January 9, 2023 • 40 mins
Missi Matthews Craig Wolfley, Bill Hillgrove, and Max Starks break down the Steelers victory over the Browns and wrap up the 2022 season
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Point After on w d v E Pittsburgh,
brought to you by Parks Casino. The entire Steelers radio
broadcast team is here to break down the last game.
Here's your host, Missy Matthews. I think our record indicates
that because that's all that matters. The style point component
of play is less significant. You step in the stadiums,
(00:22):
you win games, you step out of stadium. So to
answer to your question, yes, we were a team on
the rise, everybody, and welcome to the Point After, Missy
Matthews with Bill hill Grove, Craig Wifflely and Max Starks
coming to you one final time to put a bow
on the Steelers two thousand and twenty two season or
first segment Tonight is brought to you by Brian Patton
(00:43):
and associates. It's all about the benefits and guys, you
heard Coach Tomlin there post game yesterday at Akersher Stadium.
Team on the rise of Steelers starting two and six,
finishing the second half seven into winning their last four games.
But Billy just not enough. As George Pickens put it
best yesterday, like a birthday party but without the key. Yeah, everybody,
(01:07):
you know you could even feel it at the stadium,
even though this was a resounding win over Cleveland and
it got the Steelers to three and three in the division,
the toughest division in the league in my opinion. Uh,
you know, it wasn't at the end of the game.
There wasn't that emotion that normally comes with the Steelers win,
especially over the Browns, because everybody has his cell phone
(01:31):
and people realized that we didn't get much help from
the Jets. But you know what, you have to look
at the positives of this team. If you look at
the negatives, I think you're grabbing, in the words of
Mike Tomlin, low hanging fruit. Yeah they were two and six, Yeah,
they were not very good at the beginning of the year.
(01:52):
Yeah they got their ears pin back in Buffalo, in Philadelphia.
But to be a team on the rise in December
in January, I think he's very meaningful, especially such a
young team. Absolutely, you know, I still eat the cake.
I don't care about the candles. Just give me that cake.
You know, there was a lot of cake going around there.
(02:15):
Baker isn't that far. You know. The fact of the
matter is, just like you said, Yeah, he didn't get
in the playoffs, and that's frustrating, I know it, but
there's so much to be gained from this year and
from the pre buy to the post by what a difference,
a tale of two halves of the of the season. Um,
I just I know that you know a lot of
(02:36):
people are upset that do not get in the playoffs,
but man, what a comeback, and I think it just
portends to be something for the future here to grow on. Max.
It sounded like a lot of players even today just
still in shock, you know, expecting to play. Even coach
Helmont said, you know, I was preparing to have another
week hoping that things went their way. Yesterday they had
(02:59):
two out of three things happened that they needed to happen.
How hard is it when it just comes to the
screeching halt. I mean, it's a gut punch, Missy. But
I think the other thing is is that, you know,
when you take a step back, you know, right now,
all right now, it kind of hurts, you know, because,
like you said, we did everything right in the second half,
(03:21):
and usually when you do good things in the second
half of games, you win. But the problem is when
it comes to the playoffs, the opportunities. That's where it's
it's not as fair. It's a little bit more cruel,
and you know, you we look back, there's plenty of opportunities.
We can talk about one game here, a field goal here,
a play here. But at the same time, it's tough
(03:44):
because because you look at it and you say, we
just we needed one more win and we didn't get it,
and you know, guys are gonna be upset. But it's
still a fantastic retooling. Somebody knew. It makes so tough
to to sit there and say that, hey, it's gonna
(04:06):
go this way or that way. You don't know. And
for the Steelers squad, it happened way better than we
could have anticipated. Most teams that have a rebuild or
have a big transition like we did from last year
this year with quarterbacks, we could look and say, hey,
(04:26):
this this is this is Houston, this is what the
Jets are continually going going through. We could even the
team that's going into playoffs Miami, look at the turmoil
they've had and you sit there and you say, man,
if we would have taken care of business, but we
had to grow. You had to go through those rough
spatches to then appreciate and let this feeling sink into
(04:47):
you that you don't like it, so that when you
come into next season you have a fire and you're
building from this and not starting from ground zero again.
And to your point, you know, earlier in the season,
not pretty much all the games the Steelers had against
the a f C. East and that's really what put
them in that whole Billy were yesterday. They needed help
from two of those teams, um and rooting against one
(05:10):
of the teams in that division. And you know, you
could say, sure they lost t J. Watt after you know,
the team just started on fire Week one in Cincinnati. Um,
but as Max said, if you don't win earlier in
the season, it comes back to bite you. And look
at a Ravens team, Um, they're in double digit wins.
They were so hot earlier. But we've seen what they've
(05:31):
been doing through the second half of their season. So
one of those unfortunate things. But I do think, um,
you know, the good thing is that there is a
young nucleus of guys. There's still some veteran leaders and
the cam Heywards, the t J. Watts to make a
Fitzpatrick's um. But they learned together, they learned how to
turn things around. Um, especially after that bye week is
(05:52):
where we saw a lot of that improvement. Messie, if
this were golf, I'd ask for three Mulligan's New England
Jets and the Miami game. And then my memory is fading,
and that's why I count on you guys. Where did
we drop four interceptions? Yeah, okay, there we go. So
(06:15):
can I have mulligans on those three? Well, you know,
I woke up this morning. The first thing I thought of,
you know, um to quote a famous fat guy, guy
by the name of Mike A. Day who otherwise is
known as meat loaf. All right, two out of three
ain't bad. Not two out of three ain't bad because
the Steelers won and the Bills beat the Patriots, but
(06:35):
the Dolves, uh they you know, the Jets couldn't beat
the Dolves, and uh, you know, two out of three
ain't bad. But it ain't gonna get you into the playoffs,
and it's it's unfortunate. I'm go ahead, Bill, No, there
was a call in that game that people are still
talking about the horse Coller exactly. So there's a lot
of things that you gotta overcome them. It is Max
(06:59):
uh As Billy was talking about his Mulligan's, I think
the Jets game where the Steelers had a ten point lead.
I think that one, and just you know, the visions
of Zach Wilson catching a touchdown as well is something
that I can't erase from my mind. Yeah, I know
that one, you know. But you know it's funny. I
look at the all the other Mulligan's and I think
the Mulligan that I would want would be the Baltimore Mulligan.
(07:23):
We had them in Akershore sixteen fourteen, and the block
field goal is a difference, even as bad as we played,
because that now takes us to potentially four and two
in the division. Guess who doesn't get in the playoffs,
the Baltimore Ravens. I see where you're coming, you see,
you see it's a little more devious. But yeah, if
(07:47):
there was one to pick, I think I would have
picked that one. I mean, I would have loved the
Miami nugget. But at the same time, you know that
that game, we we had so many missed opportunities there.
I mean not only that one, the passes into the
end zone, um, the one to Deonte um. You know,
going to the far end of the field, because I
can remember from your perspective, guys, Billy and Craig, where
(08:11):
you guys were in that corner of the end zone
next to the disco. Um the disco that was next door.
But but yeah, like that was one where it's like
that if I could switch one play and that one
plate would have been the difference in the game. That
would have been the one was in Baltimore, Um, because
(08:32):
we could talk about some of the mistouchdown catches or
some of the misspassing chem almost to keep dry live,
but that one right there on special teams when we
need them to be special, A guy got through in
Clay's Campbell, who has like inspector catch at arms, just
reached up and popped that ball out of the sky
from Bossy. So that was one that was just frustrating
(08:54):
when I look back on it, like, man, if we
could have had that one could have I'm sure we
could go through a number of things and make ourselves crazy.
And I feel like that's what today is about for
Steelers Nation, probably for the players. To Coach Tomlin spoke
a little bit earlier today. They were having a team
meeting at too, and then you know already had the
(09:14):
sign up sheets for exit interviews, something he does with
all the players with the coaches. And today there was
really no news out of his press conference except good
news that Pat friar Muth had an MCL sprain and
will not require surgery. So that was one where you
know things aren't going the Steelers way as I'm watching
the Miami game as he's getting hurt. But then you
(09:35):
just think, oh, man, like that would be so bad
for this team. You know how long it would take
him to rehab and whatnot. So that was some good
news at least, especially so because Pat friar Muth for
a guy that didn't get a catch yesterday and I
think it's only second time that he's been shut out,
what a job of blocking he did. He was really
doing a great job blocking. And Connor Heyward did all
(09:58):
the pass catching from the tight ends based lee you
know what I mean, and what catches he made a
couple of beauties, yeh know, the low one and the
high one. There's no question about it. And I think
another thing, Oh sorry what we were saying. Connor Hayward
(10:19):
also had tremendous yet state on the outside, so not
literally outside Becker and and and ping ponged him into
the defensive end and then then Moore just smushed both
and just on top of and I thought that that
was another one. I was like, man, that was because
I think I called up to you. Craig was like, hey,
did y'all did y'all see Connor on that one? He
(10:42):
gave He gave a real wham block on that one
to really set the edge. And I thought that was
something where you really got to see, you know, Connor
Hayward in multiple facets, not only the big catch when
you need it, but the inline blocking as well, the
h back lead type of stuff as well. So he
he they were using him in a lot of different ways.
