August 18, 2021 • 42 mins
Gerry Dulac is live from North Shore Tavern talking preseason week 3 against the Lions and looking toward winding down to 53.
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Speaker 1 (00:22):
From Bradshaw and the steel Curtain to Roethlisberger and Flitzburg.
We are always talking black and gold on s n I. Well,
we started this process about three or so weeks ago
with our special Training Camp Reports shows surrounding the beginning
of Steelers training camp and with training Camp at hind
Field basically coming to a close. Today was the last
(00:45):
day for the fans that they are able to attend
and watch. Um, this is our last Training Camp Reports
show of the preseason. And what better way to wrap
it up with myself, Jerry Dulec and my friend to coach,
Tom brad back together again, coach, Nice to be with you.
With the North Shore Tavern right across from p n
C Park. We are here until eight pm. And um,
(01:10):
I think they saved the best for last. I think.
So you're very looking, very sharp today, very color coordinated everything.
Thank you. I thought you might like this little look
going on today. I was gonna wear khaki's like you,
but to offset the blue. But thanks at least I
had a white hat on, unlike the blue one you're continuing,
which it has some TV uh and seeing me on
(01:31):
top of where you got that, Tom Brady, it's not
Tom Brady, make sure you get one. I see you're
sporting the Yoakmont logo though one. I wanted to do
that to let you know that because I know how
you like the golf. No, I did not play, but
but but you do like to dine up there. Yes, yes,
it's nice establishments there. So um good to see you,
(01:54):
always good to be with you. We will be together
during the season Monday nights along with Tim Benn's well
to have a little three man broadcast team and it
congrats to my friend Tim Bence who just won some
national awards for a piece that he did deserve, we deserved,
and so we'll be together every Monday night during the season,
beginning with the week the Monday after the first game
(02:15):
September twelve in Buffalo and the Steelers They're only home
preseason game of the summer is saturdayn against the Detroit Lions.
We're gonna see Ben Roethlisberg, which is the typical UM
blueprint that the Steelers have followed for years. UM. Ben
does not play the firstst two preseason games, neither do
(02:36):
some of the other UH veteran quote stars. Cam Heyward
hasn't played in the past our former Tuesday Night broadcast
partner Antonio Brown Newton played the first two games. Um,
but Ben typically just plays is the only game he
will play. He'll play a couple of series. I don't
know how many, but uh, I don't think any more
than the first half. Boy, I won't even play until halftime.
(02:59):
And you know is I'm with the contention coach that
he doesn't have to play. You don't need to play
in the preseason. And but but in this instance, maybe
with a new coordinator, new terminology, three rookie regulars, if
you will to start as the snapper Kendrew uh, Kendrick Green,
(03:20):
you stop running back Nalogy Harris, and even the tight
end Pat Farnmouth, maybe it's good to get a couple
of series with them, and most importantly, a new coordinator
with a different system, in different terminology. I would agree
with you. I think he just wants to get in
there for a little bit, just get a feel with everybody,
getting the huddle with the guys, okay, and get it,
go on and get it. He knows you got it
(03:42):
what he has to do. And I think you're looking
at maybe a quarter and a half at the most,
and he's just gonna go through and get a good
feel for everybody and the communication, the snapping and all
the different things you got to go through. Uh, But
any more than that, I don't see it. I'm an
agreement with you. I don't. I know a lot of
coaches don't like to play any of those guys at
all preseason, and I'm sure maybe, just maybe it might
(04:04):
be bench preference. He likes to get in there for
a little bit just too, you know, especially with what
you said that the new personnel. The other thing to
coach is training camp or this period from when they
reported to when they played is so long. It's so
much longer than than normal. Because now after that last
preseason game next Friday in Carolina, I got sixteen days
(04:24):
before they play the next game. And they played one
more preseason game than everybody because of the Hall of
Fame game. So they've been in their quote training camp
a long time. They've had plenty of practice, plenty of reps.
That's the other reason why I don't think he needs
to play. He likes to play. I mean, he had
the arguments for him to play plenty of time. Exactly.
(04:44):
He likes to play. He does like to play so
I I think because of that, it's almost to the
point though too. I mean the coaches, they have to
be careful. That's a long time in training. So fine
for the young guys that they're trying to evaluate, you know,
the guys who gotta make decisions on. But for the veterans,
those veterans are sitting there going, haha, this is let's
(05:05):
just start. Let's get out. Of course, that's why I
always feel coach too. After one preseason game, I've seen enough,
I'm like, let's just get to the right. You know,
it's interesting being a college coach for so long. There
are no preseason games in college. You know, you go
through gam that's what you playing. You just go play
and you start, so you know, you you don't have
that opportunity. So you know, how big a deal is
that they that he plays in the preseason. They you know,
(05:27):
no college guys have preseason, no quarterbacks, and they go
and and Ben's been through college and he knows, you know,
just getting getting ready to go on the all count.
Aaron Rodgers hasn't played a preseason game since two thousand
and eighteen. He's not gonna play again this year now,
Tom Brady took the opening series last week in the
first preseason game for Tampa Bay. How about that. He's
forty four years old last time I checked. But he
(05:47):
played one series and they got him out of there,
and you know, maybe he'll play another one, maybe he won't.
I looked this up today. Peyton Manning played in the
preseason towards the end of his career. Drew Brees, it's
older forties, aid in the preseason just a little bit
later in his career. And here's Ben. He's he's played
every year. But but I asked Mike Tomlin about that
(06:08):
today and he said, you know, if if he were
in the same system as in the past, which this
is his fifth coordinator, but this is the first time
the system has changed, the terminologies, terminologists has changed. He said,
if he were in the same system, he might not
play him. But he just wants to get him comfortable
with Matt Cannada, the communication you know that you have
(06:30):
in a normal gameer. So I get it, I guess,
but so let me but let me give you this
point to your point about no preseason, right, just like college,
if you don't play, there was no preseason last year
and because of COVID. Ben got off to a pretty
good start, coach. You know, so he's coming off elbow surgery, right,
so he has no preseason, so there's big questions. How's
(06:53):
he gonna be his first five games, no preseason, coming
off elbow surgery. Eleven touchdowns in one pick, his first
five games, Uh, they started eleven and o twive touchdowns
on six interceptions. Doesn't sound to me like he needed
any preseason one month, right, right. He was really sharp
last year coming right out of the gate. I mean,
(07:14):
I mean especially the first game. Three touchdowns, no picks.
I mean, you you know, with those stats, and I
you know, I knew they were great. I didn't realize
the only had drown the one pick, but I knew
there wasn't very many. Um. But heck, but that's yeah,
photo stats in front of you, and you're here to
like say a stats, don't Who said who said that
(07:36):
there's lives damn licen statistics exactly right? I? Um, I
think it was Teddy Rosenholt. I think that's what it was. Um,
just testing me to see you were you weren't quite
living back then, But no, I wasn't. But I read
about the game. I read about him the guy in
in high school and and even um, so obviously the
(07:58):
minute something happened that he would get hurt if you
could get hurt, and they're not going to subject him
to that. He's not gonna stand back in the pocket,
although I thought that last uh in the past, and
I see him drop back and to stand there there,
whereas I would think they'd say, look, drop back three steps,
get rid of the ball, and that's it. I'm not
going to subject him to a whole lot in this game.
He is thirty nine, after all, they're they're not. But
(08:22):
the one thing about him, he's such a competitor. He's
gonna want to complete every pass he's gonna and you know,
he's gonna hang in there as long in that parkt
as long as he can't. He's not one of those
guys that he wants to win, you know, even in preseason.
So be interesting to see how that goes, you know, Coach,
they were giving him some extended reps this week. UM
(08:44):
not exactly sure why. It's not like they have to
prepare him for the game, even though that's what they said,
but they gave him a lot of reps yesterday, and
you know what, he did everything. We see more of
the offense in practice, not surprisingly, than you would in
a preseason game, and he did everything. He was doing
half rolls, he did sprint outs. I said, he looked
like Baker Mayfield, completing passes, zipping him down field, deep passes,
(09:08):
twenty yards over the middle. Everything he needed to do,
or they want him to do, or they're gonna ask
him to do, he did it, and he did it easily, comfortably,
and very well, and he looked really good doing it. Okay,
I know it's practice and you don't have a three
hundred pound guy chasing you down who wants to take
your head off. But in terms of being asked to
do everything, play action under center in the shotgun, he's
(09:32):
done at all and he looks very comfortable doing it.
And that's the question everybody wants to know, Will we
get under center? Can't he get under center? And the
answer to that is yes. Now we'll see what happens
in a regular season, but I have no reason to
dot it's going to change the whole lot. No, I
don't think it will at all. You know, but he
brings a big thing about under center depends up under center.
Before you probably got under center about in the sixth
grade something, you know what I mean. So it's not
(09:54):
as if it's anything new for him to do it.
You know, his whole career, he's been able to do it. Uh,
Obviously the things have changed over time. You know, they're
more in the gun now and doing things. They're gonna
get back under center. It's not we're acting like that's
something new and ingenious, you know what I mean. But
it's been going on in football for a long time.
And and of course you can the advantage to going
(10:14):
under center. You go under center all you want. You
don't have a running game, there's no point going under center.
But the whole ideas improved your running game, and that's
the objective this year, you know, and involved coaching changes,
It involved scheme, It involved technique, and probably most importantly
or significantly, it involved personnel from naj Harris drafting and news.
(10:38):
You had to get a new center when Marquise Pouncer retired.
You moved on from Alvilla in the way the line
is entirely different, and basically five new players at new
positions on the offensive. They've been fun to watch Um,
the offensive line, I've been very impressed. I think that
you know, the one thing they're doing is really finishing.
