Steelers' Future: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and the Road Ahead w/ Just Blane

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We are those guys.

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We hope to be your guys bringing the latest from the National Football League.

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Nick, it's not just Canton.

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It's not just the Hall of Fame game.

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We've got actual preseason games in progress as we speak.

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Uh, football is back and better than ever, and so for our former 10 year NFL safety, Former, uh, defensive back.

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Uh, we did give a shout out to the CFL last week as well.

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Uh, Nick Ferguson, what's going on, my man? Nothing much, man.

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Uh, glad to be back with you.

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Well, I'm excited in the business.

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They call this a tease.

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We're going to be having our first guest here on, uh, those guys, but we're keeping it within the Ride the Wave family.

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We'll hear from our friend and, uh, close compadre here at Ride the Wave when we talk about his football team.

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Expect to see more of that, but I wanted to start with the biggest rumor around the National Football League.

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We're now at the end of the week, but on Monday, this in early August, the San Francisco 49ers were reportedly Working on a trade to get former All Pro, Pro Bowl wide receiver, Brandon Ayuk, who starred for them in the postseason, led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns this past season.

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And we seem to be at a bit of an impasse, so I'll quickly kind of gloss over what Matt Maioco of NBC Sports Bay Area On Monday that they had the San Francisco 49ers worked with both the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots.

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However, I couldn't come to terms with the contract extension, i.

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e.

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The 49ers wanted him gone and we're leaking out that they.

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We're trying to get him out of there.

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However, we circle back Wednesday, Diana Rossini at, of the athletic reporting that, well, see those other teams, they couldn't get a deal done.

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So now the Pittsburgh Steelers emerge as a landing spot, maybe the preferred destination of one brand and Iuke, but now the 49ers and the Steelers can't necessarily come to terms with a deal.

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Kyle Shanahan.

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Yes.

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Okay.

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Yes.

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Okay.

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Let me call you right back.

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So, that, that was, uh.

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My, uh, former teammate, GM, uh, John Lynch.

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Oh, John Lynch on the line.

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Let's go.

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That's not even the tease I was going for.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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I mean, speaking of this whole Brandon, I used to have not to cut you off.

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No, you should have.

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I'm glad you did.

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But the whole idea is when you look at the Brandon and Iuke situation and you're right, teams find a very unique way to leak, kind of leak out information as it pertains to a player, because.

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What it does to the fan base.

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Like, no, listen, they wanted him here, but he didn't want to be here.

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Right.

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It was all about money for him.

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It wasn't about bang, bang nine again.

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Right.

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It was about how much money can I put in my pocket? But, but when we really think about this situation for what is worth, I think it's best for Brennan and you to get out of San Francisco.

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I agree.

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Here's why really quickly.

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Cost 11 is really hot.

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So matter how much money they pay you, it's still not going to be equivalent to what maybe Stefan Diggs or maybe Tyreek Hill is making in Miami or Houston.

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It's not.

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And has the San Francisco 49ers reached their limit? Are there teams that just kind of come on at the end, get to the Super Bowl and never get over the hump? This is something he's got to really think about.

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And then when you think about the Steelers, look, dude, I hope they work that out.

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Because that would be a nice place for him because you got Roman Wilson, you got Van Jefferson, and you got George Pickens.

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I mean, Brad and I, you goes in right away, and he's wide receiver number one.

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Yes.

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Yeah, without a doubt.

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Uh, we're going to get to those Pittsburgh Steelers shortly here.

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What I think is fascinating is, is the, the philosophical decision, right? We're trying to separate the, um, it's, it's the chicken or the egg here.

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Because Brandon Ayuk, you know, led the Niners in all, you know, receiving categories.

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But the fact of the matter is, with all this money being handed out, and we've talked about Seedy Lamb, We talked about T.

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Higgins and Jamar Chase, other guys waiting for, for those brand new contracts.

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Why, you know, is it Kyle Shanahan that just will not allocate 30 million for a guy who leads the team in receiving, but because of his offense, that's only 75 catches.

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We're trying to put him on par with Justin Jefferson, who's averaging 110, 115 catches, uh, being the focal point of that offense.

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Where Christian McCaffrey is making less money than Deebo Samuel.

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Like, they've coveted positions and they've paid those guys.

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I.

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E.

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Nick Bosa, McCaffrey, and soon to be Brock Purdy, I'm sure.

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This is happening because the 49ers identity and their offense is to not allocate all those funds to one receiver.

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This is just business, as far as the Niners are concerned.

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Right, Nick? Well, yeah, it's business as usual.

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Like, there's a difference between football business and the business of football.

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They sound the same, but they're rearranged in different orders, which hits, I guess, put emphasis on the specialty itself, which is the business It's business as usual.

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I mean, the San Francisco 49ers, they've done well for themselves as far as level of production, but also that means as though escalating prices for the players on your roster.

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Correct.

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You mentioned it.

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I mean, they haven't even given Brock Purdy a deal.

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And I don't even know why Brock Purdy is really being silent in this particular situation, because if I'm him or I'm anyone in his camp, I'm like, look, I was mystery relevant.

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I have done more than prove myself going back to the game when he lost against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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I didn't play in that game and we lost showing his value.

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So if I'm pretty, I want my money too, but this is the cost of doing business.

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You do well, you have to pay well, but at the same time, you can't keep everyone.

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So I think it's smart for both Kyle and John to realize.

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They're not going to get this deal done with Brendan.

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Now you find the best suitor and just send him off.

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But they realize that there's value in Brendan.

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Are you, even if we don't want to openly admit it and as in the form of payment, there's value trade him.

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Now, get draft picks, make your team better because guess what? You're not going to be able to keep kiddo.

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Uh, Deebo Samuels, Purdy, and Bosa all happy financially.

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That's how this works.

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Yeah, uh, you know, I, I'm going to put a pin in that and maybe because I think this trade is going to drag out.

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I'd like to bring that up because for a team competing for a Super Bowl, draft picks would have been great two months ago, or three, four months ago ahead of the draft.

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If you were in the Super Bowl last year and want to be back, 2025 picks aren't going to help me.

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But on the other side of things, you mentioned the Pittsburgh Steelers and what the offense would look like with Brandon Iuke, so I think it'd be a great exercise as we continue our NFL training camp previews, the Pittsburgh Steelers are up and because of that, we have to bring in for some unique perspective because.

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Listen, we can talk ball.

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We have our teams, but nobody reps the Steelers like our own Just Blane on part of the Ride the Wave media.

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He is Ride the Wave media.

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I mean, my guy, Blane, Nick, and I go back over a decade, one of my closest friends in the business and someone who I'm thrilled to have join us and more importantly, to talk about his Pittsburgh Steelers, uh, Just Blane.

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What's happening, my man? Welcome to the show.

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One sec, bro.

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One sec.

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Oh, you're gonna big time me too, like you're Nick Ferguson.

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Oh, I caught that.

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No, man, I'm just finishing up my NCAA 25, my game, man.

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I got a season going here.

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I created a character named Bo Whitley.

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You know who Bo Whitley is.

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The court character from Minnesota State, Screaming Eagles, baby, from Coach.

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There you go.

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I can name you the coaching staff.

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I can give you Luther Van Damme.

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I cannot give you Bo Whitley.

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I can give you Stuart the mascot, but I can't give you Bo Whitley.

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Can't forget him, dude.

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And let me, let me just.

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I am the CEO of this network.

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You guys had John Lynch on the line and you, you, you let him go for me.

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Come on.

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Well, in all, in all fairness, in all fairness, no, it wasn't John.

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What? I just, I just, I just pretended as though it was John because we were talking about San Francisco.

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But if you want me to call him, I can call him.

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No, no, no.

