The bullet down, the kickers on its way, the kickers up, the kickings guard, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have defeated the ball of our Ravens and the Steelers are headed her playoff. This is saverin on Steelers. Hello and welcome to all in Steeler Nations. Welcome to the Savereign on Steelers podcast. I am Stan Savern of ESPN Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network. Getting ready for another exciting regular season and reminder that you can join me and Charlie Batts on the postgame show all about fifteen minutes after each game concludes and we'll be on with you talking about what just transpired in the Steeler game. Thanks to get your comments and thoughts as Charlie and I discussed the game with you. The Steeler fans in Steeler Nation, we know a great deal about the Pittsburgh football team. It's the team that we follow. The fans are listening, that's the team you root for, and we constantly go over all the elements, the waiver transactions, the practice squad, all those things about the Steelers. But as much do we know about the Steelers, we may not have full information about the teams in their division. A f C North figures to be highly competitive this year, as it is almost every year. Bengals, of course, are defending champions. The Steelers finish second, grabbed a wild card, and Cleveland and Baltimore tied for third or last, if you prefer to refer to it as that way. With the records of eight and nine, both figured they'll be rebound. A lot of people think the Steelers maybe better than last year's nine, seven and one, and the Cleveland Browns were considered the team to beat in the division. But then the entire situation with Deshaun Watson erupted. He'll miss the first eleven games. Who knows what it does to them? And maybe I process of elimination, the Baltimore Ravens end up being the favorite. Many many question marks involving the Baltimore Ravens. We look at the Steelers, for example, and we wonder just based on their roster, contruction, construction, the new people have been brought in, new coaches, new ideas, new schemes, that how the Steelers will do naturally, that's our primary area of focus. That's the team we know the best. It's the team that we focus on. But you can take your team, whoever it may be, and hold them up against what you think will be the best team in the conference or the entire NFL. But it all starts on a smaller scale. Everything that you've done in the off season, everything you hope to do in the regular season, everything you hope you would accomplished in the preseason is relative to what you do in the division. That's where you start. I think you've talked to any pro coach, maybe even the players. Yes, of course, the long range goal is to win the super Bowl. That's a given that is understood, but there's always the possibility that you could be a wild card and get there. It has been done, the Steelers did it in two thousand five. But when you think about accomplishments, when you think about setting your goals, you look at the division. That's where it begins. You win your division, you know that you're gonna have a home game, even with the expanded playoffs, and on it goes. So I thought today, rather than examine exactly what the Steelers have in terms of personnel, playing time, all the roster moves that have taken place, it might be a good eye did to look at the division, because, after all, more than a third of your regular season games are played against these three teams, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Baltimore. That's the biggest chunk of your schedule. Six of the seventeen are played against teams in your division, which of course is true for every team in the NFL. Cincinnati is the defending champion, and you have to take your cap off or give him a helmet tap for what the accomplishments accomplished last year. They were terrific in the playoffs. Most people thought they'd lose their very first game. They beat Kansas City to advance and played a very competitive game against the Rams. As you know, they were right there and in position to win that Super Bowl game. And some would think, well, there's an automatic project projection, there's a trajectory. Well, they won the division for the first time in a long time, they won the a f C Championship for the first time since nine and in their first Super Bowl since then. But I don't know that it always goes that way. In looking at the Bengals, they have made significant changes to an offensive line. Their biggest concern entering last season was their offensive line, and indeed, Joe Burrow was hit way too often. Despite that fact, they got to within a quarter of winning the Super Bowl. But that doesn't mean that lack of protection in the past offense is sustainable. We already know that Burrows suffered an a c L late in his rookie year. That he did what he did coming off that surgery is rather amazing in and of itself. And the Bengals purported reportedly have improved their offensive line Lyle Collins from Dallas very good offensive tackle. So you give them that better offensive line, better protection, and a better running game for Joe Mixon. But there are a couple of factors about the Bengals I think a lot to be mentioned when we consider their prospects in the a f C North. In First of all, I don't want to take anything away from the bengals accomplishment. They deserve all the credit in the world. They were a worst to first care scenario. They finished last in the a f C North in and win it in one. By the way, that's not all that uncommon in the NFL. Interesting stat amazing really when to stop and think about it. Seventeen times in the last nineteen seasons, a team has gone from worst to first in their division. The Bengals being the latest makes you wonder who might that be. It might even be in the a f C North. So good for them. But a couple of things. Number one, being a last place team in the Bengals played a last place schedule in presumably the way the structure is intended. That means it's easier for the weaker teams well by finishing first. This coming season, the Bengals will play a first place schedule. It makes a difference. Last year the Steelers had to play a first place schedule. It makes it more difficult. Number two. For years, the Bengal have always been the Bungles, not only among Steeler fans throughout Stealer Nation, but really their franchise was looked as a haphazard, not very well run, cheaply done, and so I guarantee you teams overlook Cincinnati. It's only the Bengals bad team, been a bad team for years. It's a natural letdown emotionally for opponents. Now having been in the Super Bowl, no team is going to fall asleep on playing the Bengals as a defending conference champion. They're gonna get everybody's best. That wasn't necessarily the case. And again it's not designed to take away anything from Cincinnati, but that's just a reality. No longer going to say, oh good, this is almost as good as getting the by We're playing the Bengals this week. Well, now not so much. I still think they'll be good, but I'm not so sure that the slam dunk repeat super Bowl team, ANFC Conference championship team, or even a division winning team. We moved north about four and a half hours to Cleveland. The brown season has been totally disrupted, Bob. That is shahn Watson affair. How much will they struggle without him? With Jacobe Brossett at quarterback? Maybe with our old friend Josh Dobbs at quarterback. He's won the backup job there at least until Deshaun Watson comes back in will Week twelve twelve game ironically against the Houston Texans. In some ways not going to suggest that the Jacoby Brossett is anywhere near Deshaun Watson, but in some areas it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. For this reason, the Browns possess who I think is the best running back in the NFL, and that's Nick Chubb. I don't think he gets the proper attention he deserves, mainly because he plays in Cleveland. And the Browns have been up and down, and unfortunately for them, they're known for other things other than winning football. They're known for the Watson fiasco in some ways, the Baker Mayfield fiasco, and they're known more for failures than they are for accomplishments. But they have a very good offensive line. They've got a great one to punch with Chubb and different back but every bit as damaging. They've got the Ernest Johnson, the