Let's Talk Stil'rs - January 18, 2025

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Let's Talk Stealers is sponsored by Italian Village Pizza. Lawrence
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(00:27):
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Speaker 2 (00:37):
K plus and steel Digital Platforms. Mike Tomlin ready to
take the mic.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
I would imagine there's gonna be some things that change
around here on a lot of levels. But that's this
this game, as I mentioned, and so I understand that
I'm open to that. Really just beginning the processes of
some of the decision making that has to train inspire.
I met with Art Rooney yesterday, I met with Omar yesterday,

(01:04):
and those are just the very beginning of multiple conversations
in terms of how we wrap a bow around some
of the lessons learned, analyze some of the decisions made,
personnel strategy, et cetera, and and those type of discussions
are going on on a lot of levels. How can

(01:24):
we keep our team healthier was a discussion that happened yesterday.
For example, we experienced a ration of soft tissue injuries
this year that was impactful. And that's just an example
of many of the things and subjects that we have
covered and we'll continue to cover as we assess what
transpired and and quickly transition ourselves and build for the future.

(01:48):
At the same time, there's a lot of unanswered questions
regarding the direction that this could go, free agency and
so forth. Don't have a lot of answers there, but
certainly happy to feel and address questions along those lines
to the best of my ability. Again just assessing what
transpires specifically in the stadium. You know, I believe what

(02:15):
I said to you after the game the day with
the better team on Saturday night. I thought that was displayed,
and that is not comfortable to say, but it is
truth and for us and for me, moving forward is
having sober conversations such as that and then beginning the

(02:36):
process of unearth and why when I originally opened I
talked about the level of disappointment that we're going through
this today, and and certainly that is the case. But
a component of that disappointment is I thought that this
collective was better positioned, maybe more so than in recent
years to to not be in this similar place, but

(02:59):
we are, and so there's obviously a lot of work
to do. To be quite honest with you, I'm energized
in terms of beginning the process and doing it because
I'm a competitor. I love this game, in this business,

(03:19):
even what it's miserable. To be quite honest with you,
I've seen so much in it and been through so
much in it. I very rarely do I respond to
present circumstance, whether it's positive or negative, because of the
depths of the relationship that I have with the game.
I expressed that to the team yesterday because it's not
only my job to you know, obviously lead the group

(03:42):
and strategize and so forth, but also to provide perspective.
We got a lot of young guys who played major
roles man who evolved in a lot of ways. I'm
excited about them continuing their individual journeys and enhancing those
and getting better and that are positioning themselves to be
significant as we move forward. There's a lot of, you know,

(04:06):
successes within the within the story. Certainly, I don't feel
like it's the time to to highlight those that to
search for those, but I certainly acknowledge that it exists.
You know, it's important that we recognize that although we
have some ills and certainly a lot of things to address,
we do have some really solid foundational things to build

(04:28):
upon and to enhance. And so a component of moving
forward not only is acknowledging that which stinks, quite honestly,
but also acknowledging the things that are moving in the
right direction or the things that are really assets to us,
and figuring out ways that we can continue that or
enhance that.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
And so.

Speaker 3 (04:50):
There's complexities to the next few days and weeks for
us and for me, but you know, it's what comes
with this thing at the highest level. Certainly there's gonna
be pain in terms of watching the rest of the
tournament from the outside, but again, as I mentioned at
the outset, there's not a lot of misfortune in this business. Ultimately,

(05:13):
you get what you got coming to you, and so
certainly as uncomfortable as it is as it is, there
better be growth in it for us individually and collectively
in the effort to make sure twenty twenty five doesn't
end in a similar way. Don't have a lot of
updates in terms of the general medical component a lot

(05:35):
of those exit physicals and examinations and decision making regarding
those things are still ongoing. But certainly, if you got
a question about an individual, I'll do the best of
my ability to answer it.

Speaker 2 (05:48):
I'll pause and open it up for questions.

Speaker 4 (05:50):
You said you imagine they'll be changes on a lot
of level or does that start with your coaching staff?

Speaker 3 (05:58):
You know, I think changing in and coaching staffs are
a component of our business. I don't certainly don't think
all of our coaches are under contract, and so you know,
change is a component of it, and I acknowledge it,
but we're at the very early stages of making those
type decisions and discussions.

Speaker 5 (06:16):
Does a franchise feel stuck right now?

Speaker 3 (06:19):
You know, I don't know that I've looked at it
from that perspective. I'm certainly disappointed that I'm not working
to prepare to play this week, and I've certainly felt
that in recent years. But stuck is kind of a
helpless feeling, and I don't know that I feel helpless.

Speaker 6 (06:34):
What gives you where is that optimismy that you know
you guys can emerge to this sort.

Speaker 2 (06:39):
Of place you've been in.

Speaker 3 (06:40):
You know, I don't know that I'm ready to be
overly optimistic or sell optimism to you either. I'm just
acknowledging what transpired and what has to happen and what
is beginning to happen, and acknowledging the complexity and the
amount of work that's ahead of us. Certainly feel capable,
but but you know, definitely doesn't feel in the mood

(07:04):
for optimism or the selling of optimism. I don't know
that that's appropriate. You know, it's disappointing not to be working,
and so that's where we are.

Speaker 7 (07:13):
Do you like to have a plan for Quarterbney?

Speaker 3 (07:15):
You know, obviously we don't have a quarterback under contract,
and so we got some major discussions there. It was
a really good experience with the three quarterbacks that were
on our roster this year individually and collectively. We certainly
are open to considering those guys. But there's a lot
of work ahead of us, and the major work obviously

(07:36):
starts first and foremost with just understanding what our options are,
what the field looks like in terms of free agency,
what the draft pool looks like, and then beginning the
process in terms of decision making based on you know,
known variables and so you know, Omar and I have
got a half a day carved out here this week

(07:57):
just to begin that component of the discussion.

Speaker 4 (08:00):
For whatever reason, I'm in the last four years, like
I'm sorry, it's gonna be the third time the last
four years you go in with some uncertainty or maybe
instability at quarterback. I mean, does that itself disconcerted be flowing.

