September 10, 2024 • 25 mins
Matt Williamson and Tom Opferman look ahead to the Steelers next opponent, the Denver Broncos
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the advanced scout with Tom Opferman and Matt Williamson.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Steelers improved the one zero get out of the gates
in a positive way to the twenty twenty four season.
The Broncos, or should I say to Yonkos not so much,
Matte will.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I wasn't old enough for my own cope early, but
a come I carries over right. I mean, we always
know about Decan the Yonkos, but they.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Did not just go on one. They looked pretty bad
doing it. It was the Seattle Seahawks, so uh, not
the best opponent the Steelers are facing this week. Hopefully
the Steelers can take advantage before we get into them.
Matt any thoughts about the win over the Falcons. No touchdowns,
but you walk away want to know.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, And I think, as has been the case lately,
that when the Steelers, I think Tom Win realized the
Steeler defense is the best unit out there and we're
not going to push the envelope on offense because if
we don't turn the ball over and run the football
and a more the more physical team, we're probably gonna
(01:04):
win this game. And we got a really good kicker
and that doesn't excuse at all not scoring touchdowns. That's
not a formula you can live with. But that's a
pretty quality opponent on the road with a lot of
changes in your O line with a backup quarterback. I
don't think he's not the typical backup quarterback, but a
backup quarterback, and you got away with a win. And
I thought the defense was incredible.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
It was a fluke to win without scoring a touchdown. Yeah,
you can only get that fluke though, if you have
a defense that's elite, the Steelers defense, that's the only
chance you have if you want to win a game
that way, especially in the twenty twenty four day and age,
and the Steelers were lucky enough to have that elite
defense and have that elite defensive player that just even
completely wrecked the game.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I don't know if you saw this, because.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
The latest version of the stuff we're going to talk
about I sent you, and I found this either right
before or right after.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
But Tomlin has won five games in.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
His career where they haven't scored an offensive touchdown.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
It's remember last year the Monday Night Football game against
the Downs, just two defensive touchdowns that carried the way
in that game.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It's nuts.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I guess some other team in that time frame has more.
But since two thousand and seven he was highed, they
have won five games without scoring an offense touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Hey, another one about that? Another one score game win?
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yeah for Tom when he has a six to fifteen
career winning percentage entering this season and last year he
had an eight eighteen win percentage in those one score games,
he's got a thousand win percentage right now.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
For another one to the list.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Quick serious history of the Broncos before we get into it.
This series began in nineteen seventy and including eight posts
season contests, Denver and the Steelers have met thirty four times.
Denver won the first three meetings, and over the first
seven times these teams met, the Broncos lost just once,
although Denver and Pittsburgh did play to a tie in
nineteen seventy four. Denver has had the edge of late
(02:50):
as well. From nineteen eighty five to the president, the
Broncos have won fourteen of the twenty two battles, including
four of the five playoff matchups.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
And we don't talk about the Tebow game out.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Oh that was rough.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
We don't do that.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Most recently, the Steelers are on a two game winning
streak against the Broncos, though, but in Denver, the Broncos
are thirteen to four and one. Two thousand and nine
is the last time the Steelers won in Denver, with
the Broncos winning the last four meetings in Denver.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
It's a tough place to play.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I mean, that's my biggest fear of this whole game.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yes, I got the statue.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Yeah, I know you do. I know where it came.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Because this game is the Broncos home opener and Denver
has a record of eighty three thirty three and two
all time in the month of September.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, why is that, you ask? Because of the high
air exactly. I mean, it's like playing in Miami early
in the season. It's fatigue, it's an I mean, they're
good fans, and they've had good teams. They've had manning
in l Way, and it's a pretty good franchise all
in all, although lately has been really down. The lack
of playoff appearances is a little start win.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
It's not an embarrassing franchise by over there right lately
star players championships, but yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
It trained their early in the season is really hard.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Eight trade seasons they missed the postseason Denver. Their last
playoff trip was when they won the Super Bowl, which
is super fifty.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
You win the Super Bowl and you cant get back
the playoffs next year or two.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
It's the second longest in the league that drought for
the playoffs. The Jets have the longest drought and it
is also the longest ever for any team immediately after
a Super Bowl championship.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
That's interesting. The teams wouldn't go into the tank that badly.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I can't remember if Manning retired at the as soon
as they won the Super Bowl. I think he didn't
come back after that, but he was bad at the end.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
He kind of retired in the middle of that season.
And that defense these came back.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
They should go to the playoffs the next year.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
It's bizarre that the Broncos have just gone in the tank.
The Steelers on the road again back to back weeks.
They've won their past thirteen games on the road when
leading going into the fourth quarter, the current longest current
streak in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
That's something they.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Usually see at home. Fans get into it in the
pass rush and you just slow it down. But traveling,
maybe because Steelers fans travel a lot too.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I think that's part of it, but it's also the
way that they're built.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
A lot of similarities between these two head coaches. Tomlin
and Sean Payton have combined to win three hundred and
thirty four total games, one seventy four for Tomlin, won
sixty for Peyton.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Tomlin just passed Jeff Fisher with this past win a notch.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Only Andy Reid has more active career wins right now
than coach Tomlin, Tomlin and Peyton. I think Tomlin's in
Peyton's probably rapping on the door. But there's a little
bit of league issues when it comes to Sean Payton
that you know, he doesn't have the cleanest record as
opposed Tomlin, who's.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Squeaky clean, and it's denver portion of it isn't really
helping his.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Cause it's not so far. But I think you're a
Sean Payton believer, aren't you.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, you have been.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
And I get that he's an offensive guy and he
was like the McVeigh and the Shanahan before.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Like if you talk to people in the league when
he was with the Saints and they were humming with
Breeze and all that. He was the one everyone studied
in the off season, you know, I mean that was
his And I'm not saying the game's passed him by.
I think he still has great respect that way. And
we're not gonna say a lot of good stuff about
Denver in the next ten to fifteen minutes.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Oh, we're gonna start real soon about that.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Yeah. But they were eight to nine last year.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I mean, you got with Ross that, you know, we
know all the Russell Wilson stuff, and this roster is
not much different than last year. The record was better
than you think it was. Yeah, and you know, you
got to give them a little bit of credit there.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I was looking through what happened last year and they
started one and five and then they rallied and ripped
off five straight wins and got to six and five.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
That's kind of a Tomlin thing, right right.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Then they l win, So they're seven and six staring
down the stretch of the season. You lose in Detroit,
that's going to happen. Then you lose to the Patriots,
and that's where it all went. Okay, belly up for them. Yeah,
But that's a team that was rallying for a playoff
position last.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Year and there weren't a talented roster. I mean, they
lost by they gave up sixty to Miami.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Oh my god, they look like the worst team in
the league.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Well, let's start on that side of the ball. Talk
about the Denver defense. It was one of the worst
defenses in the league last year. It was five point
eight yards per play. In twenty twenty three, only two
defenses were worse. Their run defense was dreadful last year.