(11:02):
And I thought that was also something when you're talking
about looking towards the future, like that's another guy that
I don't think. I talked about our rookie sensation segment, Wolf,
but I thought I thought that was one where I
was like, man, that's another one again. On was on
our Heywards exactly so, and Max. The biggest thing about
(11:22):
that was a fact that I love your technical term
smushed yeah anymore smushed them exactly splat if I was
already taken, So I love it. What a word Smith
you are with the Steelers fourteen win over the Browns yesterday,
(11:43):
splitting the series one and one. This year they moved
to nine and eight to finish up the season. For
the Steelers, that's nineteen consecutive seasons finishing at five hundred
or better, sixteen for coach Tomlins since he's been the
head coach and Billy Sometimes this is a very polar
rising thing where some people say, well, it doesn't matter,
you know, you missed the playoffs three times in five years.
(12:05):
But for those players in the locker room, they so
badly wanted to make sure that they were not the
team that broke that streak. For the Steelers and for
coach Tomlin, I think it gave him a lot of resolve,
a lot of motivation for this one. And uh as
if the Browns aren't enough motivation, especially trying to avenge
that loss of what the third game of the season.
(12:27):
Uh yeah, I think the players wore that and and
they wore it well, and uh you know, you've got
to tip your hat to especially the young players, because
I think what they showed you yesterday is that they've
learned from the Vets, They've learned the Steeler way, They've
learned how to win and uh and what it takes
(12:49):
to win and what kind of preparation it takes. And
I think that's encouraging. And so much of that is
based on the interpersonal relationship Mike has with each and
every player. I don't know if a a better communicator
and more willing to be have some sort of and
uh share some intimacy as far as a personal relationship
(13:09):
as as a head coach than Mike Tomlins. I mean,
it's very much into you know, there's an old coaching
Maxim says, you'll never know how much they care until
they know how much you care. And if you put
that out there to your guys, you you draw there's
a bonding there. And I think really what we saw
because so much of the it's the players that bring
it up all the time. It's not it's not Mike,
(13:31):
you know, And it's that bonding between Mike and his players.
I think um is on display and has been for
the past sixteen years, and this is just the result
of being able to step out and and be willing
to share in the lives of his players. You know,
and be interested. How are you doing? Are you max? You?
(13:51):
You talk about it is he? Are you thriving or surviving?
I mean that's what That's what Mike asks. Yeah, No,
I mean coach Tomlin takes special air. I mean he
you know, he he he has that fatherly uncle lee
whatever insert important male role bottle figure that that you
have in your head. He likes to embody those type
(14:12):
of things because he knows that he as a father,
as a son, as a brother, what that is right
and to be a great communicator. And I think he
tries to display and express that with his players, with
whoever he comes across, you know, uh, in his in
his daily living and life. I think he's consistent throughout that.
(14:33):
And I think that's the other thing that comes through.
It's that consistency. We always talk about that, like, if
you're gonna do anything, be consistent at it right. Don't
be the guy who's up and down, who who's emotional
at moments great one day, bad the next. He has
a certain level that he likes to operate at so
that he knows that not only for his his players,
(14:55):
but his family, his friends, they know what to expect
because he knows that he's going to be the consistent
guy that always delivers in those moments, are always you
always know what to expect with him, because that's the
that's the trademark of why this consistency of sixteen years
and not a losing record is there, because that's the
model that is based off of. He has to be
(15:18):
himself every step of the way, or else that doesn't happen,
or else you get a four and twelve season, you
get you are sorry four and thirteen. Now that we're
in seventeen years, they're still getting past um. Yeah, yeah,
exactly seven and ten, like you get all of these
different numbers, but no, eight and eight is the lowest
(15:39):
you go. You he has not had below eight victories
in the season. Is because of that consistency. And when
you're looking for guys, you want guys who also understand
that consistency but also can can pick up that mature
within that. And I think that's what just makes this
a very different type of organization than a lot of
other ones that we see right now, especially today, right
(16:00):
on Bloody Monday, you see all of these firings, right
the Cardinals fired their coach, the Texas fired their coach,
and you're seeing all of these other positions getting fired,
and there's consistency, you know, to know that, hey, no
matter what happens, we don't have to look at the
Steelers and unless a guy steps down on his own volition,
you know, more often than not over the last fifty
(16:20):
plus years, you're not going to hear anything out of
Pittsburgh p A coach. Hollon did say today that the
Browns requested to interview Brian Flores and just too quick
nuggets to go along with what you guys were saying
before we had to break miles. Jack was so passionate
and adamant when he talked about you know, I've been
two and six before in a different building, and let
(16:41):
me tell you what happened during our bye week is
not what happened during the bye week of that said team. Um.
And also just you know how coach Tomlin treats everybody
the same. After the Raiders win on Christmas Eve, it
was probably Christmas Day at that point, we're in the
locker room and coach doesn't usually talk to a ton
of players when the media is in there, but he
made a point to find Elijah Riley and say, ay Man,
(17:03):
thanks for saying in Pittsburgh we needed you and you
stepped up, um and you could just tell how much
that meant to him in that moment, no question. It's
that personal touch, man, I mean, that's what it's all about.
And that's why Mike has such a strong connection and
one of the great things about it He's in tune
with each and every player. He understands where they're at
weth mentally, physically, emotionally in so many cases. So it's
(17:26):
that's what coaching is nowadays. It's not the days of
your He has more paint cans than red Yeah, no, no, really, yeah,
and I think that's a trick. Yeah. Well, and it's
just it's like it's like, how how much better do
you feel when you get a handwritten message versus a
typed message with a stamp right for a signature. I
(17:47):
mean that you feel more special about receiving that. And
that's what Mike Tomlind does. He's the handwriting message type
of guy, and that's what makes it that much more special. Alright,
much more to discuss here about the Steelers win over
the Browns and also the end of the two thousand
and twenty two season. This is the point After on
d V We'll be right back back to the Point After,
(18:11):
brought to you by Parks Casino on d V E,
I felt like, you know, the offense started to become
my own the more I was playing in it. Um,
you know, taking real ownership of it instead of just
kind of playing catch up. You know, when I when
I was got thrown in there a little bit earlier, um,
and I was just worried about executing the plays. And
now I felt like I had everything at my disposal
when I was coming to the line of scrimmage. So um,
(18:32):
you know, I think I made a good jump there
in a learning curve, and you know I want to
make that leap into your two No. Steelers quarterback Henny Pickett,
speaking after the Steelers fourteen win over the Browns at
Acquasher Stadium on Sunday. Welcome back to the Point After.
This segment is brought to you by the Greater Pittsburgh
Community Food Bank and Don's Appliance Reverie field goal we
(18:53):
kicked the season. Don's Appliance will donate one thousand dollars
to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. That's five thousand
meals each time. Thank you to Don's appliance, and you
can also help by donating to just text goals to
five zero one five five. Billy A lot to talk
about when you break down the rookie season of Kenny Pickett,
(19:15):
how he became the Steeler starter. What's the biggest takeaway
from his performance and how he finished this season? In
your eyes, he grew up quickly from the seven interceptions
in a short amount of time to one interception over
a long period of time. To me, that's growing up.
And I think we saw a little glimpse of it
(19:36):
yesterday when he took that terrible delay penalty and then
just came right back and found George Pickens um. You know,
I think that tells you a lot about Kenny Pickett,
and he handles it so well. I think there's so
much that you can see with this young man that
really the things that you like from the very get go.
I mean, his mobility, his ability to be on the
(19:57):
move make things happen. But you know, I I think
his pre snap breeds, his ability to go through his um,
you know, his options there and then being able to
throw the ball when he needed to throw the ball
in the big moments. I don't know how you teach that.
How do you teach that ability to come through in
the last minute of two consecutive games, throwing those touchdown passes. Um,
(20:19):
that's something that you either have or you don't have.
And it's obvious this young man has a sense of
the weighty moments, as Mike Tomlin refers to them as
and able to um accommodate the moment and do so
in a in a spectacular fashion. I'll just add this.
