00:00:09
Speaker 1: Okay, we can't find Alan Saunders. It's been that kind of week on the show. If you'd like to get calls in earlier than ever, 833-412-WXDX. Maybe there's a breaking story. Yeah, PZ should just talk Kawhi Leonard's agent. Get that money under the table. He can't do viewing parties like I do because he's actually playing, but he could do Penn State viewing parties on Saturdays.
00:00:35
Speaker 2: Okay, we got Alan from SteelersNow.com. It's Alan Saunders.
00:00:40
Speaker 1: Alan, Porter didn't say a lot, did he, when he spoke to the media and certainly didn't commit to playing week one, but I think he got to.
00:00:47
Speaker 2: He got no leverage.
00:00:49
Speaker 3: Yeah, there's really no way out for him or any player in this situation that doesn't end disastrously. We have seen some guys do it anyway. Hassan Redick a couple of years ago, Brandon Iuke right now, like guys have just done things that don't make sense. Yeah. I mean, at least Le'Veon, he got to the end of that year and he could become a free agent. Joey Porter Jr. owes the Steelers at least six games or he can't become a free agent. And so it, It's sort of insane to consider, but we have seen one or two guys over the years do it. Usually when things get real ugly and personal between the players and the team, I don't know that we're real ugly, but certainly there seems to be some conflict in this.
00:01:37
Speaker 2: Why is Porter the one guy they won't pay?
00:01:40
Speaker 1: That's what I don't get after paying all the backups and also Watt and Cam who aren't on the rise like Porter who's only 26.
00:01:46
Speaker 2: It seems random and hard to explain.
00:01:50
Speaker 3: Well, if you look at a lot of the deals the Steelers give out, most of them have a pretty competitive salary, sometimes even a high salary, but a relatively low amount of guaranteed money. And I think that's what Porter is not willing to agree to. I think he wants a significant amount of guaranteed money, more like what T.J. Watt got than, say, what Keanu Benton got. And I think that's why they have been more hesitant to make this deal than I don't know exactly what Porter's asking for, but I think the guarantees is the big difference with this compared to some of the other deals I've done.
00:02:29
Speaker 1: Is that secondary in trouble without Elliott, who I find has been a glue guy but too often hurt?
00:02:37
Speaker 3: I don't know that they're in trouble. I don't know. I don't know how it's all going to play out. There's a lot of moving pieces there. They have some good play. I don't think they should feel real comfortable going into week one. We haven't seen enough from these guys. Ramsey's had two weeks of practice. Bricker had his second practice today, coming back from a training camp injury. Elliott's out now. They haven't had Porter in a team setting in practice yet.
00:03:08
Speaker 4: And so.
00:03:10
Speaker 3: It's real hard to see the whole picture. I think they have a bunch of good players that I like. But until I see them all working together, I don't know that I'm going to call them good. And that's some of their best. Safety was their weakest spot. And then they lost one of their better starters there.
00:03:27
Speaker 2: What exactly?
00:03:28
Speaker 1: Exactly is Jalen Ramsey going to do in that secondary? I hear something called a money backer.
00:03:34
Speaker 2: What is that? And is it Ramsey?
00:03:38
Speaker 3: I don't know. I mean, I think he's going to play a nickel corner for the most part, depending on some matchups.
00:03:43
Speaker 1: In the slot, like the money backer it says here is like a hybrid DB linebacker. I want to keep it simple for the old guy.
00:03:52
Speaker 3: Well, I think the one thing is he's very good. He's very physical. He's a good tackler. He's good up against the run. And he's good when you give him big guys. There are some small slot receivers that I might not feel like Zay Flowers in Baltimore, for example. Their number one guy is an undersized guy who goes in the slot a lot. I don't know how much you want Ramsey covering him man-to-man at this point. But if it's bigger receivers, if it's tight ends, if it's backs out of the backfield, I think he can do all those parts of that job.
00:04:24
Speaker 1: What's the pecking order going to be on the edge? And I'm sure it's not written in stone.
00:04:29
Speaker 3: It's definitely not. I think Herbig is the guy who will move around. They'll flip... Watt and Highsmith more than they have in the past. But in terms of just guys going wherever, I think you'll see Herbig in all sorts of different alignments. He has the most unique skill set of those guys. He's the better cover guy of them. So you can disguise what he's doing a little better. And I think he's a real weapon for Patrick Graham. And then, you know, so, I mean, I think that'll be the way it plays out, but they've got to get Herbig, you know, up, up to, 50% of the snaps, I would think at least. That's going to be hard for them to do, but I think they need to.
00:05:09
Speaker 1: I think he's their best edge guy. You look at the youth factor, I don't think there's any doubt.
00:05:15
Speaker 3: He's definitely the best pure pass rusher.
00:05:17
Speaker 1: Wow, he's the better pure pass rusher right now than the great T.J. Watt.
00:05:23
Speaker 3: Yeah, but he's also significantly smaller than Watt, and he can get pushed around against the run. And I don't think he would not hold up as well as Watt has. to the level of double teams that Watt has faced because he's a much smaller guy. But you get him in one-on-one situations, he's very, very good.
00:05:41
Speaker 2: Who's the number three receiver?
00:05:43
Speaker 1: There have been mixed reviews on Wilson and Bernard during camp, but Rodgers put them both over when he spoke yesterday, didn't he?
00:05:51
Speaker 3: Rodgers has been talking about Roman Wilson since the very first day of training camp, like he's a different player. I thought Roman was very good in camp. It did not necessarily translate to the preseason game, I think Roman will be much better. He's, to me, held off Bernard so far. Bernard is a very mature rookie. He does not make a lot of big, bad mistakes. He's really strong and tough and hard to bring down. I don't think he is as fast as Wilson. And I don't think... Metcalf and Pittman at this point of their careers are necessarily scaring people with their speed either. And I think one of the reasons the team really wants Wilson out there is to give somebody some fear of some kind of deep threat on this team or somebody that you have to account for their speed. I think he's really the best option they have for that. And I think that's why they really want him out there. But I think Bernard's going to play at least some right away, and I think he'll probably eat into Wilson's share as the season goes on.
00:06:53
Speaker 1: You don't sense any shenanigans this year where Rodgers gets, like, MVS brought back, something like that, do you?
00:07:00
Speaker 3: I could see him being brought back to the practice squad. I don't really love the depth of the outside receiver. Almost all the rest of the guys are best suited to the first two. I don't know what would happen to Matt Pepper or Pittman not having MVS around as a backup would be fine by me, but beyond that, no, I wouldn't expect it.
00:07:20
Speaker 2: Who's going to be the preferred targets? Give me a one, two, three.
00:07:25
Speaker 3: I think it might be Metcalf, Friermuth, Warren, and then maybe Wilson and then Pittman. Here's the thing about Pittman is that I don't think he's going to be a high volume guy in terms of like plays that are designed to get him the ball. But I think he's a very important piece of, to keep defenses honest. They're going to call a lot of plays that are designed for D.K. Metcalf. And if the defenses are overcompensating when that happens, Pittman's there to make them pay. I don't think he's necessarily there to be this guy who's designed to get a big part of the offense. I do think Christy Fryer moves a lot more in the middle of the field. It seems like McCarthy really likes to work there. I think that's where he's best, and he's definitely been underutilized in his time in Pittsburgh.
00:08:13
Speaker 2: Now, you mentioned Jalen Warren.
00:08:14
Speaker 1: I feel like Dowdle is RB1, and Warren might be minimized more and more as the season goes on. It doesn't sound like you think that.
00:08:23
Speaker 3: I think Dowdle is RB1 ball carrier, but I think Warren inherits the Kenny Gingwell role with 72 targets last year. I think he's going to be a big part of the passing offense. Dowdle is not a particularly big He's willing. He's a tough guy. But just technique-wise, Warren is much, much, much more refined. And you've got a 42-year-old quarterback. So I think any time you're in a passing situation, Dale Warren's going to be in the game. And I think this is a passing offense. So I think that's going to be a lot of the time.
00:08:55
Speaker 1: What are the realistic expectations for Aaron Rodgers, like you said, at 42 years old?
00:09:02
Speaker 3: I think he can be better than he was last year. I think this offense is better suited... to play to his strengths. I don't think he's going to be anywhere near the MVP player he was in his past. I think the real question will be, can they protect him a little bit better? And will he trust that protection a little bit more? There were times last year when they were not a good pass-blocking offensive line overall, but I still felt like there were times where he was just a little bit too quick to get rid of the ball, a little bit hesitant to let things develop. And I think if he trusts the offensive line a little bit more and they play a little bit better, I think there's a real chance he could be a good bit better than he was last year.
00:09:45
Speaker 1: I agree, Alan, but in that vein, will he trust that offensive line more? Is that O-line coming together? Because it seems like, I think it's a talented line. I think right now it's having trouble getting in sync. How long is that going to take and is mccarthy have options if it needs fixed.
00:10:04
Speaker 3: Well you got no matter what zach frazier is going to be the only guy walking out there on the field on september 13th who's in the same spot he was on january whatever when they lost to the houston texans so i mean some growing pains i think are It's going to happen. That's for sure. You're seeing Troy Fautano play left tackle at the NFL level for the first time. There's going to be some tough moments in that transition. I also think he's a really talented young player. I loved his year last year, and I think he's a future cornerstone of this line. It's just a question of how quickly he can get there. Mason McCormick is a rock. I feel very good about him next to Frazier. Anderson is not a super talented guy in terms of the top of the upside, but I think he's proven over the reps he's played in his career that you should feel at least like you know what you're going to get out of him. He's a high floor guy anyway. And we'll see what happens at right tackle. I think Max Ahanachor is... still making a push to start there. And I think Dylan Cook sets a pretty high bar for a rookie tackle to pass. So if he does pass him, that's a pretty good situation.
00:11:11
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with all that.
00:11:12
Speaker 1: I think the talent is there, but it has to coalesce quick because I think if they're not five and three by the by, they're in trouble. I think they have to be at least that and six and two would be preferred. So it has to work right away. Like if they would lose game one to Atlanta, that wouldn't just be game one.
00:11:28
Speaker 2: It would really smack of disaster.
00:11:32
Speaker 3: They have to start fast. There's no question. The schedule in those first five or six weeks after the bye is just brutal. And the other thing is, okay, the worst team on their schedule is probably Cleveland. The two Cleveland games are Thursday night after a trip to Cincinnati and the week they come home from Paris. Yeah, that's a bad team, but those aren't going to be easy games because of that situation. And, you know, Cleveland always gets up for Pittsburgh. And there aren't a lot of other just jokers on this schedule. It's teams that can beat you if you don't play well. The whole NFC South, which they play, is sort of like that, where you know all those teams are going to be about 500. Seems like that's what they do every year. There's not a lot of room for error, I think, is the thing that really stands out. So a game like getting Atlanta at home week one, they're not even sure right now who their starting quarterback is. That's a game, if the Steelers are going to be a playoff team, they kind of have to win.
