Jan. 10, 2023
The Porch Is Live - Did the Steelers Make Progress?
The Steelers season ends. Did they make any progress? We pick round 1 of the NFL Playoffs and Hockey Jesus talks Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Steelers season ends. Did they make any progress? We pick round 1 of the NFL Playoffs and Hockey Jesus talks Pittsburgh Penguins.
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Transcript
And the dancing is over. Welcome to the Sports Porch. The Porch Is Live. The Porch Is Live. com. The Porch Is Live. com. And is us. If you are listening on American Buster iHeartRadio. Thank you for being there. IHeartRadio. IHeartRadio has 150 million registered subscribers. Almost said Describers. Yeah. There's a and50 million people talking about it. 2000 devices, two 60 platforms and you can always catch our website Schwabber.
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Season's over. Season's over for the Steelers that is. But we got Steelers Talk coming up. We got of course it's playoff time. Playoffs. Playoffs. It's playoff time. So we're going to do some predictions there. Mhm. Hockey Jesus is always in the house. Jesus. You can see in the background. We got a little Jerome Bettis in the bus. Holding up his Trophy. We're redoing our studios here on the porch.
Um so guys listen I'm going to I'm going to start right now. We're just going to jump right into it. Uh the Steelers finished the season nine and eight. Uh all the HubBub on the radio lately has been and I can't even believe first of all I don't even want to follow these guys because sometimes I think what they fill air with is ridiculous. Listen. So what what have they been inside? Uh Tomlin coach of the year.
Tom. Yeah.
Richard.
Yeah Rich Dyson's big on that. Yep. Yep. Yep. Local guys too. Surprising. And yes. Uh I'll give you my opinion. That's garbage. I think Tomlin's a good coach. Garbage. We're going to spend 30 seconds on it. Is he a coach of the year candidate at all? Not even close. No no no. He is not. Okay. Tomlin's not a coach of the year candidate.
So let's see. He is a good coach. I agree with you. Absolutely. He's a good coach. Absolutely. And and and I have some thoughts on that. Um you know I I Think what he did and I and I heard some clips from some of the players on this past year and what I thought was interesting is they the the clips for the most part all of them said hey look we love coach Tomlin he keeps us in it he keeps us wanting to win you know we we we that's what he wants we want to be in it till the end and I watched that game yesterday and the Steelers did not hold their destiny in their own hands they had to win but a lot of other stuff had to happen and they didn't mail it in but in some of the other games there are a lot of teams they just mailed it in man like I'm not even here so I do think from the perspective of finishing 98, and another winning season for coach Tomlin that given the fact that he had a transition year a lot of issues that we're going to talk about that he did a good job as a coach this year he did a good job I I I find him to be very similar to Doug Peterson where he's a good coach that always have a winning record but you know what he is he's a good leader of men he's not great X's and O's guy.
Right. That's that that's my feeling on it. Right. Yeah. Everybody says that. Like I run through a wall for this guy. Right. Like he gets me motivated. But why did why they didn't seem motivated in the first quarter yesterday. You know. They really didn't. Yeah you're right. Uh but I mean I don't know. I I had such a hard time with that because I do think he actually is really good speaker and I think he does get a lot out of his players.
But when it comes To the X's and O's part part of it. Not only is he not that good with it. He doesn't even like to hire people who are good with it. Well that's it right. I think that's his that's the biggest criticism I criticism I can give him. I I I think he's I he's not going anywhere. So it doesn't really matter what I think of what we think here.
He's not going anywhere but if I wish he could work on something. I wish he would get out of his own kitchen and let other people in it. And start doing some Kobe. There you go and I I I don't disagree with that. Two and six seven and 2. First half versus second what are what are your thoughts? Uh well do you want to start with Steve? Yeah I definitely would like to take this one.
So I think in the first half it was one of those Tomlin was a rookie coach. Never had to use a a different quarterback before and he he basically gets an F because he panicked. He told Trubisky one thing and it is as the Jets who ended up actually being an okay team I know they didn't make the playoffs and they didn't help us in the last thanks Jets but I think that that game was where he could've excelled and said you know what I'm going to stay the course I'm going to stick with Trubisky I know he's not doing well but but there's no way Kenny's ready and if he just would have stopped with it I think he wins one of those games that they lost and I think that the playoffs.