You watch them downfield there, they've got a little nastiness
to them. I kind of expected that, having work with
(11:00):
a Jean Clemby for he got to the Steelers and
with him in college, you know, I know the type
of attitude he gets in those guys. And I've really
been impressed with the new center. You know, I really
liked him. I also thought that the Dan Moore has
has really had appreciate. I think he's gonna be a really,
really big time football player just watching him develop. And
(11:22):
I think they've got some good players on an offensive line,
and you know how soon they jel well alot of
young guys, you know, coach a lot. Well, well, let
me go to Dan Moore first. You know they stay
they had him, uh when chocks core for was was.
You know, they kept him up with an injury. They
had him at left tackle. Now they moved him to
right tackle. But you could tell one with the way
(11:43):
they talk about them to the way they're using them,
the opportunities are giving them. They liked Animals their fourth
round a draft pick along with Buddy Johnson. UM. Kendrick Green,
of course their third round pick. From the minute they
drafted him, coach, he was their starter. Um it. Despite
the fact that he has not listed as a harder
on the depth right, that doesn't matter. Um. Some people
(12:03):
thought he had trouble in the you know, first, right
right off the bat, he got he got pushed back
on that sack. You know, yesterday in practice against tyson
Is Lulu on a couple of drills, he got peak up,
pushed back, he was bull rushed. Um. But there's there's
a lot about him that they've seen that they like
as opposed to not liking for a guy who's transistion game.
(12:24):
Basically the center started four games there in college, coach,
you know, but the other twenty seven at guard Um.
But you know, people saying, oh, he's not very tall,
he's not very big. Well, first of all, Marquise Pounce
he wasn't very heavy. He was two nds um, Kendrick
Green is about the same way. He is not as tall.
But as I recall, Mike Webster wasn't very tall either.
(12:46):
And I don't think you really want tall centers, do you, coach, No,
I don't think that's been one of the mostly good
centers I've been around, have been in that that six
two two six three range, you know what I mean,
I've never really seen. I think it's different in the
tackle position. We like a little polar guy with arm
length and all that. Those centers, that's a different that's
a different thing going on in there at all, all
(13:06):
that stuff that goes on. Pouncey was obviously a little different.
He was more long armed, you know, a little bit
lighter than a lot of centers. But great athlete, tremendous
skill and things of that. I'm really looking for Chokes
to have a big time a year this year. Uh.
You know, I remember when we draft him, Bill Kenny,
a guy that I had worked with, had coached him
in college, and said, hey, you guys should like this guy.
(13:28):
And Bill has been right a lot of times and
a lot of players. And uh, I think Chuck's gonna
have a big, big year. I really do him. And
and Um Kevin Colbert said this a couple of weeks ago,
coach that Um. When they drafted the core for UM,
they thought he was a better tackle left tackle than
right tackle, but they had Albell in the way but
(13:48):
left tackle, so they used him at right tackle. And
last year he was in that training camp battle with
Zack Banner and Kevin Colbert even said that if if
they were in a battle at left tackle that he
believed Chucks of core For would have won that, not
Zack Banner. But of course Zack Banner won the starting
job and he played the first three quarters, but then
his season ended, uh, you know after after those three
(14:12):
quarters with an a C L injury. And and I
have thought that maybe all in all, the Chokes of
core For was their most consistent lineman last year. Stepping
into that role. I thought he was. I thought he
played more than just very solidn Yeah, I thought chokes,
you know, not a you know you when you're in
(14:32):
there working with them, and you know, you just hear
with the comments being made, and I think there's a
lot of good things. And I think that as they
say chokes, there is definitely pointing up. I mean, I
think he's a guy. I think I think people are
gonna be really surprised with this offensive line. I'm I
think everybody's been worried about it. But I really liked
the make up here just watching the games, the way
they were coming off the ball and and and have
(14:54):
a little attitude. It seems like they just have a
little a little something about him. They're finishing to play
a little bit past the whistle. Yeah, they're putting them,
putting their hand in the ground, coach, and not drop
stepping their firing out. You said they're finishing their blocks, um,
And I'm with you, And my whole thing is give
him a chance. These guys know what they're doing. You know,
the last two years the worst running a game in
(15:16):
the NFL. So if you're gonna try and prove it,
you can't do it with the same line if you
have one of They knew Pouncey was gonna retire, They
did not expect this situation with David DeCastro. They knew
they were gonna move on from Albilla Nueva. Um. They
let go of that file, of which I thought to
a degree was a mistake. But then you know, another
team gave him a lot of money and they weren't
gonna pay him that much. Um. But this line hasn't
(15:37):
had a chance to work a lot together. I think
you'll see them. I think you'll see them all together
Saturday night against the lines, barring some other setback here
in the next day or two. Um, but it's a
chance that people worried all where they haven't played together. Coach,
there's three and a half weeks till the regular season starts.
They got plenty of time time. How many days did
(15:59):
you say after last after the last preseason game, right,
And uh, it's interesting because you know, you see it,
you kind of make a big deal about that. I
once again to go back to the college stuff. You know,
you don't have that many practices before your first game,
and you've got to be ready to go and put
a line together. And guys who you know different, you know,
you know, different backgrounds, different this trying to communicate constantly.
(16:22):
So I really look forward to Uh. I think this
is gonna be a really good offensive line. Um. I
really like the makeup of just watching them play there
a little bit that they've played so far. And let's
be realistic too, Um, they're not gonna go into game
one and be perfectly fine and all on the same creation.
There'll be our process as well. It's gonna you know,
(16:42):
they need to get in games, they need to play
a little and uh, and jail a little bit before
they get some uh, you know, before they get some
cohesion where they're operating the way they want to. It's
not just gonna happen in that first game in Buffalo.
It's gonna take a little bit. Yeah, it's going to
I think. You know, I've watched Adrean clem work with
the young college lineman. How fast he's developed some of
those guys. And you know, you get him in as
(17:04):
a young guy and you're like, wow, that looks pretty
good already. So I've been around him and watched his
coaching style and I think that's a good thing. And
and you know the other thing with Matt Canada, you
know that's uh. And in college a long time, he's
used to working with younger guys getting ready, have to
get him ready. And now with the NFL experience that,
you know, I think that will help him. Coach, want
me come back. I want to talk to you a
little bit more about Adrian Clemm because you know him,
(17:26):
you've worked with him, and how it was that he
came to get that job, and and and what he
wants to do with this offensive line. It's Jerry Doolak
and the coach Tom Bradley, We're at the North Shore
Tavern right across the street from PNC Park. We're here
until a p m. It's our final training camp report
show of the season. We'll be back with more right
after this. You're listening to ESPN Pittsburgh from Bradshaw and
(17:51):
the Steel Curtain told Roethlisberger and Blitzburg. We are always
talking black and Gold on s n R. Back at
the North Shore tab ever in right across some p
n C Park. It's Jerry Doolack and the coach Tom
Bradley with you until eight p m. It is our
final UH training camp show of the season. We started
(18:13):
well when the Steelers first began in hines Field three
and a half weeks ago. Today is our final broadcast
from our training camp report. So if you're in the
any area, stuff on by gee. It's been a miserable
day with rain. Coach Oh oh Bohead did drive back
and it was really bad up in the little mountains.
It was a little bit different than Pittsburgh. It was
(18:35):
there was some bad weather going hither. I never thought
that Stevens would practice outside, but they did, and Mike
Tomlin said he wanted to take advantage of the elements. Now,
they weren't that bad. Um. You know, the field was
covered with the tarps, wasn't during the heavy rains in
the morning and whenever it started, and once they took
it off, it wasn't. It was heavy maybe for a
(18:55):
couple of minutes, but it's basically just a light rain
for the most part. But know, but both played outside coaches,
you well know, and he said, you know, there was
no lightning and no thunder, there's nothing dangerous. So he
was actually thrilled to be able to get a practice
in the ring. And I think it's always a great
idea when he had that opportunity to get that in
because you're gonna have to play in at the weather
(19:16):
is what it is. You don't have a choice. And
so I think, you know, a lot of times it's
always that there's no lightning in the area and the
footing isn't too slippery, we're gonna might be getting somebody
hurt or a pool. And today's rain here in this
area was very light, you know, uh, which gave them
that opportunity. And there's a lot of reason he wanted.
I'm sure of catching the ball, punting, catching punts, holders,
(19:36):
you know, a lot of kicking, a lot of things
he wanted to get done today because he had that
opportunity to to do it. Um, coach, you had a chance.
You worked at u c l A with Adrian Clem.
You know, after the season, the state has made a
change in their coordinator. Like Overandy Fittner promoted Matt Canada
let go. Shan Serette promoted his assistant Adrian Plem. And
(19:59):
a lot of people look that is like, well, you're
just promoting and going to do the same old thing.
That wasn't the case. Uh, the Steals, we're looking outside
as well. But they were impressed with what Adrian Clem
said with them when they interviewed him, and that's why
they gave him the job. And yeah, I think it's
a great move. You know, Adrian got to know him
at U c l A and and watched him work
(20:19):
when I got there, and he was impressed. I have
to get go. I think the thing about Adrian is
maybe people in Pittsburgh don't know. He played at the
University of a White the second round pick of the
New England Patriots. He's a three time Super Bowl champion. Okay, Uh,
he's been around. He was at s m U at
U c l A. He was a run game coordinator. Uh,
he was the associate head coach. Really a great recruiter
(20:43):
in the college ranks. And also, you know, it was
interesting how he was able to jel those you know,
in college, the opportunities are dealing with a little different
group of young men, you know, and he did a
I was really impressed just watching him work and the
way he went about his his You know, coach, you
(21:03):
made this transition as well, from from college to the NFL.
