At least.
He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.
And we are back. I am Dale LOLLI he is the Matt Williamson and it is time for the Fantasy Football Focus Here Matt, and as we do on Wednesdays, we'll go through the injury reports and see who is in and who is out this week. Desmond Ritter, with a hip, was a full participant on Wednesday for the Raiders, but Aiden O'Connell with that knee, was also a full participant.
It looks like O'Connell will be back in there, Okay, I mean we mentioned it earlier. I mean, if you Brock Bowers.
I mean that's good now. Yeah, Jacobe Myers, but Myers was limited today with an ankle injury. But they're playing Jacksonville.
Yeah, I mean there's a chance they win that game. And that's a really bad pass defense.
Somebody's got to win it.
Win it.
Let's they tie.
I don't think they want to win it.
I don't think either one wants to play it. Right, they'll play it. That's a miserable game. Somebody has to win. Alexander Madison with a neck fully participated on Wednesday, and that one's significant because I don't know if.
He'll be the guy or if he's gonna be half the guy.
I think he'll be the guy because since her McCormick is out, Yeah, he's done. He was placed on IR. So I think it's an Alexander Madison time again.
And do we think that Probably it's a messy backfield and it's not ideal. Hopefully that's not who you're counting on to win your fantasy.
Not but if he got cut and you need somebody, I mean, Jacksonville's defense isn't exactly.
No, it's not great stout right right.
So yeah, Clyde Edwards Hilaire signed with the Saints today. You got released earlier this week by the Chiefs.
Oh you guy goes home?
You know, tells me that they're a little maybe, I don't know, maybe al Kamara this week.
I wouldn't if I were them. I mean, if I were him, I wouldn't be psyched about playing considering where they're at. I think it's a good opportunity for Kendre Miller, you know, I mean that implies.
To me the Packers game on Monday night, is it? Yeah?
Okay, I picked up.
The Packers this week. I'm gonna sit the Vikings to start the Packers.
I don't dislike it though, I mean, just anyone against that Saints or Giants offense. There's some offenses.
I just don't know how the Saints are gonna I mean Jake Hanner again, yeah, bad unless they go to Spencer Rattler.
Close to being good enough.
I mean that's gonna be ugly. Amon Ross Saint Brown rested today, so he was a non participant. I'm not worried about that one, but he's Their defense is bad right now. Lions Yeah yeah, so yeah, start the Lions, and.
I guess you that Montgomery I think're gonna throw a lot.
I picked up again. I have Jordan Love in our league and we're in the semi finals. And I picked up Caleb Williams. I'm gonna start him this week. I get it at home against you look back at what he did against Detroit on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit. I think he had like thirty points in that game.
He's been a roller coaster, but the good the peaks are great.
Yeah, I mean he runs a little bit, And I just think the Packers are gonna blow the Saints doors off. I don't know how much they throw the ball in that.
I think that in Love's been inconsistent for fantasy too. I think that's a big Jacob slash running game. Yeah.
I hope not too much Jacobs because I'm playing against it. But yeah, I think they just blow the doors off the side.
Imagine.
Roley Moss was a limited participant in practice to close out last week for Denver. He's not back this week and Certain's injured.
I just saw like two seconds ago. Certain is playing. Jalil McLaughlin is out. Okay, the two things have popped up just now for But.
As we saw when when Denver played the.
Browns, right, I mean, there's only one good corner, you.
Just go the other way. Yeah, it's Moss is their other good corner. He's a good young cornerback. Do you think Sirtain follows mconkie No, because he plays in the slaughter.
Yeah. I don't know how much they do that. They probably just left righted and ignore him. Mc conkey is a decent start umber fighting a ton injuries too, though he's not played well last now he's got I listened to it on the way here. I didn't realize it's playing a fast guy. He is still an issue. He's got an ankle, he's got a knee, any of something else. Like it seems like every year.
Borough love to see them in the playoffs because I think they're.
Oh, I think they're night and I think they win this game, though tomorrow night they're favored by three. I was shocked. I mean, I'm taking Denver. I don't know, but I think Denver's d is enough to win that.
I think he can go after Riley Moss and just.
That's an obvious problem his replace non Riley Moss guys.
And yeah, Brenton Strange officially limited on Wednesday with a shoulder issue. He was peppered with targets.
Last Yeah, I guess I'm chasing that. I fear tight and needy.
It's not not so bad. And you like just the fact that Ad O'Connell is back for that game. The Raiders will have some kind of offense to keep the Jaguars also scoring.
Yeah, I mean it's an ugly game, but that's maybe right for the picking.
Yeah, we choked, We joked about that being a low scoring game yesterday. I don't know if it is.
I don't know. I mean I'm excited to start Thomas and I would consider strange. Yeah, I mean he's a talented player. Again.
I picked him up this week, Yeah, to start instead of Tucker Craft. Like, I'm just avoiding that. I'm completely fading the past I got. I picked up the Packers defense to start down. But I'm completely fading Green Bay's passion game. It's greatly influencing your life at the moment. It really is. Yeah, as you mentioned, Juliam McLaughlin rolled out, so it's Audrey estimate and Javonte Williams in this that kind of narrowly.
