September 24, 2024 • 22 mins
Matt Williamson and Tom Opferman break down the Steelers upcoming opponent, the Indianapolis Colts.
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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 Mack Williamson.
The Steelers beat up on the Chargers in their home
opener last Sunday, so they improved to three and oh
and Matt, I have some great three and o stats here.
Do you want to know where I go? Do you
want to know where I got him from?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
No, I'm sure you dug them up.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I got him from you, Matt. Going back to last season,
this isn't a three and oh stat, but this is great.
Pittsburgh has won six straight regular season games. We got
that Mason Rudolph run at the end of last year
and now the Justin Fields run this year. This is
the fourth three and oh start for the Steelers under
Mike Tomlin, and Pittsburgh has made the playoffs each time
previously two thousand and seven, twenty ten, and twenty twenty.
(00:42):
So that's a good omen. Since nineteen ninety, teams across
the NFL that start three and oh make the playoffs
at a seventy five point two percent clip and win
their division fifty one point five percent of the time. Matt,
I'd be interested to see if that fifty one point
five percent of the time number for the division John up,
when you have a two game lead teams in your
(01:03):
division two? How long was starting three and oh? But
those are great statistics and should make Steelers fans feel
really comfortable where the team's.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Act really comfortable. I mean, you'd have to pretty much
collapse to not make the playoffs. And I'm curious, I
guess I'll probably look it up. Is what percentage of
four and oh teams win the playoff or go to
the playoffs? I bet it's eighty five percent?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You know, wouldn't it be weird if it dropped? If
you win the fourth one, then you go down? You
want to lose? Yeah, obviously it would go up. And
the Steelers in the driver's seat for the AFC North.
They are the first team in the last twenty years
and only the eighth since nineteen seventy to allow three
hundred or few yards and ten or fewer points in
each of their first three games. They haven't allowed a
(01:47):
touchdown in the second half of a football game.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Yeah, two field goals.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I think that's the biggest takeaway I've had for the
first three weeks and my biggest takeaway despite fields playing
great against the Chargers. Was still this is an elite,
elite defense. I think it's I think it is by
a good stretch.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Matt, Minnesota has done really good things. I don't think
on paper there close.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
That's not going to sustain that. The Steelers is agree.
So they got the Colts this week. They're on the
road again. Pittsburgh is eleven and three in their last
fourteen regular season road games. The Steelers have won their
past fourteen road games when leading going into the fourth quarter.
That is the longest current streak in the NFL. So
they've been very good on the road recently, and that's.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Good thing that people realize that or not.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
No, and you have three of your first four games
on the road, so that's important. And Matt, the streak
of losing the turnover differential, how about that and not
winning a game ended. Finally, they are now one fifteen
and one in their last seventeen games when they lose
the turnover differential.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Yeah, and I think that's a good sign. I mean
at least oh yeah, and you know what shows you can.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
You got competent you got more than competent quarterback play.
That's the format that's a difference. That's what can overcome, right,
turning the ball over.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
And there a little more explosives. Now it was only
one nothing, it wasn't minus three.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
But still in terms of this game, well, let's get
into the series history first began in nineteen fifty or
beginning in nineteen fifty. These two franchises have met thirty
four times, but only two of those games took place
before nineteen sixty eight. The Colton Steelers split their first
four meetings, but the Steelers are twenty five and four since,
and overall, Pittsburgh leads this series twenty seven to seven.
(03:23):
Twelve of the games have been the Steelers against the
Baltimore Colts before they moved. The Colts won just three
of those dozen matchups. The Colts have won just two
games against Pittsburgh in the two thousands, zero in the nineties,
one in the eighties, and two in the seventies. The
Steelers were on an eight game winning streak against Indianapolis
and had won five in a row in Indy, but
the Colts won this matchup just last year, thirty to
(03:45):
thirteen in Indy. The Colts, Yeah, that was during that
real bad stretch for the Steelers. The Colts and Steelers
have met five times in the postseason, and Pittsburgh is
a perfect five to zero in those playoff battles, including
against mister Harbor, the coach that they victimized last year
for the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Manning played for that team during on that stretch.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Really good, Yeah, Colts teams the Steelers had a lot
of success against.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, I mean they absolutely have had that franchise's number, Matt.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
One thing that I love about the Steelers offense this
year is the time of possession, oh Man. Only the
Niners are better at thirty five minutes and thirty eight seconds.
The Steelers possessed the ball at thirty three minutes and
fifty five seconds. Indy's dead last.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Twenty like a distant by three minutes.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Twenty one minutes and thirty six seconds. So just on average,
the Steelers will be plus twelve in this football game
against the Colts.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yep. I think it's a huge key, you know. I mean,
if Taylor gets rolling and they can possess football a
little bit, I think the Colts could be hard to
play against, but not much indicates that's the case.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And we're going to get to their offense after we
talk their defense, but skipping ahead a little bit because
we're here, why do you think that's not the case, Like,
why are they going for this more explosive Anthony Richardson
hold onto the ball a ton instead of just meeting potatoes,
run the ball and try to squeeze the era. They
should be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers style of football.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, and I think they're starting to realize that that
they can't make Richardson the focal point of the offense.
And his splash plays are wonderful, but they're here and
there and they're hard to count on. But their run
defense is bad. I mean, like it didn't show up
against Chicago because Chicago doesn't run against anybody. If you
watch a Green Bay game in Week two, that's Willis.
(05:18):
There's no passing threat at all, and they're just gouging
the Colts. I mean, it's amazing to be a twenty
one minute time of possession type team.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
It's nuts. You mentioned that rush defense. Let's dig into
the Colts defensively through the first two weeks of the.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Season to say this on but this is one of
the more boring teams to break down.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
There's not a lot of like, there's no chance I
think the Steelers lose this game. I really don't. I
can't see it.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I can't see it either. I mean, because they kind
of want to play the same way, and the Steelers
are so much better at it.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I thought the Colts were going to be better than
this the beginning of season two. Richardson has not impressed me.
