September 17, 2024 • 24 mins
Matt Williamson and Tom Opferman break down the Steelers upcoming opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
We got some work to do. This is the Advanced
Scout with Tom Opperman and Matt Williamson.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Matt, before we get to the two and oh Chargers
versus the two and oh Steelers to open up Acker
Sure Stadium for the twenty twenty four season. What'd you
think of the game against Denver? Another game where the
offense leaves you wanting a lot more. Scored a touchdown
at least this time. Yeah, and most importantly, you got
the win in you are two and oh coming to
your home opener.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yeah, and you did see some big plays on tape
that didn't count and you can't discredit that, But you
gotta score touchdowns. I mean they've scored one offensive touchdown.
That's one of four teams including the Bears, that are
one and one Denver. That's ozh and two in Carolina,
which is maybe the worst team I've ever seen, which
(00:50):
brings me to the Chargers. You know, as we always do,
we're gonna talk a lot of stats and we're gonna
break down the opponent heavily. But as great as the
Saints look and the two Chargers, all these stats for
the Chargers you have to take with a small grain
of Salt, considering the fifty percent of their games have
been against a dreadful Panthers team.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yes, and I don't think the Raiders, despite beating the
Ravens this past weekend, are the best team in the
NFL either. So they got a nice little easy start
to their season if you're Harbaugh and his re entrance
into the NFL. But at the same point, at the
same time, if we're gonna sit here and say, hey,
the Steelers are two and oh and two and oh's
all that matters, even if the offense doesn't look like
(01:32):
you wanted to, the Chargers are going to say the
same exact thing, like, hey, we don't make the schedule.
We don't decide how bad the teams are that we play.
We just got to beat them. And they've been beating
up on them.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
They have, which is what good teams do. And they
would say, well, the Broncos aren't exactly the best team
I've ever seen either, But I will say the Steelers
Week one win looks a lot better to me after
watching Monday Football the other night.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, you know what I said about that though, too.
It's we've talked about this before. They did get lucky
with where they got Atlanta in the schedule and Kirk
not playing at all in the preseason because you could
tell he was much more comfortable. I don't think the
Achilles was back all the way, but he had a
feel to play on his new Achilles, if you will. Yeah,
he was just able to maneuver around. He was under
(02:15):
center a lot more, he was doing a lot more
play action. Sole got lucky, took advantage of that, and
you can't give that win back. Falcons don't get another
reno at that.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
So my biggest segaway actually from Monday Football was the
O line that we think was going to be really
good for the Falcons was really good against one team
but not the other.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Was really good against the Eagles. Yeah, no doubt. So
the Chargers are two and oh. That's their first two
and oh starts since twenty twelve. Twenty twenty, the COVID
year was the last time the Steelers began two and oh.
They were eleven and oh that year. Nineteen ninety nine, though,
was the last time Pittsburgh began this season with two
road victories. And that leads me to probably any Steelers
fans favorite stat or what it should be their favorite
(02:55):
stat Right now, eight of the last nine teams that
start two and oh and both wins are on the
road made the playoffs. So that's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Yeah, that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Since nineteen ninety, of the teams that began the season
two and oh doesn't matter if you're on the road
or at home, no matter, sixty three point nine percent
went to the playoffs and forty one point two percent
won their division.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
How about it.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
And the Steelers got a nice two game lead over
two teams in their division and one game lead on
the Brown. So as far as starts go, yeah, of
course two and oh is obviously a great start. Tom,
You're not breaking any news to me, but the statistics
back up that you're probably heading to the playoffs, especially
if you do it on the road.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Yeah, and three and oh is like seventy yeah right,
So in the winner of this game, it would be
an upset if they don't go to the playoffs. And
looking around the AFC let alone, the AFC North teams
like Miami Indianapolis, are they really playoff contenders anymore? You know?
Like the preseason I looked at Miami and thought they
(03:54):
could be that. No, they lost to you know, so
the coming up with seven playoff teams, the AFC looks
like a much easier path than it did two weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Before we dive deeper into the Chargers, let's get a
look at the series history between these two teams. While
the Chargers lead in playoff matchups two to one, Pittsburgh
owns this series overall, with commanding twenty four to eleven lead.
This series began in nineteen seventy one, and the Steelers
won the first six matchups San Diego they were San Diego,
(04:23):
then won the next three, But the Chargers have losing
streaks of six to five and five against Pittsburgh over
the fifty years that these teams have been squaring off.