00:12:25
Speaker 1: Tom and I were talking before, I think with a new coach and a new coaching staff, that the old guard isn't owed anything. Do you think that's how these coaches are thinking, and will they just coach without regard to how players might feel who have been.
00:12:38
Speaker 3: Here a while? I think they were pretty cognizant of when they came in, finding ways to get guys to buy in. I think they did kind of go out of their way to try to find that buy-in, but I don't think they're going to coach that way as the season goes on. I think that was a project for the off season to say, okay, here's who we are. Here's what we're all about. Here's what we think we can do better than you've done in the past. And here's why we think you should, should have faith in us. And, and, and we want to grow faith in you. I don't know that that's going to mean that they're going to call plays come October, November, December, based on what guys have done in years past. I think the resume is one thing, but anytime you have a new coaching staff, you're going to have to show them. I think they've seen that play out with a number of guys. Mason Rudolph came in, and Mike McCarthy... Throughout OTAs, I don't think he said one word about Mason Rudolph. It was like he wasn't on the team. And then he got to training camp, and by the third or fourth week of training camp, he was saying, you know what, Mason Rudolph's a lot better player than I thought he was. He's not going to go on the resume. He's going to go on what's happened this year.
00:13:54
Speaker 1: Alan, great stuff, great work at the. com, and we'll talk again real soon, I hope.
00:13:59
Speaker 3: Thanks, Mark.
00:14:00
Speaker 1: That's Alan Saunders from Steelers. They changed that website name. They have anyway. Pittsburgh Steelers now. That's where he's from and he does good work. Up next, we're going to hear from Greg Cosell on the NFL Network making an obvious statement about Porter and his value to the Steelers that I think people aren't looking at, the consequences if he doesn't play, and even if he plays this year, if they don't keep him beyond this year, or if they trade him now, which I think more and more might happen. And so he's talking about Porter. Then at the bottom of the hour, we've got Trey Essex, ex of the Steelers. He's got a couple rings, 105.9.
00:14:40
Speaker 2: Parkway West outbound jams the Fort Pitt Tunnel out.
00:14:42
Speaker 3: Little guy. I'd love to get the ball to say what you want to say.
00:14:46
Speaker 2: Very good point.
00:14:47
Speaker 3: The X at 105.9.
00:14:55
Speaker 2: It's Madden on the X. Here's a random baseball note.
00:14:59
Speaker 1: Jacob Mizorowski had a bad night for Milly Wacke last night. went four innings, allowed five earned runs. His ERA is all the way up to 1.97. Mizorowski has no pulse gains. Let's get back to talking about the Porter situation. Here's Greg Cosell on the NFL Network making a real good point about Joey Porter Jr.
00:15:24
Speaker 2: And the Steelers.
00:15:26
Speaker 3: He's a corner with high-level traits.
00:15:28
Speaker 5: He's got size, length, and really high-level traits.
00:15:30
Speaker 3: There's not 100 of those guys in the league. You know me. I don't get involved. I don't know what the numbers are.
00:15:36
Speaker 5: But at the end of the day, obviously, he's quote-unquote property of the Steelers. But if he were available, he'd sign for a ton of money. There's not a lot of guys with those kinds of traits in the league. He's a really solid NFL corner with high-level traits. And if he's not playing for the Steelers, they're pretty thin at the corner position.
00:16:00
Speaker 3: Bingo.
00:16:01
Speaker 1: That's the big thing about Porter and paying him or not. Porter will get $ 30 million somewhere at some point, barring grievous injury. So if Porter leaves via trade or however, the Steelers will have been physically prudent.
00:16:17
Speaker 2: At least in their own eyes.
00:16:20
Speaker 1: But will have run off their legit number one cornerback, and you can't teach that.
00:16:27
Speaker 2: That's the choice.
00:16:29
Speaker 1: Save money and be crap at cornerback, or have a really good cornerback. I know what I'd pick, but the Steelers are an organization of idiots.
00:16:40
Speaker 2: Here's ex-Steeler Bryant.
00:16:42
Speaker 1: McFadden on CBS talking about an obvious Steeler weakness, and that's inside backer.
00:16:48
Speaker 6: The biggest concern for me with Pittsburgh is the off-ball linebacker position, the second-level guys. You know, you got Queen, you got Wilson, 41, Wilson.
00:17:00
Speaker 4: Yeah.
00:17:01
Speaker 6: And you have depth concerns. You know, they brought back a Landon Roberts, but they cut him. You know, I think a guy like him who can be a muscle, you know, is needed. But the depth concerns at that position, at the off-ball linebacker outside of Queen, And Wilson, I'm a big concern with.
00:17:19
Speaker 1: I'm not concerned with the depth. I'm concerned about Queen and Wilson. They're two of a kind, too finesse-y, even soft. But Peyton Wilson thinks he's all set. Let's hear what he had to say.
00:17:33
Speaker 7: Honestly, it starts in our LB room. We're actually really tight. You know, in the years past, not to say that we weren't tight, but I feel like there was maybe a little more selfishness within the rooms and things, but You know, we were really tight as an LB unit and just they kind of empowered me in a sense, you know, just to go play ball. And then also just PG, his schematics, the way he coaches it. I'm finally just getting back to playing ball rather than, hey, if you make a mistake, they might take you out. Or, hey, if if you do this wrong, you might come out the game and you don't know when you're.
00:18:09
Speaker 2: Yeah. That last part, Wilson thinks it won't happen.
00:18:15
Speaker 4: It could.
00:18:17
Speaker 2: I bet B.
00:18:18
Speaker 1: John Robinson embarrasses Peyton Wilson week one against Atlanta, and Peyton Wilson doesn't start after that.
00:18:27
Speaker 2: That B.
00:18:28
Speaker 1: John turns Wilson into roadkill. Peyton Wilson talks too much for a guy who ain't done bupkis. Remember when Wilson said he's the best cover inside backer in football? Well, we're going to find out because Robinson is his guy week one. And Bijon can catch and carry. But forget about catch and carry. Let's talk about cash and carry as in winning money at the BetParks app.
00:18:58
Speaker 2: College football is upon us. Week one is here.
00:19:02
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00:19:21
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00:19:21
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00:19:26
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00:19:26
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00:19:28
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00:19:28
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00:20:16
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00:20:17
Speaker 1: Terms and conditions apply. Get the details at betparks.com. Casino bonus must be wagered. You got a gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Should we be worried about the Steelers' offensive line and it not gelling like had been hoped? The guy to talk about that is two-time Super Bowl winner Trey Essex. He was in the trenches with the black and gold, and he joins me next on 105.9.
00:20:44
Speaker 3: It's the Woody Show. Weekday mornings at 6.
00:20:47
Speaker 1: Listen to The X at home, at work, anytime on the iHeartRadio app.
00:20:51
Speaker 3: 105.9, The X.
00:20:53
Speaker 1: The most talked about music festival on the planet.
00:20:56
Speaker 2: Is now even bigger.
00:20:58
Speaker 3: Just added to the lineup.
00:21:00
Speaker 2: Smashing pumpkins. There's been a lot going on with the offensive line. Joining me now.
00:21:05
Speaker 1: A man who won two rings in the trenches for the black and gold. Always a pleasure to talk to Trey Essex. Trey, are we officially worried yet about the O-line? Because it doesn't suck, but I don't think it's where they need it to be.
00:21:21
Speaker 4: Worried is probably a strong word. I'm not worried, but it does suck. Viva calls for concern. It's a young group.
00:21:28
Speaker 9: Granted, this group I thought was one of the stronger groups towards the end of last year, but essentially it's a new group because you've got the right side on the left side now, and the right side is brand new. And so, yes, there's a lot of question marks, a lot of unknown, but I'm not worried yet.
00:21:44
Speaker 1: If he's healthy, would you start Maxi on a chore at right tackle week one because the reviews for Dylan Cook at camp have been mixed?
00:21:53
Speaker 9: Without a doubt. You drafted this guy. I think physically he already looks the part.
00:21:58
Speaker 4: The man is humongous.
00:22:00
Speaker 9: I was really surprised by how big that number 71 looked when I finally saw.
00:22:03
Speaker 4: Him on the field.
00:22:05
Speaker 9: But he showed me enough against Buffalo that hopefully with some fine-tuning the next 12 days that he'll be ready to go week one. Because his upside is far-seized weight. Anything that Dylan Cook has done this preseason.
00:22:17
Speaker 4: And so.
00:22:18
Speaker 9: I think that's why they had Dillon go left tackle for the majority of the Buffalo game, so he can get those swing tackle reps in, because up to that point, he hadn't had any left tackle reps. So I think that's what the coaches are seeing, and I think IMAX is your starter week one.
00:22:32
Speaker 1: Are you at all concerned about Fatano adjusting to left tackle? Because there's no doubt the talent's there, but it's been a slow adjustment.
00:22:41
Speaker 8: Yeah.
00:22:41
Speaker 9: Actually, this last, well, the Jets game, he didn't play against Buffalo. I thought he was the best. was a big improvement from the week one game versus Green Bay. And so I think it just took a couple of game reps for him to get there. But without a doubt, I think he's going to be a pro bowler at the left tackle mark. The talent is there. The attitude is there. And he got his buddy to his right in Mason. So he got that chemistry working, too. And so I think it's all going to work out when it's all said and done.
00:23:06
Speaker 1: Here's my one disclaimer about the O-line, because I'm like you. I'm mildly concerned. But.
00:23:12
Speaker 2: You've got to win early. You've got to beat Atlanta week one. That's a game you've got to get a W.
00:23:17
Speaker 1: And you've got a 42-year-old quarterback who we can't have be injured. Right.
00:23:23
Speaker 4: And you have to run the ball. You've got two wide receivers who haven't practiced.
00:23:27
Speaker 9: And so you're number one, two, and then your 42-year-old quarterback hasn't played any games.
00:23:32
Speaker 4: So you know the passing game is going to take some time.
00:23:34
Speaker 9: I don't care how long A-Rod has played and how much veteran experience Pittman and BK have.
00:23:40
Speaker 4: It's going to take time. to get going.
00:23:42
Speaker 9: And with that being said, you try not to lean on that running game early. And so I think that's another reason why you start Max Young and Troy, because the quickest way to get a young group on the same page is to run the ball and run the ball over and over again. And I think that's the strength of this whole line right now.
00:23:57
Speaker 1: Yes, couldn't agree more. And in that vein, I like Rico Doddle, and I think he's going to be RB1. And I'm not anti-Jalen Warren by any means, Trey, but I bet Doddle usurps more snaps than we're thinking right now.