pretty good third back to have. He'd be perhaps a starter on a lot of different teams. And they run the ball well. The only drop back with that is that their head coach, Kevin Stefanski, sometimes has a tendency to abandon the run because he's got this new fangled offense and wants to show it off. The problem with that was last year he too often put the ball in the hands of a average quarterback. Maybe you consider Baking Acre Mayfield below average. Now, if you've got an Aaron Rodgers, if you've got Patrick Mahomes at your quarterback, by all means give him the ball, let him go to work. But if you're quarterback, happens to be Baker Mayfield then or Jacobe were set now, maybe I'm minimizing the necessity to go to him when I can move the ball up and down the field on the ground. There were a number of games last year were they to be moving the ball and all of a sudden he'd pull off a double fleet flicker reverse somersault reverse on the three yard line and it would ruin a drive. He just strikes me as kind of a guy, and I think he's a good coach, but you can't take this away. He just seems like a guy who wants to prove how smart he is. But you've got Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, de Ernest Johnson, run the ball if you're having success doing it, and they've got a very good offensive line. Defensively, they've made some really good draft picks, but I also think that they have issues at linebacker. They've bolstered their secondary with a good draft class, but I still think that they're vulnerable at linebacker, and both their defensive ends and Myles Garrett and Jadavian Clowney are really good against the pass, but I think you can run on them. And let's not forget. While mostly attention goes to the offense, defense is a part of this equation as well. Now it won't be as big a deal once de Shaun Watson comes back. But what will the Browns record be after eleven games? At the very least, it'd better be five and six, because I think that you can like they did last year the Bengals they wanted at ten and seven. I think based on how competitive all these four teams are, I think they're gonna inflict losses on one another. Ten wins might be good enough to win the division. And what about the elephant or in this case, raven in the room injury riddle? Last year they still got holes, but all these four teams do. What about Baltimore? Frankly, they're my pick to win the division and continue with that worst to first. And rather than me give you the low down on the Ravens, we got an expert. Name is Ryan McFadden. He covers the Ravens for the Baltimore Son He joined us now on our Savereign on Steelers podcast. Ryan is, to the best of your knowledge, is head coach John Hardball. Happy with the way his preseason is gone well. First off, thanks Dan so much for having me on again. Really appreciate it, and I think you touched on it. I think you touched on it. The surprise is John mc glue. I thought he was really solid down the stretch last year. In those five starts he made. It was really good against the Ravens, the Chiefs, and the Browns late in the regular season. Uh he might have been the best lineman that the Steelers had late last year. Take that for what it's worth at that point last year. But that was that was a major surprise. I like his versatility inside. He can play you know, center, he can play guard. He got some reps at tackle. Uh here in training camp and in the preseason. That was that was the biggest surprise, especially with how the Steeler's offensive line has looked so far this summer. Do you get to sense that Kendrick Green's pedigree is the third round pick is the only reason he's still on the team. I think so. I think that the Steelers still hold out some hope with him because of how athletic he is, how strong he can be in the run game. But I do think that that third round pick that's still UM tied to him is keeping him on this roster at this point because the play certainly is not there. Do you think how does this affect the rest of the offensive line and do you think that this portends uh potentially a waiver wire claim. I know there a couple of guys on here. I want to ask you about um or a trade of some kind. I think the Steelers are going to be active in looking for an upgrade UM. You know, right now, it doesn't appear that that offensive line is set. I am a little surprised that a guy like Trent Scott is still around. I know that obviously he has experience in the Pat Meyer system. He's been everywhere Pat Meyer has been in the NFL. But it's just it's not a settling feeling right now looking at that that chart along the offensive line, knowing how some of these guys played. But as you mentioned, there are some names out there that are that are certainly intriguing that I'm sure we're gonna get into all right. By the way, this Malika uh read deal that they made, some details are coming out. A late round picked to Denver, but the Steelers get a seventh um back for a six. According to Um, the particulars of this draft, you shouldn't discount seventh round picking ever. Know, since we're on the offensive line, Josh, a couple of guys that you have just I want to, you know, convent you that I I'm following. I'm paying attention. Um. Yeah, you isolated a guy named brock Hoffman who was the relief today. Yeah. Brock Hoffman. I saw him at the Shrine Bull in Las Vegas back in February. He's a guy that that transferred from Coastal Carolina where he was a guard, to Virginia Tech and he played center a Virginia Tech. He's just an old school, physical and nasty guy in the trenches. He had a great preseason with the Browns, played center and guard with Cleveland. It was very surprising to see Cleveland cut him loose, considering the injuries that they've had to deal with at center here in this offseason. But that's a guy I know that the Steelers were paying attention to uh in Las Vegas. I know that Mark Bruner and T d i Woma over there from the scouting staff, so they got an up close and personal look at him. He's a guy I think could step in, and I think he's an upgrade over a guy like say j C. Hassenauer. No disrespect to j C. But I think brock Hoffman has legitimate starter upside in the NFL. He's an exceptional run blocker. I think he's everything that the Steeler for hoping Kendrick Green would be that that brawler inside who brings that nasty physical presence in the run game and sets the tone. Um interesting, um, you know who knows well. We won't speculate, um, but Mason Cole has played some guard so if they were to look at a guy like that, another guy that you lot lined Blake Hants, another offensive lineman. Yeah, Blake Hants was the guy who he had. He was forced into the starting lineup for that playoff game with the Browns against the Steelers at Hinesfield. Back in many thought that that Cam Hayward was gonna, um, you know, take his lunch money throughout that game. But Hants held his un looked really good in past protection in that game, showed off some athleticism inside. I think he started a handful of games for the Browns since then. Just a guy you know, the Steelers need to bring in some fresh faces as depth. At this point, you have to throw things at the wall and hopes that it sticks. Uh. And that's a name that when I saw him hit the waiver wire this morning, was like, hey, the Steelers should be familiar with him, especially considering what he did to their star defensive tackle. That's a name that that's certainly worth bringing in. He can play guard, he can play tackle. Uh. And like I said, he was a valuable swing tackle for a very good Browns offensive line in the last two years. Now they could use a starting tackle potentially if he's got that upside. Another couple names you mentioned, um Alec Lindstrom. Yes, so obviously the NFL bloodlines are there. His brother Chris Lindstrom is the starting guard in Atlanta. Alec was a guy again and just like brock Hoffman, I saw him in Las Vegas at the Shrine Bull this this past year. Um just a very smart player. Not as athletic as you'd like to see from a center at this point, but he's just he's so smart between the years, knows what's happening. He snap puts himself in really good positions. He started over fifty games at Boston College. A little undersized, but you have to like the NFL bloodlines there, and he can play some guard too. So I think when you're when you're looking at some of these guys that are cut across the league, you're