After a long stretch in which the Chargers won just
five of twenty one games between nineteen eighty three and
two thousand and nine, these two teams have gone back
and forth over the past six meetings, with the Chargers
(04:43):
winning the most recent matchup in twenty nineteen. Mike Tomlin
is five and three against the Chargers overall, so recently
a bit more even as far as the series history
is concerned than historically, I'd say, yeah, they've played some
pretty famous playoff matchups. Yeah, one that Steelers fans don't
like to talk about, the one that they do with
Santonio Holmes's great punt return on the way to winning
a Super Bowl that year.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
My thoughts, I mean, I'm a lot older than you,
but I was born in nineteen seventy three, so of
course I was thrust right into the super Steelers.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
But yeah, you had no chance to be a fan
of anybody else.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I did have a Dan Fouts jersey. That's the only
non stealer gear because now they were so ever in
my whole life, wal except with the Browns when they.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Employed me that it doesn't count.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
You had to wear that that I purchased, yeah, or
somebody purchased for me. But those Foults teams were so
much cool. So they were so ahead of their time in.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
The early age the time machine.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah, they did no defense and they were every kid
loved them.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Well, we are actually kind of going in a time machine,
but in reverse for this game, because just looking at
the overview here, Matt, this clock's going to be running
in a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Oh, Dale and I have a joke and like this
game two hours.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, our game to a lot of tight end games,
you know, right, Yeah, So Los Angeles produced twenty one
first downs last week compared to the seven that they
allowed the Panthers. They were also nine of sixteen third
downs compared to one of twelve by Carolina. The Chargers
average one point nine more yards per play than they
allowed while winning the time of possession battle thirty six
to twenty three. The Steelers have been possessing the ball
(06:12):
quite a bit as well. They have been possessing thirty
three point or thirty three minutes and fifty seven seconds
to start the season compared to the Chargers thirty two
minutes and seventeen seconds, So those ranked six for the
Steelers in twelve for the Chargers. Pittsburgh has run eighteen
more plays than their opponent, and the Chargers have run
fourteen more plays, which is a lot of games. So
(06:33):
these two teams love to squeeze the air out of
the football. The Chargers have had a lot of success
doing that against some weaker teams, and the Steelers have
had a lot of success doing that against the weak
team and a team that we think bounce back pretty well.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I'm on a night football, and the Chargers have a
really good quarterback I mean, the Steelers can't claim that
at the moment. Kind of the difference, right, that's kind
of the difference. But I also think in Tomlin and
Harbaugh's DNA, they're gonna be physical, They're gonna run the football,
They're not gonna turn the ball over olds. I mean,
those guys could have been coaches in the sixties.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
The Steelers are gaining sixty two and a half more
yards on the ground than they're allowing, and the Chargers
are gaining one hundred and seventeen more yards on the
ground than they're allowing. Yeah, but I that is the
one thing, Matt, that I chalk up the most to
them playing just some Chiefs defenses. They're running the hell
out of the football, but these teams aren't gonna stop
the run all year. You're gonna see, you know, if
(07:25):
you play daily fantasy, you want to go on the
running back that's going up against Carolina every week, like
they're just gonna rip through that team. So I think
it's great for Dobbins that he's healthy and he's off
to a great start, But that's the one thing that's
coming back to earth, at least I really hope so
at Akrocer Stadium.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Like, if we're doing this podcast for the Chargers Audio network,
I'd be like, we've ran the ball really well, but
you know that Panthers D is horrific and they're losing
their best player, Derek Brown, who's a big run stopping
in the middle. We're not going to run like we
did in the first two weeks in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The Steelers both won last week while attempting just twenty
passes a piece. These were two of five NFL teams
that won in Week two despite attempting twenty or fewer passes.
Chargers and Steelers combine for eighty rushing attempts last week.
So this is going to be a fast moving game
time wise. As far as scoring is concerned, that might
be a little bit of a different story. This is
(08:20):
probably going to have a bit of a feel like
the other two Steelers games have had. When you're looking
at the final scoreboard, let's start looking at the Chargers
defense though.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Matt Okay, so I think the Steelers D is noticeably
better than the.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Charge Definitely is. I think the differentiator, if Herbert's the
differentiator for the Chargers the Steelers is the defense is
way better than what the Chargers are boasting. But I
don't think the Chargers defense is awful. You know, you
look at their stats from last year and they were
pretty bad. They were like the twenties in almost every
major category. But something so weird about Harba, Like he's
(08:54):
an ex quarterback. You think about him as getting the
most out of your quarterback, being a good offensive guy,
even if it's a throwback offense. But Matt everywhere he
goes to the defense fundamentally sound. Yeah, San Francisco defense instantly,
Michigan grab defense from the second e stet foot on campus,
and it looks like the same thing's happening here in
the Charge. I don't want to say great defense, much
improved defense where they were.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
The thing that worries me is right up the middle though,
Like they're also a three to four in their base
their D line, they're three hundred pounders are no name
dudes that I don't know how many of them would
even make this team.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, Bonnie has even a tough name to pronounce, to
be honest with you. Then Punaford, Morgan cox Well, Morgan
cox enjoy bos So that's when you're getting to the
ends A little bit mm hmm. And Bosa is.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Gonna do guys are good.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Is going to do a lot of heavy heavy lifting.
Max's gonna do a lot of heavy lifting.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Those guys are really good.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
So you're telling me they're run the football at the minute.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Between the tackles is real questionable to me. And the
second level linebackers are so.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
So because there's star power, Like we mentioned those two
guys and about Derwin James and the secondary. So there's
some pieces for Harbaugh in that defense. According to Play
with the Corners, Chargers corners aren't terrible.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Yeah, yeah, but I think you attack them right behind.
Zach Frasier's been really good.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
He's had another I think game tape from this past
week showed multiple pancake blocks just controlling the line of scrimmage.
Looks like a big time hit for the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
I rarely say this about rookies, but I think he's
already a good NFL starter, not for a rookie, just
he's a good NFL start. He's a plus player already.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
The offense is that the Chargers have been facing this year,
especially the one that they did last week, have been awful,
so their stats could be a little bit skewed in
a thundercent direction that way, like, for instance, they held
I was going to get there, ye first, I was
going with the Chargers held Carolina just sixty nine passing
yards in Week two and the Panthers didn't have a
(10:50):
pass catcher that eclipsed twenty three receiving yards. I mean,
I know you said that Sante Samuel Junior is not bad,
and Christian Fulton's not bad, and Jazia Taylor's not bad,
but they're not all deonce anders where they'll be giving
up sixty nine passing yards in twenty twenty four NFL.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And subsequently the first overall pick a year ago gets
benched after this game. That's how bad the Panthers are.
And again, sixty nine passing yards in a game where
the garbage time they're playing prevent and yeah, I mean
it's unheard of.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, So you mentioned the Chargers only allowing thirteen points
so far this year, is Therds have only allowed sixteen
points this year, which you'd think would lead the league
after two games.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
But there's the best two though.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yes, the Chargers are in front by three points. In
terms of EPA per play, Los Angeles has the best
defense in the NFL as well the Saints' second best,
and then the Steelers come in at third best.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
So, but there's a commonality there. The Chargers and Saints
both got to play the Carolina Panthers, right, they stay
that many?
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Are they one of the worst teams you've seen? Maybe?
