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HR 1: Steelers 10 Terrible Takes or Not: Week 6 · The Steelers Report

• 0:07
  Speaker 1: Gets the snap.
• 0:08
  Speaker 2: He's back. He pumps. He scrambles around. Throws it back
• 0:12
  Speaker 2: corner of.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: The end zone.
• 0:13
  Speaker 2: Santonio with a touchdown!
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: Santonio Holmes!
• 0:16
  Speaker 2: I don't know how he did it!
• 0:18
  Speaker 3: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie doesn't know how he did it. But they
• 0:22
  Speaker 3: ruled touchdown in the far right corner of the end zone.
• 0:26
  Speaker 3: This is the Steelers Report with Brian Batko and Ed
• 0:30
  Speaker 3: Troop on Steelers Nation Radio, a part of the Steelers
• 0:33
  Speaker 3: Audio Network.
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: Those calls from the great Bill Hillgrove will never get old.
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: And when the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Tampa Bay this Sunday,
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: of course, that's one of the all-time highlights that took
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: place in Tampa, not against the Bucs, of course, against
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
• 0:50
  Speaker 2: But as we talked about.
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: On the show yesterday, it's one of the ultimate highlights
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: that happened on the western side of Florida in Tampa
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: Bay in the Pittsburgh Steelers' historic Super Bowl runs that
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: they've had six now. And of course, that was a
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: big one in Super Bowl 43. It was Super Bowl
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: title number six. It was the epic comeback that Big
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: Ben led.
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: And Double B, again, that wasn't against the Bucs, but
• 1:14
  Speaker 2: it was in that stadium in the corner of the
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: end zone.
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: So I'm sure anyone that was in and around the
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: team that walks into that stadium on Sunday will feel that. Yeah,
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: no doubt.
• 1:24
  Speaker 4: I'm looking forward to my first trip there. Like I said, Ed,
• 1:27
  Speaker 4: I've only got a few stadiums left after Sunday that
• 1:31
  Speaker 4: I've never been to. I guess it's Seattle, I've not
• 1:34
  Speaker 4: been to Seattle Stadium. Arizona, too, and San Francisco. So
• 1:39
  Speaker 4: the NFC West eludes me. But the AFC, I think
• 1:43
  Speaker 4: I've got them all under my belt at this point.
• 1:48
  Speaker 4: And the NFC Tampa, obviously, will be next. Dallas, I've
• 1:52
  Speaker 4: never been down to Jerry World. Minnesota, I've not been to.
• 1:56
  Speaker 4: A lot of people say U.S.
• 1:57
  Speaker 5: Bank is the best stadium in the NFL. But I've
• 2:01
  Speaker 5: yet to be there.
• 2:03
  Speaker 4: And I think that, oh, in New Orleans, because I
• 2:06
  Speaker 4: think as we've talked about off the air, ironically, I
• 2:08
  Speaker 4: will go to Paris for the first NFL football game
• 2:11
  Speaker 4: of all time there. And yet I've never even been
• 2:14
  Speaker 4: to a game at the Superdome in New Orleans. So
• 2:17
  Speaker 4: I'm checking them off and I'm happy to get Raymond
• 2:19
  Speaker 4: James Stadium under my belt on Sunday.
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: It is a great place to watch an NFL football game,
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: Double B. I've been there before. I wish I was
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: there for Super Bowl XLIII and got to see that highlight.
• 2:29
  Speaker 1: I had a handful of friends that were there for
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: that game, and they said how incredible it was. Hopefully
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: this Sunday the Steelers can stack wins. It would be
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: the first time this season that they're able to do that.
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: They're on this win-loss, win-loss-win journey so far. And as
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: we talked about here on the show, They need to
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: start stacking wins because we know after the bye week
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: come November and December, the schedule gets a bit rougher.
• 2:51
  Speaker 2: But who knows?
• 2:52
  Speaker 1: Once you get to that point in the season, things
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: could obviously change in the NFL. Week to week, we
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: see teams that aren't supposed to win win. We see
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: teams that are supposed to lose and go the other direction.
• 3:03
  Speaker 1: So you never know, Brian. And this could be another
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: one of those games where, you know, on paper, it
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: looks very strong for the Steelers to go down to
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: Tampa and beat a one and four Bucs team that
• 3:12
  Speaker 1: has struggled through the last five of the weeks but
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: they are coming off a big win last week and
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: as we said anything is possible.
• 3:18
  Speaker 4: Looking at the the rosters from that Super Bowl game
• 3:22
  Speaker 4: Super Bowl XL starting lineup for the Steelers of course
• 3:26
  Speaker 4: you had Hines Ward and Heath Miller Matt Spaeth started
• 3:29
  Speaker 4: that game Sean McHugh started that game and I guess
• 3:33
  Speaker 4: tight end slash fullback but I think the the offensive
• 3:36
  Speaker 4: line two of our buds Max Starks and Willie Colon
• 3:39
  Speaker 4: in the locker room with Rob King every day from.
• 3:43
  Speaker 5: 12 to 2.
• 3:44
  Speaker 4: And then you've got Darnell Stapleton was at right guard.
• 3:48
  Speaker 4: That team was ravaged by injuries that season on the
• 3:51
  Speaker 4: O-line and kind of a, I hate to say it,
• 3:54
  Speaker 4: but he was a little-known player who stepped up to
• 3:57
  Speaker 4: get them through that game. But the defense, Ed, talk
• 4:00
  Speaker 4: about a defensive starting lineup. Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, Brett Kiesel,
• 4:05
  Speaker 4: Lamar Woodley, James Farrier, Larry Foote, James Harrison.
• 4:08
  Speaker 5: Ike Taylor, Ryan Clark, Brian McFadden. and Troy Polamalu. No
• 4:13
  Speaker 5: wonder they won the Super Bowl.
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: Incredible, Double B.
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: Absolutely incredible when you take a look at that roster
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: and what they were able to do that season. I mean,
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: there were some great defenses during that time period. And again,
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: going into the 2026 season, it's two areas that the
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: Steelers have invested a lot in, the defense and the
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: offensive line. And they're hoping to get those returns just
• 4:36
  Speaker 1: like they did clear back door in the Super Bowl
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: 43 run.
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: Maybe it'll get to the Super Bowl this year. Maybe
• 4:41
  Speaker 2: it won't. We don't know.
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: Hopefully it will for black and gold fans out there.
• 4:44
  Speaker 1: But right now, this offensive line, I feel like, is
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: starting to gel. And the defense, even though it has
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: leaks at times, you look back at last week against
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: the Indianapolis Colts, held them to five field goals.
• 4:53
  Speaker 2: They need to get the blitzes up. They need to
• 4:55
  Speaker 2: get the sacks up. We know that.
• 4:57
  Speaker 1: But, you know, they got some injuries that they're dealing with,
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: and they're trying to overcome that wave. And so far,
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: they've been able to do that. And again, hopefully this
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: weekend against the Bucs, they'll continue to be able to
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: do that. But I want to see the offensive line
• 5:07
  Speaker 1: put together another performance that we saw against the Bengals.
• 5:10
  Speaker 2: And of course, last week, I thought they did a
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: really good job against the Colts.
• 5:14
  Speaker 4: You know what else is crazy about that game and
• 5:16
  Speaker 4: looking at some of the personnel in that one, Ed?
• 5:20
  Speaker 4: A rookie defensive lineman. He didn't start for the Cardinals,
• 5:24
  Speaker 4: but he played and he had a couple tackles. Calais Campbell,
• 5:27
  Speaker 4: who is still in the NFL at 40 years old.
• 5:32
  Speaker 4: playing for the Ravens. I mean, that is unbelievable. Like
• 5:35
  Speaker 4: I'm just looking through the box score.
• 5:36
  Speaker 5: I did like a double take. I'm like, no, Calais
• 5:40
  Speaker 5: Campbell was a rookie in that game.
• 5:43
  Speaker 4: He was the Cardinals second round pick that year in
• 5:46
  Speaker 4: 2008 out of Miami.
• 5:48
  Speaker 5: I mean, that, that is just, that's unbelievable. It really is.