Yeah, it's definitely good for Williams. Estimated like one good game, I know.
But he's gonna get opportunities here because they were kind of riding the hot hand. Yeah, they do.
And I don't think either team is gonna run away with it, you know, and like eliminate the run game.
Are we going to do a single game standalone with this one?
That's fine, that's fine.
We could so Estimate would be a guy that you.
Pick from, but let's let's think on that.
Estimate will be relatively cheap.
I would think.
I would think he probably gets five to ten opportunities to show he can do it. And if he's the hotter hand, they may, right, they may go with him.
Those charge of receivers too, are kind of interesting. Johnston and those guys Palmer and yeah yeah yeah, uh zach Ertz concussion and rest. Did not practice today. Oh that's a bad sign.
That's a bad sign, like usually he rests, but it's a concussion and rest.
If he's he's in protocol, you get it.
To get through protocol, you have to have a day of activity.
Like I'm probably starting strange over him. Yeah yeah, I mean if he's not that fancy relevant anyway, but yeah, yeah, they could be it for a long day too, Yeah they could.
Joe Mixon with an ankle injury limited on Wednesday for Houston.
Short week that's Saturday, and then quick flip again to all these injury stuff for these fourteen Yeah, uh Luke Muscham home of course.
Yeah, Luke McCaffrey officially limited on Wednesday.
Okay, so the Nommie Brown got like every snap with Noah Brown out, So I'm not saying run and picked the Nomie Brown.
But not against the Eagle deep now.
But just be aware that he's the two now, you.
Know, I can't believe that one. I think the Eagles are Favoraby like three and a half.
I think they beat him.
That might be my pick of the week, Like.
Yeah, yeah, I have Daniels in that league and I'm gonna start them. But Golf's on the bench, and I'm like, maybe.
Will Disley ruled out for Week sixteen for the Chargers go back to going back to Stone Smart. Yeah, well there's a question. We can strange and smarter and smart there are two guys that probably aren't a lot of rosters right now.
I prefer strange, but I think both are We're talking about parting those guys over in ERTs or you know, like the joke.
Yeah, I mean they were only about this season. They're really only about five tight ends as you can really count on every week.
Yeah, the joke, who is one of them? And Can's going to be right?
And you wouldn't play any.
See, all the Browns receivers are out the door for me.
Now, imagine it like you get to your your semi finals with Judy and these teams are making these quarterback changes, like, oh, I know, all of a sudden, now Atlanta is going finally making the change the Panix and you're like, I get Drake, London, what are we doing here?
There are three of them this week, Browns, Titans, and Falcons are all making a change.
At least with the Titans. You've seen it, you've seen it, yeah, and you know yeah it probably yeah, yeah right, but the other two are like you, yeah, and I don't know what.
To expect Atlanta.
I mean, they should win that game, but they might just be twenty five car or thirty five carries a Bijean and Algier.
Beijeon's been carrying them. Yeah, and so I don't think that hurts him at all. No, But I mean, if you're London or Pitts owner, I guess you're happy with the change. But are you who knows?
You know, I mean Cousins. Even with Cousins being terrible though London had still been Fantasy relevant.
Yeah. I mean the biggest problem, which hadn't been all three of those guys, Winston Levis Cousins, is a turnover. Yeah.
You know.
It's not that they can't put up yardage, yeah, the turnovers.
Yeah, So I mean, London have been fine. You know, Pitts was a guy who.
Just couldn't start valuable pitches anyway, no matter whose quarterback is he, this might be a fantasy boss.
Commander's place kicker Zane Gonzalez dealing with a foot injury also a personal issue. He won't be uh he missed practiced today. Looks like it's gonna be Greg Joseph again for the Commanders, and I.
Think i'd stay away from that all together.
It's fantasy relevant though their kicker always has a lot, it's opportunities I will against Philly. I don't know that they will either, but man, they've gotten a lot of kicks this year, an awful lot. Terry McLaurin was rested today.
Okay, so every week started for sure.
Harrison Butker practiced in full on Wednesday. He missed his only kick on Sunday, and that kick knocked him out of first place on the all time Justin Tucker now back in.
First back first, Well, I don't think for long.
Probably not. I mean the way he's been right, he didn't have it was it's so noteworthy now when Tucker doesn't miss a kick.
Yeah, yeah, then talk about it.
I Google, Like, I was looking up some stuff and I googled Tucker and the first story on there's Tucker makes all five of his pats against Giants.
Yeah. I was doing it for the stat pack today. I mean, only one kicker with more than twenty teens has a worse percentage in him this year.
Yeah.
Yeah, I think it's a Browns dude. Yeah, yeah, yeah it is. Yeah.
Like so, I mean, you know, the Steelers, if they win the division this year, you can almost point to the kicker problems that the other teams in the division have had.
