Let's Talk Stil'rs - December 14, 2024

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Let's Talk Stealers is sponsored by Italian Village Pizza. Lawrence
Field is stealing enjoy their handcrafted spirits. Visit Canton, Ohio
Red Fox Winery and.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Lounge and.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Call Italian Village Pizza on Steelers game day and say
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get one free, take out or delivery. Let's Talk Stealers.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Hey, it's time for it. Let's talk Steelers.

Speaker 4 (00:39):
Fan of the Week Rayford Davis, Rayford Davis. If this
guy isn't a Steelers fan, I don't know who is.

Speaker 5 (00:47):
Hey.

Speaker 4 (00:47):
Rayford is now entered to win either the Mike Webster
Jersey or the Visit Canton trip to Canton, Ohio contest.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
You can be entered too.

Speaker 4 (00:57):
All you have to do is go to Let's Talk
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all three platforms and YouTube. Will be entered to either
win a Mike Webster jersey or a trip to.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Canton, Ohio home of the Hall of Fame.

Speaker 4 (01:13):
At the end of the season, we'll reach in a
Steelers helmet and one lucky winner for the Webster jersey
and one lucky winner for the well trip to Hall
of Fame in Canton, Ohio will be selected.

Speaker 3 (01:23):
Ray for Davis, you're the man.

Speaker 4 (01:33):
Hold on Steelers Nation. It's Tank and Mike for Let's
talk Steelers. Full disclosure before we start. I'm a Steelers
fan and I hate the Browns. I always hate the Browns.
We took care of business on Sunday. Are you happy
about that redemption?

Speaker 3 (01:48):
We got them back and got it back, got it
back absolutely.

Speaker 6 (01:51):
The snow game it got to them. You know, a
new surface field this past week. I don't know if
you noticed that brand new saw it.

Speaker 7 (01:59):
You know, they play the college games, they play the
high school games, they bring that new saw it in.

Speaker 6 (02:02):
So maybe the footing, you know, maybe the snow had
something to do with the first game.

Speaker 7 (02:06):
Maybe there's a little bit of a flue.

Speaker 5 (02:09):
You know.

Speaker 4 (02:09):
Cam Hayward came into this contract negotiation season.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
People are like, are you going to pay this guy?

Speaker 4 (02:15):
He's a fourteen year VET, He's AE hundred and ninety
four years old. Cam Hayward is having one of the
best seasons he's ever had. Mike after the game, he said,
we are a complete football team. Now, think what Cam
has seen come through Pittsburgh in the last fourteen years.

Speaker 3 (02:31):
That's a big statement. We're a complete football team. I
want to start talking about the defensive proofall.

Speaker 7 (02:38):
I want to go back to what you said, a
complete football team.

Speaker 6 (02:40):
Yeah, in years past, you've seen the old Blitzburg Steelers
in their defense, heavy with Bill Kawer, the run game,
and then you know, they eventually evolved a little bit
and it kind of became this high, you know, optane
passing attack with Ben Roethlisberger and you know san Antonio

(03:02):
homes Platico, burs Antonio Brown, all these guys and if
you know, they've had this explosive offense. Back to a
complete football team is not fancy. It's not that high
octane offense. It's not just the defense. It's it's a
complete package. It's not you don't have the sports car
that's gonna just go out there and get points.

Speaker 7 (03:19):
What you do is have that complete package.

Speaker 6 (03:21):
And to me, that built like a like a Ford
truck or like a Chevy pickup truck.

Speaker 7 (03:25):
Thats just it's gonna get the job done. It's not
gonna be pretty.

Speaker 6 (03:28):
It's not gonna be the fanciest thing, but they're gonna
find a way to get the job done and.

Speaker 7 (03:32):
That's what they're starting to do.

Speaker 4 (03:33):
Throw special teams in there too. I mean, Danny Smith
is getting all kinds of accolades.

Speaker 6 (03:38):
Well, yeah, it's funny you say that, because you know,
Danny Smith does a great job. You know, they design
some fake punts, they have all these different things. But
and he's one of the few special teams corners being
really well known because of the gun chewing on national
television all stuff. But the special teams are playing at
a high level. But then you look at that last play. Everyone, Oh,

(03:59):
Danny Smith have a great but the teams on that line.
You know, the guy just dropped the punt. Cadarius Tony
just flat out dropped the punt. There was nothing with
scheme there. Player was in the right place at the
right time. He hustled down the fields, chronic and made
the recovery. So credit to the Dania Smith. He does a
great job. But that last play, that was just a
straight hustle play. Being at the right place the right
time the guy dropped the.

Speaker 3 (04:18):
Ball another aspect of a complete team.

Speaker 4 (04:21):
Mike, you cannot discount the importance of the Wizard of
Boss Boswell at this point in the year. I mean,
it is incredible. I think he's made tied his record
thirty six field goals made. He's having a remarkable season.
But he's won them some football games. So when Cam
Hayward says, we have a complete football team, not only offensively,

(04:43):
not only defensively.

Speaker 3 (04:45):
You got the best kicker, the hottest field goal kicker
in the league. The punter also is impressive.

Speaker 4 (04:51):
At this point, Cam Hayward knows what he's talking about.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
He's played in a couple of the we call him
the big Game, the Big Game. This year's big Game
is down in New Orleans.

Speaker 4 (05:01):
Don't pack your bags yet, Steelers Nation, because we got
a deal.

Speaker 3 (05:05):
Well with your old team, the Philadelphia.

Speaker 4 (05:08):
Eagles are down the road next week in Philadelphia.

Speaker 6 (05:11):
Well absolutely, you talk about you know, Bosball and that
weapon that you have, though, go back to that point.
You know he doesn't miss and and he has missed
a fuse here, you know a couple you know, just.

Speaker 7 (05:22):
Fluke accident from seventy two yards.

Speaker 6 (05:24):
Yeah, he's an absolute he's an absolute weapon. And a
lot of you hear a lot of people get frustrated.
You know, you know why, why don't kick the field?
We'll go for it, go for it. That's not that's
not how they're built. You know, let's we're not going
out there trying to win the game with the offense.

Speaker 7 (05:40):
Okay, we don't need.

Speaker 6 (05:41):
To go out there win the game. Let's just take
what the defense gives us. Get the ball, move it
down the field, get as much as we can kick.
Take those points. Take those points. Take those points because
they do have a stud defense and they will create turnovers.

Speaker 7 (05:53):
You know, they got two with the interceptions off of
Jameis Winston.

Speaker 6 (05:57):
They got the one on the special team, So they're
gonna get you extra possessions.

Speaker 7 (06:01):
You don't need to get greedy early.

Speaker 6 (06:03):
I love the fact that the Steelers are a team
that once they get down there, hey, you know what,
it's early in the game.