• 5:51
  Speaker 5: Like we always talk about how Cam Hayward is still
• 5:53
  Speaker 5: going strong and, you know, he's probably playing at a
• 5:56
  Speaker 5: higher level than Campbell is at this age. He's only
• 5:59
  Speaker 5: started two of the first five games. for the Ravens.
• 6:02
  Speaker 4: So he's a part-time contributor down there in Baltimore. But man,
• 6:06
  Speaker 4: we always talk about Cam being an ageless wonder. He
• 6:09
  Speaker 4: came into the league three years after that, a full
• 6:11
  Speaker 4: three years after that. He was like a twinkle in
• 6:14
  Speaker 4: Ohio State's eye when Calais Campbell was playing against the Steelers.
• 6:17
  Speaker 2: In that Super Incredible.
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: I was not aware that he was on that roster
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: all the way back then, Brian. Good takeaway there for you. Brian,
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: we do have some injury news to get to for
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: this week. The first initial injury report came out yesterday.
• 6:30
  Speaker 1: On Wednesday, we'll get another update here at some point
• 6:32
  Speaker 1: this afternoon or this evening here on Thursday. A couple
• 6:36
  Speaker 1: surprises on that report, right? Ramsey wasn't a go yesterday
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: and a.
• 6:41
  Speaker 2: Few others, right?
• 6:42
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm not surprised by Ramsey because I think they
• 6:45
  Speaker 4: are trying to manage that injury for him, that wrist injury.
• 6:48
  Speaker 5: I don't think he's in jeopardy of not playing.
• 6:50
  Speaker 4: He's already played through it twice to his credit, and
• 6:53
  Speaker 4: he continues to play well and play physical. He's not
• 6:57
  Speaker 4: shying away from contact, despite what he said was a
• 7:00
  Speaker 4: broken wrist. So that's gritty stuff from Jalen Ramsey. Jamel
• 7:06
  Speaker 4: Dean and Rico Dowdle, I think you like to see
• 7:09
  Speaker 4: them at least limited to start the week. That, to me,
• 7:13
  Speaker 4: says they're on a good trajectory. And by the way,
• 7:15
  Speaker 4: happy birthday today to Jamel Dean. formerly of the Tampa
• 7:19
  Speaker 4: Bay Buccaneers, turns 30.
• 7:23
  Speaker 5: Today, Ed.
• 7:23
  Speaker 4: So that's a big one for Mr.
• 7:26
  Speaker 5: Dean here on October 15th.
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: That is a big birthday for Jamel Dean, and maybe
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: he'll be able to go this upcoming weekend.
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: We don't know.
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: We shall see as this week goes on.
• 7:37
  Speaker 5: I hope he can.
• 7:38
  Speaker 4: I hope he can for his sake to play against
• 7:40
  Speaker 4: Tampa Bay. But sticking with the injury report to Sean Elliott,
• 7:44
  Speaker 4: able to get in a limited day. Remember, he remains
• 7:47
  Speaker 4: on IR, so it's not so much that he was
• 7:51
  Speaker 4: inactive last week. It's just that he returned to practice,
• 7:54
  Speaker 4: but the Steelers haven't activated him yet to the 53-man roster,
• 7:58
  Speaker 4: and they obviously would have to clear a spot if
• 8:01
  Speaker 4: they were.
• 8:02
  Speaker 5: Going to do that. Who else do we got here?
• 8:05
  Speaker 4: Keanu Benton popped up as a DNP with an ankle.
• 8:10
  Speaker 4: I don't think we knew that he had any sort
• 8:12
  Speaker 4: of ankle injuries. coming out of that game Sunday against
• 8:16
  Speaker 4: the Colts. But hopefully that's just a minor bumper bruise,
• 8:20
  Speaker 4: and they're managing that for Benton as well. You know,
• 8:24
  Speaker 4: Mike McCarthy, he didn't mention that one. He did mention,
• 8:28
  Speaker 4: you know, he was asked again about Deshaun Elliott, and,
• 8:32
  Speaker 4: you know, he talked about his leadership ability, communication, how
• 8:37
  Speaker 4: much the players respect him, and said he's a guy
• 8:40
  Speaker 4: who carries a big stick. swings a big stick however
• 8:44
  Speaker 4: he he said it and i think that's just a
• 8:47
  Speaker 4: kind of an old school way of saying that uh
• 8:49
  Speaker 4: deshaun elliott commands a lot of respect on that defense
• 8:53
  Speaker 4: and in that locker room so hopefully he can come
• 8:55
  Speaker 4: back soon and then the other two i mean roman
• 8:58
  Speaker 4: wilson ben skronic dnp but mike mccarthy had already ruled
• 9:01
  Speaker 4: them out earlier in the week right so i i
• 9:03
  Speaker 4: don't think it necessarily bears monitoring the rest of this
• 9:07
  Speaker 4: week they're in that weird uh in between phase of
• 9:11
  Speaker 4: you know, not significant enough to be on IR, but
• 9:14
  Speaker 4: significant enough that we know that they can be rolled
• 9:16
  Speaker 4: out early in the week.
• 9:17
  Speaker 1: Yeah, the Keanu Benton one you just mentioned, that was
• 9:20
  Speaker 1: the surprise that showed up on that report yesterday. Because
• 9:23
  Speaker 1: as you said, we weren't aware that he was dealing
• 9:24
  Speaker 1: with something. Hopefully it's something major and it's more of
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: a maintenance situation this week for him just to, you know,
• 9:30
  Speaker 1: heal up and get back onto the field because they
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: can certainly use Benton. You know, Benton isn't showing up
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: so much, Brian, on the stat sheet with huge stats.
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: But he's involved in that defensive front that's been very
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: good against the run so far this season. And another
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: player that really stepped up, and there's a lot of
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: social media posts in the last 24 to 48 hours,
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: and I know our good friend Brian Bollinger also pointed
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: out Gabriel Rubio and his weekly stuff that he does
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: with game film. But there's been others, too, that have
• 9:58
  Speaker 1: posted some things, and I started watching some of that
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: film a little bit more specifically yesterday.
• 10:03
  Speaker 2: With Gabriel Rubio.
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: He had a good game up front you know 11
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: or 12 snaps and all 11 or 12 didn't result
• 10:09
  Speaker 1: in many positive yardage for the Colts trying to run
• 10:13
  Speaker 1: the football and it was a lot of that had
• 10:15
  Speaker 1: to do with Rubio up front getting by his blockers
• 10:18
  Speaker 1: taking on double teams and you know making that initial
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: contact on the running backs. So that was promising to
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: see from the Steelers' late-round draft pick from Notre Dame.
• 10:28
  Speaker 4: Yeah, you felt him out there, Ed, and you certainly
• 10:31
  Speaker 4: noticed him once or twice. That's really encouraging for Rubio
• 10:36
  Speaker 4: because we know that Derek Harmon is going to be
• 10:38
  Speaker 4: back on this defense at some point. He'll get off
• 10:41
  Speaker 4: the injured reserve at some point, we hope, dealing with
• 10:45
  Speaker 4: that foot, I think it was, for Harmon. But maybe
• 10:48
  Speaker 4: even once he returns, you carve out a roster spot
• 10:52
  Speaker 4: to give Rubio a helmet on game days. We know
• 10:54
  Speaker 4: that they had been rolling with only five D linemen.
• 10:57
  Speaker 4: But as you get into the winter months and maybe
• 11:00
  Speaker 4: you expect the run game to uptick against you, you
• 11:05
  Speaker 4: might need another body out there on the D line
• 11:07
  Speaker 4: and could get a little more physical as they progress.
• 11:11
  Speaker 5: Throughout this season. And they'll see the Ravens here. It's
• 11:16
  Speaker 5: going to get.
• 11:18
  Speaker 4: It's going to get thorny in the middle, and Gabriel
• 11:20
  Speaker 4: Rubio seems like he's got the requisite physicality to help
• 11:24
  Speaker 4: in that regard, even if it's just for a handful
• 11:26
  Speaker 4: of snaps here and there.