looking for that position versatility, uh, and that's what the Steelers need at this point, behind a guy like a Mason Cole or James Daniels. Moving forward, Josh Carney of Steelers deepos our guests and delighted to have him, especially on this day. There's method to my madness. That's why we wanted to have Josh Hunt today because of the impending cuts. UM. You had a couple of guys listed as linebacker Quincy Rochet, former Steeler draft pick, and Chazz Surratt, but that seems to uh, the need for that UM has been a tamped down, if not eliminated. Tell me your thoughts on Malik Read, Yeah, Malik Read. The guy he came out of Nevada was kind of an underrated pass rusher, and that's when nineteen draft has all the the physical tools six two to forty. Um has a really good task for rush repertoire. He likes to hit the ghost rush a lot um to get under those those bigger tackles. He had thirteen sacks the last two years for the Broncos, stepped up admirably in place of Bradley Chubb. In to get him for I think you said the updated terms for a sixth round pick. I mean for a guy that's played almost two thousand snaps defensively and has you know, fifteen sacks and in three years in the NFL, it's a great get for the Steelers. Uh. The only issue is he he doesn't bring much special teams abilities at this point. But if he's gonna slot in is the number three outside linebacker in Pittsburgh. I think they can live with with him not playing special teams and maybe relying on a guy like Derek Tusca to be that that fourth outside linebacker and hold down the special teams role. But Reid has had a lot of success in the NFL. I think people um might forget. But at at Pittsburgh he had a strip sack on Ben Roethlisberger, So uh, it's it's all there for him. He's going to be a very valuable rotational piece to give guys like t J. Watt and Alex Highsmith a blow in games. It's just what they're looking for and they seem to have gotten them without really giving up a great deal. One name to cut my eye. Um, you know, given the Steelers circumstance, Um, it's it's obvious, uh that Um, they're gonna take some of the players that they um are on the fifty three and put them on I R. The unfortunate injury Demante k z Um. Sources indicate he's made the team, but he will not be able to play if he goes on i R. The Eagles released their starting safety from last year, Anthony Harris. Is he Is he worth a look? He's the guy that definitely caught my attention as well. Uh. The only thing that kind of goes against him is the age factor and the lack of special team's abilities. But for a guy that you want to bring in to kind of feel Casey's role in defense, that can play that slot corner, can play that free safety though, while Ninka Fitzpatrick to move around j Anthony Harris would make a ton of sense. He was an All Pro a few years ago, a Pro Bowl or in Minnesota. Had some ups and downs last year in Philadelphia. But the ball skills are there. He's a very good tackler. Uh you know, he would be that chess piece to kind of step in for the Monte CAZy and allow the Steelers to continue to roll out that dime package that they were hoping for. Um. But I just don't know what the Stealers are gonna do with safety at this point. It feels like CAZy is gonna land on the ir and be designated to return. Um. The the cut of Elijah Riley was a little bit surprising. Yeah him, Yeah, me too. He made a couple of plays. I know it's more to it than that. I'm a little surprised there. Yeah, I you know, he made some plays on Sunday against the Lions. He was very intriguing. Obviously, he has some NFL experience, so I wasn't a bit surprised to see him as part of the cuts here. But the Steelers definitely have to do something at safety. Anthony Harris is the guy that caught my attention. Um. You know, yesterday a veteran Adrian Colbert who was cut. No relation to Kevin, but I had some Steelers fans talking about that. But is he is he any relation to Stephan Colbert. That's what we need to know that I don't know. But yeah, Adrian Colbert, uh Colber, excuse me, you got me? You got me a little twisted here. But Adrian Colbert, just a veteran safety twenty eight years old, would bring that physicality that that CAZy kind of had, and and and Colbert played a ton of special teams throughout his career. So there's some names out there for omar Con and Mike Common to look at it safety, But losing CAZy at this point in the season is a big blow considering what they were planning on using him for. Couldn't they ring more? Absolutely? Um, remember that guy Brent Alexander they brought in was a safety, veteran guy, kind of a little you know, you didn't play a whole lot. But maybe Colbert is that type of guy. I've only mentioned the guys that caught my attention, and and and and what you had already put up on Twitter. Are there any other names that have have been released that might be a target for the Steelers? You know, I keep coming back to a guy like Solomon Kinley. Um, he was a guard out of Georgia. A few years ago in the draft that they showed interest in. He was released by the Dolphins. Uh. Justin Schaefer another guard out of Georgia this past year. Obviously, the Steelers had a huge presence at George's pro day taking a look at George Pickens, but they had a chance to see him up close and personal as well. So there's some two There's two guards there that are big bodies that can move people. Uh. Solomon Kinley I believe started uh fifteen games with the Dolphins as a rookie. So there's a guy with experience. Uh. The one name though that I kind of continue to circle and I'm very curious about, is Kellen Mond, the quarterback that was cut by the Vikings. Steelers still have three quarterbacks on the roster at this point. You know that the Mason Rudolph trade buzz is still swirling, though it sounds like they're going to hold onto him. But the Steelers have heavily scouted Texas A and M the last few years. Mind was there. They had a heavy presence at his pro day. I believe they talked to him at the combine as well. So there's a guy he's he's certainly a project um without a doubt. But he has the traits and you know, the tools that the Steelers have kind of been looking for, uh in their their new age quarterbacks. So that could be a guy to you know, kind of take a a chance on as a practice squad developmental piece. Well, so people need to keep this in mind, Um that even if Mason Rudolph is on the fifty three man roster um the NFL trading deadline goes to near the end of October, that does not preclude the possibility that you know, somebody goes down uh poor performance. This that the other um that they you know, may be more desperate to make a trade than than they are in August. Uh springs up an interesting dilemma. It's a dilemma for them, it's not for us. Um. The initial reports are they're gonna keep Derek Watt the initial and I'm reading between the lines here it looks like they're gonna keep Anthony McFarland. Does that mean Benny Snell is gone in your view, Josh, when you stop and consider that Jalen Warren is a lot like Benny Snell. Yeah, you know, we just heard uh, Matt Cannada speak and he was talking like Anthony McFarland made the fifty three, which is a bit of a surprise. I do wonder if Derek Watt is a guy that kind of goes on high are early in the year. He didn't play at all in the preseason. I know he was dealing with a shoulder injury. I'm wondering if that might be a move to just give him more time, um keep Benny Snell around to kind of fill those that that those special teams reps uh and allow Connor Heyward to fully settle in. But I I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around the Steelers potentially moving on for Snow, knowing how Mike Tomlin feels about him, knowing the experience that he has, knowing the value he brings on special teams. I think certainly Jalen Warren has passed him on the depth chart as the number two at this point. But there's just there's a ton of value there with Snell from a special team standpoint that I have a really hard time thinking he's the one that goes. And it's gonna be really interesting to see how these last three or four roster moves go from Marekan and the Steelers because there are certainly some some talented players that they might have to part with. Yeah, and doubtedly we should also mention they're sitting now at fifty six. But also by the same token, they really have to make four moves because they've now