Drive9.2.26Hr1: Latest from Practice

you're tuned to the drive on your 24 seven home of the black and gold

Steelers nation radio.

Good afternoon, Steeler Nation. It's the drive on the Steelers audio network.

We're Schuler Matt Williamson with you here for the next two hours on this Wednesday.

We've got a fun show planned for you today, more fancy football conversation.

We're going to dig into week one power rankings here for the first time.

We're also going to catch up with our buddy Mike the Fable here in about 15 minutes.

The monitor's back to where I was yesterday.

It's a little bit better. We might have to do the Tim the tool man Allen thing here at some point.

But I'm excited for today's show Matt. It's about a hundred and seven degrees outside in Pittsburgh right now.

So I'm excited to be is a little warm in here in the air conditioning with you.

I told you my gummy story. I stopped and got a sandwich is yesterday.

And I picked up my favorite gummies ever are the peach rings. You love those.

They're so good. And as I was checking out, I grabbed them through them in the front seat came in here.

Went back out two hours later and it was soup. I mean, it was like this much.

He was like eight bucks worth of gummies. They were liquid. They were totally soup.

They were hot to the touch. That sounds like I almost drank a little though just a try.

Let me put this on ice and see how it goes. That sounds like a science experiment.

You would have done in like middle school. Yeah, they just turned into one big pile of goop.

Let's leave some jello or let's leave some peach rings out in the sun for three, four hours and see what happens.

Yeah, it's I tell you what, after the last couple of weeks, we're kind of nice and cool and perfect late August weather.

It is hot here in Pittsburgh today in the in the 90s and doesn't quite have the same.

Oh, man, it feels like football when you wake up and it's 60 degrees outside as opposed to you wake up.

And it's already pushing 80, but Matt, we are getting it.

It feels hotter than ever was a training camp. I think it was. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

There was maybe I think we had one scorcher day at training camp.

Besides that, the weather was pretty mild.

It was how it how it typically is. Not the case today here in Pittsburgh.

And we'll see what the what the weather continues to do as we are what 11 days away from the Steelers opener.

Yeah, at Acresure Stadium, of course, against the Falcons.

We are one week away from the NFL opener.

I was Matt Staten it up last night too, by the way. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That heavy next week, week away from the NFL opener between the other two teams that were in the Super Bowl,

of course, last year in the Patriots and the Seahawks.

We've got some good college football games on tomorrow and Friday and Saturday.

I'm excited. I'm ready to go, Matt.

I didn't want to ask you real quick. I was thinking about this driving in.

Yeah. How big of an advantage is it for the Patriots that they're going to get a really long

rest week heading into week two. I was thinking that too.

Like this is the time you want to play the early games for both of us for all four of those teams.

One of them that's good Australia. I guess that that's a little different.

Yeah, where's the out a little bit, but at least the front end of going to Australia is not bad.

You can go whenever you want. You could have won a week ago if you felt like it was going to pay for it.

Sure. I thought that too though.

Like I always, always feel for the team that has to play the Super Bowl champ on opening night.

Like I think they've won once since they've done that.

Like you're walking into a buzz saw. They're getting rings.

They're hanging banners.

Crowd. You know, it's a good team at home too.

You know, and but in this case, that is one of the perks.

I mean, who cares when your season starts?

You get a mini buy right off the bat.

You know, so I think that is a huge advantage for those teams.

And it's not a big thing. I think it's really rough on teams.

But in this case, it doesn't matter what day of the week it is when you start.

You just got 10 days until next week.

And especially and you're right. Seeers playing week.

Steelers playing in week two.

And that's that's not just a Thursday and rest advantage.

That's a Wednesday rest advantage.

That's probably that's probably the time of the year that coaches would love it too.

Because you know, they all preach from week one to week two.

We have to make significant strides and step forwards and all those things.

So yeah, I was just thinking about that driving in.

I didn't think you and I had really talked about that.

Yeah. How New England's going to have a substantial rest advantage over the Steelers

when when we head up to New England for week two here in just a couple weeks.

And this is a big, worn, sharp thing.

And he really goes into detail of every team's rest advantage throughout the course of the year.

But trust me, the betting markets are always going to.

I mentioned the betting markets because they're really smart and understand the game.

They're all over this time, but type of thing.

Teams with with rest have massive advantages over NFL history.

So that is a definite disadvantage for the Steelers.

I wonder too. If we ask like,

moats or starks or some NFL player,

you think your body hurts a little more on Monday after week one,

then after week 12.

Absolutely.

I mean, I'm sure you have like an elbow that's been bugging you for two months.

It's killing you.

That's an interesting question.

You know, to main right, obviously by week 12, you've been hit hundreds of times.

And there's things that hurt.

Yes.

But your body also has a little more calloused at that.