But and defensively too, there's like no one on the defensive.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
The best defensive guys hurt. Yeah, the linebackers are slow
and their defensive numbers are bad, and they are the
most predictable. They're the old school Cover three. They don't
do anything.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
They do nothing well.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
They do nothing well.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
In your stat pack, I'm seeing you know they've gotten
They got torched by the Bears receivers last week. Yes,
Dunze Comet, tight end Comet and DJ Moore combined for
two hundred and eighty seven yards. Caleb Williams, who's been struggling,
still got him for three hundred and sixty three yards
through the air. So to your point, they're weak in
the secondary. And then the Bears game aside, because they
were throwing the ball all over the place. The first
(06:29):
two weeks of the season, they gave it four hundred
and seventy four rushing yards. That's the most by any
team through two games since nineteen seventy eight. Right seventy eight.
I don't think were you even born then.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I was seventy three, Okay, so yeah, barely.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I mean, that's ridiculous, man, that's all time bad.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
That's the height of the super Steelers, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
So, yeah, that's a defense that it's basically, are you
a good passing team? Throw on the Colts? Do you
like to run the ball? Go ahead and run right
all over them? It's just bad.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Cargo's run game is so bad. The center, their running
backs are bad. Everyone's around these guys and that's exactly
what Steers going to do.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Steelers offense is only averaging four point six yards per play.
Hopefully that gets.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
That's not great, but at least we saw more explosives last.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Week hundred percent. Yeah, the Colts defense is giving up
five point three yards per play. That isn't great at all,
really poor.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yo.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
The Steelers are converting forty three point two percent of
their third down attempts. That's seventh best in the league.
That's different from last year.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah, I don't think i'mone realized that.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I like these little things that you keep on covering
that are way different from last year. Time of possessions
one of them. Yeah, conversions on third downs is another
big one. The chains can keep the keep the possession,
keep the chains moving, keep that defense fresh.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah, I mean, like this is a small thing, maybe,
but I think anyone that's watched the Steelers, you know, religiously,
like most of our listeners have realizes TJ. Waddle pull
himself out of games, you know, and you know he's
played eighty eight percent of the snaps because he's never tired.
Because you know, I mean, they're they're getting first downs.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah. The only game so far half really that they
weren't getting first downs was against Denver, and you saw
the defense start to bend a little bit, Denver started
getting a couple of field goals, started to get a
little gassed in that Denver air. But that was the
outlier so far. Second half against the Chargers, it was
just more channel to move the chains. Move the chains,
move the chains, and you're right, it keeps a lot fresh.
(08:20):
And that's going to be even bigger now Withhi Smith
being out because your rotation's lacking at the outside linebacker spot.
What Herbig gonna be on the field a lot?
Speaker 1 (08:28):
And I would love her Big, but I'm not sold
that he is an elite every down run defender. No,
I think some Leal on early.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Now, That's actually what I was just going to say, Matt.
I'm interested to see how Leal responds to this more
than her Big.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I think it much different than Herbie.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Because they're gonna need him. Like you said, Herbig can't
just go out there and be an eighty eight percent
of the snap guy.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
So we've been rough on the Colts. But Richardson's a
phenomenal runner that they don't use enough. Taylor is an
outstanding ball carrier, and their line is big and physical.
With all respect to Herbig, I would run right at him,
you know, if he's out there on first and ten,
I would make him hold up.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
It really sounds to me like Shane Steichen doesn't know
what he's doing. I don't want to say he doesn't
know what he's doing, doesn't have a strong grasp on
how this team can be successful, especially offensively.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Well, I think the world, I mean, it's a lot
of it's Richardson though, so they don't run him as
much as you'd think they would. His accuracy is so bad.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Right now, right the worst, hard to believe fields. On
the other hand, seventy three percent is going through the
roof night right of what he was in Chicago.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
There's a lot of field stuff that's very different than
his Chicago days. But Richardson throws everything eight hundred miles
an hour, and he knocks like his guys over. He
can't make the layoffs, and he has some wild plays.
I mean, he's unbelievably talented, but you know, they don't
move the chains, they don't run many plays, they don't
have time possession because he hasn't complete passes.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
And on the defensive side of the ball map for
the Colts, this is weird. But it's another week where
there's barely any first round picks out there. Quinny pay
he's a first round pick in twenty twenty one. Other
than that, a.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Lot too from this year too, who I like.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
A lot, Well, he play a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Yeah, he's starting to. He was really last week.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah, Okay, so there's two now, yeah, but there's not
a lot of talent on the defensive side of the
ball and a lot of high pedigree talent.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
At least Buckner is there. Cam Hayward, I mean like
he's a star. He's been around the league. He's gonna
last a long time. He's out for the year. Linebackers
are slow. Their best corner Juju, Brenttz is hurt, who's
the second round pick a year ago. There's not much there,
and then they don't scheme guys up very well.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
No. They do, however, do a fair share of blitzing
on third down, though they like to send their blitzes
on third down. The good news there, though, is justin
Fields against the blitz last week eight of nine for
one hundred and nineteen yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
This is really promising because since Fields has been in
the league, he's been the most blitzed quarterback in the league.
So that's been kind of Rooks book on Fields is.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You know, can't handle this, Send the house.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Send the house on Steelers have given him a lot
of answers and he's handled it really well that I
think teams are going to start backing off blitzing.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
I saw a breakdown of Fields and I forget who
did it, but they were saying like there was this
route where Friarmouth was kind of the intermediate and you
were gonna have to squeeze it into a tight window
to get there. And then there was like Nausei or
Jalen just sitting out there for a nice five six
yard gain, a nice first six yard gain on first down,
and they were saying, old Fields, tries to push this,
(11:29):
push this ball down the field to Firearms, maybe even
tries to take the deep shot to Calvin Austin down
the field and see if that develops. But at the
very least, he's padding. He's padding, he's padding, he's waiting
for Firemuth. Then he's throwing it into three people and
trying to make this spectacular play, whereas he didn't even
think about that in Pittsburgh. He saw the coverage was
going to take those two away Austin and Firemuth before
(11:50):
it even happened, and then it was just right to
Warren for a nice six yard layup. So there's so
much stuff that he used to do that it's shocking
is out of his system, right, Yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Mean he's time to throws down, his accuracy is up.