It's it's different. You're going from his going from young
kids who may not be able to do it but
are willing to listen to the NFL where guys all
of them basically can do it. Might not always be
willing to listen, especially with some of the stars. But
(21:24):
that's just how difficult can that transition be. It's not easy.
It's not easy. But I think for Aging it may
be easier than you think. Because he played as he
played for the Pagries three times Super Bowl champion. He's
got a little little thing on his resumes. Yeah, and
he can show it, and I think, you know, he's uh,
he's very highly motivated with his players, he doesn't, you know,
(21:45):
like I said when I went to u c. L A.
Just when I got there, it was I took me
a couple of days to figure out, you know that
he was heck of a good coach. And so what
you what you have been able to see in two
preseason games? Where where or what do you notice the
biggest a difference maybe in terms of technique or maybe
(22:06):
formations or things like that. But well, you haven't seen
a lot of different formation things because it's earlier and
showing you that, you know, you've been a practice you
maybe you've seen some more things. But it's interesting. I
think just the hand in the ground taking off and
I think the finishing. By that, I mean they're going
to the whistle in a little bit more, you know,
like he's emphasizing and you can see it. You can
(22:27):
see a little bit I've noticed. What I think is
that they're starting to develop a little nasty attitude, uh
by their play. They're taking pride and in that I
think one of the things that came up just you know,
you where you were in the league last year. No
one wants to be in that situation a run game. Hey,
there was a challenge put out there, I'm sure by
coach Tomlin and Mr Rooney and the whole Still organization.
(22:50):
Kevin Colb, Hey, we're gonna run the football. Uh said
it to you before we were talking. Greatest defense ever
is when you running the book. You know, when you
guys are resting on the side drinking some water and
watch him go down the field. Uh. I think last
year the defense we had, if we maybe could have
run the ball a little better, I think it would have.
It could have helped him. Plus a less chance of
(23:11):
your guys being injured because they're not on the field
as much. Yeah. And and you know, um, when you
ranked twenty nine year before and then you ranked thirty second, Um,
the other team knows you don't run the ball very well.
Your quarterback knows we don't run the ball very well.
And so even though you're leading the vast majority of
(23:31):
the time, last year, Ben's throwing at thirty forty five times.
I don't think he wanted to do that. People think, oh,
that's what he wants to do. Do you think, Ben,
do you think he'll he'll get under center well or
do he just go the shotgun and throw throw throw? No,
he won't and if you have the running back to
be able to give the ball to and in the
second half take the air out of the ball. As
(23:52):
they say, it has an entirely different meaning in New England,
I know. But if you can do that in the
second half, then if you say it, you're not only
controlling the clock, you're keeping your defense on the sideline.
And and that's one of the great things. You know.
Sometimes people say, boy, you played great defense, and I
started laughing when I said, we're only in the field
for plays because the offense was we we only gave
(24:13):
up two hum fifty yards. Yeah, but it was like
five yards per play. But we were only in for
so many plays. So a lot of times your offense,
you know, as you as you work together with your
offense and your kicking game and long fields and all
those different things, they all play together if you're gonna
be a championship football team. Um. I think the other
thing is obviously is you know, uh, when you can
(24:35):
run the ball, now, that causes the defense a little
bit of problem and it actually will help ben more
because how many guys are gonna come into the box now? Okay,
So that's another thing to maybe the kids life. Even
last year. Obviously they didn't think we're gonna run out
a whole lot. They emphasized on the past they sat
on the pass and go ahead, we'll let you run it.
(24:55):
If you're gonna run it, they sat. Now, if you
get the mixture of both, it causes real headaches for them. Well, coach,
you know, with their old offensive love and the three
Pro bowlers, they had, you know, a lot of drop step,
a lot of set up the wall to protect Bend
their hundred million dollar quarterback. I get it. He's their star,
he's their best player, and you're gonna protect him. And
you have a whole lot of money invested him. So
(25:18):
now the concern, Okay, well they're gonna run the balls.
Now the concern is, well can this line protect ba Well, one,
we're gonna find that out. But two, having a running
game also helps that too, because now they're just not
quote pinning their ears back and coming at you. If
they're worried that, you know, this team can run the
ball with Now they're gonna have to play a little
(25:40):
bit different techniques. They're gonna have to squeeze and just
not getting in that three point stance and take it
off and saying, Okay, go ahead, run it because you're
not going to now. They gotta be they gotta be
ready for that running. And I lucky enough, and uh,
I got to see Nause way back in high school
and it wasn't hard to evaluate him even then. Even
then you can see him to go to school. High school,
he was up oxtion art up in California, and he
(26:01):
was you know, Alabama got into him really early. And
but it wasn't a heart evaluation. When you saw him
one film, you're like, okay, he's one of those guys.
You maybe watched the quarter and you go okay, you know,
and you could see back then he was gonna be
a first round pick. Uh. You know, if you talked
to some of my friends don at Alabama, I said,
tell me something about him for the Pittsburgh people that
might ask the question and the and the best thing
(26:22):
was they said, he's always going forward. And I think,
you know, he's always trying. He's not a dance he's not.
He knows when not to be fancy, and he knows
how to get where it is and he knows to
get the shoulders done. And he's they square a lot
and he gets moving forward. Yeah, and we've seen that
in a couple of preseason games. Granted, you know, he
(26:43):
had seven carries in the first one was actually more
than I thought he would get, had only two. Last
week he actually had four, but two of those runs,
which were good runs, negated by holding penalties on the
first two series. So he's only touched at nine times.
But one thing you do notice to Mike Tomlin referenced
this right away after the first game. You see him,
same deal, coach. You see him going forward. You see
(27:04):
the pile moving forward. Okay, maybe not five six yards
after contact, but there's another two yards three yards after
this guy gets hit. And I think that's when people
say you two three. That's huge because now if it's
you know, second and five instead of second and eight
or nine, it's a big different playcoin. Now you hold
(27:25):
the it's like you've got you've got the thing in
your hands right now. How you can mess with the
defense a little bit. Okay. The other thing about him,
but I think he is very, very impressive, is he
can be a receiver too. And let's not underestimate that
when you have a guy that can be as the runner,
that he isn't also be able to catch the ball
and do the things that he does, which gives you
(27:47):
now the opportunity if you want to put him out
and run routes and do things, you have that opportunity
out of your package. Yeah, and that's one of the
reasons why they believe this guy's a truth are done
back because of his ability to catch the ball, and
and of course they want to also see, Um, you
know canny pass protest. Now, you don't draft Naja Harris
based on his past protection, but what they've at least
(28:09):
seen is his willingness to do it. And for coach Saban,
I guarantee you know how to past Okay, I think
I think Coach Saban would make sure that you were
a past protector too. Um you know you said you
saw right away and he's in high school, just tad
to see a couple of series all Now. I saw
(28:31):
him one on college obviously, but even when you see
him in shorts, the guy stands out like at O
t s. You know that guy is a stunt and
he has he's a big He's gonna be a big
time player. I've already made the prediction he will be
the offensive Rookie of the Year, and he might lead
the league in attempts and yards if he stays away
(28:51):
from injury, because you know, Mike Tomlins is gonna run
him till the cows come home, and um don't rely
on this gun. And in a division that it has
two running teams, I think he'll he'll be the top
running buck. It wouldn't surprise me, just you know, having
you know, it's it's it's sometimes it's interesting because you
(29:12):
have seen these guys when they're younger, uh, and you're
not just looking at them coming out of college, and
you remember them and and you know they they they
usually pretty much hold true to form. If they're big
time coming out of high school, there us big time
coming out of college. Jerry do Like and Tom Bradley
were at the North Shore Tavern just across the street
from p mc Park. It's our final training camp report
(29:34):
show of the summer. I gotta take a break. We're
gonna be here until a p m. So we've got
a whole lot more to cover. Stop in if you're
in the neighborhood, you're listening to ESPN Pittsburgh from Bradshaw
and the Steel Curtain told Roethlisberger and Blitzburg. We are
always talking black and gold on s n R. Good
Lord coaches. The middle of August, they played only two
(29:55):
preseason games in the Whaling and National Heap over the
offensive line. You know they haven't worked together. Can they
passed protective um? But I get I get some of
the concern of questions. Not concerned. There shouldn't be concerned yet,
just questions because you've got a rookie center trying who
played Garden College, trying to replace Marquis Ponsick, not that
(30:17):
whoever replaced him. Uh, you now have lost David DeCastro,
another five time Pro bowler, which they weren't counting on.
Neither was he, but he his um, his an ankle
just never got better. He's gonna need a third surgery,
and it was no guarantee that he was gonna be
able to play football. Guy, so they had a mutual
(30:38):
agreement they parted ways with David DeCastro was one of
my all time favorites. And now you have Zach Banner
who played only started all of three quarters last year
in the opener, and then he injured his a c L,
tears his a c L and he's out for the year,
so you know, you have some question marks there because
now you have to sign Trade Turner, former pro bowler,
(30:58):
but not the same player. All. He's playing with a
brace on his name, so there's questions about how long
he can last. And you know, he's probably just a
one year stop gap. He's not David de Castro. So
I get some of those questions and something that they're
gonna you know, obviously they have the motor because you
really don't know about Zack Banner in NFL games on
(31:21):
a considered his basis because only I saw him the
three quarters last year. Yeah, it's interesting you bring him up.
Zack him in college too. You know, he's USC graduate
and UNO player, and he's a really good persons A.