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: As we've been talking about, too, this rookie class here
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: in 2026 making an impact so far this season. It's early, too,
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: and you would think that as the NFL season goes
• 11:37
  Speaker 1: on for rookies, they're going to continue to progress. They're
• 11:40
  Speaker 1: going to continue to get better the more snaps they get. So,
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: you know, you've got to be encouraged what you've seen
• 11:45
  Speaker 1: so far from Maxi Onachor on the offensive line, Jeremy Bernard.
• 11:48
  Speaker 1: You know, we've talked a lot about Daylon Everett getting involved.
• 11:51
  Speaker 1: You'd like to see more out of Caden Weegin, as
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: we said. Now you've got Rubio. Robert Spears Jennings is
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: another one, Brian. I mean, Robert Spears Jennings and Gabriel Rubio,
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: late-round draft picks that, I don't know, going into training camp,
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: we wouldn't have been stunned if they didn't make the
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: roster if they would have been cut because, you know,
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: late-round draft picks are almost like undrafted free agents today.
• 12:11
  Speaker 2: It's tough, it's challenging for them to make a team.
• 12:13
  Speaker 1: So to see those two in particular in the lineup
• 12:16
  Speaker 1: on this defense and making plays is very encouraging for
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: the future for both of them and the Steelers defense.
• 12:24
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I think this is just, this is a rookie
• 12:26
  Speaker 4: class that's going to have some staying power, I think,
• 12:29
  Speaker 4: even if it's in workman-like roles. You know, Riley Nowakowski
• 12:33
  Speaker 4: hasn't been called on to do a whole lot just yet,
• 12:36
  Speaker 4: but I think they really find him dependable on special
• 12:39
  Speaker 4: teams and when he does, come in there and get
• 12:41
  Speaker 4: an offensive snap. Guys like Rubio and Robert Spears Jennings
• 12:46
  Speaker 4: have been dependable. Daylon Everett thrust into the spotlight sooner
• 12:49
  Speaker 4: than any of us would have expected. And obviously they're
• 12:53
  Speaker 4: playing the long game with the other third rounders, Drew
• 12:56
  Speaker 4: Aller and Jennings Dunker. And Aaron Rodgers had a lot
• 12:59
  Speaker 4: of nice things to say about Jennings Dunker's personality yesterday.
• 13:03
  Speaker 4: He said he's the best joke teller that he's seen
• 13:04
  Speaker 4: in 22 years. It seems like they're kind of razzing
• 13:08
  Speaker 4: the rookie by making him get up there and say
• 13:10
  Speaker 4: his full name and tell a joke at the beginning
• 13:12
  Speaker 4: of every offensive meeting. But Rodgers is a big fan
• 13:16
  Speaker 4: of Jennings Michael Dunker off the field. That was a
• 13:20
  Speaker 4: development from Rodgers post-practice Wednesday press briefing. But yeah, he
• 13:25
  Speaker 4: also had good things to say about Jeremy Bernard. And
• 13:28
  Speaker 4: we know that he and Maxie Honachor were the two
• 13:30
  Speaker 4: that we were always expecting to play a pretty big
• 13:33
  Speaker 4: role out of this rookie class.
• 13:34
  Speaker 5: But yeah, it's nice that it's been.
• 13:37
  Speaker 4: Trickling down to the lower-rung guys, too, who all got
• 13:42
  Speaker 4: to hear their name called in Pittsburgh.
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: Yeah, like I said, it's, you know, and really, you
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: look at the last couple draft classes for Omar Khan,
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: and they're contributing there as well.
• 13:53
  Speaker 2: A lot of these guys have stuck around.
• 13:54
  Speaker 1: There hasn't been very many cuts from the last two
• 13:57
  Speaker 1: or three draft classes, and this year looks to be
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: yet another one, Double B, that's as you said, going
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: to be sticking around for a while and making some
• 14:04
  Speaker 1: contributions to this football team. But as early as this
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: year in their rookie seasons, too, I can't really remember
• 14:10
  Speaker 1: many draft classes the Steelers have had over the years
• 14:12
  Speaker 1: where they've had this many players make an impact. But
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: you can also, on the flip side, say the team
• 14:17
  Speaker 1: was positioned for a lot of years in the history
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: of the franchise where their draft classes didn't have to
• 14:22
  Speaker 1: contribute because the veterans were healthy, the veterans were, well,
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: they were future Hall of Famers in some positions. And
• 14:30
  Speaker 1: those rookies had a couple of years to develop and
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: then eventually work themselves into the lineup.
• 14:35
  Speaker 4: And also, you know, we didn't even mention the undrafted
• 14:38
  Speaker 4: guy who made this team, Kevin Jobity Jr. He's been
• 14:40
  Speaker 4: inactive on game days, but obviously they they like his potential.
• 14:44
  Speaker 5: So they they see something in him long term.
• 14:47
  Speaker 4: And, you know, they've even got a few guys on
• 14:49
  Speaker 4: the practice squad, you know, Steely McCree, Lake McCree there
• 14:53
  Speaker 4: at tight end.
• 14:54
  Speaker 5: And a couple others as well.
• 14:56
  Speaker 4: So. Yeah, the future's bright, I think, with these rookies
• 15:01
  Speaker 4: and Maxi Honachor, Jeremy Bernard. Maybe they blossom into stars
• 15:05
  Speaker 4: while the other guys can be the type to fill
• 15:08
  Speaker 4: roles like a lot of the names that just popped
• 15:10
  Speaker 4: up on that Super Bowl XLIII box score who are
• 15:13
  Speaker 4: beloved in Pittsburgh forever just for putting their hand in
• 15:17
  Speaker 4: the pile and doing the little things well.
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: Oh, man, it's always good to look back on those
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: Super Bowl teams and especially because, well, as we said
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: at the top of the show here today, Tampa Bay
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: this Sunday, the historic site of Centonio Holmes coming down
• 15:31
  Speaker 1: with that football in the back of the end zone
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: to win Super Bowl XLIII. When Brian and I come back,
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: we'll get into our terrible takes for this week. And
• 15:38
  Speaker 1: also at 3 o'clock today, Nick Faribault from PennLive will
• 15:42
  Speaker 1: be joining the show. And we'll also have some NFL
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: terrible takes in our number two and season stat leaders
• 15:47
  Speaker 1: as well. We'll get you all updated across the league
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: as we head into Week 6.
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: I'm Troop. He's Batko.
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: It's the Steelers Report right here on Steelers Nation Radio,
• 15:55
  Speaker 1: part of the Steelers Audio Network.
• 16:03
  Speaker 3: This is the Steelers Report with Brian Batko and Ed
• 16:07
  Speaker 3: Troop on Steelers Nation Radio, a part of the Steelers
• 16:11
  Speaker 3: Audio Network.
• 16:13
  Speaker 1: The Steelers certainly own the matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• 16:17
  Speaker 1: They lead the all-time series 10-2, and they've won six
• 16:22
  Speaker 1: of the last seven. The Bucs' last win over the
• 16:25
  Speaker 1: Steelers came clear back in 2014, so they've only played
• 16:29
  Speaker 1: 12 times double B, but the Steelers, on the good
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: side of that, with 10 wins and only two losses
• 16:35
  Speaker 1: against the Bucs.
• 16:37
  Speaker 4: Yeah, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I mean, they've had
• 16:40
  Speaker 4: some success in recent years, but obviously they've also had
• 16:43
  Speaker 4: long stretches of their franchise where They were kind of
• 16:46
  Speaker 4: a laughingstock of the league. Tom Brady brought them back
• 16:50
  Speaker 4: to prominence. There's no doubt about that. But I always
• 16:53
  Speaker 4: find it very memorable that in the 2022 game against
• 16:57
  Speaker 4: the Buccaneers, which would have been the last time these
• 16:59
  Speaker 4: two teams faced off in the regular.
• 17:01
  Speaker 5: Season, Tom Brady came to Pittsburgh. The Steelers were all
• 17:04
  Speaker 5: banged up.
• 17:05
  Speaker 4: The secondary sound familiar, but guys like Josh Jackson and
• 17:10
  Speaker 4: Elijah Riley and Quincy Wilson played in addition to who
• 17:15
  Speaker 4: was the, you know, Arthur Millett was in the secondary
• 17:17
  Speaker 4: at that time.