Yeah, yeah.

Right.

You're a little more used to it.

Right. That's it's Monday the year.

I wonder why I wanted to bring up to an NFL player.

That would be that would be a good question.

Maybe we'll have to ask those guys that.

But yeah, I would imagine it's a different kind of hurt.

Yeah.

It's probably more of like,

I played horse maps and I thought then, you know, right?

And just some fatigue.

Absolutely.

Yeah, absolutely.

Get back into football shape.

I mean, I do know those guys,

Huff and Puff in the fourth quarter.

No doubt.

No, there's no question about that week one and two in particular.

I'm always apparent.

I'm always looking at who's in Denver week one or two,

or who's in Florida, you know,

because you're in a huge disadvantage.

Oh, exactly right.

It's it's certainly something to keep an eye on

and certainly something I assume that we will talk about plenty,

leading up to that Patriots contest on the road in week two.

But Matt, we did yesterday, like right around the time

that you and I were getting off air,

maybe shortly before that,

Joy Porter, Jr.

spoke for the first time in a long time, really.

And this was you and I played the quick clip

of Mike McCarthy talking about how they, you know,

they definitely expected him at practice.

And we kind of discussed hypothesized what that meant for his status

against the Falcons 11 days from now.

Joy Porter, Jr.

was asked if he would play if a deal doesn't get done.

And here was his quick response.

Do you still play?

I don't know.

I got to talk to the guys up there to my e-nose about that one.

Got to talk to the guys upstairs and the my agents about that one.

It'd be a bad business move for him,

saying different than that.

You know what I mean?

And you know what, Matt, that's where I kind of wanted to go with all this.

Yeah.

For whatever reason, driving in here today,

not only was I thinking about that Patriots' rest advantage,

I just had some feeling that this is going to get done.

Okay.

Not

Nobody's told me anything.

And I don't think you're scooping anything.

Right.

Yeah, Fort Knox on this.

It really is.

They've been, hey, and I kind of from just a pure fan,

from our content perspective,

it would be easier if we had more information.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

From a from a pure fan perspective,

I kind of appreciate it because it's that whole loose lips,

sink, ships thing, say that five times fast.

And so from that perspective,

I do think it's been buttoned up from the organization,

from Joey, from everybody involved.

But for whatever reason,

I just keep reminding myself,

this is how business gets done.

It is.

And I might not love it.

We would have all loved him to be signed back in July or early August

and he gets training camp and he gets practices.

And maybe we see him for a series or two in preseason

and all that stuff.

It's not perfect,

but it's also not the end of the world.

No.

And I just we've we've still got as you,

I mean, 10 days in the in the negotiation business world

is a world.

It's an eternity.

A world of time.

Yeah.

And for whatever reason,

I'm starting to feel a little more confident

that they're going to get something done.

Now, I'm sure this is probably not 100% true,

but the folks that negotiate for the Steelers,

it used to be Omar was the cap guy,

but I assume he has somebody else in the finance world

working for him with him, et cetera.

At this point with Benton Dunn,

her big done, I would think he's really the only guy

you're even having conversations with too.

I mean, you've less on your plate in the negotiation world.

I thought Anderson might get a contract.

I guess he still could,

but it's not going to be an airshattering one

or a hard one to bang out.

Not that they didn't have time before,

but you got 10 days with really this being

one of your only priorities or things to deal with.

I would think that,

I mean, there's more than enough time to your point.

That's an eternity to get this done.

Back to what Joey said,

I urge everyone just to put yourself in those shoes.

That's what you should say.

You know, he shouldn't just be like,

yes, I'm the up, I'll do whatever the team is.

You know, it's a negotiation.

It's a negotiation, right?

All right.

And he's, I bet he's not lying.

You know, he probably,

maybe he knows I probably would play or maybe I will hold out

a little and make it sting, you know,

but he doesn't have to make that decision right now.

No, he does not.

And in that world, 10 days is a ton of time.

The football in the football world, 10 days isn't very long.

No, but in the, in the negotiation world,

that's a lot of time to get some done.

I mean, they've obviously talked at some point.

They have to know have some clue

where the other side of the equation is sitting right now.

Joey Jr also added, and I quote,

I really can't speak too much about the future,

but today I was out there running with the guys

still trying to get back fully.

We're going to take it day by day for the most part.

That was yesterday, right?

Yes.

Okay.

Because yesterday's practice was,

what was it?

Self-improvement day.

Self-improvement day, baby.

Which was basically just helmets.

You know, they weren't banging.

They weren't in full pads or anything.

I'm just curious when the next practice is that's more banging

more pads will he be out there for that one.

You know, he'd be out there from now

until opening day, even without a contract.

Or did he just do that one?

You know what I mean?

And maybe if it is a physical practice,

he'll be out there for some individual stuff.

