, you know, running quarterback. This has changed. But
I mean the first couple of weeks of the season
anytime that Daniels was quote pressured, he just ran. Now
he's past that, but I mean, they just a lot
of easy buttons for him.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Washington rush for one hundred and forty nine yards last
week without Brian Robinson. Chris Rodriguez and Austin Eckler led
the team with eleven carries. Apiece was Rodriguez that led
the team with fifty two rushing yards. Eckler played every
snap on Washington's first two series and Rigaz had just
one first half snap. Then they started going to Rodriguez
in the second half with the lead.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
I mean a little. It wasn't garbage time, but they
all too. Yeah, they don't want to beat.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Him up to we want to protect him. The Commanders
have thirty six runs of ten plus yards. That's six most.
The Steelers have only allowed twenty two such runs, though,
that's fifth best. And Daniels leads the league in quarterback
scrambles on designed pass plays with forty.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, he'll just tuck it and go.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Yeah, but you said that's getting better. He's starting to
go through his reads a little bit more.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Yeah, So he's just more comfortable as a pocket passer.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
How about the Commanders are a perfect eleven for eleven
on fourth down this season. That's very cool, especially for
a rookie. Nothing about him is a rookie. He's not
playing like he's effiicient. He's smart. Yeah, pre snap to
post snap is the accuracy boyat the accuracy pushing the
ball down field too, So it's not like it's just
all easy passes. He's phenomenal. Yeah, slam dunk pick from
(22:36):
the Commanders. And another year where it looks like the
number two pick is going to be better than the
number one pick at that position.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Would be absolutely One special team thing I would throw
out there too, is both these kickers are on pace
to set the NFL record for most field goals in
the season.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
He's the All pros right here, the NFC and the
AFC All Pro.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
You think this guy doesn't kick him from far though?
Speaker 3 (22:55):
I mean he's he's a short yardage guy. I mean
he's had three attempts from fifty or great.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Boss lives there. Yes, it's really only he only kicks
from fifty or long ago.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Speaking of kind of a weaker leg. They have the
most because they score a lot too kickoff returns against
not touchbacks. I mean actually in the hands of a
returner running the football, that'd be a good week, you know.
So I think we'll actually see him return kicks this week.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
A right our key matchups wide receiver Terry McLaurin for
the Commanders versus Steelers corner Joey Porter Junior Maliku Neighbors
against Joey for the most part, it was like seven
for seventy, but it was kind of a quiet seven
for seventy. A couple of plays that he left out
there that Neighbors could have had a bigger impact. But
you know, it's not going to be two catches for
(23:44):
ten yards every time you played Devonte Adams, and that
type of player, Neighbors is going to get some on you.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Mclaurin's gonna get So McLaurin could.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Get five catches for seventy yards, but I'll take that.
I would take that today and keep him out of
the end zone. If you can end his streak of
at least ninety eight yards or a touchdown, I think
that's a pretty damn good day from Port.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
I think you can probably win.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
I think so too. And then the other matchup that
you highlight Steelers offensively, it's Najie Harris versus linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
I should have made that rush.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
I was just gonna say, yeah, that the mental game
between the quarterback and the defense and the actual quarterback
of the Steelers, So well, yeah, right, who do you
think has the advantage in that one?
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Always a quarterback, always right, I would say, But Wagner's
Hall of Fame mind too.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
But you hope Russ has the.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
I know that, you know that yeah thing going on.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
It's like, but I'm not doing that, Bobby. You might
think I'm doing that. In Seattle.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
I can see them actually like chuckling at each other
before the stap sometimes something.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Pre snap or something like that, where you know, Bobby
points something out and is like you caught that motion?
Speaker 1 (24:43):
Huh'd be cool if they were both miked up, you know,
like after the.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Play inside the Yeah, who you trying to fool?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
And I've seen that in practice fifteen years.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Did the same thing against way back when or whatever.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
You know.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Right, game is at one o'clock in Washington. Are pre
game coverage starts at nine. Steelers Audio Network pre game
kicks in at eleven, and then you hand things off
to Rob King Craig Wolfley, Max Starks, and Missy Matthews
down in Washington for the Commanders and the Steelers. Matt
and I will be back again next week. Thanks as
always for giving us a listen. We will be previewing
(25:17):
the Baltimore Ravens. Don't look ahead, those Steelers fans got
a big one against Washington to get through first. This
has been the Advanced Scout
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