September 5, 2024 • 44 mins
Mike Prisuta, Matt Williamson, and Merril Hoge prepare you for the first game of the Steelers' 2024 season taking place down in Atlanta against the Falcons.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on wdv E Pittsburgh,
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here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson, and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good evening and welcome to another season of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one O two point
five DVE. Mike Persuda along with Matt Williamson, the third
member of our team, Merril Hodge, will be along shortly.
We are here to preview the Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons,
the Steelers regular season opener Sunday in Atlanta. We'll be
(00:46):
doing this all season on Thursday nights. Un list of
games not on Sunday, and then the schedule will adjust accordingly.
But mattuh, welcome back. We made the cut another year.
How about it. I'm psyched man.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
We got a good game tonight, we got a good
home opener, and psyched to break down Falcon Steelers. I'm
just wound up for four night games this weekend. Week one.
I mean, all this practice stuff we've gone through and
you know, speculation, but now we actually get to analyze
real football.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Real football. Although real Week one football differs a great
deal from it does Week five real football or week
six real football. But you can't get to week five
before you play weeks one through four and in advance
of week one. A development Today at practice on the
south side, Russ Wilson was a limited participant today.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
His calf got tight, so we wanted to exercise some precaution.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
We'll see what tomorrow looks like and kind of go
from there. That was Steelers head coach from Mike Tomlin,
who went on to emphasize that he's got every confidence
in backup justin Fields, being prepped and ready to go,
just in case Russell Wilson cannot.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
I'm extremely comfortable of that is the case.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Certainly when you think about that Williamson, he's a veteran
and this calf has lingered though and calves can really linger.
But he's new around here, and this is also Fields
is such a unique backup. I'm sure this is me
putting a tinfoil hat on. But Tomlin, the two head
(02:20):
coaches know each other.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Extremely well, extremely well.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
And I'm sure that Tomlin is making it clear to
his friend that Fields has a chance to see the
field and he's every step of the way. And what
does that mean for a coach, Well, that's a lot
of practice time to deal with a package you may
or may not see.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
And I'm even thinking.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
I'm not saying they kept Wilson out on purpose. I'm
not saying that at all, but I do think he
wants to put it in Raheem Morris's head that you
better spend a lot of practice time preparing for Fields,
which means he's not preparing for something else at practice,
you know what I mean. I'm just throwing that out there. Okay,
It's been out there all along.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
No question, we have that kind of threat. You have
to prep for it. Where the other team's going to
use it or not. That certainly would be impactful to
Atlanta no matter how the quarterback situation winds out. Wine's
up shaking out, Wilson limited with the calf, Roman Wilson
wide receiver limited with an ankle. Full participation today for
(03:21):
the Steelers for cornerback Corey Trice, junior groin running back
Jalen Warren hamstring. Now, Warren has been saying since last
week that he was going to be good to go,
even though he has missed some time of lake No
Isaac sam wahlu Peck he's not going to play. Troy
f utano knee was elevated to full participant today. But Matt,
I don't know about you. I can't imagine a scenario
(03:43):
with same Wlo not able to play where you would
move Broderick Jones to the left side and Throwtana into
the deep water on the right side. I think the same.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I mean maybe next week, maybe the week after, Maybe
he comes out in a sixth offensive line package here
and there, just to get him playing in the stadium.
But I can't condone or understand why you'd have more
offensive line changes. You know that that's been has been
a lost ability there right camp.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
And I mean there's a lot of faith in Zach
Frasier center. Sure, but he is still a rookie starting
his first game, Anderson's first start, and Spencer Anders he
only played two offensive snaps last year. Yeah, now he's
a second year guy. He's been in the program, he's
been through it for a year, so he's he's got
his feet on the ground. But you wish you had
Seemalu dan Moore still standing at left tackle.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah right, I mean he's taking some body blows, but
he's still hanging around.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Been trying to get that guy out of there for
a long time. But he has a back camp either. Uh,
then we're assuming James Daniels and Broderick Jones running out
the right side of the line, Darnel Washington tight end,
and he did not practice today. I'm assuming that's maintenance. Uh,
he's back to log right, some knew issues and Logan Lee,
the rookie from Iowa calf did not practice for a
(04:59):
second executive day for the Falcons.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
One quick stealer injury question for you, do you think
Roman Wilson plays? I mean, if he's just getting revved up,
he hasn't. He's a rookie jumping on a moving train.
I just wonder if he's active.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Limited. The last two days he had three plays and
pads and that's Saint Vincent. I think, Okay, I'm gonna
guess no. I would think a full week would go
a long way with a rookie, But then again, they
wouldn't be taking uh Justin Jefferson out of the lineup
to give him a help.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
No, it's not Swan Stalwart thirty pulling putting on the
sidelines right.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Uh. For the Atlanta Falcons, tight end Kyle Pitts elevated
from limited yesterday to a full participant today with a hamstring.
Pits has been telling everybody that wants to listen, calm down,
I'll see a Sunday. A couple of backups limited for
the Falcons, inside linebacker Nate Landman quad and cornerback Antonio
Hamilton with a groin back to the Russell Russell Wilson
(05:56):
scenario again. He was limited with the calf today. Mike
Tomlin said that they're going to see what it looks
like tomorrow. Running Back Najee Harris spoke to the media
after practice today and made it pretty clear that, at
least from his point of view, Uh, the Steelers are
fine with either Guy Wilson or Justin Fields at QB.
(06:17):
We're coffing whoever that quarterback. Uh.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
We know the game plan, we're going to execute it.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
So we're just confident who was there. And last, but
not least, let's hear from wide receiver Van Jefferson, who
apparently didn't even know there was an issue with Russell Wilson.
Do you have any idea who your quarterback is gonna be?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
I mean, from my extent, I think it's a rust Yeah,
I mean the restless started, Yes, sir, I mean that's
what I think today.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
He was limited the calf aggravation. I mean, is there
any concern that you guys might not have.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Him on the Yeah, I mean, I mean, I don't
know the implicisons of it or what's going on, but
you know, obviously, you know Confederate, he wants to be
out there. You know, Justsin has to stay out there.
He's more than prepared to do that. But at the
end of the day, you know, we're just going out
there and play whoever gets out there. You know, the
Jobson has to get done. So both quarterbacks are capable
of doing that on Sunday and we're just gonna.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Roll with you.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I was enjoying them Marley and jamming, good stuff. They
were jamming. You know, I'm I'm assuming Wilson's gonna play
not that that way. Yeah, I'll take tom on his
word when he said they're just being cautious. But maybe
part of the reason that I'm assuming that matter is
I have ever since this guy got here, I'm a
little more fascinated with him each and every day. I mean,
(07:39):
he plays the role of franchise quarterback, he plays the
role of team leader. Now, can he actually still play football?
I mean, just, you know, looking at some of the
numbers from last year, just to revisit. I mean, this
is a guy who's fifth in the NFL in TD
to interception ratio twenty six, touchdown passes eight picks eighth
(07:59):
and pass rating at ninety eight point zero of four
to fourth quarter comeback wins last season was tied for
the most in the NFL. And oh, by the way,
the Broncos weren't very good.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
No, he was not surrounded by particularly good players, and
he was clearly not a great system fit for what
Seohn Payton was trying to do.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Too.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, I mean, statistically he was his success. They didn't
win enough games, and by the end of the year
he got benched. And now they're paying him in the
neighborhood of thirty nine million dollars not to play for them. Yeah,
but I think he still got it. I want to
kind of find out.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Oh absolutely him out there, and he's very impressive in person.
I know he's been dealing with a calf, but he's
been one of the most durable quarterbacks over the last
twenty years as well. You know, he plays through things.
He probably doesn't move like he used to. He used
to be one of the best athletes at the position
that's not there anymore. But there's two you know, I
like my numbers. There's two things about this guy at standout.
(08:52):
You know, over the last two years combined, the Steelers
have thrown twenty five touchdown passes twelve and thirteen. I mean,
that's remarkably low. I mean, that's hard to do in
this league.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
He threw one.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
More than that and sat out the last two games
last year. I mean, they're gonna throw touchdown passes this year.
And then the other thing is you mentioned, Yeah, he
gets sacked a fair amount. He holds a football, he
has some fumbles, but he is not interception prone at
all over his career and that is absolutely key for
this team. So this might blow people away. But over
(09:26):
the last three seasons, when the Steelers won or tied
the turnover battle, they're twenty eight and seven. Even when
he tie it, if they lose zero fifteen to one,
and don't tell me Tomlin's not a good coach. He
understands these things to no end and realizes the status
(09:47):
of this offense over the last three years.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Can't turn the ball over? Are you gonna lose? By
the way, it's thirty seven point eight million. If the
Broncos are paying, it's nice. Though you're not quite thirty nine.
Peels are very appreciative of that. He's still pretty good shape.
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We're just getting started tonight on the Preview, so keep
it here. With Matt Williamson Mike Pursuda, Merril Hodge next
right here on Steelers Preview on your Steeler Slagship, one
(10:35):
of two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Welcome back to Steelers Preview. Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson
with you, getting you ready for the regular season opener
Sunday in Atlanta, the Steelers and the Falcons joining us
now to break it down our factor back. Yeah, some
people like to say feature back, but we like to
say factor back around here because the guy who factors
(11:06):
into the equation more than any other on this show
is our buddy, Merril Hodge. Meryll, great to talk to
you again.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
How are you man? It's good to hear your voices.