Speaker 7 (06:07):
Let's just go ahead and take those points. They don't
need to go out and be something that they're not.

Speaker 4 (06:11):
A complete team, says Cam Heyward. All Right, when we
come back, we're gonna be talking about those filth Phiadelphia
Eagles year old team.

Speaker 3 (06:21):
Did they call it Philthiadelphia back then? No, they did,
You just don't know it pelt Phiadelphia.

Speaker 8 (06:32):
Ever have an intersecting high school, not in college or
the league yet until today a nose.

Speaker 7 (06:39):
Tackle yet And what is it with this team that
watch place? I said, you guys seem to do it
every single week, kind of spo the offense.

Speaker 8 (06:46):
Yeah, I feel like everybody had they turn and you
never know when it's gonna come. So we just make
sure we stay high energy through through the ups and
downs and now get too high and I get too
low and it allows for those plays.

Speaker 7 (06:55):
It's the biggest thing pressure for Jamison today for you.

Speaker 5 (06:58):
Guys, Yeah, definitely keeping them in the post.

Speaker 8 (07:00):
I feel like the last game we let him out
of the pocket a little too much for our liking,
and today we had to keep him in.

Speaker 3 (07:06):
What did you see on the play?

Speaker 7 (07:07):
Was that something you read or something you saw on film?

Speaker 8 (07:10):
Usually the guys across from you're supposed to block you,
and when it's screened they don't. So you find the
ball where you find the running back or whoever they're
throwing it to, and he threw it up.

Speaker 3 (07:19):
You just have to work under your stiff arm. Yeah.

Speaker 8 (07:23):
I just had to get the ball, get down and
make sure it was secure.

Speaker 6 (07:26):
That was one of the early turning points in this game.

Speaker 9 (07:28):
What does it mean need to contribute in that way?

Speaker 5 (07:30):
For your team.

Speaker 3 (07:30):
Well, it's awesome.

Speaker 8 (07:32):
I feel like personally, I haven't been able to do that,
like a big play like that, And it's not always
gonna happen in big plays, but it felt good today.
What did you guys learn about your offense being able
to still pull it up twenty seven points even without
George able.

Speaker 10 (07:45):
To go today big time? It's credit of the receiver
receiver room. You know, we have a lot of good,
good players in there, and they stepped up big time.
And you know, for Scotty to come in today and
think he was inactive and then George was down and
for him to you know, switch, flip a switch and
come in and make big plays. Man, that that's credit
to him and who he is and the whole receiver
room and coaches.

Speaker 7 (08:03):
He obviously George is a focal point for you guys
every year.

Speaker 3 (08:05):
How much had the game plan changed?

Speaker 5 (08:07):
And come he didn't change it all.

Speaker 10 (08:08):
We have all belief and everyone on the offense and
so Art you know, told us before the game, and man,
it was it was great.

Speaker 7 (08:13):
Say when did you have an idea that he wouldn't
be able to.

Speaker 3 (08:16):
Go to my dad?

Speaker 10 (08:16):
Text me, text me, he said, GP's down hamstring and
I was like, okay, there we go.

Speaker 3 (08:22):
Thanks that you.

Speaker 7 (08:24):
Don't understand this team closer.

Speaker 10 (08:27):
Yeah, man, I just feel like the young guys, you know,
especially on offense defense, always been close, especially on offense,
just you know, going through the growing pains of you know,
lack of playoff success, and you know, you know, we're
we're the leaders on the offense now. So you know
in year four, menas Dan, you know Isaac obviously he's older,
but man, just you know, leading and wanting to win.

Speaker 7 (08:47):
You feel like you getting here on that moving train
that Toma talks about.

Speaker 11 (08:50):
That, Yeah, for sure, show up a week, you know,
focus on the preparation and practice hard, make plays and
just you know, enighbor the opportunity to position yourself take
advantage of it.

Speaker 6 (09:01):
Do you feel your it's coming to you more, the
balls coming to you more, the opportunities.

Speaker 11 (09:07):
I mean, I got about four or five balls that
came out with today, made some plays. So yeah, I mean,
just whenever I get opportunities, just try to make the
best out of it. You never know when the opportunity
would come. So for me, whenever the ball come out way,
just make sure I make a play. I had a
few big plays when I'm for Pi, I don't know how.

Speaker 3 (09:28):
I mean, I'm just a big guy to me, So
you just had your hand on his back.

Speaker 11 (09:33):
I'm just trying to feel where he at really and
then just stop for the ball and I guess, yeah,
but it is what it is.

Speaker 5 (09:39):
They got a job to do. Also made up.

Speaker 11 (09:41):
For it from that third down, So yeah, just just
looking forward to, you know, keep building, making plays and
keeping this thing.

Speaker 6 (09:48):
Really, is it a quarter tradition to have one of
those scuffles with the Browns?

Speaker 7 (09:52):
Is that something you can add to your resume at.

Speaker 5 (09:54):
That point, Yeah, that's the thing. I wasn't even trying
to have a scuffle.

Speaker 12 (09:57):
With him, but like I already don't like those guys
and they don't like so at the end of the day,
it is what it is. We're playing football, though, you know,
and I'm just happy that we got the team win.
And at the end of the day they lost, we won,
So I'm happy your dad wants to try.

Speaker 3 (10:11):
We ain't doing that no more.

Speaker 5 (10:12):
We ain't doing that no more, Joan.

Speaker 7 (10:14):
You guys are trying to approach every game the same.

Speaker 10 (10:15):
Much to about that lost from two weeks ago is
there any satisfaction or relief in that.

Speaker 12 (10:20):
Like coach team been saying all week, it's not a
get back, is a get right, And I feel like
that's what everybody felt like.

Speaker 5 (10:25):
It was a get right.

Speaker 12 (10:25):
We had to pick up and learn from our mistakes
last game, and I feel like we did that. We
played better, we hustled around the ball, and we the
more physical team. So I feel happy about this victory.

Speaker 7 (10:34):
Is the defense really keying on getting a win today.

Speaker 3 (10:38):
After performance in Cleveland War definitely.

Speaker 12 (10:40):
You know, we come out and we are trying to
get the victory, and we are trying to be the main,
the main reason for the victory. You know, this is
a team sport, but you know, we have a lot
of confidence on the defensive side, and we also want
the game on us. So the fact that we came
out ready to ready to play and was well prepared,
I feel like that showed on tape.

Speaker 7 (10:55):
We big it just constant takeaway from you guys's defense.
Three more today and just the ww you guys have.

Speaker 9 (10:59):
Been playing all I mean, Keanu Benon, what a hell
of a play by him, and then obviously the others
as well, But just an opportunistic group guys that want
to want to make impact plays and doing a big moments.

