October 17, 2024 • 45 mins
The trio of Mike Prisuta, Matt Williamson, and Merril Hoge are back with another action-packed hour of preparation for the Steelers' next opponent, the New York Jets, Sunday night.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on WDVE Pittsburgh, brought
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here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steeler flagship one of two point
five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Persuda and
Matt Williamson with you. Our factor back Merril Hodge will
be along directly as we do our best to get
you ready for the Steelers and the Jets Sunday night
at Actorshre Stadium. Matt, it's a big game for both teams,
(00:45):
but man, it is dripping with intrigue. It really is
based on what's been going on with the Jets and
the Steelers this week.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I mean, the Jets are a really interesting team right now,
and I think it even goes back to two offseasons ago,
or you make the Rogers deal and then now the
Steelers all of a sudden. The quarterback stuff is super
interesting as well. And you know, the fiftieth anniversary of
Super Bowl nine primetime game.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
I mean, it's gonna be awesome.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
It is gonna be awesome. I'm excited about it already.
We normally like to start off by updating everyone on
the practice participation, but the Steelers situation being what it is,
I want to start off talking about quarterbacks because all
we've been doing for what a month or ever since
Russell Wilson had that calf relapse right before the regular
season opener. That's longer than a month. Nobody has said
(01:35):
Russell Wilson is starting, but everyone is expecting that Russell
Wilson's going to start. And Justin Fields was asked about
that today. He didn't abdicate. You know, officially, he's still
in the mix and a potential starter. But if you
ever wonder what a professional is supposed to sound like
(01:55):
in a tough spot, give a listen to Justin Fields
this morning on the South Side.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
Justin is it a little pressure if gill and start
considering how you played the first six games.
Speaker 6 (02:06):
I mean, I don't I don't think I played you know,
they're enough if I'm being real with you, you know,
if I'm being with myself, I think if I know
I did play well enough, I don't think there would
be any sort.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Of should not.
Speaker 6 (02:22):
So at the end of the day, maybe I've got a
few wins. Of course, I'm glad about that, but you know,
there's areas that you know I could be better at,
and you know, I'm just gonna continue to work, I knows,
and continue to get better.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I don't think I played well enough, if I'm being real.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Yeah. Wow, like you said, that's a professional way of
looking at it.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, good for him. I mean, I think he's right.
I think he did some good things. But I don't
think the ceiling is as high with Fields right now
as it is with Wilson.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
I tend to agree, you know what I mean, and
they need they need a higher ceiling, need a higher
ceiling in the passing game. I mean, it's kind of
that simple, and we could break down even more specific
areas why I think this move is the right move
to go to Wilson if I assume that's going to
be the case. But man, Fields is really easy to
root for. I think he's gotten better since he's been here,
and I do think Wilson makes him a better football
(03:15):
team though.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Mike tom And of course talked about this on Tuesday
and did not announce who was going to start, but
he also made it clear that while Justin Fields has
been very good, that should not be confused with great.
That's great, that's the ceiling we just got done. Discussed
in a minute ago. Here's Russell Wilson on the ceiling
for the Steelers offense on how the Steelers can make
(03:38):
their offense great again.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
I mean, I think, first of all, I think Justin's
done a great job. I think he's a tremendous quarterback.
Have gone against him over the years. He's a tremendous
football player, a great teammate and all that, and I
think more important thing for us, as we continue to
go on through the season, we want to get better
and to continue to grow.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
That's always the goal every year.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
Right is continue to progress, to continue to get better
from game game into game game out. You know, as
you go on from game six to game seven, say
seventy eight, you want to just keep rising, keep getting better.
And you know, I think the best thing for us is,
you know, just focusing on winning this week, you know,
nothing else down the road, nothing else, and just being
in the moment, man embracing the moment, and we'll get
to play the best game in the world, the game
(04:20):
of football. You don't get to do it with you know,
ten other guys in the huddle. You know, there's there's
a great group of guys in this team, leadership and
everything else. So that's what we're focused on. Just continue
to get better every day.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Russell Wilson, he can talk. Yeah, he's he does not
answer questions. Uh, last, but not least. Russell Wilson of
course has not missed very many games in his career. No,
but he's missed the first six this season. I asked
him today if he was able to glean anything or
learn anything watching from the sideline.
Speaker 7 (04:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
I think you always learn.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
You learn every day at practice.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
You're constantly growing, you're constantly studying the game.
Speaker 7 (04:58):
You know.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
Now I'm obsessed with the football, So it's and there's
always stuff that you're watching from our team, other teams,
what they're doing, how we're doing it. You know, I
think that to be able to also, you know, really
just be in the system, you know, and just it's
been great, you know, just.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Learning from Arthur. I'm excited about the opportunity again a
professional answer. You might remember Kenny Pickett was asked last
year if he learned anything watching from the sideline. Yes,
and he said no, No, didn't learn to thing. No,
what you just thought it was a guy who's played
one hundred and eighty eight NFL regular season games and
sixteen playoff games.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Might go to the Hall of Fame, and he learned
a lot, learned a lot. And just listen to those
three clips. I really like the perspective both players have,
and I really do believe they have a good relationship
and they both get it.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, I do too. And I don't think Justin Fields
is going away forever.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
No, he may play in this game if he doesn't start,
you know, both the package stuff or yeah, no, I
mean it's I bet his jersey gets sturdy.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah on Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Mike too. And you know, the future, to quote the
great Tom Petty, is wide open. Just keep your head down,
keep working, and see where it goes. Steelers practice participation
report today Alex high Smith upgraded from limited to full.
He's huge, He's ready to go. I've talked to him
a couple of times this week. Boy, the first two
(06:20):
weeks without him, he was the Jenga piece. He was
like TJ.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Watt, Yeah and fall apart without him, Jets protection has
been pretty rough lately and they're left tackle. Tyron Smith's
a Hall of Famer. He's had a tremendous career. But
that ship may have sailed.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, I think the holding number seventy seven may come up.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
From time to time. Mister Rogers have been getting taken
some hits.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
No Nick Herbig and no Zach Fraser. You're not going
to see those guys. No Corderyl Patterson. He has not
practiced this week. Interesting addition today, Roman Wilson wide receiver
hamstring limited.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
That's new too.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Huh, that's new.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
I feel bad for him because finally got a hat,
didn't get to do much and now another setback.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Demante case he limited. Don't know what that means.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
That sounds like progress though for his it.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Is an upgrade from didn't work. And Dylan Cook offensive
tackle foot was limited his twenty one day window to
return from the reserve injured list or stay there the
rest of the year.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Has I think they'll get activated soon. I'm not sure
if he'll be in this game.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, they're pretty thin at the tackle position. A bunch
of guys who were resting either continued resting or returned.
But I think the high Smith news is really encouraging
for the Steelers. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
They need that guy, they really do. And he's a very,
very good football player. And we know the attention Watt
always demands, and if you can't have someone on the
other side to take advantage of it, you know, especially
with herbig being out for.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
The Jets, the news is not good. They put one
of their starting safeties, Chuck Clark, on the reserve injured
list this week. Michael Carter, their nickel cornerback, has not
practiced this week. He didn't play Monday night against Buffalo.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
One of the best nickels in the league.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And the starter opposite Sauce Gardner at the other corner position,
Dj Reid. He left the Buffalo game Monday night with
a groin injury and he has not worked this week.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
And he's also one of the best number two corners
in the league, so that is significant in this game.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
No question.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Let's assume for a minute they don't have reed.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Okay, I don't think either is gonna play.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Do they then travel Sauce Garden?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I don't know how you don't with Pickens, because they
usually don't. They're a left right team. He has traveled
in his career, but very very little. I don't know
in this instance, how on earth you don't. I mean,
I think it's pretty common knowledge. Pickens is by far
your biggest threat, and Gardner's a top three corner in
this league. Let the other guys go play in their
(08:52):
own sandbox and let those two battle it out. That's
how I would handle it.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Another interesting note on the Jets participation Reportilliams, wide receiver
hasn't practiced this week non injury slash personal, and he's
getting traded. Yeah, I mean is that worth pursuing.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
For very little compensation?
Speaker 7 (09:12):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I mean I know the Steelers were interested, and frankly,
I know that he was scheduled to get on a
plane from New York to come here and instead he
signed with the Jets. You know, now he's been disappointing
there and he's not.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
Blown a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I was not blown away Monday.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Watching No and that's how every game's been for him
this year. But he's big and talented, and he's injured
a lot, and he's up in age and he doesn't
move as well as he used to. But I'll throw
you a seventh thron pick.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Interesting. The aforementioned Ty Smith is just limited this week.
He is a veteran resting. Morgan Moses, one of the
jets starting offensive lineman, has been limited with the knee.
He's to tackle on the other side opposite Smith and
Will mc donald, one of their edge rushers, limited with
his shoulder. I would assume those guys are.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Gonna play, yeah, and McDonald's really burst out. I mean,
so some interesting things there. Actually, Morgan Moses is the
right tackle, comes over from the Ravens. Him and TJ's
have done battle many times. And then McDonald is the
guy the Jets took when the Steelers jumped the Jets
to draft Roder Jones.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
And they're gonna go against each other, you know.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
And that's a great nugget. I didn't realize that McDonald's
been great.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
I mean, Hutchinson, Joey guy in the league with more
sackson than McDonald, some the guy.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
That was jumping cars or pushing cars that he had
some goofy video.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I don't know about.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, yeah, but he's really athletic, really athletic, and he's
kind of burst on the scene this year.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Steelers in the Jets Sunday Night Steelers Preview is brought
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(11:04):
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(11:27):
at Akroser Stadium with Matt Williamson and Mike Persuda. This
is Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers slagship. One
of two point five Dve and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Back to the Steelers preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Welcome back to the preview Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson
with you right here on your Steelers slagship, one of
two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. We
are getting you ready for Sunday Night football the New
York Jets at the Steelers. Time now to welcome the
star of our show back to the show, Our Factor back,
(12:04):
Merril Hodge. Merrill, I'll hit you with the question of
the last I don't know month right off the bat,
everybody else has chimed in, seemingly on Russell Wilson or
Justin Fields. Which way would you go.