And that's a great example because he used to be
too much of a big game hunter, you know. I
mean here a ball, yeah, which is great at Ohio
State when you're throwing to Smith Dichig, I mean all
those dudes and you're protective.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
And then in Chicago with all the things that changed
for him constantly, you can't do it. You couldn't. Its
teammates won't allow him, and he had to change, and
he wouldn't. So the Steelers have got him to change,
and now he's very happy not going broke taking a profit.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
You know, only the Broncos and the Falcons and the
Steelers have played blitz at a higher rate on third
down than Indianapolis does. So it's just been third down
blitz is for pretty much every game the Steelers have
played this year.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
But on the air it's been a fields thing too,
and Denver's a heavy blitz team.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Do you think teams start to adjust away from that?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
So, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I don't think that happens this week or the week after.
You got to see some of a couple weeks in
a row. Yeah, but eight to nine for one hundred
and nineteen and a touchdown is beating him pretty bad.
They won't blitz on early downs, though only the Niners
blitz at a lower rate on early downs then, but
again that's.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Back to predictability. Like you know you're getting four on
early downs, you're getting five plus on late downs. I mean,
like they don't change much up.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Now, This Indianapolis Colts defense shouldn't post too much of
a threat for the Steelers offense. Uh, let's look at
that offensive side of the ball. For the Colts. They
average six point three yards per play. That's only behind
Baltimore and Green Bay. That's explosive and a lot.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Of it's Week one Richardson throwing some crazy deep ball
Yea and Pierce. Unbelievable right.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
The Steelers, however, their defense allows just four point six
yards to play. Only three defenses are better in terms
of EPA per play. Pittsburgh has the best defense in
the NFL, as well as the best defense against the run.
The Colts offense is third best in the league per EPA,
and Pittsburgh's twenty six points allowed total through three games
is the best in the NFL. They're eight point six
mark points allowed per game is best in the NFL
(13:52):
as well. Obviously, so you're saying it sounds like you're
saying that it's a little skewed though the numbers are
a little out of whack because of that first game
that they played in some of those explosive plays.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, I do. I mean, there were some huge plays
in that game. Not I mean there's zero passing consistency.
But if they I mean Taylor's Chubb like running back
to me like, I mean, he's one of the best
ball carriers on the planet. And they started featuring the
more they actually start throwing the ball a little bit.
And it's a good line. So the offense could be good,
(14:24):
but the quarterback's strange.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
And they need to tailor the offense, I think towards
their strength a little bit more. And Richardson doesn't look
like he's going to be their strength, at least not yet,
at least throwing the football. I should say running the
football could be You mentioned how few plays they run.
Their offense runs just fifty plays per game. The next
lowest team is Buffalo, and Buffalo is just scoring like crazy,
so that's why they're not running that many players run
always in the end zone. So and they're still running
(14:48):
four more plays than the Colts.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
And they're killing the clock at the end Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Right, So they just do not hold onto the ball
at all, like twenty one minutes of possession time we
mentioned in the game. Richardson has a ten to just
one hundred and fifty seven career passes in the NFL
eighty four last year as a rookie, seventy three so
far this year. Eight yards per attempt ranked six in
the NFL. His two point nine to seven seconds time
to throw his sixth highest, and his twelve point six
(15:12):
average depth of target is the highest in the league.
I mean, this is they're treating him like he is
Josh Allen, like he's Patrick Mahomes, like he's Superman back there.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
He didn't do big stuff.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
He ain't done anything to warrant that. No, So I
don't know if I necessarily blame his struggles right now.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
No. I mean, he's not a naturally accurate player at
this point either, but.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
They're trying to make him do things that an actually
accurate player would do.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Like he's driving the ball down the field he'd and
holding the ball long and.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Right, and you said he's not really using his legs.
Is it more of an improvisational thing with him? When
he runs, or even then he's just not.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
There's a handful of designed rushes. But I don't know
if ownerships, like I remember he couldn't stay in the
field last year yeaeah. I mean, I wonder if ownership's like, hey,
if we're going to invest in this guy, he can't
be taken fifteen hits a game, and that neuters him
a little bit because he's a really, really good runner.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
What about this receiving core? Is this a Joey Porter
junior follow Michael Pittman type of game?
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I think so, But Pittman's numbers lately are horrendous. I
don't think that it's his fault, but there the receivers
are very distinct in their roles. Pierce is very straight lined, fast,
he's a deep threat. Downs is back now. He is
a pure slot and Pittman is the one. But his
numbers don't reflect him being no.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Not this year.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Not necessarily his fault, though, but I would put Porter
on Pit.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Put Porter on Pittman. Maybe have Dante take out Pierce
with the spear or not Pierce. Excuse me, Pierce, Yeah,
Pierce with the speed and then Downs, I mean got
a step up again. And Elliott bumping down to the
slot like he has been, Minka jumping in when he
has to. Yeah, they're fine. They're perfectly fine to handle
this type of receiving corps, especially when the guy throwing
them the ball fails a coin flip percentage of the time.