Speaker 7 (11:09):
How great was it to have Alex back out there
and make it you impact as well?

Speaker 3 (11:12):
Right away? Huge?

Speaker 9 (11:12):
I mean I think it was the third play of
the game. He had a huge sack and he was
a playing pressure all day. We know he's a great
passers and a run defender when he's out there, and
I'm just glad that he was out there.

Speaker 8 (11:22):
There was for you guys to own this series at
home twenty one Street regular season home wins all these guys.

Speaker 3 (11:26):
Is it a mental thing?

Speaker 6 (11:27):
You know, both sides for you guys to win and
feel confident, maybe them just feel like, man, can we
do this?

Speaker 5 (11:31):
I don't know.

Speaker 9 (11:31):
I mean, no, no game in the NFL is is easy.
There's a tough challenge today and happy to get to win.

Speaker 11 (11:39):
DJ.

Speaker 13 (11:40):
I'm sorry people asked, did you feel like for the
defense your tackle won first out on the first play
of the game kind of shet the tone for how
you guys were going to play it today.

Speaker 5 (11:50):
I don't know.

Speaker 9 (11:50):
I mean, I just want to come out and get
involved as early as possible as I try to do
each and every week, and we just came out energized
as a group from the start.

Speaker 13 (11:59):
Was that kind of a way over from I mean,
I think up there, you guys have one tackle for
a loss you got rid of Okay, we got to
we already have a tackle for a loss right out
of the gate, I mean late on that side.

Speaker 3 (12:09):
Of the line of scrimmage.

Speaker 9 (12:10):
We just want to be aggressive each and every week.
And we know it wasn't acceptable when we were up there,
and we wanted to write it and we want to
show that we were a better defense than we showed
that day. And overall, obviously we came out with the
win and it was a much better performance.

Speaker 4 (12:44):
Time Hose Steelers Nation. Christmas time is right around the corner.
You know, Charlie Batch's Foundation does some incredible work working
with you right here in Pittsburgh. Why not how about
Charlie's kids this holiday season? Log on to Batch Foundation

(13:08):
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how to donate Wilson cash or toys.

Speaker 3 (13:15):
For Charlie's Kids through Batch of Toys. Batch of Toys
for the holiday season.

Speaker 4 (13:21):
Again, Charlie's Foundation does some incredible work here in the
Pittsburgh area. Bring in some holiday cheer to Pittsburgh families,
So log onto Batch foundation dot org to learn out
how you can be Santa Claus too.

Speaker 14 (13:35):
Always. I'll start with a quick synopsis of our last performance.
I probably should have mentioned this after the game in
reviewing the tape Man. It just really stood out to
me the collective component of the victory. It was a
team effort in a lot of ways, whether it was
individuals getting an opportunity to step up and expand it
roles due to the lack of availability of individuals, or

(14:00):
the fact that we made splash plays and really in
all three phases, and the complementary component of the splash
plays in all three phases. We started slow on offense
and the defense provided a short field in terms of
UH the interception by KB, and then the offense was
able to turn that into seven. And our red zone

(14:21):
execution has improved since our many buy and are focus
on that. And so it's just good to see some
of those things, and some of the splash plays or
significant plays happening in special teams, the consistency of Boswell,
the turnovers in the kicking game, the gunner play, Ben
Skeronic's efforts, et cetera. I just thought that everybody had

(14:45):
a playmaker's mentality. Everyone wanted to be the reason why
we're successful, and we get collectives playing like that. Man,
that's when you get an opportunity to play really good
team football, compliment one another, smiling the face of adversity
that gets presented in play, and there's always going to
be adversity, and the way that you do it oftentimes

(15:06):
is just simply complementing or supporting those those others. We
started the second half, we gave up a big kickoff
beyond the fifty and the defense got real stout right there,
and then we were able to get out of that circumstance,
for example, without giving up points. And so hopefully we're
not only growing in terms of experience, but there's some

(15:29):
intangible growth there as you experience those type days as
a collective. I know as we continue through this journey
in the road gets narrow, that experience is going to
be needed to face some of the challenges that we face. Quickly,
talking about some health related things, I'll start first with

(15:50):
George and summarize what transpired last weekend and give you
a snapshot of what this week looks like. As I
mentioned leading up to the game. He experienced some hamstring
discomfort post practice on Thursday, getting some post practice work
felt pretty good. On Friday, we decided to exercise a

(16:11):
little bit of precaution, worked at him in a limited
fashion on Friday and wanted to save all those bullets
for Sunday. Wanted to see what he looked like when
he got to the stadium and then make a determination
of how many plays we thought would be appropriate to
utilize him in. Obviously, if he wasn't going to be
a full participant, we wanted to, you know, gear his
participation toward weighty passing game moments, if you will. But

(16:34):
when we got to the stadium, it was evident that,
you know, maybe the circumstance was a little bit more
significant than we had hoped, and so we made the
prudent decision in terms of shutting him down and not
allowing a small problem to become a bigger one post game,
and we had an opportunity to get him to get
him an MRI. The injury did show up on MRI,

(16:55):
it's a little bit more significant than what we imagined,
and so we just in the mindset now of just
getting him healthy as quickly as we possibly can there's
a potential for this week, but it's an outside chance
if you you know, if you if you press me,
I'd probably say he's out or could be characterized as
doubtful as we sit here, But again, like we always do,

(17:16):
we'll go through the normal procedure. We'll let participation be
our guide in terms of availability and then obviously the
quality of that participation. Some guys that are probably in
a little bit better position from a participation standpoint, Larry
Ogan Jobi with his growing and Deshaun Elliott with some

(17:36):
hamstring tightness. We'll watch those guys, particularly at the early
part part of the week and again hopefully there's an
uptick in their participation in the quality of it as
we push forward to a game time. Dante Jackson had
some spotty availability in game. He was sick on Sunday
but was able to get through. I don't imagine that

(17:57):
he'll be limited. And some other guys got some minor
bumps and bruises associated with competition, and so you know,
as we always do, we won't waste a lot of
time focusing our energies on those not available to us.

Speaker 5 (18:10):
We'll appropriately focus.

Speaker 14 (18:12):
Our energies on those that are, and how we divide
that labor up and how we can best position them
to perform and play winning football individually and collectively.

Speaker 5 (18:22):
Now on to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Speaker 14 (18:25):
Man really excited about this one man, this Pennsylvania State Championship.

Speaker 1 (18:33):
Let's Talk Stealers is sponsored by Italian Village Pizza. Lawrence
Field is stealing. Enjoy their handcrafted spirits. Visit Canton, Ohio,
Red Fox Winery and Lounge and Rocky and Co Italian

(18:55):
Village Pizza on Steelers game day and say let's talk
Stealers and any size pizza is Buy one, get one
free take out a delivery. Let's Talk Stealers.