You know, you think about the game yesterday, that wasn't
the Picasso, as Billy calls her a Mozart. You know
(20:41):
from the start, I mean that one was a little rough,
you know, that was it had some hiccups in it,
but he got them going and he stayed with it,
and again there was no sign of panic. The kid
is really a pretty cool customer. Well, and I think
even more so right I think when you're an older
rookie quarterback, a guy who's played a lot of football
(21:02):
in college, you have a better sense of yourself about
what you can and can't do. Not to say that
a guy with least experience can't grow into that, but
you don't see it as immediately. And I think that
was one of the things when you're talking about drafting
a guy who was five years in college as a
quarterback and then coming to the league and he's had
(21:23):
all of this experience, you know, he's he's had the
opportunity to kind of grow into that leadership type role.
And I think that's something that we we often take
for granted because everybody wants that kid that's oh flash
in the pan one year, got it done, you know,
and and he had this meteoric season one time. But
it's another thing to go through adversity and to build
(21:45):
into these moments to where when you get to the
next phase of life, it's not as it's not as
big a moment for him. You can look at it.
Go ahead. I'm sorry, Max. I was just wasn't it
pre draft that we heard all about well, he's too old,
you know, I mean, he's he's he's spent a fifth year,
and like that was supposed to be a bad thing,
and you know, you just laid out all the reasons
(22:07):
why it was such a good thing. He wasn't as
old as Brandon Weedon, yeah, or Chris or Chris winky
right right. But here, here's here's the thing. And I've
never played quarterback except in the sand lot, you know,
back alley. I've never played the position, but I think
as I observe it, it more than any other position
on the football field, requires snaps. The only way to
(22:32):
get better is to get snaps meaningful situations at game speed.
And what he's shown so far, I think the sky's
the limit today. Coach Tom Land was asked in his
press conference, UM post game post kind of you know,
wrapping up the season. Um, if what he thought about,
(22:54):
you know, should you could you look back and say, yeah,
we should have you know, gave Kenny Moore first team
reps in the off season, Maybe we should started him earlier.
And he said, look, as I stayed here today, I
have no regrets, UM, and I as we are playing
the quota Shota, what a game. Um, you do start
to think though, as you said, the game rep is
so important. And that's how I think that Jets game
Week four halftime, when coach tomla made that switch from
(23:16):
Mitch Robinsky to Kenny Pickett, that was Kenny Pickett's team
and that was his job as QB one through the
growing pains, they were going to stick with him because
at that point those reps help. And that's what you know,
we've seen the crazy comebacks at the end of games
of the previous two games to win the games against
the Raiders and the Ravens. But I also think that,
(23:38):
you know, giving him a chance to to learn from
mistakes Max, I'm sure is part of the deal and
something that they have to do in order to grow
into a better quarterback. And Kenny was already talking yesterday
about already told the guys, you know, we're gonna get
together this offseason and work before we even you know,
get to o t a s. He's already in that
(23:58):
mindset of like, we got to go well. And I
think that's how it should be and and that's the
way that today's quarterbacks are, right. I mean, I think
back in you know, when I was playing. You know,
Ben wasn't calling passing camps down to his place in Georgia.
You know, Um, this is something that's more of a
newer thing. But you can see the leadership there to say,
(24:21):
you know what, in order for us to be better,
we need to take time off because this is no
longer just you know, something we do at school, right
for a scholarship, right where I still got to go
to classes, I still have to do everything else. No,
this is my profession, this is all I do. I am.
I am a football player by profession. And it takes
(24:44):
that extra thing. Just like we ask different professions to
take continuing education credits, right or what they call c
e u s, or you go to conferences to learn things.
There's no conference for football players, right, it's these type
of clinics one on one. Hey, guys, we're going to
a spot. We're gonna go down to South Florida. We're
gonna throw for a month together and get to know
(25:04):
each other even better. And that's what guys do nowadays.
And I think that's that's one of the things that
I think is so incredible that they take that type
of initiative in the off season, in your free time
to do things to make yourself become a better teammate,
to become a better unit, and to ultimately become a
better team overall. When you have that time in that
(25:27):
connection together because like like like Billy, like you said,
it takes reps, so going and creating those moments where
you can get those reps in an in an unsupervised manner.
That just goes to show even more so the dedication
of these guys to want to be better, to want
to grow, because there's you could do everything else you
want to do, go travel, and you can go just
(25:48):
relax it on your couch, Like man, I worked hard
for the last five and a half months. No, it's like, hey,
go rest, recuperate, recover, and then we're getting back to
work before they have to tell us we have to
be back to work. There was one other good piece
of news yesterday that I've failed to mention in the
(26:10):
first segment. Thanks to Levy Smith and the Texans, they
now made the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick,
which meant the Steelers in terms of the trade for
Chase Claypool, now have pick seventeen in the first round,
in the first pick in the second round at thirty
two because in the first round Miami, due to their
tampering uh charges or whatever you wanna call them there
(26:34):
did they had to forfeit that first round pick. So, um,
you know we're looking that's the way I head down
the road. But that is pretty remarkable when you think
of just you know what they have in those first
two picks and being able to help solidify some spots
that need it. But well, if I want to talk
to you about the offensive line and just we talked
every week about how they got better and better. What
(26:55):
do you think is the final product that we saw
in Is that something that they can carry over into
next season? Oh? I think it's definitely something that they're
gonna carry over the next season. The final product that
they developed coming out of the by I mean nine
of the last ten games they rushed for over a
hundred yards. They increased their yards per carry by half
a yard after the bye as opposed to before the bye.
(27:18):
They had fifty more yards UH per game rushing after
the bye. Then before the bye they cut a sack
out from their you know, from a sack whatever two
sacks or three sacks per game. They cut that down
too after the bye. I think there's an awful lot there.
There's more, as Mike Tomlins says, meat on the bone
to be had. But you saw what what you saw
(27:39):
was a coming together this offensive line. And one of
things I love best remember that first series yesterday, they
came off the ball and they were removing people with
their hand in the dirt and they were taking them
for a ride. And I love that the the absolute
physicality that those guys were demonstrating on snap after snapping
(27:59):
on fortunately ended with a fumble, but it should have
been a touchdown anyhow, because Nagi scored the first time
he carried the ball down at the goal line, and
you know, and then you had to go with the
third one, which I'm sorry but he did fumble it,
but that gum, that was a touchdown on first down there.
So the offensive line has grown and I expect that
these guys can continue in that fashion well. And and
(28:23):
I think this group learned a lot about themselves, and
we learned a lot about them, right, don't count them out,
first and foremost, and the second thing is, it takes
time for offensive lines to gel. No matter how fast
you want it, it's not gonna happen. It takes time.
And this offensive line showed us that good things happened
(28:45):
to those who wait. And you saw that on display
these last last quarter of the season. Right the last
four or five games. You saw an offensive line that
was great on their double teams. You saw the guys
that knew when to get off. They knew how to
take blocking angles. A guys wouldn't slip off in the backfield.
Nagy was not getting contact two yards in the backfield.
He was getting it at the line of scrimmage and
(29:06):
beyond in a positive direction. That's the growth we wanted
to see. And and when we're talking to Nazi yesterday,
you know Wolf and Billy Um, that was something that
he said. He said, listen, listen. I was injured in
the spring and the sun and during training camp I
didn't trust them, and and that's a on me, and
I had to take a step back and look at it.
(29:27):
And once I displayed the trust, that's when you saw
everything getting even better for all of us. And I
thought that was a big move by Naji to recognize
that and to admit that and to and and to
verbalize it. So that was a great step as well,
when you're talking about accountability amongst teammates on one side
of the ball, I thought that was also a big moment.
(29:48):
When we played the Bengals the opening game of the year,
their offensive line hadn't played many snaps together, if any,
in the preseason. There was only one starter on the
angles offensive. What do you think if they didn't get better,
that that team would be twelve and four. Yeah right, yeah,
yea doubt about it. And just quickly to touch on Naji.