Speaker 3 (08:12):
Forman you know, it's also been I guess three times
out of the last four years we've we've taken a
quick exit from the tournament.

Speaker 2 (08:19):
And so.

Speaker 3 (08:21):
We're having all of those discussions and then acknowledge that
those similarities exist, and obviously that's gonna be a component
of us in terms of our decision making this time around.
Relative to the subject, what.

Speaker 4 (08:33):
Have you seen it from russ and or justin that
makes you think they take it to the next step.

Speaker 3 (08:38):
Or where you need to get to, you know, just
their professionalism, approach to business, their relationship with the game
was an encouragement in that regard.

Speaker 8 (08:46):
Certainly, like you said that you thought this collective was
better positioned than you were a year ago. But as
this season ends, how do you feel like you guys
are positioned to close the gap from where you are
to where you want to be.

Speaker 3 (08:59):
I think I'm just the very early stages of unearthing that.
To be quite honest with you, I acknowledge that, you know,
we got some things unearthed, but these exit interviews and
things of that nature are the very beginnings of that.
And that's something that's going to be asked and discovered
over the upcoming days and weeks and months, even as

(09:21):
we prepare for the draft and free agency, because obviously
talent acquisition is a major component of it, and then
obviously the strategic component of it in terms of the schematics,
and so you know, those are questions that will be
addressed and subjects that will be addressed over the course
of the next you know, days, weeks, months, whatever.

Speaker 9 (09:41):
And Rush should move on be your choice or his?
Did justin show you enough that you think he could
be a starter for you guys and enter next year
in the pole position as Russ did this year, And
what more steps would he need to take than to
perhaps be a seventeen game starter.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
You know, I think you know, he took him. You know,
I thought that the way that he managed his professional
circumstance was really impressive. I thought he brought an urgency
to his day to day work, regardless of his role.
I thought he got continually better within our system of
ball throughout the process. I thought the way he conducted

(10:19):
conducted himself makes that a legitimate thought of idea.

Speaker 2 (10:23):
At this juncture, potential.

Speaker 10 (10:26):
Coaching changes our component of this last eight times, you
guys haven't been able to make it a win in
the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (10:34):
I think a lot of.

Speaker 10 (10:34):
Fans have been questioning coaching at the top, starting with you.
If you were so the great guy for this job,
what's your message to them?

Speaker 2 (10:42):
You know, I have no response to that.

Speaker 3 (10:44):
I understand the nature of what it is that we do,
the attention and criticism that comes with it. As a
matter of fact, I embrace it. To be quite honest
with you, I enjoyed the urgency that comes with what
I do and what we do. I don't make excuses
for failure. I own it. But I also feel like

(11:04):
I'm capable and so as long as I'm afforded an
opportunity to do that, I will continue. But I certainly
understand their frustrations, and probably more importantly than that, I
share it because that's how I'm wired and so I'm
not a big time comfort seeker, and particularly in circumstances

(11:25):
such as this, I don't view myself as a comfort
provider because there's, you know, words, a hollow. To be
quite honest with you, it's about what we do and
less about what we say. And so I've learned to
say very little when things are going good, and I've
learned to say less when they aren't.

Speaker 5 (11:44):
Whatever you have, you've had several seasons that have ended
in similar ways. Does that make you rethink the way
that you either know about your job or the way
that you go about just handling.

Speaker 3 (11:56):
I have a cliched it. The guys oftentimes throw back
at me in jest, but it's true, too is a pattern.
And I say that because there's an expiration date on
adjusting and adapting, you know, And and so I use
that phrase to reflect urgency, to reflect how quickly it

(12:19):
is we need to adapt and adjust and move. And so,
although as you mentioned, we've had similar results, rest assured
that you know, we're not doing the same things hoping
for a different result. We have adapted, we have altered
our approach, and we will continue because we're not getting
what we seek and that's the confetti game is to

(12:40):
be world champs, and so our goals are really clear.
It's also really clear that we're falling short of it,
and falling short of it in a consistent way. And
so we're still going to continue to be open to
adapting our behavior, our program, the structure of what it
is that we do to turn over every stone in
an effort to get what we desire. That's just the

(13:02):
appropriate and mature way to approach.

Speaker 11 (13:04):
It's gonna calling card of your teams over the last
few years has the ability to absorb some negativity and
then respond and rally.

Speaker 2 (13:13):
Why do you think that wasn't able to happen this year?
Why did three losses turn into four and five at
the end of the year.

Speaker 3 (13:18):
You know, I'm I'm I'm unearthing that you know and
and I guess that's the spirit in which I opened
this because I know you got questions, but you know,
the answering to some of those questions would be speculative
at my from my perspective at this point, will be
making something up. And I'm not gonna you know, I'm
not gonna do that. But make no mistake, man, that's

(13:39):
what the upcoming days and weeks and even months are
are about for us as we begin the process of
land of foundation for twenty twenty five.

Speaker 10 (13:50):
It has been in the previous.

Speaker 12 (13:52):
Questions for eight years since want to play off games?

Speaker 10 (13:54):
What about your approach do you feel needs to change?

Speaker 3 (13:57):
No, that's what I was talking directly regarding when I
answer that question. Certainly, I'm open to adaptation and change
and have been, and so it's not a new discussion.
It's not like I've been doing the same things over
that stretch that you mentioned.

Speaker 13 (14:12):
You said you met with Art.

Speaker 4 (14:13):
What was his message, Dude.

Speaker 2 (14:16):
I think we share the same sentiment.

Speaker 3 (14:18):
To be quite honest with you, we're really disappointed that
we're not working this week, and we have a real
commitment to making sure that we're not in that same
space twelve months from now. But that's cool in spirit.
But what's transpiring in a tangible way in terms of
how we construct these upcoming days and weeks and months,

(14:40):
it's gonna be critical to making sure that there's teeth
to that. And that's what I was talking about when
I was saying words don't weigh a lot. It's about
what we do, and particularly what we do over the
upcoming days and weeks.

Speaker 8 (14:56):
When you say that words don't mean a lot, it's
what you do. What about the way the season has
ended this year and recently tells you that your message
is still resonating in this locker room?