got to make room for Malik read uh. So there's more to come. Um and it's it seems and nothing's for certain, but Casey definitely we'll go on I r Calvin Austin likely to go on I R UM. Do they like montre obvious Adams enough to apparently there they haven't cut him yet, still three or four cutters go. Do they like it? Is he worth keeping around? He showed some flashes last year, he did. I thought he was really good down the stretch once he settled in and kind of understood the playbook and got more familiar with the you know, the scheme and the terminology. I do wonder if he's a he's an our Canada as well. I think it would be really easy to say, hey, those three you're gonna be designated to return, You're gonna make the initial fifty three and then we'll, you know, we'll make moves to bring guys back, But yeah, I can't see them carrying seven defensive tackles and and allowing Adams to not practice, not get a helmet, you know, and and take the position away from from an other player. At this point, I think the easy decision is to put those three on islander. I know that Calvin Austin talked last week leading up to the final preseason game that he was excited to be back, but he hasn't practiced yet, so I think him and Casey are the two easy ones. Adams. It's kind of up in the air at this point, but I have heard that they are leaning towards an I R spot with him because they do really like him. I think they showed that with a two year deal they gave him in the off season. But if there's just a lot of guys on the bubble right now, it's gonna be fully interesting to see what they do. You know. Do they keep a guy like a Marcus Allen special teams ace for them but has not done anything in training camp or the preseason due to a hamstring injury. You know, Jumpton Lane. They spent a third round pick on him. Is it is it time to move on? For him at this point. Um, you've obviously got Myles Blinken and and Steven Simms a receiver. I mean, both of them deserve a spot. So what happens there. Uh, It's a good problem to have though for the Steelers, because there are guys that didn't win jobs. By default. Everyone played relatively well and and it's making it hard for the decision makers. Last thing, you know, we mentioned Buddy Johnson. I don't know if you share my opinion on him. He's just he's just a half step slow. Um. He just you know, he's not I mean, may fit in somewhere else. Um, but I'm wondering, Uh, was it his deficiency or the bright light that was Mark Robinson? Who's got I mean, he would have been an ideal practice squad guy. I don't know if they have clear waivers or not, but I mean, if they, if they waive Buddy Johnson, Um, what are your thoughts on Mark Robinson? They you know, get a seventh rond finding him. I think he was absolutely a find. Once they made that selection. I kind of dev into his tape and he's like, yeah, this this guy can play. He's gonna need some work, but he can play. I think he already has a high level I from the position. He processes extremely quickly. Everyone knows he's a hard hitter, he's a very good tackler. I think he's missed one tackle the entire preseason. H that it's just quite a fine there. And they took a chance on a guy who played one year linebacker in college and he where he looks like he's gonna be a legitimate player for them. But I do share the same thoughts with you regarding Buddy Johnson. He's just a tick too slow. He's not good in coverage, um, which is strange because he was pretty solid in coverage in college in the SEC at Texas A and M. I don't know if it was the added weight to to kind of hold down that that buck linebacker position, that that's slowed him down or what, but yeah, he just he was a tick late to everything. I think playing right next to Mark Robinson, you could see on tape that that Robinson was just faster process better, was able to slip blocks easier and make plays. And I think it came down to just it was an easy decision for the stealings. Hey, we're gonna roll with Mark Robinson will try and get Buddy Johnson back on the practice squad. I think Buddy's good on special teams, but if you're putting him out there in the base defense at this point, you you're asking for trouble. But with Robinson, I don't think that's the case. I think that's a guy that's gonna be starting in a year or two and it's going to be the new Age. Vince Williams. Yeah, he reminds me a lot of Vince Williams, although I think he's a touch faster than Vince Williams. By the way, one more question about that. The Browns have cut Josh Rosen and I only mentioned that because that means Josh Stops has locked up. Good for him. He's a great guy, um, and he's the second quarterback, and then he'll be the third quarterback when Deshaun Watson gets back. Since we talked on the inside linebacker's last name for you, Josh, have you noticed in your diagnosis of tape um any improvement on Devin bush Um. He got beat by Hockinson on the first pass of the game. Um, he was a guilty party in that draw. On third and seventeen he did make the stop on fourth and one, but it was really Miles jack who who jacked that thing up. So have you seen any improvement in his play whatsoever? I saw a lot of them pro against Jacksonville last week, as far as Sunday against the Lions. Obviously he had the tackle for loss. I liked him as a blitzer. He seemed much more aggressive coming down hill, but it just it left a lot to be desired. And and you know, that's just Devin Bush at this point. Um, He's gonna always struggle to get off of blocks. That was never his strung suits coming out of Michigan. It was always kind of being that guy that splits around blocks, uses his athleticism and his speed to make plays. And I think you're starting to see things process quickly again for him, and he's starting the show some flashes of that that that speed and athleticism, but it's just not good enough at this point. I know that, Um, you know, the choice route from Hawkinson there on the first play of the game went for I think fourteen yards. That's a tough play for any linebacker to make. But again it just looked like Devon was guessing. Then the draw play. I just I don't know what it's going to take from him. I think after that play he was pulled out of the game. I did see Brian Flores talking to him once he went back in. It felt like Bush was much more aggressive and coming downhill. But you'd like to see some of those issues cleaned up. But I just I think he's gonna be sharing time with Spillane throughout the year, and I it would not shock me if Mark Robinson starts to see snaps at that position next to Miles Jack Layton year. But it's it's still a process with Bush. Um. There's some plays on tape or you're like, Okay, that's the rookie year Bush I've seen, and then there are others where it's just like, what what is going on there with with you? Um That it's it's just certainly concerning because definitely up and down on Sunday, But I did see improvements the week before, so we'll see. He's got two weeks now to to kind of figure it out and get ready for Cincinnati and hopefully hits the ground runner in the regular season. No team in the a f C North is going to be considered an odds on favorite. The Bengals are right now because they're the defending champs, and I already gave you my reasons why it may not be as easy as wraps they think. I do believe it's gonna be a very competitive division. I don't know that any one of these teams is super Bowl worthy. I don't think so, even though the Bengals war a year ago. I just don't see it. But I do see a very highly contested and very very competitive division. Reminder that our Sabeigant on Steelers podcast we have two per week, generally Tuesdays and Thursdays. That may change once we get into the regular season because we want to make the content as relevant as we can and as close to game days, both day after games and days before games as we can. But if you enjoy the podcast, please let us know. You can contact me um stand Sabeath at iHeart media dot com or you can respond on Twitter at stand love the show, Thanks for being here today, Thanks to Ryan McFadden for giving us that scouting report on the Baltimore Ravens. Been my pleasure to be with you. I'm stand Savereigant. Reminder you can listen to me daily on ESPN Pittsburgh am or on the iHeart media app. Until we meet again. Thanks everyone, Stealing Nation. This is Stan Savrgan for Savan and Stealing Podcast.