He's a great guy in the locker room and uh
he's a good leader. And one of the things I've
always admired about Zact just being around him. He he he
(31:41):
wants to be really good and that's a good place
to start his commitment to losing the weight and reshaping
his body. I mean, he's still a big man. He
is a he's a big person, yes he is. But
to get to the point where he would even one
contend for the starting job and to win it over
a younger guy that they drafted speaks volume to his
(32:04):
commitment to what he wanted to do and God bless
met it. Yeah, you know you could just see. Uh,
That's why I'm kind of I'm not down on this line.
I'm kind of up on this line a little bit,
like and I know I was reading someone. I don't
know the exact scess. I don't it's like the third
time in the league that five new guys have had
to come together. It's probably there's only like they were.
(32:25):
I think there was a team in two fourteen and
one or two seventeen, but it hasn't been done very often.
These are all five new guys trying to jell him together.
And I really think there's going to be a strong
suit of this football team. I'm I'm looking forward to
watching them play. Yeah, And I think changing their scheme,
changing their technique and being able to run the ball
is I mean, it's going to be obviously it's going
(32:47):
to be the key, but it's going to be interesting
to watch. And I'm with you. Are they these people
who are worried about the offensive line? Yeah, but the
converse of that is maybe it'll be even better because
they'll they'll run the ball back right, you know. And
again it goes back to scheme and technique. You know
this the other line was built a different way. But
there you have it. They were built a different way
(33:08):
for a different style of offense. Right, this is gonna
be more of a running game. You drafted na J
Harris and there's no question he's a top talent. He's
going to get the ball, you know. But he's talking
about Naz. You gotta they got a full back, Derek what, No,
he's gonna be able to do some They'll probably put
him in there a little bit, right, some of that
two back stuff. So you're and the interesting thing is
now when you start to run the ball, now you're whiteouts.
(33:31):
They don't see they got different coverages going on out
there because now they're getting more one on one stuff.
You have to commit more people to the box. Now
these guys have more opportunity to do some things on
the outside. I thought one of the things that was
lacking last year with the offense. Late in the year,
when the defenses were picking up on what the stewers
were going to do with Benn and couldn't run the
ball was I thought they needed to be more creative.
(33:54):
I mean, you just have to be in the NFL coach,
and I think they This offense with Matt Canada certainly
offers that. Now it's only his second year in the NFL,
one year in last year as a quarterback coach. He
makes his debut as an offensive coordinator in the NFL. Yeah,
I did it in college and we're going to see
(34:15):
a lot of that. But it's new for him too,
so there's a lot of question marks. But I think
they are I think they are moves that offer a
lot of hope and optimism and and curiosity, if not
potential excitement, um, you know getting being obviously spent most
of my time in college. Matt Canada's name in college
(34:35):
is like gold. He's got a reputation as being a
hector offensive coordinator. You know, hes a great respect that
people have for Matt Canada and the type of coordinator
he's been. Uh, you know, his name you would constantly
come up when they were talking about the great offensive
coordinators in college football. Coach, you have believed for a
(34:56):
while that the r p O s and everything that
you saw in college football have a place in the NFL,
and yet you see teams catching on even more so.
But you've been on that bandwagon for a while and
and you're seeing more and more. But now even with
his team in the lake, it's interesting. It's really what
problems does it create? Well, you really not getting the
(35:19):
true RPO because not very often does the courterbroack keep it.
And if he does, there's a lot of people holding
their breath, like, what is he do There's only a
couple who do it. There's only a couple that will
really do it. And then then it's in your it's
in your arsenal, which makes it hard. The problem is
it keeps everybody discipline and keeps them on their toes.
How you're gonna squeeze, how you're gonna play the perimeter,
(35:39):
how you guys on the edge are gonna do things?
You know, and it just creates a lot of linebackers
have to be more disciplined. Now with all the RPO football, Uh,
you know, your secondary guys, your run fitters, there's a
lot of different things going on. It's just a it's
another it's another thing. But like all football's football cyclical,
it goes and keeps going around and around, and then
(36:00):
all of a sudden someone's gonna come back and line
up in the power game and start doing that again.
And but I think this is gonna be an exciting
year from for the Steelers. On offense. I really like
what they're doing. I think they've got the players to
be to play. Now where you can you can maybe
help your defense if they're getting tired. We could let's
go run the ball a little bit to get these
(36:21):
guys a little breather over there. You know, the whole
RPO thing and what you said about it's not true RPO.
It kind of reminds me that scene in Crocodile Dundee
where the guy pulls the knife on what's his name, uh, Dundee,
and he goes, he's he's just that's not a knife,
and he falls out, that's a knife. It's the same thing. Um,
you know, the r p O s in the NFL,
(36:42):
they're they're not the same, let's face it, you know,
And so you don't have that that same type of threat.
But we you do see it a little bit more,
but we know it's kind of a bit of a
hybrid bastardized version of rpover they will it is different.
So it's it's very different, you know, and even in uh,
you know, is in college. I think it's changing a
(37:02):
little bit. They always have the guy that will keep
it more often than not sometimes, you know, I don't
think anybody thought them was when he was back, there
was faking. I didn't think he's gonna keep it and
run it around the end, you know, But you never know.
Maybe it's coming to your point about the offense coach, Um,
I believe they're better on offense because they can run
(37:23):
the ball better. I don't even have to see a
game to know they'll run the ball better because they've
changed everything about it, you know, the coach and this
game technique and the personnel most important. Um, let's face it.
James Connor when he was drafted, was viewed by all
NFL people as a nice backup running back. Steelers actually
drafted him a little higher than most people thought that
(37:43):
they would. And then, of course when he replaces Levy
on Bell the first year, he was terrific, made the
Pro Bowl. It was very good. But James Conner is
not the same type of back as nag Harris. So
now you bring in a guy like that, you have
all your receivers back. You did not lose jujuice issues
there which you thought you would. There was some question
whether Ben Roethlisberger would be back, and now you've added
(38:05):
a second pass catching tight end in Pat Ferarmouth, their
second round draft pick. So to me, automatically, I think
their offense is is better. Well, anytime you've stiff gone
much better. Anytime you can start off with the Hall
of Fame quarterback under center, that's a good place to start, okay,
and kind of go from there. Uh. Talk to some
(38:27):
of the people up at Penn State about Pat understand
great work. I think have heard great things about him.
Guy after practice on the jugs all the time. I
don't know if he's probably still doing down with the Steelers,
but one of they ran into one of the managers
not too long ago. He said he was always shooting
the judge machine all day, you know, spending time on that.
He takes great pride. Another guy actually saw him in
(38:47):
high school. He stood out as a Massachusetts guy, and
he stood out back then. But he's he I think
he's a heck of a talent at tight end. I
think that he's gonna be a really fine tight end
in the NFL. It's not a blocking tight end. It's
not Mark Bruner, he's not Vance McDonald doesn't mean he
can't get better, but they know what they got with him.
(39:08):
They didn't bring him in to be a blocker. But
he is a blocker better than than five Ricky bron
And so that is another person who gives him a
little flexibility in that that kind of addresses the running game.
You know a guy on the front line who's an
inline guy who can blog, but to the option of
catching the ball and coach, I haven't seen him. I
(39:28):
haven't seen him drop the ball yet, not one in
practice the entire time. He hasn't in the game. And
mccandon was saying yesterday about him to your point about
a hard worker. He says he has a high football
intellect um and and he's he's a guy who watches
studies his mistakes on film and tries to learn from
It's not Octave just doing whatever once he's he's committed
(39:49):
to getting better, is what he's saying. Well, that's the
word I got on him from. You know, when they
when the managers on the team tell you that when
you see one of him, he says, Oh, they're gonna
love him at Ditsburgh because he's a great worker. He
would be one of those guys. It was always, hey,
can you take the judge, canna set it up, We'll
get some more catches. And he was one of those
kind of guys. Yeah. Our friend Steve Jones had said
(40:09):
that he never dropped the pass in the red zone,
and I asked Pat about that, uh, right after he
came and he's and he confirmed it. He says, that's right,
I've never dropped the pass in the red zone. And
we know some of the problems Stevens have woul dropped
past his last year, including from their starting kite end
Eric Ebron, So hopefully he'll help rectify him. Well, I
(40:32):
think he's gonna have a great career here with Jakertsburg
Steelers and and I people have been talking about his blocking,
but I think he'll go into that as you know
that that happens that and a lot of times it's
one of those things. As they get older. They figured
a little bit more about and we saw him getting
knocked over in the first series. The last week. I mean,
he just got knocked to the ground. And when he
was getting knocked to the ground, he pulled the guy's jersey,
(40:54):
yanked him with him. He got called for holding and
it negated a nice run by Najy Harricks. But then,
as I mentioned you, coach, I saw him later on
in with the quarter or whatever pancake, one of the
outside linebackers, you know, all somewhat after the whistle. But
it goes to his commitment to try and be a
better blocker. But I got a funny feeling. I don't
think there's many players that have played this game you
haven't been knocked to the ground as Okay, that's all
(41:18):
that matters. So you know, if he gets knocked down
and no big deal, it happens. It's happened to the
greatest players of all time. He's a rookie, Yes, he's
a rookie. He's gonna be he's gonna learn, and he's
gonna develop and probably by next year they'll probably be
their number one tight end because I don't know that
they'll bring Eric Ebron back for another year. That's gonna
do it for our one. Coach and I are at
the North Shore Tavern across from PNC Park. We're here
(41:41):
in too APM, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop
on by. It's our final training camp show of the preseason.