Speaker 3 (15:07):
You know, I don't worry about messaging resonating. You know,
I speak with great clarity and transparency. I've learned that
over a long time at this level, I know what
works and what doesn't. And so you know, that component
of it is probably less of a concern of you know,
more strategic things and other discussions that dictate outcome. Messaging

(15:30):
is such a small component of what it is that
we do. It just really is there's complexities to it.

Speaker 5 (15:39):
You know, as I have employed the nflo's highest paid
defense last three years, you know, in way of the
way that defense has performed in the postseason, you have
to reevaluate the way you guys structure the contract, the
roster in and cap league.

Speaker 3 (15:51):
Certainly everything is up to discussions, but things don't happen
in a vacuum. And so there's certainly components of what
we do that you can isolate an analyze. But every
component that you isolating and analyze is affected by others,
and that's just the makeup of what we do. And
so it's it's I'd be remiss if I didn't say that.

(16:13):
It's it's not as black and white as you present it.

Speaker 7 (16:15):
It seemed like the offensive line early in the season,
when you were going through injury issues, there were still
performing above the line, and that didn't seem to be
quite the case at the end of the season when
you had more continuity, which was there's something going on
with that unit there or were you happy with that unit?

Speaker 3 (16:33):
Certainly it didn't end the way we would like as
a collective, in as as a smaller collective that you mentioned,
we absorbed a lot of attrition during the course of
the journey. We ended up playing a lot of young people.
They responded in a real positive way, but maybe they
fatigued mentally and physically. You know, those are things that

(16:55):
we're unearthing as we begin this information gathering process. I
hadn't had a lot of individual meetings to this point.
I'm half a day into my exit interviews, and so
those are some hardcore questions that I have and things
to unearth, and we'll see where it leads us. In
terms of ascertaining the reasons why accountability.

Speaker 10 (17:17):
The talk towards the end of the season, I'm curious
to know do you feel you mentioned your conversation with ur,
do you feel that he's holding you and your coach a.

Speaker 1 (17:25):
Stop acount goal?

Speaker 2 (17:26):
And I'll leave that up to him.

Speaker 3 (17:28):
I don't know that that's appropriate for me to assess
from his perspective. I know he'll get an opportunity to
visit you all at some point, and so I'll leave
that up to him.

Speaker 2 (17:39):
I'm sorry, you guys.

Speaker 13 (17:40):
The defense has been able, has been the ability to
stop the run.

Speaker 6 (17:43):
You guys weren't able to do it a few times
late late and Siason, especially in the playoffs.

Speaker 5 (17:47):
What has to change from you guys approach.

Speaker 6 (17:49):
To be that can kind of consistent team, especially late
to season.

Speaker 3 (17:52):
Again, as I mentioned that that's those are questions that
are going to be answered over the course of a
longer period of time as we study not only our personnel,
but our schematics and the combinations of both, and also
look at trends in the game. The quarterback mobility component
to design quarterback run component is a component of the

(18:13):
discussion as well, and making sure that We're in the
right lanes in that regard schematically, and so there's a
lot of complex discussions to be had and things to
analyze in that regard. But I'm excited about embarking on it.

Speaker 12 (18:27):
Is it an off season priority of the franchise to
get George Pickens a contract extensions.

Speaker 3 (18:32):
We haven't had any conversations about pecking orders or priorities
regarding any individuals contractually. It just we're not there yet,
and I don't know that that's going to transpire this week.
We're just still assessing what transpired in twenty twenty twenty four.

(18:52):
Those are more twenty twenty five things.

Speaker 5 (18:55):
How did you assess your I'm sorry, how would you
assess Georgia's season?

Speaker 13 (18:58):
Then?

Speaker 2 (18:58):
You particularly not the production, but maybe so in.

Speaker 14 (19:01):
The other step when we've got a lot of letters in.

Speaker 8 (19:02):
The league, got a lot of coming back next year?

Speaker 14 (19:05):
Do you want to come back next year?

Speaker 13 (19:06):
Yeah, that's that's that's the that's the plan.

Speaker 15 (19:07):
I mean, obviously I love it here and everything else,
and I think we have a great football team, and
obviously it didn't go in the way we wanted it to,
and I think there's a lot more to do and
you know. So you know, I said to you guys before,
I always just trust gotten the process and all that.

Speaker 13 (19:21):
I know.

Speaker 12 (19:21):
He had that interview earlier in the season, before the
Thursday night game were we talked about how I want
to play.

Speaker 15 (19:26):
At least five more years. Is that the priority to get.

Speaker 12 (19:29):
The longest term deal possible or is it the best deal.

Speaker 15 (19:32):
That's always been my plan is to play as long
as possible, you know, I've said that since I was
a rookie. That's always been my kind of thought process.
I feel great physically, mentally, emotionally. You know, you got
if you want to play twenty plus years, you got
to love it, you know. And I love the process.
I love the mentality, and I love competing with my teammates.
So that's always been the plan, and so you know,
I just trust the process and and and trust you

(19:54):
know that we'll have those conversations when when the time
comes to us. How would you assess how you played
this year? I thought, I, you know, I played well.
I thought that there's some moments I wish I you know,
played a little bit better.

Speaker 13 (20:04):
You know.

Speaker 15 (20:04):
I feel like, you know, I had two kind of
plays that I wish I had back, to be honest
with you, you know, the one in Kentas City and
the one in the Ravens game just kind of put
the ball inside. Other than those two plays in particular,
you know, I competed and I got to give my all. Obviously,
I felt like we didn't play good enough, you know,
when we needed to as a team. And and you know,
but I I think that, you know, I hated missing games.

(20:25):
You know, I hated missing miss for six I don't
really miss games like that, and that that kind of
was just, you know, disappointing. But I love how guys
may plays. I love the teammates. I love, you know,
just seeing the you know, how George made plays, how
Calvin really became a big, you know person for us
in the season. I thought guys like Pat and all that,
And I thought, just from a leadership standpoint, I gave
my all every day. And I think that's the best

(20:46):
thing you can always try to give.

Speaker 10 (20:48):
You have been on playoff winning teams, were winning teams.
What is this team missing?