(16:51):
It's a fifty to fifty proposition with Richards.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Hard to believe in today's NFL. And the other thing
about it is he throws the ball. He throws the
ball too hard and a lot of times, you know,
receivers aren't ready for that kind of heat. I mean,
it's for me to you. And he throws at eight
thousand miles an hour, so he gets a lot of
tips from that way, and he's he's not very accurate,
and he misses high a lot so tips and overthrows
(17:16):
equal but taking the ball away, you know, minks sitting
back there feasting on that stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
What do you think about Adam I Mitchell. I was
pretty high on him out of the jet me too,
and he's behind Josh Downs. Now, Josh Downs came back
this past week and Mitchell saw his route tree drop significantly.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I thought Pierce might get the bench and for instead
of Mitchell, and I'll be honest. I mean, when the
second round rolled around for the Steelers and Zach Fraser
is still available, it was like, well, they're gonna take
Zach Frasier. That's great. But the only other guy I
considered the time was Mitchell.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Mitchellser's been unbelievable. He's a grizzly bear.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Yeah he might. He been fantastic.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
He might be the best rookie right now in the
class for real. Some people that gets the credit and
the fan fair because his quarterback mar Harrison Junior is
getting touchdowns. But I mean, Fraser from day one has
been one of the best centers right.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
I think he's clearly been the best rookie lineman offensive
lineman in a really good class.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, I mean, I think the runner up to that
is the guy he just played, Joe Olt. I think
he's the second best lineman of class. But yeah, man,
Fraser's been really impressive. Let's get to Jonathan Taylor before
we wrap things up here, because he's the biggest threat
for that Colts offense.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
If they win. He had a good game.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
It's the same thing with the Chargers. I think cut
the head off of that snake. But it's even better
this week because it's not that you're trying to make
Justin Herbert beat you. You're trying to make Anthony Richardson
beat you exactly. But just limit Jonathan Taylor limit the
damage that he can do on the ground. And I
think the Steelers that defensive line has been amazing. Cam
Hayward was unbelievable against the Chargers. I have no reason
(18:43):
not to expect that dominance to continue against this Colts
running offense.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
I think this is a stiffer challenge. I think it's
a slightly better ball carrier the quarterbacks, a better rush.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Runner for better blocking offensive line for the run.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
It's debatable, Okay, I would say yes because it's a
little more established Quentin Nelson and I mean, these guys
have been around.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Nelson'll get off.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Although the last time they played, Cam threw Nelson around, which.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Is character unbelievable. And it's the same thing when we
were talking about all last week. It's like, well you
have TJ. Watt, so like you have these formulas for
these great players. Like if you're boasting a great offensive line,
I'll probably say this all year, that's the that's what
I want. Your strength to be kind of if I'm
playing you as the Steelers. Absolutely I got the wreckord
for that.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Well, I can hear it. Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
So hopefully they do a good job of limiting Taylor.
He'll be used in the passing game too. Uh.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
They don't really have a receiving back. So when they
were losing pretty heavy, well not it wasn't even that bad,
but they were losing much of the Green Bay game,
and Taylor sat on the bench in like catchup mode,
you know, But last week they changed that. I think
I think they finally realized after two weeks Taylor has
(19:58):
to be our best player. And and he ran a
route on like ninety two percent of the drop back,
which he's not even a great receiver, but he needs
to be out there.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Taylor has one hundred plus scrimmage yards in four of
his past five games. He has five games in a
row at home with a rushing touchdown, scoring twice on
the ground. Last week. He played a possible forty nine
of fifty six snaps in Week three. Richardson has thirty
five plus rushing yards in five of seven career games,
with a rushing touchdown in four of seven. Hate to
be this simplistic here on the advanced scout. We're supposed
(20:28):
to sound smart, Matt, But to wrap up here, I mean,
you just got to stop the run. That's the only
thing they can do well offensively. Other than that, it'll
be gravy for the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I mean, Colts are in a rough spot right now,
and if I were them, I would start running Richardson more.
I mean, he's really is one of the best running
quarterbacks in the league, or at least have him scramble
more on broken plays. And they're definitely gonna feature Taylor.
And their pass catchers are good and their own lines good,
but when you're completing fifty percent in your passes, it
(20:57):
really hinders things. And this defense is how bad.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Key matchups to keep an eye on quarterback Anthony Richardson
against Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. I thought Queen played a
lot better against the Chargers. That very high impact tackle
early in the game set the tone. Yeah, yeah, almost
got Herbert. That's a fastball coming in from a superstar quarterback.
Though that's tough for a linebacker to pick off. But
led the team in tackles, but he's going to have
(21:23):
his hands full with Anthony Richardson, especially if they do decide,
you know what, we got to run the ball more
with this guy, and I.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Might even switch that key matchup to Taylor instead of Richardson.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Linebackers versus the ball carrier is probably a better way
to put it. Peyton Wilson's speed be a big asset
and maybe trying to spy on Anthony Richardson in this
He's probably the fastest of the linebackers.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Right and Queen are pretty comfortable.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
And then the last key matchup we got offensively for
the Steelers, left tackle Dan Moore versus that defensive end
La to Lat two that you've been talking about, is
starting to see an increased workload. Probably gonna be a
starter sooner rather than later, if not this week, and
Dan Moore has been very impressive throughout the first three games.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Loto was the first defensive player taken. He's very NFL.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
In a crazy run of non defensive players.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
The six scenes pick whatever it was, and he was
my bet before the season started for defensive Rookie of
the Year and he kind of has that. So between
him and pay their edge guys are pretty good.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
They're definitely talented, so Hopefully Broderick and Dan Moore can
step up this week in a second week in a
row where you see some pretty talented edge rushers, Steelers
and Colts at one o'clock in Indianapolis on Sunday. Our
local coverage begins at nine am. You and Tim, Right, Yeah,
You and Tim at nine am on DVE Steelers Audio Network.
(22:41):
The pregame kicks in with Labs du Lac and Persuda
at eleven, and then we got kickoff with Rob King,
Max Stark's, Craig Wolfley and Missy Matthews in Indy at
one o'clock for Matt Williamson on tom Opferman. Thanks for
giving us a listen. We'll be back again next week
on the Advanced Scout
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the advanced scout with Tom Opferman and Mack Williamson.