It was thirtieth in the NFL. So that's music to
my ears. Since our pass rate this past week Matt
was thirty seven point nine percent, the lowest in the league.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Yep, and that it was an obvious formula. And another
thing that stood out to me with Denver last year
is they gave up a whole yard on the ground
more than they produced. Like every running play in the
Denver game was a minus.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
One almost six yards per play. That's awful, It's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
It's really really bad.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Yeah, So they got gashed a lot last season. I mean,
there's what could Russ do.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Honestly, an offense that's to be able to make up
for that kind of poor defensive play, but the Steelers
not passing the ball at all. You know, Thomas spoke
today on Tuesday, and that's when we record this the
advanced Scout on Tuesdays, and he made it seem like
Justin Field is going to play this week.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That's at least what I walked away.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
The early vibe like they're preparing for him to be
the start, and.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I just think it's gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
He said too that Russ wouldn't practice until Thursday and
then at the earliest. I just don't feel like he's
gonna feel that his cast is ready to go Mike
Tomlin and the medical staff.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So yeah, I'm gonna just assume that Justin Field.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Is probably gonna start this football game for them, And
you can beat the Falcons with the same for or
excuse me, you can beat the Broncos with the same formulation.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
That's what I say is you don't push it. Although
you know Russ wants to play in this.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
One, so he will want to just be the moral
support stand coach Tomlin on the sideline during this no.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
But we're talking about this on the drive today and
Dale thought maybe he'll be the two in this game,
though not.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
The elevated a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, maybe, yeah, because that way, if Fields has gone
real sideways, you can throw Russ in. If he's emergency
third string quarterback, you gotta have Allan do the Rodney
dangerfield thing.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, I can go in there, so maybe he will
get elevated.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
That's an interesting storyline to watch this week if it
is Fields, where will Russ fall as far as because
then the.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
National media will lose their mind, like, oh, Wilson's the
backup Fields. But that's not necessarily how it works.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
They've already lost their they've already lost It's too late
to put that genie back in the bottle. Last week,
Fields didn't attap one pass between the numbers, and I
know people are starting to get deja vu from last
year and it's like, oh God, But I like the
explanation of Arthur Smith kind of just being like my
backup quarterbacks and Jesse Bates and Justin Simmons could be
game wreckers, especially for somebody that throws turnovers. Why would
I throw in the middle of the field, Why would
(09:27):
I throw into their you know, spider web.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I don't want to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
I don't think Denver has that exact no weaponry and
the secondary I think they'll throw in the middle of
the fire that I don't think that's going to be
specific thing. Yes, And it just so happened to be
a coincidence where everybody could be like, oh, it's.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
The same as last year.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
It's right, and it was often rolling right or left.
You don't want them drilling it across his body in
the middle of the field and stuff like that too,
But that's not a sustainable formula. You got to throw
between the numbers.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
But I think they're just going to run the ball
right down their throats this year. Last year, the Broncos
alloted five point one year per rush attempt. That's the
worst in football. They also allowed the second most one
yards per game to the running back position. Running Backs
going up against Denver averaged one hundred and eighteen yards
last year.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
And it just it's just the running back position more
of the same.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, exactly, like quarterbacks gashing them from more and the
rounds to wide receivers. Kenneth Walker carried that over into
this year for the Seattle Seahawks, as he got him
for one hundred and three yards on the ground. Geno
Smith had a monster run against the Denver Brons in
that game, So I mean they they turned it up
on them as far as the ground game is like
all of a.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Sudden so and they didn't make any huge additions to
make it look like it's fixed.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
And that's music to my ears because I just think
Nause Harris was awesome against the Falcons, and this is
an even worse run defense than the Falcons can boast.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yes, and the Steelers oh line is noticeably better than
Seattle's too, So one note on there run blocking, Yeah,
one note I found strange and I was looking at
their death chart. Patrick who's by Far's he's great, he's
gonna follow Pickens, I'm sure, and he's got paid and
he's awesome. But he's the only guy that was drafted
(11:09):
in the first round on their entire defense, Like they
don't even have like a were.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Just talking about the Falcons last week. It was kind
of the same deal, right, remember that, Like it's weird.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
There's not much invested on that side of the ball,
or you know, go get a guy that was sort
of a bust in the first round and try to
rejuvenate him. I mean just there's no all the guys
they played just don't have any pedigree.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Now A J.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Terrell is a pretty good follow corner, and George Pickens
was able to break away from him a couple of times.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
It should have been three times.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Honestly, it wasn't really a pass interference, but at least
two big plays on him. Pat certain I think a
little bit of a step up in competition.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Might be number one him or the top two.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Yeah, our guy's not that far behind them.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
He's getting there with you. He's getting there.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Drake London was deleted from that game.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
And by the way, this week were just because we're
talking about on top of mind Courtland Sutton. Good luck
this week buddy, because I mean that's the number one receiver.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
And like I know, we'll talk about that side of
the ball.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yeah, right, everything was quick game and the only time
they were threw ball down the field was the sun.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
And I think he's in for a long.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Day time he's done.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
He's not a non factor as far as I'm concerned,
unless Joey Porter Junior comes up with an injury on
the injury report this week.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
But yeah, certains that breed and.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Yeah, he's really really good.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
You gotta just hope that Pickens can keep you know,
his head about him and say, this might just not
be a George Pickens game. We need you maybe for
one or two. Like in Atlanta, they target him seven
times six catches. Though in Atlanta that's pretty good healthy
appetite for a wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I did hear this on the way here and didn't
realize it. I knew that it spiked, but he ran
thirty percent of his routes from the slot. He never
did that was back hand. I like that, And I
don't know certain will follow him this lot. Not all,
not all travelers do.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Hey, that's one way you can get around a traveler
if you're coordinator.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Oh, I'm sure Arthur Smith's gonna do.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
That, I would think, But yeah, I mean even if
he does, Neutralizia, don't worry about it. We don't really
need that much in the passing game to win this game.