I'm Jerry Dock, that's the coach. Com Bradley will take
a break and come back with another hour of Good
Steal Talk right after this. You listening to ESPN Pittsburgh,
Do you want Black and Gold football talk? You want
and R
From Bradshaw and the steel Curtain to Roethlisberger and Flitzburg.
We are always talking black and gold on s n I. Well,
we started this process about three or so weeks ago
with our special Training Camp Reports shows surrounding the beginning
of Steelers training camp and with training Camp at hind
Field basically coming to a close. Today was the last
(00:45):
day for the fans that they are able to attend
and watch. Um, this is our last Training Camp Reports
show of the preseason. And what better way to wrap
it up with myself, Jerry Dulec and my friend to coach,
Tom brad back together again, coach, Nice to be with you.
With the North Shore Tavern right across from p n
C Park. We are here until eight pm. And um,
(01:10):
I think they saved the best for last. I think.
So you're very looking, very sharp today, very color coordinated everything.
Thank you. I thought you might like this little look
going on today. I was gonna wear khaki's like you,
but to offset the blue. But thanks at least I
had a white hat on, unlike the blue one you're continuing,
which it has some TV uh and seeing me on
(01:31):
top of where you got that, Tom Brady, it's not
Tom Brady, make sure you get one. I see you're
sporting the Yoakmont logo though one. I wanted to do
that to let you know that because I know how
you like the golf. No, I did not play, but
but but you do like to dine up there. Yes, yes,
it's nice establishments there. So um good to see you,
(01:54):
always good to be with you. We will be together
during the season Monday nights along with Tim Benn's well
to have a little three man broadcast team and it
congrats to my friend Tim Bence who just won some
national awards for a piece that he did deserve, we deserved,
and so we'll be together every Monday night during the season,
beginning with the week the Monday after the first game
(02:15):
September twelve in Buffalo and the Steelers They're only home
preseason game of the summer is saturdayn against the Detroit Lions.
We're gonna see Ben Roethlisberg, which is the typical UM
blueprint that the Steelers have followed for years. UM. Ben
does not play the firstst two preseason games, neither do
(02:36):
some of the other UH veteran quote stars. Cam Heyward
hasn't played in the past our former Tuesday Night broadcast
partner Antonio Brown Newton played the first two games. Um,
but Ben typically just plays is the only game he
will play. He'll play a couple of series. I don't
know how many, but uh, I don't think any more
than the first half. Boy, I won't even play until halftime.
(02:59):
And you know is I'm with the contention coach that
he doesn't have to play. You don't need to play
in the preseason. And but but in this instance, maybe
with a new coordinator, new terminology, three rookie regulars, if
you will to start as the snapper Kendrew uh, Kendrick Green,
(03:20):
you stop running back Nalogy Harris, and even the tight
end Pat Farnmouth, maybe it's good to get a couple
of series with them, and most importantly, a new coordinator
with a different system, in different terminology. I would agree
with you. I think he just wants to get in
there for a little bit, just get a feel with everybody,
getting the huddle with the guys, okay, and get it,
go on and get it. He knows you got it
(03:42):
what he has to do. And I think you're looking
at maybe a quarter and a half at the most,
and he's just gonna go through and get a good
feel for everybody and the communication, the snapping and all
the different things you got to go through. Uh, But
any more than that, I don't see it. I'm an
agreement with you. I don't. I know a lot of
coaches don't like to play any of those guys at
all preseason, and I'm sure maybe, just maybe it might
(04:04):
be bench preference. He likes to get in there for
a little bit just too, you know, especially with what
you said that the new personnel. The other thing to
coach is training camp or this period from when they
reported to when they played is so long. It's so
much longer than than normal. Because now after that last
preseason game next Friday in Carolina, I got sixteen days
(04:24):
before they play the next game. And they played one
more preseason game than everybody because of the Hall of
Fame game. So they've been in their quote training camp
a long time. They've had plenty of practice, plenty of reps.
That's the other reason why I don't think he needs
to play. He likes to play. I mean, he had
the arguments for him to play plenty of time. Exactly.
(04:44):
He likes to play. He does like to play so
I I think because of that, it's almost to the
point though too. I mean the coaches, they have to
be careful. That's a long time in training. So fine
for the young guys that they're trying to evaluate, you know,
the guys who gotta make decisions on. But for the veterans,
those veterans are sitting there going, haha, this is let's
(05:05):
just start. Let's get out. Of course, that's why I
always feel coach too. After one preseason game, I've seen enough,
I'm like, let's just get to the right. You know,
it's interesting being a college coach for so long. There
are no preseason games in college. You know, you go
through gam that's what you playing. You just go play
and you start, so you know, you you don't have
that opportunity. So you know, how big a deal is
that they that he plays in the preseason. They you know,
(05:27):
no college guys have preseason, no quarterbacks, and they go
and and Ben's been through college and he knows, you know,
just getting getting ready to go on the all count.
Aaron Rodgers hasn't played a preseason game since two thousand
and eighteen. He's not gonna play again this year now,
Tom Brady took the opening series last week in the
first preseason game for Tampa Bay. How about that. He's
forty four years old last time I checked. But he
(05:47):
played one series and they got him out of there,
and you know, maybe he'll play another one, maybe he won't.
I looked this up today. Peyton Manning played in the
preseason towards the end of his career. Drew Brees, it's
older forties, aid in the preseason just a little bit
later in his career. And here's Ben. He's he's played
every year. But but I asked Mike Tomlin about that
(06:08):
today and he said, you know, if if he were
in the same system as in the past, which this
is his fifth coordinator, but this is the first time
the system has changed, the terminologies, terminologists has changed. He said,
if he were in the same system, he might not
play him. But he just wants to get him comfortable
with Matt Cannada, the communication you know that you have
(06:30):
in a normal gameer. So I get it, I guess,
but so let me but let me give you this
point to your point about no preseason, right, just like college,
if you don't play, there was no preseason last year
and because of COVID. Ben got off to a pretty
good start, coach. You know, so he's coming off elbow surgery, right,
so he has no preseason, so there's big questions. How's
(06:53):
he gonna be his first five games, no preseason, coming
off elbow surgery. Eleven touchdowns in one pick, his first
five games, Uh, they started eleven and o twive touchdowns
on six interceptions. Doesn't sound to me like he needed
any preseason one month, right, right. He was really sharp
last year coming right out of the gate. I mean,
(07:14):
I mean especially the first game. Three touchdowns, no picks.
I mean, you you know, with those stats, and I
you know, I knew they were great. I didn't realize
the only had drown the one pick, but I knew
there wasn't very many. Um. But heck, but that's yeah,
photo stats in front of you, and you're here to
like say a stats, don't Who said who said that
(07:36):
there's lives damn licen statistics exactly right? I? Um, I
think it was Teddy Rosenholt. I think that's what it was. Um,
just testing me to see you were you weren't quite
living back then, But no, I wasn't. But I read
about the game. I read about him the guy in
in high school and and even um, so obviously the
(07:58):
minute something happened that he would get hurt if you
could get hurt, and they're not going to subject him
to that. He's not gonna stand back in the pocket,
although I thought that last uh in the past, and
I see him drop back and to stand there there,
whereas I would think they'd say, look, drop back three steps,
get rid of the ball, and that's it. I'm not
going to subject him to a whole lot in this game.
He is thirty nine, after all, they're they're not. But
(08:22):
the one thing about him, he's such a competitor. He's
gonna want to complete every pass he's gonna and you know,
he's gonna hang in there as long in that parkt
as long as he can't. He's not one of those
guys that he wants to win, you know, even in preseason.
So be interesting to see how that goes, you know, Coach,
they were giving him some extended reps this week. UM
(08:44):
not exactly sure why. It's not like they have to
prepare him for the game, even though that's what they said,
but they gave him a lot of reps yesterday, and
you know what, he did everything. We see more of
the offense in practice, not surprisingly, than you would in
a preseason game, and he did everything. He was doing
half rolls, he did sprint outs. I said, he looked
like Baker Mayfield, completing passes, zipping him down field, deep passes,
(09:08):
twenty yards over the middle. Everything he needed to do,
or they want him to do, or they're gonna ask
him to do, he did it, and he did it easily, comfortably,
and very well, and he looked really good doing it. Okay,
I know it's practice and you don't have a three
hundred pound guy chasing you down who wants to take
your head off. But in terms of being asked to
do everything, play action under center in the shotgun, he's
(09:32):
done at all and he looks very comfortable doing it.
And that's the question everybody wants to know, Will we
get under center? Can't he get under center? And the
answer to that is yes. Now we'll see what happens
in a regular season, but I have no reason to
dot it's going to change the whole lot. No, I
don't think it will at all. You know, but he
brings a big thing about under center depends up under center.
Before you probably got under center about in the sixth
grade something, you know what I mean. So it's not
(09:54):
as if it's anything new for him to do it.
You know, his whole career, he's been able to do it. Uh,
Obviously the things have changed over time. You know, they're
more in the gun now and doing things. They're gonna
get back under center. It's not we're acting like that's
something new and ingenious, you know what I mean. But
it's been going on in football for a long time.
And and of course you can the advantage to going
(10:14):
under center. You go under center all you want. You
don't have a running game, there's no point going under center.
But the whole ideas improved your running game, and that's
the objective this year, you know, and involved coaching changes,
It involved scheme, It involved technique, and probably most importantly
or significantly, it involved personnel from naj Harris drafting and news.
(10:38):
You had to get a new center when Marquise Pouncer retired.
You moved on from Alvilla in the way the line
is entirely different, and basically five new players at new
positions on the offensive. They've been fun to watch Um,
the offensive line, I've been very impressed. I think that
you know, the one thing they're doing is really finishing.