The Steelers beat up on the Chargers in their home
opener last Sunday, so they improved to three and oh
and Matt, I have some great three and o stats here.
Do you want to know where I go? Do you
want to know where I got him from?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
No, I'm sure you dug them up.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I got him from you, Matt. Going back to last season,
this isn't a three and oh stat, but this is great.
Pittsburgh has won six straight regular season games. We got
that Mason Rudolph run at the end of last year
and now the Justin Fields run this year. This is
the fourth three and oh start for the Steelers under
Mike Tomlin, and Pittsburgh has made the playoffs each time
previously two thousand and seven, twenty ten, and twenty twenty.
(00:42):
So that's a good omen. Since nineteen ninety, teams across
the NFL that start three and oh make the playoffs
at a seventy five point two percent clip and win
their division fifty one point five percent of the time. Matt,
I'd be interested to see if that fifty one point
five percent of the time number for the division John up,
when you have a two game lead teams in your
(01:03):
division two? How long was starting three and oh? But
those are great statistics and should make Steelers fans feel
really comfortable where the team's.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Act really comfortable. I mean, you'd have to pretty much
collapse to not make the playoffs. And I'm curious, I
guess I'll probably look it up. Is what percentage of
four and oh teams win the playoff or go to
the playoffs? I bet it's eighty five percent?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
You know, wouldn't it be weird if it dropped? If
you win the fourth one, then you go down? You
want to lose? Yeah, obviously it would go up. And
the Steelers in the driver's seat for the AFC North.
They are the first team in the last twenty years
and only the eighth since nineteen seventy to allow three
hundred or few yards and ten or fewer points in
each of their first three games. They haven't allowed a
(01:47):
touchdown in the second half of a football game.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Yeah, two field goals.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I think that's the biggest takeaway I've had for the
first three weeks and my biggest takeaway despite fields playing
great against the Chargers. Was still this is an elite,
elite defense. I think it's I think it is by
a good stretch.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Matt, Minnesota has done really good things. I don't think
on paper there close.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
That's not going to sustain that. The Steelers is agree.
So they got the Colts this week. They're on the
road again. Pittsburgh is eleven and three in their last
fourteen regular season road games. The Steelers have won their
past fourteen road games when leading going into the fourth quarter.
That is the longest current streak in the NFL. So
they've been very good on the road recently, and that's.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Good thing that people realize that or not.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
No, and you have three of your first four games
on the road, so that's important. And Matt, the streak
of losing the turnover differential, how about that and not
winning a game ended. Finally, they are now one fifteen
and one in their last seventeen games when they lose
the turnover differential.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Yeah, and I think that's a good sign. I mean
at least oh yeah, and you know what shows you can.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
You got competent you got more than competent quarterback play.
That's the format that's a difference. That's what can overcome, right,
turning the ball over.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
And there a little more explosives. Now it was only
one nothing, it wasn't minus three.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
But still in terms of this game, well, let's get
into the series history first began in nineteen fifty or
beginning in nineteen fifty. These two franchises have met thirty
four times, but only two of those games took place
before nineteen sixty eight. The Colton Steelers split their first
four meetings, but the Steelers are twenty five and four since,
and overall, Pittsburgh leads this series twenty seven to seven.
(03:23):
Twelve of the games have been the Steelers against the
Baltimore Colts before they moved. The Colts won just three
of those dozen matchups. The Colts have won just two
games against Pittsburgh in the two thousands, zero in the nineties,
one in the eighties, and two in the seventies. The
Steelers were on an eight game winning streak against Indianapolis
and had won five in a row in Indy, but
the Colts won this matchup just last year, thirty to
(03:45):
thirteen in Indy. The Colts, Yeah, that was during that
real bad stretch for the Steelers. The Colts and Steelers
have met five times in the postseason, and Pittsburgh is
a perfect five to zero in those playoff battles, including
against mister Harbor, the coach that they victimized last year
for the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Manning played for that team during on that stretch.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Really good, Yeah, Colts teams the Steelers had a lot
of success against.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, I mean they absolutely have had that franchise's number, Matt.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
One thing that I love about the Steelers offense this
year is the time of possession, oh Man. Only the
Niners are better at thirty five minutes and thirty eight seconds.
The Steelers possessed the ball at thirty three minutes and
fifty five seconds. Indy's dead last.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Twenty like a distant by three minutes.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Twenty one minutes and thirty six seconds. So just on average,
the Steelers will be plus twelve in this football game
against the Colts.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Yep. I think it's a huge key, you know. I mean,
if Taylor gets rolling and they can possess football a
little bit, I think the Colts could be hard to
play against, but not much indicates that's the case.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And we're going to get to their offense after we
talk their defense, but skipping ahead a little bit because
we're here, why do you think that's not the case, Like,
why are they going for this more explosive Anthony Richardson
hold onto the ball a ton instead of just meeting potatoes,
run the ball and try to squeeze the era. They
should be playing the Pittsburgh Steelers style of football.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, and I think they're starting to realize that that
they can't make Richardson the focal point of the offense.
And his splash plays are wonderful, but they're here and
there and they're hard to count on. But their run
defense is bad. I mean, like it didn't show up
against Chicago because Chicago doesn't run against anybody. If you
watch a Green Bay game in Week two, that's Willis.
(05:18):
There's no passing threat at all, and they're just gouging
the Colts. I mean, it's amazing to be a twenty
one minute time of possession type team.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
It's nuts. You mentioned that rush defense. Let's dig into
the Colts defensively through the first two weeks of the.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Season to say this on but this is one of
the more boring teams to break down.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
There's not a lot of like, there's no chance I
think the Steelers lose this game. I really don't. I
can't see it.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I can't see it either. I mean, because they kind
of want to play the same way, and the Steelers
are so much better at it.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I thought the Colts were going to be better than
this the beginning of season two. Richardson has not impressed me.