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You better not do that on the line right here.

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Cause that could get crazy.

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He's leveraging his 10 years in the NFL.

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That is, that is his guy.

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They shared the backfield together.

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One playing center field.

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And, uh, one being Nick Ferguson.

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Uh, let's talk about your Pittsburgh Steelers, Blane.

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Now I know this Brandon Ayuk stuff is kind of hanging in the breeze.

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So we're not going to spend too much time on this.

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But here's the reality.

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Mike Tomlin is now entering year 17 as the head coach of the Pittsburgh, I'm sorry, year 18, good lord, time is flying by, year 18 as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and, uh, well, despite with how 2023 went, playing three different quarterbacks, your Pickett totally flaming out, Well, what do you know? They still finish with an incredible, impressive record, all things considered.

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10 7, which was good for third in the division.

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They showed up for a postseason game, and they said goodbye very quickly.

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But we come in now with wholesale changes all across for this football team.

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I think before we dive into it, from your perspective, Blane, kind of last year coming into this year, Let's do a vibe check.

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Like, how are you feeling about them boys? And really kind of what, uh, what, what would you kind of like to learn when you spend time with myself and Nick? Man, my Steelers, they're going to be better than ever this year, I think, because here's the thing last year.

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You asked even the Steelers fanbase to name three players.

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You can't do it.

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It was just a bunch of dudes out there who came together under Mike Tomlin and had a winning season.

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Alex, you've known me for a long time, and I used to not watch the Steelers until the playoffs because it was guaranteed.

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They're going every year, and I'm just I love, I love my Steelers, but I didn't have to watch them, because I knew they were playing in, in late the year, and it meant something.

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I don't see that changing this year, like it's, Mike Tomlin has got something magic that can't, that can't be replicated.

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Um, what I want to learn from you guys? Man.

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I don't know, man.

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I, you guys know way more in depth stuff of who got drafted and all that kind of stuff, and I know, I know a couple of the draft picks like Roman Wilson, I think I even texted you and Ferg about that one.

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I'm, I mentioned that when na, national Champion.

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Yeah, I was excited about that one.

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Um, Russell Wilson, I mean, you got the Wilson Brothers there.

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I mean, are they brothers? No.

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No, no.

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Okay.

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Do, is that where you wanna start? Because.

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Nick, obviously you followed Russell Wilson last year as a member of the Denver Broncos.

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Um, let's, let's, let's open things up because you have been a staunch defender of Russell Wilson, the player, obviously clashing with Sean Payton and how things ended in Denver.

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So, Maybe if you can help bring this full circle, uh, we know that Russell Wilson is there in Pittsburgh.

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They're paying them a league minimum, while Sean Payton and the Broncos are holding the bag.

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Let's talk about, from an offense, why it didn't fit in Denver, and if you're optimistic for the fit in Pittsburgh.

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Well, the reason why it didn't fit is because, first of all, you have to look at Russell's skill set.

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And automatically, it didn't fit anything that Sean Payton has ever done in any of the offenses, whether it's with the New Orleans, the Giants, or even the Dallas Cowboys.

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You had a guy who wasn't your typical pocket passer.

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He was a guy that loves to escape to either his right or his left.

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And that means that he will lose ground to gain ground.

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And a lot of coordinators like Sean Payne, they want guys to stay on schedule.

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They want them, if it's a five step drop, five step drop, pressure in your face.

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I know it's coming.

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You know it's coming.

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I still want you to throw the dig route and get smacked in the face.

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Russ was not that guy.

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He's been the same guy.

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You know, with the Broncos as though he was when he was in high school.

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If he's flushed any direction, right or left, he is getting outside the pocket because now he knows he has more space, more room.

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So for, for that matter, uh, that's why I didn't get it.

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They just in jail.

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I mean, there are a couple more things, but we don't have time for that, but here's why I like the situation in Pittsburgh.

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Blane said it himself.

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Like, he could tune out the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first half of the season and only tune back in, in the playoffs.

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You know why? There was a culture that they have.

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Going back to Chuck Knoll, right? Going back to the chin, himself, and then getting to Mike Tomlin.

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So there's a culture, you run the ball, you have decent quarterback play, and you play great defense.

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That's been a recipe for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that's the reason they have had three head coaches in their franchise history, which is incredible.

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Crazy! But now, they feel as though we have a quarterback now, and a quarterback of the future.

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And the reason I say that, you look at Russell, and you look at Justin.

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Both of these guys have been cast off by Seattle, Denver, Chicago, but they possess the same skill set.

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It's like having a Mustang, you have a 2024 Mustang, and then you have a 1976 Shelby GT, right? Same car, right? They just look a little different, but they do the same thing.

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That's what Pittsburgh Steelers fans are going to get between Justin and Russell.

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And if Russell, for some reason, Is struggling, you go to Justin.

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Both of those guys have something they want to prove.

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And Mike Tomlin has proven that, guess what? We'll take in those types of players and coaches.

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Remember Brian Flores? No one wanted to hire him after the Miami situation.

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Where did he go? He went to Pittsburgh.

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Why? Because of the Roonies and because of Mike Tomlin.

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They have something special.

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And it's one of the reasons when I grew up in Miami, I wasn't a Dolphin fan originally.

198
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Guess what? I was a Stillers fan.

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Right? I wanted to change my name to Franco Harris, you're not No, you can't do that.

200
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Hey, man, I was a huge debu, you know, Jerome Bettis the bust.

201
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I was a huge fan of his.

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Like, I've been a, I've been a fan.

203
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I'm, I'm 40, uh, 35 years is what I can say.

204
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I've been a Steelers fan.

205
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Um, and, and it was.

206
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It's a culture.

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It feels like it's fun.

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It's good.

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And you said it right though.

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They take in they take it Mike Tomlin will take in anybody.

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I think Mike Tomlin's got a chip on his own shoulder.

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Mm hmm He uses that to his advantage.

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He always has he's got that stone face on looks menacing He'll bring people in.

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He does.

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You know who he reminds me of, Alex? Doc Winter.

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Doc Winter has the same demeanor, almost, around him.

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Uh, but it's something that when they walk into a room, and I've never been in a room with Mike, Doc Winter is the PD for iHeart.

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He's big in the hip hop world.

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But when they walk in a room, It's them.

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That's all that's there.

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You know, like, everybody goes to that.

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They attract to that.

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And I think it's such a positive way.

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It's almost like there's the opposite side.

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I don't want to knock Ryan McBain's Raiders.

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But the Raiders had this, you know, they'll take anybody in there, all the criminals and all this.

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I think There was another culture that, that the Steelers had with it.

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It was like, yeah, we'll take you in, but you better act right.

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You're something, I don't know.

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There was something different about it.

231
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Um, it's going to be, it's going to be exciting.

232
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Go ahead, Alex.

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I thought you had something there.

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Well, no, I just, I was going to start with Russ, but your, your description of what Mike Tomlin does, um, is, is apt.

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I mean, consuming, you know, being a part of the media.

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Um, consuming enough, uh, you know, like news clippings and podcasts and all that you get the same, you get the same response from anybody that's a player coach, a former player coach in the media.

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When Mike Tomlin enters the room, there's a, there's like a different air about things.

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And he's not.

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He's not going to say anything.

240
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Hey guys, how are you doing? He stands there and he looks and it's stoic.

241
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Like, what's he thinking about? What's on his mind? Like just everybody's fascinated with Mike Tomlin, the person at largely built off of success that he had.

242
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And I want to get back to the team and the Russell and Justin Fields dynamic.

243
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We're seeing that play out where Justin Fields has been practicing with Russell dealing with a calf injury.

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So you're getting those reps that Justin Fields needs.