• 17:18
  Speaker 5: I think maybe Trey Norwood.
• 17:20
  Speaker 4: The team was missing Minka Fitzpatrick, Levi Wallace, Cam Sutton,
• 17:24
  Speaker 4: Akella Witherspoon, and they still found a way to win
• 17:27
  Speaker 4: that game against Brady, 20-18. So the Steelers got the
• 17:31
  Speaker 4: last laugh against him. They've gotten the most recent laugh
• 17:34
  Speaker 4: against Tampa Bay, but we know that the Bucs hoisted
• 17:38
  Speaker 4: a Lombardi trophy in the Brady era, such as it was. So, yeah,
• 17:42
  Speaker 4: I mean, it's a rare opportunity encounter between these two
• 17:45
  Speaker 4: and even more rare to go down to Tampa. But
• 17:48
  Speaker 4: I think Steelers fans are, I think they're going to
• 17:51
  Speaker 4: take over both Florida destinations this year, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.
• 17:56
  Speaker 4: When they go there later this season, it'll be Tampa
• 17:58
  Speaker 4: Berg and Jacksonburg.
• 18:00
  Speaker 2: I like that.
• 18:00
  Speaker 1: You should put that on a t-shirt double B that
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: you need to copyright that right now.
• 18:06
  Speaker 5: I think people already have that.
• 18:07
  Speaker 4: I think there's, you know, Steelers fan fan groups in
• 18:10
  Speaker 4: various parts of Florida that are probably way ahead of me.
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: Well, you know, like I said the other day when
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: we were talking about it, a lot of retirees here
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: in southwestern Pennsylvania like to flock to Florida, and rightfully so.
• 18:22
  Speaker 1: After you spend a lifetime working up here in the
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: wintertime in southwestern Pennsylvania, you welcome those warm beaches and ocean.
• 18:30
  Speaker 2: Waves, whether you're on the Atlantic side or the Gulf side.
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: Though, I will stand by where you're heading this weekend, Brian,
• 18:35
  Speaker 1: and Steeler Nation will be the Gulf side, much nicer
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: than the Atlantic side.
• 18:38
  Speaker 2: You will enjoy that, my friend. Trust me.
• 18:42
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm looking forward to some warm weather, although it's
• 18:44
  Speaker 4: not really too bad. I mean, yesterday here in Pittsburgh
• 18:46
  Speaker 4: was downright balmy yet. It was quite warm outside. And
• 18:50
  Speaker 4: then today, high of 67, sunny. So that's just a nice,
• 18:55
  Speaker 4: crisp fall day. I might try to cut the grass.
• 18:58
  Speaker 4: Maybe it'll be the last grass cut for me today,
• 19:00
  Speaker 4: although I do like to use the riding mower to
• 19:03
  Speaker 4: pick up the leaves because there's still a lot of
• 19:07
  Speaker 4: leaves on.
• 19:07
  Speaker 5: I have two big trees in my.
• 19:09
  Speaker 4: Front yard, which are great for shade like the kids
• 19:11
  Speaker 4: and the neighbors will typically sit under there and in
• 19:14
  Speaker 4: the hot summer days and eat a popsicle draw do
• 19:18
  Speaker 4: whatever but they are horrendous when it comes time for
• 19:22
  Speaker 4: mid to late october and even into november and leaves
• 19:25
  Speaker 4: are everywhere in my yard probably annoys my neighbors that
• 19:28
  Speaker 4: they're all over the street and blowing into their yard
• 19:30
  Speaker 4: as well and you.
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: Got that pool too so you know you got the
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: pool closed right because you don't want those leaves to
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: get in the pool then that turns into a nightmare.
• 19:38
  Speaker 4: Yeah the pool's all covered up and You know, that's
• 19:40
  Speaker 4: honestly the biggest reason to even get to that and
• 19:44
  Speaker 4: do so is keep those leaves.
• 19:47
  Speaker 5: Out of there.
• 19:47
  Speaker 4: But they haven't– I don't know if maybe other people
• 19:51
  Speaker 4: listening who live in western PA experience the same.
• 19:55
  Speaker 5: Not too many have fallen thus far.
• 19:57
  Speaker 4: But enough, though, for my kids to make leaf piles
• 19:59
  Speaker 4: and jump into them. But then it rains and it
• 20:02
  Speaker 4: gets all– it was rainy yesterday. It was warm after
• 20:05
  Speaker 4: the rain. But then the leaves get all soggy and
• 20:07
  Speaker 4: it's kind of nasty and gross.
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: No, it does get nasty and gross quick. You got
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: to keep up with all that. Now, one last question,
• 20:14
  Speaker 1: then we'll get into our terrible takes when it comes
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: to yard work. I enjoy yard work.
• 20:18
  Speaker 2: I always have. I like listening to my music. Actually,
• 20:20
  Speaker 2: I put our show on.
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: A lot of times I will try to cut grass
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: after you know a little bit later on in the
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: evening and i'll bring up the podcast version of our
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: show listen back and critique not you double b but
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: myself got to get better each and every show right
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: uh but i enjoy doing that but at this time
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: of the year and you and i were talking about
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: this the other day i'm kind of over it you
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: know once i get to mid-october i'm done with the
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: yard work i'm ready to put it away so for
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: you my friend i hope this is your last cut
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: i cut my grass just a few days ago i'm
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: hoping it might be the last one but something tells
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: me I'll be out there at the, uh, around Halloween
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: or even into early November, uh, doing it one more time.
• 20:56
  Speaker 5: Yeah.
• 20:56
  Speaker 4: And, uh, it's, it's going to be trick or treating
• 20:58
  Speaker 4: season coming up here soon too.
• 21:00
  Speaker 5: And I'm generally in on mid to late October.
• 21:04
  Speaker 4: It's, it flies by because we, I don't know about
• 21:06
  Speaker 4: you guys, but we have so much Halloween events with
• 21:09
  Speaker 4: the kids from the trunk or treats to people's Halloween parties.
• 21:12
  Speaker 4: And then of course the big night itself, but It's
• 21:16
  Speaker 4: winding down yard work-wise, at least I hope. I might
• 21:21
  Speaker 4: try to get on there today and listen to some music.
• 21:26
  Speaker 4: Or do a good self-scout of the Steelers report like
• 21:29
  Speaker 4: you are.
• 21:30
  Speaker 5: You're ahead of the game on that. Self-scouting is good.
• 21:35
  Speaker 4: It worked out really well for Mike McCarthy and the
• 21:37
  Speaker 4: Steelers last week after those first four games and the
• 21:40
  Speaker 4: product they put on the field against Indy.
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: Oh, it's a part-time gig with full-time pay. I mean, full-time,
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: part-time pay with full-time. I'm messing it up, Double V.
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: Did you see Mike Tomlin make that comment? My man
• 21:52
  Speaker 1: is never going back to coaching.
• 21:55
  Speaker 5: Yeah, I had that same thought, actually.
• 21:57
  Speaker 4: He's moving like a legit retired guy right now with
• 22:00
  Speaker 4: some of these interviews.
• 22:01
  Speaker 5: And at first I was like, man, I wonder if.
• 22:03
  Speaker 4: He regrets sharing the Minecraft thing because I feel like
• 22:08
  Speaker 4: it's fully taken over his persona. at this point, as
• 22:12
  Speaker 4: he would have said, there's no putting that jello back
• 22:14
  Speaker 4: in the box, but maybe he's just loving life on,
• 22:17
  Speaker 4: on that side of things. I, I think I've said
• 22:20
  Speaker 4: on the show before, I anticipated that he would coach again,
• 22:22
  Speaker 4: but with each passing day and each passing GQ story
• 22:27
  Speaker 4: and podcast appearance, I'm very much wavering on that, on
• 22:31
  Speaker 4: that prediction.
• 22:33
  Speaker 2: And he's very good. I mean, credit the coach team.