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Like they're not close to competitive. It's
over in the first quarter in these Panther games.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
You don't jump start them at all. To just become
a more competent.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
There's nowhere to go with it. I mean, it might
be a little better, it has to be.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, So those stats again skewed. You got to take
them with a little bit of a grain of salt
when you're looking.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
At Denver's offense is bad, it's not close to as
bad as a Panther.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
That's what the Panthers are picking up. The Giants offense
is bad. They scored three touchdowns and lost to the Commanders.
They scored three touchdowns. Panthers might be working on that
for a while. Hey, To be fair, the Steelers still
need to work on getting yeah yeah, yeah. So I'm
glad to hear that they're bad against the run, because
that's teams want to keep giving the Steelers that they'll
(12:39):
gladly keep taking them, especially when it's a given that
Fields is going to be the quarterback. Roll Russ is
still working through that calf injury. So it sets up
nicely for what the Steelers want to do. The weakness
of this Chargers defense, he said, they got strength in
the secondary. That's all right. We can avoid throwing the
football unless we absolutely have to. It really seems like
avoid mac Bosa breaking this game. Yeah, keep it away
(13:02):
from Derwin James. Maybe no middle of the field again. Yeah,
and you should be aok offensively. You gotta get over
yourselves and put the ball on the end zone and
stop shooting yourself in the foot. But they shouldn't be,
you know that resistant despite having two really good performances
so far defensively.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Right, And I really think Harbaugh and Tomlin's message this
week is going to be really similar. You know that, Hey,
we know we're not perfect teams, even though we have
a perfect record, and running the ball is going to
be extremely important with big personnel. I don't mind if
we punt here and there. You know, Harbaugh's gonna trust
his quarterback more, much more Tomlin's gonna trust his defense
(13:43):
much more and whatere. The Steelers have been exceptional other
than defense is special teams turnovers they lead the league
and turnover ratio. They're getting the most EPA out of
special teams and turnovers in the league. In the margins
you know, I mean you to cut down on penalties
that they've taken the second most penalties in the league.
(14:04):
So all those it's a very typical Steeler game. You know,
it's going to be sixteen thirteen and whoever makes the
most mistakes is going to lose.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Sounds like a great time. Yeah, Steelers are plus five
in the turnover differential, which is the best in the
league through two games. And that's important because the stat
that you've been saying from the beginning of the year,
I still every week over the past three seasons and
now including these two games, when the Steelers have won
or tied the turnover battle, they're now thirty and seven
(14:35):
going to and oh, obviously this year.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Tied or one, I mean zero zero is thirty and.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Seven exactly, and then fifteen and one when they've lost
that turnover battle over that stretch kind of going beyond
that a little bit more and or expanding on it.
Since twenty twenty two, the Steelers are nineteen and fourign
games in which they did not throw an interception. They're
two and eleven with at least one interception thrown. Is
it really that simple interception and you win the football game?
(15:02):
Like I think people no wonder they're playing so conservatively
with Justin Fields.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
I know everyone kills Tomlin. You know you got to
open it up. Why, I mean, like, just don't throw
in time I open it up, I'm losing the game, right,
And the other thing about Fields. As a Bear, he
was like one of the absolute worst sack and turnover
guys in the whole league. As a Steeler, he's been
one of the best. I'm not saying he's like over
(15:28):
the hump, but two games right, But you know they're
obviously ingraining it in him. If you don't turn them
all over, we're gonna be in the game. You don't
throw an interception, we're probably gonna win. And here's the evidence.
It's overwhelming.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
And get rid of it a little quick.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Don't don't last week he did last week's time to
throw as much better.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
There was one play I remember in the Red zone.
He kind of pat pat pat pat, and he took
a sack and I think that was the Darnell Washington
see it. But like pat pat run, you have like
six yards to go, dude, just getting.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
You know right, They're not asking him just there in
the pod.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
They're coaching it out of him. Absolutely responding to that coaching.
You're not gonna work that out of your system overnight.
He's going to have those pat pat pat moments in
the red zone, especially when things are tight, you're not
the pressure is there to score the touchdown.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Yeah so, but good environments and good coaching goes a
long way. And both these teams, well both these like
Herbert's interesting to me.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Like, yeah, let's get to the Chargers offense and let's
get to Herbert. They're kind of hiding them a little
bit this year.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Well they had to, you know what I mean. I
think they're kind of keeping that in their back pocket.
Like his attempts are way down.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
But he's still capitalizing when he does have He's still
got three touchdowns already this year. He's thrown for yardage
when he has to.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
But his weapons aren't great.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
No, they're not Saints and Steelers are running a ball
at a higher percentage than the Chargers. So they've got
the third highest run percentage on offense this year and
only the Bills are running it at a higher rate
on first down. So like, it ain't as surprise what
you're going to get on first down in this football game.
And I think when you got Herbert and he's fully healthy,
(17:00):
Harba's gonna Harbu sees these stats too. You know what
he's gonna say, all right, I'm running the ball out
on first down. This is a big game coming up.
We're gonna go deep with Herbert on first down on
a nice play action here, just to catch them off
guard a little bit.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
They've been able to keep that in their back pocket.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
I don't think it's coming out of their back pocket
this week, Matt, because he's hurt and that's a huge
key in this game. So you might not be able
to do some of that play actiony stuff, especially against
this pass rush.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Yeah, and play action against Steelers is rough because you
mentioned it's half a second longer.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
You got to hold the question. And I think he's
gonna want to continue that trend of winning on first
down through the ground to keep that pass rush off
of a hurt Herbert.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Yes, and we all know the Steelers pass rush in
front is awesome. But I am very impressed with their
heavily invested in young offensive line the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yes, yeah, you know, Herbert was the reason that Harbaugh
was kind of saying, yeah, I'm coming to LA because
I got this guy in my quarterback. I think that
the one tackle that was there they I think the
one that he took with his first first round pick
this year too, is a great match of Slater. He's
got twin towers, he's got cornerstones for years and years
to come.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Herbert and two tackles is exactly where Harball wants to start.