Yeah. So did you read this in the one that the NFL put out today that I think his misses have accounted for twenty two points. I think it was twenty two because the collective in the games he's missed kicks, they've collectively lost by twenty two points. I mean, like, if he.
Want to be more than he's missed seven field goals, that's.
Maybe it is more than that.
I might be twenty nine long because he's I think he's there's one extra point, he's missed two extra points.
Okay, and seven field seven field That sad adds up then, right, But there was an interesting nugget in there about like if you would have made every one of those kicks, they would have tied like all those games.
No, you don't know that well how the game?
Yeah, yeah, I mean he's been he's killing them.
But I just think, well, you know, to get onto the Steelers Ravens again. Here, does Harball trust him like he used to?
He can't.
You can't possibly, You can't possibly can't possibly. So you know, does that mean they go for it on fourth and four from their own thirty five or from the opposing thirty five.
I think you punt a little bit more. I think you go for it a little bit more, and at some point you're gonna have to trust them.
Because they have. The Ravens haven't gone for it on fourth down very much this year. No, No, I think it's only like twelve times or fourteen times like once. It's about one per game, whereas in previous years Harball was like Dan Campbell, gonna all the dice and I got the best guy here, We're just going to go for it.
I'm kind of shocked they aren't higher now, especially with the kicker problems.
Yeah, so just keep an eye on that. Kenneth Walker expected to practice.
Today's pretty big. Yeah, he's really good player. I'd to take him right back to story line.
I just wonder how much now that Sharbonne has played well, did they kind of Hey, we're going to be in the playoffs. Probably.
I don't know the Rams are in the first place.
Yeah, but they're eight and six. They got a chance to, yeah, be a wild card at the very I mean, he assume I would think it's like a two to one split. Yeah, something along those right. Patrick Mahomes practiced in full on Wednesday.
Again.
Now, based on what I saw of his video of him practicing yesterday, he was not doing anything.
Yeah, that was kind of a walk through type of deal too.
Yeah. I don't know what this practice was today for the for for Kansas City. I assume it was somewhat like the Steelers practice, which was without helmets and all that stuff.
I don't think any of those four teams are to practice hard.
I don't know what to expect with him because they have tackle problems, in.
Massive tackle problems. Yeah, I texted you this. I mean before his injury, he got hit thirty nine times, thirty nine quarterback hits over a three game stretch.
And then and that was when he could move right and now he's a statue back there. I would sit him, yeah, you know, because if you win that one, maybe you can sit him again. Who knows, But I don't think i'd play him against that pass rush against them.
I don't know.
If we see him on Christmas Day, I think it's a fifty to fifty thing.
I really do, because I don't know if he finishes that game. If he does play, Like if you don't want to see him on Christmas Day, do you want him to play that game, then probably reaguate.
I don't know, because the pro I mean on a on four days rest, yeah, like if you go out there and it's going to be sore, of course, shot or but even if you play, you play on it and then four days later you got to play again.
Like that's different than six days rest. Yeah right, no, no doubt about it, because he's going to get hit in that game a lot. Yeah, So they're favored by three or three.
And all the jump passes and stuff that he does and stuff like.
All the running and all the protecting himself from I mean he's even before his injury, like he's visually unhappy with the protection situation. Right, he should be, and he should be. He's right to be. But like Vegas has them favored by three at home, they must think he's playing because that's not a Wentz line.
No, you know, they're the kind of hedging there. Would they be favored by five or six?
If maybe?
Yeah?
Or pick them if they're if it's Wentz yeah, Oh, I mean I think I want to Houston that game. Yeah.
Andy Reid's saying talking a lot about how he is all the faith in the world, and Carson Wentz can't believe nobody else has signed this guy. They're worried about, well, are we going to lose him for next year?
Like he might look okay, I mean, I don't think anyone's gonna make him a starter.
It's not like their weapons are great.
No, No, protection's bad for him too.
Yeah. T Higgins listed as a limited participant on Wednesday with rest and a knee issue.
It doesn't sound serious enough that they can get to that point where we were talking about where he's like my Hammi's bugging me, I'm out.
But I think if they get eliminated, which could happen.
I don't know mathematically where they're at.
But there right now, right now, there are two games behind the Chargers, okay, with three to play. Now, if the Chargers are the Chargers lose tomorrow night, they're still mathematically very much so alive. If the Chargers win, they're playing better than the Chargers right now they are. But the Chargers win that game tomorrow night.
That really puts the heat on him.
Yeah.
I don't know if he plays every game this year, though he is he dressed against the Steelers.
I don't think so.
Now.
I think I think there's a lot of guys they could shut down. I mean, you're gonna start. Burrow's got a lot of stuff going on to Yeah, and you could just say, look, Joe, we don't want you to tear something that's gonna need offseason surgery here.
Right, Does he still have a broken hand to or Something's.
All kinds of issues. Yeah. Marquise Brown practiced in full on Wednesday. That's two straight sessions with that. There's a possibility he plays on Saturday, which means he would obviously they play for the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday against the Steelers.