00:24:12
Speaker 9: I think he gets more snaps, but I truly think it's going to be a hot hand type of issue, type of situation. Whatever running back rips off the first successful run, that coach is going to keep him in and see if he's going to have the game that run would dictate. But I do imagine that the split load, by the end of the year, I think Jalen will have more touches because I think he'll be more involved in the passing game. But as far as running back totes, I'm with you. I think Rico might take the lion's share in that department.
00:24:42
Speaker 1: Warren clearly is a better receiver than Donald, but I don't think Donald's a slot there either, Trey.
00:24:47
Speaker 2: And Warren's a better pass protector, correct?
00:24:50
Speaker 4: Correct, correct.
00:24:52
Speaker 1: Now, what does a power back like Donald do for the O-line? Is it a different kind of blocking? You talk about building confidence as an offensive line. I would think a power back might hasten that process.
00:25:06
Speaker 9: It does, because with the power back, you have running plays that are called that would usually be downhill. You got power. We got what we call 22 double, which is two double teams. All the way back to the middle linebacker and the weak sidebacker. These are the type of plays you run with the Rico Donald, the ones that are downhill, no bones about it. We're going to get three yards in the cloud of dust. And what it does is it really brings out those middle linebackers and safeties into the box. And you already know A-Rod is at his best when play action is working and working well. And so in order to do that, obviously you've got to get the run game going. But with a guy like Rico Donald, and I think Jalen Warren can do it too, with the power back. You run specific type of plays that lend itself to play action passes and some big plays downfield in the passing game.
00:25:54
Speaker 1: We're talking to Trey Essex, two-time Super Bowl champion here on 105.9 The X. Rodgers is 42. That can't be denied. Can you have a big year at that age? Is it possible? Or are we just going to hope for a better year than last year?
00:26:10
Speaker 9: We've got to hope for a better year. He's not going to blow the barn doors off anybody. We just hope that he does enough to let the other players on this team shine.
00:26:17
Speaker 4: So you hope that he does. He's not going to turn the ball up. You know that.
00:26:22
Speaker 9: You don't want it to get to a point where the offense looks open and not dangerous.
00:26:26
Speaker 4: That defense's game plan, like they have been the last four or five years. And so A-Rod showed some flashes that he can still get the ball downfield.
00:26:34
Speaker 9: And with big possession receivers like DK and Michael Pittman, you would think in this offense with the way McCarthy likes to go and push the ball downfield, that that will be A-Rod's go-to. But it's going to be tough for him to have some kind of monumental MVP caliber season.
00:26:50
Speaker 4: All we want from him is to be good.
00:26:52
Speaker 9: He could be the second-best quarterback in the AFC North.
00:26:54
Speaker 2: It's a win.
00:26:55
Speaker 4: A hell of a win.
00:26:56
Speaker 2: Well, that's a big ask, though, with Lamar and Burrow, ain't it?
00:27:00
Speaker 4: Hell of an ask, yes. It's an ask. Don't get me wrong.
00:27:02
Speaker 9: But, I mean, that would be more than what we were expecting. Obviously, he's got to be at least third, but he needs to be competing to be that second-best quarterback in order for the Steelers to have a good season.
00:27:14
Speaker 4: No, agreed.
00:27:14
Speaker 1: And I'm going to go off on a bit of a sidebar here. They're going to have Lamar run the ball less. I think that makes him a worse quarterback. I think he has to run the ball, whether it's on a called play or on an improvisation, for.
00:27:29
Speaker 2: Him to be the quarterback he is. It reminds me of when the Steelers, when B.A.
00:27:34
Speaker 1: Left and Ben was taking less chances, it kept him upright, but he wasn't quite as effective.
00:27:41
Speaker 9: It's his superpower. It literally is his superpower. Now, granted, he can still throw the ball. He's one of the better passers in the league, but nobody can do With the ball, with his legs, it's what Lamar can do. Nobody, nobody has, nobody, it's going to be hard to find somebody that can. And so if you take that away from him, he becomes just like any other good quarterback. But his legs are what make him unique. And if they take that away from him and don't get him to the full effect, then that works in our favor.
00:28:09
Speaker 1: What's your take on the Porter situation? I'm on Porter's side. I think he should get paid. I think he's a $ 30 million quarterback. But at any rate, if he don't get an extension, he's still got to play.
00:28:20
Speaker 2: He has no leverage, right?
00:28:23
Speaker 4: He has to play. I mean, you can risk sitting.
00:28:26
Speaker 9: Out and then hoping that maybe your resume up to this point still gets you paid. But if you still want the big dollars, you've got to bet on yourself. He still gets paid. He's getting paid this year. And if he sits out, he won't get paid, simply put. But if he wants that big contract, and despite the fact that he has earned it up to this point, if it doesn't work out for him before the season starts, he still has to play. And he has to play at a high level because they will use that. Any kind of down year, any kind of pedestrian approach to the season, they will use that in negotiations next year, obviously.
00:28:58
Speaker 1: No, I don't think Porter would give anything less than 100% regardless of the circumstances. Maybe lack of practice time. would make him start a bit slow, but I trust him to give full effort.
00:29:09
Speaker 2: I just think the Steelers got to pay him, Trey.
00:29:11
Speaker 1: I don't see how it's avoidable because they've never had a true number one cornerback. They finally got one, and I hear people say, well, trade him to get a first-round pick, but I don't trust this team with first-round picks.
00:29:25
Speaker 4: I don't understand that thought process.
00:29:27
Speaker 9: You have what you need right there in JPJ.
00:29:30
Speaker 4: Just pay him the money.
00:29:31
Speaker 9: He did what you asked him to do. So do what you're supposed to do, what any good team does, with their good players and what we've done traditionally in the past, and that's pay our players. I'm just befuddled at how long this has taken because by all accounts, JP Jay is a company man. He does everything the right way, and he had his biggest year last year, and this defense is so much better when he's on the field. This pass rush is so much better when he's on the field, and I'm sure Jamal Dean, his running mate, and Asante Senor will be better with him on the field.
00:30:03
Speaker 4: And with the.
00:30:04
Speaker 9: Uncertainty at safety on top of that, not knowing who's going to be manning our back half because we don't have Deshaun Elliott the first four weeks, we need JPJ in there.
00:30:13
Speaker 4: We need him running at full speed.
00:30:16
Speaker 1: As you said, Porter says the right things. He's not made a big fuss over this. He's said a few kind of innocuous, kind of contradictory things, but nothing bad, nothing to cause controversy.
00:30:27
Speaker 2: Should he maybe cause controversy?
00:30:30
Speaker 1: Because the track record with his team shows if you cause controversy, you get paid.
00:30:33
Speaker 9: He is, but I mean, that's going to distract from him. That's not his personality. I know some would call it a shrewd business move, but he has to go about it the way that he feels is best.
00:30:46
Speaker 4: And this is his approach. It has been his approach. This is his personality. He don't want to do anything wrong. outside of who you are in order to get a dollar. Because ultimately, at the end of the day, you've got to look yourself in the mirror.
00:30:58
Speaker 9: You don't want to be one of those guys that just put on and do all these answers just to get paid because that's not.
00:31:02
Speaker 4: Who you are, and you don't want to be perceived as that.
00:31:04
Speaker 2: No, I quite agree with that, actually. That's well put. Now, you know his dad. What do you think PZ's telling the kid?
00:31:15
Speaker 9: I think, I mean, it's a different situation. Totally different than what... Peezy had to go through and so I'm not sure what kind of advice I'm not sure what kind of advice I can give him if he was my son because it's a different day and age and fortunately we have negotiated with the Steelers before he had negotiated but for Peezy when he when it came to contract time they let him go he went to Miami to play and um obviously we don't want that to happen with his son and so I don't know what kind of advice Peezy has given but he might just be one of those dads that are just staying hands off I would imagine.
00:31:51
Speaker 2: Broderick Jones got traded.
00:31:53
Speaker 1: He's in the mix to start at right tackle for Dallas, and good for him.
00:31:56
Speaker 2: I hope he does well.
00:31:58
Speaker 1: Did the Steelers blow it with him by switching him side to side? I think they took his confidence away. I think he should have been the left tackle from day one, Trey. Should they have handled Broderick Jones any different?
00:32:11
Speaker 9: I mean, hindsight is 20-20, and yes, they should have handled him differently. Now, There are some tackles, and everybody was like, he's a first-round draft pick. He should be able to switch sides.
00:32:22
Speaker 4: Obviously, he couldn't. And so the coaches did not. They tried to fit a square. What's the thing? A square?
00:32:29
Speaker 2: Square peg in a round hole.
00:32:31
Speaker 4: Yeah, they tried to do that with him, but that's not him. And something that I.
00:32:35
Speaker 9: Thought Russ Graham, who was an excellent O-line coach, taught me early on is that you can't coach every O-line in the same. Just because two guys are 6'6, 330, Doesn't mean they're going to move the same. Doesn't mean they're going to punch the same. Doesn't mean they're going to play the same position the same.
00:32:49
Speaker 4: Every athlete is different.
00:32:50
Speaker 9: And it's your job as a coach to figure out which way, what position can we put him in to get the most out of him.
00:32:57
Speaker 4: And they didn't do that with them.
00:32:59
Speaker 1: Trey, before we wrap up, you're a big college football guy, a proud Northwestern grad. What about this stuff with NFL guys getting cut? or leaving camp and coming back to college football. I don't think there's any good to be had from doing that, except for the player with NIL money. But with all the NIL money and the transfer portal, it seems to be the next step.
00:33:24
Speaker 9: Yeah, it really is hurting the high school kids and the high school game in a big way.
00:33:31
Speaker 4: And it sucks. Like, this is just a wild, wild west.
00:33:35
Speaker 9: The state of college football and It's just a mess, and it's sad to see that it's gotten to this point because it could have been prevented a long time ago if the NCAA was about their business the right way and not being so damn greedy. But we are here now, and we're seeing all this ridiculousness happen, and it's taken away from the beauty and the pageantry of college sports.
00:33:56
Speaker 4: It's taken away from the excitement.
00:33:58
Speaker 1: No question about that, but I can't villainize the kids who try to do it because NIL money is going to be better than a practice squad paycheck, right?
00:34:08
Speaker 9: Yeah, a lot of these cats are coming to the NFL and taking a pay cut at this point. So I don't not hustle at all. You're like, go back, get that money. But, I mean, there should be rules in place that a 25, 26-year-old should not be able to come back and line up against an 18-year-old.
00:34:24
Speaker 2: What do you think, Trey?
00:34:24
Speaker 1: Could you give Northwestern a few more snaps if they called you?
00:34:28
Speaker 3: No, maybe two.
00:34:30
Speaker 9: Maybe two snaps on the goal line.
00:34:32
Speaker 3: And that's it.
00:34:33
Speaker 4: After that, I'm done.