You watch them downfield there, they've got a little nastiness
to them. I kind of expected that, having work with
(11:00):
a Jean Clemby for he got to the Steelers and
with him in college, you know, I know the type
of attitude he gets in those guys. And I've really
been impressed with the new center. You know, I really
liked him. I also thought that the Dan Moore has
has really had appreciate. I think he's gonna be a really,
really big time football player just watching him develop. And
(11:22):
I think they've got some good players on an offensive line,
and you know how soon they jel well alot of
young guys, you know, coach a lot. Well, well, let
me go to Dan Moore first. You know they stay
they had him, uh when chocks core for was was.
You know, they kept him up with an injury. They
had him at left tackle. Now they moved him to
right tackle. But you could tell one with the way
(11:43):
they talk about them to the way they're using them,
the opportunities are giving them. They liked Animals their fourth
round a draft pick along with Buddy Johnson. UM. Kendrick Green,
of course their third round pick. From the minute they
drafted him, coach, he was their starter. Um it. Despite
the fact that he has not listed as a harder
on the depth right, that doesn't matter. Um. Some people
(12:03):
thought he had trouble in the you know, first, right
right off the bat, he got he got pushed back
on that sack. You know, yesterday in practice against tyson
Is Lulu on a couple of drills, he got peak up,
pushed back, he was bull rushed. Um. But there's there's
a lot about him that they've seen that they like
as opposed to not liking for a guy who's transistion game.
(12:24):
Basically the center started four games there in college, coach,
you know, but the other twenty seven at guard Um.
But you know, people saying, oh, he's not very tall,
he's not very big. Well, first of all, Marquise Pounce
he wasn't very heavy. He was two nds um, Kendrick
Green is about the same way. He is not as tall.
But as I recall, Mike Webster wasn't very tall either.
(12:46):
And I don't think you really want tall centers, do you, coach, No,
I don't think that's been one of the mostly good
centers I've been around, have been in that that six
two two six three range, you know what I mean,
I've never really seen. I think it's different in the
tackle position. We like a little polar guy with arm
length and all that. Those centers, that's a different that's
a different thing going on in there at all, all
(13:06):
that stuff that goes on. Pouncey was obviously a little different.
He was more long armed, you know, a little bit
lighter than a lot of centers. But great athlete, tremendous
skill and things of that. I'm really looking for Chokes
to have a big time a year this year. Uh.
You know, I remember when we draft him, Bill Kenny,
a guy that I had worked with, had coached him
in college, and said, hey, you guys should like this guy.
(13:28):
And Bill has been right a lot of times and
a lot of players. And uh, I think Chuck's gonna
have a big, big year. I really do him. And
and Um Kevin Colbert said this a couple of weeks ago,
coach that Um. When they drafted the core for UM,
they thought he was a better tackle left tackle than
right tackle, but they had Albell in the way but
(13:48):
left tackle, so they used him at right tackle. And
last year he was in that training camp battle with
Zack Banner and Kevin Colbert even said that if if
they were in a battle at left tackle that he
believed Chucks of core For would have won that, not
Zack Banner. But of course Zack Banner won the starting
job and he played the first three quarters, but then
his season ended, uh, you know after after those three
(14:12):
quarters with an a C L injury. And and I
have thought that maybe all in all, the Chokes of
core For was their most consistent lineman last year. Stepping
into that role. I thought he was. I thought he
played more than just very solidn Yeah, I thought chokes,
you know, not a you know you when you're in
(14:32):
there working with them, and you know, you just hear
with the comments being made, and I think there's a
lot of good things. And I think that as they
say chokes, there is definitely pointing up. I mean, I
think he's a guy. I think I think people are
gonna be really surprised with this offensive line. I'm I
think everybody's been worried about it. But I really liked
the make up here just watching the games, the way
they were coming off the ball and and and have
(14:54):
a little attitude. It seems like they just have a
little a little something about him. They're finishing to play
a little bit past the whistle. Yeah, they're putting them,
putting their hand in the ground, coach, and not drop
stepping their firing out. You said they're finishing their blocks, um,
And I'm with you, And my whole thing is give
him a chance. These guys know what they're doing. You know,
the last two years the worst running a game in
(15:16):
the NFL. So if you're gonna try and prove it,
you can't do it with the same line if you
have one of They knew Pouncey was gonna retire, They
did not expect this situation with David DeCastro. They knew
they were gonna move on from Albilla Nueva. Um. They
let go of that file, of which I thought to
a degree was a mistake. But then you know, another
team gave him a lot of money and they weren't
gonna pay him that much. Um. But this line hasn't
(15:37):
had a chance to work a lot together. I think
you'll see them. I think you'll see them all together
Saturday night against the lines, barring some other setback here
in the next day or two. Um, but it's a
chance that people worried all where they haven't played together. Coach,
there's three and a half weeks till the regular season starts.
They got plenty of time time. How many days did
(15:59):
you say after last after the last preseason game, right,
And uh, it's interesting because you know, you see it,
you kind of make a big deal about that. I
once again to go back to the college stuff. You know,
you don't have that many practices before your first game,
and you've got to be ready to go and put
a line together. And guys who you know different, you know,
you know, different backgrounds, different this trying to communicate constantly.
(16:22):
So I really look forward to Uh. I think this
is gonna be a really good offensive line. Um. I
really like the makeup of just watching them play there
a little bit that they've played so far. And let's
be realistic too, Um, they're not gonna go into game
one and be perfectly fine and all on the same creation.
There'll be our process as well. It's gonna you know,
(16:42):
they need to get in games, they need to play
a little and uh, and jail a little bit before
they get some uh, you know, before they get some
cohesion where they're operating the way they want to. It's
not just gonna happen in that first game in Buffalo.
It's gonna take a little bit. Yeah, it's going to
I think. You know, I've watched Adrean clem work with
the young college lineman. How fast he's developed some of
those guys. And you know, you get him in as
(17:04):
a young guy and you're like, wow, that looks pretty
good already. So I've been around him and watched his
coaching style and I think that's a good thing. And
and you know the other thing with Matt Canada, you
know that's uh. And in college a long time, he's
used to working with younger guys getting ready, have to
get him ready. And now with the NFL experience that,
you know, I think that will help him. Coach, want
me come back. I want to talk to you a
little bit more about Adrian Clemm because you know him,
(17:26):
you've worked with him, and how it was that he
came to get that job, and and and what he
wants to do with this offensive line. It's Jerry Doolak
and the coach Tom Bradley, We're at the North Shore
Tavern right across the street from PNC Park. We're here
until a p m. It's our final training camp report
show of the season. We'll be back with more right
after this. You're listening to ESPN Pittsburgh from Bradshaw and
(17:51):
the Steel Curtain told Roethlisberger and Blitzburg. We are always
talking black and Gold on s n R. Back at
the North Shore tab ever in right across some p
n C Park. It's Jerry Doolack and the coach Tom
Bradley with you until eight p m. It is our
final UH training camp show of the season. We started
(18:13):
well when the Steelers first began in hines Field three
and a half weeks ago. Today is our final broadcast
from our training camp report. So if you're in the
any area, stuff on by gee. It's been a miserable
day with rain. Coach Oh oh Bohead did drive back
and it was really bad up in the little mountains.
It was a little bit different than Pittsburgh. It was
(18:35):
there was some bad weather going hither. I never thought
that Stevens would practice outside, but they did, and Mike
Tomlin said he wanted to take advantage of the elements. Now,
they weren't that bad. Um. You know, the field was
covered with the tarps, wasn't during the heavy rains in
the morning and whenever it started, and once they took
it off, it wasn't. It was heavy maybe for a
(18:55):
couple of minutes, but it's basically just a light rain
for the most part. But know, but both played outside coaches,
you well know, and he said, you know, there was
no lightning and no thunder, there's nothing dangerous. So he
was actually thrilled to be able to get a practice
in the ring. And I think it's always a great
idea when he had that opportunity to get that in
because you're gonna have to play in at the weather
(19:16):
is what it is. You don't have a choice. And
so I think, you know, a lot of times it's
always that there's no lightning in the area and the
footing isn't too slippery, we're gonna might be getting somebody
hurt or a pool. And today's rain here in this
area was very light, you know, uh, which gave them
that opportunity. And there's a lot of reason he wanted.
I'm sure of catching the ball, punting, catching punts, holders,
(19:36):
you know, a lot of kicking, a lot of things
he wanted to get done today because he had that
opportunity to to do it. Um, coach, you had a chance.
You worked at u c l A with Adrian Clem.
You know, after the season, the state has made a
change in their coordinator. Like Overandy Fittner promoted Matt Canada
let go. Shan Serette promoted his assistant Adrian Plem. And
(19:59):
a lot of people look that is like, well, you're
just promoting and going to do the same old thing.
That wasn't the case. Uh, the Steals, we're looking outside
as well. But they were impressed with what Adrian Clem
said with them when they interviewed him, and that's why
they gave him the job. And yeah, I think it's
a great move. You know, Adrian got to know him
at U c l A and and watched him work
(20:19):
when I got there, and he was impressed. I have
to get go. I think the thing about Adrian is
maybe people in Pittsburgh don't know. He played at the
University of a White the second round pick of the
New England Patriots. He's a three time Super Bowl champion. Okay, Uh,
he's been around. He was at s m U at
U c l A. He was a run game coordinator. Uh,
he was the associate head coach. Really a great recruiter
(20:43):
in the college ranks. And also, you know, it was
interesting how he was able to jel those you know,
in college, the opportunities are dealing with a little different
group of young men, you know, and he did a
I was really impressed just watching him work and the
way he went about his his You know, coach, you
(21:03):
made this transition as well, from from college to the NFL.
