WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.600 Joining us now to kick off the Happy hour. Our 2 00:00:02.600 --> 00:00:05.919 good friend Will Vandervoord from the Clemson Insider, who had 3 00:00:05.919 --> 00:00:08.800 a double header double header duty up there in Pittsburgh 4 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:13.519 this weekend. What's up, my friend? Not better than you, 5 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:15.759 I'll tell you that you had one of the greatest 6 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:18.480 sports weekends I can imagine. We'll get to the Steelers 7 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:20.519 in a minute. Will, by the way, covers the Clemson 8 00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:23.399 Tigers for the Believe in Clemson Football podcast and the 9 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:26.280 Clemson Insider dot com. And he was there in attendance 10 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:30.399 at Akroschure Stadium covering uh what I can just describe 11 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:32.799 as a gritty win by Clemson, and then he stuck 12 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:35.439 around maybe uh maybe camped out in the stadium. I 13 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:40.320 don't know this roomy and really you saw his from 14 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:43.079 what I understand. That was your third Steelers game of 15 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:47.640 the year. Undefeated, undefeated, right, undefeated? 16 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:51.359 Actually yeah, three and zero? Uh, I need the start 17 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:54.640 this season. Which was another game where the Steelers didn't 18 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:58.000 score touchdowns. Then I went to but they won. Then 19 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.560 I went to Denver. Yeah we two. They only scored 20 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:04.159 one touchdown in that game. And then I went to 21 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:09.120 U this game on Sunday and they did score touchdown, 22 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:11.680 but they won. And by the way, so me and 23 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:15.159 my friend Sam and his girlfriend Sonya shout out to Bill. 24 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:17.680 They were with me and my brother was with me 25 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:20.760 also this week with the Ravens game. But the three 26 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:26.280 of us were in Atlanta, no touchdowns, Steelers one. Then 27 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:28.400 the three of us were in Pittsburgh, no touchdowns and 28 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:32.640 Steelers one. It's the first time in franchise history the 29 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:36.040 Steelers have won two games in the same season without 30 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:39.200 scoring a touchdown. And I was out both of them 31 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:41.280 with my buddy Sam and his girl friends Sonya. 32 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:44.400 Did the Steelers to my knowledge, don't do they have 33 00:01:44.439 --> 00:01:45.079 a mascot. 34 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:48.760 They do not have one that's on the field. 35 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:51.120 Who needs to Van Dervoort needs to get a good team. 36 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:54.719 That just a big, a big mascot ahead of Will Vanderbilt. Yeah, 37 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:56.959 and a steel outfit with Will VanderBurg with the grime 38 00:01:57.000 --> 00:01:59.519 and dirt on his hands. That's right, getting the dirty 39 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:02.239 work done. Well. We'll talk to Steelers here in a minute. 40 00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:05.159 But man, what a win it was for Clemson. Look, 41 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:08.800 let's start just with Kate Clubnick in that amazing fifty 42 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:10.599 yard run at the end of the game, and you 43 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:12.240 couple that with the fact that they had to do 44 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:14.800 it that way because the offensive line was in shambles 45 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:18.120 from injuries, guys rotating it out. Antony Williams with a 46 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:20.879 big game, TJ. Parker with a monstrous game, but what 47 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.120 an effort at the end by Clubnick and the growth 48 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:24.479 of this quarterback continues. 49 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:29.240 Yeah, I mean, just a very It was a design 50 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:32.280 quarterback draw and I got to get also give a 51 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:35.240 shout out, and I believe it was Trent Howard the 52 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:38.719 other day that said that at the line of scrimmage, 53 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.120 Ryan Linticum, he's the one who called the blocking scheme 54 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:44.840 that allowed Clubnick to get open. He saw something, he 55 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:48.000 changed it up at the last second before they snapped 56 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:52.120 the ball, and obviously it worked what he saw does 57 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:54.840 It allowed Kay to have a nice lane to go through. 58 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.000 And then also shout out to TJ. Moore too, because 59 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.400 Cade talked about how you know he when cut when 60 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:04.039 he started to cut outside, he saw TJ. Moore had 61 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:06.919 taken the guy and taken him to the right and 62 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:09.560 up the field, which took him straight out to play. 63 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:11.840 It was a great blockdown field by the freshman wide 64 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:14.479 receiver that allowed Cad just have one guy to beat 65 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:17.560 and that was the safety, and he beat him and 66 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:20.520 screwed it up the sideline for the touchdown. So it 67 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:23.319 was a cad made the play, but it was a 68 00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:25.280 bunch of other guys that helped him make the