That means football is here and there can be nothing
better than football. Maybe let me get it on Big.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
When coming up for the new look Steelers against the
new look Falcons and Meryl Big Old curveball practice today,
quarterback Russell Wilson came up limited on the participation report
with the calf tightness. Mike Tomlin said that they wanted
to quote exercise some precaution. We'll see what tomorrow looks
(11:43):
like and kind of go from there. What does a
development such as this do to a team days before
an opening game.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Well, I mean, listens, Russell Wilson had been there a
long time and they've been doing the system for a
long time. You know, maybe not that much, but this
is to me, it's a big blow because the one
thing that they lack the entire preseason is some type
of rhythm and consistency, and there's you can tell there's
absolutely no chemistry on their offense. Don't know who the
(12:13):
quarterback is. They just are you know, that out of sync.
You know. That's why I you know, for opening days old,
I think the most interesting. It doesn't mean that's how
they're going to be opening day because I think I've
mentioned this before. You're developing your you're teaching, and you're building.
In preseason especially, we have all this new stuff the
(12:34):
Steelers have, and then after preseason you kind of figure
out what that is and then you whittle it down
and you look like a team opening day. This continue
is a little more arduous because there's a lot of
new faces, young people. The position. You know, it's gonna
have the ball every time. Both those guys could be
brand spaking. One of them could be a rookie. I
(12:55):
don't know if he's the rookie start the center, but
you know he's not played an NFL game. Russell Wilson,
how many snaps did he get all year? So you
can say you got a rookiet center. Yeah. Listen, I
went from one organization for almost a decade to another
when I went to Chicago. And just because you played
in the National Football Game A that doesn't mean you
(13:17):
just go in and start playing like you did in Pittsburgh.
I remember Chicago. It took us and we had a
lot of the same scenarios. I mean we had new tackle,
new quarterback and receivers, new running backs. Ron Turner was
off the cord that he was still there. But it
took its like week five before we really like knew
each other, you know, and had a feel for each other.
(13:37):
So it's it's not good. I mean, it's really not good. Yeah.
I would like to paint a better picture of how
it's okay, but it's not. His experience doesn't offset his
lack of reps with people he doesn't know yet. That's
that's that's going to be a challenge.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Yeah, no question. And at least Russell Wilson has been
around the block. He's been in stadiums, as likes to say.
And you kind of alluded to the offensive line stuff.
I mean, we knew that drafting this many new linemen,
there's going to be growing pains. But now you know
your your your leader. See them all lose out for.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
This one on the road in a dome and.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
You got a first time starting left guard, first time
starting center youth. That tackle that worries me more than
the quarterback situation.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
Possibly, Well, the foundation of football is your offensive defensive line.
They get forgetten, they get forgotten. You know, they only
highlight when they get a flag, and they only get
features done on them when they're not playing well you know. Yeah,
but I'll day this at the end of every Super Bowl.
It is always fascinating to me. The best off of
(14:43):
the best, the team that first of all teams win championships,
but the team that wins it, they're trench players, were
the best in the war, They're the best. On that day,
they were the best. It's never been different in the
forty fifty years I've been playing this league and studying
this league. So until that is really comes together and
(15:07):
plays all got And the reason that the offering line
is such a difficult unit because you've got five guys
that got players one. There's no other phase in football
or group in football has to do that, you know,
not even the secondary and the secondaries are different. You know,
there's different levels of the secondary, different sides of the secondary.
As a unit, those five guys have to play as
(15:29):
one and there has to be a real good chemistry
amongst them, and that just takes reps in time, you know,
which they really haven't had a lot of unfortunately, you know,
getting ready for day one.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Marro One of the things that you said throughout last
year when we were doing these programs that really stuck
with me was when an offense is struggling, it's got
to go to its spread and butter and you got
to have X number of plays that you can rely
on to just kind of steady things and calm things
down and get a little action established. Knowing what you
know about you know what you just talked about with
(16:04):
the offensive line, with the quarterback situation, and for the
purposes of this discussion, let's say Russell Wilson's playing and
what you know about Arthur Smith. Do the Steelers have
that core of X number of bread and butter plays
and what might they be?
Speaker 5 (16:23):
Well, the first thing I would go to is there's
two types of running schemes. There's zone running schemes, and
that's where you really have to have five guys that
work as one. And then let's add the tight ends
into that too, because they got to feel and if
you got to fall back in there, he's got to feel.
He's got to play with the unit. You know, everybody's
got to see things the same way. Okay, that's why
(16:44):
when they started playing really well last year and they
run the ball really well, what was the majority of
their runs man walking schemes. Okay, now here's why I
like man balking schemes better, especially with you have inexperience
and you have young people. I got this guy, you
got this guy, and there's rules to that and there's
not a lot of confusion. It's not about getting it done,
you know. And you can run the ball extremely effective
(17:07):
with man blocking schemes. In fact, I do like I mean,
you have to have a really beautifully buttoned up off
as the line to orchestrate zone blocking schemes, which kind
of you know, Arthur Smith has done that a very
good job of that, whether it's been in Tennessee or Atlanta,
that's kind of been his foundation. But this is this
is what good coaching does. This is a new environment.
(17:27):
You got a bunch of new people, young people, people
getting their first starts in the national football Our quarterback
has has inexperience in the system. He's experienced, but he
you know, we are not very buttoned up from a
passing perspective. There's not a lot of things we can
do that we would trust. So I would build something
(17:47):
around man blocking schemes and trust that to build my
game plan around, and then Russell complement that, or whoever
ends up starting a quarterback can compliment what we do there.
And I just think foundationally that's how they will start.
I think it's how they have to start. I don't
think there's actually any other option. I don't see anything
(18:08):
in preseason that would say let's chuck it all over
the place that would be that W'd probably be a
disaster if.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
They did that.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
So that's actually what I anticipate and would envision and
see those type of runs and then build them there
doesn't mean they're going to do not do zone blocking seams.
I clearly think they will do that, but I think
they do a mixture of it. And I would lean
on man blocking schemes because you can trust that a
little better because it's I got an assignment. I don't
have to work with you to figure out the assignment.
(18:36):
With the zone blocking stuff makes sense.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
And speaking of running games, I mean I look at
Atlanta and think they have a chance to have a
really good run game, really good offensive line, a lot
of continuity on their offensive line. I think it's a
top five or six unit across the board. But Jon
Robinson to me is a special special player.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
MERA. Where are you at on him as overall?
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Well, you know when I was doing part of my
stuff I did at the Steelers, he was part of that.
I had him just under I think he was my
second best player under C. J. Stroud and he you know,
he was one of those rare players I use these
terms where he can clean up a lot of dirty
(19:19):
plays for you. And what I mean by that is,
you know, you all lying can break down somewhere and
he can he can offset that because he's so has
such great movement with his feet loudly and vertically. He
can make people miss readjust great, great balance. Even if
you hit him, he can break it. And then he's explosive,
(19:42):
you know, and any strong, and you know, I was interested.
You know. What was kind of interesting though, is how
they did not feature him last year from a running perspective.
You know, now, now I did, I did hear this?
Now I was get I don't trust anything I hear
unless you know, I know that for a fact that
that's just it's really hearsale. I treated like the court
(20:03):
of lawn. The only evidence I have it as well,
you're kind of writing, did they didn't featuring? Is that?
And this my Dijon didn't didn't like, you know, playing
inside the box, And I'm like, well he did in Texas,
now stand the NFL is okay the box playing different college.
But you know, or maybe they just used him in
(20:23):
the way they used him because he was a young player,
you know, and he's so dynamic getting the ball in
the passing game. You know, they're very effective with that.
So you know, I don't know if he can weather
twenty five snaps. I haven't seen it in the NFL.
Haven't done that with him. It'll be interesting to see
if they do do that with him, though, to your point,
because he is a rare, rare pat you don't get
(20:46):
to see them very often, and that's why he went
so high, and he can be he's a problem. He's
just a problem no matter when he gets the ball
in his hands, and if they can get him twenty
five carries, if you know he can carry that load
to your point with their offic the line, that's it's
gonna be. That's an all day game. You know. You
can't can't let down, you can't button him up in
(21:07):
three quarters and think you know, we're good. That's when
he by just nilly in the fourth quarter. Pretty good
receiver too man very well and that's what they did
a lot in last year. Is very dynamic with you
just got great just football skills with instincts, you know.
And I got to annoy him a little bit when
I was in Texas. You've done that several times. And
(21:27):
I think he's a really sharp kid. I think he
he wants to really be good and special and you
know that we'll just we'll see, because people can want
all that, but then they're that relentless commitment of every
day gets exposed, and some people don't want to do that,
you know, when they find out just how much work
(21:48):
is involved. So we'll see how he develops overall.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Well, let's talk about the Steelers defense a little bit. Uh.
Their coordinator Tarrell Austin said again today, feels really good
about what he's got available. They're healthy for the opener.
There might be some concerns about corner depth, and you know,
possibly Cam Hayward. Although he says he's fine and ready
to be back to being Cam Hayward. You know, we'll
take him at his word until there's reason not to.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
The Steelers think they're faster, they think they're more physical
than any were a year ago. How good can they
be and can they be good enough that if you're
a little uncertain at quarterback or any other aspect of
the offense, that can lean on these guys in the
first couple three weeks until they kind of gain some
traction with the ball.