It's it's different. You're going from his going from young
kids who may not be able to do it but
are willing to listen to the NFL where guys all
of them basically can do it. Might not always be
willing to listen, especially with some of the stars. But
(21:24):
that's just how difficult can that transition be. It's not easy.
It's not easy. But I think for Aging it may
be easier than you think. Because he played as he
played for the Pagries three times Super Bowl champion. He's
got a little little thing on his resumes. Yeah, and
he can show it, and I think, you know, he's uh,
he's very highly motivated with his players, he doesn't, you know,
(21:45):
like I said when I went to u c. L A.
Just when I got there, it was I took me
a couple of days to figure out, you know that
he was heck of a good coach. And so what
you what you have been able to see in two
preseason games? Where where or what do you notice the
biggest a difference maybe in terms of technique or maybe
(22:06):
formations or things like that. But well, you haven't seen
a lot of different formation things because it's earlier and
showing you that, you know, you've been a practice you
maybe you've seen some more things. But it's interesting. I
think just the hand in the ground taking off and
I think the finishing. By that, I mean they're going
to the whistle in a little bit more, you know,
like he's emphasizing and you can see it. You can
(22:27):
see a little bit I've noticed. What I think is
that they're starting to develop a little nasty attitude, uh
by their play. They're taking pride and in that I
think one of the things that came up just you know,
you where you were in the league last year. No
one wants to be in that situation a run game. Hey,
there was a challenge put out there, I'm sure by
coach Tomlin and Mr Rooney and the whole Still organization.
(22:50):
Kevin Colb, Hey, we're gonna run the football. Uh said
it to you before we were talking. Greatest defense ever
is when you running the book. You know, when you
guys are resting on the side drinking some water and
watch him go down the field. Uh. I think last
year the defense we had, if we maybe could have
run the ball a little better, I think it would have.
It could have helped him. Plus a less chance of
(23:11):
your guys being injured because they're not on the field
as much. Yeah. And and you know, um, when you
ranked twenty nine year before and then you ranked thirty second, Um,
the other team knows you don't run the ball very well.
Your quarterback knows we don't run the ball very well.
And so even though you're leading the vast majority of
(23:31):
the time, last year, Ben's throwing at thirty forty five times.
I don't think he wanted to do that. People think, oh,
that's what he wants to do. Do you think, Ben,
do you think he'll he'll get under center well or
do he just go the shotgun and throw throw throw? No,
he won't and if you have the running back to
be able to give the ball to and in the
second half take the air out of the ball. As
(23:52):
they say, it has an entirely different meaning in New England,
I know. But if you can do that in the
second half, then if you say it, you're not only
controlling the clock, you're keeping your defense on the sideline.
And and that's one of the great things. You know.
Sometimes people say, boy, you played great defense, and I
started laughing when I said, we're only in the field
for plays because the offense was we we only gave
(24:13):
up two hum fifty yards. Yeah, but it was like
five yards per play. But we were only in for
so many plays. So a lot of times your offense,
you know, as you as you work together with your
offense and your kicking game and long fields and all
those different things, they all play together if you're gonna
be a championship football team. Um. I think the other
thing is obviously is you know, uh, when you can
(24:35):
run the ball, now, that causes the defense a little
bit of problem and it actually will help ben more
because how many guys are gonna come into the box now? Okay,
So that's another thing to maybe the kids life. Even
last year. Obviously they didn't think we're gonna run out
a whole lot. They emphasized on the past they sat
on the pass and go ahead, we'll let you run it.
(24:55):
If you're gonna run it, they sat. Now, if you
get the mixture of both, it causes real headaches for them. Well, coach,
you know, with their old offensive love and the three
Pro bowlers, they had, you know, a lot of drop step,
a lot of set up the wall to protect Bend
their hundred million dollar quarterback. I get it. He's their star,
he's their best player, and you're gonna protect him. And
you have a whole lot of money invested him. So
(25:18):
now the concern, Okay, well they're gonna run the balls.
Now the concern is, well can this line protect ba Well, one,
we're gonna find that out. But two, having a running
game also helps that too, because now they're just not
quote pinning their ears back and coming at you. If
they're worried that, you know, this team can run the
ball with Now they're gonna have to play a little
(25:40):
bit different techniques. They're gonna have to squeeze and just
not getting in that three point stance and take it
off and saying, Okay, go ahead, run it because you're
not going to now. They gotta be they gotta be
ready for that running. And I lucky enough, and uh,
I got to see Nause way back in high school
and it wasn't hard to evaluate him even then. Even
then you can see him to go to school. High school,
he was up oxtion art up in California, and he
(26:01):
was you know, Alabama got into him really early. And
but it wasn't a heart evaluation. When you saw him
one film, you're like, okay, he's one of those guys.
You maybe watched the quarter and you go okay, you know,
and you could see back then he was gonna be
a first round pick. Uh. You know, if you talked
to some of my friends don at Alabama, I said,
tell me something about him for the Pittsburgh people that
might ask the question and the and the best thing
(26:22):
was they said, he's always going forward. And I think,
you know, he's always trying. He's not a dance he's not.
He knows when not to be fancy, and he knows
how to get where it is and he knows to
get the shoulders done. And he's they square a lot
and he gets moving forward. Yeah, and we've seen that
in a couple of preseason games. Granted, you know, he
(26:43):
had seven carries in the first one was actually more
than I thought he would get, had only two. Last
week he actually had four, but two of those runs,
which were good runs, negated by holding penalties on the
first two series. So he's only touched at nine times.
But one thing you do notice to Mike Tomlin referenced
this right away after the first game. You see him,
same deal, coach. You see him going forward. You see
(27:04):
the pile moving forward. Okay, maybe not five six yards
after contact, but there's another two yards three yards after
this guy gets hit. And I think that's when people
say you two three. That's huge because now if it's
you know, second and five instead of second and eight
or nine, it's a big different playcoin. Now you hold
(27:25):
the it's like you've got you've got the thing in
your hands right now. How you can mess with the
defense a little bit. Okay. The other thing about him,
but I think he is very, very impressive, is he
can be a receiver too. And let's not underestimate that
when you have a guy that can be as the runner,
that he isn't also be able to catch the ball
and do the things that he does, which gives you
(27:47):
now the opportunity if you want to put him out
and run routes and do things, you have that opportunity
out of your package. Yeah, and that's one of the
reasons why they believe this guy's a truth are done
back because of his ability to catch the ball, and
and of course they want to also see, Um, you
know canny pass protest. Now, you don't draft Naja Harris
based on his past protection, but what they've at least
(28:09):
seen is his willingness to do it. And for coach Saban,
I guarantee you know how to past Okay, I think
I think Coach Saban would make sure that you were
a past protector too. Um you know you said you
saw right away and he's in high school, just tad
to see a couple of series all Now. I saw
(28:31):
him one on college obviously, but even when you see
him in shorts, the guy stands out like at O
t s. You know that guy is a stunt and
he has he's a big He's gonna be a big
time player. I've already made the prediction he will be
the offensive Rookie of the Year, and he might lead
the league in attempts and yards if he stays away
(28:51):
from injury, because you know, Mike Tomlins is gonna run
him till the cows come home, and um don't rely
on this gun. And in a division that it has
two running teams, I think he'll he'll be the top
running buck. It wouldn't surprise me, just you know, having
you know, it's it's it's sometimes it's interesting because you
(29:12):
have seen these guys when they're younger, uh, and you're
not just looking at them coming out of college, and
you remember them and and you know they they they
usually pretty much hold true to form. If they're big
time coming out of high school, there us big time
coming out of college. Jerry do Like and Tom Bradley
were at the North Shore Tavern just across the street
from p mc Park. It's our final training camp report
(29:34):
show of the summer. I gotta take a break. We're
gonna be here until a p m. So we've got
a whole lot more to cover. Stop in if you're
in the neighborhood, you're listening to ESPN Pittsburgh from Bradshaw
and the Steel Curtain told Roethlisberger and Blitzburg. We are
always talking black and gold on s n R. Good
Lord coaches. The middle of August, they played only two
(29:55):
preseason games in the Whaling and National Heap over the
offensive line. You know they haven't worked together. Can they
passed protective um? But I get I get some of
the concern of questions. Not concerned. There shouldn't be concerned yet,
just questions because you've got a rookie center trying who
played Garden College, trying to replace Marquis Ponsick, not that
(30:17):
whoever replaced him. Uh, you now have lost David DeCastro,
another five time Pro bowler, which they weren't counting on.
Neither was he, but he his um, his an ankle
just never got better. He's gonna need a third surgery,
and it was no guarantee that he was gonna be
able to play football. Guy, so they had a mutual
(30:38):
agreement they parted ways with David DeCastro was one of
my all time favorites. And now you have Zach Banner
who played only started all of three quarters last year
in the opener, and then he injured his a c L,
tears his a c L and he's out for the year,
so you know, you have some question marks there because
now you have to sign Trade Turner, former pro bowler,
(30:58):
but not the same player. All. He's playing with a
brace on his name, so there's questions about how long
he can last. And you know, he's probably just a
one year stop gap. He's not David de Castro. So
I get some of those questions and something that they're
gonna you know, obviously they have the motor because you
really don't know about Zack Banner in NFL games on
(31:21):
a considered his basis because only I saw him the
three quarters last year. Yeah, it's interesting you bring him up.
Zack him in college too. You know, he's USC graduate
and UNO player, and he's a really good persons A.