Yeah.

And not in team period.

Like a hold-in situation like TJ did

and so many people do it.

Right.

We've seen plenty of that over the years.

So a little, I don't even know if I call it clarity, Matt,

from yesterday, but just some updated information on Joey Jr.

It's something I think the most important thing

is that he was out there with his team yesterday.

Some capacity.

He's off the public list.

And now we just kind of wait and see.

But for, like I said, I don't have any,

I promise you I'm not being coy.

No one's told me anything.

No, right.

Just for whatever reason, we can all do the,

the impatient fan thing.

Like being being involved in sports,

it's a lot of instant gratification.

Oh, yeah.

You don't want to let it play out.

You don't want to let things develop.

You want to win right now.

You want to have all your guys right now.

You want to have the best roster right now.

Sometimes you got to put your instant gratification

on the back burner and remember it is a business.

And I, for whatever reason,

I'm just thinking about all this and I'm like,

Hey, maybe, maybe I've been a little too jittery.

Maybe I've been a little too jump scare over all this.

They still got a lot of time to get something done

and I think something will get done.

I lean that way as well.

Again, deadlines make deals, you know,

and frankly, folks, I mean, if you fast forward the week six

and he has two picks in his playing well

and didn't miss any time,

we're never going to bring it up again.

Fast forward a week free.

And Jamar Chase has three receptions for 42 yards.

Yeah, like boy, porter a great day.

Yeah, great day.

Exactly right.

And we made a mountain out of a mull mill

as my mom used to say all the time.

Now, if you go week one and he's not out there

and Drake London goes for 185 and three touchdowns

all of a sudden, it's like mashing the panic button.

Yeah.

And then I know the viewers don't negotiate during the season.

Maybe they look around and be like,

maybe he's a little more valuable with that.

You know, it could all change very quickly.

And we'll certainly keep an eye on it over the next 10 days.

That is absolutely something we'll talk about

with our buddy Mike DeFabo here in just a few minutes.

Matt, a little news and notables from around the league

that I just wanted to run past you

before we go to break here.

The first not surprising, but now official Kirk Cousins

has been named the quarter back of the Raiders week one.

Let's bend the plan all along.

It's a Brady theory as well.

I think it makes a lot of sense.

I have no problem with it whatsoever.

I bet it's sooner than later we see Mendoza.

Yes.

But I, you know, four or five, six games, something like that.

Because I don't think they're going to be super successful.

Every situation is different.

Yeah.

It's worked out well for Joe burrow being thrown in there right away.

But there's also the Patrick Mahomes and the Lamar Jackson's.

Oh, yeah.

Who had to wait a little bit and buy their time.

And it worked out very well for them too.

There's no perfect way.

You and I say this about a lot of things.

There's no perfect way to do it.

No.

Everybody would do it that way.

But I think this makes sense.

Would you put the over under it like Halloween for when we see Fernando Mendoza start a game?

I think there actually is an over under out there.

And it's like six or seven games.

Okay.

I would go under.

I mean, if that, if I'm right on that number, I think it's five-ish, something along those lines.

They're by week is not until week 13.

I said, I think they have a weird scheduling quirk and that was it.

They're by weeks not till after Thanksgiving.

So it's definitely going before that.

I'm definitely going before that.

Are you looking at their schedule?

I am.

This is who are the first couple games home against the dolphins on the road against the

chargers on the road against the saints home against the chiefs on the road against the

paths home against the bills home against the Rams week eight on the road at the jets.

Maybe that's a bad one.

Maybe that's a potential.

I'm not a big believer in you can't have his first start against a good team.

All the teams are good.

It's.

Yeah.

I mean, it's going to call for sure.

Maybe you wouldn't stay against the Akron.

You know, like maybe you wouldn't want to start in Houston for the first one or Seattle.

I mean, like the best defense in the league, but all in all, I would just think of what

they're record to be.

Not like who the opponents would be.

If they're probably they're probably favorite in week one.

I mean, they're playing dolphins at home.

Dolphins at home, I would imagine that's their only favorite in the first six or seven

games.

So if you're one in five, I'm thinking about those.

I'm thinking it's go time.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Let's table this for now because we got to get to our body.

Mike DeFabo.

Some interesting comments out of us, Steven Jones and Dallas that I do want to run past

Matt at some point, but maybe we'll do that in the back half of the hour because we're

going to catch up with our buddy from the athletic talk a little Joey Porter, junior talk

a little practice and everything that he's seen down there since the conclusion of training

camp now kind of into regular season preparation for your Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mike DeFabo on the other side, just getting started today.

You'll learn and Williamson it is the drive Steelers Nation radio on the Steelers Audio

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You're tuned to the drive on your 24-7 home of the Black & Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

Back on the drive here on this Wednesday afternoon and to the phone lines we go to talk to

one of our buddies, one of our boots on the ground in TREPIT journalists.