(30:11):
First of all, backs, I heard he stole your mike,
but second he did give it though he have a
knack for that. Yeah, he does not shy away from
cameras or microphones. Um, but you know, a lot of
the offensive line yesterday and today gave him credit at
the bye week for coming into the offensive line room
(30:32):
and saying, hey, guys, look, I have to be a
better running back for you guys. Let's watch film. Let's
figure this out. And I think you know he's young,
but there is a reason why at the beginning of
this season his teammates voted him one of the Steelers
offensive captains and you know, just another part of that
young core, especially with the offense that will be here
next year and hopefully continue to right the ship and
(30:54):
start faster and all of that good stuff. So, um,
we do need to talk about the Steelers defense though
in their team MVP maka Fitzpatrick will do that and
much more. After this quick break, you're listening to the
point after on DV. Back to the point after brought
t Bay Parks Casino on dv E and he's running
around and he's hitting that dime by Captain Camp whoa,
(31:19):
and there's no roughing. With one second left, they say
that's it. The game is over. On another sack, back
to back sacks by this Steelers defense that played superbly,
that's the end of the game. With a final score
Pittsburgh Cleveland fourteen and Captain Cam Hayward. That made him
(31:41):
have ten and a half sacks on the season, the
second straight year he hit double digits the third time
in his career. In Billy, I love that. You had
to add there was no penalty on that one. Well
he lost a sack or he'd be really breathing all
over debo. But you know that's what happens. And did
(32:02):
you look at the footage Wolf and oh no, I
mean that was the most single, most egregious penalty I've
seen in the NFL, next to when I tackled Ben
Rudolph when he was a free runner ahead and for
for Terry Bradshaw, you know, and that was a pretty
egregious fall on my part. But having said that, what
(32:24):
happened with Cam, I don't understand how you can, in
any way, shape or form, call that roughing the passer.
The next step is going to be asking the guy
to take a knee, you know, just please take a knee.
You know, I'll touch you. That's about it. You mean
what Michael Strahan asked? Oh yeah, exactly. Slided the home plate. No, no, no,
(32:45):
just fall down and I'll just touch you. Yes. You
You can't tell that we're not bitter here and mad
at the season's over with with the digs that are
coming out here. But I'm here for guys. And our
final segment of the Point After for the two thousand
and twenty two season is brought to you by clear
View Federal Credit Union. For every turn over the Black
(33:05):
and Gold created in two thousand and twenty two, clear
View Federal Credit Union donated five hundred dollars to the
Light of Life Rescue Mission clear View helping people to
enjoy a better life. Visit clear View f CU dot org,
slash touchdown and Billy, you were right for Cam Now
in his career seventy eight and a half sacks, so
(33:26):
he is second to Deebo who has eighty and a
half and t J. Raight behind him. Seventy seven and
a half. So maybe next year Cam and t J
will just you know, they'll pass divo eventually, and then
they'll just keep fighting for who has the most sacks.
I'd love to see that, there's no question. Look, you know,
I'm not sure which I find more egregious the sack
(33:46):
they took away in Baltimore last year that prevented a
lot from you know, breaking Michael stray hands, uh you know,
slide into home plate type of in sack on on
Brett Farr, or you know the fact that they took
this one away from camp because he put the quarterback
on the dirt in a very nice, gentlemanly manner. I
don't understand it. Yeah, no, I mean it. It's frustrating,
(34:10):
But like you said, we have milestones, Missy, you will
be busy next season at the beginning of the season.
If Week one is anything like the Week one we
had this year, hopefully it's full of defensive exploits and
two guys fighting over who deserves a half sack. There
you go a Week one where will it be Las Vegas,
Seattle or l A. I hope so for my travel,
(34:36):
But if I remember correctly, I think Bob Labriola had
pointed out earlier in the year something about with the Pirates.
This could be like the first time and I think
eight or nine years that the Steelers could start at
home potentially. Okay, we'll have to see and the home
games all of the a f C North teams of course,
(34:58):
and then Arizona, Green Bay, Jacksonville, New England, San Francisco,
and Tennessee. And on the road, Billy, you alluded to
a few Houston, Indie, Las Vegas, the l A Rams
and Seattle. So you go from not traveling very much
this year to lots of travel coming up in two
thousand and twenty three. It's just not many frequent flyer
(35:19):
points for Max. Yeah, I'll make up for it with
the college schedule. Don't worry. You broke a record last
week for bowl games, that's for sure. Oh my goodness. Yeah,
I was all over the Greater US. But I've still
made it to my Steeler games on time, which is
most important. There you go, yes, quickly before we turn
(35:40):
our attention away from the Steelers and the sack count
for guys. Alex Highsmith finishing with fourteen and a half um,
I just think a very underrated. You know, you're like, wow,
that that's a lot, that's that's a good bit. And
he you know, double digits came into the season was
the goal and he got well beyond beyond that and
all so first in the league with five force fumbles.
(36:03):
So uh well, if I know you, you think he
should be going to the Pro bol right, unquestionably, So,
I mean, I just can't even imagine. This young man
has outperformed all expectations. Remember when he was first drafted
and then he first you know, the first training camp
he was in the Keith Butler talked about how this
young man doesn't make the same mistake twice, and he doesn't.
(36:24):
He's smart, he's strong, he's fast, He's added to his game,
he's got the spin move going. But he's got the ability,
as you pointed out, Missy, the fumbles, tackles for lost
things are like that. I mean, he's coming on. He's
a young buck and I am excited for him because
he's also a super fine man, just a great dude.
So kudos to him. He's had quite the year and
(36:46):
been I would think he was even in the in
the thought process for UM and team m v P two. Okay,
there was a show stopper. Everybody just yeah, you know,
I was, I was agreeance. I didn't really have too
much more to add. But I think you're right. I
think that's one you have to consider. And you look
(37:07):
at hey. Question Mark was who will be the pass
rusher opposite T J. Watcher will have the impact on
this defensive line? And he answered the question pretty early.
You know, think about a year ago, right with Melvin
Ingram complaining and everything else about all his playing time,
he's better than Alex Heismith. I think we've proven that. No,
(37:31):
so you know, but now I think now the next
step is the depth behind it. Right. I thought we
had some we we had some guys who came in
and showed up like the Marvin Leel having position flexibility
and being able to switch to a four down type
of look right and be that kind of elephant d
N hand down, stand up type of d N. And
you know, we did have Jones that came in and
(37:52):
showed some flashes for us in relief of but I
think you you still got to have that that three
man compliment on the outside to be able to press
or the way we want to play a three four,
you've got to have that third rush, and I think
that's something we're gonna look at seeing who can be
that guy, whether it's free agency, whether somebody emerges, or
whether we draft that guy. But I think that will
be something that will look at in the off season.
(38:13):
Is the depth of the offense outside linebacker position for
if anything does happen. And I'm not saying it is
and I'm not putting out the universe, but if something
did happen, you want to have that contingency plan in place.
By the way, I just happened to pick up on
Melan ingram stats. He's got six sacks. So I think
we made out in that deal. Just like he pointed out, Max,
Yeah take it, yes, and not to you know, not
(38:39):
that it's an excuse, but I think you know, when
you look at Alex Highsmith when he came in, he
was kind of raw. But also just his draft class
in they didn't have O t s. There wasn't mini camp.
Training camp was the most bizarre thing I've ever seen
in my life. I just remember, like we we were
only allowed up on the Ford fan zone. You couldn't
go near them, and I mean it was just it
(39:01):
was just very different. The team building was different. Guys
were going into their own suites during their downtime, not
like what you see at St. Vincent Um. But I think,
as you pointed out, what if you know, he's a
good kid, he's a good person, and he puts his
head down, he goes to work and he follows t J.
Water around a lot, And I don't think that that's
ever a bad thing. No, that's exactly what you do.
You It's like Ralph, it's like the karate kid following
(39:24):
Mr Miyagi around. You know, I have a dumb question,
what would the record be if T J. Watt doesn't
miss seven games? M hmm, that's just a dumb question. Yeah,
he finished with seven. Yeah, it's it's sound a dumb
question because I think you would you would think that
there's a couple of games where him being healthy. Just
(39:46):
saying will you were talking about those three Mulligan's, Yeah,
I think I think those three Mulligan games would have
been different, maybe all three. Wait a minute, you're talking
twelve and M four. Yeah. Yeah, it sounds like Champion
would have hold let let me carry the one. Here,
I go, let me carry the one on that. We'll
(40:07):
we'll just trust that. Okay, we'll leave it. And by
the way, today DeMar Hamlin went back to Buffalo. Now
he will spend time in the hospital. But you know,
God bless the young man. Yes, yeah, absolutely, easy guy
to cheer for. Um I do wanna last fun fact
of the two thousand two season for you guys. The
Steelers had twenty interceptions, the most in the NFL. Minca
(40:30):
Fitzpatrick accounted for six of them. He tied for a
league high with three other players, and Minka is the
first Steelers player to lead the NFL and interceptions since
Mel Blunt in nineteen Fast company. There you go, all right, Well,
a big thing to big thanks to producer Tom for
putting up with us all season. We appreciate him. And
(40:51):
thanks to you guys for Bill Hill Grove, Craig Willfly
and Max Starks and Missy Matthews. This is the point
after We'll see you back here next year.