Speaker 7 (12:20):
Well, listen, if you looked at it, and I'm not
sure They're lived in a lot of different things. I go,
I think we've talked about this before. You know, nobody
really understands the true temperature unless you're sitting in that
room every day with these guys, You're practicing them with them,
you're watching tape with them, you're asking questions. So I
know nobody has that luxury. So again, everything is speculative. Best.
(12:43):
Now that being said, here's what I think one of
the big reasons was he can expand your passing game, okay,
with which it needs to be expanded, and Justin has
he's just not he's not he clutched the one area
that could open it up. Like there's a lot of
throws that he leaves on the field that are anticipation
(13:04):
type throws. You know, you got to throw into a
window and you got to be ahead of the defense.
And there's a tiny with that that he just he
struggles with. Doesn't mean he'll never develop that. He just
struggles with that. Russell does not. I so I clearly
believe that the passing game and it will be expanded
(13:25):
because of his experience. You know, has a lot of experience.
You can't deny that, you know. And and I think
that if you're Mike Tomlin, your what is your what
is your ultimate goal is to do what's best for
the team. You know, know we talked out you know,
to disrupt the team that was winning that that's not easy.
But I think when you think of growth and what's
(13:47):
best for the team, I can see where where there's
value in that, you know, where it could help the
team get better and grow. And that's the one guy
that can do it. You know he can do it.
The guy hasn't taken that step yet, and you need
that step. If you're gonna have a chance to get
better and compete to with the elite teams, you're gonna
have to be better in the passing game. Period.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
So there's another quarterback with a little bit of experience
in this game. What's your twenty twenty four scouting report
on Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 7 (14:17):
Well, I will tell you this. You know I'm gonna
I'm gonna lean over on the defense just a little bit. Well, look,
I look at the team. The team is.
Speaker 8 (14:28):
It's not a really good good team. You know, they're
not really consistent in a variety of areas.
Speaker 7 (14:34):
You know, they're obviously linings band consistent. And I don't
care how great you know your quarterback is. And Aaron
Rodgers is dynamic off the move, but you put him
off on the move a lot. He's not dynamic. I mean,
he's just like any other quarterback. Eventually, those things catch
up to you. You know, you win and messily by structure.
You know that there's a reason that you design plays,
(14:55):
you create an offense plan, you believe in certain ways
to go about executing and If you don't do that,
you can't do that on a consistent basis. You just
can't win consistently. In this league. They felled and run
the wall consistently, so they've constantly put themselves in harm's
way in a lot of down and distances, and even
(15:16):
a guy like Aaron Rodgers, I mean, get upset them all,
you know. And then you know I mentioned their defense.
Their defense is okay, they could they concern me from
this perspective. They were so bad against the both of
the Bills. Against the run. I mean it literally got
pushed all over the field. Their defensive line was doing
(15:37):
things that fundamentally was just about as bad as football
as I've seen. The linebackers were are you talking about?
I don't know what game they were playing. I don't
know what they were, but their their box was just terrible. Now,
the reason I mentioned that is because it's almost similar
(15:59):
to Dallas, and then else came in camp. That's the
only way I lose that cons that. I was like,
you know, you know, when I've watched the studied them
all year, they just they are much better defense, yet
and they're not a very good tackling team. You know,
I deploy mentioned made that reference to a couple of
plays where they they like to hit you. So if
(16:19):
you're pets Furst, obviously you would you would note that.
And as a runner, you got to know you got
to stay with your ballots to keep your balance because
all these guys try to hit you. They don't try
to wrap up if you guys try to wrap up.
So there's a lot of yards to be gained by
breaking tackles or breaking hiss because it's the woice to
to tackle you. So maryl you know to Adams, you know, yeah,
(16:44):
I don't know how how much you'll play, even though
in those systems quite well. And is this has become
the DeVante Adams. We're going to throw it to you
every day. So I just I would never build my
show offense around the wide receiver. Just I wouldn't do that.
Do you need it? Do you need different? You need
ones and twos and slots? Yes, you need all of that,
need a compliment, But that's not going to fix all
(17:07):
the things that we just discussed. So you know, devalc
Adams is not going to fix that. Merol.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Getting back to their defense for just a minute. I
watched the Buffalo game intently, and it looks like a
group up front that really wants to get up and
get to the passer. To the point that they got
behind Josh Allen repeatedly and he stepped up and made
him pay for that. It doesn't look like a great
rush discipline group.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
Now.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
I know Russell Wilson doesn't have the wheels that Justin
Fields has to turn those into run opportunities. But I
see him either stepping up or stepping sideways and extending
plays and making plays that way. Is that plausible?
Speaker 7 (17:47):
Yeah? Well, I would say this if you say now,
but we're talking about now Russell Wilson. I would never
rush rus Wilson Josh Allen the same Russell Wilson because
of the hype difference. You know, you want to push
the pocket and push him flateral Russell Wilson, you know,
I mean, you don't want to give either guy a
vertical escape route, you know, which, to your point, that's
(18:09):
what they were doing. But you know, go back to
there watch them play against the run. They do the
same thing like that. They they stand up and peek.
You know that there's no attack to them, and that's
that's good. If you're Pittsburgh. I mean, here's the Steelers.
Like you like that, you want to play against that.
But if you're if you really want to be disciplined
and create a good game plan against Resfol Wilson, you
(18:32):
push the pocket, you know you, and you create stunts
and twists as long as they create a wall and
they push back into his lap, and you don't give
him an escape route because you take away some of
his passing Milan because he is six flick, you know,
and he can't see some things that Josh Allen six
y five can, and so you try to take that
away from him and not give him an escape route.
(18:54):
And then once you go lateral, well then he's not
getting an outrun. They're not gonna make the plays like
justin fields, will, you know. And now we put ourselves
in an advantage. So if they're going, I mean, that's
how I would go about my game plan against Russell
Wilson and learn from the Josh Allen mistakes.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Compounding the problem, though, of course, is Zach Frasier's out.
You know what's that mean to this football team?
Speaker 7 (19:19):
Man? I'll tell you I am really well, he really was,
you know, I you know, I forget. I know it's
sixty I think sixty two replaced him, right, Ryan McCollum,
You know what he actually played really well? You know
he's not he's not. He's not the degree of h
(19:42):
I was the other kid, but he wasn't, you know,
I was. I thought there'd be some we can drop off,
and there wasn't, you know. I So I'm not as
worried as as one might think. You know. I he
love the other one because what he's a maller man.
He is just like, just what did he do? I
didn't hear what the injury was.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Ankle is all I've heard Tomlins calling him week to week.
But interesting observation by you on McCollum. You know, he
came out in twenty twenty one, he went from Houston
to Detroit, played thirteen games for Detroit, one start, and
then he's been on the Steelers practice squad ever since.
(20:23):
And I was talking to Dan Moore, Junior, the left tackle,
because those guys played together at Texas A and m
Moore and McCollum, and Moore said that McCollum has actually
been helping to coach up Fraser ever since Fraser got here,
and I thought that was strange because McCollum has hardly played,
(20:44):
but he's been going all these practices, he's been going
all these meetings, and he apparently knows the stuff well
enough that he felt obligated and capable of helping the
rookie who was going to keep him either on the
practice squad or well down to depth chart. But for
some reason, that game me confidence in McCallum, like he
shouldn't know what he's doing at least right because he's
been around here multiple years.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
I can tell you this, Like the first thing I
wanted to notice. I was like, well, do you see
anything you see a deficiency? You know, to see mistakes?
Do you see you know, bad snaps? Do you see
a guy who who doesn't make the blocks that he
needs to make? And I never saw that. Honestly, I
stopped after Proby the first series. I actually forgot that
(21:30):
he was not in there. You know, that does me
Never he didn't replaced. What I'm saying is that's a
good sign that there was never an area. I'm my boy,
you could really tell the center there's your historic center,
though I never saw that at all during the game.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
It's really all you could ask for is you know
that that would be great in this situation. So very true,
much different on the other side of the ball. I mean,
Cam Hayward's had a ridiculously good career. He's an all
time great Steeler. Do you remember him ever playing as
well he has this year?
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Though?
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Well, I would say this. You know Cam always has
a few teaching mark called teaching riels, just from like leverage,
he gets the hands control, separate the football, I mean,
and and how he how he just overall plays the
game fundamentally the every game. There's some you can do.
(22:25):
Ask Clintic. You can just show him right here, he
controls that area. You know, He's like, he's like a
middle linebacker needs to be, okay, a real good middle linebacker,
and football is like, okay, this is my area, and
nobody mess with this area. And that's exactly how he plays.
And nobody messes in this area. It's in my area,
and I control this area and he does it all
(22:46):
the time.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
So you were bought on Meryl as Steelers defense. They
gave up the game winning drive against Dallas and then
the Raiders went right down on the field against them
first possession and after that Vegas did almost nothing. I
thought it was clinical and I thought it was vicious,
and I think my favorite play the game. I don't
(23:08):
know if you recall this one or not, but it
was mid third quarter and the Raiders hit a passed
the DJ Turner down the left sideline for about thirty
yards and he was between Joey Porter Junior and Mika Fitzpatrick,
the free safety, and he was kind of wrapped up,
but he wasn't tackled and he was sort of struggling
on his feet, kind of trying to lean and break
free and landing. Roberts came flying up the field and
(23:33):
blasted him. I mean it was a nanosecond before. It
was a late hit, you know what I mean, Like
it was echo. It was unnecessary because the guy was
going down, but it was message sending. And I asked
Roberts about it and he said, well, if the guy
didn't want to get hit, he should have laid down.