Of course, Mike DeFabo of the athletic Mike.

Thank you for taking the time as always right in the middle of a busy stretch.

Plenty that we want to discuss with you today.

Got to start with Joey Porter, Jr.

We heard from him for the first time yesterday.

He was out there with the guys yesterday, still some cloudiness around his status for week

one in Atlanta.

But we also have 10 days where a contract can still get done here before that opening

Sunday for the Steelers.

What's your kind of vibe check?

Do you think that there is still a good chance that they get something done here in the

next week and a half?

Well, yesterday he said, yeah, for sure, maybe.

I can add that little maybe to it when asked if he was going to be on the field for a week

one.

And I think that's the perfect way to sum it up.

There is a lot of merceness surrounding the situation.

I mean, on one hand, there's part of me sitting here saying, if Joey has not gotten a contract

done to this point, when will he?

And clearly the market is, if you are a top corner, you're getting $30 million or more.

And so to me, I'm looking at the situation saying, do the Steelers not view Joey as one

of the top corners in the league?

The other, and I think they could easily dig in their heels here and say, you're still

under contract this year and the team has a lot of leverage.

On the other hand, if you're Joey and the Steelers are offering you much of anything,

then it's reasonable.

I feel like you wouldn't want to give up that guaranteed money, that opportunity.

So I've seen deadlines bring these two sides together in the past, TJ, Wat, Cam, Hayward,

Pat Fryer, Moose, all of those deals got done at the 11th hour in the week leading up

to the week one.

So I truly am on the fence as much as Joey Porter would seem to be the other day.

Mike, do you expect Joey to practice as if he's part of the team as normal?

Nobody would know the difference between now and Falcons time, even if he doesn't get a

contract done?

Well, today, and it is much more limited than in years past, under Mike Tomlin, Joey

was participating in some individual drills.

And so part of this equation as well as the Sante's team of junior has played very well

during training camp.

Today Aaron Rogers confirmed to us that Asante had an interception.

So if you're a Sante, I think you also have to be frustrated if you were to get all of

sudden bumped down the depth chart.

So at this point, I'm not so sure that Joey has participated fully, but I know that they

have were considering there would be a ramp up period to whatever activity.

Gotcha.

It's going to be very interesting.

Certainly a big storyline for us all to follow here.

I know Mike that this is purely asking you to kind of speculate, but if a deal is not

done, what would you say the chances are that he plays against the Falcons on the 13th?

I think he would just because of the fact that that would be such a nuclear kind of decision.

And it would be pushing that button that is the one that we've all been kind of wondering,

is he going to take it this far?

And I just don't know if it, if push came to shove, if he would really be willing to

sit out a game.

I think that already him even suggesting that he would public perception kind of sort

of dispend the other direction.

If he were to sit out a game, I think he would be significant backlash.

And I'm just not sure that he would be willing to do that.

I also don't know what the benefit would be.

The Steelers have a pretty defined policy.

They do not negotiate contracts in season.

If that's their policy, you know, what I would be curious, what would you really be gaining?

You'd be asking the team to step out of precedent and give you a contract.

And I'm just not sure that they would be prepared to do that.

So I don't think he would, but I also the way this has gone on, I don't know.

That's a good way looking at it.

So sticking with the defensive back theme, Elliot's out four weeks at a minimum, which

is a bit of a blow, obviously.

Your best guess, who do you think the five defensive backs on the field will be a nickel

and who would the four be in base?

Yes, certainly involving Joey.

I think that he will be out on the field and then, you know, Jamel Dean will be opposite

him at cornerback.

I think that Jacquan Briskers going to be one of those safeties.

The other one in nickel, I think, would be Ray Sean Jenkins.

And then I think that the other one, obviously, is going to be Jalen Rams.

He playing the nickel, what the team is calling the star position.

That is my best guess.

But, you know, there are a lot of moving pieces.

And as much as Joey Porter Jr. has dominated the headlines and he's been the big storyline

through camp, there really are a lot of question marks in a fair amount of uncertainty with

that defensive backfield.

And you look at the fact that, you know, Jacquan Brisker until very recently has been held

out of practice due to injury.

Now, you mentioned Elliott being out.

Ray Sean Jenkins only joined the team in training camp.

And then, obviously, you know, with Joey situation.

So there's a lot going on in that secondary.

Mike DeFabo of the athletic with us here on the Steelers Audio Network, Mike sticking

in the secondary, you know, Matt and I, like, we've kind of joked over the last, what,

six weeks or so since training camp opened.

We've barely talked about Aaron Rogers.

We've barely talked about Jalen Ramsey.

One we didn't even see during training camp.