play 69 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:27.759 obviously at the same time. And they all made it 70 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:30.639 when they needed to the most. And John I said this, 71 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:34.199 I've said this a couple of times now. Clemson doesn't 72 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:38.080 win the Virginia Tech game last week, nor the Pittsburgh 73 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:41.360 game last year. If this was last year's team, they 74 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:44.319 don't win either one of these games. But this is 75 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:46.800 a different team. It shows you how far they've come 76 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:49.000 because it's a lot of the same players that played 77 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.639 last year when they lost that MT State and they 78 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.120 played like that. He couldn't make a play when they 79 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:57.000 needed to when they lost at Miami and couldn't make 80 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:59.919 a play against the backup quarterback and backup running back, 81 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.840 and they couldn't make a play. Well this year, they 82 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:04.840 didn't play great in either one of those games, but 83 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:06.639 they found a way to win in the end, and 84 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:09.319 that's all that matters. But like you said, it shows 85 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:12.520 the progression of not only their young quarterback, but of 86 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:14.159 this team and this program as well. 87 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:16.160 It does show a lot of growth, will vanevert when 88 00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:18.720 you look at what they went through last year and 89 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:20.759 a lot of what they went through the last few 90 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:24.680 years with some of the adversity, and obviously last year 91 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.160 being the prime example of just self inflicted mistakes and 92 00:04:28.199 --> 00:04:31.240 the inability to overcome. Like the NC State game comes 93 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:33.879 to mind, we'll get your thoughts on an NC State 94 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:37.399 grad who had a moment on Sunday, Peyton Wilson. I 95 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:40.079 know you were front and center to see that here momentarily, 96 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:43.160 but yeah, you look at the defensive side of the ball. 97 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.240 I mean TJ. Parker Man, I'm just watching that game 98 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.040 and he is flashing everywhere. Four sacks, four and a 99 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:52.319 half tackles for loss, making some history there as a 100 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:55.279 Clemson pass rusher. I mean, you're in attendance for that game. 101 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:58.000 It's got to be mind boggling to just watch what 102 00:04:58.040 --> 00:05:00.639 you're seeing there against a very sound unit in pit. 103 00:05:01.879 --> 00:05:04.120 Well, I knew he had a great game because he 104 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:06.360 was like in the backfield the whole day and he 105 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:08.839 was making tackles and everything, and so I knew he 106 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.959 had a great game. I didn't realize he had a 107 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:13.480 record day you know what I'm saying until I read 108 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:15.519 my game notes, so I'm like, holy man, he had 109 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:18.319 a great He had a record game that game, you know, 110 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:21.519 because when he made the plays there at the end 111 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:23.680 that gave him that allowed him to tie the record 112 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:26.519 and set the record. You know, that was you know, 113 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:28.279 that was at the end of the game because people 114 00:05:28.279 --> 00:05:30.160 weren't really talking about it because you're talking about the 115 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:33.120 end of the game, right so you know, so you 116 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.800 really didn't know that was going on because of what 117 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:38.480 was happening in a moment. And but what a great 118 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:41.720 game by him. He's been playing with Listen, TJ. Parker's 119 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:43.879 played well all year. He's just been getting double team 120 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:46.959 and I think what you saw the reason he was 121 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:48.720 able to play as well as he did. Now, Fifthburgh 122 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:50.839 had some injuries on the offensive line as well. You 123 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:55.279 got to understand that. But I think the growth of 124 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:59.800 kay Deenhoff and a growth of Jahine Lawson at d 125 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:03.560 event helped because they moved Peter Woods inside. He played 126 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:06.319 ninety five percent of that game at defensive tackle. And 127 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:10.439 those two ends really grew up and have grown up, 128 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:12.680 and they showed that in that game where they were 129 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:16.399 actually getting in the backfield themselves and Pittsburgh had to 130 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:20.279 adjust to that, and so it wasn't just chipping on 131 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:22.600 on on, you know, TJ. Park of the whole game 132 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:24.519 and stuff like that. So that allowed him to be PJ. 133 00:06:24.600 --> 00:06:28.160 Parker and he you know, right now, he's second in 134 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:30.439 the ACC and sacks and he's second in the ACC 135 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:33.160 tackles were lost, and he's one of the best in 136 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:35.639 the country at getting to the quarterback. And I think 137 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:37.399 you're going to see that continue to be the case 138 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:40.600 because you're seeing growth of those other two defensive ends 139 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:43.160 on the other side, and that's allowing you know, TJ. 140 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:45.240 Parker to get to make some plays now where early 141 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:48.040 in the season he wasn't able to do that because 142 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:50.040 of how teams were defending him. 143 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.120 Well. Vandervoord, Clemson insider and also the host of the 144 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:56.360 Believe in Clemson Football podcast, is our guest here. We'll 145 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:58.759 talk Steelers with him in a minute. He's a Steeler fanatic. 