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: We knew he would be, but he is, he has
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: followed through with that on the air and for two
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: guys that are do this for a living each and
• 22:41
  Speaker 1: every day, you can appreciate what Mike Tomlin is doing
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: on the air. In fact, let's get him on the show, Brian.
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: You got to make some calls. Let's, let's get coach
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: T on, on the Steelers report here at some point.
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: Come on, man, make it happen.
• 22:52
  Speaker 4: I would have to assume if anybody's going to get
• 22:54
  Speaker 4: him on Steelers nation radio first, it'd probably be our guy,
• 22:57
  Speaker 4: Vince Williams or Max Starks. But yeah, I mean, he's a,
• 23:01
  Speaker 4: he's slated to be here with Sunday night football later
• 23:04
  Speaker 4: in the season. Although, I mean, That game against the Texans,
• 23:08
  Speaker 4: if the Texans don't keep playing well, I wonder if
• 23:10
  Speaker 4: the league would maybe flex that out just because Houston
• 23:15
  Speaker 4: is 1-4 at the moment. But I think they suddenly
• 23:18
  Speaker 4: have more juice with Marvin Harrison Jr.
• 23:19
  Speaker 5: Going there. I don't know if Marvin Harrison Jr.
• 23:21
  Speaker 4: Himself has much juice based on his production in Arizona,
• 23:25
  Speaker 4: but from a storyline standpoint, the Texans are suddenly a
• 23:29
  Speaker 4: lot more interesting than they were last Saturday.
• 23:31
  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's for sure.
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: We will see what happens by the time we get
• 23:34
  Speaker 1: to that point in the Steelers' schedule, but you bring
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: up a good point because that could be flexed at
• 23:38
  Speaker 1: Sunday night football.
• 23:40
  Speaker 2: But maybe one will be flexed back in. You never know.
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: All right, let's get to our 10. Go ahead, Brian.
• 23:44
  Speaker 2: One more point.
• 23:46
  Speaker 4: On the scheduling front, this was brought up in Bob
• 23:49
  Speaker 4: Labriola's Asked and Answered on Steelers.com today. We all know
• 23:53
  Speaker 4: that the Steelers have that December game against the Panthers
• 23:57
  Speaker 4: that is still TBD. I think there's only four as
• 24:02
  Speaker 4: far as the date, not just the time. But the
• 24:04
  Speaker 4: other three games for that week that are TBA are
• 24:08
  Speaker 4: Bucks at Falcons, Bengals at Colts, Commanders at Vikings. Panthers
• 24:13
  Speaker 4: and Steelers are the only two teams as of now
• 24:16
  Speaker 4: that are really in the mix. So I wonder if
• 24:19
  Speaker 4: the NFL might want to put that on Saturday, December 26th.
• 24:22
  Speaker 4: I know it's a long way away, but I also
• 24:25
  Speaker 4: know Steelers Nation is and people are always making plans
• 24:28
  Speaker 4: to travel in and want to know when these games
• 24:31
  Speaker 4: are going to be so that you can make arrangements.
• 24:34
  Speaker 4: So I initially thought they probably wouldn't put it in
• 24:38
  Speaker 4: one of those Saturday standalone time slots, but Bucks Falcons
• 24:44
  Speaker 4: isn't looking that great. Bengals Colts isn't looking that great
• 24:46
  Speaker 4: and commanders Vikings isn't looking that great.
• 24:48
  Speaker 5: So, uh, but stay tuned, I guess.
• 24:51
  Speaker 3: Yeah.
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: You want to get that schedule in place because there's a,
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: A lot of plans that get made ahead of time
• 24:56
  Speaker 1: for Steeler fans to travel to relatives' houses.
• 25:01
  Speaker 2: You know, houses, boy, there I go again.
• 25:04
  Speaker 1: Or, you know, just getting out and about and planning
• 25:05
  Speaker 1: those Steeler parties or maybe even attending the game too.
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: So we'll see what the schedule flexes later in the season.
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: Double B, I said, go ahead, you have one more point.
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: You can have 1,000 points. This is your show too.
• 25:16
  Speaker 1: What am I saying? Just one more point when you
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: gave me the heads up there. By the way, Brian
• 25:19
  Speaker 1: joined us via the Southside Steeler facility today. He's there
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: for practice day number two. As we navigate this week,
• 25:27
  Speaker 1: let's get into 10 terrible takes. Steelers hot takes, overreactions
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: or not, as we are now five weeks into the
• 25:34
  Speaker 1: NFL season. We'll see if we can get Brian Bacco
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: to bat 500. Will he bat 750? Will he bat
• 25:40
  Speaker 1: 1,000 and think these are all terrible takes?
• 25:42
  Speaker 2: I doubt that. Usually he's in and around the 60%
• 25:45
  Speaker 2: to 70% range.
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: Of non-terrible takes, but we'll see if we can get
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: him some terrible takes today.
• 25:51
  Speaker 2: We'll start with this.
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers will outplay his 2025 Steelers numbers in his
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: final NFL season. So just to recap, in 2025, he
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: threw for 3,322 yards 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. So far,
• 26:07
  Speaker 1: 5 games in this season. How about this, Brian? He
• 26:09
  Speaker 1: has thrown for 1,234 yards in 5 games. That's 1, 2, 3,
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: 4 as I typed this up yesterday.
• 26:19
  Speaker 2: That's kind of funny.
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: 10 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions in 5 games this season.
• 26:24
  Speaker 1: So the terrible take or not is he will outplay
• 26:28
  Speaker 1: his 20-25 Steeler numbers.
• 26:31
  Speaker 4: I'm going to say not a terrible take. He's already
• 26:34
  Speaker 4: well on his way in that department, Ed. And, you know,
• 26:37
  Speaker 4: he looks like he's definitely more aggressive. And maybe he'll
• 26:43
  Speaker 4: eclipse his interception numbers, which nobody wants him to do.
• 26:46
  Speaker 4: But he's already more than halfway there, considering he threw
• 26:49
  Speaker 4: just seven picks a year ago. But, you know, the
• 26:52
  Speaker 4: touchdown percentage is up along with the interception percentage. The
• 26:59
  Speaker 4: yards per attempt is right in line. You know, the
• 27:05
  Speaker 4: quarterback rating is slightly up. Sack percentage is slightly up.
• 27:09
  Speaker 4: So I just think in this Mike McCarthy scheme a
• 27:11
  Speaker 4: little bit, he's maybe taking some more chances, being a
• 27:14
  Speaker 4: little bit more aggressive. Some of that too is just
• 27:16
  Speaker 4: the flow of the games that they've been in. Obviously
• 27:19
  Speaker 4: that Patriots game, they had to keep throwing to try
• 27:22
  Speaker 4: to chip away and get back into it. But Yeah,
• 27:24
  Speaker 4: I think with an improved receiving core around him, or
• 27:27
  Speaker 4: at least when healthy, it is. Improved offensive line as well, perhaps.
• 27:32
  Speaker 4: All of those things bode well. And just a scheme
• 27:35
  Speaker 4: that he's maybe more comfortable in. It all bodes well
• 27:38
  Speaker 4: for Rodgers.
• 27:39
  Speaker 5: That is for a more pass-happy 2026 and more statistically
• 27:44
  Speaker 5: successful 2026. He's at 1-2-3-4 right now, like you said.
• 27:48
  Speaker 5: We'll have to keep an eye on if he's ever
• 27:49
  Speaker 5: at 2-3-4-5 later in the season or 3-4-5-6. Or, I mean,
• 27:55
  Speaker 5: he'll be in record-breaking territory, I suppose, if he's ever
• 27:58
  Speaker 5: at 4, 5, 6, 7, let alone 5, 6, 7, 8.
• 28:02
  Speaker 1: When I pulled these stats yesterday, I did a double-take.
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: I thought, maybe is this a typo? 1, 2, 3, 4? Like,
• 28:08
  Speaker 1: did somebody just type that in? You know, I'm like, no,
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: it's 1,234 yards passing so far in five games for A-Rod.
• 28:14
  Speaker 2: I'm with you, Double B.
• 28:15
  Speaker 1: I think he's going to surpass last season's numbers, which,
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: by the way, coming into this season, those were pretty
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: much the numbers I was projecting.