Welcome to the Point After on w d v E Pittsburgh,
brought to you by Parks Casino. The entire Steelers radio
broadcast team is here to break down the last game.
Here's your host, Missy Matthews. I think our record indicates
that because that's all that matters. The style point component
of play is less significant. You step in the stadiums,
(00:22):
you win games, you step out of stadium. So to
answer to your question, yes, we were a team on
the rise, everybody, and welcome to the Point After, Missy
Matthews with Bill hill Grove, Craig Wifflely and Max Starks
coming to you one final time to put a bow
on the Steelers two thousand and twenty two season or
first segment Tonight is brought to you by Brian Patton
(00:43):
and associates. It's all about the benefits and guys, you
heard Coach Tomlin there post game yesterday at Akersher Stadium.
Team on the rise of Steelers starting two and six,
finishing the second half seven into winning their last four games.
But Billy just not enough. As George Pickens put it
best yesterday, like a birthday party but without the key. Yeah, everybody,
(01:07):
you know you could even feel it at the stadium,
even though this was a resounding win over Cleveland and
it got the Steelers to three and three in the division,
the toughest division in the league in my opinion. Uh,
you know, it wasn't at the end of the game.
There wasn't that emotion that normally comes with the Steelers win,
especially over the Browns, because everybody has his cell phone
(01:31):
and people realized that we didn't get much help from
the Jets. But you know what, you have to look
at the positives of this team. If you look at
the negatives, I think you're grabbing, in the words of
Mike Tomlin, low hanging fruit. Yeah they were two and six, Yeah,
they were not very good at the beginning of the year.
(01:52):
Yeah they got their ears pin back in Buffalo, in Philadelphia.
But to be a team on the rise in December
in January, I think he's very meaningful, especially such a
young team. Absolutely, you know, I still eat the cake.
I don't care about the candles. Just give me that cake.
You know, there was a lot of cake going around there.
(02:15):
Baker isn't that far. You know. The fact of the
matter is, just like you said, Yeah, he didn't get
in the playoffs, and that's frustrating, I know it, but
there's so much to be gained from this year and
from the pre buy to the post by what a difference,
a tale of two halves of the of the season. Um,
I just I know that you know a lot of
(02:36):
people are upset that do not get in the playoffs,
but man, what a comeback, and I think it just
portends to be something for the future here to grow on. Max.
It sounded like a lot of players even today just
still in shock, you know, expecting to play. Even coach
Helmont said, you know, I was preparing to have another
week hoping that things went their way. Yesterday they had
(02:59):
two out of three things happened that they needed to happen.
How hard is it when it just comes to the
screeching halt. I mean, it's a gut punch, Missy. But
I think the other thing is is that, you know,
when you take a step back, you know, right now,
all right now, it kind of hurts, you know, because,
like you said, we did everything right in the second half,
(03:21):
and usually when you do good things in the second
half of games, you win. But the problem is when
it comes to the playoffs, the opportunities. That's where it's
it's not as fair. It's a little bit more cruel,
and you know, you we look back, there's plenty of opportunities.
We can talk about one game here, a field goal here,
a play here. But at the same time, it's tough
(03:44):
because because you look at it and you say, we
just we needed one more win and we didn't get it,
and you know, guys are gonna be upset. But it's
still a fantastic retooling. Somebody knew. It makes so tough
to to sit there and say that, hey, it's gonna
(04:06):
go this way or that way. You don't know. And
for the Steelers squad, it happened way better than we
could have anticipated. Most teams that have a rebuild or
have a big transition like we did from last year
this year with quarterbacks, we could look and say, hey,
(04:26):
this this is this is Houston, this is what the
Jets are continually going going through. We could even the
team that's going into playoffs Miami, look at the turmoil
they've had and you sit there and you say, man,
if we would have taken care of business, but we
had to grow. You had to go through those rough
spatches to then appreciate and let this feeling sink into
(04:47):
you that you don't like it, so that when you
come into next season you have a fire and you're
building from this and not starting from ground zero again.
And to your point, you know, earlier in the season,
not pretty much all the games the Steelers had against
the a f C. East and that's really what put
them in that whole Billy were yesterday. They needed help
from two of those teams, um and rooting against one
(05:10):
of the teams in that division. And you know, you
could say, sure they lost t J. Watt after you know,
the team just started on fire Week one in Cincinnati. Um,
but as Max said, if you don't win earlier in
the season, it comes back to bite you. And look
at a Ravens team, Um, they're in double digit wins.
They were so hot earlier. But we've seen what they've
(05:31):
been doing through the second half of their season. So
one of those unfortunate things. But I do think, um,
you know, the good thing is that there is a
young nucleus of guys. There's still some veteran leaders and
the cam Heywards, the t J. Watts to make a
Fitzpatrick's um. But they learned together, they learned how to
turn things around. Um, especially after that bye week is
(05:52):
where we saw a lot of that improvement. Messie, if
this were golf, I'd ask for three Mulligan's New England
Jets and the Miami game. And then my memory is fading,
and that's why I count on you guys. Where did
we drop four interceptions? Yeah, okay, there we go. So
(06:15):
can I have mulligans on those three? Well, you know,
I woke up this morning. The first thing I thought of,
you know, um to quote a famous fat guy, guy
by the name of Mike A. Day who otherwise is
known as meat loaf. All right, two out of three
ain't bad. Not two out of three ain't bad because
the Steelers won and the Bills beat the Patriots, but
(06:35):
the Dolves, uh they you know, the Jets couldn't beat
the Dolves, and uh, you know, two out of three
ain't bad. But it ain't gonna get you into the playoffs,
and it's it's unfortunate. I'm go ahead, Bill, No, there
was a call in that game that people are still
talking about the horse Coller exactly. So there's a lot
of things that you gotta overcome them. It is Max
(06:59):
uh As Billy was talking about his Mulligan's, I think
the Jets game where the Steelers had a ten point lead.
I think that one, and just you know, the visions
of Zach Wilson catching a touchdown as well is something
that I can't erase from my mind. Yeah, I know
that one, you know. But you know it's funny. I
look at the all the other Mulligan's and I think
the Mulligan that I would want would be the Baltimore Mulligan.
(07:23):
We had them in Akershore sixteen fourteen, and the block
field goal is a difference, even as bad as we played,
because that now takes us to potentially four and two
in the division. Guess who doesn't get in the playoffs,
the Baltimore Ravens. I see where you're coming, you see,
you see it's a little more devious. But yeah, if
(07:47):
there was one to pick, I think I would have
picked that one. I mean, I would have loved the
Miami nugget. But at the same time, you know that
that game, we we had so many missed opportunities there.
I mean not only that one, the passes into the
end zone, um, the one to Deonte um. You know,
going to the far end of the field, because I
can remember from your perspective, guys, Billy and Craig, where
(08:11):
you guys were in that corner of the end zone
next to the disco. Um the disco that was next door.
But but yeah, like that was one where it's like
that if I could switch one play and that one
plate would have been the difference in the game. That
would have been the one was in Baltimore, Um, because
(08:32):
we could talk about some of the mistouchdown catches or
some of the misspassing chem almost to keep dry live,
but that one right there on special teams when we
need them to be special, A guy got through in
Clay's Campbell, who has like inspector catch at arms, just
reached up and popped that ball out of the sky
from Bossy. So that was one that was just frustrating
(08:54):
when I look back on it, like, man, if we
could have had that one could have I'm sure we
could go through a number of things and make ourselves crazy.
And I feel like that's what today is about for
Steelers Nation, probably for the players. To Coach Tomlin spoke
a little bit earlier today. They were having a team
meeting at too, and then you know already had the
(09:14):
sign up sheets for exit interviews, something he does with
all the players with the coaches. And today there was
really no news out of his press conference except good
news that Pat friar Muth had an MCL sprain and
will not require surgery. So that was one where you
know things aren't going the Steelers way as I'm watching
the Miami game as he's getting hurt. But then you
(09:35):
just think, oh, man, like that would be so bad
for this team. You know how long it would take
him to rehab and whatnot. So that was some good
news at least, especially so because Pat friar Muth for
a guy that didn't get a catch yesterday and I
think it's only second time that he's been shut out,
what a job of blocking he did. He was really
doing a great job blocking. And Connor Heyward did all
(09:58):
the pass catching from the tight ends based lee you
know what I mean, and what catches he made a
couple of beauties, yeh know, the low one and the
high one. There's no question about it. And I think
another thing, Oh sorry what we were saying. Connor Hayward
(10:19):
also had tremendous yet state on the outside, so not
literally outside Becker and and and ping ponged him into
the defensive end and then then Moore just smushed both
and just on top of and I thought that that
was another one. I was like, man, that was because
I think I called up to you. Craig was like, hey,
did y'all did y'all see Connor on that one? He
(10:42):
gave He gave a real wham block on that one
to really set the edge. And I thought that was
something where you really got to see, you know, Connor
Hayward in multiple facets, not only the big catch when
you need it, but the inline blocking as well, the
h back lead type of stuff as well. So he
he they were using him in a lot of different ways.