Speaker 5 (19:06):
Hello.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
Let's Talk Stealers is sponsored by Italian Village Pizza. Lawrence
Field is stilling. Enjoy their handcrafted spirits. Visit Canton, Ohio,
Red Fox Winery and.

Speaker 2 (19:28):
Lounge and.

Speaker 1 (19:32):
Call Italian Village Pizza on Steelers game day and say
Let's talk Steelers and any size pizza is Buy one,
get one free take out a delivery. Let's Talk Stealers.

Speaker 4 (19:43):
Welcome back to Let's Talk Steelers on Tankies. Mike and
this is the dumb that's a drum roll, you know.
Sound like a drum roll. Parking Chair Vodka by Lawrenceville Distilling. Look,
go see the guys down there at Lawrenceville is stilling.
They've got absence. They got Parking Chair Vodka. All their

(20:04):
well wonderful liquors are at Pittsburgh.

Speaker 3 (20:06):
Themed in name. They got the uns gin. That's perfect
for you.

Speaker 4 (20:11):
Yeah right, let's talk Eagles, all right, Mike, you played
in Philadelphia with the Eagles. When I tell you this,
if I was governor of Pennsylvania, I'm not kidding you,
the first thing I do would do was give Philadelphia.

Speaker 3 (20:27):
To New Jersey and get rid of it off our
tax base.

Speaker 4 (20:31):
I dislike Philadelphia almost as much as I dislike the Ravens.
Just to let you know where I'm coming from before
we start.

Speaker 3 (20:40):
So, why don't you tell us all about your former team,
the Eagles.

Speaker 7 (20:44):
Well, what about the Browns.

Speaker 3 (20:45):
I mean, we just dismantled. Okay, Yeah, the Browns are
in Baltimore. The okay, okay, we got the Browns are
in Baltimore. They go by the name Ravens.

Speaker 4 (20:55):
Well, yeah, not that junior league team they got up
there by that lake by Miss or whatever it's called.

Speaker 7 (21:01):
Yeah, so Philly, you.

Speaker 6 (21:01):
Know, right South Jersey.

Speaker 7 (21:03):
Yeah, very big, big fan base in South Jersey.

Speaker 6 (21:07):
You know their fan base creaks over to they are
creepy Harrisburg.

Speaker 3 (21:11):
Yeah, they are creepy, but you know they're doing a
great job.

Speaker 6 (21:13):
Obviously, a strong, strong fan base and if you're not
playing well, they'll let you know.

Speaker 7 (21:20):
They'll let you know about it.

Speaker 6 (21:22):
And so they have a high expectation, just like the
same way the Pittsburgh Steelers have a high standard for football.
Philadelphia is the same way. Exact way. Got a couple
Super Bowl a couple of years ago, they got a
new coaching staff, revamped everything, got the Jalen Hurts and
to me, the big thing is to pick up.

Speaker 7 (21:39):
With Saquon market.

Speaker 6 (21:41):
Obviously two years ago, Jalen Hurts was at the Super Bowl,
did a great job. You got Aj Brown, you have
DeVante Smith, you got all these weapons, Dallas Carter.

Speaker 7 (21:49):
But now he's injured. So it's is gonna be beneficial
from the Steelers because that's a big tight end.

Speaker 6 (21:53):
That's a big piece of their offense. So losing him
is gonna hurt them a little bit. But Jalen Hurts
more experienced Super Bowl experience, same as Russell Wilson has
been there. It hasn't won one, but he's been there
and he has that game experience. He's played at a
high level through college football national championships.

Speaker 7 (22:14):
He can do it all. He can run, he can
throw it.

Speaker 6 (22:17):
To me, I think he's a little bit more dangerous
with his legs and so running than he is throwing
the football. He gets a lot of those RPOs going,
so it is a little different running attack.

Speaker 7 (22:26):
It's not quite the same as Lamar Jackson.

Speaker 4 (22:30):
And he's the younger Russell Wilson. To me, you go
back to younger Russell Wilson in his day with Seattle.

Speaker 3 (22:37):
That's what Jalen hurts.

Speaker 7 (22:38):
Very similar, very similar. You can extend the plays. He's
got some big time receivers there. They can do that.
They've got a good defense, they've got a great old line.
But to me, the key to stopping the Eagles is
through Sacmon Marker.

Speaker 6 (22:50):
You look at all their games since their bye week,
they have not lost.

Speaker 7 (22:53):
They've rattled off nine in a row.

Speaker 3 (22:55):
Hey, look the Panthers.

Speaker 4 (22:56):
I mean, if Lagett makes that final catch, they win
that game.

Speaker 6 (23:00):
Well, yeah, so you're gonna go down to the But
but to my point, you know.

Speaker 7 (23:04):
They're going, how do you stop the Eagles.

Speaker 6 (23:06):
You know, you look at Barkley, He's averaging one twenty
five a game. He's had four games this year under
one hundred yards, and you know the two of them
were you know, the two that they lost, you know,
against the Falcons and to the Buccaneers earlier in the season.

Speaker 7 (23:20):
They held him to like sixty.

Speaker 6 (23:21):
Yards rushing forty yards rushing, so they stopped that running
attack and make Jalen Hurts be a little uncomfortable throwing
the ball.

Speaker 7 (23:29):
You're gonna have to blanket those receivers.

Speaker 6 (23:31):
Maybe get some man the man can you can you
have someone match up with I think porter Is can
match up with the AJ Brown. I don't like him
with Devonte Smith. I think he's a little too quick
and shifty. But I do think that he can match
up against AJ Brown, that big that big receiver.

Speaker 7 (23:46):
You know, strong matchup between both of them.

Speaker 6 (23:48):
But again, it's gonna come down to stop and say
called Barkley and keeping the ball out of his out
of his hands. The two games that they did win,
you know, the other team's time of possession, and that's
what brings me point against the Carolina Panthers. If you
look at that game, they won the time possession. They
kept that Eagles offense off the field.

Speaker 7 (24:07):
They are one of the better offenses in the NFL.
They're one of the better.

Speaker 6 (24:09):
Defense you know, complete teams around the NFL right now,
and they're playing at a high level.

Speaker 7 (24:14):
Haven't lost since the bi week again, nine in a row.
But the key is is keeping that offense off the field.

Speaker 6 (24:20):
And keeping you know them in long distance scenarios. Forcing
Jalen Hurts to throw from the pocket.

Speaker 7 (24:28):
Lamar Jackson like to get outside the pocket and make
some plays happening. We had a force to keep him in.
They did a nice job.