Speaker 5 (22:36):
Yeah, you know, the actually you're watching that defense, you know,
there's I think the defense offense has a much better
chance of being much better than the off your side,
and we'll probably have to shoulder a lot of the unfortunately,
you know, you don't like that because that's not a
good sign. With your defense is shoulder and more of
the load, you know than your offense. You know, it
(22:56):
has to be this this extreme balance with the three
phases that go to a team. But that being said,
you know they have new learning too, you know, they
got new people, you know, and in the secondary in
particular at linebacker. You know, and if you remember last year,
it looked they looked out of sync. You know, they
(23:17):
look like eleven guys playing versus a unit playing. I
don't know if you remember that last year. They just
now think listen what they weathered last year. I think
it could be a credit to how how they start
this year versus versus last year. You know. But there's
a lot of new faces and the chemistry and the
communication you know, you haven't seen that orchestrated really, you know,
(23:41):
so that that's that's gonna be on display for the
very first time, and I'm sure Atlanta will test that.
You know that they're gonna they'll try to channel. They
got a veteran quarterback and they can do some things
with that. I'm not afraid and opposed to moving people
around and challenging, checking in and trying out flank in
do things that the NFL to win strategically, you know,
(24:01):
just it's detailed of a game. But I do think
that they have the better chance of not having as
many overall issues as the offense possibly so Merril.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Atlanta obviously is in the camp of we're going to
rest our starters in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
We don't want injuries all those things.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
And I'm curious what your thoughts are of first real
action being you know, a regular game, a regular season game,
and it's and particularly with Cousins, I mean, he's coming
off a major injury. At his age, he got hurt
in Week eight, you know, career or season and the injury.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Well, like I said at the very beginning, it's no
different with him. It's new for him. Systems, new players
are new. There's no way he's going to look like
he looked in Minnesota. You're saying, I've never seen it
happen yet with people that didn't really play. You know,
That's why I love what Kansas City has done. They play,
they have like I can't think of it. San Francisco
(24:59):
does too, but you know, they have you know, the
most consistency with stable players and system and they play.
It's just I'm always interesting, like like you know, take
the sheet the blinders off your eyes and look around
with teams that like, you know, we're all new, but
we ain't gonna play. We're all new. We'll just show
(25:22):
up on game dame. Well we're gonna be all right.
It's from a player perspective, any coaching perspective, I've never
seen it work out like that where you don't have
some real you know, some real bumps you know that
you could work You could have worked with and worked through,
you know, had you played the preseason.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
I agree with you, and you know the preseason industry
injury excuse me, is devastating, and you know nobody wants
to see it. But I think you got to play
a little bit, uh, like you said, just to smooth
out those bumps. I kind of get a vibe going
into this game, similar to Cincinnati a couple of years
ago when the Steelers went in the Paul Brown Stadium
(26:00):
for the opener and the Bengals hadn't played anybody, Yeah,
and they really struggled and the Steelers found a way
to steal the game in overtime.
Speaker 5 (26:07):
Right, you know, and you that Joe brod Well and
what they do this year. Joe Burrow at least played
one game, you know, and obviously he looked really good.
You know. They took it down, you know, the way
he throw the football. He looked like he looked polished,
you know what. And they got a good feel for
that prior to you know, seeing what that's going to
be Opening day. I think they learned their lesson. And
(26:28):
I just I don't know how in the world this
includes anything. How you're gonna work lesson? Get better? Tell
me where that works radio. I'm not I'm not gonna
argue with you, but you better be careful because you
might have three months off here. I just don't know
(26:53):
any any any profession you know that requires timing rhythm
and you know where I'm gonna get better, but will
work less? I never heard of it, you know, and
I just go back to teams that do it. And
it's interesting how they look. Every want here to watch
Kansas City tonight. You know, they all played other than
the third preseason game, which it listens traditionally, you know,
(27:17):
you play your most at the end of the last
preseason game. But at least they played two games and
they had serious reps, you know, and they won the
super Bowl two times in a row. I just I
just watch that to me that that's going to be
an important thing to watch. And I don't think the
Ravens played anybody on their offensive side from their quarterback.
I understand their running back. I understand why you wouldn't
(27:39):
play him. I do understand that one. But I don't
know if the quarterback even play. I don't know. I
don't know Jamar Lamar play. I don't remember.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
I don't think. I don't think.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
Yeah, you know, you know that there's a guy who
who got who got exposed again for got forced. They
forced him in Kansasity forced him to play court back,
and he showed how he plays quarterback. You don't function
very well when you stickum in a pocket. I'm making
read and function in tight quarters when you get down
scoring territory. You know, he struggled like that Louisville. He
(28:13):
struggled like that in his entire NFL career. And they're
just one team that can do it. So it would
be interesting to see, you know, what happens tonight this game,
this level of football is always fascinating to me because
of the just the IQ of it, the details of
the schematics of it, and just the over overall strategy
(28:36):
that is required to be really good and win. I
just unless you're really in it's hard to really appreciate it,
you know. But I watched so much college tip and
you're like, You're like, if you ever want to know
the difference between college and the NFL A about speed, quickness,
it's about the IQ of the game. It's about the
over strategy and how complex the National Football Leagues versus
(28:57):
how vanilla and generic meryl.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
We just spent a good amount of time talking about
why maybe both of these teams won't be in mid
season form for the opener. Teams usually aren't the whole
September football concept. It's a little different. It's a little slower, sloppier,
disjointed what wins in yearly going until everybody really gets
(29:22):
it together.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Honestly, let's think about the world. This is key with
every game. This is the most important aspect of winning
consistently in the National Football League. And you can use
this in every formula. Out of stand it doesn't happen
all the time. The majority of mass majority, I mean
way over in the eighty percent times. Teams that can
control the tempo and they win the turnover battle oftentimes
(29:48):
win games in the National FOOTBA LEAUE at the end
of the day. That's why the Ravens are so good.
That is ultimately what they They come out and smash you,
smash you and smash you, and turn over ratio they
are almost number one, I mean, in the top five
every year. There's why that is true. And so that's
true in this game. So I think the team that
(30:08):
can really be most effective on the ground and control
of the environment and give their quarterbacks something to complement
off of it ends up winning this game, you know.
And then and then the turnover thing, you know, you
can use whoever can minimize those, reduce them to zero
and control that environment and establish something wins the game.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
So unlike radio Merril, physical conditioning matters and stamina and all.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
These things of practice.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
And even the Chiefs and Steelers who played their guys,
you know, nobody played sixty or seventy snaps in the preseason,
let alone the Falcons who played nobody. So would you
expect a lot of ugly fourth quarters just across the
league in Week one, and I think that favors the
Steelers in this game.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
I would agree with you, you know, I completely agree
with you that you know, there's something you can't emulate,
and that is real life with a lot of games,
you know, yea, even when you practice, you know, and
I'm saying this even preseason, Like, Okay, all these rookies,
they played a lot, and here's the danger of playing
a lot. Day seems they're they're in the National Football League.
(31:19):
They have no idea what the National Footballague is. They're
gonna know at one o'clock though on Sunday, and then
they're gonna be like, oh my gosh, Wow, that wasn't
what I did. That's why I did for two or
three games. I'm like, where does guys come from? I'm
telling you, it's a whole different game when they strap
it up at one o'clock. I remember my roof year.
(31:41):
I walked in the building right after our very first practice.
I was like, Okay, something's different. I could fill in
the rooms, I could field in the meetings, I could
feel it, and how they presented stuff. I was like, wow.
Then they kicked the ball off. I was like holy count.
And we played San Francisco forty nine ers with one
to Super Bowl, supposed to win the game, and they
were our first opponent. I was like, wow, man, this
(32:04):
ain't no joke. I mean that preseason was like who
that was? That was like, oh my gosh. And I
remember Chuck No, I'll never forget his talk before first
talk before a game. He was talking about the level
we're walking into and he was talking. He was even
(32:26):
talking like because this WIF. I've always thought he'd remind
me a lot of George pat because he prepared his
troops for what the battle they were going about. Talk
him to him. He was talking about battle and he
was talking about, you know, you don't do your assignment.
People get hurt, all right, you put people in danger.
And this is when the game was being They were saying, oh,
(32:46):
the game is passed him by, okay, And I'm in
the back going I might be right, because man, he's
talking about war and all this danger. And then we
snapped the ball off opened I was about, oh, do
I know what he's talk about. Ain't nothing past that, dude, buty,
he knows exactly what he's talking about. I was like,
(33:08):
Holy cow, I was just like, oh my, wasn't I
wasn't prepared for that. I was not. I was like,
oh my gosh. And I was our third down back.
And then when they brought the heat. I mean they
brought the heat. I mean the real men play football
and they mean business, and they make millions, and they're
coming to win. And there's people go up, you know,
(33:31):
to the soft game. It's not, well, okay, you what,
let me put the pads on you. I'll hand you
the ball and we'll see what you say about that.
I will promise you that you will change your mind
because they play for real.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Merlu no one has ever said or will ever say
that the game has passed you by. We appreciate you
being in mid season four tonight. Can't wait to do
it again next week.
Speaker 5 (33:53):
Absolutely, bro, I'm moving forward to the year man. We
have a lot of fun. Thank you guys.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Absolutely, Merril Hodge the third member of our team here
on Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers slag Ship,
one of two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Welcome back to Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you.
