WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.359 Joining us now from The Clemson Insider. He's also the 2 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:04.960 host of a great podcast you should listen to every 3 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:07.960 single week to Believe in Clemson Football podcast, It's the 4 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:09.640 great Will vander Ward. What's happening, Bud? 5 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:11.519 Hey Man? What's going on? 6 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:14.960 Man? It's all you look, last time we talked a 7 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:17.600 couple of weeks ago, Clemson was, you know, coming off 8 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:20.239 a hard one against Georgia there in terms of the 9 00:00:20.280 --> 00:00:24.559 expectations being what they were. Since then, it's been all 10 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:27.359 systems go on offense, and let's just focus in on 11 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:29.839 what happened last week as Clemson came out against an 12 00:00:29.879 --> 00:00:32.719 NC State team that has a lot of talent, and boy, 13 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:35.640 right off the bat, just another huge first half. 14 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:41.520 Will, Yeah, they again they just looked good offensively. And also, 15 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:44.960 you know, give the first team defense credit too, because 16 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:46.560 all they did was go out and get a three 17 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:48.840 and out, a turnover, turnover three and out and get 18 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:51.640 the ball back four times for the offense, and so 19 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:55.119 you know, that's what you want to you know, because 20 00:00:55.479 --> 00:00:58.759 I tell everybody, Yeah, the offense getting the twenty eight 21 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:01.000 points and thirty five points back to back weeks in 22 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:04.040 the first quarter, but you got to get the ball back. 23 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:05.840 You can't just you know what I'm saying, You just 24 00:01:05.879 --> 00:01:09.439 don't get you know, the football and. 25 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:10.040 Then get it again. 26 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:13.680 It's not make them take them yea. You know, So 27 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:15.280 you get a little bit of the credit to the offense, 28 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:17.480 I mean to the defense as well for getting the 29 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:21.200 football back to its offense knowing they got the hot 30 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:24.560 end right now. And that's what's been been going on, 31 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:28.159 and that's why you're seeing Clemson just really just this 32 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:30.680 confidence this offense has in itself. It's just at a 33 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:33.560 different level right now. Probably you need to go back 34 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:38.280 probably twenty nineteen. I even say probably even more twenty eighteen. 35 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:40.640 It's confident they are because I don't know if I 36 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:43.040 was the offense, even though it looked good at times 37 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:45.519 in twenty nineteen, I don't think it looked this good 38 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:48.840 for two games. So we'll see, you know, as they 39 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:50.640 as they keep going along and they can keep up 40 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:53.959 this pace. But right now they look really good. The 41 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:54.959 last two weeks. 42 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:57.280 I think a lot of credit will goes to Garret Riley. 43 00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:59.599 I think who's the coordinator that's been under fire. And 44 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.879 obviously so you earn your reputation in football because your 45 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:06.239 performance reflects upon that, But I think Georgia is a 46 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:08.960 high bar to meet in the first week of a season, 47 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:11.120 and there were some struggles last year. But you saw 48 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:13.120 this offense come to life in the second half of 49 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:15.879 that Bowl game against Kentucky. And look, I think the 50 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:19.199 dirt raid offense looks awfully good right now. Credit to 51 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:21.000 Garrett Riley for coordinating this whole thing. 52 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:27.159 Oh absolutely, he's I mean, but Dabo brought this up 53 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.280 to the day we're talking to him and he said 54 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:33.840 that part of why Riley advice to talking about, you know, 55 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:36.319 the way he's calling plays and stuff, Well, it kind 56 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:40.120 of goes twofold. He's got confidence in his offense right now, 57 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:42.680 and he's got confidence in his quarterback. And so when 58 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:46.919 a coordinator has confidence in his players that he's going 59 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:49.400 to call plays the way it's meant to be called 60 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:52.080 and run that offense the way it's meant to be run, 61 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:54.520 that's what you're seeing right now. And so people can 62 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:56.960 understand you didn't see that last year out of the offense. 