WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.000 It's the great Will Vandervort from the Clemson insider who stands on his own merits 2 00:00:04.040 --> 00:00:07.360 a big Steeler fan, of course, Will welcome to the show. Happy 3 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:10.320 New Year, my friend. Happy New Year to you guys. How y'all 4 00:00:10.359 --> 00:00:12.759 doing. We're doing good, man. We got to tee it off first 5 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:16.359 with some a little bit of basketball. Look, it's been a fascinating start 6 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:19.559 to the season for Clemson. Of course, we've got a big game tomorrow 7 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:23.960 Florida State Georgia Tech. That's disappointing, and obviously they've had some stumbles along 8 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:26.079 the way. You know, Rich and I were talking about this on the 9 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:30.440 last tip Off show that this team is hard to sort of put your finger 10 00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:33.799 on, other than maybe the injuries and all that's going on now in terms 11 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:37.200 of some players they are getting back. I thought they'd beat the pants off 12 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:39.520 of Georgia Tech. I thought it was kind of a no brainer. They'd 13 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:42.759 been a little bit embarrassed at times, and they feel like they're better than 14 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:47.079 they should be, and their record doesn't indicate what they are. Is it 15 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:51.600 too early if you're a kind of level headed fan to panic about this team, 16 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:54.679 because they're very talented, and what do you say to those who say 17 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:58.920 time to fire Brunell again, Well, first of all, hold off on 18 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:03.600 the firing thing. You don't fire somebody off of a five games stretch. 19 00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:07.519 I mean that's first off, second of off. You know, I don't 20 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:11.599 think you panic. I don't think you pushed the panic button. But I'll 21 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.920 tell you this much, this game against Florida State is as much win a 22 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:19.879 must win game as they've had all year. This is a game they have 23 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:25.359 to go win because you look at who's next, and they got to go 24 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:30.719 to Cameron next Saturday and try to be the duke team who I think is 25 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:34.120 starting to hit it stride, and that's not good. That's not good for 26 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:40.159 Clemson. So they need to win this game and then tried. Then they 27 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.560 get back on they get back on their home turf in a couple of weeks, 28 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:47.879 you know, with Louisville and Virginia coming, and that's just kind of 29 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:52.359 an opportunity to get right. So this game is big in a sense. 30 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.640 You don't want to fall in a two and seven hole in your car, 31 00:01:55.879 --> 00:01:59.840 two and six hole in your conference, and and so that's why they need 32 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:02.599 to win this game to where they're not going into next week's game, saying 33 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:06.159 that's a must win at Duke. You don't want to ever go into Duke 34 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:12.520 with the must win, right, You just don't want to. And yeah, 35 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:15.879 exactly, So they really need to win this game to marrogus Florida State. 36 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:17.560 No, by the way, that's not going to be easy because Florida 37 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:21.800 State is probably playing its best basketball the season right now. They've won five 38 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:24.719 of their first six conference games and are really playing with a lot of confidence. 39 00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:28.719 And you'd have told me at the beginning of the year, when Florida 40 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:32.120 State was sitting there five and five that they would be in contention for an 41 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:37.039 ACC championship the first, you know, three weeks into the conference season, 42 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:39.360 I would have laughed at you. But here they are. They're much improved, 43 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:44.639 they're playing a lot better. And let's be honest, Clemson generally doesn't 44 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:46.400 play well when they go down there. That won there last year, so 45 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:50.680 that's good. They know they can go there and win, but it's generally 46 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:54.400 a place they do not play well at. And so tomorrow is a huge 47 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:59.400 game for Clemson. And then, really, I'm gonna be honest with you, 48 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:04.360 guys, it's time for Joe Girard and for Kate under to step up. 49 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:09.680 Those guys have not this five game stretch here where Clinton's one and four, 50 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:15.520 those are the two guys that have been inconsistent, and Clinton needs those 51 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:21.479 guys to start playing better on a consistent level. So Clemson can you know, 52 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.400 because I think when those two guys play well, they're eleven and one. 53 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:27.680 Oh certainly no two guys. When those two guys don't, they're one 54 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:30.240 and four. So you know, it's pretty easy mass they need those two 55 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:34.039 guys to start playing well. It's you know, it's a lot like the 56 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:37.400 basics in football. We'll talk about the NFL playoffs here surely, but you 57 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:39.520 know your your team of choice for years. When you miss a guy like 58 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:44.800 TJ. Watt, you see the record without him. I