The other it just seemed like we were much more focused on Mike McCarthy and the new kind

of standard operating procedures of training camp out there at St Vincent.

Do you expect there's a lot of questions kind of the usage of Jalen Ramsey in this defense?

Do you expect it to be mostly almost exclusively in that star role, that nickel role?

You think we'll see him do that and safety.

Is there a scenario where no Dishon Elliott, you know, they have some issues.

We could see him move back to safety, you know, a closer to a full time basis.

What do you think really the plan is for Patrick Graham with a guy with Hall of Fame type

credentials in Jalen Ramsey?

All the way to the Patrick Graham dials up to utilize a versatile player like Jalen

Ramsey.

I think his primary role is going to be in the nickel.

And you look at things that Patrick Graham did during the preseason.

He was very often blitzing that nickel through the B gap or using that nickel in a variety

of different ways.

You can also use the nickel to help disguise coverages, especially when he's a guy that

has experience as a safety last year.

You know, whether you want to, you know, roll coverage in a particular way or even have

Jalen Ramsey run through as a middle run through player on a Tampa two or some other type

of coverage.

So there's a lot you can do with Jalen Ramsey just from the nickel position.

And then when you add in the fact that he obviously made a name for himself as an outside

cornerback and can handle some players still man to man and also has that experience to

safety.

There's a lot they can do.

So I think to sum it up very quickly, I think his primary role in responsibility will

be that star position, that nickel corner position when they're in sub packages.

And really the question becomes then in the base defense.

They don't have a true free safety.

Both of the guys that they have even at the top of the depth chart, I like their versatility,

but I also like them better closer to the line of scrimmage.

And especially with Elliot being out, I wonder if this is an opportunity that you could see

Jalen Ramsey play a little bit more that post safety role.

Michael, do you think there's any chance that Max Ahana chores the starting right tackle

on week one?

He's shown the coaching staff quite enough to feel comfortable with him.

But the bottom line is it's going to be sooner than later that Max Ahana chores going to be

a starter, whether it's week one, week two, week three, I'm not sure.

But he deserves and I think they need him in that role.

Dylan Cook did a nice job as a reserve last season at the end of the year.

He's not really had a strong training camp.

When you have a guy like Yonichor, that you spent a first round pick on, it looked extremely

good in pads in a limited exposure situation.

I say why not just play the young guy and have him continue to develop on the fly.

I would love to see him out there soon as later.

I just wonder if they're going to want it to be week one or if they might go with,

give him a little bit more of an on ramp since it is just so recent that he's been back on the field.

Do you think the land and Robert's door is completely closed or do you think maybe after week one,

he does the best at veteran thing?

Well, it's my understanding that basically if you're a vested veteran and you're on the roster

on the Tuesday of week one, then your salary is guaranteed.

So certainly there could be some incentive to bringing him back later on.

But I'm just not so sure.

I would love to know how he feels about coming in here during training camp and then getting cut.

And the Steelers don't have a lot of roster spots here.

I mean, they're going to go with four inside linebackers.

Would he really want to be on a practice squad or do he feel like it makes more sense to

wait around for a team to have an injury and be guaranteed a spot on a 53?

The last one I got for you is do you also think there's a competition or a rotation

at the number three wide receiver position between Roman Wilson and the rookie or does one guy have

that job tied up?

I think we're talking about every single week this season and something that's going to continue

to evolve. Now look, both of those guys will play because they're different types of player.

Roman Wilson, as Aaron Rodgers talked with us today, he has that top

end speed. He could take the top off the defense. He can hurt you on those big crossers.

You can get the ball to him on a screen.

Jeremy Bernard is a little bit of a different skill set. He's six foot two, two hundred plus pounds,

a more physical, more rugged type of player. I think that you can insert him into the line of

scrimmage as a blocker. You can get him the ball and you can create yards out of the catch.

You saw his ability to break tackles and spin out of tackles in the preseason.

But really, I think with Roman, we keep hearing about how he's producing well.

And Aaron Rodgers continued to praise him. He's still just, I think, needs to show a little bit

more in the games. I would love, I feel like I'm coming on these radio shows every other day

talking about how good of a camp Roman Wilson has had. And then he doesn't do it in the games to

support the things that I'm saying. And I think I'm getting to the point where I'd like to see him

do it on a field when it matters. And today at training practice, there was an important moment,

San Tay Sanrio Jr. intercepted Aaron Rodgers. And after practice Rodgers was asked about it,

and he acknowledged that Roman Wilson made a repeat mistake. And he said that he wanted him to

keep coming on and under route. And he just stopped on it. I don't know if he missed red the

coverage or didn't understand his assignment. But those route details are so critical. As we

saw last year if Aaron Rodgers does not trust Roman Wilson, he's not going through the Baldwin.