146 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:01.759 But Clemson moved up three spots in the College Football 147 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:05.199 playoff rankings. Uh, what's your take on that and what's 148 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:08.120 the path forward for Clemson as you understand it in 149 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:10.519 terms of ACC Championship possibilities. 150 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:13.399 Yeah, I mean, Clemson's only pack in the College Football 151 00:07:13.399 --> 00:07:15.519 Playoff is to get into the AC championshgain win it. 152 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:17.720 I mean, they're not. Clemson's not going to get in 153 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.319 that large bid. We know that by now. This is 154 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:22.959 it's heavily favored to the Big ten and SEC and 155 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.519 it's going to be this way for years to come, 156 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:29.680 which is why Clinton needs to leave the ACC because 157 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:32.279 it's just not fair right now for if you're not 158 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:35.920 in those two conferences. With that said, though, just talking 159 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:39.800 about this year in general, you know, right now, Miami, 160 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:43.680 the scenarios of this. You know, Miami will if they 161 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.160 lose one of these next two. It doesn't matter which one. 162 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:50.199 Clemson's in, m Okay, because Clemson's in the clubhouse. They finished. 163 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:53.399 They're they're sitting in the eighteenth t eighteenth hole in 164 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:56.480 the clubhouse. They finished, you know why. You know, Miami 165 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:58.920 and uh and and them were on the seventeenth hole. 166 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:02.480 So at the clubhouse hoping for the best. 167 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:05.279 Yeah, so they're on the seventeenth hole and then and 168 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.839 so the pressure is on those two teams to finish, 169 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:12.560 right because Clemson's in and Clinton knows where it's at. 170 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:16.480 So you know Miami if they lose one of these 171 00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:18.639 next two games, Clemson's in and I want I'm interested 172 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:21.879 how Miami handles the pressure. I'll tell you this much, guys. 173 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:24.839 I'm glad and say, now, okay, Clinton's gonna be the 174 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:28.079 Nation Championship game. And I'm so confident I'm gonna fill 175 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:31.079 out my credential for Nations Championship plone with you, guys. 176 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:33.960 And here's why Miami will lose one of these next 177 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:38.840 two games. Because the ball doesn't lie. And everybody who 178 00:08:38.919 --> 00:08:42.399 knows ball knows Miami had no business winning that Virginia 179 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:45.080 Tech game that they were given that game. And everybody 180 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:48.679 who knows ball knows Miami has no business winning that 181 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:51.960 California game that they were given that game too. And 182 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:53.679 that's not a very good defense. 183 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:56.240 That's Syracuse game that that's the one I'm looking at. 184 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:57.320 That's the word friend. 185 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:59.559 Well, I'm looking at too. I don't think Wake Forest. 186 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:01.519 I think Force is gonna move the football on them 187 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.600 and score on them. But I don't think White Forest 188 00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:05.919 can hang with them. Uh in a in a in 189 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:08.159 a you know, shootout. Weird. 190 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:10.759 A lot of weird things happen in Syracuse, says you 191 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:12.639 know that is an awkward place to play in. Fran 192 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:14.600 Brown's doing a hell of a job at the football team. 193 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:19.159 It's good team, so you know, I think that's where 194 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:21.960 it's going to happen. And you know it's gonna be 195 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.360 on the road. They're gonna be everybody's gonna be against them. 196 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:27.440 You know. I just and I just don't think ball lies. 197 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:30.279 I just don't think it lies. And I think everybody 198 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:33.480 knows Crimson should be in that championship game and not Miami. 