mean that's you 59 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:47.120 need your big stars to perform in big moments. And not to generalize too 60 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:52.000 much, but Clemson, it is a tough road ahead. But I think 61 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:54.800 the talent level with PJ. Hall obviously have one of the best players in 62 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:59.400 the country right there. I think the coaching has been good, but I 63 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:01.879 understand you want to win. You want to win all your games. Everybody 64 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:05.280 does. We're gonna see what happens down the stretch here, and I think 65 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:09.840 Will, what comes down to is, you know, in these conference games 66 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:13.960 you mentioned at home especially, you can't be losing the teams you should be 67 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:16.519 favored over, not at this point. And if that continues, obviously the 68 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.959 heat turns up, and if you miss another opportunity to go to the big 69 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:24.360 dance after what happened last year, you just you can't find yourself in that 70 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:27.519 whole. We're gonna see what happens. Let's shift our focus to the world 71 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:30.759 of college football. You and I haven't spoken since well, the first wave 72 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:31.839 of all hell broke loose, I think a week and a half ago. 73 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:35.000 When I think, you know, it's like seeing the Beatles all split up. 74 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:40.199 They all retired, all of them. It's Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick 75 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:44.399 and then of course Nick Saban. Will you've covered college football for a long 76 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:49.160 time. Did you have an inkling that Saban was going to retire? I 77 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:54.240 did? They just seem like, you know, you started hearing the rumors 78 00:04:54.279 --> 00:05:00.360 coming out of Tuscaloosa around the SEC championship game. Actually before that, we 79 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:03.560 started hearing some rumblings around it was about an Auburn game to be honest with 80 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:10.920 you, and so you started here that there's a chance he was thinking about 81 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:14.879 it or it might happen. And then it kind of went quiet there for 82 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:16.800 a little while. And then you know, I kind of said, like, 83 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:20.959 after they lost that game to Alabama, excuse me, to Michigan in 84 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:25.240 the in the in the collegetball playoff game, I kind of, you know, 85 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:28.600 thought to myself that he's gonna do it. He's gonna do it after 86 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:31.959 the national championship game, because that's who Nick Saban is. He's not gonna 87 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:40.319 want the attention to be on him and knock the game itself. And so 88 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:44.800 no surprise that he waited till that. I believe that Wednesday when he announced 89 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:50.399 he was going to retire, and you know, you know it was I 90 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:55.199 know it surprised some people. I don't think. I don't think it's surprised 91 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:58.399 the people in Alabama. I think they do. I think that's how I 92 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:00.199 feel. And you know, I do you want to say this. I 93 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:03.279 caught him on McAfee a couple of times, and you know, think what 94 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:05.839 you will about McAfee. I really don't care, other than just to hear 95 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:11.600 a few insights from the guests and Saban. He would comment a lot about 96 00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:15.240 how special this team was in a sentimental type of way, and that to 97 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:17.959 me, I don't think that's an ultimate tell. But he was a little 98 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:23.240 more reflective I thought this year. So all the best to him. Obviously, 99 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:27.680 Coach Sweeney down there, Dabo is gonna stay put. I think that 100 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:30.240 makes sense for him. I don't know Coach Sweeney as well as you do, 101 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:33.879 and I don't think many people really work in his inner circle well enough 102 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:36.639 to know what a man truly thinks in his heart. But obviously he's an 103 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:40.959 Alabam man to begin with. He's talking about being a Clemson man. Now, 104 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:44.920 if that's the opportunity to get always wanted and it turned itself up and 105 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:47.480 you're still in your prime and you turn it down, maybe he truly wants 106 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:50.959 to be here. Maybe all the talk about well he's gonna bold any minute, 107 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:56.120 maybe that's not true. Fascinating times and in a couple of new coaches 108 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:59.920 on that staff, just your assessment of Coach Sweeney in his you know, 109 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:03.040 commitment to this operation down there, because look, when he got there at 110 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:06.959 eight as the head coach, there was not quite the infrastructure there is now 111 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:12.439 he's a large part of that. Yeah, you wonder how you know. 112 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:17.959 I do know that Dabo spoke with Alabama. I do know that it was 113 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:23.519 in a situation where Alabama offered him, where he offered. He told Alabama 114 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:27.040 he wanted to be there. I think it was more of a feeling out 115 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:31.600 conversation from both parties, and you know, whatever happened in that conversation, 116 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:35.439 I don't think anybody will truly know other than the fact that you know, 117 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:40.160 both parties decided when when they talked that that was kind of going to be 118 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:43.759 it. It wasn't go any further than the level of Jim Harball going to 119 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.920 meet with the will family for the Vikings job and then getting a welcome party 120 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:51.120 back for never leaving, right, So it was a yeah, So it 121 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:56.480 was a you know, I think a mutual kind of thing between both parties. 