October 24, 2024 • 44 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Steelers Preview show on WDVE Pittsburgh, brought
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Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the benefits and
by the Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from the
team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now here
are your hosts Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another Thursday night edition is
Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers flagship one of
two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. I'm
Mike Persuda, joined as always by Matt Williamson. Our factor
back Merril Hodge, will belong directly as we get you
ready for Monday night football against the New York Football Giants.
(00:44):
Matt Lato unpack after the Sunday night victory over the
New York Football Jets. Yes, and I used to term
football loosely when associated with the Jets at Akrosher Stadium.
But I want to start with this because I have
written about this subject, I have talked repeatedly about this
subject and I'm going to keep doing it because it
really resonated with me. The emotional reaction of the Steelers
(01:10):
after the block field goal in the third court, everybody
surrounding Dandy Smith, and that was crazy. And then the
Najie Harris touched down inside the two minute warning and
he just bounds into the through the end zone, jumps
into the stands. The offensive line follows them. There was
a vibe and a feeling of exhilaration that I was
that I was sensing from the Steelers. It was almost
(01:32):
almost as if they realized that they have been slogging
along ever since Mitch Trubisky started that opener in Cincinnati
three seasons ago, and trying to play this don't screw
it up on offense and win it with defense and
special teams and find a way in the fourth quarter
and the one blueprint to success.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
And I'm not saying anyone wrong doing that choice.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
But they looked to me like Andy dufrayin at the
end of show, those offensive players they crawled through the
pipe through the Yeah, yeah, it came up clean. And
now what anything is possible?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Now he's on the island with red.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
You know, they got a quarterback I think they have
a quarterback, and I think you're right. I think a
load has been lifted. You know that there's an optimism.
I wasn't at the stadium, but it was electric. I
can imagine after they stopped booing and chanting for Justin Fields. Yeah,
that didn't start so great, but you know, you're honoring
the Super Bowl nineteen Aaron Rodgers in the building, Devnte Adams, by.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
The way, seeing him on the field is still it
still gives me chilling. Yeah right, I can't even describe
the emotion in that. But yeah, that place was pumping.
I think it's going to be pumping again Monday, and
I think the team. The clouds have parted, the rain
has halted, the sun is shining down on number three,
and he's saying, follow me, Fellas.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
And I don't think in any way you're saying Justin
Fields was a burden or he's yeah, I know you're but.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
They handled him in a manner that projected much less
trust than they write.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
And then the guy that's been around the block, it
might go the whole fame, you know. I mean there's
a big difference. I mean, I've been using this example
all week like it's a difference of Richardson versus Flacco
in the Colts game, you know, I mean, and if
you've had success in stadiums for years and decades, I mean,
there's something to be said for that, even just I'm
not on the field, I'm not listening, but just looking
(03:28):
at Russ at the line of scrimmage, getting them into
the right plays, going to the right place with the football.
It wasn't always pretty, especially early on, and but there's
so much to be said for that of all the
operational stuff was a lot cleaner, and that that's how
you drought up.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah, it's funny talking to some of the guys this week.
Pat Fryarmouth mentioned this. He said, me, Dan Moore and
Naji Harris, we've been here a long time, We've had
we've been through some tough times here.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
I guess the kind of the veterans of the offense
with all those guys, Yeah, yeah, they go back to
the last year of Ben twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
The last year of Ben was kind of chucking duck, right,
They don't remember it wasn't franchise Ben Roethlisberger. They've never
had a losing season, but they've also never won a
playoff game, and they have rarely experienced the joy that
they experienced in that game Sunday night. And I think
they're sensing that that is now a reasonable attainable goal
(04:28):
to feel that way at the end of more games
more than once or twice a year.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
And if you can have the foundational stuff that they've
had to live with, don't turn the ball over, block kicks,
play good defense, be the more physical team, win in
the fourth quarter, and all of a sudden, you're throwing
touchdown passes and having at least league average quarterback play.
It's got to be really encouraging.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, I think it's gonna be better than average.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Right, just comparing it to what Dan Moore and farmth
of Seed. You know, right, they have not had average.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
They have not Let's start where we always do with
the practice stuff, even though they is an extra day
this week, so this stuff maybe not. As a boy,
I hate when they do that. It screws everything up.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Roman Wilson hamstring did not practice today.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
He's not gonna play it, right.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I don't know where unfortunate ya. Demante Caysey was a
full participant. Uh Dante Jackson was a full participant. He
left with the shoulder in the Jets game, but probably
could have played it if it was a close game.
Tyler Matakaevich limited today. He's on the clock trying to
come back from the reserve injured list. The same thing
with Dylan Cook. Cordero Patterson was limited. Uh that's the
(05:37):
significant stuff on the Steelers side. The New York Football
Giants have some problems. Well, let's start with their we
sure do, but let's start with their reserve injured list,
which includes their best edge rusher, Caveon Thibodeaux. Their best
offensive lineman, left tackle Andrew Thomas. His whole was the
hole he left was glaring against Philadelphia Sunday. Their kicker,
(06:00):
Graham Gunno is on the reserve injured list.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
They're really bad on special teams. By the way, all
Steelers are really good.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Also, a couple of old friends, defensive back Elijah Riley,
Army Trading Sir and gunner Olshewsky not working for the
Giants today. Cornerback Cordell Flott He's been starting almost all
the games. He's got a groin. Punter Jamie Gillion, he
hasn't played in a while. More special teams. He's trying
(06:28):
to get around the hamstring, but they have an eye
artem Dexter Lawrence, their monstered nose tackle, had a hip.
I assume that's just rest. And then Brian Burns, one
of their outstanding edge rushers, groin slash achilles. He's been
dealing with that for a while. He left the Eagles
game but then came back in. But some significant injuries
on the Giant side and some significant problems, particularly protecting
(06:53):
Daniel Jones, who got sacked seven times by Philadelphia before
he was mercifully again. And Drew Locke went down once
after that.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
And that's what the Giants do best too though they
rushed the passer and they now do not protect the
passer well at all. I mean they they had their
their share of issues, but losing Andrew Thomas was massive.
I mean, like when they played the Bengals, he got
Hendrickson alone every snap. You're you know, you're our franchise
left tackle. I'm not going to help you. We can
(07:23):
help the other guys who are average at best. You
know the other four now, I mean, considering the state
of their left tackle, I don't know how you don't
help him and I don't pronounce his name very well.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
It's a Zuzu or something along that.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Zo Joshua Zudu, third year pro out of North Carolina
was the fill in left tackle. He had played three
offensive snaps before getting throwst He started against the Eagles
against the Eagles, so you have to help him against
high Smith, you have to.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
But then what do you do with what? I mean,
no one's getting more attention than what. I don't know
what you do if you're the Giants, you had just
run two man route concepts or what do you do
seven man for a time?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
I mean, yeah, and tell Jones to, you know, keep
his head on a swivel and keep his track shoes on.
I mean, he's a pretty physical guy. He's got some
escapability athlete, and he can't hurt you running the ball.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
He doesn't feel the rush. Great.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
He's probably their best runner right now, and.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
They run him a lot, and I'm sure his body's
hurting all design as well as Yeah. Yeah, it's one
of the one of their weapons. They throw the two
guys and they don't run very well.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I watched that game against Philly, and you know, as
you just watched the most recent game, I just don't
have the time to do five or eight like the
like the pros do. But Philadelphia I thought played pretty
conservatively with the understanding, or so it seemed. These guys
aren't going to score on us, So we're just gonna
keep punting it until Barkley breaks a run or until
(08:49):
we get one over, until we get a one on
one and we like it and we're gonna throw it over
the top and that's it. They had about four or
five big plays and that was more than enough.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, if I were the I don't know where the
points come from. Neighbors is really I think he's going
to be a star. I mean, I think he's a
really special physical specimen. Wandel Robinson gets a ton of
attention or a ton of short, very short nothing after
the catch out of the slot, and they don't run
the ball well, I mean, they're not going to score
(09:18):
many points.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
You wouldn't think unless the Steelers put it on a
t for him. Yeah. Steelers Preview is brought to you
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(09:39):
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warmed up tonight and when we come back, we'll be
on fire because our factor back, Merril Hodge, will be
with us bringing the heat. With Matt Williamson, Mike Persuda,
(10:04):
this is Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers flagship
one o two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Welcome back to the preview. Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson
getting you ready for Monday Night football. The Steelers and
the New York Football Giants. And yes, I'm going to
continue to call them the New York Football Giants on
each and every reference because that's how I roll. That's
what they still call themselves official they do.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I think it was you saying if you call their
offices right now, they probably pick up the phone right.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
If they pick up the phone. Nobody does that now,
they just let it go to voicemail. See if you
recognize the number, kind of like we did a minute ago.
We recognized, or I should say, our next guest recognized
the number and picked up Merrill Hodge, the star of
our show, Our factor back, Meryl, I'm sorry I even
referenced you as a guest a minute ago. You are
a primetime performer, and as such, you have instructed us
(11:02):
over the years many valuable points that have stuck in
my head, and one of those is you can never
underestimate a professional that's been embarrassed. I watched the Giants
Philly game, and I'm thinking, the Giants qualify. Why should
I be worried?
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Fast protection does well.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
Honestly, here's why I would be concerned. And it's it's
always I think it's it's human nature.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
And I don't care.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
Even if you try, if you know what's coming and
you try to fight against it and prepare your guys
against it, you know, because when they've seen it, you
just it's hard to erase what they've seen. But and
then say no, no, no, don't that's not what you're gonna see. Okay,
you're gonna see this, Okay, they're benna be better like
Dallas for example. I mean Dallas did some things. They
(11:53):
came into Pittsburgh and did some things they hadn't done
all year. I mean, there's no evidence that they were
going to come in may be able to stop the
run the way they did with their front send and
then run the ball like they did and orchustrate you know,
a great King game.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
You know, there was no evidence you are correct, absolutely
zero getting that Colts game.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
You know.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
I mean so you know, I always didn't always remind
people this is the NFL. It's not you know, this
is regardless of their record, regardless of there's like not
somebody that you're saying, boy, like you know their radio shows.