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I'm not saying that Russell Wilson doesn't need them.

246
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Because we've got a brand new offense for him, for Pittsburgh as a whole, uh, a lot more changes than we've come to expect in a typical Steelers offseason.

247
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So I think living in both the present and the future, Nick, to your point about the quarterback situation is something that is playing out right before our eyes and we'll see, I mean, on a one year deal and Justin Fields is on an expiring deal.

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They are both auditioning for their next contracts.

249
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And I, I can, I can.

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I'd be willing to bet.

251
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I don't want to guarantee it, but I'd be willing to bet that one, but definitely not both of those quarterbacks would get a second contract from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

252
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You know what this reminds me of? Uh, a movie I saw a couple of years ago.

253
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And if you're a comic book fan, you'll get this.

254
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It's Future Pass, but it's the Pittsburgh Steelers version of Future Pass.

255
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Because Can be the future while Russell is the past.

256
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And the Pittsburgh Steelers, when you look at, listen to other individuals around national media, they don't really like this combination because they were too, they were down on both quarterbacks to begin with last season, right? But to me, this is the perfect situation if you're Pittsburgh Steelers, because if neither one of these guys work out, guess what? You can go get another quarterback in 2025.

257
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Right? And then if they do work out, guess what? You are still not paying either quarterback the, I guess, the average amount per year that the quarterbacks are making.

258
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You are not paying them what Justin Herbert made.

259
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You're not paying them what Jordan Love was paid.

260
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You are not.

261
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So you are still under the cap, but you still have quality play at the quarterback position.

262
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So the Pittsburgh still is, believe it or not, They are in great position right now.

263
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How is that? How did that go from last year? Like, seriously, I'm like, yeah, kitty picket.

264
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Okay.

265
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But literally you went from a hall of famer to three quarterbacks that nobody can name.

266
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And now you've got, now, now they're set up for who knows what, you know, like it's, it's, it's insane.

267
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Sorry, go ahead, Alex.

268
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No, no, no.

269
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I mean, I just, you know, Ben Roethlisberger looming as large as he did.

270
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You know, the Green Bay Packers model is the Green Bay Packers model.

271
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Any other team could use a first round pick to get their future quarterback.

272
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The Packers have developed a unique ability.

273
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To foster and take care of guys and still give them the attention and show them that they're valued.

274
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I mean, the Steelers tried, you know, they, they drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round, but you know, Mason Rudolph was there last year.

275
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They drafted Josh Dobbs who had some shine last year.

276
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They, they, they've attacked the quarterback position through the draft.

277
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But this is really the first time where they've gone out.

278
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And again, the investment is one and a half million dollars for Russell and a sixth round pick they sent to Chicago for Justin Fields.

279
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So it's a different approach and strategy that we're used to with this football team.

280
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I think the biggest free agent acquisition they had prior to Russell at this position was Mitchell Trubisky, right? So I think it's just a different dynamic that these are guys that are going to give their best for Mike Tomlin.

281
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And if they don't, or they can't, because Russell either doesn't have it, or Justin Fields never had it, as a, you know, as a franchise quarterback, well, then we know, because they couldn't thrive in this system.

282
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And, moving on to the other key additions for this team, because the quarterback's obviously the most significant, especially when we don't have a clear one, but the presence and the power that Mike Tomlin has, Is being able to pull a key piece of a division rivals defense and Patrick Queen, the big off season acquisition.

283
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Again, I mentioned what little resources they spent at the quarterback position.

284
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They can go out, re sign TJ Watt to reset the pass rusher market.

285
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And then they go and get Patrick Queen from the Baltimore Ravens, a three year 41 million deal.

286
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Uh, they, they are retooling this defense in a way that.

287
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If the offense gets on schedule and is less erratic, you let the defense just go do their work.

288
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So, I don't know if there's an added incentive to pull a great defender off of your division rival in Baltimore, but no fit for Patrick Queen on Mike Tomlin and Terrell Austin's defense.

289
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Well, I'll tell you this.

290
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Hell yeah, it's great to pull someone off for your rival because that's one less headache you have to deal with offensively.

291
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And sometimes, it's like Bontes Burford, right? It's better to have him on your team than playing against him.

292
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Even though there's a chance that he may get suspended or fined.

293
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I'd rather him be our game wrecker and our savage opposed to being someone else's.

294
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But once again, this plays to the history.

295
00:23:09,339.5947031 --> 00:23:12,9.5947031
Of the Pittsburgh Steelers themselves.

296
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They were always tough as hell on defense.

297
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And you needed someone in the middle, roaming the middle, commanding, having that green dot on the back of the helmet, getting the communication to run your defense.

298
00:23:24,279.5937031 --> 00:23:35,99.5947031
And they feel as though, you know what, this is not the best team that we've assembled, but it is enough to get us to the finish line where we have an opportunity to get into the mix.

299
00:23:35,109.5947031 --> 00:23:36,559.5937031
And once you get into the tournament.

300
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Hey man, it's, it's, it's no holds barred from there.

301
00:23:40,129.5947031 --> 00:23:50,449.5947031
I mean, Kansas City won a Super Bowl, not because of Andy Reid, uh, Travis, Kelsey, or you want to call him, you know, Taylor Swift's boyfriend, whatever you want to refer to him as.

302
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But they won it based on defense.

303
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That's something that we hadn't seen from Kansas City in the past couple of years.

304
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So Pittsburgh is thinking, you know what, our defense is going to be solid.

305
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We're going to run the ball.

306
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They just add, they had, they added Cordariel Patterson to the mix.

307
00:24:07,4.5947031 --> 00:24:08,224.5947031
He could play wide receiver.

308
00:24:08,364.5947031 --> 00:24:09,344.5947031
He could play the slot.

309
00:24:09,574.5947031 --> 00:24:11,734.5947031
You could throw a man there with fry and move that tight end.

310
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Hell, you could throw him in the backfield and just hand it to him.

311
00:24:14,74.5947031 --> 00:24:22,994.5947031
Right? So the idea is, can they protect either Russell? So those quarterbacks can get the ball in the hands of the playmakers and let them work.

312
00:24:23,54.5947031 --> 00:24:30,234.5947031
And if they're able to work out a deal and get Brennan IU, I'm just going to say look out.

313
00:24:30,234.6947031 --> 00:24:33,974.5947031
Yeah, go ahead Blane and then I'll follow up.

314
00:24:34,534.5937031 --> 00:24:36,574.5937031
On the beast, that's Patrick Queen.

315
00:24:37,544.5947031 --> 00:24:38,54.5947031
I like that.

316
00:24:38,64.5947031 --> 00:24:38,674.5947031
I like this guy.

317
00:24:38,704.5947031 --> 00:24:48,4.5947031
And you're like, why would you not go get A guy that's going to cause you trouble, right? Like that, like, like Ferg said, like, that's, that's absolutely right.

318
00:24:48,364.5947031 --> 00:24:53,254.5947031
And I'll go one step further here and say, you had the steel curtain back in the seventies.

319
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You had mean Joe green.

320
00:24:54,334.5942031 --> 00:25:00,854.5947031
What about mean Patrick queen, baby? It's coming.

321
00:25:01,994.5947031 --> 00:25:13,994.5947031
I just, you know, I think of having watched a lot of Steeler games because of Blaine, because of my wife and the in laws, the linebacker play was Mike Tomlin, the standard is the standard.

322
00:25:14,194.5947031 --> 00:25:18,384.5947031
They're not doing too many exotic things, right? They run their base 3 4 defense.

323
00:25:18,634.5947031 --> 00:25:21,454.5947031
They can win with four pass rushers because of T.

324
00:25:21,454.5947031 --> 00:25:21,654.5947031
J.