He'll figure out the receivers and the other stuff and
subsequent years.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I think that's why he took the tackle this year
in the first round, and and all it's just been
up the speed right, He's been really good, easily drop in,
plug and play. You're already one of the best tackles
in football.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
And like Fortano though, he's a left tackle turned right
and he looks like he's doing it well.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
So he's gonna have to go up against TJ.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Yes every step. And so this is the first test.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Yeah. I like it against Crosby though, and that's a
good test. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Usually you'd be hard pressed to find a good comp
before you come to mister T. J. Watt. Crosby's one
of the few ones that you could go to and
say move.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Crosby both sides. But he didn't destroy them.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
No, And it's not like high Smith is off the
hook either. With Slater on the other side. I mean
that's a more polished even tackle. That's yeah. Yeah, phenomenal.
One of the best in football.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
One of the best in football already and not recognize
that way quite yet because he's had some injuries.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
You mentioned the pass catchers that Herbert has to work with, though,
that's where they're sorely lacking. Yeah. I don't know if
this bet exists, but I would put a lot of
money on their first round pick being a wide receiver
this year. No matter where they land in the mid
round and the early if they fall apart, if they
get to the playoffs in the twenties, they're picking a playmaker.
Harvon needs a playmaker for Herbert. Lad McConkie in Week
(19:27):
one was third amongst Chargers wide receivers in routes run,
but he led the team in targets with seven in
week two. McConkie's four targets in nineteen routes run was
only behind Quentin Johnson, who had six and nineteen respectively.
Johnson has seen a target share of twenty one percent
and then thirty two percent over the first two weeks.
Johnson didn't see a target share of even twenty percent
(19:48):
during his rookie season. So it's Johnson in year two,
it's mconkie in year one, maybe a little bit of.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Palmer won the first round pick, the second round pick.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, so there's pedigree there.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Johnson was so bad as rookie, but you're allowed to
get better and maybe some good coaching. He's done pretty
well for two weeks.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I do feel like a lot of the stuff that
I was looking at from the Chargers last year, even
though there's personnel carryover, I had to crump up and
throw in the trash because they all just got upgraded
because they're getting better coaching.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
A long way. I do wonder if Johnston, who's the
bigger guy, gets Porter the whole time. I mean, he's
not good enough to warrant that, but the matchup makes
some sense, and they've been leaning on him.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
How confident are you in stopping JK. Dobbins and that
running attack.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
The long ones of what Dobbins have been really good at,
and he's been way better than Edwards. I would say
moderate confidence, five or six out of ten.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
I mean, it's weird that Harbaugh's just like copy and
pasted the twenty twenty two Baltimore Ravens running back room
and put him the lost angelous Chargers now.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
With coordinator Baltimore two, a lot.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Of front office carryover from Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Michigan, Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
They do that all the time.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Right, The defensive coordinator who's now the head coach in
Seattle was the defensive coordinator in Michigan.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Well, he started with the Ravens. He went to Michigan
for a year to be a play caller.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Thet polish goes coming back to Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Now your head guy.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Yeah, there's a little going on, but not anymore though. Yeah,
they're gonna be going head to head against each other
at one point this season. But yeah, I think as
long as you can, you know, cut the head off
of that snake. You make Herbert have to beat you
that might not work out for you.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
He's dangerous, but.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
He's hurt, and I don't think he's going to be
one hundred percent in this game. I think he's going
to play in this game, but I don't think he's
going to be one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
His receivers would worry be more to I mean, like
on a tight end that's.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Going to be like they And as far as like
getting the ball out quick to some of these playmakers,
like you can tackle the catch with lad McConkey, like
you're you're gonna be okay there. So as long as
you can stop this running attack and don't beat yourself,
don't beat themselves, which they've been great at doing great
at stopping the run too, you should be okay against
this Chargers offense.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
I think so. I mean, yes, they're two to zero,
but I don't look at them as a top ten
type of team.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
All right, our key matchups before we get out of here,
we already.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Talked about the carbon coffees of each other too.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Chargers offensive tackles versus the Steelers outside linebackers Slater and
Alt versus high Smith and Wat potential to wreck the
game for Watt and High Smith obviously also potential to
control the game if you're those Chargers tackles and keep
everything on schedule for that Chargers offense, keep and most importantly,
keep Herbert as clean as possible while he's trying to
(22:36):
recover and play through an injury.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Yep, some high pedigree dudes, some really serious edge rushers.
And it's actually a position where the Chargers have depth
like the Steelers. I mean Bud the Preeze on that
team and to I Butcher his name, the usc kid
is their third guy would start for a lot of
guy a lot of teams like her big Wood. So
those edge rushers in this game are really really good.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Now you said they were mere images of each other.
So the other matchup is the Steelers offensive tackles Dan
Moore and Troy Fatanu versus the Chargers outside linebackers of
Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. I think Dan Moore has
played really well this year so far. I think Fatanu
had a pretty good start to his rookie campaign. This
(23:19):
is the biggest test that is already getting this year
because no matter who you get, you know if they
switch aside does botha max switch.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Around but either way you're getting one of them, you're
both so good luck to you there and this will
be a much I think the Chargers tackles collectively are
in a better place than steel Well. I think they're
more polished already in the Nan has.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Got the pedigree of those two guys, And to be
quite honest, I know he's been the best tackle for
the team this year. It's been a short year though,
to be honest with you, and the pedigree is not
there his fourth round pick compared to one of these
we're talking about a bunch of first rounders here.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Yeah, one of these things is not like the other
in terms of high pick, high ceiling. But he's been good.