One more segment to go. Here on the Previews, we
continue getting ready for the Steelers and the Falcons, where
Merrill never fails to bring the acerback. Yep, he gets
fired up about this stuff. Love talking to Meryl. Keep
every week here on the Preview, what to Expect is
brought to you by Brian Patton and associates. It's all
(34:35):
about the benefits. Uh, I'm gonna go down a little
bit of a rabbit hole here, Matt in terms of
what to expect, because, okay, as one's always tough. As
we've mentioned, openers are very difficult to get a beat on.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
You.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
You really don't know. But here's what I think. I
think with the coaching staff changes, Zach teams. Zach Robinson
has come from Atlanta, from Los Angeles, excuse me, the Rams,
the McVeigh. Now he's probably gonna have a couple of
tweaks to it and maybe maybe they expect they wouldn't
let him do that. Now he's allowed to do. But
they were what was it eighty two percent of the
(35:09):
time three wide tight. Maybe they're number one, Yeah, they're
they're the most they are a three wide team. Yes,
the Steelers think they have a faster defense because they
got Patrick Queen and veteran free agency and he can fly.
And they got Peyton Wilson in the draft and he
can fly. And they got doctor Jackson at the corner
and he can fly. So here's what I think. Here's
(35:31):
what I expect. I expect three wides all day versus
Nickel more than dime from Teraroll Austin's defense. What do
you think I've been harping on this all offseason.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
I mean that over the last really, since Ryan's years
unfortunate injury, the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Have been leading the league in either being in their
three to four or their dime.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
They have not had the linebackers to play Nickel with
two linebackers on the field, so they've been real heavy
or real light.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
And Alannon Roberts was heroic in his attempts to do
so last year, but didn't have a lot of help,
especially as things went along. And it's not his game.
It's not his game either.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Now.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
I think their percentage of Nickel just for the season
is going to spike drastically. And second they signed Queen,
I thought that exactly, I mean, makes you a lot
harder to play against it. And I think that's a
huge theme for the whole season because you do have speed,
you know, you're not too light that people can't run
on you. Bijon's a really good receiver and runner. You
(36:29):
don't want to be in dime all the time against
that O line and him and I think you're dead on.
And one thing Dale and I've been harping on about
this Falcons team though, is their fifth skill position player
is pretty lacking.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
I mean, it's Ray Ray McLoud right now as their
third receiver that they had the other La dynamic was
it was basically the same guys. Oh yeah, the same
five guys. It wasn't just three wide. You know, the
Steelers used a lot of different combinations the last couple
of years. Same people are on the field all the time.
Frustration at times, But yes, the Rams identified their guys
(37:03):
and threw the ball to them. Yes, I suspect it's
gonna work the same way in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
I do too, And I think London, Pitts and Bijon
are going to get the ball a ton, But I
just have a lot of questions about the others. Moon
He's okay. They had Rondo Moore and he got hurt.
They traded for him. He was gonna be the third one.
So I think they're a skill guy short no matter
what personal group is they use.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
So we are in agreement that we're expecting Nickel against
the eleven personnel and made the best scheme win. Yeah,
and I think you're see Nicol a lot all year.
What to expect is brought to you by Brian Patton
and associates. It's all about the benefits. Let's talk about
those skill guys for the Falcons, because I look at
the Falcons very much in the same light as I
(37:47):
look at the Steelers with the coaching staff changes and
the quarterback changes. Both of these teams think they got
some dudes at tight end, at wide receiver, at running back.
They need somebody to activate it. Now you saw, I
think at the end of last season, Mason Rudolph's tenured quarterback.
He got the ball where and needed to go with
(38:08):
more regularity, and they actually looked a whole lot more
like a legit offense, and they won three out of
four games and even the Buffalo playoff game. He Rudolph
threw a bad interception, but it was a seven point
game in the fourth quarter. It was progress. I'm assuming
the Steelers went with Russell Wilson because they think he
is a lot more proven guy than Mason Rudolph. He's
got way more of a track record of doing that
(38:30):
than Mason Rudolph. But I think that's why Atlanta went
out and got Kirk Cousins, because they wanted who gets
the ball to the people who are supposed to have it.
My question for you, I was drooling about Kyle Pitts
when he came out. I wasn't as high on Drake London,
but a lot of other people were, specifically relative to
those two guys, because I think Robinson had a great
year last year and you know, running catching, he's only
(38:52):
going to get better. Yeah's were Pitts and London in
retrospect a little overvalued or if they've been held back
by some of the same things that have held back
Pat Freyarmouth and Najie Harris and George Pickens here the
lack of scheme and the lack of coordination and the
lack of quarterbacking.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Well to defend Arthur Smith, I think the Falcons quarterback
situation was noticeably worse than the Steelers the last two years.
I mean he had end of the road Matt Ryan,
he had Ritter, who couldn't even make the Cardinals team
this year he got cut. I mean, that was who
they are invested in the most. They were the least
accurate team in the league.
Speaker 5 (39:28):
Now.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
Pitts is an odd one because he's as much wide
receiver as he is tight end.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
He never lines up next to the tackle in line.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
I mean he's in the slot or he's out wide
more than any tight end in the league, and he
is downfield. So that's a big key to me is
what would McVeigh do with Pitts, you know, like, would
he make him Cooper cup or I mean they don't
really feature a tight end, so I think that's a
big wild card to me. I adore London though. I
think London's a real high quality all around player. There
(39:58):
wasn't hell back at all except for really quarterback play, So.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
You think they've got the guys, and then I think
all three of those dudes are dude. If Cousins can
become Kirk Cousins, they're gonna be a handful. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
But I also think this is the best time to
play the Falcons didn't rest, he didn't play anyone in
the preseason.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Cousins hasn't played football in a long time, and he's older.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
They're one of the only three only the Commanders, Patriots,
and Falcons have a new head coach and new quarterback.
It's just a lot of room for air, you know.
I mean, I think that you're gonna get them. I
hate to turn rusty, but I think you're gonna get
them at a good time. But that being said, I
remember saying the exact same thing a year ago about
Brock Purdy. Remember, remember he didn't play it all in
the preseason. He's coming off an injury. Well he did,
(40:39):
all right, Yeah he did.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Okay. The only thing I wanted to get your thoughts
on before we get out of here, because this has
been a running theme with me for a long time.
And I recall the stats that you talked about with
the turnovers, and I remember how Merrill emphasized how important
it is to win games that way. I'll give you
one more. The Steelers are seventeen and four in the
last two seasons when they don't throw an interception. Yep, yep.
(41:05):
But that part, but that said, Okay, I get protect
the ball, and it matters and it's important, But I
think they were way too conservative the last couple of seasons.
It's a fine line. I think they were more interested
in protecting the ball than they were driving it and
scoring it. And I think they've got to lurched a
little bit more in the other direction there. Arthur Smith
(41:27):
has said there are going to be times when they
air on the side of trying to do that. Do
they need to and do you trust that they will?
And can it work if they do.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
I think that's a great conversation and a very fine
line that you walk, because you can't be like hey,
Kenny and Mitch and Rudolph, you can't throw a pick
in this game. I mean, that really handcuffs a quarterback.
But I think when you're a potential Hall of Fame
guy that's been around the block like Wilson, you just
have to trust the veteran a little bit more too,
(41:59):
like no one to hold them and knowing to fold them,
I mean.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
And maybe a little bit more mature pickings. Yeah, right,
if you really need a play, like, hey, we need
something special here. This guy's special, right, go be special?
Speaker 3 (42:09):
And that's a fields concerned fields, turns the ball over
a lot, you know, and takes a lot of negative
plays at sacks and turnovers. But I mean, for example,
up at camp, I don't know if you and I
had this conversation, but Dale and I often did on
the on the air of the drive that in the
red zone and when you know, seven shots, Wilson would
thread the ball in the end zone for touchdowns and
(42:31):
I often said, I don't think Kenny.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Would even thrown that one. Yeah, you know what I mean.
We did have a conversation, did okay? And I do agree.
We got about a minute and a half left here.
I'm not sure what to expect from this game, but
I think Najia Harris is going to be a workhorse
at a bellcow yes, and an effective runner. Mike Thomas
said the other day he loves that running back room,
their demeanor and the competitive component they're going to lead
(42:55):
the way. I think we saw that all camp, didn't
we Henderson, Harris and Jalen Warren, and now you throw
Corderill Patterson into the mix. They could be a handful
of Steelers running game no matter how the offensive line
is comprised.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
During my how plays and I'm sure they'll stick with
it with big personnel, you know, big tight ends on
the field unless they get in some kind of hole
that they can have to throw like crazy. And that's
my biggest fear. But I don't see the Steel defense
allowing that to happen.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Yeah, that's about the only prediction I can make is
I think the nause you will lead them and I
don't know where it's going, but I can't wait to
find out any good one that's gonna do it for
us tonight. I want to thank Merril Hodge as always
for being the third member of our team, our factor back.
I want to thank Justin Miller for doing the magic
that he does sitting behind the board and making us
(43:42):
sound good. And I want to thank you for finding
us however, and wherever you found us. Don't forget the
seasons here. So we're going to be doing this each
and every Thursday night the rest of the way until
or excuse me, in less the game's not on Sunday,
then we'll adjust our schedule. But if they're playing, we'll
be previewing it. That's it for tonight for Matt Williams
(44:03):
and I. Mike Persuda, You've been listening to Steelers Preview
right here on the Steelers flagship one of two point
five DV and the Steelers Audio Network. Good Night everyone,
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on wdv E Pittsburgh,
brought to you by your neighborhood Ford Store. The F
one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers
by Brian Patton and Associates. It's all about the benefits
and by the Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from
the team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now
here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson, and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good evening and welcome to another season of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one O two point
five DVE. Mike Persuda along with Matt Williamson, the third
member of our team, Merril Hodge, will be along shortly.