(11:02):
And I thought that was also something when you're talking
about looking towards the future, like that's another guy that
I don't think. I talked about our rookie sensation segment, Wolf,
but I thought I thought that was one where I
was like, man, that's another one again. On was on
our Heywards exactly so, and Max. The biggest thing about
(11:22):
that was a fact that I love your technical term
smushed yeah anymore smushed them exactly splat if I was
already taken, So I love it. What a word Smith
you are with the Steelers fourteen win over the Browns yesterday,
(11:43):
splitting the series one and one. This year they moved
to nine and eight to finish up the season. For
the Steelers, that's nineteen consecutive seasons finishing at five hundred
or better, sixteen for coach Tomlins since he's been the
head coach and Billy Sometimes this is a very polar
rising thing where some people say, well, it doesn't matter,
you know, you missed the playoffs three times in five years.
(12:05):
But for those players in the locker room, they so
badly wanted to make sure that they were not the
team that broke that streak. For the Steelers and for
coach Tomlin, I think it gave him a lot of resolve,
a lot of motivation for this one. And uh as
if the Browns aren't enough motivation, especially trying to avenge
that loss of what the third game of the season.
(12:27):
Uh yeah, I think the players wore that and and
they wore it well, and uh you know, you've got
to tip your hat to especially the young players, because
I think what they showed you yesterday is that they've
learned from the Vets, They've learned the Steeler way, They've
learned how to win and uh and what it takes
(12:49):
to win and what kind of preparation it takes. And
I think that's encouraging. And so much of that is
based on the interpersonal relationship Mike has with each and
every player. I don't know if a a better communicator
and more willing to be have some sort of and
uh share some intimacy as far as a personal relationship
(13:09):
as as a head coach than Mike Tomlins. I mean,
it's very much into you know, there's an old coaching
Maxim says, you'll never know how much they care until
they know how much you care. And if you put
that out there to your guys, you you draw there's
a bonding there. And I think really what we saw
because so much of the it's the players that bring
it up all the time. It's not it's not Mike,
(13:31):
you know, And it's that bonding between Mike and his players.
I think um is on display and has been for
the past sixteen years, and this is just the result
of being able to step out and and be willing
to share in the lives of his players. You know,
and be interested. How are you doing? Are you max? You?
(13:51):
You talk about it is he? Are you thriving or surviving?
I mean that's what That's what Mike asks. Yeah, No,
I mean coach Tomlin takes special air. I mean he
you know, he he he has that fatherly uncle lee
whatever insert important male role bottle figure that that you
have in your head. He likes to embody those type
(14:12):
of things because he knows that he as a father,
as a son, as a brother, what that is right
and to be a great communicator. And I think he
tries to display and express that with his players, with
whoever he comes across, you know, uh, in his in
his daily living and life. I think he's consistent throughout that.
(14:33):
And I think that's the other thing that comes through.
It's that consistency. We always talk about that, like, if
you're gonna do anything, be consistent at it right. Don't
be the guy who's up and down, who who's emotional
at moments great one day, bad the next. He has
a certain level that he likes to operate at so
that he knows that not only for his his players,
(14:55):
but his family, his friends, they know what to expect
because he knows that he's going to be the consistent
guy that always delivers in those moments, are always you
always know what to expect with him, because that's the
that's the trademark of why this consistency of sixteen years
and not a losing record is there, because that's the
model that is based off of. He has to be
(15:18):
himself every step of the way, or else that doesn't happen,
or else you get a four and twelve season, you
get you are sorry four and thirteen. Now that we're
in seventeen years, they're still getting past um. Yeah, yeah,
exactly seven and ten, like you get all of these
different numbers, but no, eight and eight is the lowest
(15:39):
you go. You he has not had below eight victories
in the season. Is because of that consistency. And when
you're looking for guys, you want guys who also understand
that consistency but also can can pick up that mature
within that. And I think that's what just makes this
a very different type of organization than a lot of
other ones that we see right now, especially today, right
(16:00):
on Bloody Monday, you see all of these firings, right
the Cardinals fired their coach, the Texas fired their coach,
and you're seeing all of these other positions getting fired,
and there's consistency, you know, to know that, hey, no
matter what happens, we don't have to look at the
Steelers and unless a guy steps down on his own volition,
you know, more often than not over the last fifty
(16:20):
plus years, you're not going to hear anything out of
Pittsburgh p A coach. Hollon did say today that the
Browns requested to interview Brian Flores and just too quick
nuggets to go along with what you guys were saying
before we had to break miles. Jack was so passionate
and adamant when he talked about you know, I've been
two and six before in a different building, and let
(16:41):
me tell you what happened during our bye week is
not what happened during the bye week of that said team. Um.
And also just you know how coach Tomlin treats everybody
the same. After the Raiders win on Christmas Eve, it
was probably Christmas Day at that point, we're in the
locker room and coach doesn't usually talk to a ton
of players when the media is in there, but he
made a point to find Elijah Riley and say, ay Man,
(17:03):
thanks for saying in Pittsburgh we needed you and you
stepped up, um and you could just tell how much
that meant to him in that moment, no question. It's
that personal touch, man, I mean, that's what it's all about.
And that's why Mike has such a strong connection and
one of the great things about it He's in tune
with each and every player. He understands where they're at
weth mentally, physically, emotionally in so many cases. So it's
(17:26):
that's what coaching is nowadays. It's not the days of
your He has more paint cans than red Yeah, no, no, really, yeah,
and I think that's a trick. Yeah. Well, and it's
just it's like it's like, how how much better do
you feel when you get a handwritten message versus a
typed message with a stamp right for a signature. I
(17:47):
mean that you feel more special about receiving that. And
that's what Mike Tomlind does. He's the handwriting message type
of guy, and that's what makes it that much more special. Alright,
much more to discuss here about the Steelers win over
the Browns and also the end of the two thousand
and twenty two season. This is the point After on
d V We'll be right back back to the Point After,
(18:11):
brought to you by Parks Casino on d V E,
I felt like, you know, the offense started to become
my own the more I was playing in it. Um,
you know, taking real ownership of it instead of just
kind of playing catch up. You know, when I when
I was got thrown in there a little bit earlier, um,
and I was just worried about executing the plays. And
now I felt like I had everything at my disposal
when I was coming to the line of scrimmage. So um,
(18:32):
you know, I think I made a good jump there
in a learning curve, and you know I want to
make that leap into your two No. Steelers quarterback Henny Pickett,
speaking after the Steelers fourteen win over the Browns at
Acquasher Stadium on Sunday. Welcome back to the Point After.
This segment is brought to you by the Greater Pittsburgh
Community Food Bank and Don's Appliance Reverie field goal we
(18:53):
kicked the season. Don's Appliance will donate one thousand dollars
to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. That's five thousand
meals each time. Thank you to Don's appliance, and you
can also help by donating to just text goals to
five zero one five five. Billy A lot to talk
about when you break down the rookie season of Kenny Pickett,
(19:15):
how he became the Steeler starter. What's the biggest takeaway
from his performance and how he finished this season? In
your eyes, he grew up quickly from the seven interceptions
in a short amount of time to one interception over
a long period of time. To me, that's growing up.
And I think we saw a little glimpse of it
(19:36):
yesterday when he took that terrible delay penalty and then
just came right back and found George Pickens um. You know,
I think that tells you a lot about Kenny Pickett,
and he handles it so well. I think there's so
much that you can see with this young man that
really the things that you like from the very get go.
I mean, his mobility, his ability to be on the
(19:57):
move make things happen. But you know, I I think
his pre snap breeds, his ability to go through his um,
you know, his options there and then being able to
throw the ball when he needed to throw the ball
in the big moments. I don't know how you teach that.
How do you teach that ability to come through in
the last minute of two consecutive games, throwing those touchdown passes. Um,
(20:19):
that's something that you either have or you don't have.
And it's obvious this young man has a sense of
the weighty moments, as Mike Tomlin refers to them as
and able to um accommodate the moment and do so
in a in a spectacular fashion. I'll just add this.