199 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:37.200 I think everybody to a man knows that, and and 200 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.840 and I think it will happen. Now Crimpson didn't mess up. 201 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.039 They had their own opportunities. Just you know, if they 202 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:45.159 don't mess up against Louisville, they're playing in the AC 203 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:47.519 championship game. So that is what it is. But I'm 204 00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:50.320 confident Miami's gonna lose because they don't deserve to be in. 205 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:53.559 They don't. They're not the best team in the ACC. 206 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.559 And I don't care what anybody says that they're not. 207 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:58.759 Their defense is not very good at all. I think 208 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:00.840 their defense is giving up Clo the forty points the 209 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:03.600 game and almost five hundred yards the game in act play. 210 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:06.600 That's how bad it is. Okay, it is not a 211 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:09.919 very good defense, and their offense now is great, don't 212 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:11.840 get me wrong. You know, I think I think cam 213 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:14.600 Board is the best quarterback in the league, and I 214 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:16.120 think they got one of the best running backs in 215 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:19.279 the country as well. But they're just not They're not 216 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:20.799 very good on the defense side of the ball, and 217 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:23.799 I don't it's a team game, it's not a one 218 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:26.039 unit game, and I think that's gonna cost them in 219 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:29.200 the end. So yeah, you know, so that's one scenario. 220 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:32.320 The other scenario is the you know, it's the less 221 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.559 likely of the ones. Now. If if SMU loses their 222 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:39.679 next two games, then Clemson's in there as well. But 223 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:44.039 I don't see SMU losing both of those games. I mean, 224 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:46.679 they could, you know, I mean, is a tough team. 225 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:51.039 Tony Elliott has the opportunity to be the most cleansing 226 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.440 man ever this weekend. 227 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:54.919 Yes he does. And it went surprised me to see 228 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.360 Virginia beat him because SMU has been flirting with disaster 229 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:00.559 the last couple of weeks. You know, I say, you 230 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:02.759 go back to last week's game or they almost they 231 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:04.799 should have probably lost to Boston College. You can make 232 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:07.320 a strong argument, and then they definitely should have lost 233 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:10.240 the duke. You know, so they've kind of been flirting 234 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:14.720 with disaster as well, but I think they I just 235 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:18.720 don't see them lose. They're too consistent, you know, They've 236 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:21.279 been too consistent throughout the season where I don't see 237 00:11:21.320 --> 00:11:23.679 them losing back to back games. But if they lose 238 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:27.200 to Virginia, Okay, now here's how Clemson can get in. 239 00:11:27.320 --> 00:11:32.080 If SMU loses to Virginia, if Louisville loses to Pitt 240 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:37.240 which is a possibility, and and Virginia, I mean Virginia 241 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.039 wins the SMU game and Louisville loses the PIT and 242 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:43.759 then Virginia next week beats Virginia Tech, there will be 243 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:46.080 a three way tie for first place in the ACC. 244 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:52.759 Miami automatically goes Clemson goes over SMU because Clinton's would 245 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.399 have beaten a team with a better conference record in Virginia. 246 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:59.519 So that's how Clemson would get in over SMU. And 247 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:05.279 that's so there's two scenarios out there, or three scenarios. 248 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:08.320 One is more likely, that's Miami. The other two are 249 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:10.720 not as likely, but you got to follow it. Hey, 250 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:13.720 my Steeler's gotten in the playoffs with less likely chances 251 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:17.840 the last few years, and so anything can happen. You know, 252 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:20.000 I'll never say it's over till it's over. 253 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:25.000 Will Let's let's get some Steelers talk in here. The Steelers, 254 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:28.320 they're in a pretty unique place as far as quarterback 255 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:32.159 play goes. Obviously, Russell Wilson with that deep moonball, it's beautiful, 256 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:34.519 but you've also got Russell or excuse me, you've also 257 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:38.159 got Justin Fields in there. I've heard chirp and chatter 258 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:40.320 through some of the people in Pittsburgh that cover this 259 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:44.320 team talking about Justin Fields down there in the red zone, dialing. 260 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.840 Up some packages for Justin Fields. 261 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:48.080 How do you feel about that and utilizing him there 262 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:50.879 like not not just in the red zone. But we 263 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:52.799 kind of saw, you know, in Sunday's game against the 264 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:54.960 Ravens where he rushed for that to try and get 265 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:57.399 that first down. Obviously he slid a little early, didn't 266 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.440 get the first down, but dialing up some packages for 267 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.679 Justin Fields, you got him, may as well use him. 268 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:05.720 Yeah, I'll remind you that Justin. The Steelers weren't very 269 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:07.399 good in the red zone with Justin Fields with the. 270 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:09.759 Quarterback right he did have his legs though. 