122 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:59.319 I don't think, I like said, I don't think Alabama Dabo turned 123 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:03.759 Alabama down. I don't think Alabama turned Davo down. You know. So 124 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:11.519 so I do think coach Sweeney, because of who he is, and I 125 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:15.519 do know that one of his dream jobs is Alabama. That was that was 126 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:18.920 like the thing for him and I know he said he's a Clumpson man now, 127 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:22.160 but listen, Devo, Alabama is always gonna be special. In Davos 128 00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:26.120 sweety part, I mean he grew up an Alabama fan. He grew up 129 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.759 a fan human, grew up a fan of Paul bear Bryant. He used 130 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:31.360 to wear he said he were an Alabama T shirt and school every day when 131 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:33.559 he's a kid. I mean, this guy he said, I'm gonna go 132 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:35.960 play for Alabama, and he went and did it, and then he beat 133 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:41.440 him and the playoffs beat him twice in the playoffs. How meaningful was that 134 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:43.440 to him too? I mean that that's that's the ultimate compliment, that the 135 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:48.120 homage to your your your your place of of of football worship if you was 136 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:52.279 as a child man, I went against the old program that bear Bryant used 137 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:54.799 to run, and I played for Gene Stallings and I beat this team with 138 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:58.039 this great coach twice. It's a fascinating story and and it leads me to 139 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:01.720 my next question that you know, with this expansion of the playoff the twelve 140 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:07.559 teams, you know, the Clemson obviously becomes a more viable player right off 141 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:09.919 the bat, because you know they're going to recruit, well, you know, 142 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:13.799 the NAWA dynamic and the payments and all that goes into football. Now 143 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.159 in the college world, they'll get with the times as much as they feel 144 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:22.200 like they can. Your early assessment on what their class looks like coming in 145 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:24.000 here, because they've got some faces coming back, you're missing a few guys. 146 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:28.200 I know it's early to tell. The season just ended, but is 147 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:31.960 there still some positive trajectory? Are the feelings good from the closest people around 148 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:35.440 the program that cover it and the boosters and those that support it, or 149 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:39.559 are there's still concerns that coach Sweeney when there were four and four this year 150 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:43.559 that I don't know, man, I think that winning streak was great. 151 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:46.080 What was your thought on the carryover? Will it indeed carry over? Do 152 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:50.399 they still got to do some things to get things better? Well? Yeah, 153 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:54.440 That's what I was saying, was like, how motivated is Debo? 154 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:58.600 Did him not getting off for Alabama job? Does that motivate him? Do 155 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:03.759 we see Dabo, you know, become or as hungry as he was when 156 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:09.679 they won those national championships and were playing for it those four years. I'm 157 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:13.080 not saying Dabo lost his drive or motivation or anything. I'm saying, maybe 158 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:20.759 this motivates him more, right, so maybe this motivates them more. We'll 159 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:24.200 see. And with that said, I think, you know, yeah, 160 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.799 they had a good recruiting class. Uh. They they feel good about the 161 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:31.440 guys they brought in and the guys that have signed, and and you know 162 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:35.600 that feel good about what they got coming back. When you know, when 163 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:39.480 you get a Barrett carter back, that's huge on your defense and it's huge 164 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:41.200 for your leadership on the team. You know, you get a guy like 165 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:46.120 Jake Breenstall who stay committed and he's going to be back next year at tight 166 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:50.720 end and probably their biggest play. I think Jake could end up being and 167 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:52.600 I don't want to use this as sacrile as Georgia fans, but he can 168 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:56.679 enter the same type of conversation that brock Bauers was in at one point because 169 00:10:56.679 --> 00:11:00.480 he's that athletic. He's going to have more experience under his belt. You 170 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:03.120 hope do offense is better systematically, because he really did play well on the 171 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:05.840 stretch last year, and he played even better at times the year before. 