We are here to preview the Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons,
the Steelers regular season opener Sunday in Atlanta. We'll be
(00:46):
doing this all season on Thursday nights. Un list of
games not on Sunday, and then the schedule will adjust accordingly.
But mattuh, welcome back. We made the cut another year.
How about it. I'm psyched man.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
We got a good game tonight, we got a good
home opener, and psyched to break down Falcon Steelers. I'm
just wound up for four night games this weekend. Week one.
I mean, all this practice stuff we've gone through and
you know, speculation, but now we actually get to analyze
real football.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Real football. Although real Week one football differs a great
deal from it does Week five real football or week
six real football. But you can't get to week five
before you play weeks one through four and in advance
of week one. A development Today at practice on the
south side, Russ Wilson was a limited participant today.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
His calf got tight, so we wanted to exercise some precaution.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
We'll see what tomorrow looks like and kind of go
from there. That was Steelers head coach from Mike Tomlin,
who went on to emphasize that he's got every confidence
in backup justin Fields, being prepped and ready to go,
just in case Russell Wilson cannot.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
I'm extremely comfortable of that is the case.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Certainly when you think about that Williamson, he's a veteran
and this calf has lingered though and calves can really linger.
But he's new around here, and this is also Fields
is such a unique backup. I'm sure this is me
putting a tinfoil hat on. But Tomlin, the two head
(02:20):
coaches know each other.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Extremely well, extremely well.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
And I'm sure that Tomlin is making it clear to
his friend that Fields has a chance to see the
field and he's every step of the way. And what
does that mean for a coach, Well, that's a lot
of practice time to deal with a package you may
or may not see.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
And I'm even thinking.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
I'm not saying they kept Wilson out on purpose. I'm
not saying that at all, but I do think he
wants to put it in Raheem Morris's head that you
better spend a lot of practice time preparing for Fields,
which means he's not preparing for something else at practice,
you know what I mean. I'm just throwing that out there. Okay,
It's been out there all along.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
No question, we have that kind of threat. You have
to prep for it. Where the other team's going to
use it or not. That certainly would be impactful to
Atlanta no matter how the quarterback situation winds out. Wine's
up shaking out, Wilson limited with the calf, Roman Wilson
wide receiver limited with an ankle. Full participation today for
(03:21):
the Steelers for cornerback Corey Trice, junior groin running back
Jalen Warren hamstring. Now, Warren has been saying since last
week that he was going to be good to go,
even though he has missed some time of lake No
Isaac sam wahlu Peck he's not going to play. Troy
f utano knee was elevated to full participant today. But Matt,
I don't know about you. I can't imagine a scenario
(03:43):
with same Wlo not able to play where you would
move Broderick Jones to the left side and Throwtana into
the deep water on the right side. I think the same.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I mean maybe next week, maybe the week after, Maybe
he comes out in a sixth offensive line package here
and there, just to get him playing in the stadium.
But I can't condone or understand why you'd have more
offensive line changes. You know that that's been has been
a lost ability there right camp.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
And I mean there's a lot of faith in Zach
Frasier center. Sure, but he is still a rookie starting
his first game, Anderson's first start, and Spencer Anders he
only played two offensive snaps last year. Yeah, now he's
a second year guy. He's been in the program, he's
been through it for a year, so he's he's got
his feet on the ground. But you wish you had
Seemalu dan Moore still standing at left tackle.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah right, I mean he's taking some body blows, but
he's still hanging around.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Been trying to get that guy out of there for
a long time. But he has a back camp either. Uh,
then we're assuming James Daniels and Broderick Jones running out
the right side of the line, Darnel Washington tight end,
and he did not practice today. I'm assuming that's maintenance. Uh,
he's back to log right, some knew issues and Logan Lee,
the rookie from Iowa calf did not practice for a
(04:59):
second executive day for the Falcons.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
One quick stealer injury question for you, do you think
Roman Wilson plays? I mean, if he's just getting revved up,
he hasn't. He's a rookie jumping on a moving train.
I just wonder if he's active.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Limited. The last two days he had three plays and
pads and that's Saint Vincent. I think, Okay, I'm gonna
guess no. I would think a full week would go
a long way with a rookie, But then again, they
wouldn't be taking uh Justin Jefferson out of the lineup
to give him a help.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
No, it's not Swan Stalwart thirty pulling putting on the
sidelines right.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Uh. For the Atlanta Falcons, tight end Kyle Pitts elevated
from limited yesterday to a full participant today with a hamstring.
Pits has been telling everybody that wants to listen, calm down,
I'll see a Sunday. A couple of backups limited for
the Falcons, inside linebacker Nate Landman quad and cornerback Antonio
Hamilton with a groin back to the Russell Russell Wilson
(05:56):
scenario again. He was limited with the calf today. Mike
Tomlin said that they're going to see what it looks
like tomorrow. Running Back Najee Harris spoke to the media
after practice today and made it pretty clear that, at
least from his point of view, Uh, the Steelers are
fine with either Guy Wilson or Justin Fields at QB.
(06:17):
We're coffing whoever that quarterback. Uh.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
We know the game plan, we're going to execute it.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
So we're just confident who was there. And last, but
not least, let's hear from wide receiver Van Jefferson, who
apparently didn't even know there was an issue with Russell Wilson.
Do you have any idea who your quarterback is gonna be?
Speaker 4 (06:38):
I mean, from my extent, I think it's a rust Yeah,
I mean the restless started, Yes, sir, I mean that's
what I think today.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
He was limited the calf aggravation. I mean, is there
any concern that you guys might not have.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Him on the Yeah, I mean, I mean, I don't
know the implicisons of it or what's going on, but
you know, obviously, you know Confederate, he wants to be
out there. You know, Justsin has to stay out there.
He's more than prepared to do that. But at the
end of the day, you know, we're just going out
there and play whoever gets out there. You know, the
Jobson has to get done. So both quarterbacks are capable
of doing that on Sunday and we're just gonna.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Roll with you.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
I was enjoying them Marley and jamming, good stuff. They
were jamming. You know, I'm I'm assuming Wilson's gonna play
not that that way. Yeah, I'll take tom on his
word when he said they're just being cautious. But maybe
part of the reason that I'm assuming that matter is
I have ever since this guy got here, I'm a
little more fascinated with him each and every day. I mean,
(07:39):
he plays the role of franchise quarterback, he plays the
role of team leader. Now, can he actually still play football?
I mean, just, you know, looking at some of the
numbers from last year, just to revisit. I mean, this
is a guy who's fifth in the NFL in TD
to interception ratio twenty six, touchdown passes eight picks eighth
(07:59):
and pass rating at ninety eight point zero of four
to fourth quarter comeback wins last season was tied for
the most in the NFL. And oh, by the way,
the Broncos weren't very good.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
No, he was not surrounded by particularly good players, and
he was clearly not a great system fit for what
Seohn Payton was trying to do.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Too.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, I mean, statistically he was his success. They didn't
win enough games, and by the end of the year
he got benched. And now they're paying him in the
neighborhood of thirty nine million dollars not to play for them. Yeah,
but I think he still got it. I want to
kind of find out.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Oh absolutely him out there, and he's very impressive in person.
I know he's been dealing with a calf, but he's
been one of the most durable quarterbacks over the last
twenty years as well. You know, he plays through things.
He probably doesn't move like he used to. He used
to be one of the best athletes at the position
that's not there anymore. But there's two you know, I
like my numbers. There's two things about this guy at standout.
(08:52):
You know, over the last two years combined, the Steelers
have thrown twenty five touchdown passes twelve and thirteen. I mean,
that's remarkably low. I mean, that's hard to do in
this league.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
He threw one.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
More than that and sat out the last two games
last year. I mean, they're gonna throw touchdown passes this year.
And then the other thing is you mentioned, Yeah, he
gets sacked a fair amount. He holds a football, he
has some fumbles, but he is not interception prone at
all over his career and that is absolutely key for
this team. So this might blow people away. But over
(09:26):
the last three seasons, when the Steelers won or tied
the turnover battle, they're twenty eight and seven. Even when
he tie it, if they lose zero fifteen to one,
and don't tell me Tomlin's not a good coach. He
understands these things to no end and realizes the status
(09:47):
of this offense over the last three years.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Can't turn the ball over? Are you gonna lose? By
the way, it's thirty seven point eight million. If the
Broncos are paying, it's nice. Though you're not quite thirty nine.
Peels are very appreciative of that. He's still pretty good shape.
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We're just getting started tonight on the Preview, so keep
it here. With Matt Williamson Mike Pursuda, Merril Hodge next
right here on Steelers Preview on your Steeler Slagship, one
(10:35):
of two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Welcome back to Steelers Preview. Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson
with you, getting you ready for the regular season opener
Sunday in Atlanta, the Steelers and the Falcons joining us
now to break it down our factor back. Yeah, some
people like to say feature back, but we like to
say factor back around here because the guy who factors
(11:06):
into the equation more than any other on this show
is our buddy, Merril Hodge. Meryll, great to talk to
you again.
Speaker 5 (11:12):
How are you man? It's good to hear your voices.