00:34:34
Speaker 1: I used to say that about Mel Blunt, who I know you've met. I would say Mel Blunt looks like he could still play. Mel said to me one time, I ran to him, he goes, I heard what you said. I could give you one snap, exactly one snap.
00:34:47
Speaker 4: And probably knock your block off, too.
00:34:49
Speaker 1: No question about that. Trey, as always, great stuff, great work on the podcast with Charlie, and we'll talk again real soon.
00:34:54
Speaker 4: Appreciate it, Mark. Have a good one.
00:34:57
Speaker 2: That's Trey Essex.
00:34:58
Speaker 1: Great insight from him, just like you'd expect from a Northwestern guy. I should have applied to Northwestern. I should have got out of town. Anyway, time to ask Mark anything. Mark, why didn't you leave Pittsburgh to go to school somewhere else? Why'd you live at home and go to Duquesne? That'd be a good question to ask Mark. 833-412-WXDX. Ask Mark anything. 833-412-WXDX. Or you can leave a talkback via the microphone icon at the iHeartMedia app.
00:35:28
Speaker 2: 105.9.
00:35:30
Speaker 3: It's the Woody Show. Weekday mornings at 6.
00:35:32
Speaker 2: But if you're none the wiser, does it really matter?
00:35:34
Speaker 3: On 105.9, the X.
00:35:35
Speaker 2: It's here the Labor Day tradition continues.
00:35:41
Speaker 9: My last nerve.
00:35:41
Speaker 1: You say that like you think I would remotely give a dump.
00:35:45
Speaker 2: But do go on. The X at 105.9.
00:35:52
Speaker 1: Terrific stuff just now from Trey Essex. Always great to have him on. Now it's time to ask Mark anything. And that's brought to us by, by, by People's Natural Gas. Reminding you to call 8-1-1 before you dig.
00:36:07
Speaker 3: Dig.
00:36:08
Speaker 1: Even landscaping work requires you to call 8-1-1. Get more info at peoples-gas.com. As we mentioned, Buccos won today. That's the third series in a row they've won. They're still like, what, four and a half games out of a playoff spot with a bunch of teams to jump over. Maybe they're capable of making a run. I'd rather doubt it. They're in the exact scenario I said early in the year they couldn't conquer. I thought they had to build a cushion and then kind of bleed the season out to get a playoff berth. So I stand by my analysis, but it's good to see them playing at least halfway decent baseball. And by way of a little shot in the arm, Connor Griffin is expected to be available to play tomorrow after being activated.
00:36:52
Speaker 2: Let's go to Bob. Bob, ask Mark anything.
00:36:55
Speaker 3: Yeah, hey, Bob.
00:36:57
Speaker 8: Um, Mark, I was going to ask, what did you think about Earl Hall and shaving his head?
00:37:00
Speaker 4: Uh, I think that hair was such a, uh, trademark and it was like a Troy Palomaro thing.
00:37:06
Speaker 3: And also, what do you think about him?
00:37:07
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:37:10
Speaker 2: You know, I wish he would have.
00:37:11
Speaker 1: Yeah, but. I'm not going to say I wish he would have sliced his juggler, but maybe his Achilles tendon by accident. Yeah, that's his trademark. But now being the bald guy is his trademark. Early Holland, who, again, I can't scan, but he scores goals and he's got charisma.
00:37:25
Speaker 2: So I don't think he can put a foot wrong. Let's go to Harry in Westview.
00:37:30
Speaker 1: Mark, what's your favorite animal when you go to the zoo to look at?
00:37:32
Speaker 2: I haven't been to the zoo in like 30 or 35 years. What's yours?
00:37:37
Speaker 1: I like the gorillas.
00:37:40
Speaker 4: I just like how they pick up stuff, throw it around, and, you know, I can't believe we came from them.
00:37:46
Speaker 1: I've been to the aviary on the north side more recently. I like looking at birds better.
00:37:52
Speaker 4: I've never been to the aviary.
00:37:54
Speaker 2: I like to see a cockatoo or three. Let's go to Jerry. Jerry, you're on with Double M.
00:38:00
Speaker 4: Double M, what's happening?
00:38:01
Speaker 2: What up, man?
00:38:04
Speaker 8: I want to just ask you who your celebrity crush is.
00:38:07
Speaker 1: Well, I've always said that there's a kind of a list. I keep loosely in my head of the best looking woman in the world. I'm not even sure where it is right now, but like at one time it was Shannon Elizabeth. And, uh, but one time it was Jamie Presley. Um, and of course on the male side of the street, Zach Efron now and forever.
00:38:27
Speaker 4: Yeah.
00:38:28
Speaker 3: I don't disagree with you there.
00:38:30
Speaker 2: How could you, let's go to Peyton Peyton. Ask Mark anything.
00:38:35
Speaker 4: What's up, Mark? Mr.
00:38:36
Speaker 8: Madden.
00:38:37
Speaker 4: Um, So, I was wondering, do you think the Penguins should already.
00:38:42
Speaker 8: Be considering re-signing Eric Carlson to help develop these young forwards?
00:38:47
Speaker 1: No.
00:38:48
Speaker 3: Young forwards?
00:38:49
Speaker 2: What do you mean develop young forwards? You mean young defensemen?
00:38:52
Speaker 6: You need a quarterback back there that can pass the ball.
00:38:54
Speaker 1: No, I think the sooner they get rid of a lot of these old bastards, the better. And that's no offense to them, but no, I would not re-sign Eric Carlson. I would make Harrison Brunick... The next Eric Carlson, hopefully. I mean, that's far-fetched, but I would give him that spot. The only old guy I want to keep around indefinitely is Sid. But they've gone way past that because they're selling nostalgia now. Why would you resign Eric Carlson? He's not won a playoff series here. He's only made the playoffs once. I thought he played very good this past year. But what do you think the upside is to keeping all these old guys around indefinitely?
00:39:28
Speaker 3: Well, he can skate and pass the puck still.
00:39:33
Speaker 7: And the other guys are really aging out.
00:39:34
Speaker 4: I think Carlson's like the youngest old guy that can still play.
00:39:38
Speaker 2: No, he's not. No, he's not.
00:39:40
Speaker 3: He's 37.
00:39:40
Speaker 1: What do you mean youngest old guy? Although, I'll tell you, you're exactly what the Penguins want their fans to be.
00:39:46
Speaker 2: Old guys forever. Old guys forever.
00:39:49
Speaker 3: Old, older, oldest. Old, older, oldest.
00:39:53
Speaker 2: Let's go to a talkback.
00:39:57
Speaker 3: What's worse, Pekka Rinne getting a statue or the Senators retiring Chris Neal's number?
00:40:04
Speaker 2: The Senators retired Chris Neal's number? Oh, he was a bum. He was beloved, but he's a bum. Here's the thing, though. Ottawa, how many Stanley Cups they got?
00:40:15
Speaker 7: Zero.
00:40:15
Speaker 3: Zero.
00:40:17
Speaker 1: Nashville, how many Stanley Cups they got?
00:40:19
Speaker 3: Zero.
00:40:21
Speaker 1: And when you don't win, you've got to find other ways to hype your team and sell tickets.
00:40:26
Speaker 2: And events like that help.
00:40:29
Speaker 1: And that's why the Penguins are going to start retiring a bunch of numbers, because they're not going to win again any time in the near future. It's just the financial realities of running a sports team, especially in hockey, where ticket revenue still means, well, more in that sport than it does in any other.
00:40:47
Speaker 2: Let's go to a talkback.
00:40:48
Speaker 4: Mark, was there any moves wrestlers hated?
00:40:51
Speaker 3: I imagine the chop on the chest didn't feel too good.
00:40:56
Speaker 1: No, chop on the chest, I mean, it hurts, but it's not going to kill you. What's that move Samoa Joe used to do? The muscle buster. I know guys taking that didn't like it. It's considered a dangerous move. There are a few dangerous moves guys don't like taking, and honestly, it's a work. They shouldn't do anything that's dangerous. They should use psychology and things that are safe to get the story over. But too many guys now are just spot monkeys and they don't care about the danger. They just want to get the chant. This is awesome. If I was a wrestler, the worst chant I could hear is this is awesome. You should be invested in the personalities and the story, not just the move-by-move sequence. Move-by-move sequence and don't draw money. Let's go to David. David, ask Mark anything.
00:41:51
Speaker 4: Hi, Mark.
00:41:53
Speaker 3: Do you drink alcohol?
00:41:55
Speaker 4: And if so, how much? And what's your favorite kind or what's your favorite type of drink?
00:41:59
Speaker 1: My drinking habits have really changed over the years. I used to be just a beer guy. And I still do have the occasional beer, but not very often with the Waken 180. So my preferred drink now is vodka and lemonade, if I can get sugar-free lemonade. That's my preferred drink now. And I do love daiquiris when I'm on vacation. So that makes me seem like not a man at all, but that's what I drink.
00:42:27
Speaker 2: But I still do like beer.
00:42:28
Speaker 1: It's just, you know, circumstances change, your diet changes, your life changes.
00:42:34
Speaker 3: Same here. Same here.
00:42:35
Speaker 2: How about you? What do you drink?
00:42:38
Speaker 9: Um, you know what?
00:42:39
Speaker 8: I used to be beer, but now I like a little bit of like bourbon and maybe like a diet, like ginger ale mixed with it. So, um, and maybe some red wine, but I don't drink a lot of, you know.
00:42:51
Speaker 2: What I do drink occasionally.
00:42:53
Speaker 1: I drink a glass of ice, tall glass ice, one shot of green alcohol, one shot of Jack, one shot of heroin.
00:43:01
Speaker 2: Thank you for the call.
00:43:04
Speaker 1: Uh, Get those calls in. We're still taking calls. And I'm going to tell you just around the corner the one thing I do like about college football. It ain't Pitt playing Ben Roethlisberger tech on Saturday either.
00:43:22
Speaker 2: And I wonder what you think of the Kawhi Leonard thing.
00:43:24
Speaker 1: That's the biggest story in sports, but we got no basketball, so it ain't resonating. But the Clippers were paying Kawhi under the table. Steelers should do that with Porter. And they got caught, and they got docked five first-round draft picks and $ 30 million. A bunch of people got suspended, too, including the owner for a year. Your thoughts on that? Your thoughts on the ongoing PZ situation? Your thoughts on the Buccos now having won three series in a row? Any and all of that is up for discussion on 105.9 The X.
00:43:57
Speaker 2: Coming back to Los Angeles.
Speaker 1: Okay, we can't find Alan Saunders. It's been that kind of week on the show. If you'd like to get calls in earlier than ever, 833-412-WXDX. Maybe there's a breaking story. Yeah, PZ should just talk Kawhi Leonard's agent. Get that money under the table. He can't do viewing parties like I do because he's actually playing, but he could do Penn State viewing parties on Saturdays.
