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Welcome to The Irish Steelers Podcast! · The Irish Steelers Podcast

0:06
Speaker 1: Heffel's. Welcome into the Irish Sivers Podcast. My name is
0:08
Speaker 1: Michael McQuaid. You're listening to the first episode of the
0:11
Speaker 1: Steelers Podcast for fans in Ireland and of course way
0:15
Speaker 1: beyond Darland. Look, this is going to be a great
0:18
Speaker 1: opportunity for fans in Ireland to connect and to listen.
0:21
Speaker 1: I'm talk some ball. I'm delighted to be joined by
0:24
Speaker 1: two guys, big Steelers fans in Ireland. First off, Jimmy English. Jimmy,
0:28
Speaker 1: how are you doing? Money good?
0:29
Speaker 2: I'm good, Michael, Yeah, thanks for having me on. Excited
0:32
Speaker 2: to be here and excited Steelers have finally come to Arland, you.
0:36
Speaker 1: Know, finally, man after since nineteen ninety seven, they're back
0:41
Speaker 1: and we'll talk about it in just a wee second.
0:43
Speaker 1: And also delighted to be joined by Dave McKee. Dave
0:46
Speaker 1: com taught to him.
0:47
Speaker 3: I hid him. Yeah, tell me go money, Michael ill said,
0:50
Speaker 3: thanks very much for having me as well. Exciting times
0:52
Speaker 3: to be a Steelers fan, you know, especially in Ireland.
0:55
Speaker 3: So here we go, hashtag, here we go, here.
0:59
Speaker 1: We go and date it's lads, It honestly is. I
1:02
Speaker 1: think for anyone listening to this, you know, if you're
1:05
Speaker 1: a Steelers fan or not, it's it's mad in a
1:08
Speaker 1: good way for us because you know, the Steelers have
1:10
Speaker 1: come into the market and we will talk about it
1:12
Speaker 1: in the minute, but taking advantage of this global markets
1:15
Speaker 1: scheme and I know fans of Ireland are really going
1:18
Speaker 1: to benefit from that. I guess before we start off,
1:20
Speaker 1: you know, the podcast is going to be something that
1:22
Speaker 1: goes I at least once per week during the season,
1:24
Speaker 1: where we talk about the previous game during the season
1:28
Speaker 1: or look aheads in the next game. But we certainly
1:30
Speaker 1: want to do as many episodes as possible and we
1:33
Speaker 1: want to interact and hear from you and and talk
1:35
Speaker 1: to different people and try and build the fanfare of
1:38
Speaker 1: the Steelers across the island of Ireland. So certainly very
1:41
Speaker 1: very excited to do that. Jimmy, before we do that,
1:44
Speaker 1: you are a man from Drahada who's a massive Steelers fan.
1:47
Speaker 1: You're forty minutes away from the homestead of the any
1:50
Speaker 1: family in Neary. Talk to us about you know, your
1:53
Speaker 1: journey not just becoming an NFL fan, but you know,
1:56
Speaker 1: why are you a Steelers fan?
1:58
Speaker 2: Why am I seiers stign Well, the first NFL game
2:01
Speaker 2: that I ever watched, Michael, was the Theaters Cardinals in
2:04
Speaker 2: the Super Bowl back in February of two thousand and nine,
2:08
Speaker 2: with my first time ever watching an American football game.
2:12
Speaker 2: And I'm sitting there, you know, it was eleven thirtieth
2:14
Speaker 2: Night on the BBC. But we didn't have Sky Sports
2:18
Speaker 2: NFL back in those days. It was it was the
2:20
Speaker 2: BBC and my friend and I flipped a coin and
2:23
Speaker 2: I got to Steeters and I've got been to Theaters
2:26
Speaker 2: a diehard Steeters fan ever since. I've been committed. So
2:29
Speaker 2: and you know, it was one of those Super Bowls
2:31
Speaker 2: that that that went down in history from Steters and
2:35
Speaker 2: it was Santonio Holmes tow tap in the end zone,
2:38
Speaker 2: back to back plays to the apparently the person wasn't
2:40
Speaker 2: in bounds, and you know, that set me on the
2:43
Speaker 2: journey of just being an American football fan. And I've
2:47
Speaker 2: been been a proud Steters fan ever since.
2:51
Speaker 1: And it's been a hell of a journey. And obviously
2:53
Speaker 1: now you're on the Theaters Arland podcast, so it's it's
2:56
Speaker 1: it's definitely gonna be a.
2:57
Speaker 2: It's Cosulet circle like and it's come full circle. It's yeah,
3:00
Speaker 2: it's paid out all those all those barren years and
3:03
Speaker 2: listening to the Broncos in the first round of the playoffs,
3:05
Speaker 2: and you know, listen to the Packers in our most
3:08
Speaker 2: recent Super Bowl ten fifty ten, eleven years ago. It's
3:11
Speaker 2: finally paid out.
3:15
Speaker 1: I'm definitely excited to talk to you during the season.