Speaker 6 (24:34):
Jalen Hurts will take off a run, I think more
than Lamar will. I think for some reason, Lamar struggles
to run against the Pittsburgh Steelers and he's been realizing that.
But I think when Jalen Hurts does run, you got
to punish him, you know, punish him, make sure you just.

Speaker 7 (24:48):
Don't get that lated. He will slide. But try to
punish him as much as you can. Force him off
his spot, force him.

Speaker 6 (24:54):
Actually, I try to keep him contained in that pocket
and forcing him to throw the ball from the pocket.

Speaker 4 (25:00):
So it is the disparity with the Eagles offense, Mike.
They're the number one rushing team in the league. They're
averaging over one hundred and ninety yards per game. Saquon
Barkley's having a career year.

Speaker 6 (25:13):
MVP year, the MVP candidacy, and you got to look
at that, and he's playing with the chip on his
shoulder coming from his you know, division rival than New
York Giants.

Speaker 7 (25:23):
Yeah, so he's out to proof something right now.

Speaker 4 (25:25):
Sixteen hundred yards and the cat can catch the ball
out of the backfield.

Speaker 3 (25:30):
And catch passes and be.

Speaker 5 (25:31):
An effectivedle you backwards.

Speaker 4 (25:33):
And he can fly like an eagle backwards where they
are struggling. And this is where I think the Steelers
are going to be able to hurt them, and hurt
them bad.

Speaker 3 (25:42):
And you heard it first. Steelers are going to Philly
and they're winning this game. I really really believe this.

Speaker 4 (25:48):
The Eagles are ranked the thirty first passing team in
the NFL.

Speaker 3 (25:53):
You saw it on the sidelines.

Speaker 4 (25:55):
Last week that the receivers, both Smith and Brown were
going out absolutely crazy towards the end of the game,
complaining about their quarterback. After the game, they went after
him again. They're complaining, what do you need to improve passing?

Speaker 5 (26:09):
Passing?

Speaker 3 (26:10):
Mike.

Speaker 4 (26:10):
They'd been so erratic with their passing attack. They've had
a little over one hundred yards passing in some games.

Speaker 3 (26:17):
One of their earlier games they had three hundred.

Speaker 4 (26:20):
Doesn't matter going into this game with the Steelers, they're
the thirty first passing game team in the league. This
is where I think the Steelers win this game. Our
secondary is looking great at this point. You take Elliott,
you take Joey Porter, you take Minka Fenzpatrick.

Speaker 3 (26:38):
And all his experience.

Speaker 4 (26:40):
I love this matchup this week for the Steelers to shut.

Speaker 3 (26:44):
Down the Eagles passing offense.

Speaker 4 (26:46):
Let alone, you take a look at what's happened at
the inside linebacker position. You know, a couple of years ago, Mike,
we were really dry at inside linebacker. We had Joe
Horn Sherbert coming through here staked the plastic man. Since
Ryan Shazier went down, we've been struggling at inside linebacker.

Speaker 3 (27:06):
Now.

Speaker 4 (27:06):
Eldon Roberts single handedly shut down that fourth down trive
by the Browns.

Speaker 3 (27:11):
This week. You have Peyton Wilson stepping up. Patrick Quinn.
I like his run defense.

Speaker 4 (27:19):
I do not like his past defense and one of
the other things you saw Terre Austin Views this week
you had Alex Highsmith come back into the lineup.

Speaker 3 (27:28):
Steelers Nation was asking what do you do with herbig?
This week? They kept him on the field.

Speaker 4 (27:34):
They had him playing I want to call it a
high bred inside linebacker position.

Speaker 3 (27:39):
They kept him on the field with TJ.

Speaker 4 (27:41):
Watt, high Smith, They had him at inside linebacker deaths
covering the.

Speaker 3 (27:45):
Flats in passing for Nations, I really like the Steelers
pass defense.

Speaker 5 (27:50):
Well, no, I.

Speaker 6 (27:51):
Actually, you know, I looked at the film this past
week and I thought Patrick when did a good job
in pass covering anything in front of him, anything in
front of him, He's fine, but he has no spatial
awareness behind him.

Speaker 7 (28:02):
Well, you know, but the thing is, what do you
You know?

Speaker 6 (28:04):
You got her big, You've got high Smith, and you've
got one, and you can work her big into the
rotation in the middle linebacker if that's what you want
to do.

Speaker 7 (28:11):
However, I do like.

Speaker 6 (28:13):
Keeping him in an act of rotation on the edge
with high Smith and Watt and the three of them together,
because now you're always gonna have one fresh, you know,
and you're gonna get tired.

Speaker 7 (28:24):
Throughout the game, you see you know, everyone, so you
see t. J.

Speaker 6 (28:26):
Watt on the sideline sucking air, you know, and he's
he's almost like he's guessing sometimes on some of those
pass rushes, you know he gets after it. I mean,
everyone knows a third down, hell, he's coming, He's coming.
And every other third down. You know, there's a couple
other downs where he's keels off a little bit. He's
not so eager, but you know, he picks and chooses
those places and he usually does a good job of
when he when he does bread.

Speaker 7 (28:46):
I like keeping him in that three man rotation to
keep all of them fresh.

Speaker 6 (28:50):
I think with this run game, with Barkley and his
and his ability to not only you know, just pound away,
chip away at the yards, but the ability to hit
the home run, you're gonna have to at that extra
hat in the box with the safety and that's what's
gonna force things to.

Speaker 3 (29:03):
Go a little bit more.

Speaker 7 (29:04):
Man the man, you're gonna have to play.

Speaker 6 (29:05):
Aggressive, don't get grabby, but play tight. Man the man
forced Jalen Hurts to be an accurate pastor. He is
not like you said, you know, he's a I think
he's a great quarterback.

Speaker 7 (29:15):
I think he can run, I think he can throw.
I think he's having a little off years. Accuracy wise,
He's not your Justin Herbert. He's not your Patrick Mahomes.

Speaker 6 (29:23):
Or he's gonna knock guys in those perfect throws and
tight coverage. You know, I would actually even say that
Jameis Winsdon is probably a slightly more accurate I would say,
the passer of the ball than Jalen Hurts. I think
Jameis Winson can make some bad decisions every once in
a while, but accuracy wise, I think Jameis Winston edges

(29:44):
him out there. The thing with Jalen Hurts is, you know,
the passing game is not going right now. He's aware
of the great run game that they've got, he's aware
of the great defense they've got, so one thing that's
throwing that passing game off a little bit. He doesn't
want to force anything and provide extra turnovers. He only
had six interceptions in the year. That's the middle of
the road. But he doesn't want to give that the

(30:06):
opposing team those ex possessions.

Speaker 7 (30:08):
And I'll tell you what, the Pittsburgh Steelers are great
at doing that.