The bullet down, the kickers on its way, the kickers up, the kickings guard, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have defeated the ball of our Ravens and the Steelers are headed her playoff. This is saverin on Steelers. Hello and welcome to all in Steeler Nations. Welcome to the Savereign on Steelers podcast. I am Stan Savern of ESPN Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Steelers Radio Network. Getting ready for another exciting regular season and reminder that you can join me and Charlie Batts on the postgame show all about fifteen minutes after each game concludes and we'll be on with you talking about what just transpired in the Steeler game. Thanks to get your comments and thoughts as Charlie and I discussed the game with you. The Steeler fans in Steeler Nation, we know a great deal about the Pittsburgh football team. It's the team that we follow. The fans are listening, that's the team you root for, and we constantly go over all the elements, the waiver transactions, the practice squad, all those things about the Steelers. But as much do we know about the Steelers, we may not have full information about the teams in their division. A f C North figures to be highly competitive this year, as it is almost every year. Bengals, of course, are defending champions. The Steelers finish second, grabbed a wild card, and Cleveland and Baltimore tied for third or last, if you prefer to refer to it as that way. With the records of eight and nine, both figured they'll be rebound. A lot of people think the Steelers maybe better than last year's nine, seven and one, and the Cleveland Browns were considered the team to beat in the division. But then the entire situation with Deshaun Watson erupted. He'll miss the first eleven games. Who knows what it does to them? And maybe I process of elimination, the Baltimore Ravens end up being the favorite. Many many question marks involving the Baltimore Ravens. We look at the Steelers, for example, and we wonder just based on their roster, contruction, construction, the new people have been brought in, new coaches, new ideas, new schemes, that how the Steelers will do naturally, that's our primary area of focus. That's the team we know the best. It's the team that we focus on. But you can take your team, whoever it may be, and hold them up against what you think will be the best team in the conference or the entire NFL. But it all starts on a smaller scale. Everything that you've done in the off season, everything you hope to do in the regular season, everything you hope you would accomplished in the preseason is relative to what you do in the division. That's where you start. I think you've talked to any pro coach, maybe even the players. Yes, of course, the long range goal is to win the super Bowl. That's a given that is understood, but there's always the possibility that you could be a wild card and get there. It has been done, the Steelers did it in two thousand five. But when you think about accomplishments, when you think about setting your goals, you look at the division. That's where it begins. You win your division, you know that you're gonna have a home game, even with the expanded playoffs, and on it goes. So I thought today, rather than examine exactly what the Steelers have in terms of personnel, playing time, all the roster moves that have taken place, it might be a good eye did to look at the division, because, after all, more than a third of your regular season games are played against these three teams, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Baltimore. That's the biggest chunk of your schedule. Six of the seventeen are played against teams in your division, which of course is true for every team in the NFL. Cincinnati is the defending champion, and you have to take your cap off or give him a helmet tap for what the accomplishments accomplished last year. They were terrific in the playoffs. Most people thought they'd lose their very first game. They beat Kansas City to advance and played a very competitive game against the Rams. As you know, they were right there and in position to win that Super Bowl game. And some would think, well, there's an automatic project projection, there's a trajectory. Well, they won the division for the first time in a long time, they won the a f C Championship for the first time since nine and in their first Super Bowl since then. But I don't know that it always goes that way. In looking at the Bengals, they have made significant changes to an offensive line. Their biggest concern entering last season was their offensive line, and indeed, Joe Burrow was hit way too often. Despite that fact, they got to within a quarter of winning the Super Bowl. But that doesn't mean that lack of protection in the past offense is sustainable. We already know that Burrows suffered an a c L late in his rookie year. That he did what he did coming off that surgery is rather amazing in and of itself. And the Bengals purported reportedly have improved their offensive line Lyle Collins from Dallas very good offensive tackle. So you give them that better offensive line, better protection, and a better running game for Joe Mixon. But there are a couple of factors about the Bengals I think a lot to be mentioned when we consider their prospects in the a f C North. In First of all, I don't want to take anything away from the bengals accomplishment. They deserve all the credit in the world. They were a worst to first care scenario. They finished last in the a f C North in and win it in one. By the way, that's not all that uncommon in the NFL. Interesting stat amazing really when to stop and think about it. Seventeen times in the last nineteen seasons, a team has gone from worst to first in their division. The Bengals being the latest makes you wonder who might that be. It might even be in the a f C North. So good for them. But a couple of things. Number one, being a last place team in the Bengals played a last place schedule in presumably the way the structure is intended. That means it's easier for the weaker teams well by finishing first. This coming season, the Bengals will play a first place schedule. It makes a difference. Last year the Steelers had to play a first place schedule. It makes it more difficult. Number two. For years, the Bengal have always been the Bungles, not only among Steeler fans throughout Stealer Nation, but really their franchise was looked as a haphazard, not very well run, cheaply done, and so I guarantee you teams overlook Cincinnati. It's only the Bengals bad team, been a bad team for years. It's a natural letdown emotionally for opponents. Now having been in the Super Bowl, no team is going to fall asleep on playing the Bengals as a defending conference champion. They're gonna get everybody's best. That wasn't necessarily the case. And again it's not designed to take away anything from Cincinnati, but that's just a reality. No longer going to say, oh good, this is almost as good as getting the by We're playing the Bengals this week. Well, now not so much. I still think they'll be good, but I'm not so sure that the slam dunk repeat super Bowl team, ANFC Conference championship team, or even a division winning team. We moved north about four and a half hours to Cleveland. The brown season has been totally disrupted, Bob. That is shahn Watson affair. How much will they struggle without him? With Jacobe Brossett at quarterback? Maybe with our old friend Josh Dobbs at quarterback. He's won the backup job there at least until Deshaun Watson comes back in will Week twelve twelve game ironically against the Houston Texans. In some ways not going to suggest that the Jacoby Brossett is anywhere near Deshaun Watson, but in some areas it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. For this reason, the Browns possess who I think is the best running back in the NFL, and that's Nick Chubb. I don't think he gets the proper attention he deserves, mainly because he plays in Cleveland. And the Browns have been up and down, and unfortunately for them, they're known for other things other than winning football. They're known for the Watson fiasco in some ways, the Baker Mayfield fiasco, and they're known more for failures than they are for accomplishments. But they have a very good offensive line. They've got a great one to punch with Chubb and different back but every bit as damaging. They've got the Ernest Johnson, the