I'm sure they're talking about Heigh Smith and Watt and
cam Hey, you know, and Meeka. You know, there's a
lot of guys defensively, you know then as Russell Wilson
(12:38):
and Nause and Jalen and you know picking. You know,
we got some guys that stand out. I mean neighbors do.
I mean, they're they're rookie. I mean he's yeah, he
has potential to be I loved you I think he
was my favorite wide receiver, and actually wasn't even watching
wide receivers when I noticed him. I was watching quarterbacks.
I was like, who's that Guy's? Like, I don't I
(13:00):
don't even have my list of myide receivers.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
So that's like, that's that's the best way to evaluate,
isn't it Just let a guy.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Come to you pop off the screen?
Speaker 6 (13:07):
Yeah, shoots Adrian Peterson the same way. I was watching
somebody and I'm like, man, who's that running back?
Speaker 5 (13:13):
That dude's good.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
I got started watching anyway, going back to the Giants,
but they got NFL players, they got NFL coaches, and
they've they've had some games where you know, I'm watching
against Cleveland. You know, they just destroyed Cleveland. I mean
they they had man handled him through them all over
the place in Cleveland. And they are a very good
football team, I will grant you that. But they slapped
(13:38):
him around, you know, So you can't you can't just
assume that you're going to get what you got. Feel
that's well, that's why all those guys will watch four
games too, you know, and Cleveland may be one of them.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
So you mentioned him briefly, But the elephant in the
room is Russell Wilson. You know, how did you think
he played when you really dug into the All twenty
two and what do you see differently?
Speaker 6 (14:00):
Well, that guy he did exactly what I think they
were expecting. They were frustrated by. I think a lot
of the plays that were not that difficult that Justin
was leaving on the field. You know, some big chunks,
you know, and Russell just throes with a little more anticipation,
(14:21):
a lot more actually, and he has different throws, you know,
which allowed him to complete some balls in his experience.
You know, you can't deny that, you know that played
a role in it. And you know how he played
in the second half. You know, his first half he
was you know as an offense, they were you know,
you could tell he hadn't played for a while, rightfully,
(14:41):
So who does I don't never see anybody who hasn't
played for will come in and played great. Don't care
out of talent there. So in the second half, I
just think they got exactly.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
What they were hoping for.
Speaker 6 (14:53):
You got another you got another layer of offense in the
passing game that challenges the defenses to have to defend.
You know, and the more phases that you have in your team,
the harder you are to defend, you know, like I
do like to use the Ravens a lot or tore Detroit.
You know, they have so many phases of their offense,
(15:13):
Like he just can't take them all away. You know,
you got to select which ones are most dangerous, which
ones do you would you like to neutralize that? Maybe
give you the biggest issue. And he ain't got manage arrest.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
You know.
Speaker 6 (15:25):
So and the Studos needed some other phases to their
passing game, and Russell showed that he I think ever
expected that, and I'm sure their coaches that's why they
did what they did, because they're like, we just can't
keep leaving this on here and move ourselves up as
a team justin probably not going to get there this year.
So let's see if Russell came, because we know we've
(15:47):
already seen he can do it, because he you know,
when he was at his best is when, which.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Is another thing I think they did a good job of.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
They kept him in his laying, you know, they kept
him right where he was at his best in Seattle,
you know, feeding off of run action.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
They did.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
They did some wrinkles with their boot action, their movement,
which you know they've done. Russell's done about everything no
mankind from that perspective, you know, being six foot, you
know you have to do that sometimes and he.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
Does it well.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
So continued he grown, Yes he was.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
Is that give him?
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Did I give him an inch?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I think he's a little bit whatever they listened at,
but hadn't been a problem so far.
Speaker 6 (16:30):
Yeah, he might be, but I think they got exactly
what they were hoping they were going to get, and
it did show up on Dave you and didn't miss
a lot of throws that were there and and chunk throws.
Speaker 5 (16:42):
Too, you know, in big.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
Plays, and you know, so that's that's what they needed.
I know that that they're expecting home before and they
got it.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Merrol, we talked fairly extensively last week about Ryan McCollum
to fill in center, and you had mentioned that, you know,
when he first place Fraser due to injury, the thing
didn't come crashing to a halt because he was in
there and he was credible on his twenty snaps. Mike
Tomlin gave McCollum two thumbs up for his performance against
(17:12):
the Jets second career start first with the Steelers, but
the game changes this week. This week he gets or
Monday night actually, so technically it's next week. Uh three
and forty two pounds of Dexter Lawrence at nose tackle,
who is tough against the run and has an NFL
high nine sacks. How does the game change for Ryan
(17:35):
McCollum and how might it for the Steelers? Dealing with
Lawrence and some pretty good edge guys. They did well,
see if you rush the pass.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Well, you know they do get after the pass, you know,
and they do it in the right.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
Away individually Barty Mansion. But they have some pressures that
they they bring that they execute very well.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
In the skies.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
You know, you're gonna to be buttoned up everywhere. You like,
severs your linemen. You know, the one thing, uh that
you know you can get help you know where you
need it on the offensive line, you know, through a
back or an uncovered offensive lineman or how you're slide.
You know he's not gonna be on him all the
(18:16):
time just solo. You know.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
That they're not just going to say good luck.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
It's like the.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Most yeah, yeah, you don't do that.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
Yeah, And it's a little easier in there, you know,
you know's not I mean, and you you can drop
it back here. We we've done that before. We'd help
our center if we felt like we needed to. So
from like a running back, drop him down. Now. Ideally,
you know you're slide one way or the other at times.
If you've got two guards that are uncovered that you know,
(18:46):
they keep their guards uncovered when they're in their three four,
you know you're gonna have somebody that's uncovered that can
help out. So but there could be times you got
a block a guy, you know, you know sixty two
and sixty six. Really I played with some great energy.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Man.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
You know, I like their energy too. They do a
great job, but they play so spunk. I do like
that and you can feel it. You can see it there.
They get excited about plays. They they run around helping
everybody up off.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
The ball, you know. So I like that about them many,
you know what.
Speaker 6 (19:21):
I'm telling you. After one series, actually I stopped worrying
about it and last week, you know, and he'll be fine,
He'll be fine this week with there'll be a time
maybe he doesn't win, but I'll shoot that at that's
gonna happen no matter who you line up against. Some
you know, sixty snaps, you don't win them all.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
So the Giants t is the youngest in the league.
They allow a ton of big plays, but they do
rush the passer. Well, are you seeing communication errors? That's
why I brought the youth. Are you seeing lack of tackling? Yeah,
assignment sound stuff.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
It was a little both last year, you know, and
then I'm trying to think what game it was I
was watching it. You know, it's usually this a lot
of self inflicted stuff. You know, to your point, You're
exactly right. You know, they they do get at you know,
they probably you know, this might be the first time
people are hearing this, are like, really the Giants get
after the quarter?
Speaker 5 (20:13):
Yeah, you know that without.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Lawrence Taylor's they they they do do a good guys
doing the Cleveland game, I mean, they just they did
not have an answer for them. You know, they could
not block them and they cannot take care of them.
Now what Cleveland didn't have either, And teams that can't
run the football on them have the biggest problem on them.
(20:35):
That's why, like, if you ever want to neutralized thing
I'm talked about controlling the tempo and and minimizing what
a defense can do to you to just smack them
around a little bit, you know, with running the football.
You know, don't let them get used to keying off
and pitting their ears back and not having to worry
about anything but getting after the quarterback. You give them
something else to think about, You make them do things
(20:56):
that they really don't want to do. Then then that
the game gets shifted, you know. That's why I think
it's the most important that they continue to build on
what they've done in their running game aspect, and that
becomes a critical force to win this game.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yeah, it was interesting, you know, Saquon Barkley obviously an
emotional game for him, playing at MetLife Stadium against his
old team for the Eagles. He ends up with one
hundred and seventy six yards, but he had runs of
fifty five, thirty eight, and forty one.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
They give up a lot a chunk around.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Yeah, you take those three away, which of course you
can't do. But otherwise it was fourteen for thirty eight,
which is pretty good run defense unless they totally broke down.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
They do a lot of that really. Yeah, actually, and
you're right, well, I tell you what they did. What
Philly did is you know, they were trying to run
a bunch of inside zones on them initially, and then
all of a sudden they said match. Your point is
(22:03):
is they went to the perimeter, and they did not.
They did not play the edge well, did they not.
They did not contain well, and that that started from
your edge guy to your support guy. None of them
played very well. And once they rope a door from there,
hit him there, then they come right back at him
and red at him where they've been inside all entire game, insider, inside,
all stuff. And then they started creasing. You know, So
(22:26):
that tich you got to do as a play doll
or two. You know, you've got to start somewhere where
you you like it, whatever why you like it, for
whatever reason you like it, say your guys are better
than their guys there, So let's try it here. It
doesn't work out. We have to have o different ways
to attack. And I go back to phases. So I
you know, in the running game, you know, strong side
(22:46):
week side, you gotta be good at both, you know,
inside outside gott be good at both. You know, So
something's not working. We got to go to something else,
and that's Ahilly, don't say hit them on the big
perimeter run. They just came right back and hit right
in the mouth in the middle, and that's where he
got a second bigger run. And then they you could
tell that they had him on the ropes. But but
you're right up to that point, shoot.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
They couldn't.