325
00:25:21,654.5947031 --> 00:25:24,324.5937031
Watt and Alex Highsmith.

326
00:25:24,614.5947031 --> 00:25:27,314.5947031
And hey, Hey, don't look at Hayward in there now.

327
00:25:27,524.5947031 --> 00:25:27,764.5947031
No.

328
00:25:27,764.5947031 --> 00:25:38,384.5947031
Well, I, I mean, listen, Cameron Hayward, you know, I like Cam Hayward up the middle and they've like, their guys are gonna win up front so they don't have to do anything too crazy.

329
00:25:38,624.5947031 --> 00:25:43,124.5947031
But the middle of the field had always been an issue, so improving the linebacker play was huge.

330
00:25:43,364.5947031 --> 00:25:48,134.5947031
Um, and it's just making sure that when their corners are put on an island, they found one last year in the draft.

331
00:25:48,134.5947031 --> 00:25:49,334.5947031
And Joey Porter Jr.

332
00:25:49,874.5947031 --> 00:25:53,444.5947031
Rounding out the rest of that DB room will really, uh.

333
00:25:53,884.5947031 --> 00:26:03,944.5937031
Catapult this defense, right? Because we're talking about a bottom five offense last year, 28th in terms of yardage, but 10 defensively.

334
00:26:04,254.5947031 --> 00:26:12,614.5947031
So the way that you win 10 games with some of the worst quarterback play, again, fewer passing yards than the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.

335
00:26:12,764.5937031 --> 00:26:16,854.5937031
Again, we're talking about Tommy DeVito and Mac Jones.

336
00:26:17,284.5937031 --> 00:26:20,339.4947031
Steelers were less productive than those guys.

337
00:26:20,609.5947031 --> 00:26:25,259.5947031
So, stability on the offense, increasing the floor and level of the defense.

338
00:26:25,499.5947031 --> 00:26:29,279.5947031
This is a team that is vastly improved as far as I'm concerned.

339
00:26:29,509.5947031 --> 00:26:39,379.5947031
And, Corderell Patterson, he was not signed, Nick, with all due respect, because of, um, you know, the lack of depth that they have on the offensive side.

340
00:26:40,9.5947031 --> 00:26:46,319.5947031
They signed Corderell Patterson hours after the league approved changes for the kickoff rules.

341
00:26:46,889.5947031 --> 00:26:56,439.5937031
Immediately, the, I think he's got nine career kickoff return TDs with this brand new rule that's going in that's novel, that's supposed to bring the kickoff rule back.

342
00:26:56,639.5947031 --> 00:27:01,919.5947031
There's a reason he sat on his couch and the first phone call he gets, he gets a job as soon as these rule changes are in.

343
00:27:02,169.5947031 --> 00:27:11,774.5947031
So they've been aggressive, attacking, Um, and being smart about a significant rule change that as fans, we have no idea what to expect.

344
00:27:11,774.5947031 --> 00:27:24,774.5947031
We saw some third stringers do it in the preseason, but Mike Tomlin and kudos to Omar Khan and that front office for understanding just wholesale changes to the roster, but also with the NFL rule book.

345
00:27:24,994.5947031 --> 00:27:31,454.5947031
So attacking it with one of the best kick returners of all time is just, that's an easy check Mark in my book.

346
00:27:31,634.5947031 --> 00:27:32,134.5947031
We'll show.

347
00:27:32,544.5947031 --> 00:27:32,754.5947031
Yes.

348
00:27:32,754.6947031 --> 00:27:41,184.5947031
Wasn't Conlon one of the first ones to just stop kicking the extra point and he wanted to start going for two? That sounds about right.

349
00:27:41,264.5937031 --> 00:27:44,904.5947031
That was an Arthur Smith thing too, funny enough, when he was the head coach of the Falcons.

350
00:27:45,164.5947031 --> 00:27:47,44.5947031
Uh, Arthur Smith did that a lot.

351
00:27:47,459.5947031 --> 00:27:51,349.5947031
And Arthur Smith now replacing Matt Canada as the offensive coordinator.

352
00:27:51,779.5947031 --> 00:28:07,889.5937031
Uh, you know, I don't need to circle back too much to it, but for how weird that Falcons team was, we're not expecting like Pat Fryer moved to be throwing touchdowns to Darnell Washington, Nick, are we like, I don't know if we need to set the record straight on what he is as a play caller.

353
00:28:08,79.5937031 --> 00:28:10,189.5937031
I just think it's fascinating that the Steelers.

354
00:28:10,454.5947031 --> 00:28:26,544.5947031
You know, have an offensive play caller, hopefully, fingers crossed, won't call the jet sweep as much as Matt Canada did, and at the same time, um, is looking for short to intermediate throws over the middle of the field with, of all people, Russell Wilson.

355
00:28:26,884.5947031 --> 00:28:30,484.5947031
Well, I'll say this, no, he's not, uh, yes, I, Canada.

356
00:28:30,544.5937031 --> 00:28:38,134.5947031
That's kind of a play from, uh, Duke Kaboom, uh, Keanu Reeves character from, uh, you know.

357
00:28:38,599.5947031 --> 00:28:42,409.5947031
The little kids movie, but listen, yeah, shout out three of us being dads.

358
00:28:43,499.5947031 --> 00:28:44,749.5947031
Here's what I will say.

359
00:28:45,109.5947031 --> 00:29:03,999.5947031
See, don't underestimate, you know, Arthur Smith because some of the plays that he ran in Atlanta, maybe they were not successful because they were not highly executed, right? Once again, just think about what the Steelers really have and think with a creative mind.

360
00:29:04,409.5947031 --> 00:29:12,499.5947031
So there's a possibility you can get Russell, Justin, And Corderelle Patterson on the field at the same time.

361
00:29:12,839.5947031 --> 00:29:15,239.5947031
So defensively, that's a nightmare.

362
00:29:15,539.5947031 --> 00:29:21,359.5947031
Because you're saying, okay, well, who do we take away? How do we take it away? Russell's gonna scramble.

363
00:29:21,539.5947031 --> 00:29:23,429.5947031
You know you can throw it to Fields.

364
00:29:23,439.5947031 --> 00:29:25,19.5947031
He can run it and he can throw it.

365
00:29:25,249.5947031 --> 00:29:28,329.5947031
And Corderelle Patterson, when you throw it to him, he's running through guys.

366
00:29:28,609.5947031 --> 00:29:31,929.5947031
So I'm looking for the creativity from Arthur Smith.

367
00:29:31,999.5947031 --> 00:29:47,284.5947031
And for me, I'm like, In the preseason, you try all of that, even if it fails, you know why guys? Because the teams you face every single week, guess what? They got to practice for those plays, even if you never run them.

368
00:29:47,744.5947031 --> 00:29:55,844.5947031
And now you, you, they have so much talent on the offensive side of the ball, but it's on Arthur Smith to bring it together.

369
00:29:56,524.5947031 --> 00:29:57,304.5947031
That's amazing.

370
00:29:57,314.5947031 --> 00:29:58,374.5947031
That's a great point.

371
00:29:58,394.5947031 --> 00:30:02,444.5947031
Like the fact that three Elite players.

372
00:30:02,504.5947031 --> 00:30:03,414.5947031
I mean, I'm going to hype them up.

373
00:30:03,454.5947031 --> 00:30:04,214.5947031
These are my boys.

374
00:30:06,194.5947031 --> 00:30:08,574.5947031
Elite players on the other side of the ball.

375
00:30:09,524.5947031 --> 00:30:14,34.5947031
On the other side of the defense side, you've got to find three elite players to cover those guys.

376
00:30:15,474.5947031 --> 00:30:15,964.5937031
That's dangerous.