pretty good third back to have. He'd be perhaps a starter on a lot of different teams. And they run the ball well. The only drop back with that is that their head coach, Kevin Stefanski, sometimes has a tendency to abandon the run because he's got this new fangled offense and wants to show it off. The problem with that was last year he too often put the ball in the hands of a average quarterback. Maybe you consider Baking Acre Mayfield below average. Now, if you've got an Aaron Rodgers, if you've got Patrick Mahomes at your quarterback, by all means give him the ball, let him go to work. But if you're quarterback, happens to be Baker Mayfield then or Jacobe were set now, maybe I'm minimizing the necessity to go to him when I can move the ball up and down the field on the ground. There were a number of games last year were they to be moving the ball and all of a sudden he'd pull off a double fleet flicker reverse somersault reverse on the three yard line and it would ruin a drive. He just strikes me as kind of a guy, and I think he's a good coach, but you can't take this away. He just seems like a guy who wants to prove how smart he is. But you've got Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, de Ernest Johnson, run the ball if you're having success doing it, and they've got a very good offensive line. Defensively, they've made some really good draft picks, but I also think that they have issues at linebacker. They've bolstered their secondary with a good draft class, but I still think that they're vulnerable at linebacker, and both their defensive ends and Myles Garrett and Jadavian Clowney are really good against the pass, but I think you can run on them. And let's not forget. While mostly attention goes to the offense, defense is a part of this equation as well. Now it won't be as big a deal once de Shaun Watson comes back. But what will the Browns record be after eleven games? At the very least, it'd better be five and six, because I think that you can like they did last year the Bengals they wanted at ten and seven. I think based on how competitive all these four teams are, I think they're gonna inflict losses on one another. Ten wins might be good enough to win the division. And what about the elephant or in this case, raven in the room injury riddle? Last year they still got holes, but all these four teams do. What about Baltimore? Frankly, they're my pick to win the division and continue with that worst to first. And rather than me give you the low down on the Ravens, we got an expert. Name is Ryan McFadden. He covers the Ravens for the Baltimore Son He joined us now on our Savereign on Steelers podcast. Ryan is, to the best of your knowledge, is head coach John Hardball. Happy with the way his preseason is gone well. First off, thanks Dan so much for having me on again. Really appreciate it, and I think you touched on it. I think you touched on it. The surprise is John mc glue. I thought he was really solid down the stretch last year. In those five starts he made. It was really good against the Ravens, the Chiefs, and the Browns late in the regular season. Uh he might have been the best lineman that the Steelers had late last year. Take that for what it's worth at that point last year. But that was that was a major surprise. I like his versatility inside. He can play you know, center, he can play guard. He got some reps at tackle. Uh here in training camp and in the preseason. That was that was the biggest surprise, especially with how the Steeler's offensive line has looked so far this summer. Do you get to sense that Kendrick Green's pedigree is the third round pick is the only reason he's still on the team. I think so. I think that the Steelers still hold out some hope with him because of how athletic he is, how strong he can be in the run game. But I do think that that third round pick that's still UM tied to him is keeping him on this roster at this point because the play certainly is not there. Do you think how does this affect the rest of the offensive line and do you think that this portends uh potentially a waiver wire claim. I know there a couple of guys on here. I want to ask you about um or a trade of some kind. I think the Steelers are going to be active in looking for an upgrade UM. You know, right now, it doesn't appear that that offensive line is set. I am a little surprised that a guy like Trent Scott is still around. I know that obviously he has experience in the Pat Meyer system. He's been everywhere Pat Meyer has been in the NFL. But it's just it's not a settling feeling right now looking at that that chart along the offensive line, knowing how some of these guys played. But as you mentioned, there are some names out there that are that are certainly intriguing that I'm sure we're gonna get into all right. By the way, this Malika uh read deal that they made, some details are coming out. A late round picked to Denver, but the Steelers get a seventh um back for a six. According to Um, the particulars of this draft, you shouldn't discount seventh round picking ever. Know, since we're on the offensive line, Josh, a couple of guys that you have just I want to, you know, convent you that I I'm following. I'm paying attention. Um. Yeah, you isolated a guy named brock Hoffman who was the relief today. Yeah. Brock Hoffman. I saw him at the Shrine Bull in Las Vegas back in February. He's a guy that that transferred from Coastal Carolina where he was a guard, to Virginia Tech and he played center a Virginia Tech. He's just an old school, physical and nasty guy in the trenches. He had a great preseason with the Browns, played center and guard with Cleveland. It was very surprising to see Cleveland cut him loose, considering the injuries that they've had to deal with at center here in this offseason. But that's a guy I know that the Steelers were paying attention to uh in Las Vegas. I know that Mark Bruner and T d i Woma over there from the scouting staff, so they got an up close and personal look at him. He's a guy I think could step in, and I think he's an upgrade over a guy like say j C. Hassenauer. No disrespect to j C. But I think brock Hoffman has legitimate starter upside in the NFL. He's an exceptional run blocker. I think he's everything that the Steeler for hoping Kendrick Green would be that that brawler inside who brings that nasty physical presence in the run game and sets the tone. Um interesting, um, you know who knows well. We won't speculate, um, but Mason Cole has played some guard so if they were to look at a guy like that, another guy that you lot lined Blake Hants, another offensive lineman. Yeah, Blake Hants was the guy who he had. He was forced into the starting lineup for that playoff game with the Browns against the Steelers at Hinesfield. Back in many thought that that Cam Hayward was gonna, um, you know, take his lunch money throughout that game. But Hants held his un looked really good in past protection in that game, showed off some athleticism inside. I think he started a handful of games for the Browns since then. Just a guy you know, the Steelers need to bring in some fresh faces as depth. At this point, you have to throw things at the wall and hopes that it sticks. Uh. And that's a name that when I saw him hit the waiver wire this morning, was like, hey, the Steelers should be familiar with him, especially considering what he did to their star defensive tackle. That's a name that that's certainly worth bringing in. He can play guard, he can play tackle. Uh. And like I said, he was a valuable swing tackle for a very good Browns offensive line in the last two years. Now they could use a starting tackle potentially if he's got that upside. Another couple names you mentioned, um Alec Lindstrom. Yes, so obviously the NFL bloodlines are there. His brother Chris Lindstrom is the starting guard in Atlanta. Alec was a guy again and just like brock Hoffman, I saw him in Las Vegas at the Shrine Bull this this past year. Um just a very smart player. Not as athletic as you'd like to see from a center at this point, but he's just he's so smart between the years, knows what's happening. He snap puts himself in really good positions. He started over fifty games at Boston College. A little undersized, but you have to like the NFL bloodlines there, and he can play some guard too. So I think when you're when you're looking at some of these guys that are cut across the