63 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.400 They just didn't run. They were still learning the system, 64 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:03.240 they were trying to grow as players themselves. They had 65 00:03:03.240 --> 00:03:06.240 a young offensive line a year ago, remember, and they 66 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:09.400 had a young quarterback first year starting. Well, now you 67 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:13.280 get year two and you're seeing the difference right of 68 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:16.800 this team. And then you're seeing the difference in Garrett 69 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:19.719 Riley calling the plays because his quarterbacks going out there 70 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:23.639 slinging it, his wide receivers are catching everything, his offensive 71 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:26.120 lines blocking is probably at the best level they have 72 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:29.159 in a long time at Clemson's absolutely, and the wide 73 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:32.599 receivers are blocking and solo the tight ends, and so 74 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:34.759 he's got full confidence that, hey, I can call this 75 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:37.120 play and know that it's going to get executed. And 76 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:40.759 I think that's the biggest difference in what Garrett Riley 77 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:42.319 is right now as compared to what he. 78 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:44.360 Was last year's to play caller chatting with Will Van 79 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:46.680 Dervoord right now he's from the Clemson Insider dot com 80 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:48.680 and Will you mentioned the offensive line. Look, give them 81 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:50.479 a lot of credit too, because they're working hand in 82 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:53.719 hand with this offensive coordination. Matt Luke deserves a lot 83 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:56.120 of credit for that. And then guys like philm maffa, 84 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:57.919 who was a little bit banged up in that game 85 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.319 one hundred and seven yards on seven in the Blood 86 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:03.439 win against inn C State, And then they have found 87 00:04:03.479 --> 00:04:06.199 themselves as you rode here for the Clemson Insider, a 88 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:09.039 great backup plan in Jay Haynes, who is getting a 89 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.960 chance to shine. It's not just Haynes, there's other guys now, 90 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:15.560 young players getting their shot. With these margins growing so 91 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:18.439 wide in the first half, that's great for depth down 92 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:21.480 the stretch as you build your team to what we 93 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:24.199 hope to be. If you're a Clemson fan, a playoff contender. 94 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:27.720 Absolutely, you know, I think people forget those years you 95 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:30.959 had Karna set and Russian for sixteen hundred yards. You 96 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:34.480 also had Tavian Feaster and LYNDJ. Dixon Russian for six 97 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:38.920 seven hundred yards. So that's big because what you do 98 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:41.120 is you got to You're getting experience for your other 99 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:44.480 running backs as well, and now you can use them. 100 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:48.399 They're getting valuable reps to get first team defenses, and 101 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:50.399 you can use that on film what they do good, 102 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:53.480 what they don't do well, and you can you know, 103 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:55.480 you show them, you can coach them up on that. 104 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:00.720 Those are all things that benefit the benef when you 105 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:03.160 get other guys into the game and playing and getting 106 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:06.439 those big leads and doing that is beneficial down the 107 00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:09.040 road from a depth standpoint, and you start what you 108 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:10.920 start doing, and you start building your depth. You want 109 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:13.079 to know why Clinston was so good, they're in a 110 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:17.560 six year stretch. Well, go back to twenty fifteen and sixteen, John, 111 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:23.800 when they weren't that good on defense, right, But their 112 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:26.120 first team was really good, but their backups weren't. But 113 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:29.199 when they got the situations where they could they were 114 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.920 blowing people out and they could play other people, they 115 00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:36.519 went ahead and did And did it cost them statistically, yes, 116 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:40.040 But later on a year when they needed guys to 117 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:43.160 make plays, guys were ready to make plays. And then 118 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:46.120 when you go and look at the seventeen and eighteen teams, 119 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:48.519 how good they were. You know why they were so 120 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.800 good because they played in fifteen and sixteen when they 121 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:54.160 were freshmen and sophomore and by the time they were 122 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:57.160 juniors and seniors, they were ready for the big stage. 123 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.319 And so it allowed Clinton to go on the big 124 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:02.800 run that it went on for six years. And that's 125 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:05.319 kind of what Davo's doing now with this team. And 126 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:09.079 you know, this team has the potential to go far. 127 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:12.079 I think, and and I like the makeup of this team. 128 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:14.600 And you know, we we said that at the beginning 129 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:17.079 of the year that this team had a chance to 130 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:19.439 uh to be pretty good and Dad both thought they 131 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:22.079 could be pretty good. And so far through three games, 132 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:25.000 we're kind of seeing that in these last two weeks especially, 133 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.360 And and go back to the Georgia game. And I 134 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:30.079 know some Georgia or South Carolina fans r out there like, yeah, 135 