And hey, that's fortunate for a team that really doesn't
have much in the passing game behind George and maybe
Patt At the tight ends game.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I'm not impressed their linebackers in safeties in terms of
cover and tight ends are.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Running back anybody outside of certain not really, That's what
I was gonna ask you next.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
It's like, who's the next guy like Zach Allen.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Guys player and their edge dudes aren't bad. Brandon Browning's
a decent player, Benito. I mean, they're pretty much a
three to four and their edge dudes aren't bad.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
But they would be number three's.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Here well Russell or excuse me, Justin Fields did hold
onto the ball for three point six seconds against the
Atlanta Falcons. That would have been the most as far
as an average is concerned for quarterbacks last year. Fields
actually was at three point oh two.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Last year in.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
The league, Murray held on the ball for three point
one to nine seconds.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
It's crazy.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Jalen Hurts three point oh seven seconds were higher than
Fields this past week, but you.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Sounded like there might be a little bit the.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Pass rush for the Denver Broncos and Field's holding onto
the ball is a problem.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
If it's starting.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
It's been a career issue for him and it leads
to a lot of sacks. And that being said, you're
not going to get it out in two point three
when you're rolling right and left. And it also makes
you harder to sack. So some of it was him,
some of it was scheme. I mean, his problem is
in the drop back game, holding it in the pocket.
There wasn't as much of that on tape. You know
(14:25):
that that those numbers would reflect.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
House fields against the blitz because Denver blitz forty six
point four percent last week, the highest in the league.
So they were sent in the house almost half the time.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, and that I don't know, I need to look
that up. Dale and I were just talking about it.
I mean, he's taking a lot of sacks in his career.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, so you can assume that that could be a problem.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
But at the same time, like Fields is a tricky
one because normally you talk about a quarterback, it's like, okay,
well what's he doing against the bitz?
Speaker 1 (14:49):
He gets the ball out quickly, he checks in pat right.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Field is a different cat though. He'll just bust out
with his legs and if you're blitzing and you miss him, good,
oh my god. There's no one out there to star
up them. So you know, Gina Smith burned him last week.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
We just had the exact.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Field, much better runner than Gina Smith exactly.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
We just had the same conversation in the drive, like,
I'm sure his numbers are splits aren't great. I'm just guessing,
but he can make you pay in a big way.
Did you notice too, I mean, just the state of
these two teams, The Steelers were the lowest splitz defense
in the whole league.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Denver was the.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Highest, you know, and the Steelers played a much better
offensive line than Denver did too, but they felt the
need to have the blitz to get pressure where the
Steelers didn't.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
The Steelers should really be the opposite of blitzberg this year.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Yeah, I'm not saying to ignore it.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Send strategic blitz is send queen, you know, every once
in a while, because you got.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Wi all good at it.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah, so keep the defense.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
You know, in the back of the head for the
offensive coordinator like that could happen maybe, But dude, they're
getting home with three or four guys pretty much every
ti They're getting home one guy pretty much every single
time is.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Going to be there. Yeah, that's the other thing about
that game.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Like that Falcons offensive line, most pundits analysts would put
them towards the top ten.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Can I speak for you about that too?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
In the top five for me, Vegans are running the pass,
but definitely the top five one, right, So, and that's
why I say with Seattle, they're like the bottom five
who Denver faced and they had the blitz like crazy
with the Steelers didn't.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yeah, so the Steelers should be able to whip up
on this Denver offense. And let's shift towards the Denver offense.
It's an offense that's averaged just three point three yards
per play in Week one. Only the Bears were lower,
the Bears remarkably winning twenty four to seventeen without scoring
a touchdown. On offense, Denver has the third worst offensive
in the league thus far, only ahead of Carolina and
(16:38):
Tennessee as far as total offense is concerned, and the
second worst passing offense, ahead of only the Titans. So
it was a train wreck for the Denver Broncos. Twenty
six to twenty is a little bit deceiving.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Very look at the score and Knicks ran one in,
but all in all, he was very unimpressive.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
As a passer, very unimpressed.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
You're right. The downfield stuff just didn't exist.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Yeah, he attempted forty two passes, he only accumulated one
hundred and thirty eight passing yards. He didn't throw a touchdown.
He threw two interceptions. Despite an average of six point
one air yards per pass attempt, his average per completion
was only two point five yards.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
I think about that, the passes you completed.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Were only like two yards in front of you.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
D Nick's attempt to twelve passes ten plus yards down
the field, he only completed two for forty two yards,
and that's where those two interceptions happened. The Steelers played
takeaway twice last week against a much better, more established
quarterback that, granted was rusty, and I don't think one
hundred percent healthy agreed, but.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
He was still better than Boone Nicks.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
And they had a feast because of the front getting
only four guys to apply pressure, There's a lot of
people back there in coverage.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
It's a tough day for a.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Quarterback, and I think the rookie's going to have another
long day. He's going to have a longer day than
Seattle gave him, and that was a pretty long day.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Seattle isn't nearly as talented on defense, but they did
hire the Ravens defensive coordinator, and he throws a lot
at you, and the rookie looked like a rookie to
say the least, even though he's you know, came out
of the Oregon highly highly experienced.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
But it's a different world and he saysn't much around him.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah, we have a little bit of experience around these
parts with guys who spayed a long time in college.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Thought that that would make them hit the ground running.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Not exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
In Week one that ever had four pass catchers with
four and more receptions, no one with more than forty
five yards. It's a really bad receiving room. I mean
again last week I said, hey, we're playing a team
in the Falcons that I'm looking at this receiving court.
All this talk of the Steelers receiving room, this might
be worse.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
And now I know the Broncos are worse.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Close to.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Josh Reynolds is a good number three probably, but I
mean that's what Van Jefferson is too here.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
So they drafted Franklin this year and Mims last year
and they're not even seeing the field. And I forget
the dude's name. It's a short name that is playing
for them quite a bit.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
That I had never heard of before this week wide receiver. Yeah,
Troy Franklin Devon Valley val.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Yeah, I didn't know anything about him, but he was
their number three this week.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, I thought Troy Franklin had a lot of juice
coming out of college.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I don't think he was in active last week. And
Mims was the second round pick that they aren't using
it all either.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
That's weird.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, Adam Troutman and Greg Doltcic are there tight end,
so there's no name value there.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Really jumps out of the page on that.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Doltic is clearly the one and he's out there a lot,
but he's nothing special.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
So, I mean, Joy Porter Junior just takes Courtland Sutton
completely out of the equation.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
Where the points come from.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I have no idea because Javonte Williams ain't exactly Terrell
Davis for the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I mean, again, there's always a way you can lose games.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
I think this one is justin Field's turning the ball
over a lot, which is all against Atlanta. He I
said this on when I was recording with Jacob for
the Standard Today. Matt, he didn't not only just turn
the ball over. I don't remember a bad like I'd
remember some bad passes, but none that were in like
Harm's way, like he got away with that one. Like
you know, he missed nausea on the flare out, he
missed Van Jefferson early, but those were all misses that
(20:05):
were nowhere close to Falcons players either.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Like it was a clean game, right right.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
I mean a lot of hit that. It was a
clean game, but it wasn't like overthrows that you know
over the middle. Well, you didn't throw over the middle,
I guess the middle, right exactly?