league, you're looking for that position versatility, uh, and that's what the Steelers need at this point, behind a guy like a Mason Cole or James Daniels. Moving forward, Josh Carney of Steelers deepos our guests and delighted to have him, especially on this day. There's method to my madness. That's why we wanted to have Josh Hunt today because of the impending cuts. UM. You had a couple of guys listed as linebacker Quincy Rochet, former Steeler draft pick, and Chazz Surratt, but that seems to uh, the need for that UM has been a tamped down, if not eliminated. Tell me your thoughts on Malik Read, Yeah, Malik Read. The guy he came out of Nevada was kind of an underrated pass rusher, and that's when nineteen draft has all the the physical tools six two to forty. Um has a really good task for rush repertoire. He likes to hit the ghost rush a lot um to get under those those bigger tackles. He had thirteen sacks the last two years for the Broncos, stepped up admirably in place of Bradley Chubb. In to get him for I think you said the updated terms for a sixth round pick. I mean for a guy that's played almost two thousand snaps defensively and has you know, fifteen sacks and in three years in the NFL, it's a great get for the Steelers. Uh. The only issue is he he doesn't bring much special teams abilities at this point. But if he's gonna slot in is the number three outside linebacker in Pittsburgh. I think they can live with with him not playing special teams and maybe relying on a guy like Derek Tusca to be that that fourth outside linebacker and hold down the special teams role. But Reid has had a lot of success in the NFL. I think people um might forget. But at at Pittsburgh he had a strip sack on Ben Roethlisberger, So uh, it's it's all there for him. He's going to be a very valuable rotational piece to give guys like t J. Watt and Alex Highsmith a blow in games. It's just what they're looking for and they seem to have gotten them without really giving up a great deal. One name to cut my eye. Um, you know, given the Steelers circumstance, Um, it's it's obvious, uh that Um, they're gonna take some of the players that they um are on the fifty three and put them on I R. The unfortunate injury Demante k z Um. Sources indicate he's made the team, but he will not be able to play if he goes on i R. The Eagles released their starting safety from last year, Anthony Harris. Is he Is he worth a look? He's the guy that definitely caught my attention as well. Uh. The only thing that kind of goes against him is the age factor and the lack of special team's abilities. But for a guy that you want to bring in to kind of feel Casey's role in defense, that can play that slot corner, can play that free safety though, while Ninka Fitzpatrick to move around j Anthony Harris would make a ton of sense. He was an All Pro a few years ago, a Pro Bowl or in Minnesota. Had some ups and downs last year in Philadelphia. But the ball skills are there. He's a very good tackler. Uh you know, he would be that chess piece to kind of step in for the Monte CAZy and allow the Steelers to continue to roll out that dime package that they were hoping for. Um. But I just don't know what the Stealers are gonna do with safety at this point. It feels like CAZy is gonna land on the ir and be designated to return. Um. The the cut of Elijah Riley was a little bit surprising. Yeah him, Yeah, me too. He made a couple of plays. I know it's more to it than that. I'm a little surprised there. Yeah, I you know, he made some plays on Sunday against the Lions. He was very intriguing. Obviously, he has some NFL experience, so I wasn't a bit surprised to see him as part of the cuts here. But the Steelers definitely have to do something at safety. Anthony Harris is the guy that caught my attention. Um. You know, yesterday a veteran Adrian Colbert who was cut. No relation to Kevin, but I had some Steelers fans talking about that. But is he is he any relation to Stephan Colbert. That's what we need to know that I don't know. But yeah, Adrian Colbert, uh Colber, excuse me, you got me? You got me a little twisted here. But Adrian Colbert, just a veteran safety twenty eight years old, would bring that physicality that that CAZy kind of had, and and and Colbert played a ton of special teams throughout his career. So there's some names out there for omar Con and Mike Common to look at it safety, But losing CAZy at this point in the season is a big blow considering what they were planning on using him for. Couldn't they ring more? Absolutely? Um, remember that guy Brent Alexander they brought in was a safety, veteran guy, kind of a little you know, you didn't play a whole lot. But maybe Colbert is that type of guy. I've only mentioned the guys that caught my attention, and and and and what you had already put up on Twitter. Are there any other names that have have been released that might be a target for the Steelers? You know, I keep coming back to a guy like Solomon Kinley. Um, he was a guard out of Georgia. A few years ago in the draft that they showed interest in. He was released by the Dolphins. Uh. Justin Schaefer another guard out of Georgia this past year. Obviously, the Steelers had a huge presence at George's pro day taking a look at George Pickens, but they had a chance to see him up close and personal as well. So there's some two There's two guards there that are big bodies that can move people. Uh. Solomon Kinley I believe started uh fifteen games with the Dolphins as a rookie. So there's a guy with experience. Uh. The one name though that I kind of continue to circle and I'm very curious about, is Kellen Mond, the quarterback that was cut by the Vikings. Steelers still have three quarterbacks on the roster at this point. You know that the Mason Rudolph trade buzz is still swirling, though it sounds like they're going to hold onto him. But the Steelers have heavily scouted Texas A and M the last few years. Mind was there. They had a heavy presence at his pro day. I believe they talked to him at the combine as well. So there's a guy he's he's certainly a project um without a doubt. But he has the traits and you know, the tools that the Steelers have kind of been looking for, uh in their their new age quarterbacks. So that could be a guy to you know, kind of take a a chance on as a practice squad developmental piece. Well, so people need to keep this in mind, Um that even if Mason Rudolph is on the fifty three man roster um the NFL trading deadline goes to near the end of October, that does not preclude the possibility that you know, somebody goes down uh poor performance. This that the other um that they you know, may be more desperate to make a trade than than they are in August. Uh springs up an interesting dilemma. It's a dilemma for them, it's not for us. Um. The initial reports are they're gonna keep Derek Watt the initial and I'm reading between the lines here it looks like they're gonna keep Anthony McFarland. Does that mean Benny Snell is gone in your view, Josh, when you stop and consider that Jalen Warren is a lot like Benny Snell. Yeah, you know, we just heard uh, Matt Cannada speak and he was talking like Anthony McFarland made the fifty three, which is a bit of a surprise. I do wonder if Derek Watt is a guy that kind of goes on high are early in the year. He didn't play at all in the preseason. I know he was dealing with a shoulder injury. I'm wondering if that might be a move to just give him more time, um keep Benny Snell around to kind of fill those that that those special teams reps uh and allow Connor Heyward to fully settle in. But I I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around the Steelers potentially moving on for Snow, knowing how Mike Tomlin feels about him, knowing the experience that he has, knowing the value he brings on special teams. I think certainly Jalen Warren has passed him on the depth chart as the number two at this point. But there's just there's a ton of value there with Snell from a special team standpoint that I have a really hard time thinking he's the one that goes. And it's gonna be really interesting to see how these last three or four roster moves go from Marekan and the Steelers because there are certainly some some talented players that they might have to part with. Yeah, and doubtedly we should also mention they're sitting now at fifty six. But also by the same token, they really have to make four moves because