271 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:12.919 Yeah, but I hear it, I get it. But I 272 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:15.399 think you're better with Russell Wilson in the red zone. 273 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.559 When you go back to the last couple of games, 274 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.639 Who's throwing touchdown passes in the red zone? Idiot this game, No, 275 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.639 but you can't give the Ravens credit for that. Like 276 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.120 the Ravens game, the Steelers up very well. But against Washington, 277 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:28.679 he you know, got red zone touchdowns. You know the 278 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:30.840 other two previous games that Justson the Giants, you got 279 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:34.279 redon touchdowns. I'm not worried. You don't need to you 280 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:36.679 need to use Justin Fields. I'm thinking packages out in 281 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:38.639 the middle of the field. But I think when the 282 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:40.360 field shrinks, you got to be able to throw the 283 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:44.159 ball accurately in the red zone when the field shrinks 284 00:13:44.200 --> 00:13:46.679 like that. And and Justin Fields is not that guy, 285 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:49.919 not right now. And that was proven the first six 286 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:52.519 games of the season. And so you know, the Steelers 287 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:54.120 were not good at all in the red zone with 288 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:57.240 Justin Fields. So I say, don't worry about that. I 289 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.039 don't think the Steelers are worried about that. I don't 290 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.639 even think jumped in their head because one of the 291 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:03.240 reasons they liked they went out and got Russell Wilson 292 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:06.080 was because Russell Wilson is very good in the red zone. 293 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:08.960 Twenty of these twenty six passes last year were in 294 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:11.080 the red zone. I think he's already got three red 295 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:14.120 zone touchdown passes this year was with the Steelers. Did 296 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:16.639 he make a stupid mistake the other day? Absolutely did. 297 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.960 I was up there yelling at him more. 298 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.159 Than I don't know. 299 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:21.519 I think Washington goes up to that ball though he might. 300 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:28.879 Yeah, I think he was being held too. But Russell 301 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:31.200 should have known the situation. You just keep the field goal, 302 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:33.120 you know, throw it out of bounce out of the 303 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:35.000 back of the end to kick the field goal. And 304 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:37.240 you know, at that point the Steelers would have an 305 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:39.399 eleven point lead instead of a you know, an eight 306 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:42.200 point lead. Changed the whole dynamics of that game. If 307 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:44.799 he kicks the field goal there, So, you know, got 308 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.519 to be Russell's got to be a little bit more 309 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:48.679 smarter than that. I understand what he was trying to do, 310 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.799 but you can't turn the football over there. You got 311 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:52.559 to get the point, especially in a game like that. 312 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:57.240 And so I'm find I like the way they did though, 313 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:00.600 Russell with with Justin Fields in the game, bringing them 314 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:04.080 in to run those plays and made the Ravens think. 315 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:07.360 I loved how Mike Tomlin did an okie dokee with 316 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:10.279 them when he came out with Justin Fields on to 317 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:12.080 that four on that third one, he came out with 318 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:16.000 Russell Wilson, saw the defensive alignment and then says up 319 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.799 time out, We're gonna put out Justin back in. 320 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:18.360 Yeah. 321 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:21.360 And and even though they still ran Nasee on the play, 322 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.559 it made the Baltimore realize they had to pay attention 323 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:26.919 to what Fields was doing and it totally changed their 324 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:29.639 whole scheme on what they were going to do. And 325 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.720 they had they couldn't call the time out there because 326 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:33.440 they would have burned their last time out, so they 327 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:36.080 had to go with what was on the field. And 328 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:39.720 so smart move by. That's why Mike Tomlin he's a 329 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:42.519 he's a great coach in those situations. Now when it 330 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:47.679 comes to the challenge flag, because there was one sack 331 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:49.960 on the play in that game that would have cost 332 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.519 the Ravens would have got their field goal had Mike 333 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:54.799 Comlin thrown the challenge flag because he was down and 334 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:57.120 we're sitting in the stadium might throw the flag, throw 335 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:01.399 the flag, you know, you know, but anyway, you know. 336 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:03.480 But it was a good, great coaching call. The little 337 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:07.559 Oki dokie did there to the hardball and it pulled. 