This would be a test.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
From Steelers open things up against the Chargers Akroshuer Stadium,
one o'clock kickoff for the home opener of the twenty
twenty four campaign. Thanks has always forgiving us a listen
for Matt Williamson on tom Auferman. We'll talk to you
next week on the Advanced Scout when we preview Steelers
at Colts
We got some work to do. This is the Advanced
Scout with Tom Opperman and Matt Williamson.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Matt, before we get to the two and oh Chargers
versus the two and oh Steelers to open up Acker
Sure Stadium for the twenty twenty four season. What'd you
think of the game against Denver? Another game where the
offense leaves you wanting a lot more. Scored a touchdown
at least this time. Yeah, and most importantly, you got
the win in you are two and oh coming to
your home opener.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yeah, and you did see some big plays on tape
that didn't count and you can't discredit that, But you
gotta score touchdowns. I mean they've scored one offensive touchdown.
That's one of four teams including the Bears, that are
one and one Denver. That's ozh and two in Carolina,
which is maybe the worst team I've ever seen, which
(00:50):
brings me to the Chargers. You know, as we always do,
we're gonna talk a lot of stats and we're gonna
break down the opponent heavily. But as great as the
Saints look and the two Chargers, all these stats for
the Chargers you have to take with a small grain
of Salt, considering the fifty percent of their games have
been against a dreadful Panthers team.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yes, and I don't think the Raiders, despite beating the
Ravens this past weekend, are the best team in the
NFL either. So they got a nice little easy start
to their season if you're Harbaugh and his re entrance
into the NFL. But at the same point, at the
same time, if we're gonna sit here and say, hey,
the Steelers are two and oh and two and oh's
all that matters, even if the offense doesn't look like
(01:32):
you wanted to, the Chargers are going to say the
same exact thing, like, hey, we don't make the schedule.
We don't decide how bad the teams are that we play.
We just got to beat them. And they've been beating
up on them.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
They have, which is what good teams do. And they
would say, well, the Broncos aren't exactly the best team
I've ever seen either, But I will say the Steelers
Week one win looks a lot better to me after
watching Monday Football the other night.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, you know what I said about that though, too.
It's we've talked about this before. They did get lucky
with where they got Atlanta in the schedule and Kirk
not playing at all in the preseason because you could
tell he was much more comfortable. I don't think the
Achilles was back all the way, but he had a
feel to play on his new Achilles, if you will. Yeah,
he was just able to maneuver around. He was under
(02:15):
center a lot more, he was doing a lot more
play action. Sole got lucky, took advantage of that, and
you can't give that win back. Falcons don't get another
reno at that.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
So my biggest segaway actually from Monday Football was the
O line that we think was going to be really
good for the Falcons was really good against one team
but not the other.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Was really good against the Eagles. Yeah, no doubt. So
the Chargers are two and oh. That's their first two
and oh starts since twenty twelve. Twenty twenty, the COVID
year was the last time the Steelers began two and oh.
They were eleven and oh that year. Nineteen ninety nine, though,
was the last time Pittsburgh began this season with two
road victories. And that leads me to probably any Steelers
fans favorite stat or what it should be their favorite
(02:55):
stat Right now, eight of the last nine teams that
start two and oh and both wins are on the
road made the playoffs. So that's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Yeah, that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Since nineteen ninety, of the teams that began the season
two and oh doesn't matter if you're on the road
or at home, no matter, sixty three point nine percent
went to the playoffs and forty one point two percent
won their division.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
How about it.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
And the Steelers got a nice two game lead over
two teams in their division and one game lead on
the Brown. So as far as starts go, yeah, of
course two and oh is obviously a great start. Tom,
You're not breaking any news to me, but the statistics
back up that you're probably heading to the playoffs, especially
if you do it on the road.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Yeah, and three and oh is like seventy yeah right,
So in the winner of this game, it would be
an upset if they don't go to the playoffs. And
looking around the AFC let alone, the AFC North teams
like Miami Indianapolis, are they really playoff contenders anymore? You know?
Like the preseason I looked at Miami and thought they
(03:54):
could be that. No, they lost to you know, so
the coming up with seven playoff teams, the AFC looks
like a much easier path than it did two weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Before we dive deeper into the Chargers, let's get a
look at the series history between these two teams. While
the Chargers lead in playoff matchups two to one, Pittsburgh
owns this series overall, with commanding twenty four to eleven lead.
This series began in nineteen seventy one, and the Steelers
won the first six matchups San Diego they were San Diego,
(04:23):
then won the next three, But the Chargers have losing
streaks of six to five and five against Pittsburgh over
the fifty years that these teams have been squaring off.