And they're not going to put Roman Wilson on the field. And if he's now in year three,

continue to have these same mistakes, especially when it comes to route details,

it's certainly going to leave that door open for Jeremy Bernard.

Man, a lot of questions leading up to this opener against the Falcons. What, 10, 11 days from now,

11 days from now. Certainly these questions will soon become answers. Our buddy Mike the Fabo

of the athletic kind enough to lend us some of his time on a busy day here. Mike, thanks so much

to we really appreciate it. Take care. Great stuff. And we'll talk to you soon.

Yes. Thanks, buddy. There he goes. Mike the Fabo. He always has that same, hey, thank you guys

for having me. No, thank you for coming on with us. All right. You're the one making our job

easier. Make sure you're checking out all his coverage in the athletic. The Fabo has been doing a

great job all off season. The I, I'm really starting to wonder, Matt, the first time

on Sunday, September 13th that we see the Steelers and 11 personnel. Yeah. Who's out there?

Who's that third wide receiver? Yeah. And it might just be situational. Maybe you want a bigger

physical guy. Maybe you want some of the little more speed, a little more dynamic. Maybe you want

somebody that's better after the catch. And they have, they do a very different skill sets. So

it could be a week to week situation. That absolutely could. And hey, that's part of the nature of

this business. A lot, a lot of this is a week to week situation, unless you're a very established

proven veteran or commodity at this point. But yeah, great stuff from Mike down there walking the

sidelines as another busy day in Steelers land as we're getting ready for, hey, I mean, this time

next week, it'll be full steam ahead, looking into the Falcons and Matt stats and all that good

stuff. Gonna take our last break here of the first hour. We will get to some other around the

league topics here to close things down when we return Matt Williamson West Mueller. It's the drive

Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers audio network. And now a word from our sponsor, Bud Light.

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I used to have cable in the net, but I'm a 100% kind of fan. So I switched to Verizon Files.

It's 100% fiber in the net that's super reliable. So I streamed 100% at the NFL Draft Live with

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Answer to the kickoff, the beginning of the 2026 NFL season. And with that, Matt, we've got a bunch of

predictions and division winners and bold predictions and things that are going to happen. And

Dan Graziano of ESPN put out a list, bold predictions and potential surprises, one for each of

the 32 teams. I thought we'd take a look at our Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North Brethren here.

And in some of these, they're all positive necessarily.

Correct. Yeah. Yes. Yes. And some of them are very straightforward. Like the Steelers one is

pretty straightforward. The Bengals one and some of these are a little more out of left field.

Okay. So for example, we're hard to come up with 32. Yes. That's a good point. And again,

if you're trying to make them bold and surprise predictions, it can't just be like Joe Burrows,

good to shoot. Thanks. Thanks, Dan.

Derek Henry leads the race. He gets a 10 touchdowns. Right. Yeah. Christian McCaffrey catches a lot

of passes. Pittsburgh Steelers don't be surprised if running back Rico Doudel posts his third

straight thousand yard rushing season. Wow. What I'm hearing. This is the right up here from

Graziano. Doudel's first thousand yard rushing season was in 24 when he was with the Cowboys.

And their coach that year was Mike McCarthy. Of course, the new coach of the Steelers who signed

Doudel this off season to a two year 12.25 million dollar contract. McCarthy knows Doudel can be his

lead back. And my understanding is that Doudel is more likely to get the early downwork ahead

of Jalen Warren. Doudel had just 235 carries in 24, 236 last season. But he did average over 20

carries per game in the final seven games. His last year with McCarthy in Dallas in 2024.

If you pro rate that over a 17 game stretch comes out to 345 carries. I don't think McCarthy will

be shy in giving him plenty of work. As for Warren, I believe he'll have a role in a significant one.

He caught 61 passes in 2023, which is 22 more than Doudel has ever had in a season. And remember,

Kenneth Gainwell caught 73 passes. Those game well catches are going to go somewhere too.

Last year. Some portion of them. Aaron Rodgers is definitely going to want to check the ball down to

running backs to avoid sacks. Warren profiles more of a pass catching back than Doudel.

I mostly agree. And it seems that people that go to every practice, you know, the fabo and

these sorts, pallock, all of our butts. Yeah. Lean towards Doudel like Doudel's the one to own in

fantasy. I disagree with that because of the catches. And we're not talking about fantasy here. But

I think that's selling more in a little short. I think so too. I think since he's coming to

league, he's been like the most underrated stealer. And I think it's still continuing that he's a much.

I think he's a tear above Doudel just as a football player. I like Doudel a lot. He runs hard. He can

handle a lot of touches. I do think the organization, whether it's Tomlin staff or this staff, I think

it's from the top down, questions how much they can give Warren, you know, in terms of touches and

workload. It just seems to be not going to get that their reservations to he's going to be an 80%

snap chair guy or something like that. Fine. And I'm not going to fight you on that either.