• 28:22
  Speaker 2: Him to be in that middle, you know.
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: 3,300 range, 25 touchdowns, hopefully under 10 interceptions.
• 28:29
  Speaker 2: He had seven last year.
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: Four. But again, those four, one was a Hail Mary,
• 28:33
  Speaker 1: one was off of Jeremy Bernard's fingertips.
• 28:36
  Speaker 2: So at least two of those four were really not
• 28:38
  Speaker 2: on A-Rod.
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: All right, next up, Daylon Everett, the rookie from Georgia,
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: will pass Asante Samuel Jr. as the starting corner opposite
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: side Jamel Dean once Jamel Dean is healthy.
• 28:50
  Speaker 2: Terrible take or not?
• 28:54
  Speaker 5: I'd say not terrible.
• 28:55
  Speaker 4: I don't know that I'd predict it because I liked
• 28:57
  Speaker 4: some of what I saw from Asante Samuel Jr. in
• 28:59
  Speaker 4: that game, but I think if it's ever close, you
• 29:03
  Speaker 4: probably default to a couple things there if you're the coaches.
• 29:06
  Speaker 4: The youth, first of all. Daylon Everett, a rookie, and
• 29:09
  Speaker 4: Asante Samuel Jr. back here, I believe, on a one-year deal.
• 29:12
  Speaker 5: And then the size, too. You can't teach that. That's
• 29:14
  Speaker 5: always something that Asante Samuel Jr. has to overcome.
• 29:17
  Speaker 4: He's done a fine job of that to this point
• 29:21
  Speaker 4: in his career, but Everett just has a little bit
• 29:23
  Speaker 4: more to work with in terms of the physical stature. And,
• 29:27
  Speaker 4: you know, in today's NFL with these big receivers, other
• 29:30
  Speaker 4: than today's NFL, these super quick receivers, too, can stop
• 29:34
  Speaker 4: on a dime and change direction. It helps to have
• 29:36
  Speaker 4: somebody with that cat-like quickness on the other side, a
• 29:39
  Speaker 4: la Asante Sanchez.
• 29:40
  Speaker 5: Jr.
• 29:41
  Speaker 4: I don't think it's a terrible take because Everett was
• 29:43
  Speaker 4: picked in the third round. They obviously like him a
• 29:45
  Speaker 4: lot and it might even be a situation where it's
• 29:49
  Speaker 4: game plan dependent or they kind of go back and forth,
• 29:52
  Speaker 4: ride the hot hand, so to speak, a little bit
• 29:54
  Speaker 4: at corner, which you usually hear about it at running back,
• 29:57
  Speaker 4: but the Steelers are They don't have anything really settled
• 30:01
  Speaker 4: at that position opposite Jamel Dean right now, so that
• 30:04
  Speaker 4: could be an ongoing competition throughout the year.
• 30:07
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm with you there, too, and that's a good competition.
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: That's a good problem to have if you have Daylon Everett,
• 30:12
  Speaker 1: your third-round draft pick, playing at a high level where
• 30:14
  Speaker 1: you're actually questioning whether he should be in the starting
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: lineup and knock out a guy like Asante Samuel Jr.
• 30:20
  Speaker 2: who has played very well.
• 30:22
  Speaker 1: Nothing against Asante Samuel Jr., and we know what Jamel
• 30:25
  Speaker 1: Dean brings to the table, too. It's very good options,
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: especially now that you don't have Joey Porter Jr. This
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: is just the start of 10 terrible takes. We're only
• 30:33
  Speaker 1: a couple in, so when we come back, we're going
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: to dive into more terrible takes. So far, Double B is, well,
• 30:39
  Speaker 1: I don't know if you want to call 2 for 2,
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: 0 for 2, however you want to talk about it.
• 30:43
  Speaker 1: No terrible takes yet out of the first two for you,
• 30:45
  Speaker 1: Double B.
• 30:47
  Speaker 4: I look at it as you being 2-0. I think
• 30:51
  Speaker 4: you get a loss on your record when you have
• 30:52
  Speaker 4: a terrible take on there. because we know you have
• 30:55
  Speaker 4: integrity that you're at least going to go out on
• 30:58
  Speaker 4: a limb somewhat and not just have a bunch of
• 31:00
  Speaker 4: softballs and layups. But, yeah, I think you're 2-0 so far.
• 31:02
  Speaker 2: That's right.
• 31:03
  Speaker 1: That's how we'll grade it as we move forward here.
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: But I have a couple baked in here to throw
• 31:07
  Speaker 1: you off, Double B. You can always tell your reaction
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: when I first read it. If you hesitate for a second,
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: that means it's a good one. You're not exactly sure.
• 31:13
  Speaker 1: But if it's a bad one, then you're immediately, that's
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: a terrible take. Get it out of here, Troop. Speaking
• 31:17
  Speaker 1: of Troop, that's me.
• 31:18
  Speaker 2: He's Backo.
• 31:19
  Speaker 1: It's the Steelers Report right here on Steelers Nation Radio,
• 31:22
  Speaker 1: part of the Steelers Audio Network.
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  Speaker 3: This is the Steelers Report with Brian Batko and Ed
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  Speaker 3: Truth on Steelers Nation Radio, a part of the Steelers
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  Speaker 3: Audio Network.
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  Speaker 1: Going through our ten terrible takes for the week. One
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  Speaker 1: that will not be a terrible take is Jalen Warren.
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  Speaker 1: Warren has averaged 163 yards from scrimmage over his last
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  Speaker 1: three games. It has at least 126 in each of those.
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  Speaker 1: He's averaging 5.9 yards per carry and leads the Steelers
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  Speaker 1: in both rushing and receiving. Jalen Warren continues to be
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  Speaker 1: the hot topic this week, and rightfully so, Double B.
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  Speaker 2: He is playing at an all-pro level right now.
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  Speaker 4: Yeah, AFC Offensive Player of the Week, no surprise there.
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  Speaker 4: Kind of funny, I was watching some Barry Sanders highlights
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  Speaker 4: this morning randomly with my kid because he's... in that
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  Speaker 4: phase of life where he wants to know about some
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  Speaker 4: of the older players. And we've got some old trading
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  Speaker 4: cards around and I'm like telling him, I'm like this guy,
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  Speaker 4: he's like, who's better him or Jameer Gibbs. I'm like,
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  Speaker 4: Barry Sanders is one of the best running backs of
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  Speaker 4: all time. Jameer Gibbs has like three or four really
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  Speaker 4: good years.
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  Speaker 5: So he's like, I don't believe you. So, all right,
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  Speaker 5: let's put the tape on, which is YouTube, but you're
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  Speaker 5: watching them.
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  Speaker 4: And it's like, there's some Jalen Warren to his game,
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  Speaker 4: both Oklahoma state Cowboys. I don't know if Warren grew up,
• 32:49
  Speaker 4: watching those highlights of Barry Sanders, both smaller guys, shifty,
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  Speaker 4: of course. But I'd say Barry a little more quicker
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  Speaker 4: to the open field and more and more of just
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  Speaker 4: he gets it done in those dirty situations. But all
• 33:02
  Speaker 4: the small backs. And there's going to be another one
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  Speaker 4: on the other sideline, Bucky Irving, too, for Tampa Bay,
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  Speaker 4: someone who's probably been counted out in his life because
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  Speaker 4: of his stature. But Bucky for the Bucs is also
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  Speaker 4: very good and also has that similar kind of running style.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, Bucky Irving coming off 165 yards rushing last week.
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  Speaker 1: Tampa actually had 241 yards rushing as a team. Of course,
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  Speaker 1: the Steelers held the Colts to just 2.8 yards per
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  Speaker 1: carry last week.
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  Speaker 2: So this could be another battle on the.
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  Speaker 1: Ground in Tampa this weekend between the Bucks and the Steelers.
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  Speaker 1: Let's jump back into our 10 Terrible Takes. We're two
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  Speaker 1: in so far, and we have two non-terrible takes. So
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  Speaker 1: let's go to our third, Brian. The Steelers will trade
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  Speaker 1: for a wide receiver before the November 10th trade deadline.