Speaker 6 (23:07):
I mean it was like one in two yard runs.
So that's a big component in this game because they're
not they don't run the ball all that well. No,
you know twenty nine, I think twenty nine. You said
twenty nine. That to me is a tough runner, man, Like,
you can't. I can't sleep on him because he breaks tackles, man, don't.
So don't sleep on that kid. He's a I can't
(23:29):
think anything. He's Kelly or Tracy the rookie.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
I don't know numbers, rook like Tracy Tracy Warren Singletary.
Speaker 6 (23:37):
Yeah, see yeah, they do what it's twenty nine. You're right, man,
that's Tracy. See you you know names, I know numbers.
I don't know names.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
I don't know numbers.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
Guy has no numbers. I'm like, I know it's twenty nine.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
Twenty nine is like okay, you better not sleep on
that kid, because he breaks that you run. He's tough,
you know, so and neighbors. You know, you don't think
people know who he is from LSU. I mean that
kid means the electric buying dynamic. You know what what
I paid a little more attention to him. I just
want to watch him, and I think he's kind of
(24:09):
sloppy and lazy, and that can be part.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
You know, when you're.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Really good in college and you played, you know, at
the highest level in college, you I think you can
walk in the NFL and think you can play like that,
and you just can't. He just can't, you know. I
mean I would think you will, you'll, he'll wake up
to how you have to be a pro. But I
catch him at times just being sloppy off the ball
(24:34):
and lazy. He just looks lethargic. You know, there's nothing
You're not a pro right now, let's just put it
that way. What's your taking it's dangerous.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I was gonna say he's had a couple hundred yard
games and a couple of really high volume target games
fifteen against Dallas and eighteen against Washington, which, by the way,
they held Washington without a touchdown and still found a
way to lose.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Every past goes to neighbors and want of Robinson.
Speaker 6 (25:02):
End.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
You know, you're a point about their defense when they
have done some things.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Oh yeah, they got some They have some players on
this team, though they have some building blocks.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
Yeah, you know, they they caught Washington.
Speaker 5 (25:11):
I will say this though, because because because we're going to.
Speaker 6 (25:14):
See Washington after the bye, and that ain't the same
offense they saw. I'm gonna promise you this. The Giants
got them at the right time. They're not gonna I
bet you they don't do this. Don't do it the
second time, the second round, even though it's a divisional game,
because you always, you know, you guys know how the
divisional oponents are. Regardless and what they've done, it just
seems to be a tighter match. I think that next
(25:37):
match up, I don't think. I don't think they're going
to handle Washington like they did the first one.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
So Daniel Jones was obviously under extreme pressure last week,
and I think he will be this week. But he's
also gone backwards in my opinion. Where are you at
on Daniel Jones?
Speaker 6 (25:54):
Yeah, you know I was never what I really didn't
like him coming out of.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
Dude, I didn't.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
I just I there was just I was bothered by
a bunch of things.
Speaker 6 (26:03):
I'm not going to get into it now. They're irrelevant now,
but you know, watching them and how they go about well,
let's go back to this. So they really don't have
a dominant running game. But it isn't like they they
don't lean on they don't try it. You just you know,
it's almost spreadic and you're then he's making it harder
(26:23):
on the kid. You know, really he's you know, he's
he's a compliment too. He needs to be a compliment
of an offense. He doesn't have the skills to carry
your team and offset deficiencies. And then he and when
they get it, they get him into a lot of trouble.
And both edge guys will tackle guys struggle. So you know,
(26:44):
coming into this game, what do you think they're going
to do when you're tied end, We're gonna have to
stay in. Your back's gonna have to stay in. They're
at their best when they just get two guys out anyway,
you know, but you're going to do that so much
and survive against you know, a team right for the
steel She could killed that. You might give him a
couple of times if you ain't gonna get him all day, Marylyn.
(27:07):
It's it's a lot, it's a bit. It's a big
ass for the Giant. They got a lot to a
lot of problems front that's not going to be fixed
by Monday.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
They have a cornerback out of Maryland, Deontay Banks. It
was a second year guy. Speed guy doesn't really tackle
from what I can tell, but.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
The tron pick type, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
They had him matched up on A. J. Brown and
he did a real good job until it was fourth
and three, and then the Eagles just motioned Brown to
the other side of the field and Banks didn't follow him.
Boom touchdown down the sideline. Dc A Banks Pickings match
up and do the Steelers go with that anyway? Just
(27:49):
to kind of keep the good times rolling with Pickens?
Or is this a game where some of these other
guys that we were hoping Russell Wilson might activate continue
to get activated. I'm talking about Calvin Austin Van Johnson.
Maybe even the Backs a little bit more than they
did the other night with that big pass rush, Maybe
that dumped out in the flat comes more into play
in this game.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
And the screen game could be a big part of
slowing people down. I think they've got to continue to
build on that. You know, you got to get compliments.
You know, we want to talk about phases, so where
phases are short, short, intermediate, and explosive, and then there's
in the middle of the field outside the numbers, you know,
inside the numbers, so there's all different areas to attack
(28:33):
on the field too that there's your phases. How good
can we be at all of that?
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Well, one guy can't do all of that for you.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
Pikets obviously has a lot of things covered with explosive
plays being one of them and getting those other guys
a part of that, which I think actually you're going
to start seeing now now that Russell start you know,
playing because they know he can do that and they've
seen it. Isn't like they're developing in like they're really
were dealing with justin so you can build on that.
(29:00):
That's when it was hard the matchup that you talked about,
funny sut. When I saw that plays, I was wondering
why they didn't do it more and sooner, to be
honest with you, when I watched it, I was like, well,
what took him so long?
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Brown? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (29:13):
H just you know, if they're not going to flip
him and carrying, you know anyway, but we're not. Who
cares that's Eagles anyway, I.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Guess, yeah, well just embra your teeth. Yeah, we'll care
about that.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
But I was just a little surprised this one and
that you bring that that playout because that's my first time, Like, well,
it takes so long to do that. But if they
want him to match up against George, I think this
is how I would look at it.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
I'm comfortable.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
I like George. I think he's better. But if you listen,
he's having a day, then let's find ways to help
you too. And I think you alway should try to
find ways to help your guys and you know, give
him the best advantage possible. But then that's why you
got good guys, and you think you're the best, is
you can beat the best, So let's go beating.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
So the Steelers run games a lot more than outside zone,
and I think that they're trapping and pulling is still
what they do best. But do you think the outside
zone game specifically is getting better?
Speaker 5 (30:17):
Yeah? You know, matter.
Speaker 6 (30:18):
I think it all is is getting better, and I'm
glad that they you know, they have those man options
you know, or the man balking schemes. I'm always unless
you're you will keep in mind, I mean the insights,
I mean the zone concept. Boy, that is done well
is I think very very complete because how you can
(30:42):
throw off of it, you know, and then the options
to run it, even though I think the counters the
ultimate way the best run in football, but it requires
like a really close unit. You know, your five guys
up front, including your tight end, and even you know,
if you if you got to pull back in the back,
he's got to be like a runner, he just doesn't
(31:03):
have the ball. And then your runner has to really
understand it, you know, he's got to be threatening the
perimeter and knowing when to you know, plant that foot
and go.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
You know.
Speaker 6 (31:11):
So there's a lot of work that it takes to
be that good at it, and with these guys you know,
so uncertain with their officed line, I've always thought that
the demand blocking schemes are a much better way to
have some success and and takes a pressure off your guys,
you know, with not making blocks that point of attack
(31:35):
which happened, you know, early in the year, top of
it happened, not happening as much late in the year.
And they're getting better at that. So it's a good
job of coaching, you know, adding that stuff in there,
helping your guys out to get a rhythm. And once
you start become a little more confident one thing, it
is easier to build on another. But I like what
they're doing that on the strong side, the weak side,
(31:59):
and the outside zone. I think they mix it up well.
I think Arthur calls, you know, keeps it, keeps them
at bay, you know, with what he he tries to
do and with what he has and what he what
he has access to.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Meryl. That was thoughtful, insightful, detailed. That was so good.
I'm going to give you next Thursday off executive decisions, all.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Right, all right, and climb up in.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
A tree and shoot it stuff kill stuff.
Speaker 6 (32:28):
Okay, Well, next next week at this time, that's exactly
where I'd be. I will be in and and actually
this is prime time, by the way, because the sun
is going down about right now.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
So I like you boy, I like your chances. Mary
will talk to you eventually.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
Okay, guys, take care of men, go steal his boys.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Meryl Hodge our factor back. Well, he does like to
break it down, doesn't he.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (32:50):
I like listening listening to him do it. Uh, still
got some ground to cover as we continue getting you
ready for the Steelers in the New York Football Giants
Monday Night Football at a Chrishier Stadium with Matt Williamson,
Mike Persuda. This is Steelers Preview right here on your
Steelers flagship one of two point five DVE and the
(33:10):
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Welcome back Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson getting ready for
Monday Night football. Gob has had a big deal when
I was a little kid and.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
That started, Oh yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
I can't tell you how that changed my life.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
I don't remember when it started, but it was the
game of the week. Yeah cosel you know that was
an event every week.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
So my uncle pretty good now.
Speaker 4 (33:40):
But my uncle's a little older than me and he
kind of got me into football way back when, and
he hates it. There's all these night games just because
there should be the Monday night game, you know, like
and just stand alone. I'll take one. I'll take a month.
I'll take a night game seven days a week. Be
fine with me, but I'm with you on the Monday
night or being special. I don't like him in college
so much. Yeah understand, Yeah, TV is what it is,
(34:05):
right right, it's programming. I don't watch as much call
as i'd like.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Are What to Expect? Segment is brought to you by
Brian Patton in Associates. It's all about the benefits and
Matt here's what I expect. All that emotion, all that
excitement that Andy duframe reference Pat Pryan, We've crawling through
a hundred yards to get clean. I think they go
back to conservative Steelers for this game. I would play
(34:32):
it the way Philly played it, because these guys are
not going to score on you unless you screw up
and give them short fields or give them defensive scores.