Speaker 15 (20:54):
I think missing is the wrong word. I just think
that we got to recalibrate and get sharper and a
couple of things here and there, and continue to grow,
continue to evolve. I think we're young, especially on offense.
We'll continue to grow and and and all that. But
you know, I think that, you know, I just think
that we we weren't able to finish, and we obviously
didn't start good enough in games.

Speaker 13 (21:14):
You know.

Speaker 15 (21:14):
I think that's that always helps us when you get
ahead a little bit early. So we got to figure
that part out.

Speaker 16 (21:19):
Because when you say that's the plan to come back,
is that Have you expressed that to the Steelers that
if they kind of reciprocated that to you?

Speaker 15 (21:27):
I mean, I think they, you know, they they've known
that I've always wanted to be here and play here.
But you know, it's also a process. You know, there's
and we haven't had those meanings yet, you know, So
that's that we'll have those and we'll go from there.

Speaker 7 (21:36):
What about the situation here makes you.

Speaker 8 (21:38):
Want to come back?

Speaker 15 (21:39):
I just love the guys. I love the locker room,
I love I love coach Tomlin, love who he is.
You know, I think that, you know, obviously this place
is a place that I think can win a lot
and and all that stuff too. And I think we
have a championship caliber football team, like I said, it
didn't go the way we wanted to this year, but
you know, I I love playing football. I love playing
the game, and you know, if it works out that way,

(22:00):
and now you know, I'll be excited to do that
and put the black and gold on again.

Speaker 6 (22:04):
Where do you find the most untapped potential in me
of this offense and what you guys need to do
that you think really could do next.

Speaker 15 (22:10):
Season if you in return? You know, I think explosive
plays is always huge. I think we had a lot
of good ones down the field. I mean we had
some huge chunks down the field, plays, passes, guys caught
make great plays. I think I think just finding explosive
plays earlier in the game too. I think it's always key.
You You're always looking for those you know, you know,
you know, seven to ten explosive plays a game was

(22:32):
through the running game, pass game. I think that was
always help. And then I just think continue to uh,
just continue to mature. I think we're a team that's
growing every day.

Speaker 13 (22:39):
Two more, what was.

Speaker 12 (22:40):
That Russ, the slow starting stuff, Because you guys are
a pretty good team, especially when you were really.

Speaker 14 (22:45):
Cooking their attendant coming out of the locker room at halftime.

Speaker 12 (22:47):
Like you're good at quick adjustments. What were the issues
leading into games?

Speaker 15 (22:50):
Yeah, mean, I think I think I think, you know,
you look at the last game, in the playoff game, obviously,
I thought how we were super aggressive and guys making
plays and all that stuff. In the second half. We
did a really good job of that. You know, we
didn't waver our mentality. I thought that we didn't give
in and uh, you know, a lot a lot of
people do, to be honest with you, I don't think
we did. I thought that we made plays when when

(23:12):
you know, throughout that game, I'm just thinking about the
ninety eight yard drive, but we had you know, backed
up and Calvin making them play over the middle, and
guys making big plays Vans weren't his touch, and then
coming back I think GP scoring, you know, and just
that's that's the testament.

Speaker 2 (23:25):
Of who we are.

Speaker 15 (23:26):
I think that at the end of the day, though,
you know, it's how do we execute early, you know
and all that, And I think that we went I
don't know, seventeen eighteen games without doing that. So I
think that's something that you know, you know, and moving
forward that you always want to be able to do
and it doesn't define the game. It doesn't, but it
also definitely helps the game. I got I got one
more quick question.

Speaker 1 (23:44):
I gotta go, Well, you should she plays a lot
back to about to pick six in full.

Speaker 15 (23:48):
Yeah, I mean, you know, you never want to, but
you know, just you uh, you know, it's part of
the National Football League. You play and you go after it.

Speaker 2 (23:56):
And you know.

Speaker 15 (23:57):
But I think also too, there's a lot of plays
that we did make that huge, you know. I think
that some of the balls down the field something that
you know, I just think that we had some really
great explosive plays throughout the season. And just love the
guys that we have and how we compete.

Speaker 17 (24:10):
All Right, the lessons you guys take these, Yeah, a
lot of things obviously offensive side of the ball. Just
gotta execute when when the games get tough and start
off faster. I think that's one of the biggest things
going in the off season is as a guy that's
gonna be here is uh to figure out ways to
start faster and you know, execute better and you know,

(24:34):
high intensity games.

Speaker 11 (24:35):
Do you feel like you guys are any closer to
where you want to be when you were a year ago.

Speaker 17 (24:39):
Or a couple of years before that or absolutely what
gives you that? What you Yeah, obviously, you know, we
started off the season how we wanted to. You know,
we're ten and three at one point with a game
going into Baltimore with the chance to win the division,
and so you know, that's the first time we were
able to you know, you know, have that opportunity since
I've been here. So I feel like, you know, we're

(24:59):
going in the direction as an offense and as a
team for sure, But obviously we gotta we got to
figure out how to you know, finish stronger in the
last part of the season.

Speaker 6 (25:08):
That you guys talked a lot about the will in
the season, not being a better running team and being
able to control the line of scrimmage obviously didn't play
out down the stretch. What did you guys not do
to be to be that team this year?

Speaker 17 (25:19):
Yeah, I mean, like you said, I mean, we just
we weren't able to do that for some reason. And
in the later part of the year, early on, we
were able to you know, be that physical team, and
for whatever reason, you know, later on the year, we
weren't able to do that. And so you know that's
something that as individuals you gotta look yourselves in the
mirror and and ask yourselves what you could have done better,
and as a whole, you know, figure out how we

(25:41):
can be better at that moving forward. So you know,
just kind of to figure it out. And I think,
like I'm gonna say, probably the whole time is just
you know, execution, you know, especially there's been a bunch
of clips, you know from watching the film that you know,
we just weren't for whatever reason, weren't executing.

Speaker 7 (25:58):
Is it the way you were used you feel like
you could have been used more?