172 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:11.279 And film Afa too, I mean, his story was amazing that the contributions 173 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:15.320 he made down that stretch wherever he ends up in the future at long term 174 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:18.279 film, MafA has got to be personally one of your favorites covering that team 175 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:22.879 close range because he's physical, he's tough. Minds me of Stephen Davis away 176 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:26.320 runs and my god, he is humble. He's just a good dude. 177 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:28.120 Yeah, yeah, he is. And I think, you know, I 178 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:31.639 think, you know, Coach has got a chance there with him if he 179 00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:35.960 stays healthy to really have a strong running game. It's gonna be interesting to 180 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:39.200 see who falls in at number two. Spring will tell us that yep, 181 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:43.840 they got they get. They recruited well at the running back position the last 182 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:48.360 couple of years, so they feel good there. Wide receiver, you know, 183 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:52.679 you know, you know, we saw the kid, you know at 184 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:56.799 the All American Game, what he did and what he can be. You 185 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:00.679 know, did I say that? I was like, you know, I 186 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:03.120 always ask Clympton fans this, you know, they talk about Sammy Walkins and 187 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:05.440 Nuk Hopkins and them, and I always say, well, let me ask 188 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:11.360 you this question. How many Sammy Watkins have come to Clemson in the last 189 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:16.879 fifteen years? And that answer is only one, Mammy Watkins. So you 190 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:22.399 can't count on it until you actually see. And that's that's what That's kind 191 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.039 of what my point is. They're like, they're still freshmen. I don't 192 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:28.759 know what they're gonna be. You know, uh, maybe maybe he come 193 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:31.919 in and be somebody. What I do know what they got coming back? 194 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:35.159 You know, you got a guy and and Tyler Brown, who I think 195 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:37.559 is gonna be He's gonna get even better Antonio Williams. I think now coming 196 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:41.240 off the injury season. He showed out in the in the Gator Bowl. 197 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:46.440 So getting him back because I'm gonna tell you old miss was very close to 198 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:50.200 grabbing him, very close to grabbing him. Yeah, yeah, you know. 199 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:54.000 So so you know, getting him back is a big deal for Clemson. 200 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:56.919 And and we'll see, you know, And I'm gonna tell you the 201 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:03.320 guy, I think he's gonna be a standout as Troy Troy. Late in 202 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:07.679 the year, he became a very consistent receiver. And if they get him 203 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:11.159 to be even more consistent next year, he's going to be a big time 204 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.360 playmaker for them. And he's got the best hands on the team. And 205 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:18.120 you know, we'll see if he's how much better he gets. And then 206 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:20.639 by the way, that guy is super fast too, so they can get 207 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:24.320 him out of face. He's going to be a playmaker. He's He's even 208 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:28.600 not quite as fast as his uncle Seawan, who represents Tommy Cutlets. But 209 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:31.559 I'll leave that aside here. I think I think Troy will do quite well. 210 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.960 And what a hell of an end of the year. That was one 211 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:37.679 of the most crazy UH Bowl games I've ever watched. And it just goes 212 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:41.759 to show you those who don't like the Bowl games, Look, they do 213 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:43.720 mean something to a lot of people, maybe not to everybody, and even 214 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:48.600 those who opt out, they're doing it for a reason. Probably Entuy did 215 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:50.480 it. Sure? Did you see a few teams out there laying in the 216 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:54.759 egg And maybe they don't have their their top guns, but it's good for 217 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:56.559 the sport. And and I stuck the pop tart thing? Oh my tree, 218 00:13:56.600 --> 00:14:01.039 did you see the pop tart? The top tart with the top stuff 219 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:05.440 music played in the background and the coach, the coach, what what team 220 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:09.679 won? Will we're rhyme me? Was that Kansas State? Who's the winning 221 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:11.759 coach of the pop tart ball? And he had to eat that thing? 222 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:18.799 And I could tell you that Neil Brown didn't want that male bath. He 223 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:22.039 he looked like, you know, Maryland's coach loved it. Beam Er. 224 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:28.039 Neil Brown's like, can he get this off me? He just we all 225 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:31.159 got it. We got we gotta talk NFL real quick with you. The 226 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:35.639 Steelers obviously that's your team, it's Trey's team. He's driving me nuts about 227 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:37.720 this team every day. He wants to, uh, you know, hire 228 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:41.679 I guess every offensive coordinator in the sun. And rightfully so, just if 229 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:45.519 you give us a few minutes of your time on the state of the Steelers, 230 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:48.799 because you've followed this team, You've you've reported on football for so long. 231 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:54.039 I mean Tomlin obviously is deciding to stay and there's changes to be made. 232 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:56.559 I think that the staff, what's the status with that? And with 233 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.799 the quarterback. I personally, I think you got to get a new quarterback. 