377
00:30:15,964.6937031 --> 00:30:19,44.5947031
Ferg, you're hyping me up even more for my own team.

378
00:30:19,394.5937031 --> 00:30:21,64.5937031
Blane, let's get the hype train going.

379
00:30:21,64.5937031 --> 00:30:22,174.5947031
Let me give you one more thing.

380
00:30:22,464.5947031 --> 00:30:22,974.5947031
All right.

381
00:30:23,194.5947031 --> 00:30:36,434.5947031
As a defensive coach and a defensive player, you know what one of the hardest things to do? It's the tackle in space and keep this in mind that with the new rules changes there, the hip drop tackle, you can't do it anymore.

382
00:30:37,394.5947031 --> 00:30:38,354.5947031
You can't do it anymore.

383
00:30:38,464.5947031 --> 00:30:41,434.5947031
So you want to put the defensive guys on their heels.

384
00:30:41,664.5947031 --> 00:30:45,584.5957031
And if they do the hip drop tackle, guess what? First down.

385
00:30:46,14.5947031 --> 00:30:46,474.5937031
Get into it.

386
00:30:47,34.5937031 --> 00:30:49,944.5947031
Right? I'm just saying, Blane, I'm just going to put it out there.

387
00:30:50,579.5947031 --> 00:30:53,489.5947031
Hey, man, I'm gonna be over here yelling, uh, like Rodney Harrison.

388
00:30:53,489.5947031 --> 00:31:02,959.5947031
We used to work with, he would say, my Steelers, anytime, anytime a team was winning, he was like, my Steelers, my, yeah, Rodney, you, I love him.

389
00:31:02,989.5947031 --> 00:31:03,329.5937031
I love him.

390
00:31:03,329.5947031 --> 00:31:05,89.5937031
He's a legend on Sunday night for that.

391
00:31:05,559.5947031 --> 00:31:25,994.5947031
We're talking, we're talking about key pieces to the Steelers offense now, you know, the hub, where things are moving, right? The run game with Najee Harris and Jalen Warren, who I'm so, so ecstatic for, but it's at the same time, Cycling out different pieces, right? The offseason kind of kicked off prior to the draft with this big Deontay Johnson trade, sending him to Carolina.

392
00:31:26,4.5947031 --> 00:31:29,164.5937031
I mean, talk about from the penthouse to the outhouse.

393
00:31:29,364.5947031 --> 00:31:33,484.5947031
With no disrespect, no strays, um, for Dave Canales and crew.

394
00:31:33,684.5937031 --> 00:31:41,689.5947031
But, Blane, I mean, this This Deontay Johnson experience, right? He was the number one receiver.

395
00:31:41,849.5947031 --> 00:31:44,329.5947031
They'd have their shots every once in a while for George Pickens.

396
00:31:44,639.5947031 --> 00:31:58,644.5947031
But as a Steeler fan, do you remember the Deontay Johnson experience and kind of like what it's like getting off that ride after the last few years, uh, for, for a guy that was, you know, Um, thrown at a lot.

397
00:31:58,864.5947031 --> 00:32:01,524.5947031
He went a whole year without catching a single touchdown.

398
00:32:01,854.5947031 --> 00:32:07,804.5947031
And it's like every other play, he's either dropping a pass or his knee bends over backwards.

399
00:32:07,804.5947031 --> 00:32:12,474.5947031
You think his season is done and he just like trots back on the field three years later, like it.

400
00:32:13,94.5947031 --> 00:32:16,824.5937031
I'm just fascinated to see like how this offense looks with.

401
00:32:17,224.5947031 --> 00:32:24,34.5947031
Um, a key piece like that kind of being, you know, moved on for, in essence, cornerback depth and a seventh round pick.

402
00:32:24,374.5947031 --> 00:32:27,354.5947031
Is it all I'm going to say is he's exhausting to watch.

403
00:32:27,384.5947031 --> 00:32:28,424.5947031
That's like, that's it.

404
00:32:28,424.5947031 --> 00:32:29,644.5947031
It's just, it's exhausting.

405
00:32:29,664.5937031 --> 00:32:30,364.5937031
You never know.

406
00:32:30,674.5947031 --> 00:32:37,574.5947031
Uh, it, it's almost like, who's our guy? We watch Jeff green for a decade.

407
00:32:37,864.5947031 --> 00:32:41,364.5947031
Me and Alex have figured out that there's this cycle of Jeff green.

408
00:32:41,364.5947031 --> 00:32:46,694.5947031
And every, like, I don't know, 11 months and three days or something, he'll go off like 45 points.

409
00:32:46,764.5947031 --> 00:32:46,934.5947031
Yeah.

410
00:32:47,459.5947031 --> 00:32:49,49.5947031
Other than that, nothing.

411
00:32:49,519.5947031 --> 00:32:51,799.5947031
I feel like the same, you watch the same type of thing.

412
00:32:51,799.5947031 --> 00:32:55,489.5947031
This is the NFL example of the Jeff Green effect.

413
00:32:56,199.5947031 --> 00:32:59,139.5947031
We're going to trademark that because I think we really got something there, Alex.

414
00:32:59,349.5947031 --> 00:33:02,239.5947031
I mean, we got some runway with still he's in the NBA.

415
00:33:02,269.5947031 --> 00:33:05,219.5947031
He was an NBA champion with your Denver Nuggets, Nick.

416
00:33:05,499.5947031 --> 00:33:12,509.5947031
Uh, but I, uh, it just seemed like he was the focal point of the offense for so much of the time.

417
00:33:12,509.5947031 --> 00:33:15,59.5947031
But yeah, you'd be holding your breath either.

418
00:33:15,119.5947031 --> 00:33:16,759.5947031
He's either going to pop off for.

419
00:33:17,109.5947031 --> 00:33:20,429.5947031
Six catches, 110 yards, or, like, he just completely disappeared.

420
00:33:20,429.5947031 --> 00:33:24,239.5947031
Get a couple personal pit fouls and Like, lose your yards.

421
00:33:24,249.5947031 --> 00:33:25,679.5947031
Like, it's You never know.

422
00:33:25,709.5947031 --> 00:33:26,29.5947031
Like, that's it.

423
00:33:26,29.6947031 --> 00:33:39,469.5947031
So, we go, we go from, we go from that, that, that, how, like We go from that to how they addressed, um, other areas of the offense in the draft.

424
00:33:39,469.5947031 --> 00:33:43,549.5947031
We'll quickly go through, um, the emphasis on the offensive line.

425
00:33:43,549.5947031 --> 00:33:44,499.5947031
There are two top picks.

426
00:33:44,509.5947031 --> 00:33:50,89.5947031
Troy Fautanu, uh, from Washington, who looks like he's going to start out at right tackle.

427
00:33:50,439.5937031 --> 00:33:59,54.4947031
And then Zach Frazier out of West Virginia, who, by the way, Has a beard larger than yours, Blane.

428
00:33:59,54.5947031 --> 00:34:03,784.5947031
And by the way, his hobbies outside of football include woodworking.

429
00:34:04,394.5937031 --> 00:34:08,304.5947031
He built a log cabin out there in the sticks in West Virginia.

430
00:34:08,454.5947031 --> 00:34:10,344.5947031
I think Zach Frazier is about to be your favorite player.

431
00:34:10,344.5947031 --> 00:34:16,664.5947031
And it's not just because within two years, I mean, I'm including the addition of Roderick Jones in the first round last year.

432
00:34:16,934.5947031 --> 00:34:25,904.5947031
In two years, the Steelers have taken what was once one of the worst offensive lines and could make it one of the strengths of their offense.

433
00:34:25,914.5937031 --> 00:34:31,824.5947031
So Nick, again, we talk about Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, likely Justin, uh, Russell Wilson.