3:17
Speaker 1: And also, Dave, Dave, you are not from Drada, but
3:21
Speaker 1: you're from Toron, which has been in the north of
3:24
Speaker 1: the island, and you're not too far from me. You're
3:27
Speaker 1: you're you're good ten or fifteen minutes from here originally.
3:29
Speaker 1: So how does a load from Troon become the Steels fantastic?
3:33
Speaker 3: Yeah, well, it's it's it's pretty much the same as
3:36
Speaker 3: many Steelers frongs from Corona, if you'd like, Michael, if
3:40
Speaker 3: you think of it as a well, like, I'm sort
3:43
Speaker 3: of the same boat as Jimmy, only unfourthly. On the
3:45
Speaker 3: Super Bowl I watched, we lost to one of these
3:48
Speaker 3: referred to the forty five against the Packers. It was
3:50
Speaker 3: sort of the same. I sort of remember my brother
3:53
Speaker 3: beg and my mom to watch, like to stay up
3:56
Speaker 3: to watch it, even though at school the next morning,
3:58
Speaker 3: and I was like, I think I'll have ago and
4:00
Speaker 3: I just remember, you know, I don't know what it
4:02
Speaker 3: was like. It was Troy paula Mali. He was just
4:05
Speaker 3: just jumping over a fensive lineman like a maniac, and
4:07
Speaker 3: I just remember going, this is my team. So yeah,
4:11
Speaker 3: it was even though we lost, it was it was
4:13
Speaker 3: sort of just like normally people go for the winning team,
4:15
Speaker 3: and I was just like, you know what, I'm gonna
4:17
Speaker 3: just I'm gonna go for the other side, and I
4:19
Speaker 3: put the Sailors. And suppose when you look at the
4:21
Speaker 3: history of the franchise and you know the tradition of
4:23
Speaker 3: the city, it's sort of correlates with iron you know,
4:26
Speaker 3: blue collar, hardworking people, and it just sort of fell
4:28
Speaker 3: into that, sort of fell in love with that sort
4:30
Speaker 3: of side of it. So yeah, that's sort of how
4:33
Speaker 3: my journey becoming a Stator fan really really occurred. I
4:36
Speaker 3: feel like.
4:38
Speaker 1: Gat to hear from both his loves as well. And
4:40
Speaker 1: it's funny imagined that Super Bowl and Troy paul All
4:44
Speaker 1: I remember being in al Fast with watching that game
4:47
Speaker 1: at like two in the morning in the location and
4:50
Speaker 1: it was full of loads with terrible tiles, like it
4:52
Speaker 1: was really the Great Crack. Obviously, you know the packers
4:55
Speaker 1: are well supported in Ireland as well, so it's the magic.
4:57
Speaker 1: I remember Balfast's being heathen and and that was a
5:00
Speaker 1: good one. You're talking ten twelve years ago, so it's
5:02
Speaker 1: just it's mad to think of as well. I guess
5:05
Speaker 1: for people listening to this, you know, obviously if you're
5:07
Speaker 1: an NFL fan or maybe you're just getting into the sport,
5:09
Speaker 1: you know, fall show like a war and more. Welcome
5:11
Speaker 1: to everyone wherever you're listening from. And if you weren't aware,
5:14
Speaker 1: the NFL a few years ago opened up something called
5:17
Speaker 1: the Global Markets Program and it allows teams to basically
5:21
Speaker 1: market or establish a brand in a different country. Before
5:24
Speaker 1: that happened, they weren't really allowed to do that outside
5:26
Speaker 1: of the United States. And it happened a few years ago.
5:29
Speaker 1: That's when you're see like teams playing in Germany, for example,
5:31
Speaker 1: like the Books played there against the Seahawks last year.
5:34
Speaker 1: The Books have got a marketing program in Germany, for example.
5:38
Speaker 1: And when it's when it was originally an nice a
5:41
Speaker 1: couple of years ago, loads I remember thinking the first
5:45
Speaker 1: thing king in myhead was well, the Staders are great
5:47
Speaker 1: fit for Ireland, and it's it's it shows you and
5:50
Speaker 1: It's something that we're going to talk about now that
5:52
Speaker 1: this is obviously became a reality. It's taken a couple
5:55
Speaker 1: of years for that to be a reality. But Jimmy,
5:57
Speaker 1: I think you know, now we have the opportunity of
6:00
Speaker 1: the Steelers not only coming into the market, but you
6:03
Speaker 1: can really see and what they've done that they've taken
6:06
Speaker 1: the last couple of years to plan that, and you know,
6:08
Speaker 1: for people listening, what does that give them? It gives
6:10
Speaker 1: them the opportunity to maybe going like fun events in
6:13
Speaker 1: Dublin this year, different flag football events, but things that
6:15
Speaker 1: are going to be kept under wraps for a little while.
6:17
Speaker 1: But certainly the long term hope is you know, hopefully
6:21
Speaker 1: nothing is guaranteed. Hopefully there may be a game here
6:24
Speaker 1: way down the line. Who knows. But you know, you
6:27
Speaker 1: were at there, You were at the event with the
6:30
Speaker 1: in Crow Park a month ago. Now, Yeah, that was
6:34
Speaker 1: pretty surreal, wasn't it was?