So just bang away as necessary and punt the ball
and let your defense do what it should do and
outlast them and beat them seventeen to three, twenty to six.
(34:54):
Something that's way less exciting than we saw in the
second half against the Jets. And it's not going to
be the you know, the oh why and Russell Wilson
gets his second start, and he should be better because
the rust is off and they're.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
Gonna throw it all over touchdowns and forty points.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
I don't see that kind of plan.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
I don't either. I do think deep shots are coming.
You know, that doesn't mean that that's that doesn't mean
that you're super aggressive and putting the ball on Harm's way.
But I do think they'll throw the ball down the field,
probably off play action a fair amount. Giants defense, we
haven't really touched on this, but they allow so many
big plays through the air and especially on the ground,
So I think that'll come.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
If they don't get the sack. You know. Yeah, we
just had marill On and he always likes to say, Okay,
you had twenty sacks, what did you do on the
other Yeah, if you're thousand snats or whatever, however, you.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
Dashed for eight yards of playing for the rest of them,
you got problems.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
And then, you know, we talked about what happened with Barkley.
I mean that I can remember when I was in college,
I took football coaching classes at Michigan State and the
lectures were delivered by the assistant coaches.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Okay, I like the Titan gun Gum that day or whatever.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah, Steve Fernss was one of the guys. Oh cool.
He played for the guy who was the head coach
at the time, George Pearlis, when he was defensive coordinator here.
For Ness played for the Steelers. He worked at Michigan
State and we had a D line class one time.
You know, it was a different position every Week's cool
And one of the things he really emphasized was when
you play a great back. And I think Michigan State
(36:22):
was playing Notre Name the next Saturday, and they had
a guy by the name Alan Pinkett who was in
college in the early eighties, and for Ness emphasized, it's
an all day deal with the running back. You can't
stop them eighteen times and let them go for eighty
yards on the nineteenth carry, or it defeats the purpose
(36:43):
going with Barkley, and that's what they did. There might
be a little of that with Najie Harris as well.
I don't know that at the home runs Barkley does,
but he can hit some gap shots like he's been
doing it.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
They're definitely more Chunk runs from the Steelers have been
a theme as well. I could see Warren Algenham for
twenty here and there as well.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
The thing that I fear most is the Giants pass rush.
I mean, could there be strip sacks? Could there be
man we can't block these guys. I mean that's a possibility.
But other than that, I don't see a lot else.
I mean, even special teams greatly favors the Steelers turnovers.
History shows that the Steelers probably will get a few.
(37:25):
They'll probably get them sacks, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Home on Monday Night, Jones in primetime, Tomlin versus the NFC. Any.
There are all kinds of stats of them. Steelers should
win this game, but I just I don't think it's
going to be as pretty or as exciting as that
second half that just that became giddy.
Speaker 4 (37:46):
I don't think it's thirty doing whatever they want. You know,
Chunk plays all over the place rights and I would
play a conservative.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
What to Expect is brought to you by Brian Patton
and associates. It's all about the benefits. Let's talk about
that Giants pass rush, because that is the thing that
theoretically can screw this game up. Brian burns really good
players off the edge. He'll line up on either side.
Azizjlari is the other edge guy with Thibodeau still on
(38:13):
ir He plays with his hand in the ground a
lot of times. They can basically give you a four
man front look sometimes five. He'll also switch sides, as
Burns does.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
He's a good player to second round pick.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
These guys have have some quicks, they have some length.
Burns in particular, he had four tackles, a sack, a
tackle for a lost, two quarterback hits, and a pass
defense against Philly and he didn't play the entire game.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Yeah. Yeah, I would line him up against Broderick a lot.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
I mean, we haven't talked much Broderick Jones, but he
struggling a little bit, to say the least. I mean,
I would challenge him with Burns.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
Right game for him or an oh no game?
Speaker 3 (38:46):
No. I mean again, they're.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
Good, he rise to the occasion or are we way in?
Speaker 3 (38:52):
But I'm betting on their edge guys.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's one of the biggest
advantages they have, as well as Lawrence. Of course, Burns
a top ten edge pass rusher. There's easily maybe a
little bit higher than that.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
What did you see that you'd like the most from Wilson.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Command understanding, knowing where to go to the ball at
the line of scrimmage. Frankly, I didn't love how he
threw the ball. I mean, his arm strength worries me
a little. I know, we can't say anything bad about anybody.
I mean, he didn't have a lot of power throws.
He had throws far down down the field, but he
didn't drive the ball.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
I'm I've seen him.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
Do it, watching him live at camp and stuff like that.
I'm like, I didn't think it was a problem, but
I didn't, so I think that's fair to say. But yeah,
I mean all those things were tremendous. I mean, and
he was under a lot of pressure early too, and
he can still move. He knows where the pressure is
coming from. I mean that's I found that funny. And
people are like, he used to get killed behind that line,
(39:55):
Like he's not a statue. He was once like the
most athletic corps in the league, and even if he's
seventy five percent of that, he can still move.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
That's what I like the most about him, met is
his pocket ability to navigate the pocket that was.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
Where it's coming from.
Speaker 2 (40:11):
And I heard that that fear as you had heard,
Oh he's gonna get the line is a little uncertain,
and this guy's out and that guy's out and he's
gonna get killed.
Speaker 4 (40:20):
Back there, Fields, a better athlete, gets sacked one time,
sacked once. I mean, yes, Field's a better athlete. But
Wilson has a better feel.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
And I think part of that. Even in the best
of times for him, he's always been the height that
he is. Yeah, so he's had to move even when
there isn't pressure, just to set up a lane, absolutely,
and he knows how to do that, and he's.
Speaker 3 (40:39):
He doesn't know how to be six or five.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Yeah, but his footwork is fine and as you said,
his ability to feel the rush, yeah, to make place.
Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator, was talking today about his
favorite play now. For me, it was the deep ball
to George Pickens, the forty four yarder because the trust
his guys. The Jets were playing Sauce Gardner on Pickens
most of the time, and then for some reason they
(41:02):
had Sauce switched sides and they put Brian eckles on.
I don't know what stills I'd call, but it was
one on one down the sideline and they threw it
and it was a fifty to fifty ball and Pickens
caught it. But the one Arthur Smith really liked was
the little bootleg. And Smith said today that was supposed
to be a run, and the defensive end read it
and sealed it. So Wilson James got down on one
(41:26):
side arm and hit friar mouth and stride and that
became a big play. As Arthur put it. Russell reliing
on his baseball background. But he can make the throws,
he can make the correct throws, he can make the
correct decisions.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
I just don't think this game they're going to ask
him to take a lot of chance.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
I don't think he has to be superman at all.
I mean, I think this is back to Merrill actually
kind of mentioned it too. They a lot of what
they did was early career Russell Wilson at Seattle Marshawn Lynch,
legion of Boom. You know, he's been down this road.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
You know.
Speaker 3 (41:59):
I think that's the way they'll play this one.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
You can win that way.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
Heck yeah, they had won that way right right right.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
The other thing that you mentioned the special teams, and
I would be remiss the other topic that I've been
beaten like a dead horse all week. These block kicks
to amazing. They have my attention. I mean, this is special.
They should have had two, no pun intended. Yeah right,
this is a weapon I think they had. This is
going to happen in late December or maybe in January
(42:28):
in a really big game, and it's going to be impactful.
Speaker 4 (42:31):
And it went back to last year and the year before.
I mean, like they consistently get their hands on football.
It's not gonna happen every week. They're not gonna get
two a week. If they get two more over the
course of the year, that's a ton and they're massive
game changing plays.
Speaker 2 (42:44):
Yeah, as you mentioned, they should have had two. Mike
Tomlin confirming on Tuesday that the NFL office agreed it
was a call that should not have been made on
Mika Fitzpatrick on the blocked extra point for.
Speaker 4 (42:55):
It didn't really matter, but when going into half, I'm
saying this should have been a twelve to twelve game. Yeah,
I thought, man, they're gonna regret that one.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
Yeah, two point swing, but they worked around it. That
is gonna do it for us. I want to thank
Justin Miller, the man who is not behind the glass
because he's right across the area table from us, but
he has what one, two, three screens over there and
a board that you could use to run a jet airplane,
and he pushes all the right buttons. Appreciate having Merrill
(43:25):
on as always, and we appreciate you finding us. However,
and wherever you found us. There will be no show
next week.
Speaker 4 (43:33):
There will not because there's a bye week and hopefully
there's a win in the meantime. Speaking for the entirety
of the program, we could use one.
Speaker 3 (43:40):
Yeah, what if there's a losso that'd be a long
two weeks. You lose the Giants. Can't let that happen.
Speaker 2 (43:44):
I'm still taking the week off even if that's gonna
do it for us. We'll talk to you again in
advance of the Steelers visit to our nation's capital to
take on the Washington Commanders. Until then, for Matt Williamson
and Merrill. Mike, you have been listening to Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one O two point
(44:05):
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 direct from the
team at shop dot Steelers dot com. And now here
are your hosts Merril Hodge, Matt Williamson and Mike Persuda.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good evening and welcome to another Thursday night edition is
Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers flagship one of
two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. I'm
Mike Persuda, joined as always by Matt Williamson. Our factor
back Merril Hodge, will belong directly as we get you
ready for Monday night football against the New York Football Giants.
(00:44):
Matt Lato unpack after the Sunday night victory over the
New York Football Jets. Yes, and I used to term
football loosely when associated with the Jets at Akrosher Stadium.