That means football is here and there can be nothing
better than football. Maybe let me get it on Big.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
When coming up for the new look Steelers against the
new look Falcons and Meryl Big Old curveball practice today,
quarterback Russell Wilson came up limited on the participation report
with the calf tightness. Mike Tomlin said that they wanted
to quote exercise some precaution. We'll see what tomorrow looks
(11:43):
like and kind of go from there. What does a
development such as this do to a team days before
an opening game.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Well, I mean, listens, Russell Wilson had been there a
long time and they've been doing the system for a
long time. You know, maybe not that much, but this
is to me, it's a big blow because the one
thing that they lack the entire preseason is some type
of rhythm and consistency, and there's you can tell there's
absolutely no chemistry on their offense. Don't know who the
(12:13):
quarterback is. They just are you know, that out of sync.
You know. That's why I you know, for opening days old,
I think the most interesting. It doesn't mean that's how
they're going to be opening day because I think I've
mentioned this before. You're developing your you're teaching, and you're building.
In preseason especially, we have all this new stuff the
(12:34):
Steelers have, and then after preseason you kind of figure
out what that is and then you whittle it down
and you look like a team opening day. This continue
is a little more arduous because there's a lot of
new faces, young people. The position. You know, it's gonna
have the ball every time. Both those guys could be
brand spaking. One of them could be a rookie. I
(12:55):
don't know if he's the rookie start the center, but
you know he's not played an NFL game. Russell Wilson,
how many snaps did he get all year? So you
can say you got a rookiet center. Yeah. Listen, I
went from one organization for almost a decade to another
when I went to Chicago. And just because you played
in the National Football Game A that doesn't mean you
(13:17):
just go in and start playing like you did in Pittsburgh.
I remember Chicago. It took us and we had a
lot of the same scenarios. I mean we had new tackle,
new quarterback and receivers, new running backs. Ron Turner was
off the cord that he was still there. But it
took its like week five before we really like knew
each other, you know, and had a feel for each other.
(13:37):
So it's it's not good. I mean, it's really not good. Yeah.
I would like to paint a better picture of how
it's okay, but it's not. His experience doesn't offset his
lack of reps with people he doesn't know yet. That's
that's that's going to be a challenge.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Yeah, no question. And at least Russell Wilson has been
around the block. He's been in stadiums, as likes to say.
And you kind of alluded to the offensive line stuff.
I mean, we knew that drafting this many new linemen,
there's going to be growing pains. But now you know
your your your leader. See them all lose out for.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
This one on the road in a dome and.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
You got a first time starting left guard, first time
starting center youth. That tackle that worries me more than
the quarterback situation.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
Possibly, Well, the foundation of football is your offensive defensive line.
They get forgetten, they get forgotten. You know, they only
highlight when they get a flag, and they only get
features done on them when they're not playing well you know. Yeah,
but I'll day this at the end of every Super Bowl.
It is always fascinating to me. The best off of
(14:43):
the best, the team that first of all teams win championships,
but the team that wins it, they're trench players, were
the best in the war, They're the best. On that day,
they were the best. It's never been different in the
forty fifty years I've been playing this league and studying
this league. So until that is really comes together and
(15:07):
plays all got And the reason that the offering line
is such a difficult unit because you've got five guys
that got players one. There's no other phase in football
or group in football has to do that, you know,
not even the secondary and the secondaries are different. You know,
there's different levels of the secondary, different sides of the secondary.
As a unit, those five guys have to play as
(15:29):
one and there has to be a real good chemistry
amongst them, and that just takes reps in time, you know,
which they really haven't had a lot of unfortunately, you know,
getting ready for day one.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Marro One of the things that you said throughout last
year when we were doing these programs that really stuck
with me was when an offense is struggling, it's got
to go to its spread and butter and you got
to have X number of plays that you can rely
on to just kind of steady things and calm things
down and get a little action established. Knowing what you
know about you know what you just talked about with
(16:04):
the offensive line, with the quarterback situation, and for the
purposes of this discussion, let's say Russell Wilson's playing and
what you know about Arthur Smith. Do the Steelers have
that core of X number of bread and butter plays
and what might they be?
Speaker 5 (16:23):
Well, the first thing I would go to is there's
two types of running schemes. There's zone running schemes, and
that's where you really have to have five guys that
work as one. And then let's add the tight ends
into that too, because they got to feel and if
you got to fall back in there, he's got to feel.
He's got to play with the unit. You know, everybody's
got to see things the same way. Okay, that's why
(16:44):
when they started playing really well last year and they
run the ball really well, what was the majority of
their runs man walking schemes. Okay, now here's why I
like man balking schemes better, especially with you have inexperience
and you have young people. I got this guy, you
got this guy, and there's rules to that and there's
not a lot of confusion. It's not about getting it done,
you know. And you can run the ball extremely effective
(17:07):
with man blocking schemes. In fact, I do like I mean,
you have to have a really beautifully buttoned up off
as the line to orchestrate zone blocking schemes, which kind
of you know, Arthur Smith has done that a very
good job of that, whether it's been in Tennessee or Atlanta,
that's kind of been his foundation. But this is this
is what good coaching does. This is a new environment.
(17:27):
You got a bunch of new people, young people, people
getting their first starts in the national football Our quarterback
has has inexperience in the system. He's experienced, but he
you know, we are not very buttoned up from a
passing perspective. There's not a lot of things we can
do that we would trust. So I would build something
(17:47):
around man blocking schemes and trust that to build my
game plan around, and then Russell complement that, or whoever
ends up starting a quarterback can compliment what we do there.
And I just think foundationally that's how they will start.
I think it's how they have to start. I don't
think there's actually any other option. I don't see anything
(18:08):
in preseason that would say let's chuck it all over
the place that would be that W'd probably be a
disaster if.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
They did that.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
So that's actually what I anticipate and would envision and
see those type of runs and then build them there
doesn't mean they're going to do not do zone blocking seams.
I clearly think they will do that, but I think
they do a mixture of it. And I would lean
on man blocking schemes because you can trust that a
little better because it's I got an assignment. I don't
have to work with you to figure out the assignment.
(18:36):
With the zone blocking stuff makes sense.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
And speaking of running games, I mean I look at
Atlanta and think they have a chance to have a
really good run game, really good offensive line, a lot
of continuity on their offensive line. I think it's a
top five or six unit across the board. But Jon
Robinson to me is a special special player.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
MERA. Where are you at on him as overall?
Speaker 5 (18:59):
Well, you know when I was doing part of my
stuff I did at the Steelers, he was part of that.
I had him just under I think he was my
second best player under C. J. Stroud and he you know,
he was one of those rare players I use these
terms where he can clean up a lot of dirty
(19:19):
plays for you. And what I mean by that is,
you know, you all lying can break down somewhere and
he can he can offset that because he's so has
such great movement with his feet loudly and vertically. He
can make people miss readjust great, great balance. Even if
you hit him, he can break it. And then he's explosive,
(19:42):
you know, and any strong, and you know, I was interested.
You know. What was kind of interesting though, is how
they did not feature him last year from a running perspective.
You know, now, now I did, I did hear this?
Now I was get I don't trust anything I hear
unless you know, I know that for a fact that
that's just it's really hearsale. I treated like the court
(20:03):
of lawn. The only evidence I have it as well,
you're kind of writing, did they didn't featuring? Is that?
And this my Dijon didn't didn't like, you know, playing
inside the box, And I'm like, well he did in Texas,
now stand the NFL is okay the box playing different college.
But you know, or maybe they just used him in
(20:23):
the way they used him because he was a young player,
you know, and he's so dynamic getting the ball in
the passing game. You know, they're very effective with that.
So you know, I don't know if he can weather
twenty five snaps. I haven't seen it in the NFL.
Haven't done that with him. It'll be interesting to see
if they do do that with him, though, to your point,
because he is a rare, rare pat you don't get
(20:46):
to see them very often, and that's why he went
so high, and he can be he's a problem. He's
just a problem no matter when he gets the ball
in his hands, and if they can get him twenty
five carries, if you know he can carry that load
to your point with their offic the line, that's it's
gonna be. That's an all day game. You know. You
can't can't let down, you can't button him up in
(21:07):
three quarters and think you know, we're good. That's when
he by just nilly in the fourth quarter. Pretty good
receiver too man very well and that's what they did
a lot in last year. Is very dynamic with you
just got great just football skills with instincts, you know.
And I got to annoy him a little bit when
I was in Texas. You've done that several times. And
(21:27):
I think he's a really sharp kid. I think he
he wants to really be good and special and you
know that we'll just we'll see, because people can want
all that, but then they're that relentless commitment of every
day gets exposed, and some people don't want to do that,
you know, when they find out just how much work
(21:48):
is involved. So we'll see how he develops overall.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Well, let's talk about the Steelers defense a little bit. Uh.
Their coordinator Tarrell Austin said again today, feels really good
about what he's got available. They're healthy for the opener.
There might be some concerns about corner depth, and you know,
possibly Cam Hayward. Although he says he's fine and ready
to be back to being Cam Hayward. You know, we'll
take him at his word until there's reason not to.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
The Steelers think they're faster, they think they're more physical
than any were a year ago. How good can they
be and can they be good enough that if you're
a little uncertain at quarterback or any other aspect of
the offense, that can lean on these guys in the
first couple three weeks until they kind of gain some
traction with the ball.