6:35
Speaker 2: It was a great d Yeah, and they were really
6:37
Speaker 2: impressed me Michael about that was it wasn't just your
6:40
Speaker 2: bog standard press conference. You know, they really invested and
6:44
Speaker 2: putting some effort into it and engaging with you know,
6:47
Speaker 2: fans here and you know everything then as far as
6:50
Speaker 2: the little details of having the the actual uprights in
6:53
Speaker 2: crow Park, and I still don't know how they got
6:55
Speaker 2: away with that. I'd love to know, but that's that's
6:58
Speaker 2: something I want to find out. You know, they had
7:00
Speaker 2: the logo that the Steelers logo on the big screen,
7:03
Speaker 2: and they had former players in Cordell's Stewart there, you know,
7:06
Speaker 2: engaging with engaging with the likes of us, and you
7:10
Speaker 2: know they right right down with that kind of stuff.
7:13
Speaker 2: It really made you feel like, Okay, the Steelers are
7:16
Speaker 2: investing in Ireland. The Steeters are here for you know,
7:18
Speaker 2: the long term, and it's great to see. I mean,
7:21
Speaker 2: you know, we all know the sport of American football
7:24
Speaker 2: is growing rapidly, not just in Europe and the UK,
7:27
Speaker 2: but also in Ireland. It really has command leaps and bounds.
7:30
Speaker 2: And with this, with with the announcement of the Global
7:33
Speaker 2: Markets expansion into Ireland and you know the ties that
7:36
Speaker 2: Steeters have to Ireland and all that kind of great stuff.
7:39
Speaker 2: You know, it's just it's a fantastic time to be
7:41
Speaker 2: an American football band in Ireland.
7:45
Speaker 1: It was it was just a great day and obviously
7:47
Speaker 1: seeing Cordell Stewart there if who was the quarterble black
7:50
Speaker 1: that played with the Steelers in in I guess Covery
7:53
Speaker 1: call it the old Cook part because it best than me.
7:55
Speaker 1: And Stan was there, but I remember he remarked, that's
7:59
Speaker 1: whatever we seeing him, you know, it has sheeeen so
8:01
Speaker 1: much in that time period, and it's just it's just
8:03
Speaker 1: great to see, especially I guess for us as well.
8:06
Speaker 1: And we're both in l I and like the disagreement
8:10
Speaker 1: covers both parts of the island of Ireland, and that
8:12
Speaker 1: shows the commitment not just from the Rooney family but
8:15
Speaker 1: the whole theaters organization to to grow and the sport here.
8:19
Speaker 1: And I guess for you, I mean, I feel bad
8:20
Speaker 1: that you weren't a corul park, but it's it's it's
8:22
Speaker 1: only the start of this whole project. I'm presuming you
8:25
Speaker 1: enjoyed it for a distance just the same.
8:27
Speaker 3: Yeah, one hundred percent of Mike of I just remember,
8:30
Speaker 3: you know, watching back in some of your interviews and stuff,
8:32
Speaker 3: and the positivity which just it was growing through the screen,
8:35
Speaker 3: you know, Like I'll say, it shows that they actually
8:37
Speaker 3: just have a respect for the entire island, both north
8:40
Speaker 3: and south. But it also gives them sort of platform
8:43
Speaker 3: to build you know, more fans, like it gives them
8:46
Speaker 3: a chance for the fans to actually come out and
8:47
Speaker 3: watches Potancie sometime in the future, which obviously least like
8:51
Speaker 3: helping grow that the organization on the island. So one
8:55
Speaker 3: thing obviously you get from it as well, you know,
8:58
Speaker 3: Paudy Clifford and stuff showing up, you know, Marci and
9:00
Speaker 3: as you say, you know all that, you know, the
9:01
Speaker 3: massive stars for our sport, I feel like showing up
9:06
Speaker 3: and showing their you know, their commitment towards happening the Fingerrow.
9:10
Speaker 3: But yeah, it's just sort of like it. I'll just say,
9:13
Speaker 3: it's like a buzz around it, you know, now that
9:15
Speaker 3: we've actually got there. And you know, if you remember
9:17
Speaker 3: earlier always saying about you know how we were always
9:20
Speaker 3: waiting and you know, would wait for the Wembley Games
9:22
Speaker 3: to get announced, and I was always just I don't
9:24
Speaker 3: know about Jimmy, and obviously we could talk about that,
9:26
Speaker 3: but we're all just looking forward. Please be Steelers on there.
9:29
Speaker 3: It just would never come on. And now before you
9:31
Speaker 3: know what it's like, before you know what, it's like,
9:33
Speaker 3: this massive bangs happened. It's like, this is why we
9:35
Speaker 3: haven't been on there. They were waiting for Ireland. So
9:38
Speaker 3: it's just a massive thing to be proud of part
9:40
Speaker 3: or proud to be a part of us.