Yeah, I don't think he's a top thirty six guy right out of the bat.
I don't think so either. If it's wins, I could see them taking a shot with him.
Oh yeah, I mean I think it hurts Worthy. Yeah, he's gotten a little bit of a bump lately. They're looking for they're they're they're searching at receiver too.
Orlando Brown Junior with a fibula non participant on Wednesday.
For the UH for the bankrute him.
Yeah, that's interesting our body.
But injuries on huge human beings.
Yeah, Burrow with wrist and knee issues Wednesday. Yeah, he's dealing with some stuff.
Is at risk all year.
Adam Thielen was rested on Wednesday. Adam Thielen is a sneaky start.
Yeah. Cocher coming back to roundly hurts him though. But I don't think the gat's gonna play this week.
I don't think he is. So Yeah, So you got those two guys, and he's kind of the whoobee.
Yes, very much so. But he's also Cocher and him or both slots ideally, and they know they're not winning the super Bowl. They want to get a look at Coker. So thelan's numbers dropped a little with that game coming coat with Coker back, But I wouldn't have to say to start him. No, I think he's a starter.
Yeah. Tony Pollard did not practice on Wednesday. He's dealing with an ankle issue.
Most people seem to think that he's not going to play. You know, Spears is intriguing.
Yeah, yeah, I think he's probably started this week. Uh mentioned Xavier Lagette. He was officially absent from practice on Wednesday with that hip injury. Chuba Hubbard was rested fair Michael Pittman back did not practice on back a year.
I wonder when you shut him down to they're not They're still in it. They're still in it, Yeah, but not for long. Not great. Matt Gay did not practice on Wednesday. He's dealing with a neck issue. They're playing the Titans this week. Should win that game, I would think and say they could lose that game.
They could.
They played with the backup center, right garden, right tackle last yeh last week. Gino Smith practicing today? Really, I thought that was a real long shot. I mean, they need him bad House of Disasters line.
Yeah. Tyrone Tracy with an ankle injury limited it practice on Wednesday.
Is he startable? Of healthy at this point. The offense is so bad.
I like the player Drew Lock's going to start for them this year?
Oh is he?
Yeah, that's a little They're playing Atlanta, so it's not a it's not horrible horrible match up there. I mean, I think, say I top twenty four. I mean, they gotta really kind of see him more, like you know, he's been catching more passes of late.
Yeah.
Yeah, Singletary's still in the mix.
Yeah, but they like, I mean, Tracy's the one. Yeah, so that's a Pepper Neighbors the target.
Yeah, definitely probably worth playing one. Del Robinson went, however, limited on Wednesday, and Malik Neighbors did not or he was limited it as well. Okay, m yeah, I'm not Sartin Robinson. No, No, that's kind of it.
Oh.
Trent Williams still out.
That's another one that you can see getting shut down pretty quick too.
And if he's shut down now, is like he's is he played his last football game maybe?
I mean was his tragedy in his family, right? I mean he held out to start the season and stuff too, and still was good, but he wasn't the best left tackle on the planet this year. You know, yeah, maybe he's done. I think like Zach Martin's gonna hang it up probably. I mean a couple of those type of guys turn the page.
Isaac Grendo with the hamstring did not practice Wednesday. Mmm, so keep an eye on that way. Josh Allen dealing with a shoulder injury but carries no injury designation.
You're talking about.
He get X rays on his shoulder following the game. So I wonder if he runs a little bit less this week. I could see that because I mean they're playing they're playing the Patriots.
You've got them a little more.
You got a couple of running backs that yeah, sure, the yeah, hey Josh, he's out a little bit, right, or just don't call design runs for him at least, Yeah, things of that nature. But I could see that.
Yeah. I don't expect hear him up, but I don't.
Expect him to have a monster game this weekend like he has been those other ones. They're not gonna, I mean they're either they don't have to. They're not going to get into a shootout with the Patriots.
You don't have to get the fifty.
Yeah, So it might be like you know, two twenty five to two fifty and two touchdowns and maybe runs for another twenty five yards. Like I don't. I don't think it's going to be one of these. Wow, Josh, he's clearly the MVP.
Mm hmm. Look I'm not paying up for him for DFL type of thing.
No same thing with Lamar. They're not paying up for either one of them. This week with the matchups.
They're probably the top two and would not do it go down that road.
No, absolutely not. But let's get to a break. He is the Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lolly. This is the drive on the Steelers Audio Network. We'll be back with more right after this.
At least he's the drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on your twenty four cent been Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation.
Radio, and we are back. I'm Dale Lolly. He is the Matt Williamson and Matt just looking at at this game against the the Baltimore Ravens and I've been trying to search for reasons why the Steelers have had so much success against Lamar.
Yeah, it's not easy.
They've never faced him twice in the same season. OK, so that might be part of it. You only get him one time.
Yeah, yeah, you can mix things up a little bit more.
But the other thing, you know, I think their four man rush has a big part of it. TJ. Watt has sacked him eight and a half times in five games. That's the most he's been sacked by any player. Miles Garrett second with five and a half, but it's taken him eleven games to get there.