So here's my one reservation. First off, I don't think in Graziano didn't really say this.

I think the roles will be less distinctive than they were in the past. You know, like

a little more fluid. Yeah. I mean, second and five, either one of them might be out there. You know what

I mean? Or second and 10, either one might be out there. I think in pure throwing downs, it won't

be Doudel. But I don't think in pure neutral downs or running downs, it'll always be Doudel. You

know what I mean? And it might just be the we're going to play the hot hand on a week to week.

Yeah, or he's running well. Leave him out there or boy, he needs a breather. Jalen, get in there

for him or vice versa or whatever, you know, just kind of have the running back coach being on top

of it, you know, basically is in less situational. Now a stat or something they track, I always

hesitate on pressure rate allowed. It's a path protection stat. They do it for running backs to,

you know, how much when you're in charge of blocking a dude, what percent of the time do you give up a

pressure? I hesitate because first off, pressures, who's the one saying, okay, that's a pressure. That

was not quite a pressure. That's a little gray. And when you're looking at a running back,

do you know exactly who he's supposed to block? Whoever Mr. Charger guy, you know what I mean? And

so a lot of times too, they'll put a running back in conflict where he has two guys, he's to pick one

or the other. He has to pick the most dangerous and the quarterbacks in responsible for the other or,

you know, things of that nature or he's just chipping on his way out. Anyway, in terms of running back

pressure rate allowed, that was like last and the lead. You, you know, the day the stealer signed him.

That's one of the things you pointed out. Protection has been a problem for him. I don't think he's the

worst protecting back in the league. The pressure has been a problem every step of the way.

We didn't see backs on backers. Sure. And we only know what backs on back and be like, oh,

he's really having a tough time. More man, he'd be great against DJ Wad or a blitzing queen.

The eye test doesn't match the numbers that are coming against him.

Right. Maybe better at it now. Yeah. Stay out. I'd always say you're allowed to get better.

You are. Certainly allowed to get better. Sure. He's aware. He's not the best pass protection back in

a league. And Warren, frankly, is. I just know who the quarterback is. And if you're running back,

is either picking up the wrong guy or clear blitzers and he's not getting them blocked.

He's going to be out there less than you think. I just know that. Yeah. That's, I think, a very

astute point. Right. 251 total touches last year for Jalen Warren. That was the most of his

career. He had 105 buck five, his rookie year in 22, 210 and 23, 158 and 24. And then like I said,

251 last year, do you think that 250 ish is about right again? Maybe slightly under. If they do

believe that he's a, I mean, pull out the quick calculator here. If he gets the Kenneth Gainwell

up tick in I know in receptions out of the backfield, that might be enough. And he did miss two games

last year injured as well. Of course, if he plays 17 and that's an extra. So I just already eight

touches. I just divided 250 by 17 games. And that's like 14.7 touches a game like 15 a game.

I would say it's going to be a little less than that. Okay. Not tons. 1312. 13 and a half. Yeah,

right like that. Yeah. Five catches on seven card. 21. You know, definitely. But other weeks,

it's 12. Because again, I'm just assuming health for everybody, which will never happen. No doubt.

You know, I guess 15 is not crazy though. I'm the more I think it through like four or five catches

on six or seven targets. Okay. And then all of a sudden, that's only 10 carries to get you to 15.

That's not all that much to ask. I don't think 10 carries a game is all that low. I don't either.

Yeah, man. I think that's about right. I actually tweeted a Jalen Warren stat like an hour ago.

So we know that this team real quick is this Matt stats. It's in Matt's stats. Yeah.

He averaged 11 yards after the catch, which is only behind Ty Johnson, who's a really good

receiving back for the bills and buck yearning. So that was third best in terms of yards after the

catch. And in this case, I don't know if that's as much a quarterback stat because only Jordan Mason

caught the ball shorter than Warren. So his average depth of target was two and a half yards behind

the line screen was probably behind the line. Yes. Mason was at 3.25 yards behind the line of

scrimmage. Warren's at 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage. So it's also easier to get yards because no

one's guarding you behind the line of scrimmage. You got to create grass in front of you.

Yeah. But the fact is they used him as a short receiver. They didn't make him a real expansive

route runner. Although I think he can do some of that and he's shown it over his career.

But he made the most of it the second he got the ball in his hands too as well as anyone to leave.

No doubt. That's something that he does very well. And I would expect that to continue. I would

too. It's going to be very interesting to follow the kind of ebb and flow of those two running

backs throughout the season. Hopefully they both stay healthy. And this is kind of a week-to-week

proposition of how what this is. Right. Right. I do think it can be a very good combination. Yeah.