Speaker 5 (22:36):
Yeah, you know, the actually you're watching that defense, you know,
there's I think the defense offense has a much better
chance of being much better than the off your side,
and we'll probably have to shoulder a lot of the unfortunately,
you know, you don't like that because that's not a
good sign. With your defense is shoulder and more of
the load, you know than your offense. You know, it
(22:56):
has to be this this extreme balance with the three
phases that go to a team. But that being said,
you know they have new learning too, you know, they
got new people, you know, and in the secondary in
particular at linebacker. You know, and if you remember last year,
it looked they looked out of sync. You know, they
(23:17):
look like eleven guys playing versus a unit playing. I
don't know if you remember that last year. They just
now think listen what they weathered last year. I think
it could be a credit to how how they start
this year versus versus last year. You know. But there's
a lot of new faces and the chemistry and the
communication you know, you haven't seen that orchestrated really, you know,
(23:41):
so that that's that's gonna be on display for the
very first time, and I'm sure Atlanta will test that.
You know that they're gonna they'll try to channel. They
got a veteran quarterback and they can do some things
with that. I'm not afraid and opposed to moving people
around and challenging, checking in and trying out flank in
do things that the NFL to win strategically, you know,
(24:01):
just it's detailed of a game. But I do think
that they have the better chance of not having as
many overall issues as the offense possibly so Merril.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Atlanta obviously is in the camp of we're going to
rest our starters in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
We don't want injuries all those things.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
And I'm curious what your thoughts are of first real
action being you know, a regular game, a regular season game,
and it's and particularly with Cousins, I mean, he's coming
off a major injury. At his age, he got hurt
in Week eight, you know, career or season and the injury.
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Well, like I said at the very beginning, it's no
different with him. It's new for him. Systems, new players
are new. There's no way he's going to look like
he looked in Minnesota. You're saying, I've never seen it
happen yet with people that didn't really play. You know,
That's why I love what Kansas City has done. They play,
they have like I can't think of it. San Francisco
(24:59):
does too, but you know, they have you know, the
most consistency with stable players and system and they play.
It's just I'm always interesting, like like you know, take
the sheet the blinders off your eyes and look around
with teams that like, you know, we're all new, but
we ain't gonna play. We're all new. We'll just show
(25:22):
up on game dame. Well we're gonna be all right.
It's from a player perspective, any coaching perspective, I've never
seen it work out like that where you don't have
some real you know, some real bumps you know that
you could work You could have worked with and worked through,
you know, had you played the preseason.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
I agree with you, and you know the preseason industry
injury excuse me, is devastating, and you know nobody wants
to see it. But I think you got to play
a little bit, uh, like you said, just to smooth
out those bumps. I kind of get a vibe going
into this game, similar to Cincinnati a couple of years
ago when the Steelers went in the Paul Brown Stadium
(26:00):
for the opener and the Bengals hadn't played anybody, Yeah,
and they really struggled and the Steelers found a way
to steal the game in overtime.
Speaker 5 (26:07):
Right, you know, and you that Joe brod Well and
what they do this year. Joe Burrow at least played
one game, you know, and obviously he looked really good.
You know. They took it down, you know, the way
he throw the football. He looked like he looked polished,
you know what. And they got a good feel for
that prior to you know, seeing what that's going to
be Opening day. I think they learned their lesson. And
(26:28):
I just I don't know how in the world this
includes anything. How you're gonna work lesson? Get better? Tell
me where that works radio. I'm not I'm not gonna
argue with you, but you better be careful because you
might have three months off here. I just don't know
(26:53):
any any any profession you know that requires timing rhythm
and you know where I'm gonna get better, but will
work less? I never heard of it, you know, and
I just go back to teams that do it. And
it's interesting how they look. Every want here to watch
Kansas City tonight. You know, they all played other than
the third preseason game, which it listens traditionally, you know,
(27:17):
you play your most at the end of the last
preseason game. But at least they played two games and
they had serious reps, you know, and they won the
super Bowl two times in a row. I just I
just watch that to me that that's going to be
an important thing to watch. And I don't think the
Ravens played anybody on their offensive side from their quarterback.
I understand their running back. I understand why you wouldn't
(27:39):
play him. I do understand that one. But I don't
know if the quarterback even play. I don't know. I
don't know Jamar Lamar play. I don't remember.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
I don't think. I don't think.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
Yeah, you know, you know that there's a guy who
who got who got exposed again for got forced. They
forced him in Kansasity forced him to play court back,
and he showed how he plays quarterback. You don't function
very well when you stickum in a pocket. I'm making
read and function in tight quarters when you get down
scoring territory. You know, he struggled like that Louisville. He
(28:13):
struggled like that in his entire NFL career. And they're
just one team that can do it. So it would
be interesting to see, you know, what happens tonight this game,
this level of football is always fascinating to me because
of the just the IQ of it, the details of
the schematics of it, and just the over overall strategy
(28:36):
that is required to be really good and win. I
just unless you're really in it's hard to really appreciate it,
you know. But I watched so much college tip and
you're like, You're like, if you ever want to know
the difference between college and the NFL A about speed, quickness,
it's about the IQ of the game. It's about the
over strategy and how complex the National Football Leagues versus
(28:57):
how vanilla and generic meryl.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
We just spent a good amount of time talking about
why maybe both of these teams won't be in mid
season form for the opener. Teams usually aren't the whole
September football concept. It's a little different. It's a little slower, sloppier,
disjointed what wins in yearly going until everybody really gets
(29:22):
it together.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Honestly, let's think about the world. This is key with
every game. This is the most important aspect of winning
consistently in the National Football League. And you can use
this in every formula. Out of stand it doesn't happen
all the time. The majority of mass majority, I mean
way over in the eighty percent times. Teams that can
control the tempo and they win the turnover battle oftentimes
(29:48):
win games in the National FOOTBA LEAUE at the end
of the day. That's why the Ravens are so good.
That is ultimately what they They come out and smash you,
smash you and smash you, and turn over ratio they
are almost number one, I mean, in the top five
every year. There's why that is true. And so that's
true in this game. So I think the team that
(30:08):
can really be most effective on the ground and control
of the environment and give their quarterbacks something to complement
off of it ends up winning this game, you know.
And then and then the turnover thing, you know, you
can use whoever can minimize those, reduce them to zero
and control that environment and establish something wins the game.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
So unlike radio Merril, physical conditioning matters and stamina and all.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
These things of practice.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
And even the Chiefs and Steelers who played their guys,
you know, nobody played sixty or seventy snaps in the preseason,
let alone the Falcons who played nobody. So would you
expect a lot of ugly fourth quarters just across the
league in Week one, and I think that favors the
Steelers in this game.
Speaker 5 (30:56):
I would agree with you, you know, I completely agree
with you that you know, there's something you can't emulate,
and that is real life with a lot of games,
you know, yea, even when you practice, you know, and
I'm saying this even preseason, Like, Okay, all these rookies,
they played a lot, and here's the danger of playing
a lot. Day seems they're they're in the National Football League.
(31:19):
They have no idea what the National Footballague is. They're
gonna know at one o'clock though on Sunday, and then
they're gonna be like, oh my gosh, Wow, that wasn't
what I did. That's why I did for two or
three games. I'm like, where does guys come from? I'm
telling you, it's a whole different game when they strap
it up at one o'clock. I remember my roof year.
(31:41):
I walked in the building right after our very first practice.
I was like, Okay, something's different. I could fill in
the rooms, I could field in the meetings, I could
feel it, and how they presented stuff. I was like, wow.
Then they kicked the ball off. I was like holy count.
And we played San Francisco forty nine ers with one
to Super Bowl, supposed to win the game, and they
were our first opponent. I was like, wow, man, this
(32:04):
ain't no joke. I mean that preseason was like who
that was? That was like, oh my gosh. And I
remember Chuck No, I'll never forget his talk before first
talk before a game. He was talking about the level
we're walking into and he was talking. He was even
(32:26):
talking like because this WIF. I've always thought he'd remind
me a lot of George pat because he prepared his
troops for what the battle they were going about. Talk
him to him. He was talking about battle and he
was talking about, you know, you don't do your assignment.
People get hurt, all right, you put people in danger.
And this is when the game was being They were saying, oh,
(32:46):
the game is passed him by, okay, And I'm in
the back going I might be right, because man, he's
talking about war and all this danger. And then we
snapped the ball off opened I was about, oh, do
I know what he's talk about. Ain't nothing past that, dude, buty,
he knows exactly what he's talking about. I was like,
(33:08):
Holy cow, I was just like, oh my, wasn't I
wasn't prepared for that. I was not. I was like,
oh my gosh. And I was our third down back.
And then when they brought the heat. I mean they
brought the heat. I mean the real men play football
and they mean business, and they make millions, and they're
coming to win. And there's people go up, you know,
(33:31):
to the soft game. It's not, well, okay, you what,
let me put the pads on you. I'll hand you
the ball and we'll see what you say about that.
I will promise you that you will change your mind
because they play for real.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
Merlu no one has ever said or will ever say
that the game has passed you by. We appreciate you
being in mid season four tonight. Can't wait to do
it again next week.
Speaker 5 (33:53):
Absolutely, bro, I'm moving forward to the year man. We
have a lot of fun. Thank you guys.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Absolutely, Merril Hodge the third member of our team here
on Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers slag Ship,
one of two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Welcome back to Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you.