But I want to start with this because I have
written about this subject, I have talked repeatedly about this
subject and I'm going to keep doing it because it
really resonated with me. The emotional reaction of the Steelers
(01:10):
after the block field goal in the third court, everybody
surrounding Dandy Smith, and that was crazy. And then the
Najie Harris touched down inside the two minute warning and
he just bounds into the through the end zone, jumps
into the stands. The offensive line follows them. There was
a vibe and a feeling of exhilaration that I was
that I was sensing from the Steelers. It was almost
(01:32):
almost as if they realized that they have been slogging
along ever since Mitch Trubisky started that opener in Cincinnati
three seasons ago, and trying to play this don't screw
it up on offense and win it with defense and
special teams and find a way in the fourth quarter
and the one blueprint to success.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
And I'm not saying anyone wrong doing that choice.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
But they looked to me like Andy dufrayin at the
end of show, those offensive players they crawled through the
pipe through the Yeah, yeah, it came up clean. And
now what anything is possible?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Now he's on the island with red.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
You know, they got a quarterback I think they have
a quarterback, and I think you're right. I think a
load has been lifted. You know that there's an optimism.
I wasn't at the stadium, but it was electric. I
can imagine after they stopped booing and chanting for Justin Fields. Yeah,
that didn't start so great, but you know, you're honoring
the Super Bowl nineteen Aaron Rodgers in the building, Devnte Adams, by.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
The way, seeing him on the field is still it
still gives me chilling. Yeah right, I can't even describe
the emotion in that. But yeah, that place was pumping.
I think it's going to be pumping again Monday, and
I think the team. The clouds have parted, the rain
has halted, the sun is shining down on number three,
and he's saying, follow me, Fellas.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
And I don't think in any way you're saying Justin
Fields was a burden or he's yeah, I know you're but.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
They handled him in a manner that projected much less
trust than they write.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
And then the guy that's been around the block, it
might go the whole fame, you know. I mean there's
a big difference. I mean, I've been using this example
all week like it's a difference of Richardson versus Flacco
in the Colts game, you know, I mean, and if
you've had success in stadiums for years and decades, I mean,
there's something to be said for that, even just I'm
not on the field, I'm not listening, but just looking
(03:28):
at Russ at the line of scrimmage, getting them into
the right plays, going to the right place with the football.
It wasn't always pretty, especially early on, and but there's
so much to be said for that of all the
operational stuff was a lot cleaner, and that that's how
you drought up.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah, it's funny talking to some of the guys this week.
Pat Fryarmouth mentioned this. He said, me, Dan Moore and
Naji Harris, we've been here a long time, We've had
we've been through some tough times here.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
I guess the kind of the veterans of the offense
with all those guys, Yeah, yeah, they go back to
the last year of Ben twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
The last year of Ben was kind of chucking duck, right,
They don't remember it wasn't franchise Ben Roethlisberger. They've never
had a losing season, but they've also never won a
playoff game, and they have rarely experienced the joy that
they experienced in that game Sunday night. And I think
they're sensing that that is now a reasonable attainable goal
(04:28):
to feel that way at the end of more games
more than once or twice a year.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
And if you can have the foundational stuff that they've
had to live with, don't turn the ball over, block kicks,
play good defense, be the more physical team, win in
the fourth quarter, and all of a sudden, you're throwing
touchdown passes and having at least league average quarterback play.
It's got to be really encouraging.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, I think it's gonna be better than average.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Right, just comparing it to what Dan Moore and farmth
of Seed. You know, right, they have not had average.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
They have not Let's start where we always do with
the practice stuff, even though they is an extra day
this week, so this stuff maybe not. As a boy,
I hate when they do that. It screws everything up.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Roman Wilson hamstring did not practice today.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
He's not gonna play it, right.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I don't know where unfortunate ya. Demante Caysey was a
full participant. Uh Dante Jackson was a full participant. He
left with the shoulder in the Jets game, but probably
could have played it if it was a close game.
Tyler Matakaevich limited today. He's on the clock trying to
come back from the reserve injured list. The same thing
with Dylan Cook. Cordero Patterson was limited. Uh that's the
(05:37):
significant stuff on the Steelers side. The New York Football
Giants have some problems. Well, let's start with their we
sure do, but let's start with their reserve injured list,
which includes their best edge rusher, Caveon Thibodeaux. Their best
offensive lineman, left tackle Andrew Thomas. His whole was the
hole he left was glaring against Philadelphia Sunday. Their kicker,
(06:00):
Graham Gunno is on the reserve injured list.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
They're really bad on special teams. By the way, all
Steelers are really good.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Also, a couple of old friends, defensive back Elijah Riley,
Army Trading Sir and gunner Olshewsky not working for the
Giants today. Cornerback Cordell Flott He's been starting almost all
the games. He's got a groin. Punter Jamie Gillion, he
hasn't played in a while. More special teams. He's trying
(06:28):
to get around the hamstring, but they have an eye
artem Dexter Lawrence, their monstered nose tackle, had a hip.
I assume that's just rest. And then Brian Burns, one
of their outstanding edge rushers, groin slash achilles. He's been
dealing with that for a while. He left the Eagles
game but then came back in. But some significant injuries
on the Giant side and some significant problems, particularly protecting
(06:53):
Daniel Jones, who got sacked seven times by Philadelphia before
he was mercifully again. And Drew Locke went down once
after that.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
And that's what the Giants do best too though they
rushed the passer and they now do not protect the
passer well at all. I mean they they had their
their share of issues, but losing Andrew Thomas was massive.
I mean, like when they played the Bengals, he got
Hendrickson alone every snap. You're you know, you're our franchise
left tackle. I'm not going to help you. We can
(07:23):
help the other guys who are average at best. You
know the other four now, I mean, considering the state
of their left tackle, I don't know how you don't
help him and I don't pronounce his name very well.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
It's a Zuzu or something along that.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Zo Joshua Zudu, third year pro out of North Carolina
was the fill in left tackle. He had played three
offensive snaps before getting throwst He started against the Eagles
against the Eagles, so you have to help him against
high Smith, you have to.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
But then what do you do with what? I mean,
no one's getting more attention than what. I don't know
what you do if you're the Giants, you had just
run two man route concepts or what do you do
seven man for a time?
Speaker 2 (08:01):
I mean, yeah, and tell Jones to, you know, keep
his head on a swivel and keep his track shoes on.
I mean, he's a pretty physical guy. He's got some
escapability athlete, and he can't hurt you running the ball.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
He doesn't feel the rush. Great.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
He's probably their best runner right now, and.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
They run him a lot, and I'm sure his body's
hurting all design as well as Yeah. Yeah, it's one
of the one of their weapons. They throw the two
guys and they don't run very well.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I watched that game against Philly, and you know, as
you just watched the most recent game, I just don't
have the time to do five or eight like the
like the pros do. But Philadelphia I thought played pretty
conservatively with the understanding, or so it seemed. These guys
aren't going to score on us, So we're just gonna
keep punting it until Barkley breaks a run or until
(08:49):
we get one over, until we get a one on
one and we like it and we're gonna throw it over
the top and that's it. They had about four or
five big plays and that was more than enough.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah, if I were the I don't know where the
points come from. Neighbors is really I think he's going
to be a star. I mean, I think he's a
really special physical specimen. Wandel Robinson gets a ton of
attention or a ton of short, very short nothing after
the catch out of the slot, and they don't run
the ball well, I mean, they're not going to score
(09:18):
many points.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
You wouldn't think unless the Steelers put it on a
t for him. Yeah. Steelers Preview is brought to you
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the latest game day necessities at the official Steelers Pro Shops.
Get the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys, Terrible towels, authentic memorabilia
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(09:39):
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warmed up tonight and when we come back, we'll be
on fire because our factor back, Merril Hodge, will be
with us bringing the heat. With Matt Williamson, Mike Persuda,
(10:04):
this is Steelers Preview right here on your Steelers flagship
one o two point five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Welcome back to the preview. Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson
getting you ready for Monday Night football. The Steelers and
the New York Football Giants. And yes, I'm going to
continue to call them the New York Football Giants on
each and every reference because that's how I roll. That's
what they still call themselves official they do.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I think it was you saying if you call their
offices right now, they probably pick up the phone right.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
If they pick up the phone. Nobody does that now,
they just let it go to voicemail. See if you
recognize the number, kind of like we did a minute ago.
We recognized, or I should say, our next guest recognized
the number and picked up Merrill Hodge, the star of
our show, Our factor back, Meryl, I'm sorry I even
referenced you as a guest a minute ago. You are
a primetime performer, and as such, you have instructed us
(11:02):
over the years many valuable points that have stuck in
my head, and one of those is you can never
underestimate a professional that's been embarrassed. I watched the Giants
Philly game, and I'm thinking, the Giants qualify. Why should
I be worried?
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Fast protection does well.
Speaker 6 (11:22):
Honestly, here's why I would be concerned. And it's it's
always I think it's it's human nature.
Speaker 5 (11:29):
And I don't care.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
Even if you try, if you know what's coming and
you try to fight against it and prepare your guys
against it, you know, because when they've seen it, you
just it's hard to erase what they've seen. But and
then say no, no, no, don't that's not what you're gonna see. Okay,
you're gonna see this, Okay, they're benna be better like
Dallas for example. I mean Dallas did some things. They
(11:53):
came into Pittsburgh and did some things they hadn't done
all year. I mean, there's no evidence that they were
going to come in may be able to stop the
run the way they did with their front send and
then run the ball like they did and orchustrate you know,
a great King game.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
You know, there was no evidence you are correct, absolutely
zero getting that Colts game.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
You know.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
I mean so you know, I always didn't always remind
people this is the NFL. It's not you know, this
is regardless of their record, regardless of there's like not
somebody that you're saying, boy, like you know their radio shows.