9:41
Speaker 4: Suppose you you can say then the last the last
9:43
Speaker 4: time the Steadiers played outside of the US was against
9:46
Speaker 4: the Vikings of Wembley back into thousand and when, do
9:49
Speaker 4: you yeah, exactly, Yeah, so it's been a while, so
9:55
Speaker 4: you know that that was part of the reason why
9:56
Speaker 4: I didn't have maybe as much interest as the in
9:59
Speaker 4: the Wembley games so others very much to go and
10:01
Speaker 4: see my theaters. But now with the they I suppose
10:05
Speaker 4: hint of a of a home game in Ireland. You know,
10:08
Speaker 4: it's just it's it's absolutely phenomenal.
10:11
Speaker 1: I think, yeah, like if for when it happens, it
10:14
Speaker 1: would be amazing, but even just generally, it's just it's
10:16
Speaker 1: great to say barla, and it's it's great to hear
10:19
Speaker 1: and and just just what you said as well, they're
10:20
Speaker 1: give about like how proud of this? Like you know, yeah,
10:23
Speaker 1: like I'm I think I think I speak for all
10:25
Speaker 1: those thoughts, like I'm definitely extremely you know, fortunate and
10:28
Speaker 1: broad to be part of something like this here. You
10:30
Speaker 1: know that the theaters have got podcasts in different countries
10:33
Speaker 1: such as Mexico and Germany, and it's it's awesome to
10:36
Speaker 1: have this and this is the podcast for fans obviously
10:39
Speaker 1: in Ireland, but you know, if if you speak English
10:40
Speaker 1: or understand English, please feel free to listen and and
10:43
Speaker 1: ask questions regardless of where you are in the world.
10:45
Speaker 1: And I think that's you know, it's it's it's gonna
10:47
Speaker 1: be it's gonna be good fun. And this is at
10:49
Speaker 1: least a five year term for the theaters in Ireland
10:52
Speaker 1: and you know, they're hoping to, as they say, host
10:55
Speaker 1: a series of you know, both new and existing events
10:57
Speaker 1: for fans, and they also want to cant the island
11:00
Speaker 1: of Ireland with Pittsburgh. So certainly it's going to be
11:03
Speaker 1: it's going to be an exciting time, not just this year,
11:06
Speaker 1: but obviously going forward as well, adds and it's it's
11:09
Speaker 1: an honor to be on this journey with you lads
11:11
Speaker 1: as well, and hopefully we will look back on someday
11:14
Speaker 1: and reminisce on this first episode. The plan is, I guess, lads,
11:19
Speaker 1: for you know, obviously going through the next few weeks
11:21
Speaker 1: is to build up to the season we've got trading
11:23
Speaker 1: camp on the twenty sixth of July, which is fast approaching.
11:27
Speaker 1: The day after that, in the twenty seventh of July
11:29
Speaker 1: is the anniversary of the game in Dublin in nineteen
11:32
Speaker 1: ninety seven. We're going to hope, hopefully speak to a
11:34
Speaker 1: few people that were at that game, not just players,
11:37
Speaker 1: but also fans as well, because this is folks your
11:39
Speaker 1: podcast as well. If you were at that game, please
11:41
Speaker 1: do interact with us on Twitter and let us know
11:43
Speaker 1: we'd love to hear from you. And then we're always
11:45
Speaker 1: obviously going to go through each week during the season.
11:47
Speaker 1: The Staiers have got a really interesting schedule for at
11:49
Speaker 1: few weeks and so it's going to be fun and
11:52
Speaker 1: believe that. I think I think all fay of us
11:54
Speaker 1: know that this is going to fly in so definitely
11:56
Speaker 1: looking forward to it. Let's let's touch in a couple
11:59
Speaker 1: of topics each before we do Runded this first episode.
12:02
Speaker 1: I'd love to know just where you guys are just
12:06
Speaker 1: generally sort of in your thoughts on where the Steelers
12:09
Speaker 1: are obviously going into this year. The AFC North is
12:12
Speaker 1: really interesting just in terms of it seems to me
12:15
Speaker 1: that a lot of people are focusing a lot in
12:18
Speaker 1: the East. It's almost like the AFC East has turned
12:20
Speaker 1: into like this year or last year's West, where everyone
12:23
Speaker 1: was focusing on Russell Wilson coming in. It seems like
12:25
Speaker 1: the general fun or the general scope. Maybe he's looking
12:29
Speaker 1: at the North as much. But the Steelers and the
12:32
Speaker 1: AFC North could be honestly one of the most exciting
12:35
Speaker 1: divisions this year in football, couldn't it.
12:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, it's gonna be a highly creditive vision, Michael,
12:40
Speaker 2: as you say, you look at the talent that's there.