Speaker 2 (20:22):
No, I mean again, I mean any team could win
in the in the league. I didn't think the Patriots
could beat the Bengals. Maybe Denver has success on the
ground and the Steelers are exhausted, but they're d line
so deep you know that Pittsburgh should be able to
rotate guys in and not get gassed.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
I'm glad you said that before we get out of here,
because that's something that I know you've been talking about
early about Denver.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
That's an advantage for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
When you were on with Mark on Monday, he brought
it up, like they're deep on defense and that can
kind of counteract the mile high thing. I would that
can make you have fresh lungs out there on the
defensive line in your second.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Terrell Edmonds, he's here, he's got to play, he's got
to get a hat.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
He was signed off a practice squad, so he's going
to be active. So I mean like, that's another piece
to your secondary that won't take long to bring up
the speed at all. And you're not going to have
him out there with Elliott and make a Fitzpatrick level
of playing time. But he's spelling there a couple of
plays over there, So yeah, I think they're in a
good shape to handle this, even though it's tough to
do early.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
The mont Trevis Adams and louder Milks and her Bigs
and those type of dudes they deserve playing and maybe
not louder Milk as much, but like Adams and her Big,
you're fine with those guys out there.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Bonix does have a little bit of a rushing element
to his game too.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Way better athlete than people.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Yeah, yeah, you wouldn't profile him that way at all,
but had four yards per carry on average when he
was in college at Oregon, thirty eight career rushing touchdowns
and that was on display this week too. He was
able to run one in. So he does have a
nose for the end zone a little bit. He can
finish a drive off by himself.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
The way this league is now, if you're a first
round quarterback, you're a goodly.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Finish the drive off, you're a good ath Yet, yeah,
Denver's leading rusher in Week one was Bonix with thirty
five yards.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
That's not what they want.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
No, it's not Williams.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
He was in the same draft class as Naujie and
Travis etn and I thought he would be.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Pretty good, but he is not.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
He was great before his injury.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
And I think that slowed him down a lot.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I thought he bounced back this year, and it didn't
look that way way in Week one. But again, if
Denver is going to have success, their line is also
a better run blocking line. Like Quinn Miners is a
good player. Mcglinchey's fine Bowls is questionable for this game,
but he's a good tackle.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
Their center position is not very good.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
It's like it's the greatest offense.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
I mean, it's fine, but that's what they lunch to me,
to be honest with you, especially in protection. But I
mean when Peyton got there, he went and spent big
money on McGlinchey in Cleveland, and they just gave minor.
It's a lot of money, so that's what they think
their bread and butter is.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Well.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
That leads us right into our key matchups because that
first one that you have written down here is Mike McGlinchey,
that right tackle versus TJ. Wat who's probably gonna win
the Defensive Player of the Year just as long as
he can stay healthy.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
I said that today too.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
I was like, there's no way I cannot see him
producing like a maniac if he's healthy. So as long
as health happens, there's he's gonna win the award.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
One of the best defensive individual, defensive games I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
I've heard other people say that too. It was just
pure domination and look, numbers didn't even reflect it. No,
it didn't.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
And beyond just a sack and a strip sack and
taken away from him. That was a career highlight. That
was taken away from him with the timing of the
Paula mal Loo kind of right, and he knew he
was right, and he was, and then he took away
the possession as well and recovered it on his own
and that would have been erasing the Falcons what would
have become the falcons.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Only touchdown drive.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
So it was just dominated the play.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
That unfortunately will only live in the memories of US
Steeler fans as it went uncalled. But he's gonna do
against McGlinchey.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
He'll destroy him. But mcglinchey's a decent right tackle. Yeah,
he's a tenth best right tackle in the league. Came
over from the Niners first round pick, got a Notre dame.
I What I was about to say, though, is Peyton
will help mcglinchy much better than Kyle Pitts running by
him and kind of bumping them, you know what I mean,
Like the feeble attempts Atlanta made to help the right tackle.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Ye was talking about how we're not gonna let Watt
wreck the game. Who was saying that, uh rahem Moster
the or not Morris, I'm sorry, Morris, head coach of
the Atlanta Falcons. Mostar Yeah, Rahe Morris was saying that, like, well,
we're not gonna let him wreck the game. Kyle pitch
chipping him for right like he's not even really trying on.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
I'm not sure how they'll do it. But Peyton will
do a better job of helping their right tackle. I
promise you that.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
And then on the offensive side of the ball, George
Pickens versus Pat Certain, Yeah, it's gonna be a tough
matchup for George, but brutal.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
It might not matter because he could go.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
For two catches for thirty five yards George, and he
might not like that, But yeah, team will be just
fine without it because they should run.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
They could run for close to two hundred yards in
this game.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I think it's highly possible. And there's no way that
Denver gets such a lead that you have to abandon
the run.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Yeah, and I say that again thinking justin Field is
probably going to be the quarterback, which helps with that
two hundred yards on the ground for a team.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
So and if Russ is your two, I might just
like a lot of fields as runs in week one
weren't quarterback power, you know, like were if it's not
there to go get four or five, like, I might
design even more runs for him which are frightening.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Yeah, I mean the designed run stuff for him is
really good.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
That's what he eat in Chico.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and better chance to break long ones too.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Four to twenty five is the kickoff against Denver. You'll
be on with Tim, right, Tim Benz early, Yeah, the
show d.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Year hours before whatever.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Like noon, be around noon where you guys will get
things started for us on the Steelers Audio Network. And
then we're all right into four twenty five kickoff between
the Steelers and the Broncos. Matt and I will be
back again next week to preview the home opener against
the La Chargers. But you gotta get this win against
the Broncos and go into that two and for Matt,
I'm Tom and this has been the Advanced Scout
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the advanced scout with Tom Opferman and Matt Williamson.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Steelers improved the one zero get out of the gates
in a positive way to the twenty twenty four season.