I'm sure they're talking about Heigh Smith and Watt and
cam Hey, you know, and Meeka. You know, there's a
lot of guys defensively, you know then as Russell Wilson
(12:38):
and Nause and Jalen and you know picking. You know,
we got some guys that stand out. I mean neighbors do.
I mean, they're they're rookie. I mean he's yeah, he
has potential to be I loved you I think he
was my favorite wide receiver, and actually wasn't even watching
wide receivers when I noticed him. I was watching quarterbacks.
I was like, who's that Guy's? Like, I don't I
(13:00):
don't even have my list of myide receivers.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
So that's like, that's that's the best way to evaluate,
isn't it Just let a guy.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Come to you pop off the screen?
Speaker 6 (13:07):
Yeah, shoots Adrian Peterson the same way. I was watching
somebody and I'm like, man, who's that running back?
Speaker 5 (13:13):
That dude's good.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
I got started watching anyway, going back to the Giants,
but they got NFL players, they got NFL coaches, and
they've they've had some games where you know, I'm watching
against Cleveland. You know, they just destroyed Cleveland. I mean
they they had man handled him through them all over
the place in Cleveland. And they are a very good
football team, I will grant you that. But they slapped
(13:38):
him around, you know, So you can't you can't just
assume that you're going to get what you got. Feel
that's well, that's why all those guys will watch four
games too, you know, and Cleveland may be one of them.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
So you mentioned him briefly, But the elephant in the
room is Russell Wilson. You know, how did you think
he played when you really dug into the All twenty
two and what do you see differently?
Speaker 6 (14:00):
Well, that guy he did exactly what I think they
were expecting. They were frustrated by. I think a lot
of the plays that were not that difficult that Justin
was leaving on the field. You know, some big chunks,
you know, and Russell just throes with a little more anticipation,
(14:21):
a lot more actually, and he has different throws, you know,
which allowed him to complete some balls in his experience.
You know, you can't deny that, you know that played
a role in it. And you know how he played
in the second half. You know, his first half he
was you know as an offense, they were you know,
you could tell he hadn't played for a while, rightfully,
(14:41):
So who does I don't never see anybody who hasn't
played for will come in and played great. Don't care
out of talent there. So in the second half, I
just think they got exactly.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
What they were hoping for.
Speaker 6 (14:53):
You got another you got another layer of offense in the
passing game that challenges the defenses to have to defend.
You know, and the more phases that you have in your team,
the harder you are to defend, you know, like I
do like to use the Ravens a lot or tore Detroit.
You know, they have so many phases of their offense,
(15:13):
Like he just can't take them all away. You know,
you got to select which ones are most dangerous, which
ones do you would you like to neutralize that? Maybe
give you the biggest issue. And he ain't got manage arrest.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
You know.
Speaker 6 (15:25):
So and the Studos needed some other phases to their
passing game, and Russell showed that he I think ever
expected that, and I'm sure their coaches that's why they
did what they did, because they're like, we just can't
keep leaving this on here and move ourselves up as
a team justin probably not going to get there this year.
So let's see if Russell came, because we know we've
(15:47):
already seen he can do it, because he you know,
when he was at his best is when, which.
Speaker 5 (15:52):
Is another thing I think they did a good job of.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
They kept him in his laying, you know, they kept
him right where he was at his best in Seattle,
you know, feeding off of run action.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
They did.
Speaker 6 (16:02):
They did some wrinkles with their boot action, their movement,
which you know they've done. Russell's done about everything no
mankind from that perspective, you know, being six foot, you
know you have to do that sometimes and he.
Speaker 5 (16:14):
Does it well.
Speaker 6 (16:15):
So continued he grown, Yes he was.
Speaker 5 (16:22):
Is that give him?
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Did I give him an inch?
Speaker 2 (16:24):
I think he's a little bit whatever they listened at,
but hadn't been a problem so far.
Speaker 6 (16:30):
Yeah, he might be, but I think they got exactly
what they were hoping they were going to get, and
it did show up on Dave you and didn't miss
a lot of throws that were there and and chunk throws.
Speaker 5 (16:42):
Too, you know, in big.
Speaker 6 (16:43):
Plays, and you know, so that's that's what they needed.
I know that that they're expecting home before and they
got it.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Merrol, we talked fairly extensively last week about Ryan McCollum
to fill in center, and you had mentioned that, you know,
when he first place Fraser due to injury, the thing
didn't come crashing to a halt because he was in
there and he was credible on his twenty snaps. Mike
Tomlin gave McCollum two thumbs up for his performance against
(17:12):
the Jets second career start first with the Steelers, but
the game changes this week. This week he gets or
Monday night actually, so technically it's next week. Uh three
and forty two pounds of Dexter Lawrence at nose tackle,
who is tough against the run and has an NFL
high nine sacks. How does the game change for Ryan
(17:35):
McCollum and how might it for the Steelers? Dealing with
Lawrence and some pretty good edge guys. They did well,
see if you rush the pass.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Well, you know they do get after the pass, you know,
and they do it in the right.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
Away individually Barty Mansion. But they have some pressures that
they they bring that they execute very well.
Speaker 5 (17:53):
In the skies.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
You know, you're gonna to be buttoned up everywhere. You like,
severs your linemen. You know, the one thing, uh that
you know you can get help you know where you
need it on the offensive line, you know, through a
back or an uncovered offensive lineman or how you're slide.
You know he's not gonna be on him all the
(18:16):
time just solo. You know.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
That they're not just going to say good luck.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
It's like the.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Most yeah, yeah, you don't do that.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
Yeah, And it's a little easier in there, you know,
you know's not I mean, and you you can drop
it back here. We we've done that before. We'd help
our center if we felt like we needed to. So
from like a running back, drop him down. Now. Ideally,
you know you're slide one way or the other at times.
If you've got two guards that are uncovered that you know,
(18:46):
they keep their guards uncovered when they're in their three four,
you know you're gonna have somebody that's uncovered that can
help out. So but there could be times you got
a block a guy, you know, you know sixty two
and sixty six. Really I played with some great energy.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Man.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
You know, I like their energy too. They do a
great job, but they play so spunk. I do like
that and you can feel it. You can see it there.
They get excited about plays. They they run around helping
everybody up off.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
The ball, you know. So I like that about them many,
you know what.
Speaker 6 (19:21):
I'm telling you. After one series, actually I stopped worrying
about it and last week, you know, and he'll be fine,
He'll be fine this week with there'll be a time
maybe he doesn't win, but I'll shoot that at that's
gonna happen no matter who you line up against. Some
you know, sixty snaps, you don't win them all.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
So the Giants t is the youngest in the league.
They allow a ton of big plays, but they do
rush the passer. Well, are you seeing communication errors? That's
why I brought the youth. Are you seeing lack of tackling? Yeah,
assignment sound stuff.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
It was a little both last year, you know, and
then I'm trying to think what game it was I
was watching it. You know, it's usually this a lot
of self inflicted stuff. You know, to your point, You're
exactly right. You know, they they do get at you know,
they probably you know, this might be the first time
people are hearing this, are like, really the Giants get
after the quarter?
Speaker 5 (20:13):
Yeah, you know that without.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Lawrence Taylor's they they they do do a good guys
doing the Cleveland game, I mean, they just they did
not have an answer for them. You know, they could
not block them and they cannot take care of them.
Now what Cleveland didn't have either, And teams that can't
run the football on them have the biggest problem on them.
(20:35):
That's why, like, if you ever want to neutralized thing
I'm talked about controlling the tempo and and minimizing what
a defense can do to you to just smack them
around a little bit, you know, with running the football.
You know, don't let them get used to keying off
and pitting their ears back and not having to worry
about anything but getting after the quarterback. You give them
something else to think about, You make them do things
(20:56):
that they really don't want to do. Then then that
the game gets shifted, you know. That's why I think
it's the most important that they continue to build on
what they've done in their running game aspect, and that
becomes a critical force to win this game.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yeah, it was interesting, you know, Saquon Barkley obviously an
emotional game for him, playing at MetLife Stadium against his
old team for the Eagles. He ends up with one
hundred and seventy six yards, but he had runs of
fifty five, thirty eight, and forty one.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
They give up a lot a chunk around.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Yeah, you take those three away, which of course you
can't do. But otherwise it was fourteen for thirty eight,
which is pretty good run defense unless they totally broke down.
Speaker 6 (21:42):
They do a lot of that really. Yeah, actually, and
you're right, well, I tell you what they did. What
Philly did is you know, they were trying to run
a bunch of inside zones on them initially, and then
all of a sudden they said match. Your point is
(22:03):
is they went to the perimeter, and they did not.
They did not play the edge well, did they not.
They did not contain well, and that that started from
your edge guy to your support guy. None of them
played very well. And once they rope a door from there,
hit him there, then they come right back at him
and red at him where they've been inside all entire game, insider, inside,
all stuff. And then they started creasing. You know, So
(22:26):
that tich you got to do as a play doll
or two. You know, you've got to start somewhere where
you you like it, whatever why you like it, for
whatever reason you like it, say your guys are better
than their guys there, So let's try it here. It
doesn't work out. We have to have o different ways
to attack. And I go back to phases. So I
you know, in the running game, you know, strong side
(22:46):
week side, you gotta be good at both, you know,
inside outside gott be good at both. You know, So
something's not working. We got to go to something else,
and that's Ahilly, don't say hit them on the big
perimeter run. They just came right back and hit right
in the mouth in the middle, and that's where he
got a second bigger run. And then they you could
tell that they had him on the ropes. But but
you're right up to that point, shoot.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
They couldn't.