Speaker 6 (30:10):
So if you can get some tight coverage and force
Hurts to put that perfectly placed ball there. You know,
he might hit a few, but more times than nine,
he's not gonna hit them all. And I would rather
take my chance to stop in Barkley and putting.

Speaker 7 (30:25):
The ball and Hurts his home to throw it on
the perfect scenario and play tight coverage.

Speaker 6 (30:31):
Then then you know, let you know, play soft, let
them dink and dunk you underneath, and let Barkley go
to town with you underneath as well.

Speaker 4 (30:39):
I really do think the Steelers are built to go
into Philadelphia and win. Another aspect beside the secondary, beside
the strong linebacker play both inside and out, is the
front four front three. I should say Cam Hayward is resurrected,
drinking out of the.

Speaker 3 (30:57):
Fountain of youth. We talked about Patch Queen before. On
the pass coverage.

Speaker 4 (31:02):
He can cover what's in front of him, but he's
a little bit spatially challenged and not aware of his
surroundings when a receiver gets behind him.

Speaker 3 (31:11):
And to illustrate about situational.

Speaker 4 (31:13):
Awareness, Kananu the Big bad Bear Benton Man, that is
situational awareness.

Speaker 3 (31:21):
When he was taught and understood and was able to
translate it to game time action speed.

Speaker 4 (31:26):
He knew that those guards were setting him up for
a screen.

Speaker 3 (31:30):
He reads it, He.

Speaker 4 (31:31):
Flies down the line of scrimmage, he picks off, Winston
sets up a touchdown.

Speaker 3 (31:36):
To me, that situational awareness, well that was.

Speaker 6 (31:38):
And I think the timing was a little bit off
that that you got Jameis Winston, who you know, I
get it. He started quite a few games from now,
but you know he was the backup. I think the
timing was off on the If you watch James Winston's
eyeballs kind of stared it down.

Speaker 7 (31:51):
He did a great job of reading Jameis's eyes. That
a little pump fake.

Speaker 6 (31:54):
You cannot pump fake a screen because one you're gonna
take guys too. Typically if you do complete it, gonna
get a legal man downfield or an ineligible receiver downfield
on that So as a quarterback, you've gotta you gotta
be very disciplined with your eyes. And you know he
made them pay for it. But back to your point,
that D line is stell. They gonna they're gonna have
their hands full on the third and short's great offense.

(32:16):
You know the Eagles they don't they don't hide anything,
and it's third and short, fourth and short, they're gonna
line up, they're gonna Everyone calls it the touch push.

Speaker 3 (32:24):
I don't like it.

Speaker 7 (32:25):
I like the rugby scrum because that's what they do.

Speaker 6 (32:27):
They literally get down and they're just gonna wedg you
through and everyone and they're they're efficient and they've mastered it.

Speaker 7 (32:34):
Can the steel we're stopping.

Speaker 6 (32:36):
How much time are you spending on that this week
because you know it's gonna come in third and short,
fourth and short?

Speaker 7 (32:40):
Are you preparing for that? Are you working that? Are
you saying, you know what, we got other stuff that
we gotta prepare for. What are you doing there? Any
satisfaction or relief in that?

Speaker 12 (32:49):
Like coach team is saying all week, it's not a
get back, it's a get right, And I feel like
that's what everybody felt like.

Speaker 5 (32:53):
It was a get right.

Speaker 12 (32:54):
We have to pick up and learn from my mistakes
last game, and I feel like we did that. We
played better, We hustled around the ball and with the
more physical team. So I'm feel happy about this victory.

Speaker 7 (33:04):
Really keying on getting a win today after perms in Cleveland.

Speaker 12 (33:08):
Definitely, you know, we come out and we are trying
to get the victory, and we are trying to be
the main, the main reason for the victory. You know,
this is a team sport, but you know we have
a lot of confidence on the defensive side, and we
also want the game on us. So the fact that
we came out ready to ready to play and was
well prepared, I feel like that showed on tape.

Speaker 8 (33:23):
Rebig is just the constant takeaway from you guys's defense
three more today and just the way you guys have
been playing all year long that way.

Speaker 9 (33:29):
I mean Keanu Ben, what a hell of a play
by him, and then obviously the others as well, But
just an opportunistic group guys that.

Speaker 5 (33:35):
Want to.

Speaker 1 (33:40):
Let's Talk Stealers Be is sponsored by Italian Village Pizza
Lawrence fill Just Stealing enjoy their handcrafted spirits. Visit Canton, Ohio,
Red Fox Wandery and Lounge, Rock and Leach Co Italian

(34:02):
Village Pizza on Steelers game Day and say Let's Talk
Steelers and any size pizza is Buy one, get one free.
Let's Talk Steelers is sponsored by Italian Village Pizza. Lawrence
Field is Stealing enjoy their handcrafted spirits. Visit Canton, Ohio,

(34:30):
Red Fox Winery and.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
Lounge and Rocky.

Speaker 1 (34:34):
And Co Italian Village Pizza on Steelers game day, and say,
let's talk Steelers and any size pizza is buy one,
get one free take out of delivery. Let's talk Steelers.

Speaker 3 (34:47):
Look, Mike's talking about this.

Speaker 4 (34:49):
Whatever the Philly scrum pusher, what the bum push or whatever.
It's funny you bring up rugby because they're left offensive
tackle is having a great season. Came from a Australia,
was one of the premier rugby players in Australia. You
can almost sit here them and practice, going hey coach, hey, coach,
this is what we do in rugby. You take a

(35:11):
look at the right tackle as well. He's a five
time Pro bowler. So when Utah a quarterback the right tackle? Yes, yeah, John,
former Florida quarterback. Former quarterback never bulked up and played
offensive line like Russ Graham wasn't holdock.

Speaker 3 (35:26):
Sure you are. We'd make a guard out of here. Center,
give me, give me a summer with you. I'll make
you a center. I'll teach you how to choplock people.

Speaker 4 (35:32):
They get some of this food in here, right, yeah,
all right, we'll be right back to Italian Village Pizza.
We're here in Washington, Little Washington is it's known at
the Italian village Stratia.

Speaker 5 (35:43):
Stop by.

Speaker 4 (35:44):
They've got great drink specials, and of course all the
Italian Village pizza is homemade, all the pastas, homemade, the sauces.

Speaker 3 (35:52):
It's delightful. What do they say in Italian? Maja? I
don't know. We're Irish. Sound good? All right, we're here
at the Italian village. Excuse me, get in here. I'm
working here.

Speaker 4 (36:10):
We're here at the Italian Village Pizza in Washington.

Speaker 3 (36:14):
The chef here, chef, what's good everything?