After a long stretch in which the Chargers won just
five of twenty one games between nineteen eighty three and
two thousand and nine, these two teams have gone back
and forth over the past six meetings, with the Chargers
(04:43):
winning the most recent matchup in twenty nineteen. Mike Tomlin
is five and three against the Chargers overall, so recently
a bit more even as far as the series history
is concerned than historically, I'd say, yeah, they've played some
pretty famous playoff matchups. Yeah, one that Steelers fans don't
like to talk about, the one that they do with
Santonio Holmes's great punt return on the way to winning
a Super Bowl that year.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
My thoughts, I mean, I'm a lot older than you,
but I was born in nineteen seventy three, so of
course I was thrust right into the super Steelers.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
But yeah, you had no chance to be a fan
of anybody else.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I did have a Dan Fouts jersey. That's the only
non stealer gear because now they were so ever in
my whole life, wal except with the Browns when they.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Employed me that it doesn't count.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
You had to wear that that I purchased, yeah, or
somebody purchased for me. But those Foults teams were so
much cool. So they were so ahead of their time in.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
The early age the time machine.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah, they did no defense and they were every kid
loved them.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Well, we are actually kind of going in a time machine,
but in reverse for this game, because just looking at
the overview here, Matt, this clock's going to be running
in a lot.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Oh, Dale and I have a joke and like this
game two hours.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, our game to a lot of tight end games,
you know, right, Yeah, So Los Angeles produced twenty one
first downs last week compared to the seven that they
allowed the Panthers. They were also nine of sixteen third
downs compared to one of twelve by Carolina. The Chargers
average one point nine more yards per play than they
allowed while winning the time of possession battle thirty six
to twenty three. The Steelers have been possessing the ball
(06:12):
quite a bit as well. They have been possessing thirty
three point or thirty three minutes and fifty seven seconds
to start the season compared to the Chargers thirty two
minutes and seventeen seconds, So those ranked six for the
Steelers in twelve for the Chargers. Pittsburgh has run eighteen
more plays than their opponent, and the Chargers have run
fourteen more plays, which is a lot of games. So
(06:33):
these two teams love to squeeze the air out of
the football. The Chargers have had a lot of success
doing that against some weaker teams, and the Steelers have
had a lot of success doing that against the weak
team and a team that we think bounce back pretty well.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I'm on a night football, and the Chargers have a
really good quarterback I mean, the Steelers can't claim that
at the moment. Kind of the difference, right, that's kind
of the difference. But I also think in Tomlin and
Harbaugh's DNA, they're gonna be physical, They're gonna run the football,
They're not gonna turn the ball over olds. I mean,
those guys could have been coaches in the sixties.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
The Steelers are gaining sixty two and a half more
yards on the ground than they're allowing, and the Chargers
are gaining one hundred and seventeen more yards on the
ground than they're allowing. Yeah, but I that is the
one thing, Matt, that I chalk up the most to
them playing just some Chiefs defenses. They're running the hell
out of the football, but these teams aren't gonna stop
the run all year. You're gonna see, you know, if
(07:25):
you play daily fantasy, you want to go on the
running back that's going up against Carolina every week, like
they're just gonna rip through that team. So I think
it's great for Dobbins that he's healthy and he's off
to a great start, But that's the one thing that's
coming back to earth, at least I really hope so
at Akrocer Stadium.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Like, if we're doing this podcast for the Chargers Audio network,
I'd be like, we've ran the ball really well, but
you know that Panthers D is horrific and they're losing
their best player, Derek Brown, who's a big run stopping
in the middle. We're not going to run like we
did in the first two weeks in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The Steelers both won last week while attempting just twenty
passes a piece. These were two of five NFL teams
that won in Week two despite attempting twenty or fewer passes.
Chargers and Steelers combine for eighty rushing attempts last week.
So this is going to be a fast moving game
time wise. As far as scoring is concerned, that might
be a little bit of a different story. This is
(08:20):
probably going to have a bit of a feel like
the other two Steelers games have had. When you're looking
at the final scoreboard, let's start looking at the Chargers
defense though.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Matt Okay, so I think the Steelers D is noticeably
better than the.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Charge Definitely is. I think the differentiator, if Herbert's the
differentiator for the Chargers the Steelers is the defense is
way better than what the Chargers are boasting. But I
don't think the Chargers defense is awful. You know, you
look at their stats from last year and they were
pretty bad. They were like the twenties in almost every
major category. But something so weird about Harba, Like he's
(08:54):
an ex quarterback. You think about him as getting the
most out of your quarterback, being a good offensive guy,
even if it's a throwback offense. But Matt everywhere he
goes to the defense fundamentally sound. Yeah, San Francisco defense instantly,
Michigan grab defense from the second e stet foot on campus,
and it looks like the same thing's happening here in
the Charge. I don't want to say great defense, much
improved defense where they were.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
The thing that worries me is right up the middle though,
Like they're also a three to four in their base
their D line, they're three hundred pounders are no name
dudes that I don't know how many of them would
even make this team.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, Bonnie has even a tough name to pronounce, to
be honest with you. Then Punaford, Morgan cox Well, Morgan
cox enjoy bos So that's when you're getting to the
ends A little bit mm hmm. And Bosa is.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Gonna do guys are good.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Is going to do a lot of heavy heavy lifting.
Max's gonna do a lot of heavy lifting.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Those guys are really good.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
So you're telling me they're run the football at the minute.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Between the tackles is real questionable to me. And the
second level linebackers are so.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
So because there's star power, Like we mentioned those two
guys and about Derwin James and the secondary. So there's
some pieces for Harbaugh in that defense. According to Play
with the Corners, Chargers corners aren't terrible.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Yeah, yeah, but I think you attack them right behind.
Zach Frasier's been really good.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
He's had another I think game tape from this past
week showed multiple pancake blocks just controlling the line of scrimmage.
Looks like a big time hit for the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
I rarely say this about rookies, but I think he's
already a good NFL starter, not for a rookie, just
he's a good NFL start. He's a plus player already.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
The offense is that the Chargers have been facing this year,
especially the one that they did last week, have been awful,
so their stats could be a little bit skewed in
a thundercent direction that way, like, for instance, they held
I was going to get there, ye first, I was
going with the Chargers held Carolina just sixty nine passing
yards in Week two and the Panthers didn't have a
(10:50):
pass catcher that eclipsed twenty three receiving yards. I mean,
I know you said that Sante Samuel Junior is not bad,
and Christian Fulton's not bad, and Jazia Taylor's not bad,
but they're not all deonce anders where they'll be giving
up sixty nine passing yards in twenty twenty four NFL.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
And subsequently the first overall pick a year ago gets
benched after this game. That's how bad the Panthers are.
And again, sixty nine passing yards in a game where
the garbage time they're playing prevent and yeah, I mean
it's unheard of.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, So you mentioned the Chargers only allowing thirteen points
so far this year, is Therds have only allowed sixteen
points this year, which you'd think would lead the league
after two games.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
But there's the best two though.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Yes, the Chargers are in front by three points. In
terms of EPA per play, Los Angeles has the best
defense in the NFL as well the Saints' second best,
and then the Steelers come in at third best.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
So, but there's a commonality there. The Chargers and Saints
both got to play the Carolina Panthers, right, they stay
that many?
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Are they one of the worst teams you've seen? Maybe?