Speaker 17 (26:01):
Or kind of yeah, you know, I'm I'm you know,
happy with you know, my role, and I'm set a
career high and catches and you know, tie my career
high in touchdowns and obviously there's plays left out for
me to make that you know I didn't make obviously
when we talked about the drop against the Bengals in
that last starting the game off against the Ravens with
the drop, and so there's certain situations where I feel

(26:23):
like I could could have been better for sure, And
you know that's all part of the growth and learning experience.
I mean, earlier on in my second even last year,
early on, you know, I was getting hammered for my blocking,
and I felt like I developed this year as as
a capable blocker, and you know, it's all about development,
and you know, I'm I'm happy with the way my
trajectory of my game's going. Just got to continue to

(26:44):
you know, be a leader and continue to grow as
my career grows.

Speaker 13 (26:47):
So a lot of positives for myself.

Speaker 17 (26:50):
But you know, we didn't finish with the super Bowl title,
and so you know, obviously back to the drawing board
and figure out ways to get better.

Speaker 13 (26:59):
You feel like you're close to you mentioned super You
feel like you're close.

Speaker 2 (27:03):
I do, I do.

Speaker 17 (27:03):
I mean, obviously we clinched the playoffs with I think
three or four weeks left.

Speaker 13 (27:08):
Obviously got to fit in the stronger.

Speaker 17 (27:09):
But you know, we just got to, you know, figure
out that to get over that next hurdle. You know,
we own three in the wild card in my career,
and so we just got to figure out a way
to get to the Divisional, get to the AFT Championship
and get to the super Bowl, and the most confidence
in the organization and guys that on.

Speaker 13 (27:24):
This roster to get that done.

Speaker 17 (27:26):
We're a quarterback next year, Candull you and that's not
for me to decide, that's for the for upstairs aside.

Speaker 13 (27:32):
And yeah, when you.

Speaker 9 (27:34):
Guys were really cooking at ten and three, like when
you were at your height, Like one of the talking
points was how good.

Speaker 14 (27:39):
You guys were building out of the locker room making
adjustments at halftime. So there's the disconnect between how good
you were in the second half of games making in
games adjustments there as opposed to like a week of
lead up or wasn't there in the first quarter.

Speaker 13 (27:52):
Yeah, just execution.

Speaker 17 (27:54):
You know, I know you guys have heard all the time,
but I feel like it really comes down to that
is the execution of you know, trying to be on
the same page earlier on in games. You know, that's
obviously something that as players were going to take pride
in and and figure that out from you know, on our end,
and so you know, we were all happy with the
game plan and game plans and we just got to

(28:15):
figure out and execute better. You know, when we were rolling,
no one was talking about the game plans, and so
just coming down to execution and asking ourselves individually how
you can get better from.

Speaker 11 (28:25):
That, And is there anything within the off season or
approach or anything that can improve that execution that may
be missing them right now.

Speaker 17 (28:33):
Yeah, I mean, I guess guys just you know, figuring
out what they can do individually to you know, come
in and and get better. Especially in the off season.
This is a big off season for a lot of
guys on offense, young guys trying to take that next step,
you know, myself trying to take that next step as
a complete player, complete tight end. So it's a big
season for for a lot of us. And so you know,

(28:54):
we have our goals in mind that obviously everyone knows,
try and win a playoff game and try to win
the Super Bowls. So whatever that takes individually, collectively, we
gotta do it.

Speaker 13 (29:04):
Like you said, you're gonna be here.

Speaker 15 (29:06):
You're one of the guys.

Speaker 13 (29:06):
You're gonna be here.

Speaker 11 (29:07):
But how much do you embrace for change on days
like this, whether that's quarterback or a guy like Nagy
who's been here with you from the beginning.

Speaker 17 (29:15):
Yeah, hopefully you know nas can can come back here.
Love seeing the black and gold. One of my best
friends on the team, and you know that's what is upsetting,
you know, maybe not being able to be with a
guy like that, that have been with four years and
trying to you know, make the city proud and win
a playoff game and win a Super Bowl and stuff.

Speaker 13 (29:32):
We weren't able to get done.

Speaker 17 (29:33):
But hopefully he'll be back here with me and and
all the guys, especially Dan stuff.

Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yeah, how are you, guys, as.

Speaker 16 (29:40):
An offense built in a way that you can compete
or shootout with the team like the Ravens or do
you think that that's something that this offense needs to
kind of compete with that next tier of teams.

Speaker 17 (29:51):
I mean, if we put up there's games where we
put up multiple points, we're in shoot out. We're in
shoot out with the Bengals in Cincinnati that we won.

Speaker 13 (29:58):
So it's there.

Speaker 17 (30:00):
We just got to, you know, figure out how to
you know, take what the defense has given us on
a consistent basis and and figure out as collectively what
we can do to you know, score more points.

Speaker 2 (30:12):
Going to be criticism and the coach and the coaching
staff as.

Speaker 9 (30:14):
Players and as you personally, what do you do with
your faith.

Speaker 17 (30:16):
In the coaches and the most faith in coaching staff.
You know, without coach t we would have been able
to be in the playoffs, and you know, we all love.

Speaker 13 (30:24):
Coach t He's he's a great leader, great coach.

Speaker 17 (30:27):
He always he I wish you guys could could be
in those meetings, and I think a lot of people
see those Hard Knocks meetings. You know there's a lot
of good ball being talked about, and you know, we
it's a collective basis. It's just not on the coaches, right,
like the coach can put us in situations. And there's
some games where you know, we're running the plays that
we're runn against other teams that schematically speaking, are you know,

(30:47):
great plays to run against them, but for whatever reason,
we're executing it.

Speaker 13 (30:50):
So you know it's collective.

Speaker 17 (30:53):
You know, coach gotta take criticism, players gotta take criticism,
and is obviously gonna be criticism when we close the
season on a five game losing streak, so you know
that's warranted. But we've got to figure out ways, especially
in the off season the next season, to get the
train rolling.

Speaker 18 (31:07):
You mentioned that there's uncertainty a quarterback running game didn't
necessarily take the step forward that you expected now as
you might not be back next year, I mean, what
do you have offensively that you can build upon that
you said we made progress here and we can count
this next season to continue.