You know, you think about the game yesterday, that wasn't
the Picasso, as Billy calls her a Mozart. You know
(20:41):
from the start, I mean that one was a little rough,
you know, that was it had some hiccups in it,
but he got them going and he stayed with it,
and again there was no sign of panic. The kid
is really a pretty cool customer. Well, and I think
even more so right I think when you're an older
rookie quarterback, a guy who's played a lot of football
(21:02):
in college, you have a better sense of yourself about
what you can and can't do. Not to say that
a guy with least experience can't grow into that, but
you don't see it as immediately. And I think that
was one of the things when you're talking about drafting
a guy who was five years in college as a
quarterback and then coming to the league and he's had
(21:23):
all of this experience, you know, he's he's had the
opportunity to kind of grow into that leadership type role.
And I think that's something that we we often take
for granted because everybody wants that kid that's oh flash
in the pan one year, got it done, you know,
and and he had this meteoric season one time. But
it's another thing to go through adversity and to build
(21:45):
into these moments to where when you get to the
next phase of life, it's not as it's not as
big a moment for him. You can look at it.
Go ahead. I'm sorry, Max. I was just wasn't it
pre draft that we heard all about well, he's too old,
you know, I mean, he's he's he's spent a fifth year,
and like that was supposed to be a bad thing,
and you know, you just laid out all the reasons
(22:07):
why it was such a good thing. He wasn't as
old as Brandon Weedon, yeah, or Chris or Chris winky
right right. But here, here's here's the thing. And I've
never played quarterback except in the sand lot, you know,
back alley. I've never played the position, but I think
as I observe it, it more than any other position
on the football field, requires snaps. The only way to
(22:32):
get better is to get snaps meaningful situations at game speed.
And what he's shown so far, I think the sky's
the limit today. Coach Tom Land was asked in his
press conference, UM post game post kind of you know,
wrapping up the season. Um, if what he thought about,
(22:54):
you know, should you could you look back and say, yeah,
we should have you know, gave Kenny Moore first team
reps in the off season, Maybe we should started him earlier.
And he said, look, as I stayed here today, I
have no regrets, UM, and I as we are playing
the quota Shota, what a game. Um, you do start
to think though, as you said, the game rep is
so important. And that's how I think that Jets game
Week four halftime, when coach tomla made that switch from
(23:16):
Mitch Robinsky to Kenny Pickett, that was Kenny Pickett's team
and that was his job as QB one through the
growing pains, they were going to stick with him because
at that point those reps help. And that's what you know,
we've seen the crazy comebacks at the end of games
of the previous two games to win the games against
the Raiders and the Ravens. But I also think that,
(23:38):
you know, giving him a chance to to learn from
mistakes Max, I'm sure is part of the deal and
something that they have to do in order to grow
into a better quarterback. And Kenny was already talking yesterday
about already told the guys, you know, we're gonna get
together this offseason and work before we even you know,
get to o t a s. He's already in that
(23:58):
mindset of like, we got to go well. And I
think that's how it should be and and that's the
way that today's quarterbacks are, right. I mean, I think
back in you know, when I was playing. You know,
Ben wasn't calling passing camps down to his place in Georgia.
You know, Um, this is something that's more of a
newer thing. But you can see the leadership there to say,
(24:21):
you know what, in order for us to be better,
we need to take time off because this is no
longer just you know, something we do at school, right
for a scholarship, right where I still got to go
to classes, I still have to do everything else. No,
this is my profession, this is all I do. I am.
I am a football player by profession. And it takes
(24:44):
that extra thing. Just like we ask different professions to
take continuing education credits, right or what they call c
e u s, or you go to conferences to learn things.
There's no conference for football players, right, it's these type
of clinics one on one. Hey, guys, we're going to
a spot. We're gonna go down to South Florida. We're
gonna throw for a month together and get to know
(25:04):
each other even better. And that's what guys do nowadays.
And I think that's that's one of the things that
I think is so incredible that they take that type
of initiative in the off season, in your free time
to do things to make yourself become a better teammate,
to become a better unit, and to ultimately become a
better team overall. When you have that time in that
(25:27):
connection together because like like like Billy, like you said,
it takes reps, so going and creating those moments where
you can get those reps in an in an unsupervised manner.
That just goes to show even more so the dedication
of these guys to want to be better, to want
to grow, because there's you could do everything else you
want to do, go travel, and you can go just
(25:48):
relax it on your couch, Like man, I worked hard
for the last five and a half months. No, it's like, hey,
go rest, recuperate, recover, and then we're getting back to
work before they have to tell us we have to
be back to work. There was one other good piece
of news yesterday that I've failed to mention in the
(26:10):
first segment. Thanks to Levy Smith and the Texans, they
now made the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick,
which meant the Steelers in terms of the trade for
Chase Claypool, now have pick seventeen in the first round,
in the first pick in the second round at thirty
two because in the first round Miami, due to their
tampering uh charges or whatever you wanna call them there
(26:34):
did they had to forfeit that first round pick. So, um,
you know we're looking that's the way I head down
the road. But that is pretty remarkable when you think
of just you know what they have in those first
two picks and being able to help solidify some spots
that need it. But well, if I want to talk
to you about the offensive line and just we talked
every week about how they got better and better. What
(26:55):
do you think is the final product that we saw
in Is that something that they can carry over into
next season? Oh? I think it's definitely something that they're
gonna carry over the next season. The final product that
they developed coming out of the by I mean nine
of the last ten games they rushed for over a
hundred yards. They increased their yards per carry by half
a yard after the bye as opposed to before the bye.
(27:18):
They had fifty more yards UH per game rushing after
the bye. Then before the bye they cut a sack
out from their you know, from a sack whatever two
sacks or three sacks per game. They cut that down
too after the bye. I think there's an awful lot there.
There's more, as Mike Tomlins says, meat on the bone
to be had. But you saw what what you saw
(27:39):
was a coming together this offensive line. And one of
things I love best remember that first series yesterday, they
came off the ball and they were removing people with
their hand in the dirt and they were taking them
for a ride. And I love that the the absolute
physicality that those guys were demonstrating on snap after snapping
(27:59):
on fortunately ended with a fumble, but it should have
been a touchdown anyhow, because Nagi scored the first time
he carried the ball down at the goal line, and
you know, and then you had to go with the
third one, which I'm sorry but he did fumble it,
but that gum, that was a touchdown on first down there.
So the offensive line has grown and I expect that
these guys can continue in that fashion well. And and
(28:23):
I think this group learned a lot about themselves, and
we learned a lot about them, right, don't count them out,
first and foremost, and the second thing is, it takes
time for offensive lines to gel. No matter how fast
you want it, it's not gonna happen. It takes time.
And this offensive line showed us that good things happened
(28:45):
to those who wait. And you saw that on display
these last last quarter of the season. Right the last
four or five games. You saw an offensive line that
was great on their double teams. You saw the guys
that knew when to get off. They knew how to
take blocking angles. A guys wouldn't slip off in the backfield.
Nagy was not getting contact two yards in the backfield.
He was getting it at the line of scrimmage and
(29:06):
beyond in a positive direction. That's the growth we wanted
to see. And and when we're talking to Nazi yesterday,
you know Wolf and Billy Um, that was something that
he said. He said, listen, listen. I was injured in
the spring and the sun and during training camp I
didn't trust them, and and that's a on me, and
I had to take a step back and look at it.
(29:27):
And once I displayed the trust, that's when you saw
everything getting even better for all of us. And I
thought that was a big move by Naji to recognize
that and to admit that and to and and to
verbalize it. So that was a great step as well,
when you're talking about accountability amongst teammates on one side
of the ball, I thought that was also a big moment.
(29:48):
When we played the Bengals the opening game of the year,
their offensive line hadn't played many snaps together, if any,
in the preseason. There was only one starter on the
angles offensive. What do you think if they didn't get better,
that that team would be twelve and four. Yeah right, yeah,
yea doubt about it. And just quickly to touch on Naji.