434
00:34:32,64.5947031 --> 00:34:32,364.5947031
Here we go.

435
00:34:32,384.5947031 --> 00:34:35,24.5947031
If I just say Justin Wilson, I'm not, I'm never wrong.

436
00:34:35,214.5947031 --> 00:34:35,484.5947031
Yeah.

437
00:34:36,504.5947031 --> 00:34:37,286.5947031
Just say Justin Wilson.

438
00:34:37,434.5947031 --> 00:34:38,244.5947031
Justin Wilson.

439
00:34:38,364.5947031 --> 00:34:41,574.5947031
So this offensive, the offensive line additions.

440
00:34:41,784.5947031 --> 00:34:43,644.5947031
Blaine, you're hyped about Roman Wilson.

441
00:34:43,934.5947031 --> 00:34:56,379.5947031
Like how does that affect the two running backs that were both incredibly effective last year and, and kind of the identity of this team overall? Well look at where Arthur Smith has been in previous years.

442
00:34:57,114.5947031 --> 00:34:57,414.5947031
Right.

443
00:34:57,414.5947031 --> 00:35:03,414.5947031
He was in Tennessee when, when you had Derrick Henry there, John Robinson in Atlanta.

444
00:35:03,664.5947031 --> 00:35:11,954.5937031
Once again, he could not run the full gamut of his offense because he had a quarterback that you didn't, that was so up and down.

445
00:35:12,494.5947031 --> 00:35:17,154.5947031
Now, when you kind of revamp your offensive line, you stick to what the Steelers do best.

446
00:35:17,334.5947031 --> 00:35:20,914.5947031
But more importantly, you understand what your quarterbacks do and do best.

447
00:35:21,124.5947031 --> 00:35:22,794.5947031
That's getting them outside the pocket.

448
00:35:23,64.5947031 --> 00:35:31,334.5947031
This is something that Sean Payton did not do well here for the Denver Broncos with Russell or the combination or vice versa, if you want to call it that way.

449
00:35:31,864.5947031 --> 00:35:35,84.5947031
The thing is for Arthur Smith, he needs to get both of those quarterbacks.

450
00:35:35,554.5947031 --> 00:35:36,564.5947031
Outside the pocket.

451
00:35:37,14.5947031 --> 00:35:39,864.5947031
The reason I say that it puts stress on the defense.

452
00:35:40,114.5947031 --> 00:35:43,144.5947031
That middle linebacker, he's got a long way to run.

453
00:35:43,604.5947031 --> 00:35:45,804.5947031
And what you do is like a malt to a flame.

454
00:35:46,134.5947031 --> 00:35:50,884.5947031
You draw in the defense so you can throw the ball all over the yard.

455
00:35:51,194.5937031 --> 00:35:52,294.5937031
This is what you do.

456
00:35:52,304.5947031 --> 00:35:58,209.5947031
This is why, like, when you have a thoroughbred horse, You just can't keep him in the barn.

457
00:35:58,369.5947031 --> 00:35:59,569.5947031
No, no, no, no, no, no.

458
00:35:59,849.5947031 --> 00:36:02,239.5947031
You admit you're not using that horse the right way.

459
00:36:02,519.5947031 --> 00:36:04,249.5947031
That horse was bred to run.

460
00:36:04,579.5947031 --> 00:36:10,79.5937031
And these quarterbacks were bred to get on the outside, use their leg and their arms and make plays.

461
00:36:10,339.5947031 --> 00:36:15,274.5947031
So don't put them in the box and say, you know what? I want you to be Ben Roethlisberger.

462
00:36:15,304.5947031 --> 00:36:17,354.5947031
Hell, they're not Ben Roethlisberger.

463
00:36:17,544.5947031 --> 00:36:23,264.5947031
And I mean, in the past couple of years for Ben Roethlisberger before he retired, even he wasn't Ben Roethlisberger of old.

464
00:36:23,394.5947031 --> 00:36:39,864.5947031
So the idea is let these dudes be dudes and start pulling guards, getting them on a perimeter, because I can tell you, man, it's hard as hell as a defender to keep your eyes on your luggage for 24 seconds, let alone five.

465
00:36:41,114.5947031 --> 00:36:43,644.5947031
I, I, uh, I'll round it out.

466
00:36:44,54.5947031 --> 00:36:45,524.5947031
Just real, real funny.

467
00:36:45,694.5947031 --> 00:36:52,234.5947031
It's, I think it's so funny how the NFL works with the familiarity and the relationships that one's build.

468
00:36:52,484.5947031 --> 00:36:59,164.5947031
So I want to focus on Troy Fittani, right? The 20th overall selection, the lineman out of, um, out of Washington.

469
00:37:00,384.5947031 --> 00:37:09,274.5947031
The first chance the Steelers get to look at them is the Washington pro day, because who's out there leading the drills for all the offensive linemen at Washington's pro day.

470
00:37:09,704.5947031 --> 00:37:11,654.5947031
Steelers offensive line coach, Pat Meyer.

471
00:37:11,974.5947031 --> 00:37:14,724.5937031
So they got an up close and in depth look at.

472
00:37:14,794.6947031 --> 00:37:30,364.5947031
Uh, who was a capable pass blocker, but an absolute mauler in the run game as far as like the athletics test out a guy that when those quarterbacks or the running backs get out in space, here's a guy that was pulling.

473
00:37:30,694.5947031 --> 00:37:33,884.5947031
Or often leading the charge, uh, getting to the second level.

474
00:37:34,84.5947031 --> 00:37:54,544.5947031
So it's going to be such an interesting way to see what Arthur Smith does to not only put his quarterbacks and running backs in the right situations, how do I scheme the blocking so that all of a sudden somebody even smaller, you know, than a defensive lineman, let's say a safety, Nick, here you are.

475
00:37:55,149.5947031 --> 00:38:05,599.5947031
Coming off the edge, you know it's a run, and all of a sudden you just see Troy Fatano or another 6'5 300 pound tackle just coming right towards you.

476
00:38:05,849.5947031 --> 00:38:07,519.5947031
Like, it's unstoppable.

477
00:38:08,339.5937031 --> 00:38:13,239.5947031
Well, it is considering the fact that the league changed the rules where you can no longer cut those guys.

478
00:38:14,734.5947031 --> 00:38:14,954.5947031
That's right.

479
00:38:16,124.5947031 --> 00:38:19,644.5947031
Always talks about, Hey man, we're trying to protect the health of our players.

480
00:38:19,894.5947031 --> 00:38:30,204.5937031
You just put a 200 pound DB and face him up against a 290 pound guy with good feet and he's pulling and I can't really cut him.

481
00:38:30,534.5947031 --> 00:38:35,24.5947031
So all it is is guess what? It's a nightmare player play for the DB.

482
00:38:35,324.5947031 --> 00:38:42,704.5947031
And all I would have to say is for Tom and all he has to do, look at the opponent defensive side and say, uh, somebody come get it.

483
00:38:42,954.5947031 --> 00:38:44,184.5947031
Because he's got a concussion.

484
00:38:44,814.5947031 --> 00:38:45,324.5947031
That's wild.

485
00:38:45,334.5947031 --> 00:38:56,884.5947031
Now, I don't know if this is official, if they've got the biggest, you know, Offensive line, but there's nobody on that offensive line smaller than 6'3 305 pounds.

486
00:38:57,84.5947031 --> 00:38:57,394.5947031
Yep.

487
00:38:57,764.5947031 --> 00:38:58,264.5947031
It's them.

488
00:38:58,314.5947031 --> 00:38:59,344.5947031
It's them and the Rams.

489
00:38:59,344.5947031 --> 00:39:03,154.5947031
We did this during our Rams preview, uh, which you can find on those guys.