But and defensively too, there's like no one on the defensive.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
The best defensive guys hurt. Yeah, the linebackers are slow
and their defensive numbers are bad, and they are the
most predictable. They're the old school Cover three. They don't
do anything.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
They do nothing well.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
They do nothing well.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
In your stat pack, I'm seeing you know they've gotten
They got torched by the Bears receivers last week. Yes,
Dunze Comet, tight end Comet and DJ Moore combined for
two hundred and eighty seven yards. Caleb Williams, who's been struggling,
still got him for three hundred and sixty three yards
through the air. So to your point, they're weak in
the secondary. And then the Bears game aside, because they
were throwing the ball all over the place. The first
(06:29):
two weeks of the season, they gave it four hundred
and seventy four rushing yards. That's the most by any
team through two games since nineteen seventy eight. Right seventy eight.
I don't think were you even born then.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I was seventy three, Okay, so yeah, barely.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
I mean, that's ridiculous, man, that's all time bad.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
That's the height of the super Steelers, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
So, yeah, that's a defense that it's basically, are you
a good passing team? Throw on the Colts? Do you
like to run the ball? Go ahead and run right
all over them? It's just bad.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Cargo's run game is so bad. The center, their running
backs are bad. Everyone's around these guys and that's exactly
what Steers going to do.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Steelers offense is only averaging four point six yards per play.
Hopefully that gets.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
That's not great, but at least we saw more explosives last.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Week hundred percent. Yeah, the Colts defense is giving up
five point three yards per play. That isn't great at all,
really poor.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yo.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
The Steelers are converting forty three point two percent of
their third down attempts. That's seventh best in the league.
That's different from last year.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah, I don't think i'mone realized that.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I like these little things that you keep on covering
that are way different from last year. Time of possessions
one of them. Yeah, conversions on third downs is another
big one. The chains can keep the keep the possession,
keep the chains moving, keep that defense fresh.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah, I mean, like this is a small thing, maybe,
but I think anyone that's watched the Steelers, you know, religiously,
like most of our listeners have realizes TJ. Waddle pull
himself out of games, you know, and you know he's
played eighty eight percent of the snaps because he's never tired.
Because you know, I mean, they're they're getting first downs.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Yeah. The only game so far half really that they
weren't getting first downs was against Denver, and you saw
the defense start to bend a little bit, Denver started
getting a couple of field goals, started to get a
little gassed in that Denver air. But that was the
outlier so far. Second half against the Chargers, it was
just more channel to move the chains. Move the chains,
move the chains, and you're right, it keeps a lot fresh.
(08:20):
And that's going to be even bigger now Withhi Smith
being out because your rotation's lacking at the outside linebacker spot.
What Herbig gonna be on the field a lot?
Speaker 1 (08:28):
And I would love her Big, but I'm not sold
that he is an elite every down run defender. No,
I think some Leal on early.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Now, That's actually what I was just going to say, Matt.
I'm interested to see how Leal responds to this more
than her Big.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
I think it much different than Herbie.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Because they're gonna need him. Like you said, Herbig can't
just go out there and be an eighty eight percent
of the snap guy.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
So we've been rough on the Colts. But Richardson's a
phenomenal runner that they don't use enough. Taylor is an
outstanding ball carrier, and their line is big and physical.
With all respect to Herbig, I would run right at him,
you know, if he's out there on first and ten,
I would make him hold up.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
It really sounds to me like Shane Steichen doesn't know
what he's doing. I don't want to say he doesn't
know what he's doing, doesn't have a strong grasp on
how this team can be successful, especially offensively.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Well, I think the world, I mean, it's a lot
of it's Richardson though, so they don't run him as
much as you'd think they would. His accuracy is so bad.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Right now, right the worst, hard to believe fields. On
the other hand, seventy three percent is going through the
roof night right of what he was in Chicago.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
There's a lot of field stuff that's very different than
his Chicago days. But Richardson throws everything eight hundred miles
an hour, and he knocks like his guys over. He
can't make the layoffs, and he has some wild plays.
I mean, he's unbelievably talented, but you know, they don't
move the chains, they don't run many plays, they don't
have time possession because he hasn't complete passes.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
And on the defensive side of the ball map for
the Colts, this is weird. But it's another week where
there's barely any first round picks out there. Quinny pay
he's a first round pick in twenty twenty one. Other
than that, a.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Lot too from this year too, who I like.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
A lot, Well, he play a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Yeah, he's starting to. He was really last week.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah, Okay, so there's two now, yeah, but there's not
a lot of talent on the defensive side of the
ball and a lot of high pedigree talent.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
At least Buckner is there. Cam Hayward, I mean like
he's a star. He's been around the league. He's gonna
last a long time. He's out for the year. Linebackers
are slow. Their best corner Juju, Brenttz is hurt, who's
the second round pick a year ago. There's not much there,
and then they don't scheme guys up very well.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
No. They do, however, do a fair share of blitzing
on third down, though they like to send their blitzes
on third down. The good news there, though, is justin
Fields against the blitz last week eight of nine for
one hundred and nineteen yards in a touchdown.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
This is really promising because since Fields has been in
the league, he's been the most blitzed quarterback in the league.
So that's been kind of Rooks book on Fields is.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
You know, can't handle this, Send the house.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Send the house on Steelers have given him a lot
of answers and he's handled it really well that I
think teams are going to start backing off blitzing.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
I saw a breakdown of Fields and I forget who
did it, but they were saying like there was this
route where Friarmouth was kind of the intermediate and you
were gonna have to squeeze it into a tight window
to get there. And then there was like Nausei or
Jalen just sitting out there for a nice five six
yard gain, a nice first six yard gain on first down,
and they were saying, old Fields, tries to push this,
(11:29):
push this ball down the field to Firearms, maybe even
tries to take the deep shot to Calvin Austin down
the field and see if that develops. But at the
very least, he's padding. He's padding, he's padding, he's waiting
for Firemuth. Then he's throwing it into three people and
trying to make this spectacular play, whereas he didn't even
think about that in Pittsburgh. He saw the coverage was
going to take those two away Austin and Firemuth before
(11:50):
it even happened, and then it was just right to
Warren for a nice six yard layup. So there's so
much stuff that he used to do that it's shocking
is out of his system, right, Yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Mean he's time to throws down, his accuracy is up.