Wow.
You know, so he just get he gets consistently consistent pressure on on Jackson, and so I think that gets into your head a little bit when that's like when we talk about a guy like t J. Water, a guy like Max Crosby just being on the field. Massive, right, you're pressuring the quarterback. Yeah yeah, yeah, like because they come up to the lines. It's like it's like playing when you played against Troy Paula Malin. You hear you hear guys talk about all the time. Okay, as soon as I get up to the line of scrimmage, I look and see where's forty three?
Yeah?
Where's he lined at? Okay? Okay, now I gotta figure out. Okay, now you gotta be there when I When I yah, I take my eyes off and all of a sudden, he's transported himself over to there.
What's our protection scheme on what on this road?
You know?
Am I comfortable with it? Or I better get to say on my hand?
And if I if you think back to the game against it was the Giants, Yeah, it was against against the Giants. When they motioned what had been flip flopping sides in that game, and they had they had the tight end on the left side or he started on the right side and for some reason they put him in motion to the left side and what was and they left aluminum right right and and they admitted that, no, we screwed that late in the game.
Yeah, right, that was not how you want to handle that. No, but you gotta be on top part of it and moving guys around.
You got to know where that guy's at and what your protection scheme is going to be. Who's to make it pay for it? He's going to make it pay. So I think that's part of it. I do, And I just don't know in terms of like they you know, they play with a fullback, not as much as they used to, but when he's on the field, they typically run the football right.
I mean, he's more of a he's not much of a pass blocker.
No, and he's not a left tackle, but they could use him the chip.
Yeah, I don't think they want likely and Andrews doing that a whole lot. No, And that's that's why he's playing less. It's likely he's emerging. Yeah, they're still really low and eleven person.
Yeah, you know, and and do you know they're they going to use Cohler to chip a little bit? I would think in some degree.
I don't. He played a fair amount from what I remember in the first meeting. I mean, he's the better blocker.
I don't think they want either one of their running backs necessarily chipping what.
No, it's not really Henry's that's what Henry does.
He's not a pass catcher anyways, He's never on the field and when they're pa would.
Run over hill. Yeah. I mean that's not much resistance.
But what they didn't have to deal with in the first meeting was having high Smith in there as well.
Now I think they trust Stanley more than they have in recent years. I mean, the ankle's finally back and he's back to being a high end player. But I think another thing, and we've talked about it off the air, and I think we mentioned it yesterday too, and I know you have some numbers on it is they've been hard on Andrews, you know, like if you're I mean Andrews and him are came in the league together. Basically they've grown up together. He used to be critical of Lamar if he only throws over the middle of the field. He's a lot better than that. Now, I mean, he's definitely the Woodie. I think that also contributes to why Lamar has not been as successful against the Steelers.
So Andrews has played ten career games against the Steelers. In the those games, he has forty four catches for four hundred and seventy eight yards and no touchdowns.
No touchdowns, and yesterday or last week, he became the Ravens all.
Time all time touchdown leader. So if you compare that to what he's done against the Bengals and Browns, now he's.
Ripped them up.
He's played both of those teams three more times. He's played the Bengals and Browns both thirteen times each ten times against the Steelers. In thirteen games against the Bengals, he has sixty two catches for seven hundred and twenty four yards and eight touchdowns.
He's a big touchdown producer.
Obviously, they're ten and three in those games. In thirteen games against the Browns, fifty five catches for seven hundred and one yards and ten touchdowns. Now they're only seven and six against the Browns. He's a red zone guy, but he's the red zone ten touchdowns in thirteen games. He has eighteen touchdowns in twenty six games against the other AFC North teams. He has none in ten games against the Steelers. Yea. The only other team that has done that to him to that degree is Kansas City.
Yeah.
In five games against Kansas City in which they're one and four, Andrews has thirteen catches for one hundred and eight yards and no touchdowns. If you take Andrews away from them, yeah, I think it goes a long way with Lamar. I mean, those other guys are great. I mean, say Flowers and Bateman and likely they're fine. You know, they're a good group of pass catchers, but it's still not your security blanket.
It's still not your your red zone guy, your red zone guy. I mean, I wonder how many first read plays that they have created are for Andrews, you know, like, oh, I gotta double clutch and go to red number two and Steer's pass rush is already starting to affect you. You know, do you think that's part of it?
Yeah, and the Steelers the last time out, you just make a Fitzpatrick on Andrews and.
Last week they moved like a lot.
Yeah, he was up on Andrews any waiting downs and in the red zone for sure, he was on Andrews in that game. Andrews had two catches on three targets.
I'd expect twenty two yards, especially red zone and third down. Yeah, it's probably situational. It's not gonna be every snap. And this goes back to case he can handle a deep middle.
Yeah, you know, but it goes back to what you talked about you mentioned earlier in the week, and we've mentioned it in the past, like what you don't see when you're when you're talking about a player, a guy, especially in coverage, is how many times he's doing his job correctly and the quarterback doesn't ball in that in that direction?