12:42
Speaker 2: A quarterback, Sean Watson's coming back, He's gonna have a
12:45
Speaker 2: full off season to get the Browns ready. And Lamara
12:48
Speaker 2: Jackson just we all know what he could do. He's
12:51
Speaker 2: such a threat, and now he's fully invested in the Ravens,
12:54
Speaker 2: he's going to be able to win this season. And
12:57
Speaker 2: then of course Joe Burrow, you know, Joey Dying honestly
13:01
Speaker 2: top top three quarterback in the league, top two perhaps
13:04
Speaker 2: you know, right under Mahomes. And so for the Steelers,
13:08
Speaker 2: they're gonna have to put out all the stops this season.
13:10
Speaker 2: And I think with Kenny Pickett's developing and growing as
13:14
Speaker 2: a quarterback, Okay, he might have been as explosive as
13:18
Speaker 2: the likes of Mahomes in his first season, but he's
13:20
Speaker 2: come into his own as the Steeters signal caller. You know,
13:23
Speaker 2: he's building apport with his receiver, which is so important.
13:26
Speaker 2: And I think, you know, Pickets to Pickens is going
13:30
Speaker 2: to be what we're what we're gonna hear this year,
13:33
Speaker 2: all all game long, hopefully. I mean we saw down
13:36
Speaker 2: the stretch last year what a special connection those two
13:39
Speaker 2: have and some massive plays and you know, they're just
13:42
Speaker 2: in plastic together. So for me, that's going to be
13:45
Speaker 2: the focus of the offense. And I think this it's
13:49
Speaker 2: a it's a must win year for the Steeters. You know,
13:52
Speaker 2: it's it's I don't want to say he's super Bowl
13:54
Speaker 2: or plus, but you know it could convent that in
13:57
Speaker 2: the end.
13:59
Speaker 1: I'm love the high expectation shiming rally in the first episode.
14:02
Speaker 1: So I am loving and we will play this back
14:04
Speaker 1: upfully in Vegas in February almost see what happens. He's
14:08
Speaker 1: right though, like they have like you know, like we
14:11
Speaker 1: were saying it just earlier on off camera as well,
14:13
Speaker 1: like this team canny like it came in last year
14:17
Speaker 1: obviously haven't to you know, have that whole situation. Yes,
14:21
Speaker 1: you have the trend and replace a legendary quarterback and
14:23
Speaker 1: in Ben Roethlisberger, they go two and seven, And for
14:27
Speaker 1: anyone you know that is it's a confidence knock, not
14:30
Speaker 1: just for him but for the organization. And it shows
14:32
Speaker 1: you the positivity that's been in that team, the fact
14:35
Speaker 1: that they went in the run towards the end of
14:37
Speaker 1: the season and he gets the last tame of the
14:38
Speaker 1: season and they still have an opportunity to be in it.
14:40
Speaker 3: And now he.
14:42
Speaker 1: Has that flexibility and quiet in the thought most of
14:45
Speaker 1: this division where you can go off in this offseason
14:47
Speaker 1: and develop more. It's an exciting time. And as as
14:50
Speaker 1: Jimmy said, you don't just have Pickens there. You've got
14:52
Speaker 1: what Alan Robinson coming in and you've also got the
14:54
Speaker 1: anti Johnson. So it's gonna be it's gonna be a
14:57
Speaker 1: really interesting year in the offense. Many Yeah, I completely agree.
15:02
Speaker 3: I was just saying about the FCS. You know, the
15:04
Speaker 3: spot the spot life sort of on our on our
15:06
Speaker 3: Rodgers and Josh Allen, et cetera. No toua, But the
15:10
Speaker 3: f C North, as you say, like people don't know
15:12
Speaker 3: how stacked it is, and a lot of people are
15:14
Speaker 3: looking at that division and said, we're the weakness, and
15:17
Speaker 3: that's it's bizarre to here because we're so you know,
15:19
Speaker 3: it's such a storied franchise and we're always competing to
15:22
Speaker 3: get in. As just said, we had a very per
15:24
Speaker 3: start to the season last year, you know, with Mitch
15:26
Speaker 3: and then Kenny came in and sort of you know, rallied,
15:29
Speaker 3: the rallied the trips and we we give ourselves right
15:32
Speaker 3: till the end. I think we're one of the only
15:33
Speaker 3: teams you know, fighting to get in there. But this year,
15:36
Speaker 3: I suppose you will completely agree with everything Jimmy said,
15:39
Speaker 3: you know, we should be him and Hay. But the
15:42
Speaker 3: only way we're going to be able to do that is,
15:44
Speaker 3: you know, with if everybody sort of builds around Cammy
15:46
Speaker 3: and you know, with with the the draft, with had
15:48
Speaker 3: a very successful draft. You know, we've picked up a
15:50
Speaker 3: lot of good pieces on the O line and you
15:52
Speaker 3: know a lot of free good free agents, you know,
15:54
Speaker 3: you know, Poppet Peterson stuff for secondary. So it does
15:57
Speaker 3: look like if we can just put everything together, just
16:00
Speaker 3: keep you know, keep pushing right till the end and
16:02
Speaker 3: fingers crossed, you know before you know, we're as I said,
16:05
Speaker 3: with the second year quarterback syndrome. You know, with Joe Burrow,
16:08
Speaker 3: he sort of burst onto the scene second year. Justin
16:11
Speaker 3: Herbert just completely you know, we bolted as well. Pot
16:14
Speaker 3: Mahomes came out in his second year and just turned
16:17
Speaker 3: in an absolute machine. So hopefully this time Kenny pickt
16:20
Speaker 3: do the exact same thing and people will be looking
16:22
Speaker 3: back going, well, how do we miss this guy? Do
16:24
Speaker 3: you know what I mean? So it's all about, you know,
16:26
Speaker 3: putting all the pieces together and hopefully leading to a
16:29
Speaker 3: vastually a successful season.