And I just thought that Steelers defense played with a
(23:54):
ferocity that I think might be game changing for them.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
I also thought it was patrick quin best game as
a Steeler.
Speaker 7 (24:02):
Yeah, yeah, you know what, I thought he played much better.
You know, one thing that they've they've struggled with Patricks,
struggled with Is and that's why teams run a bunch
to us. I don't think for the second the Jets
are going to do this because the Jets have a
better quarterback as we all know, and they have better
wide receivers. Yeah, yeah, so they're gonna don't think that
(24:23):
that has gone away. Just as they played well against
the Raiders, the Jets will will see how well the
steeers handle that because they have struggled with identify you
know who who's now. That's why they do that botch
you three receivers together because everybody has us rules depending
on if you're playing man or zone. You know, you've
(24:43):
got you've got certain people that you cover based on
their release, and once they get five yards deep, all
that changes and adjustin. They've struggled with that on occasion,
and that was Scaringtary too. By the way, where where's
really hurt him. Indianapolis did it, I'm trying Dallas did it.
So it's it's in the study work of the Jets.
(25:05):
So they've got to see that. So we'll see if
they've they've cleaned it up there, because that's that's how
you start to put an end to it. Is a
team that can be more efficient and is better at it,
like the Jets, you defend them them. Well there you
don't have a high Smith pack. That's going to be
a big difference, you know, I havn't. T J. Watt
is obviously a blessing and every team would love to
(25:28):
have a guy like that, But when you just have
one guy, it is and I'm just time going from
my own experience playing, you know, when you have one
guy to worry about, it's a lot easier than when
there's two guys. You know, just it's it's a much
much more arduous challenge. So then I can have the
luxury of just play calling t J. Watt double and
(25:51):
t J. Watt formation and t J Watt. You do that,
and you're going to expose the other side and that
would be a big box that will help I think
energize the defense as well.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Meryl, I think when we talked last week, I'm almost
positive I was bemoaning the Steelers losing the run. Stop
the run component of the Dallas game. Well they fixed
that against the Raiders. Uh Were they that good running
the ball or were the Raiders just that deficient. Tackling
not very good.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
Yeah, they're tackling.
Speaker 7 (26:23):
Let's be honest. The Raiders are not very good, you know.
They they got to find a runner. You have to
be consistent anything shooting, They have to be consistent in anything, quarterback, running, back, receiver. Shows.
I mean, that's it shows. Now this is a different
Jet team. You know, they haven't been consistent running or
they've had the moment. They got two good runners. Man,
(26:46):
they're danger runners. You know, you got to be buttoned
up against these guys. You know, listen, they're they're in
a tough spot man. They mean, they need a win.
You know, they're esperate, you know, and a team that's
desperate is always concerning because now you got to think
about make sure that you always have alerts on you
(27:08):
on your dot process with things that could take place
that they normally wouldn't do. But they're in a position
where they almost have to do so. You know, well,
fourth and one and their plot and doing is just
assuming the punting, especially around the fifty, you know, even
fourth and two, it's just all kinds of things offensively.
I think they'll do. They'll try to do some things
(27:30):
like I said that the series I've struggled with and
try to do the very best run and pass against them,
because they definitely they just can't. They can't afford to
lose this one or that. All these moves they've made,
the firing of the coach, you know, that's about they
add on. All this stuff is just New York. It
(27:53):
files on. Man, there's a lot different area there, like
in Pittsburgh, you know, or in our division. It's a
little different New York and that area. Boy, they all
they're relatless. Man, it's gonna it'll be I don't know.
They feel the pressure. So you know, you gotta be
alerk for all all those things, and you're gonna get
the Jets very best.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
No, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
I'm seeing a lot of it's concerning I'm seeing still
a lot of mental as well as physical errors with
Roderick Jones. Are you feeling any better about them?
Speaker 2 (28:27):
No?
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Laid off?
Speaker 7 (28:30):
Then? I want to. I want to. And you know,
I see I've steining how he can play, you know,
And and so that's probably the most disturbing part is
that you know how he can play, but the mental ayers,
you know, like you know, when there's pressure. You got
(28:50):
to protect inside out. You know, you can't be the
only guy leaving your inside guy freeze to the quarterback
knowing who you're supposed to block is you know, it's
not a there's no excuse for that, you know. That's
that's why I go back to, like coaches play people
they trust. You know, they're hurt at the tackle position,
(29:11):
you know, and you know the kid takes ownership of
where he you know, all his circumstances, but you yet
to see any growth in it. And that's that's probably
the thing that's it's been most disappointing because I mean, shoot, amatized,
we shoot, and some forty years of doing this and playing,
(29:35):
I mean, I mean every year you can talk about
somebody who has all this talent, like tellent tells you
what he can do, but discipline of motivation says what
he will do at the end of the day. And
he just disciplined of motivation. He just lacks putting all together.
You know, there'll be moments where he does and then
he just completely falls apart. And you know what it does.
(29:56):
I mean, it hurts the team, you know, and you
know it was just like you know, Robert Jones really
you know, analyzed himself. Okay, if it was that kind
of a deal, you're like, well, that's you know, that's
a Robert Jones. But when Robert Jones doesn't play well
and he makes his mistakes, the other ten guys, actually
(30:16):
I could already know the fifty three, you know, because
he doesn't just he's not as disciplined and consistent as
he needs to be from a professional album to help
your team. And he played better last year obviously than
this year.
Speaker 8 (30:32):
But yeah, and it's not an I just don't buy
the he's not used to playing right tackle. He put
better last year unless mistakes last year.
Speaker 7 (30:45):
It's but I don't know, you can't. I don't. I didn't.
I didn't know what the depth chart looks like. Now,
you know, FANU, you know, losing him that was that
was a big blow because he was well a little
bit that we got to see of him, you know, fundamentally,
like he was like that dude's beast man when he
(31:07):
was Washington. I was like, I thought he was the
most he was the best at most athletic, most dynamic
tackle coming out. So to not have him, you know, hurts,
But I hope that Roderick quilt, you know, and hopefully
he just he can put it all together, because though
it would be a difference, it would truly be a difference.
(31:28):
You know, we remember a few weeks and we're talking
about nause and you know, his runs or the lack
of runs, and in the point of attack, you know,
I'll say, they said a lot of the point. So
I actually went back and just took all the runs
just so you know, if he came up again. Lage
had a big game, so it didn't matter. You know,
nobody's just talking about that after, but you know, you
(31:48):
start looking at point of attack and like missed blocks
and seventy seven just kept popping up. I was like, geez,
you know, here's what I think.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
You got to be in that meeting with your other guys.
You know, you're in that meeting watching this, you know,
and there's nothing be accountables one thing. Being accountable to
your teammates is another. I don't know how I such
your meetings, and just that's all that's well with him.
You know, you would think that that would drive him
to be a little more, to be better than he
(32:21):
is on Sunday. So hopefully that comes.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
Roun because he could play well. Boy that he made
some different He could make him really really much better
if you played better.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Meryl, great stuff as always, will look forward to doing
this again. Before the New York Giants come calling.
Speaker 7 (32:38):
Man's we're staying in New York artwa was for a
few weeks. I love it.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Staying in Meryl Hodge our factor back here on Steeler's Preview.
I got to correct myself when the New York Football
Giants come calling, that's the actual May Indeed, I appreciate
calling him that because you know, old school people might
confuse him with the baseball team that left for San
Francisco and the Fish.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Oh I'm sure, yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
But I always say this when the Steelers play the Giants.
If you call the New York Giants, they answer the
phone New York Football Giants.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
Are they really tradition?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Mat Yeah?
Speaker 7 (33:10):
May I get it.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
There's something be said for that tradition.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
We got more to get to before we get out
of here, so you're gonna want to keep it here
with Matt Williamson on Mike Persuda, this is Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship. One of two point
five dve and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Back to the Steelers preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
Welcome back to Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you
for the third and final segment tonight as we get
ready or continue, I should say, getting you ready for
the Steelers and the Jets Sunday night at Actresure Stadium.
Always enjoy listening to Merrill. He always makes he makes
some great points. But Matt, I think the one that
stuck with me was the Steelers might be ascending. They
(33:54):
might be feeling pretty good about the fixes they made
against the Raiders. They will probably get an emotion boost
from Russell Wilson, I would think, assuming he starts, which
we're all assuming. But well, that desperation factor with the
Jets is real. I mean it's the Alamo, yeah, oh yeah.
And frankly, being the Raiders isn't that super impressive. They're
(34:15):
really bad and Meryll mentioned that, but hey, you did
we're supposed to do and you beat him bad. That's
what good teams do. Just to take a minute, I mean,
the Jets when they went after Rogers, really, every move
they've made since then is to win.
Speaker 7 (34:27):
Now.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
I mean, they've got a lot of older guys. They
have more former first round picks than any team in
the league. They have the longest playoff draft of any
team in the league by like five years. They're on
a three game losing streak. They just traded for a
potential Hall of Fame wide receiver. They fired their coach, they.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Were in London two weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
There's a lot going on with Gangreen right now, and
I think there's a lot of pressure, a lot of
pressure to win right now, and I think they're extremely dangerous.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
Yeah, I would agree. And you know, if you're two
and five, it's pretty much over. According to NFL research,
you have a six point five chance a six point
five percent chance to make the playoffs, you have a
three point zero percent chance to win your division, and
you have a zero point zero chance to win the
(35:22):
Super Bowl. That's playoff percentages since nineteen ninety according to
NFL research. So whatever the Jets' best fastball is, whatever
the Jets knockout punch is, the Steelers are gonna get it.