For sure. Matt, here's a before we go to break and close down this first hour. Here's the other

three predictions for the other teams across the AFC North for the Browns. Don't be surprised if

they're first and second leading receivers are the two rookies, Conception and Boston.

I 100% well, I mostly agree except for fan is the wild. I think those two would have a better

could certainly have a better year than Jerry Judy, but Fanon's the wild card in there.

I mean, we could even say this when we preview tight ends tomorrow for fantasy. I'm a little

lower on Fanon, but they manufactured so much stuff for him last year because they didn't have

any receiver. Sure. You know, but he also took that and ran with it. Yep.

I would bet it goes Conception Fan and Boston.

Conception Fan and Boston. Yeah. In terms of receptions. Boston might have more yardage because

he's downfield a little bit more, but I think Conception leads a team. So I kind of agree.

Cincinnati Bengals don't be surprised if third year tight end Eric All Jr. becomes a big part

of the offense. Yeah, he's a player. I like a lot. I think you mentioned that at some point

this off season. I think he was a six round pick fourth rounder in 24. Okay. There were injury

concerns that then come out of Iowa and every Iowa tight end in the world hits. And he's a two-way

guy. They've had the Gaseki types, the big receiver types. He can block a lot better than those guys.

And by all accounts, he's finally clean, clean, build a health, tear and up training camp.

I kind of wish he was a sealer. You know, like I really like his style play. Yeah.

And then Baltimore Ravens last and well, in our personal record book, certainly least.

Don't be surprised if rookie wide receiver Jacobi Lane is more than just a training camp phenom.

Mixed feelings on that one too, because he has been a training camp phenom. I've not been to Ravens

training camp. But that's what all the reports and the planet is saying that. And I'm not

discrediting reporters, but he is the perfect style to get fans and reporters attention. Maybe

some of the stuff we've talked about like with Roman Wilson and training camp. It's kind of the

opposite because everything with him is contested and highlight stuff and who's USC's quarterback

again. Me of my off. All right. Lemon was the dirty work, feed him ball the time. This dude,

what's his face Lane Lane was the I'm in trouble. I'm just gonna chuck it up and he's gonna come

down with it because he has insane ball skills and hands this big and arms this long and he's six four

so he's like his good of rookie contested catch George Pickens highlight type stuff. He doesn't get

open. That's a tough way to live. I'd like to see more uncontested catches. Right. So he's a

headline grabber because wow, did you see the unbelievable catch he made over Humphrey or Hamilton

or whatever practice. But how about not making a contested catch? You know what I mean?

I think that's kind of what you used to outline with George Pickens. A little bit. It's amazing,

but you can also get some separation and get open here too. Yeah. I wouldn't better of that.

Obviously, of course, he's as he's grown and maybe Lane will too, but maybe not right away as a rookie.

Contestive catches are great. You know, but New Copkins was unbelievable. Contestive catches. Larry

was unbelievable. Contestive catches, but they also snapped off for outside of open all time too.

Right. You're also be running three yards past the defensive back times again.

So there's some kind of predictions, thoughts from Dan Graziano of around the AFC North and

that will do it for us for the first hour of the show hour number two. Here's the blueprint.

We're going to talk preseason power rankings. We're going to talk fantasy football focus running

backs. And we're going to hit your your YouTube comments and your Twitter questions and all that

good stuff in the final hour of the show. Wests you'll learn Matt Williams in halfway home on this

Wednesday. I guess that makes us halfway home for the week too. Doesn't I suppose. Yeah.

Steelers nation radio host a live chat at noon every Wednesday. And to me, that's there's like when

the whole seat the whole week would flip. You know, like it's used to be review time. Now it's

preview time after my chat. Yeah. Exactly right. We'll do some power rankings and some fantasy football

talk on the other side. You'll learn Williamson. It's the drive Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers

Audio Network. And now a word from our sponsor Bud Light. There's nothing better than the clean

crisp. There's nothing better than the clean crisp. What if we just got out of here and grab some

Bud lights? A man we're on air for four more hours. I'll figure it out. Sounds good to me.

Anything for the clean crisp taste of Bud Light. Stop up now. Bud Light. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy.

Enjoy responsibly. Copyright 2026 and has your bush Bud Light beer St. Louis Missouri.

I used to have cable internet but I'm a 100% kind of fan. So I switched to Verizon Fios.

It's 100% fiber internet that's super reliable. So I streamed 100% at the NFL draft live with

ultra low lag. And after what went down in the first round, still getting video calls from my best

friend. Rubbing it in that he called all the pigs. I told you they were building their own line.

I win the bet. Good 100% fiber internet with Verizon Fios because when it comes to your team,

it's 100% or nothing. Call 1-833 Verizon to switch today. Get that hot dog costume ready.