The Broncos, or should I say to Yonkos not so much,
Matte will.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
I wasn't old enough for my own cope early, but
a come I carries over right. I mean, we always
know about Decan the Yonkos, but they.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Did not just go on one. They looked pretty bad
doing it. It was the Seattle Seahawks, so uh, not
the best opponent the Steelers are facing this week. Hopefully
the Steelers can take advantage before we get into them.
Matt any thoughts about the win over the Falcons. No touchdowns,
but you walk away want to know.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah, And I think, as has been the case lately,
that when the Steelers, I think Tom Win realized the
Steeler defense is the best unit out there and we're
not going to push the envelope on offense because if
we don't turn the ball over and run the football
and a more the more physical team, we're probably gonna
(01:04):
win this game. And we got a really good kicker
and that doesn't excuse at all not scoring touchdowns. That's
not a formula you can live with. But that's a
pretty quality opponent on the road with a lot of
changes in your O line with a backup quarterback. I
don't think he's not the typical backup quarterback, but a
backup quarterback, and you got away with a win. And
I thought the defense was incredible.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
It was a fluke to win without scoring a touchdown. Yeah,
you can only get that fluke though, if you have
a defense that's elite, the Steelers defense, that's the only
chance you have if you want to win a game
that way, especially in the twenty twenty four day and age,
and the Steelers were lucky enough to have that elite
defense and have that elite defensive player that just even
completely wrecked the game.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I don't know if you saw this, because.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
The latest version of the stuff we're going to talk
about I sent you, and I found this either right
before or right after.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
But Tomlin has won five games in.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
His career where they haven't scored an offensive touchdown.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
It's remember last year the Monday Night Football game against
the Downs, just two defensive touchdowns that carried the way
in that game.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It's nuts.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I guess some other team in that time frame has more.
But since two thousand and seven he was highed, they
have won five games without scoring an offense touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Hey, another one about that? Another one score game win?
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yeah for Tom when he has a six to fifteen
career winning percentage entering this season and last year he
had an eight eighteen win percentage in those one score games,
he's got a thousand win percentage right now.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
For another one to the list.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Quick serious history of the Broncos before we get into it.
This series began in nineteen seventy and including eight posts
season contests, Denver and the Steelers have met thirty four times.
Denver won the first three meetings, and over the first
seven times these teams met, the Broncos lost just once,
although Denver and Pittsburgh did play to a tie in
nineteen seventy four. Denver has had the edge of late
(02:50):
as well. From nineteen eighty five to the president, the
Broncos have won fourteen of the twenty two battles, including
four of the five playoff matchups.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
And we don't talk about the Tebow game out.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Oh that was rough.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
We don't do that.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Most recently, the Steelers are on a two game winning
streak against the Broncos, though, but in Denver, the Broncos
are thirteen to four and one. Two thousand and nine
is the last time the Steelers won in Denver, with
the Broncos winning the last four meetings in Denver.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
It's a tough place to play.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I mean, that's my biggest fear of this whole game.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yes, I got the statue.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Yeah, I know you do. I know where it came.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Because this game is the Broncos home opener and Denver
has a record of eighty three thirty three and two
all time in the month of September.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Well, why is that, you ask? Because of the high
air exactly. I mean, it's like playing in Miami early
in the season. It's fatigue, it's an I mean, they're
good fans, and they've had good teams. They've had manning
in l Way, and it's a pretty good franchise all
in all, although lately has been really down. The lack
of playoff appearances is a little start win.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
It's not an embarrassing franchise by over there right lately
star players championships, but yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
It trained their early in the season is really hard.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Eight trade seasons they missed the postseason Denver. Their last
playoff trip was when they won the Super Bowl, which
is super fifty.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
You win the Super Bowl and you cant get back
the playoffs next year or two.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
It's the second longest in the league that drought for
the playoffs. The Jets have the longest drought and it
is also the longest ever for any team immediately after
a Super Bowl championship.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
That's interesting. The teams wouldn't go into the tank that badly.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I can't remember if Manning retired at the as soon
as they won the Super Bowl. I think he didn't
come back after that, but he was bad at the end.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
He kind of retired in the middle of that season.
And that defense these came back.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
They should go to the playoffs the next year.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
It's bizarre that the Broncos have just gone in the tank.
The Steelers on the road again back to back weeks.
They've won their past thirteen games on the road when
leading going into the fourth quarter, the current longest current
streak in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
That's something they.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Usually see at home. Fans get into it in the
pass rush and you just slow it down. But traveling,
maybe because Steelers fans travel a lot too.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I think that's part of it, but it's also the
way that they're built.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
A lot of similarities between these two head coaches. Tomlin
and Sean Payton have combined to win three hundred and
thirty four total games, one seventy four for Tomlin, won
sixty for Peyton.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Tomlin just passed Jeff Fisher with this past win a notch.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Only Andy Reid has more active career wins right now
than coach Tomlin, Tomlin and Peyton. I think Tomlin's in
Peyton's probably rapping on the door. But there's a little
bit of league issues when it comes to Sean Payton
that you know, he doesn't have the cleanest record as
opposed Tomlin, who's.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Squeaky clean, and it's denver portion of it isn't really
helping his.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Cause it's not so far. But I think you're a
Sean Payton believer, aren't you.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, you have been.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
And I get that he's an offensive guy and he
was like the McVeigh and the Shanahan before.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Like if you talk to people in the league when
he was with the Saints and they were humming with
Breeze and all that. He was the one everyone studied
in the off season, you know, I mean that was
his And I'm not saying the game's passed him by.
I think he still has great respect that way. And
we're not gonna say a lot of good stuff about
Denver in the next ten to fifteen minutes.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Oh, we're gonna start real soon about that.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
Yeah. But they were eight to nine last year.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I mean, you got with Ross that, you know, we
know all the Russell Wilson stuff, and this roster is
not much different than last year. The record was better
than you think it was. Yeah, and you know, you
got to give them a little bit of credit there.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I was looking through what happened last year and they
started one and five and then they rallied and ripped
off five straight wins and got to six and five.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
That's kind of a Tomlin thing, right right.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Then they l win, So they're seven and six staring
down the stretch of the season. You lose in Detroit,
that's going to happen. Then you lose to the Patriots,
and that's where it all went. Okay, belly up for them. Yeah,
But that's a team that was rallying for a playoff
position last.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Year and there weren't a talented roster. I mean, they
lost by they gave up sixty to Miami.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Oh my god, they look like the worst team in
the league.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Well, let's start on that side of the ball. Talk
about the Denver defense. It was one of the worst
defenses in the league last year. It was five point
eight yards per play. In twenty twenty three, only two
defenses were worse. Their run defense was dreadful last year.