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.439 they got beat thirty four to three Georgia. But if 136 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:34.240 you go back and watch that Georgia game, see an 137 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:36.199 offensive line that didn't give up a single sack to 138 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:39.040 one of the best defensive fronts of the country. And 139 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:43.000 you saw a quarterback who at that time wasn't trusting 140 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.120 in his line. And I think what you said. Difference 141 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:48.480 in the last two weeks is Gary Riley has gone 142 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:50.920 in there and said, listen, look at look at your 143 00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.279 offensive line. They're busting their butt. They you've got a 144 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:58.040 perfect pocket, stay within the system, trust your offensive line, 145 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:01.199 do your checkdowns, and you'll you'll find the open guys. 146 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:02.879 And that's what we've seen the last couple of weeks 147 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:03.759 out of this offense. 148 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:07.480 Let's talk about Peter Woods, who, look, his utilization was 149 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:10.519 questioned by a lot of pundits early on playing him 150 00:07:10.519 --> 00:07:11.959 out on the edge, and I've heard you on your 151 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.240 podcast and other forums talk about, you know, the odd 152 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:17.680 fronts that we should expect Clemson to be playing this year, 153 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:20.040 and certainly you're going to see that with Wes Goodwin's defense. 154 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.519 How's his health right now? And do you expect a 155 00:07:22.600 --> 00:07:25.639 different type of utilization moving forward? Do you think you'll 156 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:27.319 kick him inside a little more? Do you think they're 157 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:30.040 comfortable playing him a little wider as they have been. 158 00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:33.600 I think, you know, first of all, I won't see 159 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:36.199 if he plays. He's day to day. I'll be surprised 160 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:38.759 if he plays this week because I think Clemson can play, 161 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:42.600 can win this game without him this week. So I'll 162 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:46.720 be surprised if we see him this week. Understanding the 163 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:49.600 whole the way Dabo does things, Like last week, Kyler 164 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:53.800 Brown was available to play, he dressed, but he didn't play, right, 165 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:57.360 Peter Woods didn't even dress, Okay, So I think what 166 00:07:57.399 --> 00:07:59.639 you're gonna see is you're going to see this week, 167 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:03.040 maybe Peter Wood's dresses but probably doesn't plays, just available 168 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:05.399 in case they need them. I think that's the way 169 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:06.959 the coaches want to go about it, kind of bring 170 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.120 them back a little bit slow. You know, you don't 171 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:10.800 want to mess around with knee injury, right, I mean, you 172 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:13.439 want to make sure he's totally comfortable and get back 173 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.079 out there on the field. So I'll be surprised if 174 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:17.920 you see him this week. Now, I don't know one 175 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:21.839 hundred certainty, but we'll see. But what that does, it's allowed. 176 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:25.240 When you saw kay deanhoff you saw aj Hoffler, you 177 00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:28.160 saw Jaheen Lawson. All three of those guys got to 178 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:31.240 play and they played well, and Davilo talked about that 179 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:35.840 and they got valuable, valuable snaps. And so now when 180 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:38.240 Peter Woods this does come back, you can do different 181 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:43.600 things with him and you don't necessarily have to play 182 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:45.480 him at defensive end all the time. Now maybe you 183 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:48.159 can move him in sometimes. Ye uh, So that there's 184 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:50.039 different ways they can use him when they when they 185 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:52.480 get back, when he gets back to full strength and 186 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:54.639 they use him. But you know, they really like what 187 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:58.360 they see now those young defensive ends and what they 188 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:01.480 can do, and you know the experience they definitely need 189 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:04.080 and they're getting valuable game rep. And that's what it's 190 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:05.480 all about, my friends. 191 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:08.080 Nothing like depth, and we can build it as they are. 192 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:10.559 Why building early leads and early in the season. By 193 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:14.559 doing that, it comes in great handy coming down the stretch. 194 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:18.480 As you know. Will Vanervoor, Clemson Insider quick thoughts on Stanford. 195 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:21.159 What should we expect? This is unusual matchup and usual 196 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:24.240 times in the ACC. What's Stanford all about? Just a 197 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:26.720 quick glimpse at Clemson's opponent on Saturday. 198 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:29.759 Oh, well, they're well coached football team. If you go 199 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:32.440 and watch them, you see exactly what Dabo's talking about. 