16:30
Speaker 2: I feel like.
16:32
Speaker 1: Really excited to see this jump as well, man like,
16:34
Speaker 1: it's it's gonna be awesome to see for Kenny. Jimmy
16:37
Speaker 1: like looking at the draft class that that the has
16:39
Speaker 1: mentioned there as well. I was at a draft party
16:42
Speaker 1: in Dublin on the Friday night. They couldn't do the
16:44
Speaker 1: first that unfortunately. I think anyone in Europe listening to
16:47
Speaker 1: this knows wife but Joey Reporters Junior going and I
16:50
Speaker 1: think it was very early in rynand two you have
16:52
Speaker 1: not the first second pick in round two with the
16:55
Speaker 1: biggest pop of the whole night and I would say
16:59
Speaker 1: there was about twenty recent of the fans and rumor
17:01
Speaker 1: Steeters fans on the whole list, but mod generally because
17:03
Speaker 1: the whole storyline there. But more so that was the
17:06
Speaker 1: hell of a draft for the Staters.
17:07
Speaker 2: Monk. Yeah. Absolutely, and the fact as well that the
17:10
Speaker 2: Steelers traded up to pick Porter. Obviously he's a legacy pick.
17:14
Speaker 2: Of course, his dad led Inside Mine backup from the
17:16
Speaker 2: Steelers and coach for the Steelers as well. But you know,
17:20
Speaker 2: the drafts and the moves and free agency might have
17:22
Speaker 2: really shown the aggression which the Stadiers are approaching the
17:26
Speaker 2: off season. You know they are, and they are in
17:28
Speaker 2: win now mode. They are making them the requisitive moves
17:32
Speaker 2: to achieve that that success. You know, and Porter aside,
17:36
Speaker 2: you look at you look at the first round and
17:40
Speaker 2: Ronick Ronerd Jones, Georgia player. You know that that shows
17:43
Speaker 2: their commitment to rebuilding the offensive line or retooling the
17:46
Speaker 2: offensive line, protecting their franchise quarter back and giving him
17:50
Speaker 2: the time to make passes down the field. I think
17:53
Speaker 2: that's one thing that unfortunately we didn't he didn't have
17:56
Speaker 2: last season, was time to sit in the pocket and
17:58
Speaker 2: scan the field and find its receivers. So you give
18:01
Speaker 2: Kenny time in the pocket and he's gonna he's gonna
18:04
Speaker 2: make the plays, and even the likes of Darnel Washington,
18:07
Speaker 2: another Georgia player and absolutely monster tight ends. He adds
18:12
Speaker 2: he adds another interesting dimension to the offense as both
18:15
Speaker 2: a blocker and a passer. So they're really really impressed
18:19
Speaker 2: and satisfied with the way Sears approached the draft of
18:23
Speaker 2: the offseason. And I think, and I think it's gonna
18:26
Speaker 2: yield results.
18:28
Speaker 1: Biggs time, and I'm really interested to hear this, like
18:32
Speaker 1: just not just from like you're not just from yourself did,
18:36
Speaker 1: but from Jimmy as well. Obviously, the schedules a ride,
18:40
Speaker 1: what's the first thing you look at the on the
18:42
Speaker 1: schedule usually, uh.
18:45
Speaker 3: You know what, obviously the first game We've got the
18:48
Speaker 3: Niners first game, and that's it's gonna be extremely tough.
18:52
Speaker 3: You know, bron Perties coming into his second year. He's
18:54
Speaker 3: another quarterbacks coming into his second year. You know, he
18:56
Speaker 3: had an amazing rookie year. That's one we're gonna look Florida.
19:00
Speaker 3: But of course, you know for me personally and the Banngos,
19:04
Speaker 3: of course, you know you look sort of home and away.
19:05
Speaker 3: It's a bit like you know, United Liverpool. If you like,
19:07
Speaker 3: you sort of look at what's team you're playing, you
19:09
Speaker 3: know when we're playing them, and it's always for me
19:13
Speaker 3: the Bengals or the Ravens.
19:14
Speaker 1: You know.
19:14
Speaker 3: The Browns are a bit of like, I don't know,
19:17
Speaker 3: maybe because of the history and stuff, you know, with
19:18
Speaker 3: the way I spaded for them. But one percent of
19:21
Speaker 3: the Bangos is like, I'm just looking forward to that
19:23
Speaker 3: cron game, Monday night football game, do you know what
19:25
Speaker 3: I mean?