(30:11):
First of all, backs, I heard he stole your mike,
but second he did give it though he have a
knack for that. Yeah, he does not shy away from
cameras or microphones. Um, but you know, a lot of
the offensive line yesterday and today gave him credit at
the bye week for coming into the offensive line room
(30:32):
and saying, hey, guys, look, I have to be a
better running back for you guys. Let's watch film. Let's
figure this out. And I think you know he's young,
but there is a reason why at the beginning of
this season his teammates voted him one of the Steelers
offensive captains and you know, just another part of that
young core, especially with the offense that will be here
next year and hopefully continue to right the ship and
(30:54):
start faster and all of that good stuff. So, um,
we do need to talk about the Steelers defense though
in their team MVP maka Fitzpatrick will do that and
much more. After this quick break, you're listening to the
point after on DV. Back to the point after brought
t Bay Parks Casino on dv E and he's running
around and he's hitting that dime by Captain Camp whoa,
(31:19):
and there's no roughing. With one second left, they say
that's it. The game is over. On another sack, back
to back sacks by this Steelers defense that played superbly,
that's the end of the game. With a final score
Pittsburgh Cleveland fourteen and Captain Cam Hayward. That made him
(31:41):
have ten and a half sacks on the season, the
second straight year he hit double digits the third time
in his career. In Billy, I love that. You had
to add there was no penalty on that one. Well
he lost a sack or he'd be really breathing all
over debo. But you know that's what happens. And did
(32:02):
you look at the footage Wolf and oh no, I
mean that was the most single, most egregious penalty I've
seen in the NFL, next to when I tackled Ben
Rudolph when he was a free runner ahead and for
for Terry Bradshaw, you know, and that was a pretty
egregious fall on my part. But having said that, what
(32:24):
happened with Cam, I don't understand how you can, in
any way, shape or form, call that roughing the passer.
The next step is going to be asking the guy
to take a knee, you know, just please take a knee.
You know, I'll touch you. That's about it. You mean
what Michael Strahan asked? Oh yeah, exactly. Slided the home plate. No, no, no,
(32:45):
just fall down and I'll just touch you. Yes. You
You can't tell that we're not bitter here and mad
at the season's over with with the digs that are
coming out here. But I'm here for guys. And our
final segment of the Point After for the two thousand
and twenty two season is brought to you by clear
View Federal Credit Union. For every turn over the Black
(33:05):
and Gold created in two thousand and twenty two, clear
View Federal Credit Union donated five hundred dollars to the
Light of Life Rescue Mission clear View helping people to
enjoy a better life. Visit clear View f CU dot org,
slash touchdown and Billy, you were right for Cam Now
in his career seventy eight and a half sacks, so
(33:26):
he is second to Deebo who has eighty and a
half and t J. Raight behind him. Seventy seven and
a half. So maybe next year Cam and t J
will just you know, they'll pass divo eventually, and then
they'll just keep fighting for who has the most sacks.
I'd love to see that, there's no question. Look, you know,
I'm not sure which I find more egregious the sack
(33:46):
they took away in Baltimore last year that prevented a
lot from you know, breaking Michael stray hands, uh you know,
slide into home plate type of in sack on on
Brett Farr, or you know the fact that they took
this one away from camp because he put the quarterback
on the dirt in a very nice, gentlemanly manner. I
don't understand it. Yeah, no, I mean it. It's frustrating,
(34:10):
But like you said, we have milestones, Missy, you will
be busy next season at the beginning of the season.
If Week one is anything like the Week one we
had this year, hopefully it's full of defensive exploits and
two guys fighting over who deserves a half sack. There
you go a Week one where will it be Las Vegas,
Seattle or l A. I hope so for my travel,
(34:36):
But if I remember correctly, I think Bob Labriola had
pointed out earlier in the year something about with the Pirates.
This could be like the first time and I think
eight or nine years that the Steelers could start at
home potentially. Okay, we'll have to see and the home
games all of the a f C North teams of course,
(34:58):
and then Arizona, Green Bay, Jacksonville, New England, San Francisco,
and Tennessee. And on the road, Billy, you alluded to
a few Houston, Indie, Las Vegas, the l A Rams
and Seattle. So you go from not traveling very much
this year to lots of travel coming up in two
thousand and twenty three. It's just not many frequent flyer
(35:19):
points for Max. Yeah, I'll make up for it with
the college schedule. Don't worry. You broke a record last
week for bowl games, that's for sure. Oh my goodness. Yeah,
I was all over the Greater US. But I've still
made it to my Steeler games on time, which is
most important. There you go, yes, quickly before we turn
(35:40):
our attention away from the Steelers and the sack count
for guys. Alex Highsmith finishing with fourteen and a half um,
I just think a very underrated. You know, you're like, wow,
that that's a lot, that's that's a good bit. And
he you know, double digits came into the season was
the goal and he got well beyond beyond that and
all so first in the league with five force fumbles.
(36:03):
So uh well, if I know you, you think he
should be going to the Pro bol right, unquestionably, So,
I mean, I just can't even imagine. This young man
has outperformed all expectations. Remember when he was first drafted
and then he first you know, the first training camp
he was in the Keith Butler talked about how this
young man doesn't make the same mistake twice, and he doesn't.
(36:24):
He's smart, he's strong, he's fast, He's added to his game,
he's got the spin move going. But he's got the ability,
as you pointed out, Missy, the fumbles, tackles for lost
things are like that. I mean, he's coming on. He's
a young buck and I am excited for him because
he's also a super fine man, just a great dude.
So kudos to him. He's had quite the year and
(36:46):
been I would think he was even in the in
the thought process for UM and team m v P two. Okay,
there was a show stopper. Everybody just yeah, you know,
I was, I was agreeance. I didn't really have too
much more to add. But I think you're right. I
think that's one you have to consider. And you look
(37:07):
at hey. Question Mark was who will be the pass
rusher opposite T J. Watcher will have the impact on
this defensive line? And he answered the question pretty early.
You know, think about a year ago, right with Melvin
Ingram complaining and everything else about all his playing time,
he's better than Alex Heismith. I think we've proven that. No,
(37:31):
so you know, but now I think now the next
step is the depth behind it. Right. I thought we
had some we we had some guys who came in
and showed up like the Marvin Leel having position flexibility
and being able to switch to a four down type
of look right and be that kind of elephant d
N hand down, stand up type of d N. And
you know, we did have Jones that came in and
(37:52):
showed some flashes for us in relief of but I
think you you still got to have that that three
man compliment on the outside to be able to press
or the way we want to play a three four,
you've got to have that third rush, and I think
that's something we're gonna look at seeing who can be
that guy, whether it's free agency, whether somebody emerges, or
whether we draft that guy. But I think that will
be something that will look at in the off season.
(38:13):
Is the depth of the offense outside linebacker position for
if anything does happen. And I'm not saying it is
and I'm not putting out the universe, but if something
did happen, you want to have that contingency plan in place.
By the way, I just happened to pick up on
Melan ingram stats. He's got six sacks. So I think
we made out in that deal. Just like he pointed out, Max,
Yeah take it, yes, and not to you know, not
(38:39):
that it's an excuse, but I think you know, when
you look at Alex Highsmith when he came in, he
was kind of raw. But also just his draft class
in they didn't have O t s. There wasn't mini camp.
Training camp was the most bizarre thing I've ever seen
in my life. I just remember, like we we were
only allowed up on the Ford fan zone. You couldn't
go near them, and I mean it was just it
(39:01):
was just very different. The team building was different. Guys
were going into their own suites during their downtime, not
like what you see at St. Vincent Um. But I think,
as you pointed out, what if you know, he's a
good kid, he's a good person, and he puts his
head down, he goes to work and he follows t J.
Water around a lot, And I don't think that that's
ever a bad thing. No, that's exactly what you do.
You It's like Ralph, it's like the karate kid following
(39:24):
Mr Miyagi around. You know, I have a dumb question,
what would the record be if T J. Watt doesn't
miss seven games? M hmm, that's just a dumb question. Yeah,
he finished with seven. Yeah, it's it's sound a dumb
question because I think you would you would think that
there's a couple of games where him being healthy. Just
(39:46):
saying will you were talking about those three Mulligan's, Yeah,
I think I think those three Mulligan games would have
been different, maybe all three. Wait a minute, you're talking
twelve and M four. Yeah. Yeah, it sounds like Champion
would have hold let let me carry the one. Here,
I go, let me carry the one on that. We'll
(40:07):
we'll just trust that. Okay, we'll leave it. And by
the way, today DeMar Hamlin went back to Buffalo. Now
he will spend time in the hospital. But you know,
God bless the young man. Yes, yeah, absolutely, easy guy
to cheer for. Um I do wanna last fun fact
of the two thousand two season for you guys. The
Steelers had twenty interceptions, the most in the NFL. Minca
(40:30):
Fitzpatrick accounted for six of them. He tied for a
league high with three other players, and Minka is the
first Steelers player to lead the NFL and interceptions since
Mel Blunt in nineteen Fast company. There you go, all right, Well,
a big thing to big thanks to producer Tom for
putting up with us all season. We appreciate him. And
(40:51):
thanks to you guys for Bill Hill Grove, Craig Willfly
and Max Starks and Missy Matthews. This is the point
after We'll see you back here next year.
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