Speaker 15 (36:16):
We have our lovely pizza year Russia today something most
means install the year. It's very beautiful, as you see
suth the fold. Next we have her buffalo pizzas Mangarza.
It's a lovely pizza shop. You guys have just come
over here with our wonderful pizzas and pastas a hand.

Speaker 3 (36:33):
You're not getting it off a truck Alabama or something.

Speaker 5 (36:36):
I'm done.

Speaker 3 (36:36):
I'm gonna start my dough every day. Well I believe that.
Look at you, you're covered in dough floor all day.

Speaker 5 (36:41):
All right, get out of here.

Speaker 3 (36:42):
I gotta show it. I gotta show to you know,
Mike always eats. How many pieces of pizza you gonna
eat after this episode? I bet let's have a pizza
eating competition at the end of the year.

Speaker 7 (36:54):
You'll lose.

Speaker 3 (36:55):
Wow, big statement from the quarterback.

Speaker 4 (36:57):
All Right, we're talking about your Pittsburgh Steelers versus the
filth Philadelphia Eagles this weekend. And I really do believe
that this Pittsburgh Steelers team, as Cam Aywards said, is
a complete team, is gonna go into Philadelphia.

Speaker 3 (37:12):
Now, the game may end up like this.

Speaker 4 (37:13):
And Boswell, the snap is down, it's a fifty four
yard or into phil Philadelphia win that Lincoln Financial Field Stadium.

Speaker 7 (37:21):
It's true to fit Steelers win my three, let's score.

Speaker 5 (37:25):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (37:26):
I just wanted to do the call and pretend we're winning.
As I know Will.

Speaker 7 (37:30):
That's the thing is. But you know, like you said,
the passing offense is a struggle.

Speaker 6 (37:34):
But they do average twenty six points a game, so
they do get that run game going, and that's how
that's the key to stopping him.

Speaker 7 (37:39):
But they will find a way. But the key is
is can the Steelers get those trade takeaways?

Speaker 6 (37:44):
Can they get those turnovers. Can they force Hurts into
a bad decision, or maybe get one of those Hurts
the cough up the football on the run, or maybe
give Barkley he has a couple of you know, fumbles
on the year.

Speaker 7 (37:54):
Get him the cough fit up.

Speaker 6 (37:55):
They get those extra possessions. They play smart football, They
take care of it themselves. I have a feeling this
you're gonna end up winning on Sunday as well.

Speaker 4 (38:03):
And you know, as we head into this nasty stretch,
we all knew it was coming, this nasty stretch phil Phladelphia.

Speaker 3 (38:10):
We got to go down to Baltimore and the Chiefs
and the finish up with the Bengals.

Speaker 4 (38:16):
At this time in the season, Mike, you've been around
on enough professional football teams exactly what should happen is
happening with the Steelers with everything coming together, specifically with
that wide receiver corp because we kept hearing we need
that second receiver, we need that second receiver. Mike Williams emerged,

(38:36):
Van Jefferson emerged in the Browns game.

Speaker 7 (38:39):
Well, you know, they've done a good day, did a
good job in.

Speaker 6 (38:41):
The red zone. They were able to get more points.
You saw the passing game be productive. They finally Friar
moved down there. They got Van Jefferson an RPO on
a little stick route and they kind of blow the
coverage and Russell Wilson was able to find him.

Speaker 7 (38:54):
The thing that concerns me most though, is I love.

Speaker 6 (38:57):
How they're doing things, but I would like to see
third down passing get a little bit more creative. If
you notice third down, third and three, third and two,
third and five, they take that big shot that gobol
down the sideline, and that's that's been kind of something
that they've done over the years. I'd like to see
maybe some crossing routes. You don't need to throw that

(39:18):
thirty yard bawl down the field on thirty two thirty three.
Sometimes it's a little crossing route of five yards, a
little spot route, little stick route can get that first down.

Speaker 3 (39:26):
Why do you think that is? Is it Russell Wilson's pype?

Speaker 6 (39:30):
And again, well, it's not that because the same thing
it's given the quarterback freedom a lot of times that
outside route is it's a clear out go and if
you get the matchup that you like, you do have
that freedom to throw.

Speaker 7 (39:45):
Now, when I played, they kept the handcuffs.

Speaker 5 (39:47):
On you a little bit.

Speaker 7 (39:48):
If you threw it, you'd better be completed. But now
I think the way the game has evolved and it
favors the.

Speaker 6 (39:56):
Offense with the illegal contact, the holding, that pass interference
stuff that teams.

Speaker 7 (40:00):
Take a little bit more aggressive approach, knowing.

Speaker 6 (40:03):
That you get that guy in a bad spot one
on one, they've got these athletes out there. Let him
go up and make a play and if you don't
get it, you get the P hot and that's what
happens as well.

Speaker 7 (40:11):
Get you end up getting PAS interference calls. Mike Williams
is actually a call for one as well.

Speaker 3 (40:15):
But to me, that was so ticky.

Speaker 6 (40:17):
They give that, They give that quarterback that freedom. I
do think there are choices underneath. I think, you know,
Russ is just taken that. You know, that's something that
Ben's done quite a bit in his career, is take
that that go ball shot. To me, I'd like to see,
you know, stick with the offense because sometimes you get
those crossing routes and the guy pops wide open. Instead

(40:38):
of throwing the thirty yard fade ball, you throw a
little short pass over the middle.

Speaker 7 (40:42):
He's off and running, you hit him in stride. They
can do some big things. So I would like to
see the offense get a.

Speaker 6 (40:46):
Little bit more creative, you know, be a little bit
more selective and the route tree that you're throwing on
third down. But you know they're gonna make plays if
it's if it's if it's being successful, keep going at it.
But I eventually, I think you're gonna run into a
guy's gonna end up setting down. I think teams are
gonna start to realize that take away that outside go ball, and.

Speaker 4 (41:08):
You just don't want it to be this week, you know,
as we head into phil Philadelphia, I mean, this thing
is a thing of beauty with Naugy, Jalen Warren and
Patterson at this point, they are working on all three cylinders.

Speaker 3 (41:23):
The ground and pound game is back.

Speaker 4 (41:25):
In Pittsworgh in the hot hand, right, Oh yeah, absolutely,
what the problem the problem is We're going into Philly.
They got those two stud inside linebackers, and I mean
these guys play inside linebacker like you're supposed to be
playing it.

Speaker 6 (41:39):
Well that's why you know, I think, you know, look
at last week, Jalen Warren to me, had this slightly
better game than.

Speaker 7 (41:44):
Dogy dodgy kind of bounce around. He's not that he
does do that bounce around a little bit. He's got
that big body. He's got a ground and pound it.
Hit it up in there.