And that's a great example because he used to be
too much of a big game hunter, you know. I
mean here a ball, yeah, which is great at Ohio
State when you're throwing to Smith Dichig, I mean all
those dudes and you're protective.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
And then in Chicago with all the things that changed
for him constantly, you can't do it. You couldn't. Its
teammates won't allow him, and he had to change, and
he wouldn't. So the Steelers have got him to change,
and now he's very happy not going broke taking a profit.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
You know, only the Broncos and the Falcons and the
Steelers have played blitz at a higher rate on third
down than Indianapolis does. So it's just been third down
blitz is for pretty much every game the Steelers have
played this year.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
But on the air it's been a fields thing too,
and Denver's a heavy blitz team.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Do you think teams start to adjust away from that?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
So, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I don't think that happens this week or the week after.
You got to see some of a couple weeks in
a row. Yeah, but eight to nine for one hundred
and nineteen and a touchdown is beating him pretty bad.
They won't blitz on early downs, though only the Niners
blitz at a lower rate on early downs then, but
again that's.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Back to predictability. Like you know you're getting four on
early downs, you're getting five plus on late downs. I mean,
like they don't change much up.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Now, This Indianapolis Colts defense shouldn't post too much of
a threat for the Steelers offense. Uh, let's look at
that offensive side of the ball. For the Colts. They
average six point three yards per play. That's only behind
Baltimore and Green Bay. That's explosive and a lot.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Of it's Week one Richardson throwing some crazy deep ball
Yea and Pierce. Unbelievable right.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
The Steelers, however, their defense allows just four point six
yards to play. Only three defenses are better in terms
of EPA per play. Pittsburgh has the best defense in
the NFL, as well as the best defense against the run.
The Colts offense is third best in the league per EPA,
and Pittsburgh's twenty six points allowed total through three games
is the best in the NFL. They're eight point six
mark points allowed per game is best in the NFL
(13:52):
as well. Obviously, so you're saying it sounds like you're
saying that it's a little skewed though the numbers are
a little out of whack because of that first game
that they played in some of those explosive plays.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, I do. I mean, there were some huge plays
in that game. Not I mean there's zero passing consistency.
But if they I mean Taylor's Chubb like running back
to me like, I mean, he's one of the best
ball carriers on the planet. And they started featuring the
more they actually start throwing the ball a little bit.
And it's a good line. So the offense could be good,
(14:24):
but the quarterback's strange.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
And they need to tailor the offense, I think towards
their strength a little bit more. And Richardson doesn't look
like he's going to be their strength, at least not yet,
at least throwing the football. I should say running the
football could be You mentioned how few plays they run.
Their offense runs just fifty plays per game. The next
lowest team is Buffalo, and Buffalo is just scoring like crazy,
so that's why they're not running that many players run
always in the end zone. So and they're still running
(14:48):
four more plays than the Colts.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
And they're killing the clock at the end Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Right, So they just do not hold onto the ball
at all, like twenty one minutes of possession time we
mentioned in the game. Richardson has a ten to just
one hundred and fifty seven career passes in the NFL
eighty four last year as a rookie, seventy three so
far this year. Eight yards per attempt ranked six in
the NFL. His two point nine to seven seconds time
to throw his sixth highest, and his twelve point six
(15:12):
average depth of target is the highest in the league.
I mean, this is they're treating him like he is
Josh Allen, like he's Patrick Mahomes, like he's Superman back there.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
He didn't do big stuff.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
He ain't done anything to warrant that. No, So I
don't know if I necessarily blame his struggles right now.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
No. I mean, he's not a naturally accurate player at
this point either, but.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
They're trying to make him do things that an actually
accurate player would do.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Like he's driving the ball down the field he'd and
holding the ball long and.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Right, and you said he's not really using his legs.
Is it more of an improvisational thing with him? When
he runs, or even then he's just not.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
There's a handful of designed rushes. But I don't know
if ownerships, like I remember he couldn't stay in the
field last year yeaeah. I mean, I wonder if ownership's like, hey,
if we're going to invest in this guy, he can't
be taken fifteen hits a game, and that neuters him
a little bit because he's a really, really good runner.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
What about this receiving core? Is this a Joey Porter
junior follow Michael Pittman type of game?
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I think so, But Pittman's numbers lately are horrendous. I
don't think that it's his fault, but there the receivers
are very distinct in their roles. Pierce is very straight lined, fast,
he's a deep threat. Downs is back now. He is
a pure slot and Pittman is the one. But his
numbers don't reflect him being no.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Not this year.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Not necessarily his fault, though, but I would put Porter
on Pit.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Put Porter on Pittman. Maybe have Dante take out Pierce
with the spear or not Pierce. Excuse me, Pierce, Yeah,
Pierce with the speed and then Downs, I mean got
a step up again. And Elliott bumping down to the
slot like he has been, Minka jumping in when he
has to. Yeah, they're fine. They're perfectly fine to handle
this type of receiving corps, especially when the guy throwing
them the ball fails a coin flip percentage of the time.