200 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:35.279 Troy Taylor's day coach there, He's done a great job 201 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:39.039 and they were a well coached team with gig Shaw 202 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:41.360 as well, right if you were heard with those teams. 203 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:45.000 I mean, so now they've lacked talent and that's where 204 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:47.519 the issue is. But what you saw last week we 205 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:51.840 get Syracuse is if you don't play sound football and 206 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:54.159 you don't do what you got to do on your 207 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:56.639 side of it, they're very capable of beating you because 208 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:59.159 they're not going to beat themselves for the most part. 209 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:02.039 So Clinton's gonna have to play very good. They've got 210 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:04.720 to play at a high level. You know, when I 211 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:08.360 look at this team that defensively, they're gonna stop the run, 212 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:10.679 They're gonna make the one dimensional. So they're gonna want 213 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:12.559 they're gonna want to take Phil MafA out of the game. 214 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.120 They held Syracuse to twenty six yards rushing last week. Now, 215 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:19.279 I think Clemson can run the football better than Syracuse. 216 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:22.639 Syracuse hasn't run the ball that well all season anyway, 217 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:25.639 So I think Clemson can probably run the football a 218 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:28.120 little bit more. But the game plan is gonna be 219 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:31.159 to eliminate Phil MafA and not have him beat them. 220 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:32.799 So they're gonna want to put it in the hands 221 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:36.120 of kay Klebnick and those wide receivers and so, as 222 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:38.240 Dabo said, they got to make plays. They're gonna have 223 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:40.919 opportunities on the outside that make some plays, and so 224 00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:43.159 they're gonna have to do that. And then on the 225 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:46.639 other side, if you flip it, you know Ashton Daniels, 226 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:48.639 he's a running quarterback. He's a guy that likes to 227 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:50.840 get out on the edges. Kind of spread him out 228 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:53.000 because he's not a tall guy. He's only six two 229 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.879 to fifteen, But you know, he's a guy that he's 230 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:59.120 very athletic. He can move around in the pocket, he 231 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:01.840 can run the football a long way, he's got good speed. 232 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:04.360 So they're gonna have to figure out ways not to 233 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:08.879 make maybe contain their rush lanes and passing situations and 234 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:12.360 also kind of set the edge in running situations because 235 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:14.559 they're gonna run a lot of RPOs with him and 236 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:16.720 things like that. So you know he's going to be 237 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:19.360 a challenge. And they got this wide receiver named Elick 238 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:22.960 a miner and maybe saying his name the last name 239 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:27.840 for but six, two, two ten. This guy can go 240 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:30.159 up and just get the ball at any point. If 241 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:32.840 you go watch any sports center. In the last two years, 242 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:36.879 he's making some unbelievable athletic catch. Last year he went 243 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:38.720 off on Notre Dame. I don't know if you guys 244 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:41.519 remember that, but he went off on them last year 245 00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:44.120 and last week had a great game as well. And 246 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:46.600 so he's a very dynamic wide receiver if he did 247 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:49.360 puns of troubles. They got a couple of other guys too, 248 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:54.639 So they're a good football team that you know a 249 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:56.720 lot of people weren't predicting much out of them, but 250 00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:00.600 understand who their coach is, understand his background. Way they're 251 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:02.720 going to play football, and so they're going to come 252 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:04.879 in here and you know they're going to hope to 253 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:07.080 get a win and As I mentioned about the Ashton 254 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:10.840 Daniels quarterback, he's from Atlanta, so he's gonna have a 255 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:14.000 huge family here as his dad actually played for the 256 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.120 Georgia Bulldogs and played against Clemson back in nineteen ninety five. 257 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:21.159 And so they're gonna have a big contingency here. Puntson 258 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:24.639 a Stanford fans. So you know, I'm not saying there's 259 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.759 going to be four or five thousand, but you know 260 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:29.759 they'll be represented. I think a little bit. It's going 261 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:31.720 to be cool to see a team from the West Coast. 262 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:36.080 Only the second time, guys, in the history of Death Valley, 263 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:38.279 that a team from the West Coast is coming to Clemson. 264 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.919 The last time it happened was Long Beach State back 265 00:12:40.919 --> 00:12:41.679 in nineteen. 