00:00:35
Speaker 2: Okay, we got Alan from SteelersNow.com. It's Alan Saunders.
00:00:40
Speaker 1: Alan, Porter didn't say a lot, did he, when he spoke to the media and certainly didn't commit to playing week one, but I think he got to.
00:00:47
Speaker 2: He got no leverage.
00:00:49
Speaker 3: Yeah, there's really no way out for him or any player in this situation that doesn't end disastrously. We have seen some guys do it anyway. Hassan Redick a couple of years ago, Brandon Iuke right now, like guys have just done things that don't make sense. Yeah. I mean, at least Le'Veon, he got to the end of that year and he could become a free agent. Joey Porter Jr. owes the Steelers at least six games or he can't become a free agent. And so it, It's sort of insane to consider, but we have seen one or two guys over the years do it. Usually when things get real ugly and personal between the players and the team, I don't know that we're real ugly, but certainly there seems to be some conflict in this.
00:01:37
Speaker 2: Why is Porter the one guy they won't pay?
00:01:40
Speaker 1: That's what I don't get after paying all the backups and also Watt and Cam who aren't on the rise like Porter who's only 26.
00:01:46
Speaker 2: It seems random and hard to explain.
00:01:50
Speaker 3: Well, if you look at a lot of the deals the Steelers give out, most of them have a pretty competitive salary, sometimes even a high salary, but a relatively low amount of guaranteed money. And I think that's what Porter is not willing to agree to. I think he wants a significant amount of guaranteed money, more like what T.J. Watt got than, say, what Keanu Benton got. And I think that's why they have been more hesitant to make this deal than I don't know exactly what Porter's asking for, but I think the guarantees is the big difference with this compared to some of the other deals I've done.
00:02:29
Speaker 1: Is that secondary in trouble without Elliott, who I find has been a glue guy but too often hurt?
00:02:37
Speaker 3: I don't know that they're in trouble. I don't know. I don't know how it's all going to play out. There's a lot of moving pieces there. They have some good play. I don't think they should feel real comfortable going into week one. We haven't seen enough from these guys. Ramsey's had two weeks of practice. Bricker had his second practice today, coming back from a training camp injury. Elliott's out now. They haven't had Porter in a team setting in practice yet.
00:03:08
Speaker 4: And so.
00:03:10
Speaker 3: It's real hard to see the whole picture. I think they have a bunch of good players that I like. But until I see them all working together, I don't know that I'm going to call them good. And that's some of their best. Safety was their weakest spot. And then they lost one of their better starters there.
00:03:27
Speaker 2: What exactly?
00:03:28
Speaker 1: Exactly is Jalen Ramsey going to do in that secondary? I hear something called a money backer.
00:03:34
Speaker 2: What is that? And is it Ramsey?
00:03:38
Speaker 3: I don't know. I mean, I think he's going to play a nickel corner for the most part, depending on some matchups.
00:03:43
Speaker 1: In the slot, like the money backer it says here is like a hybrid DB linebacker. I want to keep it simple for the old guy.
00:03:52
Speaker 3: Well, I think the one thing is he's very good. He's very physical. He's a good tackler. He's good up against the run. And he's good when you give him big guys. There are some small slot receivers that I might not feel like Zay Flowers in Baltimore, for example. Their number one guy is an undersized guy who goes in the slot a lot. I don't know how much you want Ramsey covering him man-to-man at this point. But if it's bigger receivers, if it's tight ends, if it's backs out of the backfield, I think he can do all those parts of that job.
00:04:24
Speaker 1: What's the pecking order going to be on the edge? And I'm sure it's not written in stone.
00:04:29
Speaker 3: It's definitely not. I think Herbig is the guy who will move around. They'll flip... Watt and Highsmith more than they have in the past. But in terms of just guys going wherever, I think you'll see Herbig in all sorts of different alignments. He has the most unique skill set of those guys. He's the better cover guy of them. So you can disguise what he's doing a little better. And I think he's a real weapon for Patrick Graham. And then, you know, so, I mean, I think that'll be the way it plays out, but they've got to get Herbig, you know, up, up to, 50% of the snaps, I would think at least. That's going to be hard for them to do, but I think they need to.
00:05:09
Speaker 1: I think he's their best edge guy. You look at the youth factor, I don't think there's any doubt.
00:05:15
Speaker 3: He's definitely the best pure pass rusher.
00:05:17
Speaker 1: Wow, he's the better pure pass rusher right now than the great T.J. Watt.
00:05:23
Speaker 3: Yeah, but he's also significantly smaller than Watt, and he can get pushed around against the run. And I don't think he would not hold up as well as Watt has. to the level of double teams that Watt has faced because he's a much smaller guy. But you get him in one-on-one situations, he's very, very good.
00:05:41
Speaker 2: Who's the number three receiver?
00:05:43
Speaker 1: There have been mixed reviews on Wilson and Bernard during camp, but Rodgers put them both over when he spoke yesterday, didn't he?
00:05:51
Speaker 3: Rodgers has been talking about Roman Wilson since the very first day of training camp, like he's a different player. I thought Roman was very good in camp. It did not necessarily translate to the preseason game, I think Roman will be much better. He's, to me, held off Bernard so far. Bernard is a very mature rookie. He does not make a lot of big, bad mistakes. He's really strong and tough and hard to bring down. I don't think he is as fast as Wilson. And I don't think... Metcalf and Pittman at this point of their careers are necessarily scaring people with their speed either. And I think one of the reasons the team really wants Wilson out there is to give somebody some fear of some kind of deep threat on this team or somebody that you have to account for their speed. I think he's really the best option they have for that. And I think that's why they really want him out there. But I think Bernard's going to play at least some right away, and I think he'll probably eat into Wilson's share as the season goes on.
00:06:53
Speaker 1: You don't sense any shenanigans this year where Rodgers gets, like, MVS brought back, something like that, do you?
00:07:00
Speaker 3: I could see him being brought back to the practice squad. I don't really love the depth of the outside receiver. Almost all the rest of the guys are best suited to the first two. I don't know what would happen to Matt Pepper or Pittman not having MVS around as a backup would be fine by me, but beyond that, no, I wouldn't expect it.
00:07:20
Speaker 2: Who's going to be the preferred targets? Give me a one, two, three.
00:07:25
Speaker 3: I think it might be Metcalf, Friermuth, Warren, and then maybe Wilson and then Pittman. Here's the thing about Pittman is that I don't think he's going to be a high volume guy in terms of like plays that are designed to get him the ball. But I think he's a very important piece of, to keep defenses honest. They're going to call a lot of plays that are designed for D.K. Metcalf. And if the defenses are overcompensating when that happens, Pittman's there to make them pay. I don't think he's necessarily there to be this guy who's designed to get a big part of the offense. I do think Christy Fryer moves a lot more in the middle of the field. It seems like McCarthy really likes to work there. I think that's where he's best, and he's definitely been underutilized in his time in Pittsburgh.
00:08:13
Speaker 2: Now, you mentioned Jalen Warren.
00:08:14
Speaker 1: I feel like Dowdle is RB1, and Warren might be minimized more and more as the season goes on. It doesn't sound like you think that.
00:08:23
Speaker 3: I think Dowdle is RB1 ball carrier, but I think Warren inherits the Kenny Gingwell role with 72 targets last year. I think he's going to be a big part of the passing offense. Dowdle is not a particularly big He's willing. He's a tough guy. But just technique-wise, Warren is much, much, much more refined. And you've got a 42-year-old quarterback. So I think any time you're in a passing situation, Dale Warren's going to be in the game. And I think this is a passing offense. So I think that's going to be a lot of the time.
00:08:55
Speaker 1: What are the realistic expectations for Aaron Rodgers, like you said, at 42 years old?
00:09:02
Speaker 3: I think he can be better than he was last year. I think this offense is better suited... to play to his strengths. I don't think he's going to be anywhere near the MVP player he was in his past. I think the real question will be, can they protect him a little bit better? And will he trust that protection a little bit more? There were times last year when they were not a good pass-blocking offensive line overall, but I still felt like there were times where he was just a little bit too quick to get rid of the ball, a little bit hesitant to let things develop. And I think if he trusts the offensive line a little bit more and they play a little bit better, I think there's a real chance he could be a good bit better than he was last year.
00:09:45
Speaker 1: I agree, Alan, but in that vein, will he trust that offensive line more? Is that O-line coming together? Because it seems like, I think it's a talented line. I think right now it's having trouble getting in sync. How long is that going to take and is mccarthy have options if it needs fixed.
00:10:04
Speaker 3: Well you got no matter what zach frazier is going to be the only guy walking out there on the field on september 13th who's in the same spot he was on january whatever when they lost to the houston texans so i mean some growing pains i think are It's going to happen. That's for sure. You're seeing Troy Fautano play left tackle at the NFL level for the first time. There's going to be some tough moments in that transition. I also think he's a really talented young player. I loved his year last year, and I think he's a future cornerstone of this line. It's just a question of how quickly he can get there. Mason McCormick is a rock. I feel very good about him next to Frazier. Anderson is not a super talented guy in terms of the top of the upside, but I think he's proven over the reps he's played in his career that you should feel at least like you know what you're going to get out of him. He's a high floor guy anyway. And we'll see what happens at right tackle. I think Max Ahanachor is... still making a push to start there. And I think Dylan Cook sets a pretty high bar for a rookie tackle to pass. So if he does pass him, that's a pretty good situation.
00:11:11
Speaker 2: Yeah, I agree with all that.
00:11:12
Speaker 1: I think the talent is there, but it has to coalesce quick because I think if they're not five and three by the by, they're in trouble. I think they have to be at least that and six and two would be preferred. So it has to work right away. Like if they would lose game one to Atlanta, that wouldn't just be game one.
00:11:28
Speaker 2: It would really smack of disaster.
00:11:32
Speaker 3: They have to start fast. There's no question. The schedule in those first five or six weeks after the bye is just brutal. And the other thing is, okay, the worst team on their schedule is probably Cleveland. The two Cleveland games are Thursday night after a trip to Cincinnati and the week they come home from Paris. Yeah, that's a bad team, but those aren't going to be easy games because of that situation. And, you know, Cleveland always gets up for Pittsburgh. And there aren't a lot of other just jokers on this schedule. It's teams that can beat you if you don't play well. The whole NFC South, which they play, is sort of like that, where you know all those teams are going to be about 500. Seems like that's what they do every year. There's not a lot of room for error, I think, is the thing that really stands out. So a game like getting Atlanta at home week one, they're not even sure right now who their starting quarterback is. That's a game, if the Steelers are going to be a playoff team, they kind of have to win.
00:12:25
Speaker 1: Tom and I were talking before, I think with a new coach and a new coaching staff, that the old guard isn't owed anything. Do you think that's how these coaches are thinking, and will they just coach without regard to how players might feel who have been.