19:28
Speaker 1: I can't wait for the four am podcast after it's
19:30
Speaker 1: gonna it's gonna be a good sun time wise, Jimmy,
19:34
Speaker 1: we will talk about the schedule and way more depth
19:37
Speaker 1: in a different podcast. But I remember, like the week
19:40
Speaker 1: one games League out a few hours before and everyone
19:43
Speaker 1: was talking about that Niners game because you know, you
19:45
Speaker 1: Dave's mentioned brock Perry there. We like, as of right now,
19:48
Speaker 1: who knows what's gonna happen there, just with with stan
19:51
Speaker 1: Franz jenerally, but there is an early buy there. But
19:54
Speaker 1: there are some interesting games beforehand. But is there a
19:57
Speaker 1: game that sticks out to you already or is it
19:58
Speaker 1: just taking every game as it comes?
20:00
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I mean similar to today. I mean
20:04
Speaker 2: it's always you look at you look at the Bengals games,
20:06
Speaker 2: look at the Ravens games. I mean, they're the ones
20:09
Speaker 2: that always give me the best matchups, I think. And
20:11
Speaker 2: I'm just remembering back to the first game of the
20:13
Speaker 2: season last year where we absolutely bullied Joe Burrow. Now
20:18
Speaker 2: he did get his revenge later on in the season,
20:21
Speaker 2: but like for me watching that game, I was hopping
20:23
Speaker 2: out of my seat every time every time that we
20:26
Speaker 2: got to Burrow or picked him off. And I think
20:28
Speaker 2: it was Minka Fitzpatrick picked him off. I ran it
20:31
Speaker 2: back for a first for a pick six and the
20:33
Speaker 2: first player the first Bengals play of the game. So
20:36
Speaker 2: you know, those kind of games that that's the bread
20:40
Speaker 2: and wonner of your of your of your your schedule.
20:43
Speaker 2: I mean, those are the rivalry games, those are the
20:45
Speaker 2: exciting games. So obviously I haven't looked at the scheduled
20:49
Speaker 2: and that much depth yet, but you know, first Lance,
20:52
Speaker 2: that's what I'm looking forward to.
20:55
Speaker 1: If do you think about the schedule is for Ulsen
20:56
Speaker 1: for a lot of fans in the heart and there's
20:58
Speaker 1: a lot of early games there which is good on
21:00
Speaker 1: I know, hopefully you know, if you look at the
21:02
Speaker 1: state leaders presence in Mexico, if it's not this year
21:05
Speaker 1: or if it's next season, there hopefully should be some
21:07
Speaker 1: sort of fan watch party. Hopefully. I can't speak for
21:11
Speaker 1: the team. I don't know if that's going to happen
21:13
Speaker 1: this year, but it would be awesome to see maybe
21:15
Speaker 1: like a Ravens game or like a big game where
21:17
Speaker 1: it's it's it's Witt there and and and I know
21:20
Speaker 1: when the time comes, it'll be a great day as well.
21:22
Speaker 1: So definitely looking forward to that interesting schedule, which which
21:26
Speaker 1: we'll get through at some point for sure. And let's
21:29
Speaker 1: let's wrap up looking very quickly. Lots of training camp.
21:32
Speaker 1: I guess I'll just start with you, Dave. You know,
21:35
Speaker 1: you look there at the running back position and you
21:37
Speaker 1: look at Antony McFarland, who is currently the third at RBS.
21:42
Speaker 1: You went in the training camp, but you know you're
21:43
Speaker 1: looking at Graham, and you're looking at Higgins or Huntley
21:46
Speaker 1: who could potentially make a keys for that third running
21:48
Speaker 1: back position That might not seem important now, but Dinah
21:51
Speaker 1: stretch whenever you're you know, hopefully with a more improved offense,
21:54
Speaker 1: and you've got Horizon Warren there, you would need somebody
21:57
Speaker 1: to have a backup. But is there any position the
22:01
Speaker 1: stands out to you or any general sense of discussion
22:04
Speaker 1: before we go in the training camp in a few
22:06
Speaker 1: weeks time that you want to talk about.
22:08
Speaker 3: Yeah, well, the running back position obviously is one that
22:10
Speaker 3: you know, I think we've actually got quite a lot
22:12
Speaker 3: of dapt dots. You know, obviously nausea horses is fantastic,
22:16
Speaker 3: but as just say, you know, your run game is
22:17
Speaker 3: only as good as your offensive line. And you know,
22:20
Speaker 3: our all sorts of light has been strengthened a lot
22:22
Speaker 3: by you know, the free agency and obviously the draft
22:25
Speaker 3: as well. You know brought up Jones is an absolute monster,
22:27
Speaker 3: and he's you know, people like Nauja and you know
22:31
Speaker 3: are going to be able to run behind him no problem.
22:34
Speaker 3: But obviously with the defense and stuff, it's just important.