It was thirtieth in the NFL. So that's music to
my ears. Since our pass rate this past week Matt
was thirty seven point nine percent, the lowest in the league.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Yep, and that it was an obvious formula. And another
thing that stood out to me with Denver last year
is they gave up a whole yard on the ground
more than they produced. Like every running play in the
Denver game was a minus.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
One almost six yards per play. That's awful, It's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
It's really really bad.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Yeah, So they got gashed a lot last season. I mean,
there's what could Russ do.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Honestly, an offense that's to be able to make up
for that kind of poor defensive play, but the Steelers
not passing the ball at all. You know, Thomas spoke
today on Tuesday, and that's when we record this the
advanced Scout on Tuesdays, and he made it seem like
Justin Field is going to play this week.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
That's at least what I walked away.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
The early vibe like they're preparing for him to be
the start, and.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I just think it's gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
He said too that Russ wouldn't practice until Thursday and
then at the earliest. I just don't feel like he's
gonna feel that his cast is ready to go Mike
Tomlin and the medical staff.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
So yeah, I'm gonna just assume that Justin Field.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Is probably gonna start this football game for them, And
you can beat the Falcons with the same for or
excuse me, you can beat the Broncos with the same formulation.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
That's what I say is you don't push it. Although
you know Russ wants to play in this.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
One, so he will want to just be the moral
support stand coach Tomlin on the sideline during this no.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
But we're talking about this on the drive today and
Dale thought maybe he'll be the two in this game,
though not.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
The elevated a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah, maybe, yeah, because that way, if Fields has gone
real sideways, you can throw Russ in. If he's emergency
third string quarterback, you gotta have Allan do the Rodney
dangerfield thing.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, I can go in there, so maybe he will
get elevated.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
That's an interesting storyline to watch this week if it
is Fields, where will Russ fall as far as because
then the.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
National media will lose their mind, like, oh, Wilson's the
backup Fields. But that's not necessarily how it works.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
They've already lost their they've already lost It's too late
to put that genie back in the bottle. Last week,
Fields didn't attap one pass between the numbers, and I
know people are starting to get deja vu from last
year and it's like, oh God, But I like the
explanation of Arthur Smith kind of just being like my
backup quarterbacks and Jesse Bates and Justin Simmons could be
game wreckers, especially for somebody that throws turnovers. Why would
I throw in the middle of the field, Why would
(09:27):
I throw into their you know, spider web.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I don't want to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
I don't think Denver has that exact no weaponry and
the secondary I think they'll throw in the middle of
the fire that I don't think that's going to be
specific thing. Yes, And it just so happened to be
a coincidence where everybody could be like, oh, it's.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
The same as last year.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
It's right, and it was often rolling right or left.
You don't want them drilling it across his body in
the middle of the field and stuff like that too,
But that's not a sustainable formula. You got to throw
between the numbers.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
But I think they're just going to run the ball
right down their throats this year. Last year, the Broncos
alloted five point one year per rush attempt. That's the
worst in football. They also allowed the second most one
yards per game to the running back position. Running Backs
going up against Denver averaged one hundred and eighteen yards
last year.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
And it just it's just the running back position more
of the same.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, exactly, like quarterbacks gashing them from more and the
rounds to wide receivers. Kenneth Walker carried that over into
this year for the Seattle Seahawks, as he got him
for one hundred and three yards on the ground. Geno
Smith had a monster run against the Denver Brons in
that game, So I mean they they turned it up
on them as far as the ground game is like
all of a.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Sudden so and they didn't make any huge additions to
make it look like it's fixed.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
And that's music to my ears because I just think
Nause Harris was awesome against the Falcons, and this is
an even worse run defense than the Falcons can boast.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yes, and the Steelers oh line is noticeably better than
Seattle's too, So one note on there run blocking, Yeah,
one note I found strange and I was looking at
their death chart. Patrick who's by Far's he's great, he's
gonna follow Pickens, I'm sure, and he's got paid and
he's awesome. But he's the only guy that was drafted
(11:09):
in the first round on their entire defense, Like they
don't even have like a were.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Just talking about the Falcons last week. It was kind
of the same deal, right, remember that, Like it's weird.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
There's not much invested on that side of the ball,
or you know, go get a guy that was sort
of a bust in the first round and try to
rejuvenate him. I mean just there's no all the guys
they played just don't have any pedigree.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Now A J.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Terrell is a pretty good follow corner, and George Pickens
was able to break away from him a couple of times.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
It should have been three times.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Honestly, it wasn't really a pass interference, but at least
two big plays on him. Pat certain I think a
little bit of a step up in competition.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Might be number one him or the top two.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Yeah, our guy's not that far behind them.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
He's getting there with you. He's getting there.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Drake London was deleted from that game.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
And by the way, this week were just because we're
talking about on top of mind Courtland Sutton. Good luck
this week buddy, because I mean that's the number one receiver.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
And like I know, we'll talk about that side of
the ball.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Yeah, right, everything was quick game and the only time
they were threw ball down the field was the sun.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
And I think he's in for a long.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Day time he's done.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
He's not a non factor as far as I'm concerned,
unless Joey Porter Junior comes up with an injury on
the injury report this week.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
But yeah, certains that breed and.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
Yeah, he's really really good.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
You gotta just hope that Pickens can keep you know,
his head about him and say, this might just not
be a George Pickens game. We need you maybe for
one or two. Like in Atlanta, they target him seven
times six catches. Though in Atlanta that's pretty good healthy
appetite for a wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I did hear this on the way here and didn't
realize it. I knew that it spiked, but he ran
thirty percent of his routes from the slot. He never
did that was back hand. I like that, And I
don't know certain will follow him this lot. Not all,
not all travelers do.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Hey, that's one way you can get around a traveler
if you're coordinator.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Oh, I'm sure Arthur Smith's gonna do.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
That, I would think, But yeah, I mean even if
he does, Neutralizia, don't worry about it. We don't really
need that much in the passing game to win this game.