00:12:38
Speaker 3: Here a while? I think they were pretty cognizant of when they came in, finding ways to get guys to buy in. I think they did kind of go out of their way to try to find that buy-in, but I don't think they're going to coach that way as the season goes on. I think that was a project for the off season to say, okay, here's who we are. Here's what we're all about. Here's what we think we can do better than you've done in the past. And here's why we think you should, should have faith in us. And, and, and we want to grow faith in you. I don't know that that's going to mean that they're going to call plays come October, November, December, based on what guys have done in years past. I think the resume is one thing, but anytime you have a new coaching staff, you're going to have to show them. I think they've seen that play out with a number of guys. Mason Rudolph came in, and Mike McCarthy... Throughout OTAs, I don't think he said one word about Mason Rudolph. It was like he wasn't on the team. And then he got to training camp, and by the third or fourth week of training camp, he was saying, you know what, Mason Rudolph's a lot better player than I thought he was. He's not going to go on the resume. He's going to go on what's happened this year.
00:13:54
Speaker 1: Alan, great stuff, great work at the. com, and we'll talk again real soon, I hope.
00:13:59
Speaker 3: Thanks, Mark.
00:14:00
Speaker 1: That's Alan Saunders from Steelers. They changed that website name. They have anyway. Pittsburgh Steelers now. That's where he's from and he does good work. Up next, we're going to hear from Greg Cosell on the NFL Network making an obvious statement about Porter and his value to the Steelers that I think people aren't looking at, the consequences if he doesn't play, and even if he plays this year, if they don't keep him beyond this year, or if they trade him now, which I think more and more might happen. And so he's talking about Porter. Then at the bottom of the hour, we've got Trey Essex, ex of the Steelers. He's got a couple rings, 105.9.
00:14:40
Speaker 2: Parkway West outbound jams the Fort Pitt Tunnel out.
00:14:42
Speaker 3: Little guy. I'd love to get the ball to say what you want to say.
00:14:46
Speaker 2: Very good point.
00:14:47
Speaker 3: The X at 105.9.
00:14:55
Speaker 2: It's Madden on the X. Here's a random baseball note.
00:14:59
Speaker 1: Jacob Mizorowski had a bad night for Milly Wacke last night. went four innings, allowed five earned runs. His ERA is all the way up to 1.97. Mizorowski has no pulse gains. Let's get back to talking about the Porter situation. Here's Greg Cosell on the NFL Network making a real good point about Joey Porter Jr.
00:15:24
Speaker 2: And the Steelers.
00:15:26
Speaker 3: He's a corner with high-level traits.
00:15:28
Speaker 5: He's got size, length, and really high-level traits.
00:15:30
Speaker 3: There's not 100 of those guys in the league. You know me. I don't get involved. I don't know what the numbers are.
00:15:36
Speaker 5: But at the end of the day, obviously, he's quote-unquote property of the Steelers. But if he were available, he'd sign for a ton of money. There's not a lot of guys with those kinds of traits in the league. He's a really solid NFL corner with high-level traits. And if he's not playing for the Steelers, they're pretty thin at the corner position.
00:16:00
Speaker 3: Bingo.
00:16:01
Speaker 1: That's the big thing about Porter and paying him or not. Porter will get $ 30 million somewhere at some point, barring grievous injury. So if Porter leaves via trade or however, the Steelers will have been physically prudent.
00:16:17
Speaker 2: At least in their own eyes.
00:16:20
Speaker 1: But will have run off their legit number one cornerback, and you can't teach that.
00:16:27
Speaker 2: That's the choice.
00:16:29
Speaker 1: Save money and be crap at cornerback, or have a really good cornerback. I know what I'd pick, but the Steelers are an organization of idiots.
00:16:40
Speaker 2: Here's ex-Steeler Bryant.
00:16:42
Speaker 1: McFadden on CBS talking about an obvious Steeler weakness, and that's inside backer.
00:16:48
Speaker 6: The biggest concern for me with Pittsburgh is the off-ball linebacker position, the second-level guys. You know, you got Queen, you got Wilson, 41, Wilson.
00:17:00
Speaker 4: Yeah.
00:17:01
Speaker 6: And you have depth concerns. You know, they brought back a Landon Roberts, but they cut him. You know, I think a guy like him who can be a muscle, you know, is needed. But the depth concerns at that position, at the off-ball linebacker outside of Queen, And Wilson, I'm a big concern with.
00:17:19
Speaker 1: I'm not concerned with the depth. I'm concerned about Queen and Wilson. They're two of a kind, too finesse-y, even soft. But Peyton Wilson thinks he's all set. Let's hear what he had to say.
00:17:33
Speaker 7: Honestly, it starts in our LB room. We're actually really tight. You know, in the years past, not to say that we weren't tight, but I feel like there was maybe a little more selfishness within the rooms and things, but You know, we were really tight as an LB unit and just they kind of empowered me in a sense, you know, just to go play ball. And then also just PG, his schematics, the way he coaches it. I'm finally just getting back to playing ball rather than, hey, if you make a mistake, they might take you out. Or, hey, if if you do this wrong, you might come out the game and you don't know when you're.
00:18:09
Speaker 2: Yeah. That last part, Wilson thinks it won't happen.
00:18:15
Speaker 4: It could.
00:18:17
Speaker 2: I bet B.
00:18:18
Speaker 1: John Robinson embarrasses Peyton Wilson week one against Atlanta, and Peyton Wilson doesn't start after that.
00:18:27
Speaker 2: That B.
00:18:28
Speaker 1: John turns Wilson into roadkill. Peyton Wilson talks too much for a guy who ain't done bupkis. Remember when Wilson said he's the best cover inside backer in football? Well, we're going to find out because Robinson is his guy week one. And Bijon can catch and carry. But forget about catch and carry. Let's talk about cash and carry as in winning money at the BetParks app.
00:18:58
Speaker 2: College football is upon us. Week one is here.
00:19:02
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00:19:21
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00:19:21
Speaker 1: 4 ranked Notre Dame is the favorite, and a $ 25 bet on Notre Dame to win it all pays $ 137.
00:19:26
Speaker 7: 50.
00:19:26
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00:19:28
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00:19:28
Speaker 1: 18 ranked Penn State wins you $ 1, 875 on a $ 25 wager if they win it all. So join me, Mark Madden, and make your downtime fun time with the VetParks app. brings the casino to you. The casino is right at your fingertips. Right now, new users get up to a $ 500 bonus back plus 250 bonus spins on the hot online slots game, Sahara Riches Collect-A-Max. That's the Bet Park online casino and sportsbook app where there's always another way to win. You must be 21 and in PA, New Jersey, Maryland, or Michigan.
00:20:16
Speaker 2: New Year's is only.
00:20:17
Speaker 1: Terms and conditions apply. Get the details at betparks.com. Casino bonus must be wagered. You got a gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Should we be worried about the Steelers' offensive line and it not gelling like had been hoped? The guy to talk about that is two-time Super Bowl winner Trey Essex. He was in the trenches with the black and gold, and he joins me next on 105.9.
00:20:44
Speaker 3: It's the Woody Show. Weekday mornings at 6.
00:20:47
Speaker 1: Listen to The X at home, at work, anytime on the iHeartRadio app.
00:20:51
Speaker 3: 105.9, The X.
00:20:53
Speaker 1: The most talked about music festival on the planet.
00:20:56
Speaker 2: Is now even bigger.
00:20:58
Speaker 3: Just added to the lineup.
00:21:00
Speaker 2: Smashing pumpkins. There's been a lot going on with the offensive line. Joining me now.
00:21:05
Speaker 1: A man who won two rings in the trenches for the black and gold. Always a pleasure to talk to Trey Essex. Trey, are we officially worried yet about the O-line? Because it doesn't suck, but I don't think it's where they need it to be.
00:21:21
Speaker 4: Worried is probably a strong word. I'm not worried, but it does suck. Viva calls for concern. It's a young group.
00:21:28
Speaker 9: Granted, this group I thought was one of the stronger groups towards the end of last year, but essentially it's a new group because you've got the right side on the left side now, and the right side is brand new. And so, yes, there's a lot of question marks, a lot of unknown, but I'm not worried yet.
00:21:44
Speaker 1: If he's healthy, would you start Maxi on a chore at right tackle week one because the reviews for Dylan Cook at camp have been mixed?
00:21:53
Speaker 9: Without a doubt. You drafted this guy. I think physically he already looks the part.
00:21:58
Speaker 4: The man is humongous.
00:22:00
Speaker 9: I was really surprised by how big that number 71 looked when I finally saw.
00:22:03
Speaker 4: Him on the field.
00:22:05
Speaker 9: But he showed me enough against Buffalo that hopefully with some fine-tuning the next 12 days that he'll be ready to go week one. Because his upside is far-seized weight. Anything that Dylan Cook has done this preseason.
00:22:17
Speaker 4: And so.
00:22:18
Speaker 9: I think that's why they had Dillon go left tackle for the majority of the Buffalo game, so he can get those swing tackle reps in, because up to that point, he hadn't had any left tackle reps. So I think that's what the coaches are seeing, and I think IMAX is your starter week one.
00:22:32
Speaker 1: Are you at all concerned about Fatano adjusting to left tackle? Because there's no doubt the talent's there, but it's been a slow adjustment.
00:22:41
Speaker 8: Yeah.
00:22:41
Speaker 9: Actually, this last, well, the Jets game, he didn't play against Buffalo. I thought he was the best. was a big improvement from the week one game versus Green Bay. And so I think it just took a couple of game reps for him to get there. But without a doubt, I think he's going to be a pro bowler at the left tackle mark. The talent is there. The attitude is there. And he got his buddy to his right in Mason. So he got that chemistry working, too. And so I think it's all going to work out when it's all said and done.
00:23:06
Speaker 1: Here's my one disclaimer about the O-line, because I'm like you. I'm mildly concerned. But.
00:23:12
Speaker 2: You've got to win early. You've got to beat Atlanta week one. That's a game you've got to get a W.
00:23:17
Speaker 1: And you've got a 42-year-old quarterback who we can't have be injured. Right.
00:23:23
Speaker 4: And you have to run the ball. You've got two wide receivers who haven't practiced.
00:23:27
Speaker 9: And so you're number one, two, and then your 42-year-old quarterback hasn't played any games.
00:23:32
Speaker 4: So you know the passing game is going to take some time.
00:23:34
Speaker 9: I don't care how long A-Rod has played and how much veteran experience Pittman and BK have.
00:23:40
Speaker 4: It's going to take time. to get going.
00:23:42
Speaker 9: And with that being said, you try not to lean on that running game early. And so I think that's another reason why you start Max Young and Troy, because the quickest way to get a young group on the same page is to run the ball and run the ball over and over again. And I think that's the strength of this whole line right now.