Speaker 6 (41:53):
To think about Jalen Warren, and he does hit it
hard when he picks that hole, but I think he's
tiny enough that he kind of gets lost behind that
big old and before as soon as he hits that hole,
before their linebackers see it, he's out the gate. So
I think, you know what your credit for those linebackers.
I think when he hits it, he gets lost behind
that is that the big o' line, And then when
he hits the hole he kind of pops up the

(42:14):
other end and gets a few more yards.

Speaker 7 (42:15):
So I think, you know, I look for Jalen Warne
to get a few more touches this week.

Speaker 4 (42:19):
I'm glad you brought up the offensive line because it
was a struggle at the beginning of the season with
Broderick Jones at right tackle.

Speaker 3 (42:28):
Some injuries came down the line.

Speaker 4 (42:30):
The offensive line at this point in the season needs
credit due where it's supposed to be given. They're coming together,
they're looking better. Broderick Jones is getting used to playing
right tackle.

Speaker 3 (42:42):
Out on that island.

Speaker 4 (42:43):
I think the Steelers go in there, that offensive line
takes control of the line of scrimmage, gets the run
Dame going.

Speaker 3 (42:52):
But more importantly, again I.

Speaker 4 (42:54):
Said it before, I think the Steelers beat the Eagles
premised upon attacking their secondary.

Speaker 3 (43:01):
Mike, I'm excited about this game. It's a litmus test
to find out how good the Steelers are.

Speaker 4 (43:07):
We went what eleven to zero and twenty twenty or
whatever it was, and the whole thing blew up at
the end, and you heard national media saying they're a
paper tiger.

Speaker 3 (43:17):
I don't think that's the case this time.

Speaker 7 (43:19):
Well, no, I think they're, like you said, they're starting
to peak at the right point. They're starting to come
together at the right point. And I think a big
part of that is the Russell play of Russell Wilson.

Speaker 6 (43:29):
You know, obviously the defense gets the turnovers, they do
a great job, but Russell Wilson making the right decisions
with the football not turning over, playing at a high level,
high completion percentage, high QB rating, play action, hitting the
middle of the field, and now he's starting to get
going in the red zone.

Speaker 7 (43:42):
I think that's where you're gonna see.

Speaker 14 (43:43):
Steelers are going to take it through this journey in
the road gets narrow. That experience is going to be
needed to face some of the challenges that we face. Quickly,
talking about some health related things, I'll start first with
George and summer wives, what transpires last weekend and give
you a snapshot of what this week looks like. As

(44:04):
I mentioned leading up to the game, he experienced some
hamstring discomfort post practice on Thursday. Getting some post practice
work felt pretty good on Friday. We decided to exercise
a little bit of precaution, worked at him in a
limited fashion on Friday and wanted to save all those
bullets for Sunday. Wanted to see what he looked like

(44:26):
when he got to the stadium and then make a
determination of how many plays we thought would be appropriate
to utilize him in. Obviously, if he wasn't going to
be a full participant, we wanted to, you know, gear
his participation toward weighty passing game moments, if you will.
But when we got to the stadium, it was evident that,
you know, maybe the circumstance was a little bit more

(44:46):
significant than we had hoped, and so we made the
prudent decision in terms of shutting him down and not
allowing a small problem to become a bigger one post game,
and we had an opportunity to get him to get
him an MRI.

Speaker 5 (45:00):
The injury did show up on MRI.

Speaker 14 (45:02):
It's a little bit more significant than than what we imagined,
and so we're just in the mindset now of just
getting them healthy as quickly as we possibly can. There's
a potential for this week, but it's an outside chance
if you you know, if you if you press me,
I'd probably say he's out or could be characterized as
doubtful as we sit here, But again, like we always do,

(45:23):
we'll go through the normal procedure. We'll let participation be
our guide in terms of availability and then obviously the
quality of that participation. Some guys that are probably in
a little bit better position from a participation standpoint, Larry
Ogan job with his growing and and Deshaun Elliott.

Speaker 5 (45:43):
With some hamstring tightness.

Speaker 14 (45:46):
We'll watch those guys, particularly at the early part part
of the week and again hopefully there's an uptick in
their participation in the quality of it as we push
forward to a game time. Dante Jackson has some spotty
availability in game. He was sick on Sunday but was
able to get through. I don't imagine that he'll be limited.

(46:06):
And some other guys got some minor bumps and bruises
associated with competition. And so you know, as we always do,
we won't waste a lot of time focusing our energies
on those not available to us. We'll appropriately focus our
energies on those that are, and how we divide that
labor up and how we can best position them to
perform and play winning football individually and collectively.

Speaker 5 (46:30):
Now on to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Speaker 14 (46:32):
Man really excited about this one man, this Pennsylvania state championship.
Excited about representing Whippile in this I was just joking
this morning. Man, we could play this game in Breezewood. Man,
that'd be awesome. They're a really good football team. They
need no endorsement for me. They're the winners of nine straight.
When you look at the tape, man, you see exactly

(46:53):
why I'll start first on offense. The acquisition of Saquon
Barkley has got to be the most significant acquisition in
the NFL in twenty twenty four. That's what the tape
looks like he's been dominant, eye opening at times, obviously
highlight real caliber plays, long runs, touchdowns, et cetera.

Speaker 5 (47:16):
It starts there for us.

Speaker 14 (47:18):
If you don't minimize him in some way, you're not
even going to position yourself to have a chance to
be successful. And so obviously he's got a lot of
our attention at the early stages of the week, but
he can't have the totality or of your attention. I
remember the last time we were in the stadium with him,
I think it was twenty twenty and he was playing
for the Giants, and I think Daniel Jones was a

(47:40):
very young quarterback at that time. We were able to
focus a significant amount of our energy on him. We're
not afforded that this time around. Jalen hurts Man is
a top notch quarterback, decision maker, leader, passer, escape artists,
you name, he's capable of doing it. And so you know,

(48:02):
we have the challenge of working to minimize both guys
and making the decisions schematic decisions associated with what's required
to do. So you couple that with dynamic receiving options
on the other end of Jalen hurst passes in the
form of a couple of top notch guys. They've also
acquired Dotson from the Commanders and so, man, they have

(48:26):
the type of group that you got to make some
real hardcore decisions about working to minimize and so we're
working through that. The strategic component of that obviously you
better play well. I've talked about their eligibles, they're running back,
their quarterback, their receivers, but you can't talk about Philadelphia
without talking about their front. They have some of the

(48:48):
most dynamic people in football up front, Lane Johnson, you know,
being the bell cow that group. Their offensive line has
been stellar for a number of years. They're not talked
about enough for obvious reasons. You get an opportunity to
talk about the dynamic play making of guys like Saquon
and see the highlight real plays like him jumping people

(49:08):
backwards that oftentimes you missed the brilliance of a guy
like Landon Dickerson man or Lane Johnson, And so we
recognized that the game