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  Speaker 4: I'm going to say that's a terrible take. I think
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  Speaker 4: it'd be a little different situation scenario right now, Ed,
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  Speaker 4: if these Roman Wilson and Ben Skorodnik injuries were longer term,
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  Speaker 4: if those guys were headed to IR and you weren't
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  Speaker 4: sure when they were going to get back. I think
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  Speaker 4: they're more of the short-term variety, at least Wilson with
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  Speaker 4: the finger slash hand. And he's obviously the guy who's
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  Speaker 4: had more of a hand in the offense. So I'd
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  Speaker 4: never say never, but I'd be kind of surprised if
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  Speaker 4: they did that because honestly, they they've.
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  Speaker 5: Sort of done that the last couple of years. And
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  Speaker 5: I don't know that it really paid off. I mean,
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  Speaker 5: Mike Williams helped them win one game in Washington with
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  Speaker 5: that big touchdown catch from Russell Wilson.
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  Speaker 4: But last year, I mean, do we really feel like
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  Speaker 4: Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdez Scantling are move the meter
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  Speaker 4: I know they weren't trades necessarily but I think that
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  Speaker 4: the Steelers feel better about their group this year and
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  Speaker 4: can kind of roll with what they have the in-house
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  Speaker 4: options as Rogers.
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  Speaker 1: Put it I think these next couple of games will
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  Speaker 1: tell that story a wide receiver too I think if
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  Speaker 1: you know if you see Jeremy Bernard continue to step
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  Speaker 1: up Brandon Smith makes an impact DK goes off you
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  Speaker 1: know these next couple games and there's no glaring need
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  Speaker 1: right there then I think they will stay put but
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  Speaker 1: if the opposite happens Brian and they struggle in the
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  Speaker 1: passing game and you know The receivers are just not
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  Speaker 1: getting to the point where you feel comfortable enough moving
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  Speaker 1: forward in the rest of your season with what you got.
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  Speaker 1: Then maybe a move is to be made. But the
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  Speaker 1: trade deadline is November 10th, so we are still less
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  Speaker 1: than a month away now. Just something to keep an
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  Speaker 1: eye on as we continue to navigate through this NFL season.
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  Speaker 1: Our fourth terrible take or not of the week, Jalen Warren.
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  Speaker 1: We talked about him just a minute ago. His play
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  Speaker 1: has been the biggest surprise so far this season on
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  Speaker 1: the Steelers roster, Brian Bacco.
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  Speaker 4: Um, I think that's a terrible take because it's not
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  Speaker 4: like he came out of nowhere. Jalen Warren's been really good, uh,
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  Speaker 4: earlier in his career. And I think there was always
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  Speaker 4: the question of, you know, can he take more of
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  Speaker 4: a pounding or can he be the number one guy
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  Speaker 4: or is some of his.
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  Speaker 5: At least some of his, um, don't get me to it.
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  Speaker 5: Don't get it twisted.
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  Speaker 4: At least some of his success based on he's kind
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  Speaker 4: of the change up to Najee Harris. He's the change
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  Speaker 4: of pace back and, you know, teams maybe aren't really
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  Speaker 4: ready for his different running style. But I think now
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  Speaker 4: it's clear as he's grown and developed. And Bob Labriola
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  Speaker 4: wrote about.
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  Speaker 5: This and asked an answer, too. And I think this
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  Speaker 5: was a good take on it from him.
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  Speaker 4: I don't think there's any reason to look back and say, oh,
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  Speaker 4: the Steelers really screwed up giving Najee Harris all those
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  Speaker 4: carries and four straight thousand yard seasons. Warren should have
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  Speaker 4: been in there as soon as his rookie year. I
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  Speaker 4: think there's something to be said for he was able
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  Speaker 4: to grow into the role of a featured back and
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  Speaker 4: You know, maybe that was good for him early in
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  Speaker 4: his career as an undrafted guy. So I don't think
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  Speaker 4: it's the most surprising thing. I'd have to rack my
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  Speaker 4: brain a little bit, come up with the most.
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  Speaker 5: You know what? No, I really don't. I think the most.
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  Speaker 4: Surprising is probably the lack of production for DK Metcalf
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  Speaker 4: through the first five games based.
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  Speaker 5: On everything we observed in camp. I don't think it's
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  Speaker 5: the true, true breakout season for Jalen Warren.
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  Speaker 2: We got off to a hot start.
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  Speaker 1: We were 2-0. Now we're 2-2 after four. Let's go
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  Speaker 1: into our fifth one. I have a feeling, I think,
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  Speaker 1: I know where you're going to go with this one,
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  Speaker 1: but I will present it to you, my friend. Peyton
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  Speaker 1: Wilson has quietly been the Steelers' best defensive player so far.
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  Speaker 1: But now, before you answer, hold on, let me give
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  Speaker 1: you his numbers. He leads the team in tackles with 46.
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  Speaker 1: He has one sack. Second on the team, just behind
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  Speaker 1: TJ Watt, with six tackle for losses, two pass deflections,
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  Speaker 1: and a forced fumble and a fumble recovery so far
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  Speaker 1: this season for Peyton Wilson. Has he been the best
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  Speaker 1: defensive player so far when you look at his numbers?
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  Speaker 4: I still got to go terrible take on that compelling
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  Speaker 4: argument from you based on the numbers. And it's a,
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  Speaker 4: it's a sneaky good time to make that argument because
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  Speaker 4: right now the edge rushers have cooled off considerably, particularly
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  Speaker 4: that guy who wears number 90 out there for the
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  Speaker 4: black and gold, but the momentous plays that TJ Watt
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  Speaker 4: has made to this point in the season, I feel
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  Speaker 4: like outweigh what's been, Good counting numbers, but still a
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  Speaker 4: little uneven week-to-week consistent-wise for Peyton Wilson. I can't say
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  Speaker 4: he's quietly been the Steelers' best defensive player, not when
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  Speaker 4: TJ Watt did what he did in week one and
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  Speaker 4: some of the other big plays that he's made to
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  Speaker 4: this point.
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  Speaker 2: Momentous. Is that an Uncle Tommy word of the day?
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  Speaker 4: Might have to be it today. I don't know that
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  Speaker 4: I've got anything else kicking around the brain. Sagacity was
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  Speaker 4: one that I came into the show with. Top of
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  Speaker 4: mind because we have a mug with a quote from
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  Speaker 4: an old poet and that word is in it. And
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  Speaker 4: I carried that mug into the car that morning. So
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  Speaker 4: I saw the word and I was like, hmm, I
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  Speaker 4: have to work that into the show today.
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  Speaker 1: Well, you still got plenty of time left, my friend.
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  Speaker 1: We are just wrapping up our first hour and we're
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  Speaker 1: doing that with our terrible takes. And now we'll go
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  Speaker 1: to the tight end group. Pat Fryermuth and Darnell Washington
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  Speaker 1: are the best one and two tight end combinations in
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  Speaker 1: the NFL today.
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  Speaker 4: Not terrible I don't know that I would put them
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  Speaker 4: number one if I step back and look at everybody
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  Speaker 4: objectively I'd have to consider you know I don't think
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  Speaker 4: the Bears tandem of Cole Komet and Colston Loveland has
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  Speaker 4: been all that great so far this season however they're
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  Speaker 4: missing Caleb Williams and that offense is probably not what
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  Speaker 4: we thought it was going to be at all from
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  Speaker 4: a passing standpoint but that was the one that I
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  Speaker 4: may have circled coming into the year the way Darnell
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  Speaker 4: and Pat are playing though I mean I think you
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  Speaker 4: can It's easy to say because we're close to it
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  Speaker 4: and we watch it play in and play out. every
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  Speaker 4: week but yeah I'll say not not terrible on that
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  Speaker 4: one Ed you're you're back to the good.
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  Speaker 1: We're three and three six in now we continue to
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  Speaker 1: navigate down the rest of the list let's go to
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  Speaker 1: number seven Jeremy Bernard will remain the number two wide
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  Speaker 1: receiver behind DK Metcalf for the rest of the 2026
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  Speaker 1: season regardless of who's hurt and who's.