338 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:09.840 It worked out great, and Justin Field's made the great 339 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:12.600 right read and Nausey gets the first down and the 340 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:15.200 game's over and I was celebrating because you know why 341 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:17.320 they beat the Ravens, man, I hate the Ravens. Yeah, 342 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:19.639 And it was awesome. It was awesome to be in 343 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:21.440 that state. It was a great atmosphere, by the way, 344 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:24.639 it was like the playoff atmosphere. And the Steelers from 345 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:27.840 the moment, you know, about twenty minutes before the game starts, 346 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:30.440 they're getting the crowd amped up, and they do it 347 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.480 throughout the entire game. I mean, it is. It is 348 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:36.120 one of the best marketing things I've seen by any 349 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:38.240 game I've been to. And remember I've been to a 350 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:41.039 lot of games, guys, as you know, covering Yep and 351 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:45.320 going to different NFL stadiums following the Steelers, and trust me, 352 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:49.559 that's the best marketing game I've ever seen. To keep 353 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:52.200 the crowd into the game the entire time where they're 354 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:55.159 just loud and bolsterous and making it really difficult for 355 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:55.919 the visiting team. 356 00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:58.240 How are you feeling about tomorrow Night's game? 357 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:01.200 Obviously coming off a short week, we just just played 358 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:04.319 the Ravens. That's always taxing. They play, they play hard, 359 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:07.160 but it seems like, I think, what's the stat I 360 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:09.160 saw the last like six meetings with the Browns were 361 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:11.480 like one four and one. I believe you think that's 362 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.880 different this year with this offense. And obviously it feels 363 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.119 like this defense. 364 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:18.640 Correct that what you just said, not the last that's 365 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.400 at Cleveland. 366 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:22.359 Oh okay, well yeah, Cleveland. 367 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:27.440 Sorry, it's at Cleveland Bird, So there no time the 368 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:30.000 Browns are one four one overall against within any point 369 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.680 in life of my life. Well, yeah, we had to 370 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.759 make sure that's corrected. 371 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:36.160 But definitely, this defense feels like it's playing on a 372 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.519 whole other level, even even above what we've we were 373 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.839 coming to expect coming into this season with this defense. 374 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:43.000 How do you feel about Mars game? 375 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.920 Yeah, I mean it's I'm not gonna lie to you, 376 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:49.079 it's a trap game because you're playing the Steelers. By 377 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:50.960 the way, they want to give another record to make 378 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:54.680 you feel good. The Steelers are ten and ten coming 379 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:59.400 off the playing the Ravens in a game. So there, 380 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:01.960 that's that's not a good thing. Right Then, to make 381 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.680 it even worse, the Steelers are one in seven on 382 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:09.119 Thursday night football on the road, so uh and and 383 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:11.519 three of those losses are to Cleveland, believe it or not. 384 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:15.640 So so yeah, So the numbers don't are not good, 385 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:22.839 but the good news is Cleveland's awful. Yeah, and Miles 386 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:26.039 Garret did not practice yesterday at a whole status is today, 387 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:28.240 but he did not practice yesterday. He's got some kind 388 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:32.000 of hit pointer or something, they said. Even even if 389 00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:34.359 he does play, he's probably not one hundred percent. So 390 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:37.960 that could bow well for for the Steelers in a Granted, 391 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.799 the Steelers are banged up too because they just played 392 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:43.160 the Ravens, you know, So you know it's gonna be 393 00:18:43.160 --> 00:18:45.039 interesting to see. I think the key tomorrow night for 394 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:47.680 Pittsburgh Tomorrow night against the Browns, they got to stop 395 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:50.119 they gotta start Nick Chubb. I think that they can 396 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:52.599 just slow him down and not let him be any 397 00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:55.519 factor in the game. Then I think the Steelers will win. 398 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:57.200 But you know, he's going to be motivated in this 399 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:58.759 thing because this is the game he got hurt in 400 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:02.440 last year, and actually the last two times he's got 401 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:03.759