Speaker 17 (31:20):
Yeah, I mean, I think you gotta look at, you know,
the young guys that we have. We got Broderick, we
got Troy obviously miss the year with an injury and stuff.
We got guys that Jalen's obviously gonna gonna have a
big role. And so we got guys that are gonna,
you know, obviously GP we got guys that need to
you know, step up and myself included, and we got
to take the leadership role. And you know, whatever happens

(31:42):
you know, free agency or whoever we bring in, you know,
we gotta let them know what the standard is and uh,
what it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. Obviously we
weren't able to get that done this year. Obviously we're
trying our goal to win a playoff game in Super Bowl.
But you know, there's no time for lying down. Uh,
there's solution and every time I'm in this building, figure
out a way to get that job done.

Speaker 11 (32:03):
How much of the lack of execution is blown assignments
and how much of it is just getting beat And
you know.

Speaker 17 (32:08):
How do you uh, yeah, I mean, obviously it's you
know it's here and there whatever, if it's getting beat
or if it's execution based. Uh, you know, I would
it's all there. I mean, I wouldn't say put a
percentage on it. But there's things that you know, look,
you're gonna get beat sometimes, you know, they get they
get paid too, and so you know, obviously you're gonna
learn from that and you want to want to grow

(32:29):
from those situations of getting beat. But execution based, you
should be able to execute your assignments. And I'm at
fault for that as well. So you know, you just
got to figure it out. And uh yeah, And I know.

Speaker 6 (32:40):
You can talk about the future like what's gonna happen
at quarterback? But what can you say of these quarterbacks
have meant to this offense. You know, Justine starting their
first sixteen, Russ, you know what they've done for you
guys as the leaders, players and Beatle.

Speaker 13 (32:51):
Yeah, you know, these quarterbacks meant a lot.

Speaker 17 (32:53):
You know obviously, Uh you know, Russ having that injury
early in camp, you know, help justin grow h as
a as a player and as a leader. And you
know I said it before in the season, we wouldn't
be able to have you know that string of wins
and be able to clinch the playoffs without you know,
them working together so well. Obviously it was tough for

(33:13):
justin that you know Russcott, you know the nod whenever
he did, and you know we wouldn't be able to
be so successful in that stretch without them being able
to co exist. Can't say enough good things about the
both of them, And obviously when Russ was hurt, he
was still leading and helping jump in.

Speaker 15 (33:27):
What needs to change, you guys, it's worry you want
to be.

Speaker 2 (33:33):
I don't know.

Speaker 19 (33:33):
We need to win football games and need to find
ways to stop the run and play effective defense and
go from there.

Speaker 15 (33:40):
But I don't have all.

Speaker 19 (33:41):
The answers, as we say here right now as to
what needs to change.

Speaker 15 (33:44):
Doesn't feel like groundhome Day a little bit specifically.

Speaker 13 (33:47):
Just because it's tough.

Speaker 19 (33:50):
It's tough get sit here same times last year, the
same time as have been in this scrum and same questions,
and I have the same ansh Obviously, I'm very frustrated
with how things ended. And that's not just with the
last game. That's with the last month of football, and
it's it's a collection of things, and it starts with

(34:10):
myself and I need to play better. We need to
play better. It's there's not one thing that needs to
be fixed here. There's there's a lot of things, but
it starts internally with myself and need to play better
in bigger moments, and it'll be a long offseason to
have to sit with that.

Speaker 2 (34:26):
As a team.

Speaker 19 (34:26):
Do you feel like you guys are closer to where
you want to be at this.

Speaker 11 (34:29):
Point than you were a year ago.

Speaker 15 (34:31):
I don't know.

Speaker 19 (34:32):
I mean I I definitely have a lost confidence in
this group. I feel like we have the pieces. It's
what I said a week ago going into the game
doesn't change just because of the loss. I still have
a lot of belief in the people in this building
because I see the work that's behind the scenes, and
we have a lot of capable men here. We have

(34:54):
capable schemes and everything, and it just comes down to
executing on on Saturdays and Sundays when we play. And
that's been the part that's been very frustrating, because I
feel like we've put together some good weeks of practice
and preparation and had tough conversations and they haven't translated
into victories and the results that we want, and like

(35:14):
Mike t always says, it's a results space business and
if you're not getting the results, then you're not doing
the right thing and things need to change.

Speaker 11 (35:22):
I know you had a strip sack and the Fangals
game that got called back through the punety.

Speaker 13 (35:25):
Other than that, why do you.

Speaker 11 (35:26):
Think you weren't as productive and as the last thirty
four games.

Speaker 19 (35:30):
I just need to find ways to make more plays. Obviously,
teams are playing certain ways and chips and helps and
stuff like that and getting the ball out quick, and
you need to be more open to moving around more
and trying to affect games as much as possible. You
guys know, I want to affect the game more than anybody,
But I don't want to selfishly take another guys, go

(35:50):
to a different spot and when I feel like I
could have a better rush on the left side, and
definitely feel like schematically, it's been a tough year for
how the offensive schemed things to try to get me
out of the game, and it's gonna be a big
breakdown for me to try to find ways to make
make plays. I'm not making excuse for myself at all.
I want to make plays. I need to find ways

(36:12):
to continue to win off of chips and slides and
things of that nature. And I'm gonna work tirelessly this
offseason and get that sorted out.

Speaker 11 (36:19):
You mentioned, you know, potentially moving around more staying on
the left side to this point as much as you
have been mainly your preference, and are you open top.

Speaker 13 (36:26):
Maybe softening on that.

Speaker 19 (36:28):
Yeah, I mean I move around from time to time,
but yeah, I primarily left.

Speaker 15 (36:31):
I prefer the left.

Speaker 19 (36:34):
But at this point in my career, I want to
I want to be an impact player.

Speaker 15 (36:38):
I don't want to be schemed out of games.

Speaker 19 (36:39):
I want to be able to deliver the football and
good field positions or take the football away. And it
wasn't a good enough year for myself when it comes to.

Speaker 9 (36:51):
That, If given the opportunity, do you want to I've
given the opportunity.

Speaker 12 (36:55):
Do you want to extend your contract here at this offseason?

Speaker 19 (36:57):
I want to be as you guys know that I
don't want want to leave this place, especially in this
I want to be part of the solution. I've put
so much into it here. I've seen uh so many guys.
I mean, I want to help Cam Heyward get to
where we need to get.