And hey, that's fortunate for a team that really doesn't
have much in the passing game behind George and maybe
Patt At the tight ends game.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I'm not impressed their linebackers in safeties in terms of
cover and tight ends are.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Running back anybody outside of certain not really, That's what
I was gonna ask you next.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
It's like, who's the next guy like Zach Allen.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Guys player and their edge dudes aren't bad. Brandon Browning's
a decent player, Benito. I mean, they're pretty much a
three to four and their edge dudes aren't bad.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
But they would be number three's.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Here well Russell or excuse me, Justin Fields did hold
onto the ball for three point six seconds against the
Atlanta Falcons. That would have been the most as far
as an average is concerned for quarterbacks last year. Fields
actually was at three point oh two.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Last year in.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
The league, Murray held on the ball for three point
one to nine seconds.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
It's crazy.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Jalen Hurts three point oh seven seconds were higher than
Fields this past week, but you.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Sounded like there might be a little bit the.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Pass rush for the Denver Broncos and Field's holding onto
the ball is a problem.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
If it's starting.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
It's been a career issue for him and it leads
to a lot of sacks. And that being said, you're
not going to get it out in two point three
when you're rolling right and left. And it also makes
you harder to sack. So some of it was him,
some of it was scheme. I mean, his problem is
in the drop back game, holding it in the pocket.
There wasn't as much of that on tape. You know
(14:25):
that that those numbers would reflect.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
House fields against the blitz because Denver blitz forty six
point four percent last week, the highest in the league.
So they were sent in the house almost half the time.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, and that I don't know, I need to look
that up. Dale and I were just talking about it.
I mean, he's taking a lot of sacks in his career.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, so you can assume that that could be a problem.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
But at the same time, like Fields is a tricky
one because normally you talk about a quarterback, it's like, okay,
well what's he doing against the bitz?
Speaker 1 (14:49):
He gets the ball out quickly, he checks in pat right.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
Field is a different cat though. He'll just bust out
with his legs and if you're blitzing and you miss him, good,
oh my god. There's no one out there to star
up them. So you know, Gina Smith burned him last week.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
We just had the exact.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Field, much better runner than Gina Smith exactly.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
We just had the same conversation in the drive, like,
I'm sure his numbers are splits aren't great. I'm just guessing,
but he can make you pay in a big way.
Did you notice too, I mean, just the state of
these two teams, The Steelers were the lowest splitz defense
in the whole league.
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Denver was the.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Highest, you know, and the Steelers played a much better
offensive line than Denver did too, but they felt the
need to have the blitz to get pressure where the
Steelers didn't.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
The Steelers should really be the opposite of blitzberg this year.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Yeah, I'm not saying to ignore it.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Send strategic blitz is send queen, you know, every once
in a while, because you got.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Wi all good at it.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
Yeah, so keep the defense.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
You know, in the back of the head for the
offensive coordinator like that could happen maybe, But dude, they're
getting home with three or four guys pretty much every
ti They're getting home one guy pretty much every single
time is.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
Going to be there. Yeah, that's the other thing about
that game.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Like that Falcons offensive line, most pundits analysts would put
them towards the top ten.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Can I speak for you about that too?
Speaker 2 (16:06):
In the top five for me, Vegans are running the pass,
but definitely the top five one, right, So, and that's
why I say with Seattle, they're like the bottom five
who Denver faced and they had the blitz like crazy
with the Steelers didn't.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Yeah, so the Steelers should be able to whip up
on this Denver offense. And let's shift towards the Denver offense.
It's an offense that's averaged just three point three yards
per play in Week one. Only the Bears were lower,
the Bears remarkably winning twenty four to seventeen without scoring
a touchdown. On offense, Denver has the third worst offensive
in the league thus far, only ahead of Carolina and
(16:38):
Tennessee as far as total offense is concerned, and the
second worst passing offense, ahead of only the Titans. So
it was a train wreck for the Denver Broncos. Twenty
six to twenty is a little bit deceiving.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Very look at the score and Knicks ran one in,
but all in all, he was very unimpressive.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
As a passer, very unimpressed.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
You're right. The downfield stuff just didn't exist.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Yeah, he attempted forty two passes, he only accumulated one
hundred and thirty eight passing yards. He didn't throw a touchdown.
He threw two interceptions. Despite an average of six point
one air yards per pass attempt, his average per completion
was only two point five yards.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
I think about that, the passes you completed.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Were only like two yards in front of you.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
D Nick's attempt to twelve passes ten plus yards down
the field, he only completed two for forty two yards,
and that's where those two interceptions happened. The Steelers played
takeaway twice last week against a much better, more established
quarterback that, granted was rusty, and I don't think one
hundred percent healthy agreed, but.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
He was still better than Boone Nicks.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
And they had a feast because of the front getting
only four guys to apply pressure, There's a lot of
people back there in coverage.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
It's a tough day for a.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Quarterback, and I think the rookie's going to have another
long day. He's going to have a longer day than
Seattle gave him, and that was a pretty long day.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Seattle isn't nearly as talented on defense, but they did
hire the Ravens defensive coordinator, and he throws a lot
at you, and the rookie looked like a rookie to
say the least, even though he's you know, came out
of the Oregon highly highly experienced.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
But it's a different world and he saysn't much around him.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah, we have a little bit of experience around these
parts with guys who spayed a long time in college.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Thought that that would make them hit the ground running.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Not exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
In Week one that ever had four pass catchers with
four and more receptions, no one with more than forty
five yards. It's a really bad receiving room. I mean
again last week I said, hey, we're playing a team
in the Falcons that I'm looking at this receiving court.
All this talk of the Steelers receiving room, this might
be worse.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
And now I know the Broncos are worse.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Close to.
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Josh Reynolds is a good number three probably, but I
mean that's what Van Jefferson is too here.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
So they drafted Franklin this year and Mims last year
and they're not even seeing the field. And I forget
the dude's name. It's a short name that is playing
for them quite a bit.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
That I had never heard of before this week wide receiver. Yeah,
Troy Franklin Devon Valley val.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Yeah, I didn't know anything about him, but he was
their number three this week.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Yeah, I thought Troy Franklin had a lot of juice
coming out of college.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I don't think he was in active last week. And
Mims was the second round pick that they aren't using
it all either.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
That's weird.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, Adam Troutman and Greg Doltcic are there tight end,
so there's no name value there.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Really jumps out of the page on that.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Doltic is clearly the one and he's out there a lot,
but he's nothing special.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
So, I mean, Joy Porter Junior just takes Courtland Sutton
completely out of the equation.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
Where the points come from.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I have no idea because Javonte Williams ain't exactly Terrell
Davis for the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I mean, again, there's always a way you can lose games.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
I think this one is justin Field's turning the ball
over a lot, which is all against Atlanta. He I
said this on when I was recording with Jacob for
the Standard Today. Matt, he didn't not only just turn
the ball over. I don't remember a bad like I'd
remember some bad passes, but none that were in like
Harm's way, like he got away with that one. Like
you know, he missed nausea on the flare out, he
missed Van Jefferson early, but those were all misses that
(20:05):
were nowhere close to Falcons players either.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Like it was a clean game, right right.