Speaker 4 (35:34):
They're gonna get it.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
And the other thing, particularly with the changes in the
coaching staff, the other thing that Merrill said that resonated
with me is, hey, anything's possible, expect the unexpected. Yeah,
he was hinting it, like they come, they're gonna color
outside the lines, right right.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
And Rogers is dangerous no matter what I mean.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
He might not be quite the player that was winning
MVPs and was absolutely one of the best quarterbacks I've
ever seen, but he is super dangerous and he's been
around the block, and we hinted at it with Wilson
that that experience is really important. We saw what Flacco
and Dak did to this defense too after they got
a beat on him.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Rogers could do the same. He has better receivers.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Yeah, that receiving coreter. You throw in Delta Adams, who's
played with Rogers forever, he'll they'll pick up where they
left off. Garrett Wilson's really good, really good. And uh,
Lazard Allan Lazard has not caught everything they've thrown at him,
but he was good enough to catch a hill Mary
Monday night. And uh, if he becomes your three now
he is an ebecond player.
Speaker 4 (36:31):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
I think he had the best skill group in the
whole league, including Breese Hall.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
We touched on those guys with Merrill as well, but
not in great detail. And the Jets running game has
been inconsistent. Yes, but Brice Hall seems like an all
or nothing kind of guy, both in the running game
and the passing game. He can break big plays.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
He's very talented.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
And the kid they drafted out of Wisconsin, Braylon Allen
six one two five. He's a thumping change of pace
back and they'll even put him and Haul in the
backfield at the same time on occasion and run something
where Hall is following Alan.
Speaker 3 (37:06):
They hit you and right, that's a pretty good fullback.
Youngest player in the league. Hall's a very adept receiver.
And what I found interesting is if you just single
out the last game with you the only way one
game of coaching changes to analyze the offense did a
lot more in motion play action, and they really featured Hall,
(37:26):
you know, as good.
Speaker 4 (37:27):
As Alan is. I know they like him a lot.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
I'm sure this coaching staff said everything's going to go
through Hall for now you until we get this thing
back on track.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Yeah, he was effective in the run game and in
the past game.
Speaker 7 (37:38):
I want to talk.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
About Rogers a little bit more here before we get
out of here, because I want to frame this the
right way. I'm not trying to disrespect him. No, I
think he is still a capable quarterback. But Matt, he
don't scare me anymore, and he used to terrify me.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
No one's terrified me more other than Pat Mahomes. Be
honest with you, like if I'm picking up teams of
any quarterback I've ever seen. My first picked my Homes.
My second one's Rogers, but not twenty twenty four version. Yeah,
but there's some of it in there, and he will
make throws that few would even try.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
He still throws it in the tight windows. Yes, he's
remarkably at depth. They try to screen the other night
against Buffalo and it was covered. The Bills had sniffed
it out, so Rogers immediately just turned to the other
side and before he got whacked, he flipped it to
his tight end. There was a guy on the other
side that fails safe and the play worked. I mean
(38:35):
he can get from plant to Plan B to Plant
C in the blink of an eye.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Yes, that is not diminished. What I think is diminished is,
of course he's not as twitchy of an athlete. He
was always really sharp in his movements in the pocket,
and we've been talking about this all week. If it's
third and six, he'd get seven yards, slide, hop up,
give you the finger and walk back and break your back.
(39:01):
And frankly, there's more bad plays. I mean, like all
these quarterbacks, Ben included, when you get to that age
and you've been playing this long, they like to get
hit less and less and less.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
And you're just telling his face.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
He exudes that vibe. Yeah, some of his expressions and
body language right are awful to me. I mean, right,
it's like the world has come to an end. Yeah,
because he sup off the ground. Oh he's coiling, yes,
and that can't be positive for his team, right.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
No, And he's always had some of that. I mean,
his football life or thirty for thirty is going to
be remarkable. I mean, he's an odd fellow, but boy
is he have some highlights.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
You know, lately he's had some low lights too, more
than ever. Four interceptions in the last two games, and
in each of those games against Minnesota in England and
then against Buffalo, he had the ball in his hand
at the end of the game, chance to win it,
and he threw it to the other guys.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Yeah, I mean I've said this a million times this week.
But there was a time when I thought Rogers was
the best quarterback I ever saw.
Speaker 4 (40:10):
I agree, I mean, he was unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
Other than I mean, you know, Unitas and some of those.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
Guys I knew, you know, And I always said I
would put Rogers highlight tape against anyone in the Hall
of Fame. You know that he can go toe to
toe with any one of them, and I could put
his low light tape against anyone in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Now his low light tape is growing rapidly. I mean,
he never threw picks before he's thrown him. Now he is.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
What to expect is brought to you by Brian Patton
and associates. It's all about the benefits, and I'm not
sure what to expect because there's a lot of moving
parts in this one. Yeah, but I see the winning
team scoring in the high twenties, if not the low thirties.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
I tend to agree. I think there's going to be
better in quarterbacks. Will figure it out. You know, there's
town on that f field. I think there might be
some turnovers, a lot of pride, special teams value. Steelers
definitely have a special team's advantage. I just want to
throw that out there so people know better, kicker, better
everything on special teams.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
So are the Russell Wilson Steelers capable of twenty seven,
twenty eight, thirty one, thirty four against a pretty nasty defense.
It's a pretty nasty and statistically accomplished defense.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
And I don't love where the Steelers offensive line's at.
You know, we mentioned Roderck Jones backup center, a lot
of moving parts, yet another you know, starting five. I
think the Jets are really dangerous and I'm probably gonna
pick him to win.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
What to Expect is brought to you by Brian Patton
an Associates. It's all about the benefits. Are we beyond
the Russell Wilson in tangible factor or is that real?
Because I talked to a couple of players about it
this week, they say it's real. I wouldn't expect them
to say no, No, I'm not inspired by this guy
at all. It's just another day at the office. But
(41:52):
I don't know this guy, Matt. I've been doing this
a long time. I haven't been around too many people
that exude the vibe that Russell Wilson exudes. I mean
he's out there before practice. He's talking to everybody in
high five and and dapping and whatever they call what
these guys do. Now, he's bouncing around his energy, energy,
energy positivity. These guy's a different breed of cat man,
(42:14):
I think is I think that's gonna have something of
an uplifting factor.
Speaker 4 (42:20):
I'm sure the huddle will be different.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
And that's a tough question to answer, of course, and
I know that none of us have the exact answer.
But the Steelers have had some procedural issues, I mean,
just on offense, getting plays in, on time, going through progressions, snaps.
I think that stuff will be so much cleaner.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
Is this gonna look let's say it goes well for Wilson,
Is it gonna look dramatically different or will be a
matter of three four five plays that they either haven't
thrown or have overthrown or haven't called that they try
and hit this time around.
Speaker 3 (42:58):
I think, up to the naked eye than you know,
the average watcher on TV, it'll look different. They'll I
think they'll throw into the end zone more, you know,
things like that. I mean, but I also think that
when you break down the all twenty two, if you
really know what you're talking about.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
You'll be like, he.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Went to the right receiver at the right time, how
the play was drawn up, you know much, maybe five
six times a game more, and that's a lot.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
I feel like I've maybe going back to before Ben retired,
when it was Chuck and Duck Ben. I feel like
I've been watching the same game on offense for four years.
Speaker 4 (43:31):
It doesn't matter what the coordinator is or who's taking a snap.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
Quarterbacks. Have they been coached this way? Have they been
reluctant to put the ball at risk? Whatever?
Speaker 4 (43:39):
It's too Definitely some of that.
Speaker 2 (43:41):
Yeah, I want to see somebody let a rip and
take a shot, and again if he does that three
or four times, maybe just extending drives, not scoring on
those plays.
Speaker 4 (43:51):
But even hitting the deep ball or you know.
Speaker 2 (43:54):
The dramatic impact that they're looking for.
Speaker 3 (43:57):
Yeah, and I'm sure some of its attitude, dude, And
of course he's gonna have the utmost respect for coach Tomlin,
but I'm sure there's times Ben or him will come
to the line and be like, I'm not taking it,
I'm not folding this one. I'm going all in. You know,
I've been around the block.
Speaker 4 (44:14):
I know what I'm to do.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
I don't think they're gonna run on third and eight
this time, right, right, great example, right, and settle for
a I think they're gonna try to get the first down.
Speaker 4 (44:23):
Yeah, that's gonna do.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
It for us. Game coming up, can't wait for it. Uh,
this is gonna be something. Uh. And then uh when
that one's done, we'll be back next week to get
you ready for the Steelers against the New York Football Giants.
Thanks to Meryl for chiming in as he always does.
Thanks to Justin Miller for manning, what do you got?
Three screens over there, Couzin more buttons than I can count,
(44:48):
more knobs and switches and I would know what to
do with. But great job keeping us up and running.