00:23:57
Speaker 1: Yes, couldn't agree more. And in that vein, I like Rico Doddle, and I think he's going to be RB1. And I'm not anti-Jalen Warren by any means, Trey, but I bet Doddle usurps more snaps than we're thinking right now.
00:24:12
Speaker 9: I think he gets more snaps, but I truly think it's going to be a hot hand type of issue, type of situation. Whatever running back rips off the first successful run, that coach is going to keep him in and see if he's going to have the game that run would dictate. But I do imagine that the split load, by the end of the year, I think Jalen will have more touches because I think he'll be more involved in the passing game. But as far as running back totes, I'm with you. I think Rico might take the lion's share in that department.
00:24:42
Speaker 1: Warren clearly is a better receiver than Donald, but I don't think Donald's a slot there either, Trey.
00:24:47
Speaker 2: And Warren's a better pass protector, correct?
00:24:50
Speaker 4: Correct, correct.
00:24:52
Speaker 1: Now, what does a power back like Donald do for the O-line? Is it a different kind of blocking? You talk about building confidence as an offensive line. I would think a power back might hasten that process.
00:25:06
Speaker 9: It does, because with the power back, you have running plays that are called that would usually be downhill. You got power. We got what we call 22 double, which is two double teams. All the way back to the middle linebacker and the weak sidebacker. These are the type of plays you run with the Rico Donald, the ones that are downhill, no bones about it. We're going to get three yards in the cloud of dust. And what it does is it really brings out those middle linebackers and safeties into the box. And you already know A-Rod is at his best when play action is working and working well. And so in order to do that, obviously you've got to get the run game going. But with a guy like Rico Donald, and I think Jalen Warren can do it too, with the power back. You run specific type of plays that lend itself to play action passes and some big plays downfield in the passing game.
00:25:54
Speaker 1: We're talking to Trey Essex, two-time Super Bowl champion here on 105.9 The X. Rodgers is 42. That can't be denied. Can you have a big year at that age? Is it possible? Or are we just going to hope for a better year than last year?
00:26:10
Speaker 9: We've got to hope for a better year. He's not going to blow the barn doors off anybody. We just hope that he does enough to let the other players on this team shine.
00:26:17
Speaker 4: So you hope that he does. He's not going to turn the ball up. You know that.
00:26:22
Speaker 9: You don't want it to get to a point where the offense looks open and not dangerous.
00:26:26
Speaker 4: That defense's game plan, like they have been the last four or five years. And so A-Rod showed some flashes that he can still get the ball downfield.
00:26:34
Speaker 9: And with big possession receivers like DK and Michael Pittman, you would think in this offense with the way McCarthy likes to go and push the ball downfield, that that will be A-Rod's go-to. But it's going to be tough for him to have some kind of monumental MVP caliber season.
00:26:50
Speaker 4: All we want from him is to be good.
00:26:52
Speaker 9: He could be the second-best quarterback in the AFC North.
00:26:54
Speaker 2: It's a win.
00:26:55
Speaker 4: A hell of a win.
00:26:56
Speaker 2: Well, that's a big ask, though, with Lamar and Burrow, ain't it?
00:27:00
Speaker 4: Hell of an ask, yes. It's an ask. Don't get me wrong.
00:27:02
Speaker 9: But, I mean, that would be more than what we were expecting. Obviously, he's got to be at least third, but he needs to be competing to be that second-best quarterback in order for the Steelers to have a good season.
00:27:14
Speaker 4: No, agreed.
00:27:14
Speaker 1: And I'm going to go off on a bit of a sidebar here. They're going to have Lamar run the ball less. I think that makes him a worse quarterback. I think he has to run the ball, whether it's on a called play or on an improvisation, for.
00:27:29
Speaker 2: Him to be the quarterback he is. It reminds me of when the Steelers, when B.A.
00:27:34
Speaker 1: Left and Ben was taking less chances, it kept him upright, but he wasn't quite as effective.
00:27:41
Speaker 9: It's his superpower. It literally is his superpower. Now, granted, he can still throw the ball. He's one of the better passers in the league, but nobody can do With the ball, with his legs, it's what Lamar can do. Nobody, nobody has, nobody, it's going to be hard to find somebody that can. And so if you take that away from him, he becomes just like any other good quarterback. But his legs are what make him unique. And if they take that away from him and don't get him to the full effect, then that works in our favor.
00:28:09
Speaker 1: What's your take on the Porter situation? I'm on Porter's side. I think he should get paid. I think he's a $ 30 million quarterback. But at any rate, if he don't get an extension, he's still got to play.
00:28:20
Speaker 2: He has no leverage, right?
00:28:23
Speaker 4: He has to play. I mean, you can risk sitting.
00:28:26
Speaker 9: Out and then hoping that maybe your resume up to this point still gets you paid. But if you still want the big dollars, you've got to bet on yourself. He still gets paid. He's getting paid this year. And if he sits out, he won't get paid, simply put. But if he wants that big contract, and despite the fact that he has earned it up to this point, if it doesn't work out for him before the season starts, he still has to play. And he has to play at a high level because they will use that. Any kind of down year, any kind of pedestrian approach to the season, they will use that in negotiations next year, obviously.
00:28:58
Speaker 1: No, I don't think Porter would give anything less than 100% regardless of the circumstances. Maybe lack of practice time. would make him start a bit slow, but I trust him to give full effort.
00:29:09
Speaker 2: I just think the Steelers got to pay him, Trey.
00:29:11
Speaker 1: I don't see how it's avoidable because they've never had a true number one cornerback. They finally got one, and I hear people say, well, trade him to get a first-round pick, but I don't trust this team with first-round picks.
00:29:25
Speaker 4: I don't understand that thought process.
00:29:27
Speaker 9: You have what you need right there in JPJ.
00:29:30
Speaker 4: Just pay him the money.
00:29:31
Speaker 9: He did what you asked him to do. So do what you're supposed to do, what any good team does, with their good players and what we've done traditionally in the past, and that's pay our players. I'm just befuddled at how long this has taken because by all accounts, JP Jay is a company man. He does everything the right way, and he had his biggest year last year, and this defense is so much better when he's on the field. This pass rush is so much better when he's on the field, and I'm sure Jamal Dean, his running mate, and Asante Senor will be better with him on the field.
00:30:03
Speaker 4: And with the.
00:30:04
Speaker 9: Uncertainty at safety on top of that, not knowing who's going to be manning our back half because we don't have Deshaun Elliott the first four weeks, we need JPJ in there.
00:30:13
Speaker 4: We need him running at full speed.
00:30:16
Speaker 1: As you said, Porter says the right things. He's not made a big fuss over this. He's said a few kind of innocuous, kind of contradictory things, but nothing bad, nothing to cause controversy.
00:30:27
Speaker 2: Should he maybe cause controversy?
00:30:30
Speaker 1: Because the track record with his team shows if you cause controversy, you get paid.
00:30:33
Speaker 9: He is, but I mean, that's going to distract from him. That's not his personality. I know some would call it a shrewd business move, but he has to go about it the way that he feels is best.
00:30:46
Speaker 4: And this is his approach. It has been his approach. This is his personality. He don't want to do anything wrong. outside of who you are in order to get a dollar. Because ultimately, at the end of the day, you've got to look yourself in the mirror.
00:30:58
Speaker 9: You don't want to be one of those guys that just put on and do all these answers just to get paid because that's not.
00:31:02
Speaker 4: Who you are, and you don't want to be perceived as that.
00:31:04
Speaker 2: No, I quite agree with that, actually. That's well put. Now, you know his dad. What do you think PZ's telling the kid?
00:31:15
Speaker 9: I think, I mean, it's a different situation. Totally different than what... Peezy had to go through and so I'm not sure what kind of advice I'm not sure what kind of advice I can give him if he was my son because it's a different day and age and fortunately we have negotiated with the Steelers before he had negotiated but for Peezy when he when it came to contract time they let him go he went to Miami to play and um obviously we don't want that to happen with his son and so I don't know what kind of advice Peezy has given but he might just be one of those dads that are just staying hands off I would imagine.
00:31:51
Speaker 2: Broderick Jones got traded.
00:31:53
Speaker 1: He's in the mix to start at right tackle for Dallas, and good for him.
00:31:56
Speaker 2: I hope he does well.
00:31:58
Speaker 1: Did the Steelers blow it with him by switching him side to side? I think they took his confidence away. I think he should have been the left tackle from day one, Trey. Should they have handled Broderick Jones any different?
00:32:11
Speaker 9: I mean, hindsight is 20-20, and yes, they should have handled him differently. Now, There are some tackles, and everybody was like, he's a first-round draft pick. He should be able to switch sides.
00:32:22
Speaker 4: Obviously, he couldn't. And so the coaches did not. They tried to fit a square. What's the thing? A square?
00:32:29
Speaker 2: Square peg in a round hole.
00:32:31
Speaker 4: Yeah, they tried to do that with him, but that's not him. And something that I.
00:32:35
Speaker 9: Thought Russ Graham, who was an excellent O-line coach, taught me early on is that you can't coach every O-line in the same. Just because two guys are 6'6, 330, Doesn't mean they're going to move the same. Doesn't mean they're going to punch the same. Doesn't mean they're going to play the same position the same.
00:32:49
Speaker 4: Every athlete is different.
00:32:50
Speaker 9: And it's your job as a coach to figure out which way, what position can we put him in to get the most out of him.
00:32:57
Speaker 4: And they didn't do that with them.
00:32:59
Speaker 1: Trey, before we wrap up, you're a big college football guy, a proud Northwestern grad. What about this stuff with NFL guys getting cut? or leaving camp and coming back to college football. I don't think there's any good to be had from doing that, except for the player with NIL money. But with all the NIL money and the transfer portal, it seems to be the next step.
00:33:24
Speaker 9: Yeah, it really is hurting the high school kids and the high school game in a big way.
00:33:31
Speaker 4: And it sucks. Like, this is just a wild, wild west.
00:33:35
Speaker 9: The state of college football and It's just a mess, and it's sad to see that it's gotten to this point because it could have been prevented a long time ago if the NCAA was about their business the right way and not being so damn greedy. But we are here now, and we're seeing all this ridiculousness happen, and it's taken away from the beauty and the pageantry of college sports.
00:33:56
Speaker 4: It's taken away from the excitement.
00:33:58
Speaker 1: No question about that, but I can't villainize the kids who try to do it because NIL money is going to be better than a practice squad paycheck, right?
00:34:08
Speaker 9: Yeah, a lot of these cats are coming to the NFL and taking a pay cut at this point. So I don't not hustle at all. You're like, go back, get that money. But, I mean, there should be rules in place that a 25, 26-year-old should not be able to come back and line up against an 18-year-old.
00:34:24
Speaker 2: What do you think, Trey?