Speaker 6 (23:07):
I mean it was like one in two yard runs.
So that's a big component in this game because they're
not they don't run the ball all that well. No,
you know twenty nine, I think twenty nine. You said
twenty nine. That to me is a tough runner, man, Like,
you can't. I can't sleep on him because he breaks tackles, man, don't.
So don't sleep on that kid. He's a I can't
(23:29):
think anything. He's Kelly or Tracy the rookie.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
I don't know numbers, rook like Tracy Tracy Warren Singletary.
Speaker 6 (23:37):
Yeah, see yeah, they do what it's twenty nine. You're right, man,
that's Tracy. See you you know names, I know numbers.
I don't know names.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
I don't know numbers.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
Guy has no numbers. I'm like, I know it's twenty nine.
Speaker 6 (23:47):
Twenty nine is like okay, you better not sleep on
that kid, because he breaks that you run. He's tough,
you know, so and neighbors. You know, you don't think
people know who he is from LSU. I mean that
kid means the electric buying dynamic. You know what what
I paid a little more attention to him. I just
want to watch him, and I think he's kind of
(24:09):
sloppy and lazy, and that can be part.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
You know, when you're.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Really good in college and you played, you know, at
the highest level in college, you I think you can
walk in the NFL and think you can play like that,
and you just can't. He just can't, you know. I
mean I would think you will, you'll, he'll wake up
to how you have to be a pro. But I
catch him at times just being sloppy off the ball
(24:34):
and lazy. He just looks lethargic. You know, there's nothing
You're not a pro right now, let's just put it
that way. What's your taking it's dangerous.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I was gonna say he's had a couple hundred yard
games and a couple of really high volume target games
fifteen against Dallas and eighteen against Washington, which, by the way,
they held Washington without a touchdown and still found a
way to lose.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
Every past goes to neighbors and want of Robinson.
Speaker 6 (25:02):
End.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
You know, you're a point about their defense when they
have done some things.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Oh yeah, they got some They have some players on
this team, though they have some building blocks.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
Yeah, you know, they they caught Washington.
Speaker 5 (25:11):
I will say this though, because because because we're going to.
Speaker 6 (25:14):
See Washington after the bye, and that ain't the same
offense they saw. I'm gonna promise you this. The Giants
got them at the right time. They're not gonna I
bet you they don't do this. Don't do it the
second time, the second round, even though it's a divisional game,
because you always, you know, you guys know how the
divisional oponents are. Regardless and what they've done, it just
seems to be a tighter match. I think that next
(25:37):
match up, I don't think. I don't think they're going
to handle Washington like they did the first one.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
So Daniel Jones was obviously under extreme pressure last week,
and I think he will be this week. But he's
also gone backwards in my opinion. Where are you at
on Daniel Jones?
Speaker 6 (25:54):
Yeah, you know I was never what I really didn't
like him coming out of.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
Dude, I didn't.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
I just I there was just I was bothered by
a bunch of things.
Speaker 6 (26:03):
I'm not going to get into it now. They're irrelevant now,
but you know, watching them and how they go about well,
let's go back to this. So they really don't have
a dominant running game. But it isn't like they they
don't lean on they don't try it. You just you know,
it's almost spreadic and you're then he's making it harder
(26:23):
on the kid. You know, really he's you know, he's
he's a compliment too. He needs to be a compliment
of an offense. He doesn't have the skills to carry
your team and offset deficiencies. And then he and when
they get it, they get him into a lot of trouble.
And both edge guys will tackle guys struggle. So you know,
(26:44):
coming into this game, what do you think they're going
to do when you're tied end, We're gonna have to
stay in. Your back's gonna have to stay in. They're
at their best when they just get two guys out anyway,
you know, but you're going to do that so much
and survive against you know, a team right for the
steel She could killed that. You might give him a
couple of times if you ain't gonna get him all day, Marylyn.
(27:07):
It's it's a lot, it's a bit. It's a big
ass for the Giant. They got a lot to a
lot of problems front that's not going to be fixed
by Monday.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
They have a cornerback out of Maryland, Deontay Banks. It
was a second year guy. Speed guy doesn't really tackle
from what I can tell, but.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
The tron pick type, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
They had him matched up on A. J. Brown and
he did a real good job until it was fourth
and three, and then the Eagles just motioned Brown to
the other side of the field and Banks didn't follow him.
Boom touchdown down the sideline. Dc A Banks Pickings match
up and do the Steelers go with that anyway? Just
(27:49):
to kind of keep the good times rolling with Pickens?
Or is this a game where some of these other
guys that we were hoping Russell Wilson might activate continue
to get activated. I'm talking about Calvin Austin Van Johnson.
Maybe even the Backs a little bit more than they
did the other night with that big pass rush, Maybe
that dumped out in the flat comes more into play
in this game.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
And the screen game could be a big part of
slowing people down. I think they've got to continue to
build on that. You know, you got to get compliments.
You know, we want to talk about phases, so where
phases are short, short, intermediate, and explosive, and then there's
in the middle of the field outside the numbers, you know,
inside the numbers, so there's all different areas to attack
(28:33):
on the field too that there's your phases. How good
can we be at all of that?
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Well, one guy can't do all of that for you.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
Pikets obviously has a lot of things covered with explosive
plays being one of them and getting those other guys
a part of that, which I think actually you're going
to start seeing now now that Russell start you know,
playing because they know he can do that and they've
seen it. Isn't like they're developing in like they're really
were dealing with justin so you can build on that.
(29:00):
That's when it was hard the matchup that you talked about,
funny sut. When I saw that plays, I was wondering
why they didn't do it more and sooner, to be
honest with you, when I watched it, I was like, well,
what took him so long?
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Brown? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (29:13):
H just you know, if they're not going to flip
him and carrying, you know anyway, but we're not. Who
cares that's Eagles anyway, I.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Guess, yeah, well just embra your teeth. Yeah, we'll care
about that.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
But I was just a little surprised this one and
that you bring that that playout because that's my first time, Like, well,
it takes so long to do that. But if they
want him to match up against George, I think this
is how I would look at it.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
I'm comfortable.
Speaker 6 (29:43):
I like George. I think he's better. But if you listen,
he's having a day, then let's find ways to help
you too. And I think you alway should try to
find ways to help your guys and you know, give
him the best advantage possible. But then that's why you
got good guys, and you think you're the best, is
you can beat the best, So let's go beating.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
So the Steelers run games a lot more than outside zone,
and I think that they're trapping and pulling is still
what they do best. But do you think the outside
zone game specifically is getting better?
Speaker 5 (30:17):
Yeah? You know, matter.
Speaker 6 (30:18):
I think it all is is getting better, and I'm
glad that they you know, they have those man options
you know, or the man balking schemes. I'm always unless
you're you will keep in mind, I mean the insights,
I mean the zone concept. Boy, that is done well
is I think very very complete because how you can
(30:42):
throw off of it, you know, and then the options
to run it, even though I think the counters the
ultimate way the best run in football, but it requires
like a really close unit. You know, your five guys
up front, including your tight end, and even you know,
if you if you got to pull back in the back,
he's got to be like a runner, he just doesn't
(31:03):
have the ball. And then your runner has to really
understand it, you know, he's got to be threatening the
perimeter and knowing when to you know, plant that foot
and go.
Speaker 5 (31:11):
You know.
Speaker 6 (31:11):
So there's a lot of work that it takes to
be that good at it, and with these guys you know,
so uncertain with their officed line, I've always thought that
the demand blocking schemes are a much better way to
have some success and and takes a pressure off your guys,
you know, with not making blocks that point of attack
(31:35):
which happened, you know, early in the year, top of
it happened, not happening as much late in the year.
And they're getting better at that. So it's a good
job of coaching, you know, adding that stuff in there,
helping your guys out to get a rhythm. And once
you start become a little more confident one thing, it
is easier to build on another. But I like what
they're doing that on the strong side, the weak side,
(31:59):
and the outside zone. I think they mix it up well.
I think Arthur calls, you know, keeps it, keeps them
at bay, you know, with what he he tries to
do and with what he has and what he what
he has access to.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
Meryl. That was thoughtful, insightful, detailed. That was so good.
I'm going to give you next Thursday off executive decisions, all.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Right, all right, and climb up in.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
A tree and shoot it stuff kill stuff.
Speaker 6 (32:28):
Okay, Well, next next week at this time, that's exactly
where I'd be. I will be in and and actually
this is prime time, by the way, because the sun
is going down about right now.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
So I like you boy, I like your chances. Mary
will talk to you eventually.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
Okay, guys, take care of men, go steal his boys.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Meryl Hodge our factor back. Well, he does like to
break it down, doesn't he.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (32:50):
I like listening listening to him do it. Uh, still
got some ground to cover as we continue getting you
ready for the Steelers in the New York Football Giants
Monday Night Football at a Chrishier Stadium with Matt Williamson,
Mike Persuda. This is Steelers Preview right here on your
Steelers flagship one of two point five DVE and the
(33:10):
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Back to the Steelers Preview show on DVE.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Welcome back Mike Pursuita and Matt Williamson getting ready for
Monday Night football. Gob has had a big deal when
I was a little kid and.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
That started, Oh yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
I can't tell you how that changed my life.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
I don't remember when it started, but it was the
game of the week. Yeah cosel you know that was
an event every week.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
So my uncle pretty good now.
Speaker 4 (33:40):
But my uncle's a little older than me and he
kind of got me into football way back when, and
he hates it. There's all these night games just because
there should be the Monday night game, you know, like
and just stand alone. I'll take one. I'll take a month.