266 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:44.159 Ninety I was at that game. Okay, so here's a 267 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:46.240 fun fact. You bring up Long Beach State. That was 268 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:48.720 a rain game. I remember it well. That was my 269 00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:51.679 first ever trip to Death Valley and my good friend 270 00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:54.519 Rob Bartholemey who lived in our neighborhood. His dad Bob 271 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:57.840 took us loaded up in the Dodge caravan with the 272 00:12:57.879 --> 00:13:00.720 wood grain paint stripe on the side. That was my 273 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.159 first trip down there. I can't believe you just mentioned 274 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:04.960 that that brought back memories and who was. 275 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.559 The head coach if you remember for them? 276 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:09.639 Uh for long but oh it was Uh what's George Allen? 277 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:14.960 George George Allen Pro Football Hall of Fame coach of 278 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:18.039 the Washington Redskins and also with the defensive coordinator doing 279 00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:21.840 those great years with the Rams, had the fabulous four. 280 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:27.039 Yes, yeah, memories. It was raining that day, right, I 281 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:30.519 distinctly remember a rainstorm that day, So. 282 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:33.919 That's good for you to remember. You probably are right. 283 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:38.519 I can't remember that so many of these, but I 284 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:41.840 wasn't there that day. Okay, I'm gonna lend it to 285 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:45.159 you on that one. My friend I went to Long 286 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:45.720 Beach State. 287 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.320 I went to Long Beach State versus Clemson, and will 288 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:52.759 Van DeVore didn't print the T shirts. Right now, Falcos 289 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:55.480 Falco's got a Steelers question for you. Go ahead, Trey. 290 00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:57.759 Yeah, Well, I mostly just want to check your poults 291 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:00.320 on this team. You know, you're one of the more 292 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:04.399 grounded kind of people to cover this team obviously three 293 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:06.200 and zero, But how are you feeling about the offense 294 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:09.080 right now? Especially with Justin Fields under center. I know 295 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:11.440 we talked about earlier in the season, before it started. 296 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:14.720 This would be Russ's job, and obviously he's dealing with 297 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:18.200 calf injury. Do you foresee him coming back and stepping 298 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.600 in and taking those reins away from Justin Do you 299 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.279 ride the hot hand if you're Mike Tomlin and what 300 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:27.399 is what does Russ add to this this offense? If anything, 301 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:31.279 if he does come in and take over, well, I. 302 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:33.559 Think, first of all, I think you do ride the 303 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:36.120 hot hand right now, so they're going Justin Field's gonna 304 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:38.159 play this week. I think if he wins and gets 305 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:41.480 off to the flooridah start. I think even if Russell's back, 306 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:45.120 and I think you know, Russell's got a calf injury. Generally, yeah, 307 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:47.159 calf injury is gonna take about four weeks to heal, 308 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:49.720 and so I'm expecting by week five as Russe will 309 00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:52.440 really be ready to play and go, and so that'll 310 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:56.440 be the game against Dallas. So you know, I think 311 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:59.320 probably Justin Fields if they win this week against the Colts, 312 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:01.960 Justin Fields definitely will start that game against the Cowboys. 313 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:04.559 I think if he continues to play like he's doing, 314 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:07.240 you know, I don't see a problem with it. I mean, 315 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:10.200 he's making good decisions. He's not he's not putting the 316 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:12.679 ball in harm's way. I mean, even the interception last 317 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:15.879 week that wasn't on him. His receiver, you know, popped 318 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:17.480 the ball up in the air. The ball was in 319 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:21.399 his hands. I was on justin field. His progressions have 320 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:24.399 been really good. I think he's made good throws when 321 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:27.720 he makes them. A touchdown pass to Austin was was 322 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:29.559 a thing of beauty, the way he set it up 323 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:31.919 and having pulled the safety off and was able to 324 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:34.679 get the ball there. I mean, you know, I think 325 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.559 he's in a different place that he does add an 326 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:38.720 element with his legs, and I think that it's helped 327 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:41.519 the Steelers in a couple occasions already this year. I 328 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:45.399 don't know if Russell Wilson can make those plays right now, 329 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:48.159 especially with the cap injury. I doubt he can, so 330 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:52.120 I think that's the definite element. But what Wilson brings 331 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.639 is the more of a passing attack that I think 332 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:57.399 he can get the ball out quicker and probably be 333 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:00.120 a little more decisive, even though I saw just and 334 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:02.440 get more decisive against the Chargers. 