And thanks to you for finding us, however and wherever
you found us. Until next week for Matt Williamson, I
might pursue. This has been Steeler's preview right here on
your Steelers flagship one of two point five DVE and
the Steelers Audio Network. Good night, everyone,
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on WDVE 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 to wreck from
the team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now
here are your hosts, Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Steelers Preview
right here on your Steeler flagship one of two point
five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. Mike Persuda and
Matt Williamson with you. Our factor back Merril Hodge will
be along directly as we do our best to get
you ready for the Steelers and the Jets Sunday night
at Actorshre Stadium. Matt, it's a big game for both teams,
(00:45):
but man, it is dripping with intrigue. It really is
based on what's been going on with the Jets and
the Steelers this week.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I mean, the Jets are a really interesting team right now,
and I think it even goes back to two offseasons ago,
or you make the Rogers deal and then now the
Steelers all of a sudden. The quarterback stuff is super
interesting as well. And you know, the fiftieth anniversary of
Super Bowl nine primetime game.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
I mean, it's gonna be awesome.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
It is gonna be awesome. I'm excited about it already.
We normally like to start off by updating everyone on
the practice participation, but the Steelers situation being what it is,
I want to start off talking about quarterbacks because all
we've been doing for what a month or ever since
Russell Wilson had that calf relapse right before the regular
season opener. That's longer than a month. Nobody has said
(01:35):
Russell Wilson is starting, but everyone is expecting that Russell
Wilson's going to start. And Justin Fields was asked about
that today. He didn't abdicate. You know, officially, he's still
in the mix and a potential starter. But if you
ever wonder what a professional is supposed to sound like
(01:55):
in a tough spot, give a listen to Justin Fields
this morning on the South Side.
Speaker 5 (02:01):
Justin is it a little pressure if gill and start
considering how you played the first six games.
Speaker 6 (02:06):
I mean, I don't I don't think I played you know,
they're enough if I'm being real with you, you know,
if I'm being with myself, I think if I know
I did play well enough, I don't think there would
be any sort.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Of should not.
Speaker 6 (02:22):
So at the end of the day, maybe I've got a
few wins. Of course, I'm glad about that, but you know,
there's areas that you know I could be better at,
and you know, I'm just gonna continue to work, I knows,
and continue to get better.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I don't think I played well enough, if I'm being real.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Yeah. Wow, like you said, that's a professional way of
looking at it.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, good for him. I mean, I think he's right.
I think he did some good things. But I don't
think the ceiling is as high with Fields right now
as it is with Wilson.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
I tend to agree, you know what I mean, and
they need they need a higher ceiling, need a higher
ceiling in the passing game. I mean, it's kind of
that simple, and we could break down even more specific
areas why I think this move is the right move
to go to Wilson if I assume that's going to
be the case. But man, Fields is really easy to
root for. I think he's gotten better since he's been here,
and I do think Wilson makes him a better football
(03:15):
team though.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Mike tom And of course talked about this on Tuesday
and did not announce who was going to start, but
he also made it clear that while Justin Fields has
been very good, that should not be confused with great.
That's great, that's the ceiling we just got done. Discussed
in a minute ago. Here's Russell Wilson on the ceiling
for the Steelers offense on how the Steelers can make
(03:38):
their offense great again.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
I mean, I think, first of all, I think Justin's
done a great job. I think he's a tremendous quarterback.
Have gone against him over the years. He's a tremendous
football player, a great teammate and all that, and I
think more important thing for us, as we continue to
go on through the season, we want to get better
and to continue to grow.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
That's always the goal every year.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
Right is continue to progress, to continue to get better
from game game into game game out. You know, as
you go on from game six to game seven, say
seventy eight, you want to just keep rising, keep getting better.
And you know, I think the best thing for us is,
you know, just focusing on winning this week, you know,
nothing else down the road, nothing else, and just being
in the moment, man embracing the moment, and we'll get
to play the best game in the world, the game
(04:20):
of football. You don't get to do it with you know,
ten other guys in the huddle. You know, there's there's
a great group of guys in this team, leadership and
everything else. So that's what we're focused on. Just continue
to get better every day.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Russell Wilson, he can talk. Yeah, he's he does not
answer questions. Uh, last, but not least. Russell Wilson of
course has not missed very many games in his career. No,
but he's missed the first six this season. I asked
him today if he was able to glean anything or
learn anything watching from the sideline.
Speaker 7 (04:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
I think you always learn.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
You learn every day at practice.
Speaker 5 (04:55):
You're constantly growing, you're constantly studying the game.
Speaker 7 (04:58):
You know.
Speaker 5 (04:59):
Now I'm obsessed with the football, So it's and there's
always stuff that you're watching from our team, other teams,
what they're doing, how we're doing it. You know, I
think that to be able to also, you know, really
just be in the system, you know, and just it's
been great, you know, just.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Learning from Arthur. I'm excited about the opportunity again a
professional answer. You might remember Kenny Pickett was asked last
year if he learned anything watching from the sideline. Yes,
and he said no, No, didn't learn to thing. No,
what you just thought it was a guy who's played
one hundred and eighty eight NFL regular season games and
sixteen playoff games.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Might go to the Hall of Fame, and he learned
a lot, learned a lot. And just listen to those
three clips. I really like the perspective both players have,
and I really do believe they have a good relationship
and they both get it.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, I do too. And I don't think Justin Fields
is going away forever.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
No, he may play in this game if he doesn't start,
you know, both the package stuff or yeah, no, I
mean it's I bet his jersey gets sturdy.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah on Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Mike too. And you know, the future, to quote the
great Tom Petty, is wide open. Just keep your head down,
keep working, and see where it goes. Steelers practice participation
report today Alex high Smith upgraded from limited to full.
He's huge, He's ready to go. I've talked to him
a couple of times this week. Boy, the first two
(06:20):
weeks without him, he was the Jenga piece. He was
like TJ.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Watt, Yeah and fall apart without him, Jets protection has
been pretty rough lately and they're left tackle. Tyron Smith's
a Hall of Famer. He's had a tremendous career. But
that ship may have sailed.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, I think the holding number seventy seven may come up.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
From time to time. Mister Rogers have been getting taken
some hits.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
No Nick Herbig and no Zach Fraser. You're not going
to see those guys. No Corderyl Patterson. He has not
practiced this week. Interesting addition today, Roman Wilson wide receiver
hamstring limited.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
That's new too.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Huh, that's new.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
I feel bad for him because finally got a hat,
didn't get to do much and now another setback.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Demante case he limited. Don't know what that means.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
That sounds like progress though for his it.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Is an upgrade from didn't work. And Dylan Cook offensive
tackle foot was limited his twenty one day window to
return from the reserve injured list or stay there the
rest of the year.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Has I think they'll get activated soon. I'm not sure
if he'll be in this game.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Yeah, they're pretty thin at the tackle position. A bunch
of guys who were resting either continued resting or returned.
But I think the high Smith news is really encouraging
for the Steelers. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
They need that guy, they really do. And he's a very,
very good football player. And we know the attention Watt
always demands, and if you can't have someone on the
other side to take advantage of it, you know, especially
with herbig being out for.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
The Jets, the news is not good. They put one
of their starting safeties, Chuck Clark, on the reserve injured
list this week. Michael Carter, their nickel cornerback, has not
practiced this week. He didn't play Monday night against Buffalo.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
One of the best nickels in the league.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And the starter opposite Sauce Gardner at the other corner position,
Dj Reid. He left the Buffalo game Monday night with
a groin injury and he has not worked this week.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
And he's also one of the best number two corners
in the league, so that is significant in this game.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
No question.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Let's assume for a minute they don't have reed.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Okay, I don't think either is gonna play.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Do they then travel Sauce Garden?
Speaker 3 (08:30):
I don't know how you don't with Pickens, because they
usually don't. They're a left right team. He has traveled
in his career, but very very little. I don't know
in this instance, how on earth you don't. I mean,
I think it's pretty common knowledge. Pickens is by far
your biggest threat, and Gardner's a top three corner in
this league. Let the other guys go play in their
(08:52):
own sandbox and let those two battle it out. That's
how I would handle it.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Another interesting note on the Jets participation Reportilliams, wide receiver
hasn't practiced this week non injury slash personal, and he's
getting traded. Yeah, I mean is that worth pursuing.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
For very little compensation?
Speaker 7 (09:12):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I mean I know the Steelers were interested, and frankly,
I know that he was scheduled to get on a
plane from New York to come here and instead he
signed with the Jets. You know, now he's been disappointing
there and he's not.
Speaker 7 (09:28):
Blown a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I was not blown away Monday.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Watching No and that's how every game's been for him
this year. But he's big and talented, and he's injured
a lot, and he's up in age and he doesn't
move as well as he used to. But I'll throw
you a seventh thron pick.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Interesting. The aforementioned Ty Smith is just limited this week.
He is a veteran resting. Morgan Moses, one of the
jets starting offensive lineman, has been limited with the knee.
He's to tackle on the other side opposite Smith and
Will mc donald, one of their edge rushers, limited with
his shoulder. I would assume those guys are.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Gonna play, yeah, and McDonald's really burst out. I mean,
so some interesting things there. Actually, Morgan Moses is the
right tackle, comes over from the Ravens. Him and TJ's
have done battle many times. And then McDonald is the
guy the Jets took when the Steelers jumped the Jets
to draft Roder Jones.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
And they're gonna go against each other, you know.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
And that's a great nugget. I didn't realize that McDonald's
been great.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
I mean, Hutchinson, Joey guy in the league with more
sackson than McDonald, some the guy.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
That was jumping cars or pushing cars that he had
some goofy video.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I don't know about.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, yeah, but he's really athletic, really athletic, and he's
kind of burst on the scene this year.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Steelers in the Jets Sunday Night Steelers Preview is brought
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(11:04):
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(11:27):
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Speaker 4 (11:39):
Back to the Steelers preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Welcome back to the preview Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson
with you right here on your Steelers slagship, one of
two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. We
are getting you ready for Sunday Night football the New
York Jets at the Steelers. Time now to welcome the
star of our show back to the show, Our Factor back,
(12:04):
Merril Hodge. Merrill, I'll hit you with the question of
the last I don't know month right off the bat,
everybody else has chimed in, seemingly on Russell Wilson or
Justin Fields. Which way would you go.