234 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:05.720 I can project it. I can see it now. It sounds like 235 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:09.519 Mason Rudolph is gonna be They're gonna work out a deal with Rudolph because it 236 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:15.080 sounds like from what Tomlin said that Kenny Pickett is gonna be in competition next 237 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:20.000 year for the job. And Mason Rudolph put out an Instagram story today where 238 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.840 it sounded like he was coming back. So there. Here's the thing for 239 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:28.120 the Steelers with Mason Rudolph. They have a couple of months here before free 240 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:31.320 agency begins to work out a deal before it even starts. So they're gonna 241 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:37.039 do everything they can, excuse me, to keep him. And so we 242 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:41.559 have that said. I think the Steelers are draft a quarterback, but I 243 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:46.759 think it's gonna be maybe fourth round or lower rounds. Those guys in to 244 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:50.759 compete. They're gonna move away from Trubisky. Uh, definitely gonna do that. 245 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:54.000 And and they'll they'll go get somebody in the draft to be the number 246 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:58.799 three quarterback and then they're gonna put it. They're gonna put competition in play 247 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.360 with Kenny Pickett, made and Rudolph and guys, I'll tell you what, 248 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:08.039 Mason Rudolph won me over even in the playoff exception of the ones that one 249 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:11.600 passed. And you know, he he's throwing the ball down the field, 250 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:17.000 and you know, Deontay Johnson, he told everybody what he thinks he did. 251 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.720 He wants Basan Rudolph to be his quarterback. You know it is, 252 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:22.360 well, you got a quarterback and a little bit of Bryce Young going on 253 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:25.120 here in Carolina with the same kind of thing. When Andy Dalton stepped in 254 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:26.240 in short order. It was this one game. But you have a six 255 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:30.200 foot three guy now that can sort of fire the ball around and seize the 256 00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:33.279 field better. Picketts still learning how to operate in that world. We know 257 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:34.879 the hand sized thing isn't a huge deal. But man, with the weather 258 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:40.600 cuts in that Pittsburgh win, guys down to Mobile telling me that the senior 259 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:44.799 ball it wasn't pretty in that bad weather day. So it's the complete thing 260 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:48.519 with this. The chemistry element of the Steelers is interesting because these two receivers 261 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:52.360 that they tend to be a bit of malcontents, especially Pickens. I love 262 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:56.960 the way he plays, but they're wide receivers. Man, I think their 263 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.840 frustrations are warranted. That's where I'm getting that. I think they've got to 264 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:03.320 get instability at quarterback because he's guys, that's this is funny. I just 265 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:04.680 relieve you with this. That game the end of the year, and I 266 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:08.680 love Dan Orlovsky to a point, but when his analysis starts stinking, I'm 267 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.240 screaming the TV. Now, you know, at the end of that game, 268 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:14.319 they had to win, right so they need to get up by two 269 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:18.480 possessions. All they needed is a field goal. Is screaming the booth. 270 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:21.640 Pickens has had no targets right now, I'm taking a shot. I'm taking 271 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.839 a shot, and I'm like, run the clock out and kick a field 272 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:26.480 goal. Dan, I think the producers got in his ear final and you 273 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.559 said, Dan, O, they get a field goal, the game's over. 274 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:33.039 But Pickens needs a guy like Rudolph. I guess that's their next option 275 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:37.440 to do the thing they gotta do, which is somewhat what looked like Ben 276 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:41.240 Roethlisberger for a minute. Piket Ain't it man, He's just not who you 277 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:45.559 got, just real quick, who you got advancing here? I know it's 278 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:48.039 tough, but do you have a super Bowl I got? I gotta say 279 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:56.440 this, okay, Mason rus not Ben Roethlisberger, say that we'll keep that 280 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:59.920 in a different realm. I tell you you're the worst. You come in 281 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:02.480 our stadium every three years and you beat the living pulp out of us, 282 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:06.480 and I say, one thing like that will go ahead and then but as 283 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:11.079 far as the other games go, I mean, I think Buffalo can will 284 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:15.960 beat the Chiefs. This will this will be an interesting game. Pastor Mahomes 285 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:21.599 first playoff game, that's crazy. Yeah, and then I like, I 286 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:26.559 like, I like the Packers to upset the forty. I think that's I 287 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:30.880 think that's gonna happen because I just think this