One more segment to go. Here on the Previews, we
continue getting ready for the Steelers and the Falcons, where
Merrill never fails to bring the acerback. Yep, he gets
fired up about this stuff. Love talking to Meryl. Keep
every week here on the Preview, what to Expect is
brought to you by Brian Patton and associates. It's all
(34:35):
about the benefits. Uh, I'm gonna go down a little
bit of a rabbit hole here, Matt in terms of
what to expect, because, okay, as one's always tough. As
we've mentioned, openers are very difficult to get a beat on.
Speaker 5 (34:47):
You.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
You really don't know. But here's what I think. I
think with the coaching staff changes, Zach teams. Zach Robinson
has come from Atlanta, from Los Angeles, excuse me, the Rams,
the McVeigh. Now he's probably gonna have a couple of
tweaks to it and maybe maybe they expect they wouldn't
let him do that. Now he's allowed to do. But
they were what was it eighty two percent of the
(35:09):
time three wide tight. Maybe they're number one, Yeah, they're
they're the most they are a three wide team. Yes,
the Steelers think they have a faster defense because they
got Patrick Queen and veteran free agency and he can fly.
And they got Peyton Wilson in the draft and he
can fly. And they got doctor Jackson at the corner
and he can fly. So here's what I think. Here's
(35:31):
what I expect. I expect three wides all day versus
Nickel more than dime from Teraroll Austin's defense. What do
you think I've been harping on this all offseason.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
I mean that over the last really, since Ryan's years
unfortunate injury, the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (35:48):
Have been leading the league in either being in their
three to four or their dime.
Speaker 3 (35:53):
They have not had the linebackers to play Nickel with
two linebackers on the field, so they've been real heavy
or real light.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
And Alannon Roberts was heroic in his attempts to do
so last year, but didn't have a lot of help,
especially as things went along. And it's not his game.
It's not his game either.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Now.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
I think their percentage of Nickel just for the season
is going to spike drastically. And second they signed Queen,
I thought that exactly, I mean, makes you a lot
harder to play against it. And I think that's a
huge theme for the whole season because you do have speed,
you know, you're not too light that people can't run
on you. Bijon's a really good receiver and runner. You
(36:29):
don't want to be in dime all the time against
that O line and him and I think you're dead on.
And one thing Dale and I've been harping on about
this Falcons team though, is their fifth skill position player
is pretty lacking.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
I mean, it's Ray Ray McLoud right now as their
third receiver that they had the other La dynamic was
it was basically the same guys. Oh yeah, the same
five guys. It wasn't just three wide. You know, the
Steelers used a lot of different combinations the last couple
of years. Same people are on the field all the time.
Frustration at times, But yes, the Rams identified their guys
(37:03):
and threw the ball to them. Yes, I suspect it's
gonna work the same way in Atlanta.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
I do too, And I think London, Pitts and Bijon
are going to get the ball a ton, But I
just have a lot of questions about the others. Moon
He's okay. They had Rondo Moore and he got hurt.
They traded for him. He was gonna be the third one.
So I think they're a skill guy short no matter
what personal group is they use.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
So we are in agreement that we're expecting Nickel against
the eleven personnel and made the best scheme win. Yeah,
and I think you're see Nicol a lot all year.
What to expect is brought to you by Brian Patton
and associates. It's all about the benefits. Let's talk about
those skill guys for the Falcons, because I look at
the Falcons very much in the same light as I
(37:47):
look at the Steelers with the coaching staff changes and
the quarterback changes. Both of these teams think they got
some dudes at tight end, at wide receiver, at running back.
They need somebody to activate it. Now you saw, I
think at the end of last season, Mason Rudolph's tenured quarterback.
He got the ball where and needed to go with
(38:08):
more regularity, and they actually looked a whole lot more
like a legit offense, and they won three out of
four games and even the Buffalo playoff game. He Rudolph
threw a bad interception, but it was a seven point
game in the fourth quarter. It was progress. I'm assuming
the Steelers went with Russell Wilson because they think he
is a lot more proven guy than Mason Rudolph. He's
got way more of a track record of doing that
(38:30):
than Mason Rudolph. But I think that's why Atlanta went
out and got Kirk Cousins, because they wanted who gets
the ball to the people who are supposed to have it.
My question for you, I was drooling about Kyle Pitts
when he came out. I wasn't as high on Drake London,
but a lot of other people were, specifically relative to
those two guys, because I think Robinson had a great
year last year and you know, running catching, he's only
(38:52):
going to get better. Yeah's were Pitts and London in
retrospect a little overvalued or if they've been held back
by some of the same things that have held back
Pat Freyarmouth and Najie Harris and George Pickens here the
lack of scheme and the lack of coordination and the
lack of quarterbacking.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
Well to defend Arthur Smith, I think the Falcons quarterback
situation was noticeably worse than the Steelers the last two years.
I mean he had end of the road Matt Ryan,
he had Ritter, who couldn't even make the Cardinals team
this year he got cut. I mean, that was who
they are invested in the most. They were the least
accurate team in the league.
Speaker 5 (39:28):
Now.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
Pitts is an odd one because he's as much wide
receiver as he is tight end.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
He never lines up next to the tackle in line.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
I mean he's in the slot or he's out wide
more than any tight end in the league, and he
is downfield. So that's a big key to me is
what would McVeigh do with Pitts, you know, like, would
he make him Cooper cup or I mean they don't
really feature a tight end, so I think that's a
big wild card to me. I adore London though. I
think London's a real high quality all around player. There
(39:58):
wasn't hell back at all except for really quarterback play, So.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
You think they've got the guys, and then I think
all three of those dudes are dude. If Cousins can
become Kirk Cousins, they're gonna be a handful. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
But I also think this is the best time to
play the Falcons didn't rest, he didn't play anyone in
the preseason.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Cousins hasn't played football in a long time, and he's older.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
They're one of the only three only the Commanders, Patriots,
and Falcons have a new head coach and new quarterback.
It's just a lot of room for air, you know.
I mean, I think that you're gonna get them. I
hate to turn rusty, but I think you're gonna get
them at a good time. But that being said, I
remember saying the exact same thing a year ago about
Brock Purdy. Remember, remember he didn't play it all in
the preseason. He's coming off an injury. Well he did,
(40:39):
all right, Yeah he did.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Okay. The only thing I wanted to get your thoughts
on before we get out of here, because this has
been a running theme with me for a long time.
And I recall the stats that you talked about with
the turnovers, and I remember how Merrill emphasized how important
it is to win games that way. I'll give you
one more. The Steelers are seventeen and four in the
last two seasons when they don't throw an interception. Yep, yep.
(41:05):
But that part, but that said, Okay, I get protect
the ball, and it matters and it's important, But I
think they were way too conservative the last couple of seasons.
It's a fine line. I think they were more interested
in protecting the ball than they were driving it and
scoring it. And I think they've got to lurched a
little bit more in the other direction there. Arthur Smith
(41:27):
has said there are going to be times when they
air on the side of trying to do that. Do
they need to and do you trust that they will?
And can it work if they do.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
I think that's a great conversation and a very fine
line that you walk, because you can't be like hey,
Kenny and Mitch and Rudolph, you can't throw a pick
in this game. I mean, that really handcuffs a quarterback.
But I think when you're a potential Hall of Fame
guy that's been around the block like Wilson, you just
have to trust the veteran a little bit more too,
(41:59):
like no one to hold them and knowing to fold them,
I mean.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
And maybe a little bit more mature pickings. Yeah, right,
if you really need a play, like, hey, we need
something special here. This guy's special, right, go be special?
Speaker 3 (42:09):
And that's a fields concerned fields, turns the ball over
a lot, you know, and takes a lot of negative
plays at sacks and turnovers. But I mean, for example,
up at camp, I don't know if you and I
had this conversation, but Dale and I often did on
the on the air of the drive that in the
red zone and when you know, seven shots, Wilson would
thread the ball in the end zone for touchdowns and
(42:31):
I often said, I don't think Kenny.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Would even thrown that one. Yeah, you know what I mean.
We did have a conversation, did okay? And I do agree.
We got about a minute and a half left here.
I'm not sure what to expect from this game, but
I think Najia Harris is going to be a workhorse
at a bellcow yes, and an effective runner. Mike Thomas
said the other day he loves that running back room,
their demeanor and the competitive component they're going to lead
(42:55):
the way. I think we saw that all camp, didn't
we Henderson, Harris and Jalen Warren, and now you throw
Corderill Patterson into the mix. They could be a handful
of Steelers running game no matter how the offensive line
is comprised.
Speaker 3 (43:07):
During my how plays and I'm sure they'll stick with
it with big personnel, you know, big tight ends on
the field unless they get in some kind of hole
that they can have to throw like crazy. And that's
my biggest fear. But I don't see the Steel defense
allowing that to happen.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Yeah, that's about the only prediction I can make is
I think the nause you will lead them and I
don't know where it's going, but I can't wait to
find out any good one that's gonna do it for
us tonight. I want to thank Merril Hodge as always
for being the third member of our team, our factor back.
I want to thank Justin Miller for doing the magic
that he does sitting behind the board and making us
(43:42):
sound good. And I want to thank you for finding
us however, and wherever you found us. Don't forget the
seasons here. So we're going to be doing this each
and every Thursday night the rest of the way until
or excuse me, in less the game's not on Sunday,
then we'll adjust our schedule. But if they're playing, we'll
be previewing it. That's it for tonight for Matt Williams
(44:03):
and I. Mike Persuda, You've been listening to Steelers Preview
right here on the Steelers flagship one of two point
five DV and the Steelers Audio Network. Good Night everyone,
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