I'll take a night game seven days a week. Be
fine with me, but I'm with you on the Monday
night or being special. I don't like him in college
so much. Yeah understand, Yeah, TV is what it is,
(34:05):
right right, it's programming. I don't watch as much call
as i'd like.
Speaker 2 (34:09):
Are What to Expect? Segment is brought to you by
Brian Patton in Associates. It's all about the benefits and
Matt here's what I expect. All that emotion, all that
excitement that Andy duframe reference Pat Pryan, We've crawling through
a hundred yards to get clean. I think they go
back to conservative Steelers for this game. I would play
(34:32):
it the way Philly played it, because these guys are
not going to score on you unless you screw up
and give them short fields or give them defensive scores.
So just bang away as necessary and punt the ball
and let your defense do what it should do and
outlast them and beat them seventeen to three, twenty to six.
(34:54):
Something that's way less exciting than we saw in the
second half against the Jets. And it's not going to
be the you know, the oh why and Russell Wilson
gets his second start, and he should be better because
the rust is off and they're.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
Gonna throw it all over touchdowns and forty points.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
I don't see that kind of plan.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
I don't either. I do think deep shots are coming.
You know, that doesn't mean that that's that doesn't mean
that you're super aggressive and putting the ball on Harm's way.
But I do think they'll throw the ball down the field,
probably off play action a fair amount. Giants defense, we
haven't really touched on this, but they allow so many
big plays through the air and especially on the ground,
So I think that'll come.
Speaker 2 (35:30):
If they don't get the sack. You know. Yeah, we
just had marill On and he always likes to say, Okay,
you had twenty sacks, what did you do on the
other Yeah, if you're thousand snats or whatever, however, you.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
Dashed for eight yards of playing for the rest of them,
you got problems.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
And then, you know, we talked about what happened with Barkley.
I mean that I can remember when I was in college,
I took football coaching classes at Michigan State and the
lectures were delivered by the assistant coaches.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Okay, I like the Titan gun Gum that day or whatever.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah, Steve Fernss was one of the guys. Oh cool.
He played for the guy who was the head coach
at the time, George Pearlis, when he was defensive coordinator here.
For Ness played for the Steelers. He worked at Michigan
State and we had a D line class one time.
You know, it was a different position every Week's cool
And one of the things he really emphasized was when
you play a great back. And I think Michigan State
(36:22):
was playing Notre Name the next Saturday, and they had
a guy by the name Alan Pinkett who was in
college in the early eighties, and for Ness emphasized, it's
an all day deal with the running back. You can't
stop them eighteen times and let them go for eighty
yards on the nineteenth carry, or it defeats the purpose
(36:43):
going with Barkley, and that's what they did. There might
be a little of that with Najie Harris as well.
I don't know that at the home runs Barkley does,
but he can hit some gap shots like he's been
doing it.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
They're definitely more Chunk runs from the Steelers have been
a theme as well. I could see Warren Algenham for
twenty here and there as well.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
I'm with you.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
The thing that I fear most is the Giants pass rush.
I mean, could there be strip sacks? Could there be
man we can't block these guys. I mean that's a possibility.
But other than that, I don't see a lot else.
I mean, even special teams greatly favors the Steelers turnovers.
History shows that the Steelers probably will get a few.
(37:25):
They'll probably get them sacks, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Home on Monday Night, Jones in primetime, Tomlin versus the NFC. Any.
There are all kinds of stats of them. Steelers should
win this game, but I just I don't think it's
going to be as pretty or as exciting as that
second half that just that became giddy.
Speaker 4 (37:46):
I don't think it's thirty doing whatever they want. You know,
Chunk plays all over the place rights and I would
play a conservative.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
What to Expect is brought to you by Brian Patton
and associates. It's all about the benefits. Let's talk about
that Giants pass rush, because that is the thing that
theoretically can screw this game up. Brian burns really good
players off the edge. He'll line up on either side.
Azizjlari is the other edge guy with Thibodeau still on
(38:13):
ir He plays with his hand in the ground a
lot of times. They can basically give you a four
man front look sometimes five. He'll also switch sides, as
Burns does.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
He's a good player to second round pick.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
These guys have have some quicks, they have some length.
Burns in particular, he had four tackles, a sack, a
tackle for a lost, two quarterback hits, and a pass
defense against Philly and he didn't play the entire game.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Yeah. Yeah, I would line him up against Broderick a lot.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
I mean, we haven't talked much Broderick Jones, but he
struggling a little bit, to say the least. I mean,
I would challenge him with Burns.
Speaker 2 (38:44):
Right game for him or an oh no game?
Speaker 3 (38:46):
No. I mean again, they're.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
Good, he rise to the occasion or are we way in?
Speaker 3 (38:52):
But I'm betting on their edge guys.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's one of the biggest
advantages they have, as well as Lawrence. Of course, Burns
a top ten edge pass rusher. There's easily maybe a
little bit higher than that.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
What did you see that you'd like the most from Wilson.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Command understanding, knowing where to go to the ball at
the line of scrimmage. Frankly, I didn't love how he
threw the ball. I mean, his arm strength worries me
a little. I know, we can't say anything bad about anybody.
I mean, he didn't have a lot of power throws.
He had throws far down down the field, but he
didn't drive the ball.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
I'm I've seen him.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
Do it, watching him live at camp and stuff like that.
I'm like, I didn't think it was a problem, but
I didn't, so I think that's fair to say. But yeah,
I mean all those things were tremendous. I mean, and
he was under a lot of pressure early too, and
he can still move. He knows where the pressure is
coming from. I mean that's I found that funny. And
people are like, he used to get killed behind that line,
(39:55):
Like he's not a statue. He was once like the
most athletic corps in the league, and even if he's
seventy five percent of that, he can still move.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
That's what I like the most about him, met is
his pocket ability to navigate the pocket that was.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
Where it's coming from.
Speaker 2 (40:11):
And I heard that that fear as you had heard,
Oh he's gonna get the line is a little uncertain,
and this guy's out and that guy's out and he's
gonna get killed.
Speaker 4 (40:20):
Back there, Fields, a better athlete, gets sacked one time,
sacked once. I mean, yes, Field's a better athlete. But
Wilson has a better feel.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
And I think part of that. Even in the best
of times for him, he's always been the height that
he is. Yeah, so he's had to move even when
there isn't pressure, just to set up a lane, absolutely,
and he knows how to do that, and he's.
Speaker 3 (40:39):
He doesn't know how to be six or five.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Yeah, but his footwork is fine and as you said,
his ability to feel the rush, yeah, to make place.
Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator, was talking today about his
favorite play now. For me, it was the deep ball
to George Pickens, the forty four yarder because the trust
his guys. The Jets were playing Sauce Gardner on Pickens
most of the time, and then for some reason they
(41:02):
had Sauce switched sides and they put Brian eckles on.
I don't know what stills I'd call, but it was
one on one down the sideline and they threw it
and it was a fifty to fifty ball and Pickens
caught it. But the one Arthur Smith really liked was
the little bootleg. And Smith said today that was supposed
to be a run, and the defensive end read it
and sealed it. So Wilson James got down on one
(41:26):
side arm and hit friar mouth and stride and that
became a big play. As Arthur put it. Russell reliing
on his baseball background. But he can make the throws,
he can make the correct throws, he can make the
correct decisions.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
I just don't think this game they're going to ask
him to take a lot of chance.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
I don't think he has to be superman at all.
I mean, I think this is back to Merrill actually
kind of mentioned it too. They a lot of what
they did was early career Russell Wilson at Seattle Marshawn Lynch,
legion of Boom. You know, he's been down this road.
Speaker 2 (41:59):
You know.
Speaker 3 (41:59):
I think that's the way they'll play this one.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
You can win that way.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
Heck yeah, they had won that way right right right.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
The other thing that you mentioned the special teams, and
I would be remiss the other topic that I've been
beaten like a dead horse all week. These block kicks
to amazing. They have my attention. I mean, this is special.
They should have had two, no pun intended. Yeah right,
this is a weapon I think they had. This is
going to happen in late December or maybe in January
(42:28):
in a really big game, and it's going to be impactful.
Speaker 4 (42:31):
And it went back to last year and the year before.
I mean, like they consistently get their hands on football.
It's not gonna happen every week. They're not gonna get
two a week. If they get two more over the
course of the year, that's a ton and they're massive
game changing plays.
Speaker 2 (42:44):
Yeah, as you mentioned, they should have had two. Mike
Tomlin confirming on Tuesday that the NFL office agreed it
was a call that should not have been made on
Mika Fitzpatrick on the blocked extra point for.
Speaker 4 (42:55):
It didn't really matter, but when going into half, I'm
saying this should have been a twelve to twelve game. Yeah,
I thought, man, they're gonna regret that one.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
Yeah, two point swing, but they worked around it. That
is gonna do it for us. I want to thank
Justin Miller, the man who is not behind the glass
because he's right across the area table from us, but
he has what one, two, three screens over there and
a board that you could use to run a jet airplane,
and he pushes all the right buttons. Appreciate having Merrill
(43:25):
on as always, and we appreciate you finding us. However,
and wherever you found us. There will be no show
next week.
Speaker 4 (43:33):
There will not because there's a bye week and hopefully
there's a win in the meantime. Speaking for the entirety
of the program, we could use one.
Speaker 3 (43:40):
Yeah, what if there's a losso that'd be a long
two weeks. You lose the Giants. Can't let that happen.
Speaker 2 (43:44):
I'm still taking the week off even if that's gonna
do it for us. We'll talk to you again in
advance of the Steelers visit to our nation's capital to
take on the Washington Commanders. Until then, for Matt Williamson
and Merrill. Mike, you have been listening to Steelers Preview
right here on your Steelers flagship one O two point
(44:05):
five DVE and the Steelers Audio Network. Good Night, everyone,
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