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  Speaker 4: Not not terrible because while you never want to see
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  Speaker 4: somebody lose a spot or lose playing time or reps
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  Speaker 4: due to injury it is just a reality of the
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  Speaker 4: game and the business that Roman Wilson's going to miss
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  Speaker 4: some valuable time here and hopefully he only misses, let's
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  Speaker 4: say a week. And then maybe you can just get
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  Speaker 4: right back into it in Paris against the saints. But
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  Speaker 4: I think it's, it's a twofold thing of, well.
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  Speaker 5: Maybe threefold thing. Can you fold something three ways? I suppose.
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  Speaker 4: And we're getting into origami here now talking Steelers wide receivers,
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  Speaker 4: but number one, where Jeremy Bernard was drafted, they obviously
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  Speaker 4: had a high opinion of him trading up to get
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  Speaker 4: them in the second round. Number two, he's played well
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  Speaker 4: in Roman Wilson stead. And number three, he's about to
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  Speaker 4: further that rapport with Aaron Rogers and just simply further
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  Speaker 4: his confidence playing at the NFL level while Roman Wilson
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  Speaker 4: is going to unfortunately miss some time again. And we
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  Speaker 4: know that injuries have been, he's been a little bit
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  Speaker 4: snake bitten so far in his NFL career.
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  Speaker 5: One might even say a lot snake bit.
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  Speaker 4: And I don't think this is anywhere close to, to
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  Speaker 4: what derailed his rookie year or anything like that.
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  Speaker 5: But it's still unfortunate.
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  Speaker 4: Anytime a guy, misses that time both to be out
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  Speaker 4: there and make plays, but also continue to develop.
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  Speaker 5: And hone his own game. So I'm not saying that
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  Speaker 5: there's an eclipse happening necessarily, but I don't think it's
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  Speaker 5: a terrible take to think that Jeremy Bernard will settle
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  Speaker 5: into that number two role and not give it back
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  Speaker 5: to Roman Wilson or Michael Pittman Jr. for that matter.
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  Speaker 1: We have four non-terrible takes and three terrible takes so far.
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  Speaker 1: We got three more to go.
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  Speaker 2: Here we go.
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  Speaker 1: Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will be a head coach in 2027.
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  Speaker 1: Terrible take or not?
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  Speaker 4: No, I mean, I don't think it's a terrible take
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  Speaker 4: because I think it might only take a few openings.
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  Speaker 4: And what are the openings going to be?
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  Speaker 5: I don't know. I think a lot of people are
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  Speaker 5: probably looking at Nick Sirianni in Philly right now with
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  Speaker 5: the way that that's going. It's just I saw again
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  Speaker 5: yesterday some interviews. I guess they were talking to Landon
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  Speaker 5: Dickerson yesterday. veteran, highly accomplished interior lineman out there. And
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  Speaker 5: someone asked if he views himself as the long-term left guard.
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  Speaker 5: And he's like, ah, that's a great question. Is there
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  Speaker 5: a media day for Nick and Howie?
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  Speaker 4: Isn't Nick Sirianni and GM Howie Roseman, which he kind
• 42:15
  Speaker 4: of said it tongue in cheek, but it's never really
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  Speaker 4: what you want to hear from a stalwart player on
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  Speaker 4: your team when a bunch of other stuff is going
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  Speaker 4: haywire with your own line, retirement, trade. So maybe that one,
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  Speaker 4: maybe Dallas. I don't know if Brian Schottenheimer sticks or
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  Speaker 4: maybe Dan Quinn. So I guess I just named three
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  Speaker 4: in the NFC East alone, Ed. Yeah, that's all adding
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  Speaker 4: up to me saying not a terrible take because I
• 42:38
  Speaker 4: think there could be quite a few openings again as
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  Speaker 4: owners are impatient.
• 42:43
  Speaker 5: And I think Patrick Graham is someone who's put himself
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  Speaker 5: in that mix previously in his career. And if the
• 42:49
  Speaker 5: Steelers defense can get better and better throughout the season,
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  Speaker 5: I think he can keep himself in that mix.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, next up, Brock Hoffman will make the Pro Bowl
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  Speaker 1: this season. Terrible take or not?
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  Speaker 5: Brock Hoffman, that's kind of out of nowhere.
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  Speaker 4: Aaron Rodgers talked about his trash talk capabilities the other day,
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  Speaker 4: but I don't think that he's going to make the
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  Speaker 4: Pro Bowl.
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  Speaker 5: So, yeah, I guess I'd say that's a terrible take.
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  Speaker 4: There's just a lot of good interior offensive linemen. I
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  Speaker 4: don't know that a guy like Hoffman, even if he
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  Speaker 4: plays really well, will get the kind.
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  Speaker 5: Of publicity as some of these more well-established guys. around
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  Speaker 5: the AFC.
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  Speaker 4: So yeah, I can't really, I can't see that one
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  Speaker 4: coming to fruition, Ed, but as long as he holds
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  Speaker 4: down the fort for the Steelers and it was maybe
• 43:31
  Speaker 4: a bridge to, to Jennings, Michael Dunker, should he, you know,
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  Speaker 4: come back and remember he's on IR right now. So there's,
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  Speaker 4: there's no chance of him inserting himself into the lineup,
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  Speaker 4: but yeah, hopefully down the road, Dunker can contribute, but
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  Speaker 4: Hoffman just needs to be steady, solid and get the
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  Speaker 4: job done right now. He's definitely bringing some nasty, to
• 43:52
  Speaker 4: that offensive line, him and Mason McCormick, maybe one of
• 43:54
  Speaker 4: the more ornery guard.
• 43:55
  Speaker 5: Duos out there in the NFL at the moment.
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  Speaker 2: I agree.
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  Speaker 1: And Brock Hoffman, we'll see how it plays out the
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  Speaker 1: rest of the season, but he's starting to ramp up.
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  Speaker 2: All right, last one.
• 44:04
  Speaker 1: And we have four terrible takes so far, and we
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  Speaker 1: got five non-terrible takes. So this will either be a tie.
• 44:10
  Speaker 1: where the non-terrible takes will take it. Nick Herbig will
• 44:13
  Speaker 1: still be the Steelers' sack leader by the end of
• 44:16
  Speaker 1: the season.
• 44:17
  Speaker 2: Now, look, he has zero.
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  Speaker 1: Through the first five, but terrible take or not, Herbig
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  Speaker 1: will be the Steelers' sack leader by the end of
• 44:24
  Speaker 1: the 2026 season still, even though he doesn't have a
• 44:26
  Speaker 1: sack in the first five games.
• 44:29
  Speaker 5: Sorry, I got to go ahead. Terrible take on that one.
• 44:31
  Speaker 4: I think Herbig's going to take a step up, but
• 44:34
  Speaker 4: he'd have a lot of catching up to do.
• 44:36
  Speaker 5: T.J.
• 44:37
  Speaker 4: Watt looks like he's turning back the clock. Alex Highsmith,
• 44:40
  Speaker 4: he does get them in waves and bunches. We said
• 44:42
  Speaker 4: that on the show yesterday. I didn't think Herbig was
• 44:45
  Speaker 4: going to lead the team in sacks coming into the
• 44:47
  Speaker 4: year necessarily, so no, I definitely don't think that's going
• 44:50
  Speaker 4: to happen after his slow start in the sack category.
• 44:53
  Speaker 1: Okay, a couple curveballs at you, Double B, but we
• 44:56
  Speaker 1: finished 5-5 this week. I think that's the first time
• 44:58
  Speaker 1: all year that we've finished right at 5 and 5.
• 45:01
  Speaker 2: Whenever we come back, Nick Faribault from PennLive will be
• 45:05
  Speaker 2: joining us to talk about the Steelers' season so far,
• 45:07
  Speaker 2: and we'll also talk Steelers and Bucs here in Week
• 45:11
  Speaker 2: 6 this upcoming Sunday. He's Double B. I'm E.T.
• 45:14
  Speaker 1: It is the Steelers Report right here on Steelers Nation Radio,
• 45:17
  Speaker 1: part of the Steelers Audio Network.