Jordan love kid man, he's 288 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:34.200 the real deal too, you know. And and I think they just put 289 00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:38.400 a lot of pressure on defenses. Now San Francisco will be the best defense 290 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:42.680 they've seen, obviously, but man, they just put so much pressure on 291 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.480 the other team to score. And I'm not I'm still not a brock pretty 292 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:51.880 fan. I watched them play Clemson in the UH in the in the chie 293 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:56.960 Itt ball better him that night. I'm telling you, you know, you 294 00:18:56.039 --> 00:19:00.599 throw a complicated defense at him. He struggles. And yeah, it's not 295 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:03.079 that it's very easy with the San Francisco team, and the good buddy of 296 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:06.559 var Neil the calls in. He's a big forty nine Ers fan. Tried 297 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:11.000 to push back on this, but overall the writing sentiment is most teams are 298 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:14.160 like this, but especially San fran for as good as they are, they 299 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:18.079 don't have the ability really to change what they are if they get down in 300 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:21.440 a game. And you see this time and time, and you saw it 301 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:26.839 in Baltimore. They're always leading games Baltimore exactly. You saw that against Baltimore 302 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:30.839 where they even at home, Baltimore did some things, they confused him and 303 00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:34.440 they end up getting behind and that game was over. And so I can 304 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:37.519 back, can put a lot of pressure on their offense and we'll see what 305 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:41.200 happens there. Yeah. And then on the other side, I like I 306 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:44.640 like the Ravens. I think they're just too good on offense and defense. 307 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:48.000 I think, as much as I hate to say this, I think it's 308 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:51.839 their year and you know, I like them to win. And then in 309 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:56.440 the other game, trying to help me out here, I don't one everybody 310 00:19:56.480 --> 00:20:00.640 forgot. It's the anti game, that the orphan game. It's the Rams 311 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:07.440 in the Lions and the Buccaneers of the line. Goodness, I'm sorry, 312 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:11.000 give me, give me Detroit to win that game. I think they win 313 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:15.480 it handedly. I'm kind of with you there. But this I told Trey 314 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:19.119 the same things I'll tell you. If all four underdogs win this week, 315 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:22.279 and this is not a betting show, I'm just saying undogs in general, 316 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:26.920 it would not shock me a bit. It would not shock me one bit. 317 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.920 If all four road teams won this week. But well, CJ. 318 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:36.880 Stroud is Dan Marino. I mean, this guy's he's him two point zero 319 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:40.880 Dan Marino. He is. His release is unbelievable. And I know people 320 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:42.480 are like, well, he's more athletic than dam MARINEO, and he is, 321 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:47.440 but he's he loves to sit in the pocket to the football and he's 322 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:51.599 got such a quick relief. Listen, I remember TJ. Watt earlier this 323 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:55.519 year saying after that game that he's never seen anybody that could throw the balls 324 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:57.960 fast as that kid throws it. And that's praise coming from t J. 325 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:02.440 Watt. Here's the real, here's the reality. If they beat Baltimore, 326 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:06.759 if they be will if they beat Baltimore, which to me is clearly right 327 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:11.400 now the only complete dominant team left in that AFC right now, maybe that 328 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:17.119 changes they went. If they're three wins away from putting something on CJ. 329 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:21.160 Stroud's finger that Dan Marino has never had a damn ring in year one, 330 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:25.119 and that's amazing in the in a rookie season. I can't believe more people 331 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:29.960 aren't talking about it. It's like an MVP candidate type of season. Yeah, 332 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:33.200 honestly, that kid's unbelievable. He's uh, he's gonna be a star 333 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:37.440 league and so so short Love. I'm telling you, man, after the 334 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:41.559 Dealers game, Jordan Love just is a different player. And I'm glad we 335 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:44.160 didn't play that Jordan Love when he came to Pittsburgh a few months ago. 336 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.960 We would have lost that game. We played that Jordan Love. That was 337 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.759 Bryce's best game all year, and I think it raised his game up a 338 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:52.799 little bit and I'm hoping for Panthers fans that it continues. But man, 339 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:56.200 they got a long road thanks to the former minority share owner of your team, 340 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:59.640 the Steelers. They got a lot of work to do. But hopefully 341 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:03.359 you can in some of that good uh that gins are luck down our way 342 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:06.680 and give us a few of those winning seasons you've had. Will you always 343 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:08.240 win? At the Clemson Insider, my friend, and we'll be catching up 344 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:11.759 with you soon, my friend. Good to talk to you, all right, 345 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:12.359 Nice talking to you guys. We'll talk to you later.