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Like they're not close to competitive. It's
over in the first quarter in these Panther games.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
You don't jump start them at all. To just become
a more competent.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
There's nowhere to go with it. I mean, it might
be a little better, it has to be.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, So those stats again skewed. You got to take
them with a little bit of a grain of salt
when you're looking.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
At Denver's offense is bad, it's not close to as
bad as a Panther.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
That's what the Panthers are picking up. The Giants offense
is bad. They scored three touchdowns and lost to the Commanders.
They scored three touchdowns. Panthers might be working on that
for a while. Hey, To be fair, the Steelers still
need to work on getting yeah yeah, yeah. So I'm
glad to hear that they're bad against the run, because
that's teams want to keep giving the Steelers that they'll
(12:39):
gladly keep taking them, especially when it's a given that
Fields is going to be the quarterback. Roll Russ is
still working through that calf injury. So it sets up
nicely for what the Steelers want to do. The weakness
of this Chargers defense, he said, they got strength in
the secondary. That's all right. We can avoid throwing the
football unless we absolutely have to. It really seems like
avoid mac Bosa breaking this game. Yeah, keep it away
(13:02):
from Derwin James. Maybe no middle of the field again. Yeah,
and you should be aok offensively. You gotta get over
yourselves and put the ball on the end zone and
stop shooting yourself in the foot. But they shouldn't be,
you know that resistant despite having two really good performances
so far defensively.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Right, And I really think Harbaugh and Tomlin's message this
week is going to be really similar. You know that, Hey,
we know we're not perfect teams, even though we have
a perfect record, and running the ball is going to
be extremely important with big personnel. I don't mind if
we punt here and there. You know, Harbaugh's gonna trust
his quarterback more, much more Tomlin's gonna trust his defense
(13:43):
much more and whatere. The Steelers have been exceptional other
than defense is special teams turnovers they lead the league
and turnover ratio. They're getting the most EPA out of
special teams and turnovers in the league. In the margins
you know, I mean you to cut down on penalties
that they've taken the second most penalties in the league.
(14:04):
So all those it's a very typical Steeler game. You know,
it's going to be sixteen thirteen and whoever makes the
most mistakes is going to lose.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Sounds like a great time. Yeah, Steelers are plus five
in the turnover differential, which is the best in the
league through two games. And that's important because the stat
that you've been saying from the beginning of the year,
I still every week over the past three seasons and
now including these two games, when the Steelers have won
or tied the turnover battle, they're now thirty and seven
(14:35):
going to and oh, obviously this year.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Tied or one, I mean zero zero is thirty and.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Seven exactly, and then fifteen and one when they've lost
that turnover battle over that stretch kind of going beyond
that a little bit more and or expanding on it.
Since twenty twenty two, the Steelers are nineteen and fourign
games in which they did not throw an interception. They're
two and eleven with at least one interception thrown. Is
it really that simple interception and you win the football game?
(15:02):
Like I think people no wonder they're playing so conservatively
with Justin Fields.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
I know everyone kills Tomlin. You know you got to
open it up. Why, I mean, like, just don't throw
in time I open it up, I'm losing the game, right,
And the other thing about Fields. As a Bear, he
was like one of the absolute worst sack and turnover
guys in the whole league. As a Steeler, he's been
one of the best. I'm not saying he's like over
(15:28):
the hump, but two games right, But you know they're
obviously ingraining it in him. If you don't turn them
all over, we're gonna be in the game. You don't
throw an interception, we're probably gonna win. And here's the evidence.
It's overwhelming.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
And get rid of it a little quick.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Don't don't last week he did last week's time to
throw as much better.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
There was one play I remember in the Red zone.
He kind of pat pat pat pat, and he took
a sack and I think that was the Darnell Washington
see it. But like pat pat run, you have like
six yards to go, dude, just getting.
Speaker 1 (15:58):
You know right, They're not asking him just there in
the pod.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
They're coaching it out of him. Absolutely responding to that coaching.
You're not gonna work that out of your system overnight.
He's going to have those pat pat pat moments in
the red zone, especially when things are tight, you're not
the pressure is there to score the touchdown.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Yeah so, but good environments and good coaching goes a
long way. And both these teams, well both these like
Herbert's interesting to me.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Like, yeah, let's get to the Chargers offense and let's
get to Herbert. They're kind of hiding them a little
bit this year.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Well they had to, you know what I mean. I
think they're kind of keeping that in their back pocket.
Like his attempts are way down.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
But he's still capitalizing when he does have He's still
got three touchdowns already this year. He's thrown for yardage
when he has to.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
But his weapons aren't great.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
No, they're not Saints and Steelers are running a ball
at a higher percentage than the Chargers. So they've got
the third highest run percentage on offense this year and
only the Bills are running it at a higher rate
on first down. So like, it ain't as surprise what
you're going to get on first down in this football game.
And I think when you got Herbert and he's fully healthy,
(17:00):
Harba's gonna Harbu sees these stats too. You know what
he's gonna say, all right, I'm running the ball out
on first down. This is a big game coming up.
We're gonna go deep with Herbert on first down on
a nice play action here, just to catch them off
guard a little bit.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
They've been able to keep that in their back pocket.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
I don't think it's coming out of their back pocket
this week, Matt, because he's hurt and that's a huge
key in this game. So you might not be able
to do some of that play actiony stuff, especially against
this pass rush.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Yeah, and play action against Steelers is rough because you
mentioned it's half a second longer.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
You got to hold the question. And I think he's
gonna want to continue that trend of winning on first
down through the ground to keep that pass rush off
of a hurt Herbert.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Yes, and we all know the Steelers pass rush in
front is awesome. But I am very impressed with their
heavily invested in young offensive line the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yes, yeah, you know, Herbert was the reason that Harbaugh
was kind of saying, yeah, I'm coming to LA because
I got this guy in my quarterback. I think that
the one tackle that was there they I think the
one that he took with his first first round pick
this year too, is a great match of Slater. He's
got twin towers, he's got cornerstones for years and years
to come.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Herbert and two tackles is exactly where Harball wants to start.