(16:51):
It's a fifty to fifty proposition with Richards.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Hard to believe in today's NFL. And the other thing
about it is he throws the ball. He throws the
ball too hard and a lot of times, you know,
receivers aren't ready for that kind of heat. I mean,
it's for me to you. And he throws at eight
thousand miles an hour, so he gets a lot of
tips from that way, and he's he's not very accurate,
and he misses high a lot so tips and overthrows
(17:16):
equal but taking the ball away, you know, minks sitting
back there feasting on that stuff.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
What do you think about Adam I Mitchell. I was
pretty high on him out of the jet me too,
and he's behind Josh Downs. Now, Josh Downs came back
this past week and Mitchell saw his route tree drop significantly.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I thought Pierce might get the bench and for instead
of Mitchell, and I'll be honest. I mean, when the
second round rolled around for the Steelers and Zach Fraser
is still available, it was like, well, they're gonna take
Zach Frasier. That's great. But the only other guy I
considered the time was Mitchell.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Mitchellser's been unbelievable. He's a grizzly bear.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Yeah he might. He been fantastic.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
He might be the best rookie right now in the
class for real. Some people that gets the credit and
the fan fair because his quarterback mar Harrison Junior is
getting touchdowns. But I mean, Fraser from day one has
been one of the best centers right.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
I think he's clearly been the best rookie lineman offensive
lineman in a really good class.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
Yeah, I mean, I think the runner up to that
is the guy he just played, Joe Olt. I think
he's the second best lineman of class. But yeah, man,
Fraser's been really impressive. Let's get to Jonathan Taylor before
we wrap things up here, because he's the biggest threat
for that Colts offense.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
If they win. He had a good game.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
It's the same thing with the Chargers. I think cut
the head off of that snake. But it's even better
this week because it's not that you're trying to make
Justin Herbert beat you. You're trying to make Anthony Richardson
beat you exactly. But just limit Jonathan Taylor limit the
damage that he can do on the ground. And I
think the Steelers that defensive line has been amazing. Cam
Hayward was unbelievable against the Chargers. I have no reason
(18:43):
not to expect that dominance to continue against this Colts
running offense.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
I think this is a stiffer challenge. I think it's
a slightly better ball carrier the quarterbacks, a better rush.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Runner for better blocking offensive line for the run.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
It's debatable, Okay, I would say yes because it's a
little more established Quentin Nelson and I mean, these guys
have been around.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Nelson'll get off.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Although the last time they played, Cam threw Nelson around, which.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Is character unbelievable. And it's the same thing when we
were talking about all last week. It's like, well you
have TJ. Watt, so like you have these formulas for
these great players. Like if you're boasting a great offensive line,
I'll probably say this all year, that's the that's what
I want. Your strength to be kind of if I'm
playing you as the Steelers. Absolutely I got the wreckord
for that.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Well, I can hear it. Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
So hopefully they do a good job of limiting Taylor.
He'll be used in the passing game too. Uh.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
They don't really have a receiving back. So when they
were losing pretty heavy, well not it wasn't even that bad,
but they were losing much of the Green Bay game,
and Taylor sat on the bench in like catchup mode,
you know, But last week they changed that. I think
I think they finally realized after two weeks Taylor has
(19:58):
to be our best player. And and he ran a
route on like ninety two percent of the drop back,
which he's not even a great receiver, but he needs
to be out there.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Taylor has one hundred plus scrimmage yards in four of
his past five games. He has five games in a
row at home with a rushing touchdown, scoring twice on
the ground. Last week. He played a possible forty nine
of fifty six snaps in Week three. Richardson has thirty
five plus rushing yards in five of seven career games,
with a rushing touchdown in four of seven. Hate to
be this simplistic here on the advanced scout. We're supposed
(20:28):
to sound smart, Matt, But to wrap up here, I mean,
you just got to stop the run. That's the only
thing they can do well offensively. Other than that, it'll
be gravy for the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I mean, Colts are in a rough spot right now,
and if I were them, I would start running Richardson more.
I mean, he's really is one of the best running
quarterbacks in the league, or at least have him scramble
more on broken plays. And they're definitely gonna feature Taylor.
And their pass catchers are good and their own lines good,
but when you're completing fifty percent in your passes, it
(20:57):
really hinders things. And this defense is how bad.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Key matchups to keep an eye on quarterback Anthony Richardson
against Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. I thought Queen played a
lot better against the Chargers. That very high impact tackle
early in the game set the tone. Yeah, yeah, almost
got Herbert. That's a fastball coming in from a superstar quarterback.
Though that's tough for a linebacker to pick off. But
led the team in tackles, but he's going to have
(21:23):
his hands full with Anthony Richardson, especially if they do decide,
you know what, we got to run the ball more
with this guy, and I.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Might even switch that key matchup to Taylor instead of Richardson.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Linebackers versus the ball carrier is probably a better way
to put it. Peyton Wilson's speed be a big asset
and maybe trying to spy on Anthony Richardson in this
He's probably the fastest of the linebackers.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Right and Queen are pretty comfortable.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
And then the last key matchup we got offensively for
the Steelers, left tackle Dan Moore versus that defensive end
La to Lat two that you've been talking about, is
starting to see an increased workload. Probably gonna be a
starter sooner rather than later, if not this week, and
Dan Moore has been very impressive throughout the first three games.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Loto was the first defensive player taken. He's very NFL.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
In a crazy run of non defensive players.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
The six scenes pick whatever it was, and he was
my bet before the season started for defensive Rookie of
the Year and he kind of has that. So between
him and pay their edge guys are pretty good.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
They're definitely talented, so Hopefully Broderick and Dan Moore can
step up this week in a second week in a
row where you see some pretty talented edge rushers, Steelers
and Colts at one o'clock in Indianapolis on Sunday. Our
local coverage begins at nine am. You and Tim, Right, Yeah,
You and Tim at nine am on DVE Steelers Audio Network.
(22:41):
The pregame kicks in with Labs du Lac and Persuda
at eleven, and then we got kickoff with Rob King,
Max Stark's, Craig Wolfley and Missy Matthews in Indy at
one o'clock for Matt Williamson on tom Opferman. Thanks for
giving us a listen. We'll be back again next week
on the Advanced Scout
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