He's a great guy in the locker room and uh
he's a good leader. And one of the things I've
always admired about Zact just being around him. He he he
(31:41):
wants to be really good and that's a good place
to start his commitment to losing the weight and reshaping
his body. I mean, he's still a big man. He
is a he's a big person, yes he is. But
to get to the point where he would even one
contend for the starting job and to win it over
a younger guy that they drafted speaks volume to his
(32:04):
commitment to what he wanted to do and God bless
met it. Yeah, you know you could just see. Uh,
That's why I'm kind of I'm not down on this line.
I'm kind of up on this line a little bit,
like and I know I was reading someone. I don't
know the exact scess. I don't it's like the third
time in the league that five new guys have had
to come together. It's probably there's only like they were.
(32:25):
I think there was a team in two fourteen and
one or two seventeen, but it hasn't been done very often.
These are all five new guys trying to jell him together.
And I really think there's going to be a strong
suit of this football team. I'm I'm looking forward to
watching them play. Yeah, And I think changing their scheme,
changing their technique and being able to run the ball
is I mean, it's going to be obviously it's going
(32:47):
to be the key, but it's going to be interesting
to watch. And I'm with you. Are they these people
who are worried about the offensive line? Yeah, but the
converse of that is maybe it'll be even better because
they'll they'll run the ball back right, you know. And
again it goes back to scheme and technique. You know
this the other line was built a different way. But
there you have it. They were built a different way
(33:08):
for a different style of offense. Right, this is gonna
be more of a running game. You drafted na J
Harris and there's no question he's a top talent. He's
going to get the ball, you know. But he's talking
about Naz. You gotta they got a full back, Derek what, No,
he's gonna be able to do some They'll probably put
him in there a little bit, right, some of that
two back stuff. So you're and the interesting thing is
now when you start to run the ball, now you're whiteouts.
(33:31):
They don't see they got different coverages going on out
there because now they're getting more one on one stuff.
You have to commit more people to the box. Now
these guys have more opportunity to do some things on
the outside. I thought one of the things that was
lacking last year with the offense. Late in the year,
when the defenses were picking up on what the stewers
were going to do with Benn and couldn't run the
ball was I thought they needed to be more creative.
(33:54):
I mean, you just have to be in the NFL coach,
and I think they This offense with Matt Canada certainly
offers that. Now it's only his second year in the NFL,
one year in last year as a quarterback coach. He
makes his debut as an offensive coordinator in the NFL. Yeah,
I did it in college and we're going to see
(34:15):
a lot of that. But it's new for him too,
so there's a lot of question marks. But I think
they are I think they are moves that offer a
lot of hope and optimism and and curiosity, if not
potential excitement, um, you know getting being obviously spent most
of my time in college. Matt Canada's name in college
(34:35):
is like gold. He's got a reputation as being a
hector offensive coordinator. You know, hes a great respect that
people have for Matt Canada and the type of coordinator
he's been. Uh, you know, his name you would constantly
come up when they were talking about the great offensive
coordinators in college football. Coach, you have believed for a
(34:56):
while that the r p O s and everything that
you saw in college football have a place in the NFL,
and yet you see teams catching on even more so.
But you've been on that bandwagon for a while and
and you're seeing more and more. But now even with
his team in the lake, it's interesting. It's really what
problems does it create? Well, you really not getting the
(35:19):
true RPO because not very often does the courterbroack keep it.
And if he does, there's a lot of people holding
their breath, like, what is he do There's only a
couple who do it. There's only a couple that will
really do it. And then then it's in your it's
in your arsenal, which makes it hard. The problem is
it keeps everybody discipline and keeps them on their toes.
How you're gonna squeeze, how you're gonna play the perimeter,
(35:39):
how you guys on the edge are gonna do things?
You know, and it just creates a lot of linebackers
have to be more disciplined. Now with all the RPO football, Uh,
you know, your secondary guys, your run fitters, there's a
lot of different things going on. It's just a it's
another it's another thing. But like all football's football cyclical,
it goes and keeps going around and around, and then
(36:00):
all of a sudden someone's gonna come back and line
up in the power game and start doing that again.
And but I think this is gonna be an exciting
year from for the Steelers. On offense. I really like
what they're doing. I think they've got the players to
be to play. Now where you can you can maybe
help your defense if they're getting tired. We could let's
go run the ball a little bit to get these
(36:21):
guys a little breather over there. You know, the whole
RPO thing and what you said about it's not true RPO.
It kind of reminds me that scene in Crocodile Dundee
where the guy pulls the knife on what's his name, uh, Dundee,
and he goes, he's he's just that's not a knife,
and he falls out, that's a knife. It's the same thing. Um,
you know, the r p O s in the NFL,
(36:42):
they're they're not the same, let's face it, you know,
And so you don't have that that same type of threat.
But we you do see it a little bit more,
but we know it's kind of a bit of a
hybrid bastardized version of rpover they will it is different.
So it's it's very different, you know, and even in uh,
you know, is in college. I think it's changing a
(37:02):
little bit. They always have the guy that will keep
it more often than not sometimes, you know, I don't
think anybody thought them was when he was back, there
was faking. I didn't think he's gonna keep it and
run it around the end, you know, But you never know.
Maybe it's coming to your point about the offense coach, Um,
I believe they're better on offense because they can run
(37:23):
the ball better. I don't even have to see a
game to know they'll run the ball better because they've
changed everything about it, you know, the coach and this
game technique and the personnel most important. Um, let's face it.
James Connor when he was drafted, was viewed by all
NFL people as a nice backup running back. Steelers actually
drafted him a little higher than most people thought that
(37:43):
they would. And then, of course when he replaces Levy
on Bell the first year, he was terrific, made the
Pro Bowl. It was very good. But James Conner is
not the same type of back as nag Harris. So
now you bring in a guy like that, you have
all your receivers back. You did not lose jujuice issues
there which you thought you would. There was some question
whether Ben Roethlisberger would be back, and now you've added
(38:05):
a second pass catching tight end in Pat Ferarmouth, their
second round draft pick. So to me, automatically, I think
their offense is is better. Well, anytime you've stiff gone
much better. Anytime you can start off with the Hall
of Fame quarterback under center, that's a good place to start, okay,
and kind of go from there. Uh. Talk to some
(38:27):
of the people up at Penn State about Pat understand
great work. I think have heard great things about him.
Guy after practice on the jugs all the time. I
don't know if he's probably still doing down with the Steelers,
but one of they ran into one of the managers
not too long ago. He said he was always shooting
the judge machine all day, you know, spending time on that.
He takes great pride. Another guy actually saw him in
(38:47):
high school. He stood out as a Massachusetts guy, and
he stood out back then. But he's he I think
he's a heck of a talent at tight end. I
think that he's gonna be a really fine tight end
in the NFL. It's not a blocking tight end. It's
not Mark Bruner, he's not Vance McDonald doesn't mean he
can't get better, but they know what they got with him.
(39:08):
They didn't bring him in to be a blocker. But
he is a blocker better than than five Ricky bron
And so that is another person who gives him a
little flexibility in that that kind of addresses the running game.
You know a guy on the front line who's an
inline guy who can blog, but to the option of
catching the ball and coach, I haven't seen him. I
(39:28):
haven't seen him drop the ball yet, not one in
practice the entire time. He hasn't in the game. And
mccandon was saying yesterday about him to your point about
a hard worker. He says he has a high football
intellect um and and he's he's a guy who watches
studies his mistakes on film and tries to learn from
It's not Octave just doing whatever once he's he's committed
(39:49):
to getting better, is what he's saying. Well, that's the
word I got on him from. You know, when they
when the managers on the team tell you that when
you see one of him, he says, Oh, they're gonna
love him at Ditsburgh because he's a great worker. He
would be one of those guys. It was always, hey,
can you take the judge, canna set it up, We'll
get some more catches. And he was one of those
kind of guys. Yeah. Our friend Steve Jones had said
(40:09):
that he never dropped the pass in the red zone,
and I asked Pat about that, uh, right after he
came and he's and he confirmed it. He says, that's right,
I've never dropped the pass in the red zone. And
we know some of the problems Stevens have woul dropped
past his last year, including from their starting kite end
Eric Ebron, So hopefully he'll help rectify him. Well, I
(40:32):
think he's gonna have a great career here with Jakertsburg
Steelers and and I people have been talking about his blocking,
but I think he'll go into that as you know
that that happens that and a lot of times it's
one of those things. As they get older. They figured
a little bit more about and we saw him getting
knocked over in the first series. The last week. I mean,
he just got knocked to the ground. And when he
was getting knocked to the ground, he pulled the guy's jersey,
(40:54):
yanked him with him. He got called for holding and
it negated a nice run by Najy Harricks. But then,
as I mentioned you, coach, I saw him later on
in with the quarter or whatever pancake, one of the
outside linebackers, you know, all somewhat after the whistle. But
it goes to his commitment to try and be a
better blocker. But I got a funny feeling. I don't
think there's many players that have played this game you
haven't been knocked to the ground as Okay, that's all
(41:18):
that matters. So you know, if he gets knocked down
and no big deal, it happens. It's happened to the
greatest players of all time. He's a rookie, Yes, he's
a rookie. He's gonna be he's gonna learn, and he's
gonna develop and probably by next year they'll probably be
their number one tight end because I don't know that
they'll bring Eric Ebron back for another year. That's gonna
do it for our one. Coach and I are at
the North Shore Tavern across from PNC Park. We're here
(41:41):
in too APM, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop
on by. It's our final training camp show of the preseason.
I'm Jerry Dock, that's the coach. Com Bradley will take
a break and come back with another hour of Good
Steal Talk right after this. You listening to ESPN Pittsburgh,
Do you want Black and Gold football talk? You want
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