He'll figure out the receivers and the other stuff and
subsequent years.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I think that's why he took the tackle this year
in the first round, and and all it's just been
up the speed right, He's been really good, easily drop in,
plug and play. You're already one of the best tackles
in football.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
And like Fortano though, he's a left tackle turned right
and he looks like he's doing it well.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
So he's gonna have to go up against TJ.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Yes every step. And so this is the first test.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Yeah. I like it against Crosby though, and that's a
good test. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Usually you'd be hard pressed to find a good comp
before you come to mister T. J. Watt. Crosby's one
of the few ones that you could go to and
say move.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Crosby both sides. But he didn't destroy them.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
No, And it's not like high Smith is off the
hook either. With Slater on the other side. I mean
that's a more polished even tackle. That's yeah. Yeah, phenomenal.
One of the best in football.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
One of the best in football already and not recognize
that way quite yet because he's had some injuries.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
You mentioned the pass catchers that Herbert has to work with, though,
that's where they're sorely lacking. Yeah. I don't know if
this bet exists, but I would put a lot of
money on their first round pick being a wide receiver
this year. No matter where they land in the mid
round and the early if they fall apart, if they
get to the playoffs in the twenties, they're picking a playmaker.
Harvon needs a playmaker for Herbert. Lad McConkie in Week
(19:27):
one was third amongst Chargers wide receivers in routes run,
but he led the team in targets with seven in
week two. McConkie's four targets in nineteen routes run was
only behind Quentin Johnson, who had six and nineteen respectively.
Johnson has seen a target share of twenty one percent
and then thirty two percent over the first two weeks.
Johnson didn't see a target share of even twenty percent
(19:48):
during his rookie season. So it's Johnson in year two,
it's mconkie in year one, maybe a little bit of.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Palmer won the first round pick, the second round pick.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah, so there's pedigree there.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Johnson was so bad as rookie, but you're allowed to
get better and maybe some good coaching. He's done pretty
well for two weeks.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I do feel like a lot of the stuff that
I was looking at from the Chargers last year, even
though there's personnel carryover, I had to crump up and
throw in the trash because they all just got upgraded
because they're getting better coaching.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
A long way. I do wonder if Johnston, who's the
bigger guy, gets Porter the whole time. I mean, he's
not good enough to warrant that, but the matchup makes
some sense, and they've been leaning on him.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
How confident are you in stopping JK. Dobbins and that
running attack.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
The long ones of what Dobbins have been really good at,
and he's been way better than Edwards. I would say
moderate confidence, five or six out of ten.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
I mean, it's weird that Harbaugh's just like copy and
pasted the twenty twenty two Baltimore Ravens running back room
and put him the lost angelous Chargers now.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
With coordinator Baltimore two, a lot.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Of front office carryover from Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Michigan, Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
They do that all the time.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Right, The defensive coordinator who's now the head coach in
Seattle was the defensive coordinator in Michigan.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Well, he started with the Ravens. He went to Michigan
for a year to be a play caller.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Thet polish goes coming back to Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Now your head guy.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Yeah, there's a little going on, but not anymore though. Yeah,
they're gonna be going head to head against each other
at one point this season. But yeah, I think as
long as you can, you know, cut the head off
of that snake. You make Herbert have to beat you
that might not work out for you.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
He's dangerous, but.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
He's hurt, and I don't think he's going to be
one hundred percent in this game. I think he's going
to play in this game, but I don't think he's
going to be one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
His receivers would worry be more to I mean, like
on a tight end that's.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Going to be like they And as far as like
getting the ball out quick to some of these playmakers,
like you can tackle the catch with lad McConkey, like
you're you're gonna be okay there. So as long as
you can stop this running attack and don't beat yourself,
don't beat themselves, which they've been great at doing great
at stopping the run too, you should be okay against
this Chargers offense.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
I think so. I mean, yes, they're two to zero,
but I don't look at them as a top ten
type of team.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
All right, our key matchups before we get out of here,
we already.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Talked about the carbon coffees of each other too.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Chargers offensive tackles versus the Steelers outside linebackers Slater and
Alt versus high Smith and Wat potential to wreck the
game for Watt and High Smith obviously also potential to
control the game if you're those Chargers tackles and keep
everything on schedule for that Chargers offense, keep and most importantly,
keep Herbert as clean as possible while he's trying to
(22:36):
recover and play through an injury.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
Yep, some high pedigree dudes, some really serious edge rushers.
And it's actually a position where the Chargers have depth
like the Steelers. I mean Bud the Preeze on that
team and to I Butcher his name, the usc kid
is their third guy would start for a lot of
guy a lot of teams like her big Wood. So
those edge rushers in this game are really really good.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Now you said they were mere images of each other.
So the other matchup is the Steelers offensive tackles Dan
Moore and Troy Fatanu versus the Chargers outside linebackers of
Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. I think Dan Moore has
played really well this year so far. I think Fatanu
had a pretty good start to his rookie campaign. This
(23:19):
is the biggest test that is already getting this year
because no matter who you get, you know if they
switch aside does botha max switch.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Around but either way you're getting one of them, you're
both so good luck to you there and this will
be a much I think the Chargers tackles collectively are
in a better place than steel Well. I think they're
more polished already in the Nan has.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Got the pedigree of those two guys, And to be
quite honest, I know he's been the best tackle for
the team this year. It's been a short year though,
to be honest with you, and the pedigree is not
there his fourth round pick compared to one of these
we're talking about a bunch of first rounders here.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
Yeah, one of these things is not like the other
in terms of high pick, high ceiling. But he's been good.
This would be a test.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
From Steelers open things up against the Chargers Akroshuer Stadium,
one o'clock kickoff for the home opener of the twenty
twenty four campaign. Thanks has always forgiving us a listen
for Matt Williamson on tom Auferman. We'll talk to you
next week on the Advanced Scout when we preview Steelers
at Colts
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.