Speaker 4 (20:08):
I mean a lot of hit that. It was a
clean game, but it wasn't like overthrows that you know
over the middle. Well, you didn't throw over the middle,
I guess the middle, right exactly?
Speaker 2 (20:22):
No, I mean again, I mean any team could win
in the in the league. I didn't think the Patriots
could beat the Bengals. Maybe Denver has success on the
ground and the Steelers are exhausted, but they're d line
so deep you know that Pittsburgh should be able to
rotate guys in and not get gassed.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
I'm glad you said that before we get out of here,
because that's something that I know you've been talking about
early about Denver.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
That's an advantage for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
When you were on with Mark on Monday, he brought
it up, like they're deep on defense and that can
kind of counteract the mile high thing. I would that
can make you have fresh lungs out there on the
defensive line in your second.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Terrell Edmonds, he's here, he's got to play, he's got
to get a hat.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
He was signed off a practice squad, so he's going
to be active. So I mean like, that's another piece
to your secondary that won't take long to bring up
the speed at all. And you're not going to have
him out there with Elliott and make a Fitzpatrick level
of playing time. But he's spelling there a couple of
plays over there, So yeah, I think they're in a
good shape to handle this, even though it's tough to
do early.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
The mont Trevis Adams and louder Milks and her Bigs
and those type of dudes they deserve playing and maybe
not louder Milk as much, but like Adams and her Big,
you're fine with those guys out there.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Bonix does have a little bit of a rushing element
to his game too.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Way better athlete than people.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
Yeah, yeah, you wouldn't profile him that way at all,
but had four yards per carry on average when he
was in college at Oregon, thirty eight career rushing touchdowns
and that was on display this week too. He was
able to run one in. So he does have a
nose for the end zone a little bit. He can
finish a drive off by himself.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
The way this league is now, if you're a first
round quarterback, you're a goodly.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Finish the drive off, you're a good ath Yet, yeah,
Denver's leading rusher in Week one was Bonix with thirty
five yards.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
That's not what they want.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
No, it's not Williams.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
He was in the same draft class as Naujie and
Travis etn and I thought he would be.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Pretty good, but he is not.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
He was great before his injury.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
And I think that slowed him down a lot.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I thought he bounced back this year, and it didn't
look that way way in Week one. But again, if
Denver is going to have success, their line is also
a better run blocking line. Like Quinn Miners is a
good player. Mcglinchey's fine Bowls is questionable for this game,
but he's a good tackle.
Speaker 4 (22:24):
Their center position is not very good.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
It's like it's the greatest offense.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
I mean, it's fine, but that's what they lunch to me,
to be honest with you, especially in protection. But I
mean when Peyton got there, he went and spent big
money on McGlinchey in Cleveland, and they just gave minor.
It's a lot of money, so that's what they think
their bread and butter is.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
Well.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
That leads us right into our key matchups because that
first one that you have written down here is Mike McGlinchey,
that right tackle versus TJ. Wat who's probably gonna win
the Defensive Player of the Year just as long as
he can stay healthy.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
I said that today too.
Speaker 3 (22:54):
I was like, there's no way I cannot see him
producing like a maniac if he's healthy. So as long
as health happens, there's he's gonna win the award.
Speaker 4 (23:02):
One of the best defensive individual, defensive games I've ever seen.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
I've heard other people say that too. It was just
pure domination and look, numbers didn't even reflect it. No,
it didn't.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
And beyond just a sack and a strip sack and
taken away from him. That was a career highlight. That
was taken away from him with the timing of the
Paula mal Loo kind of right, and he knew he
was right, and he was, and then he took away
the possession as well and recovered it on his own
and that would have been erasing the Falcons what would
have become the falcons.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Only touchdown drive.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
So it was just dominated the play.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
That unfortunately will only live in the memories of US
Steeler fans as it went uncalled. But he's gonna do
against McGlinchey.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
He'll destroy him. But mcglinchey's a decent right tackle. Yeah,
he's a tenth best right tackle in the league. Came
over from the Niners first round pick, got a Notre dame.
I What I was about to say, though, is Peyton
will help mcglinchy much better than Kyle Pitts running by
him and kind of bumping them, you know what I mean,
Like the feeble attempts Atlanta made to help the right tackle.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Ye was talking about how we're not gonna let Watt
wreck the game. Who was saying that, uh rahem Moster
the or not Morris, I'm sorry, Morris, head coach of
the Atlanta Falcons. Mostar Yeah, Rahe Morris was saying that, like, well,
we're not gonna let him wreck the game. Kyle pitch
chipping him for right like he's not even really trying on.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
I'm not sure how they'll do it. But Peyton will
do a better job of helping their right tackle. I
promise you that.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
And then on the offensive side of the ball, George
Pickens versus Pat Certain, Yeah, it's gonna be a tough
matchup for George, but brutal.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
It might not matter because he could go.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
For two catches for thirty five yards George, and he
might not like that, But yeah, team will be just
fine without it because they should run.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
They could run for close to two hundred yards in
this game.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
I think it's highly possible. And there's no way that
Denver gets such a lead that you have to abandon
the run.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Yeah, and I say that again thinking justin Field is
probably going to be the quarterback, which helps with that
two hundred yards on the ground for a team.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
So and if Russ is your two, I might just
like a lot of fields as runs in week one
weren't quarterback power, you know, like were if it's not
there to go get four or five, like, I might
design even more runs for him which are frightening.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Yeah, I mean the designed run stuff for him is
really good.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
That's what he eat in Chico.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and better chance to break long ones too.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Four to twenty five is the kickoff against Denver. You'll
be on with Tim, right, Tim Benz early, Yeah, the
show d.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
Year hours before whatever.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Like noon, be around noon where you guys will get
things started for us on the Steelers Audio Network. And
then we're all right into four twenty five kickoff between
the Steelers and the Broncos. Matt and I will be
back again next week to preview the home opener against
the La Chargers. But you gotta get this win against
the Broncos and go into that two and for Matt,
I'm Tom and this has been the Advanced Scout
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