Right, there's never a stat for that, or I mean I was talking about from a quarterback perspective, is the offensive coordinator thinks it's going to be cover two, calls his cover two beater, it comes open, guy doesn't throw it. Like nothing makes people more insane. But then there's the flip side, like you mentioned, is how often does the ball not come out because mink is covering him or certain shutting him down or whatever, you know what I mean. And there's there's no real quantitative way to look at those.
Andrews was targeted three times in that game against the Steelers, a game in which they trailed. Henry wasn't on the field for the entire fourth quarter because they were throwing, and he got three targets.
They do a good job against them. Yeah, I would think that that's gonna be a high, high priority.
Yeah, so you know that when you you said, well, Manka is not having a very good year, everything has context, you know, and if he's if he's taking Mark Andrews out of the game, Oh.
You'll take that all day.
We'll take it all day.
A massive win on Sunday.
Yeah, and even like likely that was the game and during that game, I'm tweeting out likely had like a thirty five yard catch or something like that. They they did a little fake screen wide receiver bubble screen and snuck Likely down the sideline and he had like a thirty five yard catch. I think I think he finished with like four catches for seventy yards in that game. And immediately when I tweet out, you know something about that Steelers still can't cover the tight ends.
I'm like, Jez, because Gronkowski beat him up five years ago.
You're stopping the main tight end. Likely has not been over the second half of the season.
Andrews has really taken over.
He's been. Yeah, Andrews. He has eight touchdowns this year. He had none in the first month.
He has eight in the last nine games. Yeah. Yeah, I mean he's he's definitely their end zone target guy, the red zone target guy.
Again didn't score of Steelers. Yeah, yeah, like that's you know, Likely has thirty five catches and.
He's a nice number two. Yeah, and he's an interesting player.
But he has thirty five catches. He had nine in the first game.
In dis Yeah.
Every remembers that game against Kansas City when when Andrews wasn't it wasn't himself.
Yet, No, he was not. He had come off a car accident, so and an injury.
Yeah, So I think if you, you know, if you slow down Andrews more so than anything else in that offense other than stopping you know, Henry.
I think it's a good starting point. Yeah. I mean, if you can slow him down and make him not the primary rea or eliminate the primary read a lot, I think that goes a real long way. Yeah.
So, I mean if mega Fitzpatrick is able to do that again this week, goes a long way towards the Steelers potentially getting a win.
Now they have Andrews is a key.
They have beaten the Steelers. I think they're four and seven, what I say, No, I'm sorry, they're three and three and seven in the games in which they played against Andrews. Oh really, okay, the I should say that if the Steelers are seven and three seven three, okay, they're one in four against the Chiefs in those games. So in those games where those those fifteen games where he hasn't caught a touchdown pass not very good.
It's not very good right against against high quality teams, good teams, but they're taking away rugby. Yeah. Yeah, I think it's a good starting point in their passing game of let's make things really difficult on him. And I do think Miko will travel. And again, Casey's shown he can handle it and maybe get Elliott.
Back on sudden. You know they've sudden back there two. So yeah, you know it gives you a little more flexibility than another cover guy that you know that you can do some stuff with.
No, I would expect that that makes a lot of sense. And again, Andrews isn't gonna be your chipper. No, he's gonna be.
He's a receipt.
He's a receiver.
I watching their tape. They had him in in a running play against the Giants last week. I'm watching early in the game and he was supposed to block somebody and snapping the ball. The guy runs by him and AND's just kind of looking around, Okay, who do I block? He's not. He's not a tight end. It's just a big wide receiver.
He is.
He's reliable and you can see why Jackson likes him a lot. And he's moving up all these Ravens lists like he's knocking on the door. Actually to be Todd Heat for a second most receiving yards in Ravens history. He's like like one hundred yards away. He's had a really good career and him and Jackson are good for each other. Absolutely. I mean it's kind of mahomes Kelsey ish, you know.
Yeah, you just can't let that guy go nuts on you question in the red zone. Yeah, if you do, that could be a long day. It could be a long day. But let's get to a break. When we come back, Matt, We're gonna hear from Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson. Nice he spoke to the media. That's one of the bonuses of the short work week is that usually Russ speaks on Thursdays. This week he spoke on Wednesday. So we'll hear what Russell Wilson had to say right after this on the Drive.
Least.
He's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven Home of the Black and Gold cast in Steelers Nation Radio.
Welcome back. I'm Dale Lolli. He is the Matt Williamson and Matt. Because of games on Saturday. This week, Russell Wilson, who usually addresses the media as a group on Thursdays, when most of the Hayes in the barn, talked on Wednesday this week, and so I thought it'd be interesting to play back what Russ had to say.
Yeah, he was very impressive on Hard Knocks last night too, Yeah did a lot that was feature quite a bit and yeah let's go. Yeah.
So here's what Russell Wilson had to say earlier today.