22:37
Speaker 3: I think maybe it's important that we get you know,
22:39
Speaker 3: the rookies in early, you know, start building bonds with
22:41
Speaker 3: the likes of TJ. Watk, you know, you know herbig
22:44
Speaker 3: for example, he's going to be one of the stages
22:46
Speaker 3: of the draft. I feel if he can just you know,
22:49
Speaker 3: it's come from Wisconsin as well. Same college as TJ
22:52
Speaker 3: obviously fingers crossed. They can sort of build like a
22:54
Speaker 3: you know, a two headed monster alongside you know, Alice
22:57
Speaker 3: Highsmith as well. So if you it is just so
23:00
Speaker 3: of spacing around the board. You know, we've got all
23:01
Speaker 3: sorts of good picks, you know, ready to come in
23:04
Speaker 3: and boast that roster. So it's just about putting all
23:06
Speaker 3: the pieces together and hopefully that's going to be rady
23:08
Speaker 3: for for a week one against the Niners to be
23:12
Speaker 3: And is.
23:13
Speaker 1: There anyone who starts out to you obviously going in
23:15
Speaker 1: the training camp or is it very much we're still
23:17
Speaker 1: a few big sides.
23:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, no. I think like they said, there Nick
23:21
Speaker 2: herbig with an absolute steal in the draft. I think
23:24
Speaker 2: it was the fifth round where you picked him up.
23:25
Speaker 2: And I think he brings that big ten Wisconsin toughness
23:28
Speaker 2: that we value, that we love and you know, you
23:31
Speaker 2: look look at TJ. Watt. I mean, the fella says
23:34
Speaker 2: he's in his mid early twenties and we know he's
23:36
Speaker 2: going to be a first ballot of Hall of Famer
23:38
Speaker 2: already and we owe that man a Super Bowl. But
23:40
Speaker 2: that's that's aside the point. I think our inside lineback
23:44
Speaker 2: and Park needs to be structured. I need to be
23:46
Speaker 2: strengthened a lot in this training camp. I mean, we
23:48
Speaker 2: brought him miles to Jack as a free agent last
23:50
Speaker 2: year didn't really have the desired impact that we would
23:54
Speaker 2: have liked. So I think that that's definitely an area
23:57
Speaker 2: that needs to be worked on, and I think will
23:58
Speaker 2: be worked on. Competition for cornerbacks, I think it's going
24:01
Speaker 2: to be hot in training camp as well. And you
24:04
Speaker 2: would imagine that that Joey Porter and Pat Anderson will
24:08
Speaker 2: be you know, your your your top guys. But Levi
24:11
Speaker 2: Walls did a great season last year. You know he's
24:13
Speaker 2: he's going to be in the mix. So yeah, it's
24:17
Speaker 2: a couple of interesting things to watch.
24:21
Speaker 1: That's the badea. But you know, the off season is
24:23
Speaker 1: almost over now, Like you know, once the ball is
24:27
Speaker 1: is in the air on the twenty sixth of July
24:29
Speaker 1: that that's when it starts. And I'm really excited about
24:31
Speaker 1: is that because I know we're gonna talk about the
24:33
Speaker 1: trailing camp, probably work by week. We're also going to
24:36
Speaker 1: have a few guests all over the next few weeks
24:38
Speaker 1: on as we said at the start of the just
24:40
Speaker 1: of the podcast as well we're going to try and
24:43
Speaker 1: also look back at that game of ninety seven because
24:46
Speaker 1: we'll come to the anniversary and hopefully speak to a
24:48
Speaker 1: few finals as well. I mean, this is folks. If
24:50
Speaker 1: you're listening to this, especially if you're based on the
24:52
Speaker 1: oid of the Arland, this is your podcast, so please
24:55
Speaker 1: get involved. If you'd like to ask a few questions
24:57
Speaker 1: or if you were at that game and night seven,
24:59
Speaker 1: please let us know. You can tweet us or use
25:02
Speaker 1: the Instagram. It's Steters, Ireland and I will and I'm
25:06
Speaker 1: sure the lads will check that as well as if
25:08
Speaker 1: anyone asks me questions. Please feel free let us know
25:10
Speaker 1: where you're calling in from as well, especially if you're
25:12
Speaker 1: in Ireland. What county? Who knows, Maybe Draha can have
25:15
Speaker 1: a few more staters fans Jimmy yah, yeah, my best
25:20
Speaker 1: and certainly who knows lots there could be a true
25:22
Speaker 1: un party at some point here as well, and I'm
25:24
Speaker 1: sure everywhere else. I'm sure we'd have planning from everywhere
25:27
Speaker 1: as well. Ladds, this has been great crack chatting days.
25:30
Speaker 1: I know it's only the start of so much more
25:32
Speaker 1: in terms of chatting and going through you ever ahead
25:35
Speaker 1: of this massive season for the Steters and again we're
25:37
Speaker 1: just very grateful to the Steelers organization for the pretty
25:40
Speaker 1: opportunity to do this. And yeah I'm excited the chat again,
25:44
Speaker 1: so hopefully chat to you against soon lads, and yeah,
25:46
Speaker 1: thank you.
25:48
Speaker 2: Here's Michael