490
00:39:03,494.5937031 --> 00:39:09,614.5947031
Uh, the Rams added three free agent offensive linemen that combined for nearly a thousand pounds.

491
00:39:09,904.5947031 --> 00:39:17,839.5947031
So you can see again, if you as the Pittsburgh Steelers Are on the same page as Sean McVay and those Rams.

492
00:39:18,119.5947031 --> 00:39:25,759.5947031
I think you're onto something, right? Those are the two teams that put an emphasis on the interior of their offensive line improved.

493
00:39:25,959.5937031 --> 00:39:31,749.5947031
Uh, again, they were league average as an offensive line, maybe bottom third, but now they're taking what was.

494
00:39:32,344.5947031 --> 00:39:43,564.5947031
Something they were lacking in and turning it hopefully into a strength and at least, you know, as we live in the present and the future build off of elite blue chip prospects that they use first round selections for.

495
00:39:43,804.5947031 --> 00:39:45,794.5947031
So we're going to blame.

496
00:39:46,389.5947031 --> 00:39:47,99.5947031
Be prepared.

497
00:39:47,99.5947031 --> 00:39:57,149.5947031
We're going to ask you the floor and the ceiling of this team, but what really swings on how well this team can perform is what happens that second half of the season.

498
00:39:57,379.5947031 --> 00:40:21,974.5947031
Now, I'm not a big conspiracy theory guy, unless when I am, but the fact of the matter is, is the hardest schedule in football belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and well, why is that? As it turns out, when they come out, uh, after their week nine, by week 10, week 11, week 11, through the end of the season, they are home against Baltimore on the road at Cleveland at Cincinnati home against the Browns.

499
00:40:22,74.5937031 --> 00:40:30,214.5947031
Then they go at Philadelphia at Baltimore again, home on Christmas day against the two times Superbowl defending champion chiefs.

500
00:40:30,504.5947031 --> 00:40:36,804.5942031
And they close things out at home against the Bengals, right? So you've got, Oh, you're good.

501
00:40:36,804.5942031 --> 00:40:37,144.5947031
You're good.

502
00:40:37,144.5947031 --> 00:40:38,214.5947031
I'm on a roll here.

503
00:40:38,354.5947031 --> 00:40:38,974.5937031
You've got.

504
00:40:39,419.5947031 --> 00:40:47,249.5947031
Six division games, and two time Super Bowl champions, and the Eagles that played in the Super Bowl two years before that.

505
00:40:47,689.5947031 --> 00:40:55,709.5937031
Now all of a sudden, we learn the NFL is putting out the Hard Knocks In Season Edition, profiling the AFC North.

506
00:40:55,959.5937031 --> 00:41:04,959.5947031
So not only is the Steelers schedule backloaded, it is backloaded because The NFL wants to film these games and make a documentary about it.

507
00:41:05,209.5947031 --> 00:41:12,949.5937031
So your thoughts, Blane, knowing that the NFL is putting the Steelers in a choke hold with how this season finishes.

508
00:41:14,159.5947031 --> 00:41:15,249.5947031
So this is my prediction.

509
00:41:15,259.5947031 --> 00:41:16,819.5947031
This is my low and higher.

510
00:41:16,849.5947031 --> 00:41:18,779.5947031
Is that what we're doing? Yeah, that's fine.

511
00:41:18,789.5947031 --> 00:41:20,899.5947031
Just knowing how tough that end of the season is.

512
00:41:20,899.5947031 --> 00:41:28,69.5947031
What is the floor of this Pittsburgh Steelers team? Are they, Hey, Mike Tomlin, is he going to keep that winning streak intact? Absolutely.

513
00:41:28,69.5947031 --> 00:41:29,759.5947031
500 is the bare minimum.

514
00:41:29,949.5937031 --> 00:41:30,109.5937031
Yeah.

515
00:41:31,44.5947031 --> 00:41:34,894.5947031
That's, what is that, 8 8? It would be 9 8 now.

516
00:41:34,904.5947031 --> 00:41:35,144.4947031
9 8.

517
00:41:35,144.5947031 --> 00:41:36,204.5947031
9 8.

518
00:41:36,274.5947031 --> 00:41:37,264.5947031
17 games.

519
00:41:37,734.5947031 --> 00:41:48,784.5947031
Uh, the top of that? Oh man, I think, I think, not, you know, not thinking about injuries and all that kind of stuff that can happen.

520
00:41:48,804.5937031 --> 00:41:52,289.4947031
If you're just looking at it, Steelers are going to be, they're going to be playoff winners.

521
00:41:53,49.5947031 --> 00:41:53,689.5947031
Buy round.

522
00:41:53,699.5947031 --> 00:41:54,529.5947031
First, first round.

523
00:41:54,529.5947031 --> 00:41:54,809.5947031
Buy.

524
00:41:55,179.5947031 --> 00:41:56,929.5947031
Okay, so division winners.

525
00:41:57,579.5947031 --> 00:41:58,839.5947031
Unseating those Ravens.

526
00:41:59,139.5947031 --> 00:42:00,59.5947031
I love to hear it.

527
00:42:00,279.5947031 --> 00:42:01,59.5947031
Love to hear it.

528
00:42:01,219.5947031 --> 00:42:08,279.5947031
Let me throw you a, let me throw you the wild card player that's gonna, that's gonna get some wins.

529
00:42:08,489.5937031 --> 00:42:09,339.5937031
It's Chris Boswell.

530
00:42:09,339.5947031 --> 00:42:09,889.5947031
It's a kicker.

531
00:42:10,249.5947031 --> 00:42:11,489.5937031
Yeah, the boss.

532
00:42:11,939.5947031 --> 00:42:18,589.5947031
The boss is good and I feel like that right there, you could put him, you could put him across the line, man.

533
00:42:18,659.5947031 --> 00:42:19,709.5947031
Put your money on boss.

534
00:42:19,749.5947031 --> 00:42:20,259.5947031
Boy, it is.

535
00:42:20,279.5947031 --> 00:42:23,189.5947031
He's, he's money from about 50 plus, typically.

536
00:42:23,204.6947031 --> 00:42:24,864.5947031
Your turn.

537
00:42:24,884.5947031 --> 00:42:27,284.5947031
You got a floor for the Pittsburgh Steelers and their ceiling.

538
00:42:27,294.5947031 --> 00:42:29,934.5947031
Knowing how bad that second half of the schedule is.

539
00:42:31,244.5947031 --> 00:42:49,704.5937031
Well, I was kind of piggyback off of what Blane said, so I'll put them at 500 because with Mike Tomlin, this team hasn't really missed the postseason, right? Uh, they haven't really made it to the end of the Super Bowl, but they've been really good as far as getting to the postseason.

540
00:42:49,764.5947031 --> 00:42:50,414.5947031
Just think about it.

541
00:42:50,694.5947031 --> 00:42:56,594.5947031
You had Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Jabinski, and they still got that done, right? Yep.

542
00:42:56,809.5947031 --> 00:43:03,299.5947031
So, if you're believing that either Justin Fields or Russell Wilson can help them, yes, that is the floor.

543
00:43:03,579.5947031 --> 00:43:13,189.4947031
Now, the ceiling, I have to kind of go a little away from Blane because getting a buy, knowing as though they only give out one buys now, right? That means you're not only winning, you're losing.

544
00:43:13,459.5947031 --> 00:43:16,249.5947031
Your division, but you are the tops in the league.

545
00:43:16,269.5947031 --> 00:43:20,759.5947031
I think that's going to be really hard to do in that division, which is a black and blue division.

546
00:43:20,989.5947031 --> 00:43:29,179.5937031
But I do give the Steelers a fighting chance are getting maybe, maybe the fifth or sixth seed and they get into playoffs and they make noise.