Baltimore's depends on how they evolved. Uh, they do such a great job. Obviously, they got great experience. They got guys who fly around, we have you know, they have a lot of uh, tremendous playmakers. And I think you're noticing just the season evolving for them. They're just getting better as they go. I mean, they're doing a good job of it. Chris, what do you want to could you learn from the tape and fill it all for which are important? For I think the most important thing is we've got to focus on now. We don't have time even time to you know, even think about last week. I think, you know, I think the most important thing coming out of it though, is that we got to get ourselves the best chance to win and and you know, putting ourselves when getting good situations and go capitalize on them. It seemed like last game against Grady's they were got too high show a lot how does that test your patience? What's the balance of knowing when do they pull the trigger in those situation? Yeah, I think, you know, you always want to be aggressive. We also want to play smart and matriculated the ball down the field too as well, if they're gonna do that, and that's okay too, you know, And I think that's a big thing. You know, we run the ball so well. I think we've done a good job of getting the ball out, you know, and guy's making plays, you know, converting and all that throughout you know, first and second, third down, he usually for the most part. And so I I do think though that it's you know, it's we're playing a team that's you know, really well coached. We're gonna have to play our best football too, and it's gonna be a great game.
Russians. Yeah, how was that work, Cosince?
You take? Yeah, Pat Friar moves on fire. I mean he's just making plays for us. Yeah, yeah, he wants me to say it again, Fat Friar moves on fire. I think, Uh, he's just he's done a great job of uh, just making plays. I think that trust and the extra work we've been spending to and you know, it's you know, he's one of the reasons why I was excited to come here, just because of what he is capable of. You know, he's continued to rise in a great way. The guys with position to punch the divission. You know, you've been in that position of five. What is sort of the the key to sort of taking that.
Fund of stuff, especially when you're.
Yeah, I think first of all, we've got to be able to calm the nerves early and the excitement, and be able to you know, play and think clearly and efficiently and effectively, but yet play with an edge. I think that's really important. I think also too, you know, we got to do the fundamental things. We gotta make our layups, we gotta hit them. We got whether it's passing or running or making our tackles or special teams or whatever it is. And then ultimately knowing that you know, uh, this is this is a playoff matchup, you know, And and so there's gonna be highs, there's gonna be lows. You know, I need to as you guys know, I like to always say, you know, just stay neutral, you know, don't get too high and don't get too low. It's a four quarter game for a reason, and you know we're gonna battle our way through it. Mike Thomas talk about the importance of not warming up the competition, you know, coming.
In saying that that's tone earlier.
How do you, guys avoid those those mistakes early in games that you don't of course you have to say, let's more like, let's get into this game. Of course. Yeah, I think I think the clean fast start. You once again, it goes back a lot of times. It goes back to fundamentals and what we're doing and how we're doing it, you know. And just as I tell you, guys, every every game has a history of its own, and that's just the reality. We've done a really good job, especially in the second half of you know, you know, capitalizing on opportunities. I think we've got to do that throughout the game. That's always the goal. But if it doesn't happen, you know, it doesn't mean the game's over, you know. And so I think that's the key part to the great game and the great thing about football and the game of football is you can start hot and not not finished strong either, you know. So you gotta you know, throughout a game, you know, And so I think the key part is just playing one play at a time and make that play great. And you know, and you're worried about this or that, and you gotta do this, gotta do that, No, no, no, just just play this play, do this one really great. And I think that that allows you to focus on the moment.
How did you develop the patience or the decision making to know when it's time to.
Pull the trigger and push the ball down the field and maybe when it's time to dine that. Yeah, I think for me, you know, I've been fortunate to have some really great playmakers throughout my career. You know, obviously like GK. Tyler, guys like Calvin, guys like GP, guys like Pat Over there they were talking about earlier. You trust him, and you know, you guys like Mike Williams who's has made some great plays for us, and then and I think you just trust the guys that you're around, you know, And you know, I think that the aggressiveness is key. You got to get some exposive plays. Sometimes that's that's a screen, Sometimes that's a that's a ball down the field. Sometimes it's a shallow cross. Sometimes it's at the seam ball. It doesn't matter what it is necessarily, but I think that putting the ball in the playmaker's hands and and sometimes that's also checking it down, you know, when it's not there. And I think the process of elimination is really important. I think that I've learned that early on throughout my career, you know, and and really understanding that, you know, being able to person that understand what they're trying to do and why they're trying to do it. In situational football, no one wanted to be aggressive when not and understanding that too. You mentioned Calvin from of these guys that you trust. What have you learned about just his mindset approached and what's kind of stood out about why he's grown throughout this three season. Yeah, he's been spectacular. I mean ever since he gave to San Diego and I got to spend time with him and go to dinner and hang out and throw and work out together.
I just was.