Speaker 7 (12:20):
Well, listen, if you looked at it, and I'm not
sure They're lived in a lot of different things. I go,
I think we've talked about this before. You know, nobody
really understands the true temperature unless you're sitting in that
room every day with these guys, You're practicing them with them,
you're watching tape with them, you're asking questions. So I
know nobody has that luxury. So again, everything is speculative. Best.
(12:43):
Now that being said, here's what I think one of
the big reasons was he can expand your passing game, okay,
with which it needs to be expanded, and Justin has
he's just not he's not he clutched the one area
that could open it up. Like there's a lot of
throws that he leaves on the field that are anticipation
(13:04):
type throws. You know, you got to throw into a
window and you got to be ahead of the defense.
And there's a tiny with that that he just he
struggles with. Doesn't mean he'll never develop that. He just
struggles with that. Russell does not. I so I clearly
believe that the passing game and it will be expanded
(13:25):
because of his experience. You know, has a lot of experience.
You can't deny that, you know. And and I think
that if you're Mike Tomlin, your what is your what
is your ultimate goal is to do what's best for
the team. You know, know we talked out you know,
to disrupt the team that was winning that that's not easy.
But I think when you think of growth and what's
(13:47):
best for the team, I can see where where there's
value in that, you know, where it could help the
team get better and grow. And that's the one guy
that can do it. You know he can do it.
The guy hasn't taken that step yet, and you need
that step. If you're gonna have a chance to get
better and compete to with the elite teams, you're gonna
have to be better in the passing game. Period.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
So there's another quarterback with a little bit of experience
in this game. What's your twenty twenty four scouting report
on Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 7 (14:17):
Well, I will tell you this. You know I'm gonna
I'm gonna lean over on the defense just a little bit. Well, look,
I look at the team. The team is.
Speaker 8 (14:28):
It's not a really good good team. You know, they're
not really consistent in a variety of areas.
Speaker 7 (14:34):
You know, they're obviously linings band consistent. And I don't
care how great you know your quarterback is. And Aaron
Rodgers is dynamic off the move, but you put him
off on the move a lot. He's not dynamic. I mean,
he's just like any other quarterback. Eventually, those things catch
up to you. You know, you win and messily by structure.
You know that there's a reason that you design plays,
(14:55):
you create an offense plan, you believe in certain ways
to go about executing and If you don't do that,
you can't do that on a consistent basis. You just
can't win consistently. In this league. They felled and run
the wall consistently, so they've constantly put themselves in harm's
way in a lot of down and distances, and even
(15:16):
a guy like Aaron Rodgers, I mean, get upset them all,
you know. And then you know I mentioned their defense.
Their defense is okay, they could they concern me from
this perspective. They were so bad against the both of
the Bills. Against the run. I mean it literally got
pushed all over the field. Their defensive line was doing
(15:37):
things that fundamentally was just about as bad as football
as I've seen. The linebackers were are you talking about?
I don't know what game they were playing. I don't
know what they were, but their their box was just terrible. Now,
the reason I mentioned that is because it's almost similar
(15:59):
to Dallas, and then else came in camp. That's the
only way I lose that cons that. I was like,
you know, you know, when I've watched the studied them
all year, they just they are much better defense, yet
and they're not a very good tackling team. You know,
I deploy mentioned made that reference to a couple of
plays where they they like to hit you. So if
(16:19):
you're pets Furst, obviously you would you would note that.
And as a runner, you got to know you got
to stay with your ballots to keep your balance because
all these guys try to hit you. They don't try
to wrap up if you guys try to wrap up.
So there's a lot of yards to be gained by
breaking tackles or breaking hiss because it's the woice to
to tackle you. So maryl you know to Adams, you know, yeah,
(16:44):
I don't know how how much you'll play, even though
in those systems quite well. And is this has become
the DeVante Adams. We're going to throw it to you
every day. So I just I would never build my
show offense around the wide receiver. Just I wouldn't do that.
Do you need it? Do you need different? You need
ones and twos and slots? Yes, you need all of that,
need a compliment, But that's not going to fix all
(17:07):
the things that we just discussed. So you know, devalc
Adams is not going to fix that. Merol.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Getting back to their defense for just a minute. I
watched the Buffalo game intently, and it looks like a
group up front that really wants to get up and
get to the passer. To the point that they got
behind Josh Allen repeatedly and he stepped up and made
him pay for that. It doesn't look like a great
rush discipline group.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
Now.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
I know Russell Wilson doesn't have the wheels that Justin
Fields has to turn those into run opportunities. But I
see him either stepping up or stepping sideways and extending
plays and making plays that way. Is that plausible?
Speaker 7 (17:47):
Yeah? Well, I would say this if you say now,
but we're talking about now Russell Wilson. I would never
rush rus Wilson Josh Allen the same Russell Wilson because
of the hype difference. You know, you want to push
the pocket and push him flateral Russell Wilson, you know,
I mean, you don't want to give either guy a
vertical escape route, you know, which, to your point, that's
(18:09):
what they were doing. But you know, go back to
there watch them play against the run. They do the
same thing like that. They they stand up and peek.
You know that there's no attack to them, and that's
that's good. If you're Pittsburgh. I mean, here's the Steelers.
Like you like that, you want to play against that.
But if you're if you really want to be disciplined
and create a good game plan against Resfol Wilson, you
(18:32):
push the pocket, you know you, and you create stunts
and twists as long as they create a wall and
they push back into his lap, and you don't give
him an escape route because you take away some of
his passing Milan because he is six flick, you know,
and he can't see some things that Josh Allen six
y five can, and so you try to take that
away from him and not give him an escape route.
(18:54):
And then once you go lateral, well then he's not
getting an outrun. They're not gonna make the plays like
justin fields, will, you know. And now we put ourselves
in an advantage. So if they're going, I mean, that's
how I would go about my game plan against Russell
Wilson and learn from the Josh Allen mistakes.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Compounding the problem, though, of course, is Zach Frasier's out.
You know what's that mean to this football team?
Speaker 7 (19:19):
Man? I'll tell you I am really well, he really was,
you know, I you know, I forget. I know it's
sixty I think sixty two replaced him, right, Ryan McCollum,
You know what he actually played really well? You know
he's not he's not. He's not the degree of h
(19:42):
I was the other kid, but he wasn't, you know,
I was. I thought there'd be some we can drop off,
and there wasn't, you know. I So I'm not as
worried as as one might think. You know. I he
love the other one because what he's a maller man.
He is just like, just what did he do? I
didn't hear what the injury was.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Ankle is all I've heard Tomlins calling him week to week.
But interesting observation by you on McCollum. You know, he
came out in twenty twenty one, he went from Houston
to Detroit, played thirteen games for Detroit, one start, and
then he's been on the Steelers practice squad ever since.
(20:23):
And I was talking to Dan Moore, Junior, the left tackle,
because those guys played together at Texas A and m
Moore and McCollum, and Moore said that McCollum has actually
been helping to coach up Fraser ever since Fraser got here,
and I thought that was strange because McCollum has hardly played,
(20:44):
but he's been going all these practices, he's been going
all these meetings, and he apparently knows the stuff well
enough that he felt obligated and capable of helping the
rookie who was going to keep him either on the
practice squad or well down to depth chart. But for
some reason, that game me confidence in McCallum, like he
shouldn't know what he's doing at least right because he's
been around here multiple years.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
I can tell you this, Like the first thing I
wanted to notice. I was like, well, do you see
anything you see a deficiency? You know, to see mistakes?
Do you see you know, bad snaps? Do you see
a guy who who doesn't make the blocks that he
needs to make? And I never saw that. Honestly, I
stopped after Proby the first series. I actually forgot that
(21:30):
he was not in there. You know, that does me
Never he didn't replaced. What I'm saying is that's a
good sign that there was never an area. I'm my boy,
you could really tell the center there's your historic center,
though I never saw that at all during the game.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
It's really all you could ask for is you know
that that would be great in this situation. So very true,
much different on the other side of the ball. I mean,
Cam Hayward's had a ridiculously good career. He's an all
time great Steeler. Do you remember him ever playing as
well he has this year?
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Though?
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Well, I would say this. You know Cam always has
a few teaching mark called teaching riels, just from like leverage,
he gets the hands control, separate the football, I mean,
and and how he how he just overall plays the
game fundamentally the every game. There's some you can do.
(22:25):
Ask Clintic. You can just show him right here, he
controls that area. You know, He's like, he's like a
middle linebacker needs to be, okay, a real good middle linebacker,
and football is like, okay, this is my area, and
nobody mess with this area. And that's exactly how he plays.
And nobody messes in this area. It's in my area,
and I control this area and he does it all
(22:46):
the time.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
So you were bought on Meryl as Steelers defense. They
gave up the game winning drive against Dallas and then
the Raiders went right down on the field against them
first possession and after that Vegas did almost nothing. I
thought it was clinical and I thought it was vicious,
and I think my favorite play the game. I don't
(23:08):
know if you recall this one or not, but it
was mid third quarter and the Raiders hit a passed
the DJ Turner down the left sideline for about thirty
yards and he was between Joey Porter Junior and Mika Fitzpatrick,
the free safety, and he was kind of wrapped up,
but he wasn't tackled and he was sort of struggling
on his feet, kind of trying to lean and break
free and landing. Roberts came flying up the field and
(23:33):
blasted him. I mean it was a nanosecond before. It
was a late hit, you know what I mean, Like
it was echo. It was unnecessary because the guy was
going down, but it was message sending. And I asked
Roberts about it and he said, well, if the guy
didn't want to get hit, he should have laid down.