00:34:24
Speaker 1: Could you give Northwestern a few more snaps if they called you?
00:34:28
Speaker 3: No, maybe two.
00:34:30
Speaker 9: Maybe two snaps on the goal line.
00:34:32
Speaker 3: And that's it.
00:34:33
Speaker 4: After that, I'm done.
00:34:34
Speaker 1: I used to say that about Mel Blunt, who I know you've met. I would say Mel Blunt looks like he could still play. Mel said to me one time, I ran to him, he goes, I heard what you said. I could give you one snap, exactly one snap.
00:34:47
Speaker 4: And probably knock your block off, too.
00:34:49
Speaker 1: No question about that. Trey, as always, great stuff, great work on the podcast with Charlie, and we'll talk again real soon.
00:34:54
Speaker 4: Appreciate it, Mark. Have a good one.
00:34:57
Speaker 2: That's Trey Essex.
00:34:58
Speaker 1: Great insight from him, just like you'd expect from a Northwestern guy. I should have applied to Northwestern. I should have got out of town. Anyway, time to ask Mark anything. Mark, why didn't you leave Pittsburgh to go to school somewhere else? Why'd you live at home and go to Duquesne? That'd be a good question to ask Mark. 833-412-WXDX. Ask Mark anything. 833-412-WXDX. Or you can leave a talkback via the microphone icon at the iHeartMedia app.
00:35:28
Speaker 2: 105.9.
00:35:30
Speaker 3: It's the Woody Show. Weekday mornings at 6.
00:35:32
Speaker 2: But if you're none the wiser, does it really matter?
00:35:34
Speaker 3: On 105.9, the X.
00:35:35
Speaker 2: It's here the Labor Day tradition continues.
00:35:41
Speaker 9: My last nerve.
00:35:41
Speaker 1: You say that like you think I would remotely give a dump.
00:35:45
Speaker 2: But do go on. The X at 105.9.
00:35:52
Speaker 1: Terrific stuff just now from Trey Essex. Always great to have him on. Now it's time to ask Mark anything. And that's brought to us by, by, by People's Natural Gas. Reminding you to call 8-1-1 before you dig.
00:36:07
Speaker 3: Dig.
00:36:08
Speaker 1: Even landscaping work requires you to call 8-1-1. Get more info at peoples-gas.com. As we mentioned, Buccos won today. That's the third series in a row they've won. They're still like, what, four and a half games out of a playoff spot with a bunch of teams to jump over. Maybe they're capable of making a run. I'd rather doubt it. They're in the exact scenario I said early in the year they couldn't conquer. I thought they had to build a cushion and then kind of bleed the season out to get a playoff berth. So I stand by my analysis, but it's good to see them playing at least halfway decent baseball. And by way of a little shot in the arm, Connor Griffin is expected to be available to play tomorrow after being activated.
00:36:52
Speaker 2: Let's go to Bob. Bob, ask Mark anything.
00:36:55
Speaker 3: Yeah, hey, Bob.
00:36:57
Speaker 8: Um, Mark, I was going to ask, what did you think about Earl Hall and shaving his head?
00:37:00
Speaker 4: Uh, I think that hair was such a, uh, trademark and it was like a Troy Palomaro thing.
00:37:06
Speaker 3: And also, what do you think about him?
00:37:07
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:37:10
Speaker 2: You know, I wish he would have.
00:37:11
Speaker 1: Yeah, but. I'm not going to say I wish he would have sliced his juggler, but maybe his Achilles tendon by accident. Yeah, that's his trademark. But now being the bald guy is his trademark. Early Holland, who, again, I can't scan, but he scores goals and he's got charisma.
00:37:25
Speaker 2: So I don't think he can put a foot wrong. Let's go to Harry in Westview.
00:37:30
Speaker 1: Mark, what's your favorite animal when you go to the zoo to look at?
00:37:32
Speaker 2: I haven't been to the zoo in like 30 or 35 years. What's yours?
00:37:37
Speaker 1: I like the gorillas.
00:37:40
Speaker 4: I just like how they pick up stuff, throw it around, and, you know, I can't believe we came from them.
00:37:46
Speaker 1: I've been to the aviary on the north side more recently. I like looking at birds better.
00:37:52
Speaker 4: I've never been to the aviary.
00:37:54
Speaker 2: I like to see a cockatoo or three. Let's go to Jerry. Jerry, you're on with Double M.
00:38:00
Speaker 4: Double M, what's happening?
00:38:01
Speaker 2: What up, man?
00:38:04
Speaker 8: I want to just ask you who your celebrity crush is.
00:38:07
Speaker 1: Well, I've always said that there's a kind of a list. I keep loosely in my head of the best looking woman in the world. I'm not even sure where it is right now, but like at one time it was Shannon Elizabeth. And, uh, but one time it was Jamie Presley. Um, and of course on the male side of the street, Zach Efron now and forever.
00:38:27
Speaker 4: Yeah.
00:38:28
Speaker 3: I don't disagree with you there.
00:38:30
Speaker 2: How could you, let's go to Peyton Peyton. Ask Mark anything.
00:38:35
Speaker 4: What's up, Mark? Mr.
00:38:36
Speaker 8: Madden.
00:38:37
Speaker 4: Um, So, I was wondering, do you think the Penguins should already.
00:38:42
Speaker 8: Be considering re-signing Eric Carlson to help develop these young forwards?
00:38:47
Speaker 1: No.
00:38:48
Speaker 3: Young forwards?
00:38:49
Speaker 2: What do you mean develop young forwards? You mean young defensemen?
00:38:52
Speaker 6: You need a quarterback back there that can pass the ball.
00:38:54
Speaker 1: No, I think the sooner they get rid of a lot of these old bastards, the better. And that's no offense to them, but no, I would not re-sign Eric Carlson. I would make Harrison Brunick... The next Eric Carlson, hopefully. I mean, that's far-fetched, but I would give him that spot. The only old guy I want to keep around indefinitely is Sid. But they've gone way past that because they're selling nostalgia now. Why would you resign Eric Carlson? He's not won a playoff series here. He's only made the playoffs once. I thought he played very good this past year. But what do you think the upside is to keeping all these old guys around indefinitely?
00:39:28
Speaker 3: Well, he can skate and pass the puck still.
00:39:33
Speaker 7: And the other guys are really aging out.
00:39:34
Speaker 4: I think Carlson's like the youngest old guy that can still play.
00:39:38
Speaker 2: No, he's not. No, he's not.
00:39:40
Speaker 3: He's 37.
00:39:40
Speaker 1: What do you mean youngest old guy? Although, I'll tell you, you're exactly what the Penguins want their fans to be.
00:39:46
Speaker 2: Old guys forever. Old guys forever.
00:39:49
Speaker 3: Old, older, oldest. Old, older, oldest.
00:39:53
Speaker 2: Let's go to a talkback.
00:39:57
Speaker 3: What's worse, Pekka Rinne getting a statue or the Senators retiring Chris Neal's number?
00:40:04
Speaker 2: The Senators retired Chris Neal's number? Oh, he was a bum. He was beloved, but he's a bum. Here's the thing, though. Ottawa, how many Stanley Cups they got?
00:40:15
Speaker 7: Zero.
00:40:15
Speaker 3: Zero.
00:40:17
Speaker 1: Nashville, how many Stanley Cups they got?
00:40:19
Speaker 3: Zero.
00:40:21
Speaker 1: And when you don't win, you've got to find other ways to hype your team and sell tickets.
00:40:26
Speaker 2: And events like that help.
00:40:29
Speaker 1: And that's why the Penguins are going to start retiring a bunch of numbers, because they're not going to win again any time in the near future. It's just the financial realities of running a sports team, especially in hockey, where ticket revenue still means, well, more in that sport than it does in any other.
00:40:47
Speaker 2: Let's go to a talkback.
00:40:48
Speaker 4: Mark, was there any moves wrestlers hated?
00:40:51
Speaker 3: I imagine the chop on the chest didn't feel too good.
00:40:56
Speaker 1: No, chop on the chest, I mean, it hurts, but it's not going to kill you. What's that move Samoa Joe used to do? The muscle buster. I know guys taking that didn't like it. It's considered a dangerous move. There are a few dangerous moves guys don't like taking, and honestly, it's a work. They shouldn't do anything that's dangerous. They should use psychology and things that are safe to get the story over. But too many guys now are just spot monkeys and they don't care about the danger. They just want to get the chant. This is awesome. If I was a wrestler, the worst chant I could hear is this is awesome. You should be invested in the personalities and the story, not just the move-by-move sequence. Move-by-move sequence and don't draw money. Let's go to David. David, ask Mark anything.
00:41:51
Speaker 4: Hi, Mark.
00:41:53
Speaker 3: Do you drink alcohol?
00:41:55
Speaker 4: And if so, how much? And what's your favorite kind or what's your favorite type of drink?
00:41:59
Speaker 1: My drinking habits have really changed over the years. I used to be just a beer guy. And I still do have the occasional beer, but not very often with the Waken 180. So my preferred drink now is vodka and lemonade, if I can get sugar-free lemonade. That's my preferred drink now. And I do love daiquiris when I'm on vacation. So that makes me seem like not a man at all, but that's what I drink.
00:42:27
Speaker 2: But I still do like beer.
00:42:28
Speaker 1: It's just, you know, circumstances change, your diet changes, your life changes.
00:42:34
Speaker 3: Same here. Same here.
00:42:35
Speaker 2: How about you? What do you drink?
00:42:38
Speaker 9: Um, you know what?
00:42:39
Speaker 8: I used to be beer, but now I like a little bit of like bourbon and maybe like a diet, like ginger ale mixed with it. So, um, and maybe some red wine, but I don't drink a lot of, you know.
00:42:51
Speaker 2: What I do drink occasionally.
00:42:53
Speaker 1: I drink a glass of ice, tall glass ice, one shot of green alcohol, one shot of Jack, one shot of heroin.
00:43:01
Speaker 2: Thank you for the call.
00:43:04
Speaker 1: Uh, Get those calls in. We're still taking calls. And I'm going to tell you just around the corner the one thing I do like about college football. It ain't Pitt playing Ben Roethlisberger tech on Saturday either.
00:43:22
Speaker 2: And I wonder what you think of the Kawhi Leonard thing.
00:43:24
Speaker 1: That's the biggest story in sports, but we got no basketball, so it ain't resonating. But the Clippers were paying Kawhi under the table. Steelers should do that with Porter. And they got caught, and they got docked five first-round draft picks and $ 30 million. A bunch of people got suspended, too, including the owner for a year. Your thoughts on that? Your thoughts on the ongoing PZ situation? Your thoughts on the Buccos now having won three series in a row? Any and all of that is up for discussion on 105.9 The X.
00:43:57
Speaker 2: Coming back to Los Angeles.