Was just incredibly excited about him and who he is as a player, as a person, as a competitor. He has the gut, the grit, the gut the guts to to be able to play hard and be a smaller guy. You know, it's not easy to do, to be honest with you, you know, And I think I've told you guys for a while. He reminds me a lot of Chylder Lockett in terms of his ability to understand and process on the move and and and see things. And he just has an appetite for learning. I think that anytime you have an appetite for learning and processing and growing, I think he got a great chance and he's definitely has that. Obviously, his speed and his ability to end out of his cuts its spectacular. You know, he can do it all. He's he's been one of the biggest highlights I think, not just of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but of the National Football League in terms of a guy that's up and coming and has a great chance to do really special. Actually, you do with George Pickens, you know, while he it's unsure about if he'll play or not, but to stay locked in with him, to keep you guys' connection throughout the week. Yeah, George and I talk quite a bit throughout you know, practice and throughout the you know, in the locker room or whatever it may be. In the meetings too, when we when we in the same room.
I think I.
Think he's done a great job of just being really in tune. I you know, one of my I told you guys, I don't know four months ago. You know, George is one of the best teammates in the sense that you know, he's a guy that we love because you know, you saw the first game he wasn't playing. Just his energy what he is enthusiasm to us, and he lights up a room. You know, he really knows how to do that. And and so in terms of football though, I mean, he's such a good processor in terms of what he sees and understands, and so you know, you don't have to talk to him too much, but when we do, I just you know, he's always watching every rep and he understands it. So that's good for us. Close to Lamar is close to breaking the rushing.
Yards by a quarter manage and Michael Vick the.
Rerecords at Michael Vick at what's impression maybe about the way that Lamar runs the ball? And yeah, I mean I think guys like Michael Vick Lamar, there's been some special guys running the football. You know, you know, he's a unique individual, and I think that meantime he has the football in his hands, he's he's uh, he's special. I mean, I it's it's been cool to watch, you know, just over the years, you know, people doubt him, you know, and and and his ability to make plays. I think, you know, anytime you're pressingly for over five thousand, six thousand, how many yards he's got. It's it's pretty you know, remarkable in itself, not what position do you play. And and then also too, you know, he's been able to do it, you know, throwing the football as well, so you know, he you know, he's he's a he's a tremendous football player. Along those lines. If he breaks, when he breaks Michael Vick's record, would that solidify him in your mind as the best ever a dual threat quarterback. Yeah, I mean yeah, I that's a pretty good question. I haven't really thought about it. I mean, I think, uh, I think he's definitely one of 'em for sure. You know, you think about the greats like Michael Vick, you know, you know he was he was the one that just really just lit up the whole stadium. Guy from Virginia, by the way, congrats Michael Victor on the Norfolk State. My grandfather was president of Norfolk State for a long time. So but I think that you know, guys like Lamar for sure, you know Michael vict those guys are unique individuals and what he can do, So I couldn't disagree with it, that's for sure. Last two guys outside of the game center, just how important that the community. Yeah, it's so exciting. I just think that to be able to, you know, impact this community has been really exciting. I think that to open up our Wine at You center here and also in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club here and we plan on doing more Wan at You centers across the country and stuff like that. It's really exciting, exciting for our foundation one the foundation, we want to do more in the community too. We're just getting started in that sense. And it's been a blessing in that way. And so I think the I think the joy in it all, it's just seemed, like you know, I was telling see, it's like just seeing the smile on the kids faces. I think that's so nice about you know, and sometimes life circumstances are challenging, but how do you inspire a kid? You know, every day? I think that's my goal in life, Russ. Now, as you just took full blame for the fumble, how much is it important for him to not dwell on it a and how much can have you seen in the past guys using something like that as a motivator for the next year. The best thing about Nage is is he loves football. He loves his team. He's gonna give everything he has every day. You know. He's he's been remarkable this season, you know. And and he's been spectacular run football. He's he's done some special things for us, and we wouldn't be where we are without Nage. To be honest with you, he's done a great job his physicality, his toughness, his his grid, his love for the game, his passion, his energy, his focus, his stability in terms of how he's done a great job. Stuff happens in a game, and it wasn't that one play. It's a it's a collection of plays that we think that we could capitalize on. And I know that he would do anything, you know, to to not have that one. But the best thing is we've got another opportunity to play and he's gonna shine. He's gonna do his thing, and I can't wait to see how special he is come Saturday. Thanky. Thank you guys, appreciate it. Okay, thanks guys.
That was Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson with the Assembled media earlier today over at the upmc roney Sports Complex. He always just he's very comfortable in his own skin.
Yeah, I mean he gets it. Yeah, and there's no question about it. There's natural leadership stuff there. He's well prepared, comes across really really well. I mean every step of the way since he's been a Steeler I've been impressed with. Yeah.
Yeah, we'll see he can bring home a victory this weekend. But that's going to do it for our show today. So for my partner Matt Williamson, for Justin Miller here on site working a little overtime today, and to Justin Miller Hotline, a couple of guests, Bob Labriola and Keanu Benton, we'd like to thank them for dropping by. We'd also like to thank well Tyler viitt Meyer for getting our video out on the YouTube channel there you can check that out. And well, I'm Dale Lally. We thank you for listening to this edition of the Drive on the Steeler is audio network