Speaker 15 (37:12):
I want to be a part of the solution.

Speaker 19 (37:13):
I don't want to leave this place. I love the
people here and that goes beyond just the coaches. It's
it's it's the fan base, it's the people, the community,
and we owe it to them to get it right.
And I want to be part of the solution, not
not leave here and go somewhere else.

Speaker 13 (37:30):
It's not my intention at all.

Speaker 20 (37:32):
To the last weekend before the season, do you hope
think they might get done earlier?

Speaker 15 (37:38):
I haven't thought about it yet.

Speaker 13 (37:40):
Did you were used of moving around?

Speaker 6 (37:41):
You talked about you know, you talked about you guys
did that at times in the middle part of the season.
You guys did do that more like against the Giants.
What kind of pushback against it happened? It kind of
growing throughout the season.

Speaker 13 (37:53):
Oh, Alex got healthy.

Speaker 19 (37:54):
And part of it is Alex is a is a
great rusher on the right side, and at times he
can be a better rusher than me at the right
than I can be at the right, and I don't
want to take away his natural rushings thin side for
me to go to the right and not be as
effective where I can be on the left and him
on the right.

Speaker 15 (38:10):
If that makes sense.

Speaker 19 (38:12):
And it's just things where if I move around to
help move the chip or create some indecision on where
the chip goes, then I have to be more willing.

Speaker 13 (38:20):
And able to do that, and I will.

Speaker 18 (38:22):
This defense has been together the four pieces for a while.
You've had similar results against high end, elite quarterbacks. Do
you feel like in an offensive league, you know you
guys can still win with your foila being dedicated.

Speaker 3 (38:34):
So much to defense.

Speaker 19 (38:36):
Yeah, I mean, I think you saw on the with
the Texans game, at least for a little bit that
I watched, the defenses can still win at this level.
And obviously you need to be able to score points,
but it comes down to taking the ball away and
creating turnovers and holding offenses the limited amount of rushing
and helping have a true field position tug of war,

(38:57):
and we haven't had that. We've while these long fourteen
play drives continuously throughout a game. Uh, and that's unacceptable.
We're spending way too much time on the football field
and not enough time on the bench. And I feel
like you can still win defensively. Obviously, it's always gonna
come down to a team effort, but there's no denying

(39:17):
the product that we put out isn't accessible TJ.

Speaker 6 (39:20):
Why does Mike Tea remain the the guy that seem
like this?

Speaker 19 (39:24):
I mean, Hard Knocks doesn't even show I haven't watched it,
but I I know they don't show what this guy
means to this place from a personal level, from a
team level, we need to perform better. And I'm not
saying we need to play better for him. We need
to play better for it. I need to play better
for everybody. This city deserves it, this this team deserves it.

(39:45):
The guys in this locker room, we deserve it. We're
working hard. We just need to get it right. And
I say that every year. I think it's more and
more frustrating as the years go by. Yeah, but tough
conversations to be had. Can't keep doing the same thing
expect different results, and that started with myself. So going

(40:08):
into the off season with a lot of questions, but
I also know there'll be a lot of answers here
in the next couple of weeks.

Speaker 11 (40:12):
DIDJ health dificult as an emotionally knowing that these situations
can't affect change in the locker room in this group
probably won't look the same in.

Speaker 19 (40:18):
Sometime the group never looks the same and that's a tough,
tough thing about this business. Made a lot of new friends,
a lot of great relationships this year, a lot of
guys that have came in first year Pittsburgh students where
the rookies are free agent ads and put their hand
in the pile and brought a lot to this collective.
But it's never gonna be the same, and that's the

(40:39):
tough part about it. But we have to continue to
move on.

Speaker 2 (40:44):
One of the preseasons.

Speaker 20 (40:45):
Now, then that first one in the preseason, I just
got rolled up on someone just felling me. So, yeah,
this one was it was a one off. It was
a weird situation, kind of something you can't really prevent,
so unfortunate.

Speaker 19 (40:59):
But when you got there two more results, what was
what did go through your mind?

Speaker 13 (41:04):
Uh?

Speaker 20 (41:05):
All I remember was I was crying. Uh I don't
cry too much, but that was probably something. It was
pretty heartbreaking, you know what I mean? Because you look
so you have so much expectation coming into this year,
especially for myself.

Speaker 15 (41:17):
Man, I expect a lot of myself.

Speaker 20 (41:19):
Oh with how much work I put in obviously, Uh
cut my season short, very short.

Speaker 15 (41:24):
So last one, your last one, what two of your.

Speaker 7 (41:27):
Fellow rookie class pates was that, I said, it make
it more difficult on you seeing two of your rookie
classmates you get so much playing time this year.

Speaker 15 (41:34):
I'm so happy for those guys.

Speaker 20 (41:35):
Uh. If you really see how Mason and Zach work, man,
it's they deserve everything they got.

Speaker 15 (41:41):
You know.

Speaker 20 (41:41):
It's unfortunate Mace, you know, came out that hand thing,
but it's so awesome to see Zach, you know, uh
and Mason go out there and play exactly how I.

Speaker 2 (41:50):
Knew they were going to.

Speaker 15 (41:51):
So I'm happy for those guys.

Speaker 13 (41:52):
Man coming back next year.

Speaker 14 (41:54):
Do you want to come back next year?

Speaker 13 (41:55):
Yeah, that's that's that's the that's the plan.

Speaker 15 (41:57):
I mean, obviously I love it here and everything else,
and I think we have a great football team. Obviously,
it didn't go in the way we wanted it to,
and I think there's a lot more to do, and
you know, so you know I said to you guys before,
I always just trust God in the process and all that.

Speaker 13 (42:11):
I know.

Speaker 12 (42:11):
He had that interview earlier in the season before the
Thursday night game where we talked about I wanted to play.

Speaker 15 (42:16):
At least five more years.

Speaker 12 (42:17):
Yeah, is that the priority to get the longest term
deal possible or is it the best deal?