they've now got to make room for Malik read uh. So there's more to come. Um and it's it seems and nothing's for certain, but Casey definitely we'll go on I r Calvin Austin likely to go on I R UM. Do they like montre obvious Adams enough to apparently there they haven't cut him yet, still three or four cutters go. Do they like it? Is he worth keeping around? He showed some flashes last year, he did. I thought he was really good down the stretch once he settled in and kind of understood the playbook and got more familiar with the you know, the scheme and the terminology. I do wonder if he's a he's an our Canada as well. I think it would be really easy to say, hey, those three you're gonna be designated to return, You're gonna make the initial fifty three and then we'll, you know, we'll make moves to bring guys back, But yeah, I can't see them carrying seven defensive tackles and and allowing Adams to not practice, not get a helmet, you know, and and take the position away from from an other player. At this point, I think the easy decision is to put those three on islander. I know that Calvin Austin talked last week leading up to the final preseason game that he was excited to be back, but he hasn't practiced yet, so I think him and Casey are the two easy ones. Adams. It's kind of up in the air at this point, but I have heard that they are leaning towards an I R spot with him because they do really like him. I think they showed that with a two year deal they gave him in the off season. But if there's just a lot of guys on the bubble right now, it's gonna be fully interesting to see what they do. You know. Do they keep a guy like a Marcus Allen special teams ace for them but has not done anything in training camp or the preseason due to a hamstring injury. You know, Jumpton Lane. They spent a third round pick on him. Is it is it time to move on? For him at this point. Um, you've obviously got Myles Blinken and and Steven Simms a receiver. I mean, both of them deserve a spot. So what happens there. Uh, It's a good problem to have though for the Steelers, because there are guys that didn't win jobs. By default. Everyone played relatively well and and it's making it hard for the decision makers. Last thing, you know, we mentioned Buddy Johnson. I don't know if you share my opinion on him. He's just he's just a half step slow. Um. He just you know, he's not I mean, may fit in somewhere else. Um, but I'm wondering, Uh, was it his deficiency or the bright light that was Mark Robinson? Who's got I mean, he would have been an ideal practice squad guy. I don't know if they have clear waivers or not, but I mean, if they, if they waive Buddy Johnson, Um, what are your thoughts on Mark Robinson? They you know, get a seventh rond finding him. I think he was absolutely a find. Once they made that selection. I kind of dev into his tape and he's like, yeah, this this guy can play. He's gonna need some work, but he can play. I think he already has a high level I from the position. He processes extremely quickly. Everyone knows he's a hard hitter, he's a very good tackler. I think he's missed one tackle the entire preseason. H that it's just quite a fine there. And they took a chance on a guy who played one year linebacker in college and he where he looks like he's gonna be a legitimate player for them. But I do share the same thoughts with you regarding Buddy Johnson. He's just a tick too slow. He's not good in coverage, um, which is strange because he was pretty solid in coverage in college in the SEC at Texas A and M. I don't know if it was the added weight to to kind of hold down that that buck linebacker position, that that's slowed him down or what, but yeah, he just he was a tick late to everything. I think playing right next to Mark Robinson, you could see on tape that that Robinson was just faster process better, was able to slip blocks easier and make plays. And I think it came down to just it was an easy decision for the stealings. Hey, we're gonna roll with Mark Robinson will try and get Buddy Johnson back on the practice squad. I think Buddy's good on special teams, but if you're putting him out there in the base defense at this point, you you're asking for trouble. But with Robinson, I don't think that's the case. I think that's a guy that's gonna be starting in a year or two and it's going to be the new Age. Vince Williams. Yeah, he reminds me a lot of Vince Williams, although I think he's a touch faster than Vince Williams. By the way, one more question about that. The Browns have cut Josh Rosen and I only mentioned that because that means Josh Stops has locked up. Good for him. He's a great guy, um, and he's the second quarterback, and then he'll be the third quarterback when Deshaun Watson gets back. Since we talked on the inside linebacker's last name for you, Josh, have you noticed in your diagnosis of tape um any improvement on Devin bush Um. He got beat by Hockinson on the first pass of the game. Um, he was a guilty party in that draw. On third and seventeen he did make the stop on fourth and one, but it was really Miles jack who who jacked that thing up. So have you seen any improvement in his play whatsoever? I saw a lot of them pro against Jacksonville last week, as far as Sunday against the Lions. Obviously he had the tackle for loss. I liked him as a blitzer. He seemed much more aggressive coming down hill, but it just it left a lot to be desired. And and you know, that's just Devin Bush at this point. Um, He's gonna always struggle to get off of blocks. That was never his strung suits coming out of Michigan. It was always kind of being that guy that splits around blocks, uses his athleticism and his speed to make plays. And I think you're starting to see things process quickly again for him, and he's starting the show some flashes of that that that speed and athleticism, but it's just not good enough at this point. I know that, Um, you know, the choice route from Hawkinson there on the first play of the game went for I think fourteen yards. That's a tough play for any linebacker to make. But again it just looked like Devon was guessing. Then the draw play. I just I don't know what it's going to take from him. I think after that play he was pulled out of the game. I did see Brian Flores talking to him once he went back in. It felt like Bush was much more aggressive and coming downhill. But you'd like to see some of those issues cleaned up. But I just I think he's gonna be sharing time with Spillane throughout the year, and I it would not shock me if Mark Robinson starts to see snaps at that position next to Miles Jack Layton year. But it's it's still a process with Bush. Um. There's some plays on tape or you're like, Okay, that's the rookie year Bush I've seen, and then there are others where it's just like, what what is going on there with with you? Um That it's it's just certainly concerning because definitely up and down on Sunday, But I did see improvements the week before, so we'll see. He's got two weeks now to to kind of figure it out and get ready for Cincinnati and hopefully hits the ground runner in the regular season. No team in the a f C North is going to be considered an odds on favorite. The Bengals are right now because they're the defending champs, and I already gave you my reasons why it may not be as easy as wraps they think. I do believe it's gonna be a very competitive division. I don't know that any one of these teams is super Bowl worthy. I don't think so, even though the Bengals war a year ago. I just don't see it. But I do see a very highly contested and very very competitive division. Reminder that our Sabeigant on Steelers podcast we have two per week, generally Tuesdays and Thursdays. That may change once we get into the regular season because we want to make the content as relevant as we can and as close to game days, both day after games and days before games as we can. But if you enjoy the podcast, please let us know. You can contact me um stand Sabeath at iHeart media dot com or you can respond on Twitter at stand love the show, Thanks for being here today, Thanks to Ryan McFadden for giving us that scouting report on the Baltimore Ravens. Been my pleasure to be with you. I'm stand Savereigant. Reminder you can listen to me daily on ESPN Pittsburgh am or on the iHeart media app. Until we meet again. Thanks everyone, Stealing Nation. This is Stan Savrgan for Savan and Stealing Podcast.