547
00:43:29,359.5947031 --> 00:43:29,769.5947031
But.

548
00:43:30,24.5947031 --> 00:43:32,784.5947031
Obviously, they don't get to the Super Bowl, but they make it interesting.

549
00:43:33,824.5947031 --> 00:43:34,964.5947031
He's Nick Ferguson.

550
00:43:35,954.5947031 --> 00:43:39,94.5947031
He's Just Blane, CEO here of Ride the Wave Media.

551
00:43:39,94.5947031 --> 00:43:42,634.5947031
You can find him, uh, Radio Daybreak, as well as Game Related.

552
00:43:42,634.5947031 --> 00:43:44,774.5947031
Saw him holding the sticks when we were getting started here.

553
00:43:44,994.5937031 --> 00:43:49,94.5937031
So, we like to end every show with Nick before we split, but he's the man of the hour.

554
00:43:49,114.5947031 --> 00:43:49,874.5947031
He's our guest.

555
00:43:51,14.5947031 --> 00:43:54,614.5947031
Blane, before we split, I gotta put you on the spot here.

556
00:43:55,174.5947031 --> 00:44:05,864.5947031
What can we look forward to with the latest episodes of Radio Daybreak, as well as, maybe, game related coming back? We'll see you, uh, playing some college football, maybe? Oh yeah, game related's coming back.

557
00:44:05,864.5947031 --> 00:44:07,484.5937031
Radio Daybreak is booming right here.

558
00:44:07,484.5947031 --> 00:44:11,154.5947031
That's, uh, that's our local podcast that's actually going national now.

559
00:44:11,744.5947031 --> 00:44:12,294.5947031
We'll be out.

560
00:44:12,804.5947031 --> 00:44:21,609.5947031
We're, we're hosting a, we're, we're hosting a, uh, red carpet event for, uh, A organization called Promise to Live Suicide Prevention.

561
00:44:21,609.5947031 --> 00:44:22,699.5947031
We'll be out there in Hollywood.

562
00:44:22,699.5947031 --> 00:44:23,779.5947031
That's Radio Daybreak.

563
00:44:24,379.5947031 --> 00:44:31,979.5937031
Uh, what else, man? I got, I got another project coming out with Courtney Pearl, our resident Celtic priestess.

564
00:44:32,979.5947031 --> 00:44:36,769.5947031
We are doing movie watches.

565
00:44:36,779.5947031 --> 00:44:44,219.5947031
When we do, we picked certain movies and Horror movies, which movies is what we're going for.

566
00:44:44,219.5947031 --> 00:44:55,309.5937031
So this is something, uh, the we've, we've taped one, we've, we've recorded one episode and we did Wicker Man and Midsommar, so we're doing all these like comparison, that's, that's a really fun project.

567
00:44:55,604.5947031 --> 00:44:56,544.5947031
That's coming along.

568
00:44:57,74.5947031 --> 00:44:59,604.5947031
Uh, all kinds of stuff in the works, man.

569
00:44:59,604.5947031 --> 00:45:01,294.5947031
We got, uh, we got a Lego event coming up.

570
00:45:01,314.5947031 --> 00:45:04,694.5947031
Radio Daybreak will be a part of here two weeks from now.

571
00:45:04,704.5947031 --> 00:45:07,174.5947031
So it's booming, man.

572
00:45:07,754.5937031 --> 00:45:18,714.5947031
Just make sure you wear, I know, I know you like to lay, uh, like those feet to breathe, but by all means, man, closed toed shoes, there's no, there's no bigger pain than a Lego on the bottom of the foot.

573
00:45:19,324.5947031 --> 00:45:30,719.5947031
I swear, like having, having my son now, like that is the pain, like the pain of not only Not putting the toys away properly, but like getting that on the bottom of my foot.

574
00:45:30,939.5947031 --> 00:45:32,859.5947031
Um, I wouldn't wish that on my own worst enemy.

575
00:45:32,909.5947031 --> 00:45:33,529.5947031
I really wouldn't.

576
00:45:33,539.5947031 --> 00:45:33,949.5947031
It's awful.

577
00:45:34,219.5937031 --> 00:45:35,709.5947031
We got none of those around here though.

578
00:45:36,9.5947031 --> 00:45:36,779.5937031
Just Blane.

579
00:45:36,989.5947031 --> 00:45:39,159.5947031
Blane, can't thank you enough for joining us.

580
00:45:39,159.6947031 --> 00:45:39,179.4947031
One more.

581
00:45:39,479.5947031 --> 00:45:42,929.5947031
Let me drop one more prediction about the Steelers.

582
00:45:42,989.5947031 --> 00:45:43,789.5947031
Oh, let's go.

583
00:45:44,89.5947031 --> 00:45:50,949.5937031
Week two, week two, Rusty Wilson is gonna go into Denver.

584
00:45:51,29.5947031 --> 00:45:51,749.5947031
Uh oh.

585
00:45:52,569.5947031 --> 00:45:55,539.5947031
I get, this is what I'm gonna say, he's gonna throw five bombs in there.

586
00:45:57,239.5947031 --> 00:45:58,279.5947031
Five CDs.

587
00:45:58,599.5937031 --> 00:46:00,379.5947031
Okay, see, see, Blane.

588
00:46:01,264.5947031 --> 00:46:08,614.5947031
See, see, my wife would say that, uh, I listen, but I don't listen to her all the time, and that's kind of true.

589
00:46:08,814.5947031 --> 00:46:15,170.2280365
But in this case, I'm listening to you, and what I heard, five bombs, but you didn't say who was catching them.

590
00:46:15,170.2280365 --> 00:46:16,958.9613698
You didn't say who was catching them.

591
00:46:16,958.9613698 --> 00:46:19,674.5937031
That's true, that's true, that's true, that's true.

592
00:46:19,844.5937031 --> 00:46:30,274.5947031
There he is, Nick Ferguson, showing his allegiance to his Denver Broncos, despite how much you just heard him pump up, Russell Wilson, again, we are Rush is gonna be in there saying, You know, acknowledge me.

593
00:46:30,274.5947031 --> 00:46:31,974.5947031
Like, like our tribal chief, Roman Reign.

594
00:46:32,264.5947031 --> 00:46:34,274.5947031
This is, this is what he'll have on under his jersey.

595
00:46:35,554.5947031 --> 00:46:36,424.5937031
Mr, Mr.

596
00:46:36,464.5947031 --> 00:46:37,144.5947031
Unlimited.

597
00:46:37,524.5947031 --> 00:46:38,794.5942031
The fun is unlimited here.

598
00:46:38,794.5942031 --> 00:46:46,534.5937031
You can always catch us, Ride The Wave Media, Those Guys, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, if you want to see Blane on the stream again.

599
00:46:46,764.5947031 --> 00:46:51,334.5947031
Can't thank you enough for helping us kick off our first guest that we've had here to predict.

600
00:46:51,504.5947031 --> 00:46:56,264.5947031
It's good to get our perspective, but even better to get someone closer to the team than the two of us.

601
00:46:56,484.5947031 --> 00:46:58,384.5947031
So, Nick, Blane, a pleasure.

602
00:46:58,544.5937031 --> 00:47:07,984.5947031
We'll have to have you back on again, especially, uh, come September 16th, the day after those Pittsburgh Steelers come into Denver and do what? Five touchdowns, baby.

603
00:47:08,174.5947031 --> 00:47:08,934.5947031
Five bombs.

604
00:47:10,724.5947031 --> 00:47:11,414.5947031
I didn't say who to.

605
00:47:11,414.6947031 --> 00:47:13,188.9947031
Peace.