Speaker 15 (42:21):
That's always been my plan is to play as long
as possible. You know, I've said that since I was
a rookie. That's always been my kind of thought process.
I feel great physically, mentally, emotionally. You know, you got
if you want to play twenty plus years, you gotta
love it, you know. And I love the process. I
love the mentality, and I love competing with my teammates.
So that's always been the plan. And so you know,
I just trust the process and and trust you know

(42:44):
that we'll have those conversations when when the time comes
to us. How would you assess?

Speaker 13 (42:47):
So you've played this year?

Speaker 15 (42:48):
I thought, I, you know, I played well. I thought
that there's moments I wish i'd you know, played a
little bit better. You know. I feel like, you know,
I had two kind of plays that I wish I
had back if to be honest with you, you know,
the one that can't see in the one the Ravens
game just kind of put the ball inside. Other than
those two plays in particular, you know, I competed and
I got to give my all. Obviously, I felt like
we didn't play good enough, you know, when we needed

(43:09):
to as a team, and and you know, but I
think that, you know, I hated missing games. You know,
I hated missing miss for six I don't really miss
games like that, and that that kind of was just
you know, disappointing. But I love how guys made plays.
I love the teammates. I love, you know, just seeing
the you know, how George made plays, how Calvin really
became a big, you know person for us in the season.

(43:30):
I thought guys like Pat and all that, and I thought,
just from a leadership standpoint, I gave my all every day,
and I think that's the best thing you can always
try to give.

Speaker 10 (43:37):
As you have been on playoff winning teams, we're winning teams.
What is this team missing?

Speaker 15 (43:43):
I think missing is the wrong word. I just think
that we got to recalibrate and get sharper and a
couple of things here and there, and continue to grow,
continue to evolve. I think we're young, especially on offense.
We'll continue to grow and and all that. But you know,
I think that, you know, I just think that we
weren't able to finish, and we obviously didn't start good
enough in games. You know, I think that's it always

(44:05):
helps us when you get ahead a little bit early.
So we got to figure that part out.

Speaker 16 (44:09):
When you say that's the plan to come back, is
that Have you expressed that to the Steelers that if
they kind of reciprocated that to you?

Speaker 15 (44:17):
I mean, I think they, you know, they they've known that.
I've always wanted to be here and play here. But
you know, there's also a process. You know, there's and
we haven't had those meanings yet, you know, So that's that.
We'll have those and we'll go from there.

Speaker 7 (44:26):
What about the situation here makes you want to come back?

Speaker 15 (44:29):
I just love the guys. I love the locker, and
I love I love coach Tom Win, love who he is.
You know, I think that, you know, obviously this place
is a place that I think can win a lot
and and all that stuff too, and I think we
have a championship caliber football team. Like I said, it
didn't go the way we wanted to this year, but
you know, I I love playing football. I love playing
the game, and you know, if it works out that way,

(44:49):
then now you know, I'll be excited to to do
that and put the black and gold on.

Speaker 6 (44:53):
Again, where do you find the most untapped potential in
me of this offense and what you guys need to
do that you think really could do see in return?

Speaker 15 (45:02):
You know, I think explosive plays is always huge. I
think we had a lot of good ones down the field.
I mean, we had some huge chunks down the field, plays, passes,
guys caught, make great plays. I think. I think just
finding explosive plays earlier in the game too, I think
it's always key. You know, you're always looking for those
you know, you know, you know, seven to ten explosive
plays a game was through the running game, pass game.
I think that was always help. And then I just

(45:24):
think continue to uh, just continue to mature. I think
we're a team that's growing every day.

Speaker 13 (45:29):
Two more, What was.

Speaker 12 (45:30):
That, Russ, the slow starting stuff, Because you guys are
a pretty good team, especially when you were really cooking
their attendance coming out of the locker room a halftime,
like you're good at quick adjustments or the issues leading
into games.

Speaker 15 (45:40):
Yeah, I mean, I think, I think, I think, you know,
you look at the last game in the playoff game, obviously,
I thought how we were super aggressive and guys making
plays and all that stuff. In the second half, we
did a really good job of that. You know, we
didn't waver on our mentality. I thought that we didn't
give in and uh, you know, a lot a lot
of people do, to be honest with you, I don't
think we did. I thought that we made plays when

(46:01):
when you know, throughout that game, I'm just thinking about
the ninety eight yard drive, but we had you know,
backed up and Calvin making them play over the middle,
and guys making big plays, Vans wearing his touch and
then coming back. I think GP scoring, you know, and
just that's that's the testament of who we are. I
think that at the end of the day, though, you know,
it's you know, how do we execute early you know
and all that, And I think that we went I

(46:21):
don't know, seventeen eighteen games without doing that. So I
think that's something that you know, it's, you know, and
you know, moving forward that you always want to be
able to do. And it doesn't define the game, it doesn't,
but it also definitely helps the game. I got I
got one more quick question.

Speaker 2 (46:34):
I gotta go, Russ. You should two plays you look back.

Speaker 15 (46:37):
You've talked about the pick six and bold. Yeah, I mean,
you know, you never want to, but you know, just
you uh, you know, it's part of the National Football League.
You play and you go after it and you know.
But I think also too, there's a lot of plays
that we did make that were huge. You know, I
think that some of the balls down the field something
that you know, I just think that we had some
really great explosive plays throughout the season And just love

(46:57):
the guys that we have and how we compete already,
the lessons you guys.

Speaker 17 (47:01):
Take, Yeah, a lot of things obviously offensive side of
the ball. Just gotta execute when when the games get
tough and start off faster. I think that's one of
the biggest things going in the off season is as
a guy that's gonna be here is uh to figure
out ways to start faster and you know, execute better

(47:23):
and you know, high intensity games.

Speaker 2 (47:24):
Do you feel like you guys.

Speaker 6 (47:26):
Are any closer where you want to be when you
were a year.

Speaker 17 (47:28):
Ago or a couple of years before that or absolutely
what gives you that? Yeah, obviously, you know, we started
off the season how we wanted to. You know, we
were ten and three at one point with a game
going into Baltimore with a chance to win the division.
And so you know, that's the first time we were
able to you know, you know, have that opportunity since
I've been here. So I feel like, you know, we're

(47:49):
going in the right direction.

Speaker 13 (47:50):
Uh,