And I just thought that Steelers defense played with a
(23:54):
ferocity that I think might be game changing for them.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
I also thought it was patrick quin best game as
a Steeler.
Speaker 7 (24:02):
Yeah, yeah, you know what, I thought he played much better.
You know, one thing that they've they've struggled with Patricks,
struggled with Is and that's why teams run a bunch
to us. I don't think for the second the Jets
are going to do this because the Jets have a
better quarterback as we all know, and they have better
wide receivers. Yeah, yeah, so they're gonna don't think that
(24:23):
that has gone away. Just as they played well against
the Raiders, the Jets will will see how well the
steeers handle that because they have struggled with identify you
know who who's now. That's why they do that botch
you three receivers together because everybody has us rules depending
on if you're playing man or zone. You know, you've
(24:43):
got you've got certain people that you cover based on
their release, and once they get five yards deep, all
that changes and adjustin. They've struggled with that on occasion,
and that was Scaringtary too. By the way, where where's
really hurt him. Indianapolis did it, I'm trying Dallas did it.
So it's it's in the study work of the Jets.
(25:05):
So they've got to see that. So we'll see if
they've they've cleaned it up there, because that's that's how
you start to put an end to it. Is a
team that can be more efficient and is better at it,
like the Jets, you defend them them. Well there you
don't have a high Smith pack. That's going to be
a big difference, you know, I havn't. T J. Watt
is obviously a blessing and every team would love to
(25:28):
have a guy like that, But when you just have
one guy, it is and I'm just time going from
my own experience playing, you know, when you have one
guy to worry about, it's a lot easier than when
there's two guys. You know, just it's it's a much
much more arduous challenge. So then I can have the
luxury of just play calling t J. Watt double and
(25:51):
t J. Watt formation and t J Watt. You do that,
and you're going to expose the other side and that
would be a big box that will help I think
energize the defense as well.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Meryl, I think when we talked last week, I'm almost
positive I was bemoaning the Steelers losing the run. Stop
the run component of the Dallas game. Well they fixed
that against the Raiders. Uh Were they that good running
the ball or were the Raiders just that deficient. Tackling
not very good.
Speaker 4 (26:22):
Yeah, they're tackling.
Speaker 7 (26:23):
Let's be honest. The Raiders are not very good, you know.
They they got to find a runner. You have to
be consistent anything shooting, They have to be consistent in anything, quarterback, running, back, receiver. Shows.
I mean, that's it shows. Now this is a different
Jet team. You know, they haven't been consistent running or
they've had the moment. They got two good runners. Man,
(26:46):
they're danger runners. You know, you got to be buttoned
up against these guys. You know, listen, they're they're in
a tough spot man. They mean, they need a win.
You know, they're esperate, you know, and a team that's
desperate is always concerning because now you got to think
about make sure that you always have alerts on you
(27:08):
on your dot process with things that could take place
that they normally wouldn't do. But they're in a position
where they almost have to do so. You know, well,
fourth and one and their plot and doing is just
assuming the punting, especially around the fifty, you know, even
fourth and two, it's just all kinds of things offensively.
I think they'll do. They'll try to do some things
(27:30):
like I said that the series I've struggled with and
try to do the very best run and pass against them,
because they definitely they just can't. They can't afford to
lose this one or that. All these moves they've made,
the firing of the coach, you know, that's about they
add on. All this stuff is just New York. It
(27:53):
files on. Man, there's a lot different area there, like
in Pittsburgh, you know, or in our division. It's a
little different New York and that area. Boy, they all
they're relatless. Man, it's gonna it'll be I don't know.
They feel the pressure. So you know, you gotta be
alerk for all all those things, and you're gonna get
the Jets very best.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
No, no doubt.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
I'm seeing a lot of it's concerning I'm seeing still
a lot of mental as well as physical errors with
Roderick Jones. Are you feeling any better about them?
Speaker 2 (28:27):
No?
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Laid off?
Speaker 7 (28:30):
Then? I want to. I want to. And you know,
I see I've steining how he can play, you know,
And and so that's probably the most disturbing part is
that you know how he can play, but the mental ayers,
you know, like you know, when there's pressure. You got
(28:50):
to protect inside out. You know, you can't be the
only guy leaving your inside guy freeze to the quarterback
knowing who you're supposed to block is you know, it's
not a there's no excuse for that, you know. That's
that's why I go back to, like coaches play people
they trust. You know, they're hurt at the tackle position,
(29:11):
you know, and you know the kid takes ownership of
where he you know, all his circumstances, but you yet
to see any growth in it. And that's that's probably
the thing that's it's been most disappointing because I mean, shoot, amatized,
we shoot, and some forty years of doing this and playing,
(29:35):
I mean, I mean every year you can talk about
somebody who has all this talent, like tellent tells you
what he can do, but discipline of motivation says what
he will do at the end of the day. And
he just disciplined of motivation. He just lacks putting all together.
You know, there'll be moments where he does and then
he just completely falls apart. And you know what it does.
(29:56):
I mean, it hurts the team, you know, and you
know it was just like you know, Robert Jones really
you know, analyzed himself. Okay, if it was that kind
of a deal, you're like, well, that's you know, that's
a Robert Jones. But when Robert Jones doesn't play well
and he makes his mistakes, the other ten guys, actually
(30:16):
I could already know the fifty three, you know, because
he doesn't just he's not as disciplined and consistent as
he needs to be from a professional album to help
your team. And he played better last year obviously than
this year.
Speaker 8 (30:32):
But yeah, and it's not an I just don't buy
the he's not used to playing right tackle. He put
better last year unless mistakes last year.
Speaker 7 (30:45):
It's but I don't know, you can't. I don't. I didn't.
I didn't know what the depth chart looks like. Now,
you know, FANU, you know, losing him that was that
was a big blow because he was well a little
bit that we got to see of him, you know, fundamentally,
like he was like that dude's beast man when he
(31:07):
was Washington. I was like, I thought he was the
most he was the best at most athletic, most dynamic
tackle coming out. So to not have him, you know, hurts,
But I hope that Roderick quilt, you know, and hopefully
he just he can put it all together, because though
it would be a difference, it would truly be a difference.
(31:28):
You know, we remember a few weeks and we're talking
about nause and you know, his runs or the lack
of runs, and in the point of attack, you know,
I'll say, they said a lot of the point. So
I actually went back and just took all the runs
just so you know, if he came up again. Lage
had a big game, so it didn't matter. You know,
nobody's just talking about that after, but you know, you
(31:48):
start looking at point of attack and like missed blocks
and seventy seven just kept popping up. I was like, geez,
you know, here's what I think.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
You got to be in that meeting with your other guys.
You know, you're in that meeting watching this, you know,
and there's nothing be accountables one thing. Being accountable to
your teammates is another. I don't know how I such
your meetings, and just that's all that's well with him.
You know, you would think that that would drive him
to be a little more, to be better than he
(32:21):
is on Sunday. So hopefully that comes.
Speaker 7 (32:23):
Roun because he could play well. Boy that he made
some different He could make him really really much better
if you played better.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
Meryl, great stuff as always, will look forward to doing
this again. Before the New York Giants come calling.
Speaker 7 (32:38):
Man's we're staying in New York artwa was for a
few weeks. I love it.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Staying in Meryl Hodge our factor back here on Steeler's Preview.
I got to correct myself when the New York Football
Giants come calling, that's the actual May Indeed, I appreciate
calling him that because you know, old school people might
confuse him with the baseball team that left for San
Francisco and the Fish.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Oh I'm sure, yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
But I always say this when the Steelers play the Giants.
If you call the New York Giants, they answer the
phone New York Football Giants.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
Are they really tradition?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
Mat Yeah?
Speaker 7 (33:10):
May I get it.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
There's something be said for that tradition.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
We got more to get to before we get out
of here, so you're gonna want to keep it here
with Matt Williamson on Mike Persuda, this is Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship. One of two point
five dve and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
Back to the Steelers preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
Welcome back to Mike Pursuda and Matt Williamson with you
for the third and final segment tonight as we get
ready or continue, I should say, getting you ready for
the Steelers and the Jets Sunday night at Actresure Stadium.
Always enjoy listening to Merrill. He always makes he makes
some great points. But Matt, I think the one that
stuck with me was the Steelers might be ascending. They
(33:54):
might be feeling pretty good about the fixes they made
against the Raiders. They will probably get an emotion boost
from Russell Wilson, I would think, assuming he starts, which
we're all assuming. But well, that desperation factor with the
Jets is real. I mean it's the Alamo, yeah, oh yeah.
And frankly, being the Raiders isn't that super impressive. They're
(34:15):
really bad and Meryll mentioned that, but hey, you did
we're supposed to do and you beat him bad. That's
what good teams do. Just to take a minute, I mean,
the Jets when they went after Rogers, really, every move
they've made since then is to win.
Speaker 7 (34:27):
Now.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
I mean, they've got a lot of older guys. They
have more former first round picks than any team in
the league. They have the longest playoff draft of any
team in the league by like five years. They're on
a three game losing streak. They just traded for a
potential Hall of Fame wide receiver. They fired their coach, they.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Were in London two weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
There's a lot going on with Gangreen right now, and
I think there's a lot of pressure, a lot of
pressure to win right now, and I think they're extremely dangerous.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
Yeah, I would agree. And you know, if you're two
and five, it's pretty much over. According to NFL research,
you have a six point five chance a six point
five percent chance to make the playoffs, you have a
three point zero percent chance to win your division, and
you have a zero point zero chance to win the
(35:22):
Super Bowl. That's playoff percentages since nineteen ninety according to
NFL research. So whatever the Jets' best fastball is, whatever
the Jets knockout punch is, the Steelers are gonna get it.