335 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.399 Yeah, he's grown. 336 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:05.200 He had to because he had to do it. If 337 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:07.279 he didn't, they would have been problems because they're so 338 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:09.919 good on the defensive side of the ball. But he 339 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:13.759 wasn't that decisive in the other two games. So I 340 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:15.879 think with just with Russell Wilson, you get a more 341 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:18.879 decisive passer who's going to put the ball where it 342 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:20.720 needs to be and go right where it needs to be. 343 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:23.480 And that's the difference you get with an experience quarterlick 344 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.840 like Russell Wilson over Justin Fields. But hey, if Justin 345 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:29.080 Key's playing like he's doing, he's gonna gain confidence. And 346 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:31.720 just like we're seeing with Kate Clubnick at Clemson, you 347 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.720 know that confidence is going to continue to grow and 348 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:36.960 he's going to get better and better. I can't complain 349 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.759 with the way he's played to this point. To be 350 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:41.159 honest with you, I'm not a Justin Fields fans. I 351 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:43.919 told you guys that, but he's playing well. He's a 352 00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:46.799 Steelers quarterback. I'm a huge Steelers fan, so I'm supporting 353 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:49.759 them obviously, and I'll tell you that though. When you've 354 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:53.120 got a defense that good, and I forget and they 355 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:56.440 might be the best defense Steelers defense I've ever seen, 356 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.559 and that's counting. That's counting. The ones from two thousand 357 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.200 and eight, nine and ten and twelve range with Torod 358 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:07.440 Palamalo and those guys. This defense is like, I mean, 359 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:09.640 I haven't seen a defense is good in the NFL 360 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:13.279 in years. I'm talking like it's been decades probably since 361 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:15.240 we've seen a defense is good. They potentially have a 362 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:17.720 chance to be as good as any defense in the 363 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.519 history of this league. 364 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:21.559 Yeah, it's crazy that it feels like there's playmakers on 365 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:24.640 every level of that defense, and not only on every level, 366 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:27.440 but even the depth that they have back there. 367 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.720 It feels like whoever. 368 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:31.039 Comes in and fills that void if somebody goes down 369 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:35.319 or needs a rest, that defense doesn't really drop in quality. Now, 370 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:38.640 your thoughts on the three and oh? Is this a 371 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:41.160 I'm trying to think of the way to word this, like, 372 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.880 is this should we be excited that they're three and oh? 373 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:45.759 Or is this one of those where it's like, Okay, 374 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:48.200 hold on, pump the Brakes, look at the people that 375 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:50.759 they look at the teams that they've played, barring the Chargers, 376 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:53.559 which going into this game, this last game, the Chargers, 377 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:55.559 I think we're number one or number two defense in 378 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:58.000 the league, and we were able to put up twenty 379 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.960 points on them. But how do you feel about the 380 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:02.559 outlook of this team going forward from what you've seen 381 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:04.759 so far with this three? And oh, is this something 382 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:07.799 in this sustainable? Not that they're going to win every 383 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:10.960 single game, but do you see this being a Steelers 384 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:13.440 team that could be a contender at least in the playoffs? 385 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:16.200 Also as a Chargers team that led the NFL and 386 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:20.000 rushing after a yeah three averaging about eight yards of carry, 387 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:23.039 Steelers held them over two yards of carries. Yeah, so 388 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:26.759 you know, and so yeah on both sides and the like. 389 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:29.359 You said that they've been very good defensively. Now, I 390 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:31.680 think Bosa got hurt the second game, second player the 391 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:35.000 sea of the game, but he didn't play much last 392 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:37.480 week either, So you can't say most is the reason 393 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:39.279 why their defense has been so good. I think it's 394 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:42.000 more been what Jalen Ramsley in that back end has 395 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:46.400 been doing to people. So you know, I think they're 396 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:49.359 I think you still pump the brakes because it's only 397 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:53.200 week three. I'm a blue big believer that you know 398 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:56.400 who your team is after week five. I think that 399 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:00.000 fifth game is generally tells you who your team is. 400 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:02.119 So the Steelers got the Colts this week and they 401 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:05.359