Speaker 4 (35:34):
They're gonna get it.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
And the other thing, particularly with the changes in the
coaching staff, the other thing that Merrill said that resonated
with me is, hey, anything's possible, expect the unexpected. Yeah,
he was hinting it, like they come, they're gonna color
outside the lines, right right.
Speaker 4 (35:48):
And Rogers is dangerous no matter what I mean.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
He might not be quite the player that was winning
MVPs and was absolutely one of the best quarterbacks I've
ever seen, but he is super dangerous and he's been
around the block, and we hinted at it with Wilson
that that experience is really important. We saw what Flacco
and Dak did to this defense too after they got
a beat on him.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Rogers could do the same. He has better receivers.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Yeah, that receiving coreter. You throw in Delta Adams, who's
played with Rogers forever, he'll they'll pick up where they
left off. Garrett Wilson's really good, really good. And uh,
Lazard Allan Lazard has not caught everything they've thrown at him,
but he was good enough to catch a hill Mary
Monday night. And uh, if he becomes your three now
he is an ebecond player.
Speaker 4 (36:31):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
I think he had the best skill group in the
whole league, including Breese Hall.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
We touched on those guys with Merrill as well, but
not in great detail. And the Jets running game has
been inconsistent. Yes, but Brice Hall seems like an all
or nothing kind of guy, both in the running game
and the passing game. He can break big plays.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
He's very talented.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
And the kid they drafted out of Wisconsin, Braylon Allen
six one two five. He's a thumping change of pace
back and they'll even put him and Haul in the
backfield at the same time on occasion and run something
where Hall is following Alan.
Speaker 3 (37:06):
They hit you and right, that's a pretty good fullback.
Youngest player in the league. Hall's a very adept receiver.
And what I found interesting is if you just single
out the last game with you the only way one
game of coaching changes to analyze the offense did a
lot more in motion play action, and they really featured Hall,
(37:26):
you know, as good.
Speaker 4 (37:27):
As Alan is. I know they like him a lot.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
I'm sure this coaching staff said everything's going to go
through Hall for now you until we get this thing
back on track.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Yeah, he was effective in the run game and in
the past game.
Speaker 7 (37:38):
I want to talk.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
About Rogers a little bit more here before we get
out of here, because I want to frame this the
right way. I'm not trying to disrespect him. No, I
think he is still a capable quarterback. But Matt, he
don't scare me anymore, and he used to terrify me.
Speaker 3 (37:56):
No one's terrified me more other than Pat Mahomes. Be
honest with you, like if I'm picking up teams of
any quarterback I've ever seen. My first picked my Homes.
My second one's Rogers, but not twenty twenty four version. Yeah,
but there's some of it in there, and he will
make throws that few would even try.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
He still throws it in the tight windows. Yes, he's
remarkably at depth. They try to screen the other night
against Buffalo and it was covered. The Bills had sniffed
it out, so Rogers immediately just turned to the other
side and before he got whacked, he flipped it to
his tight end. There was a guy on the other
side that fails safe and the play worked. I mean
(38:35):
he can get from plant to Plan B to Plant
C in the blink of an eye.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Yes, that is not diminished. What I think is diminished is,
of course he's not as twitchy of an athlete. He
was always really sharp in his movements in the pocket,
and we've been talking about this all week. If it's
third and six, he'd get seven yards, slide, hop up,
give you the finger and walk back and break your back.
(39:01):
And frankly, there's more bad plays. I mean, like all
these quarterbacks, Ben included, when you get to that age
and you've been playing this long, they like to get
hit less and less and less.
Speaker 4 (39:14):
And you're just telling his face.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
He exudes that vibe. Yeah, some of his expressions and
body language right are awful to me. I mean, right,
it's like the world has come to an end. Yeah,
because he sup off the ground. Oh he's coiling, yes,
and that can't be positive for his team, right.
Speaker 3 (39:33):
No, And he's always had some of that. I mean,
his football life or thirty for thirty is going to
be remarkable. I mean, he's an odd fellow, but boy
is he have some highlights.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
You know, lately he's had some low lights too, more
than ever. Four interceptions in the last two games, and
in each of those games against Minnesota in England and
then against Buffalo, he had the ball in his hand
at the end of the game, chance to win it,
and he threw it to the other guys.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
Yeah, I mean I've said this a million times this week.
But there was a time when I thought Rogers was
the best quarterback I ever saw.
Speaker 4 (40:10):
I agree, I mean, he was unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
Other than I mean, you know, Unitas and some of those.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
Guys I knew, you know, And I always said I
would put Rogers highlight tape against anyone in the Hall
of Fame. You know that he can go toe to
toe with any one of them, and I could put
his low light tape against anyone in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Now his low light tape is growing rapidly. I mean,
he never threw picks before he's thrown him. Now he is.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
What to expect is brought to you by Brian Patton
and associates. It's all about the benefits, and I'm not
sure what to expect because there's a lot of moving
parts in this one. Yeah, but I see the winning
team scoring in the high twenties, if not the low thirties.
Speaker 3 (40:49):
I tend to agree. I think there's going to be
better in quarterbacks. Will figure it out. You know, there's
town on that f field. I think there might be
some turnovers, a lot of pride, special teams value. Steelers
definitely have a special team's advantage. I just want to
throw that out there so people know better, kicker, better
everything on special teams.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
So are the Russell Wilson Steelers capable of twenty seven,
twenty eight, thirty one, thirty four against a pretty nasty defense.
It's a pretty nasty and statistically accomplished defense.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
And I don't love where the Steelers offensive line's at.
You know, we mentioned Roderck Jones backup center, a lot
of moving parts, yet another you know, starting five. I
think the Jets are really dangerous and I'm probably gonna
pick him to win.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
What to Expect is brought to you by Brian Patton
an Associates. It's all about the benefits. Are we beyond
the Russell Wilson in tangible factor or is that real?
Because I talked to a couple of players about it
this week, they say it's real. I wouldn't expect them
to say no, No, I'm not inspired by this guy
at all. It's just another day at the office. But
(41:52):
I don't know this guy, Matt. I've been doing this
a long time. I haven't been around too many people
that exude the vibe that Russell Wilson exudes. I mean
he's out there before practice. He's talking to everybody in
high five and and dapping and whatever they call what
these guys do. Now, he's bouncing around his energy, energy,
energy positivity. These guy's a different breed of cat man,
(42:14):
I think is I think that's gonna have something of
an uplifting factor.
Speaker 4 (42:20):
I'm sure the huddle will be different.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
And that's a tough question to answer, of course, and
I know that none of us have the exact answer.
But the Steelers have had some procedural issues, I mean,
just on offense, getting plays in, on time, going through progressions, snaps.
I think that stuff will be so much cleaner.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
Is this gonna look let's say it goes well for Wilson,
Is it gonna look dramatically different or will be a
matter of three four five plays that they either haven't
thrown or have overthrown or haven't called that they try
and hit this time around.
Speaker 3 (42:58):
I think, up to the naked eye than you know,
the average watcher on TV, it'll look different. They'll I
think they'll throw into the end zone more, you know,
things like that. I mean, but I also think that
when you break down the all twenty two, if you
really know what you're talking about.
Speaker 4 (43:13):
You'll be like, he.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Went to the right receiver at the right time, how
the play was drawn up, you know much, maybe five
six times a game more, and that's a lot.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
I feel like I've maybe going back to before Ben retired,
when it was Chuck and Duck Ben. I feel like
I've been watching the same game on offense for four years.
Speaker 4 (43:31):
It doesn't matter what the coordinator is or who's taking a snap.
Speaker 2 (43:34):
Quarterbacks. Have they been coached this way? Have they been
reluctant to put the ball at risk? Whatever?
Speaker 4 (43:39):
It's too Definitely some of that.
Speaker 2 (43:41):
Yeah, I want to see somebody let a rip and
take a shot, and again if he does that three
or four times, maybe just extending drives, not scoring on
those plays.
Speaker 4 (43:51):
But even hitting the deep ball or you know.
Speaker 2 (43:54):
The dramatic impact that they're looking for.
Speaker 3 (43:57):
Yeah, and I'm sure some of its attitude, dude, And
of course he's gonna have the utmost respect for coach Tomlin,
but I'm sure there's times Ben or him will come
to the line and be like, I'm not taking it,
I'm not folding this one. I'm going all in. You know,
I've been around the block.
Speaker 4 (44:14):
I know what I'm to do.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
I don't think they're gonna run on third and eight
this time, right, right, great example, right, and settle for
a I think they're gonna try to get the first down.
Speaker 4 (44:23):
Yeah, that's gonna do.
Speaker 2 (44:25):
It for us. Game coming up, can't wait for it. Uh,
this is gonna be something. Uh. And then uh when
that one's done, we'll be back next week to get
you ready for the Steelers against the New York Football Giants.
Thanks to Meryl for chiming in as he always does.
Thanks to Justin Miller for manning, what do you got?
Three screens over there, Couzin more buttons than I can count,
(44:48):
more knobs and switches and I would know what to
do with. But great job keeping us up and running.
And thanks to you for finding us, however and wherever
you found us. Until next week for Matt Williamson, I
might pursue. This has been Steeler's preview right here on
your Steelers flagship one of two point five DVE and
the Steelers Audio Network. Good night, everyone,
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