Right. And it's all because he's never been in that situation before. So so I do kind of fault him for doing that. That being said he I thought he did a really good job. I know we can look at the the teams they played and the team sucked. The teams were terrible. And our offense actually did get better. But I think that's more about picket and being healthy and the offensive line getting you know getting being able to to work better together.
I think it was it's of a function than it was in the play calling and and the ability for Tomlin to coach the team right I think the team did kind of come together in the last you know the seven 2 is is pretty impressive in the last nine so so that's the way I feel about the season it definitely was the tale of two seasons but he gets a F in the first half probably gets a a B in the second half so to me he gets a he gets a C he gets a C Robert.
Are we doing coaching grade? Well I you know Steve kind of pushed us in that direction. Okay. So yeah let's all agree. It's interesting he says that because that that's exactly what I got. I got coaching grades of C. Yeah. Um and I I I pretty much in full agreement what Steve said he did not handle the quarterback situation at the beginning of the year well at all in fact he might even be lucky that he didn't destroy Kenny Pickett he might even be lucky that he didn't do that yeah I don't know but fortunately for Pittsburgh Steelers fans Kenny Pickett's got a little bit of a thicker skin than some people out there right and he was able to work through it right Um but yeah I Tomlin is a good leader of men.
He is able to will his teams to play like a you know pretty good defensive ball and ball control offense and game manage to win games against bad teams. He's good at that. But I think for the team to get to the next level I agree with Steve completely. Um you know this team is an offensive coordinator and some draft picks away from a decent team.
Uh but my fear is if they come back with the same group. Even though you know let let's just say you know Pickens is going to get better. Picketts going to get better. Even though people are going to get better next year. Right? I think we're going to look at the same kind of record if we come back with Matt Canada. Uh that's just how I feel.
Yeah. I I I agree. I I think Tomlin gets an overall a B for the year because one of the main reasons they started off two and six in my opinion is that he botched the whole quarterback thing and that goes back to my comments in past shows where I said they didn't really have a plan you know and and it's hard to have a plan when you lose a hall of fame caliber quarterback and now you've gotta start from scratch I get it so they were piecing that plan together and that's my point they piece that plan together and I that had they started the year with Kenny Pickett his progression barring injury probably would have been a little further now that we've seen Kenny Pickett for what 12 games of the season basically right 12 games I think he was injured he was injured for alright but but but you know we've got a we've got enough enough film on Kenny Pickett now to know that he's progressing what that predicts who knows but it it it doesn't predict that he's a total bust okay when it when comes to shove.
She's got a chance to be decent. He was he he when when he's gotta make the play he makes the play. So so I overall I give I give I give Tomlin a a a B for the year and I'm looking forward to next year hopefully we see some progression. Canada I give a D plus. And the reason I give him a D plus.
Well I I think he performed poorly. But as the year went on and Kenny Pickett started to progress and and you can see that he was you know he wasn't turning the ball over as much he he was he was going through his progressions better he was making even better decisions and then he led him to those victories and then in the last game against Cleveland Cleveland kind of mailed it in but kind of did yeah they you know they mailed it right they quit in the second half yeah they did the second half you're ready you're ready yeah but he won the game so you know I I I think that they they started to kind of open it up a little bit for him so that's where the pause comes in D I mean, they need to replace it.
I'm with you guys. They need a new coordinator.
Tomlin deferred that and say he wasn't going to even think about that right now in his news conference today. So, to me, that means no changes coming. Well, because I know Tomlin does listen to the sports porch. Tomlin, mister coach, coach T, all I want you to do is look at how many past touchdowns we had this year and realize that is the bottom of the league and in a passing league we just can't have an offense that is going to be the worst passing touchdown offense in the league our number one supposed number one wide receiver had zero touchdowns broken NFL record for completion so coach T when you go and look at your offensive coordinator please put that please put that first in his evaluation when you sit down with him at the end of the year and you say I'm sorry but here's your pink slip yeah okay Alright.
It was also the 20 points. Uh was it just one starting the year? They they topped twenty? They got 2080 against Cleveland. Yeah well they averaged 20 points in the second half of the year. Yeah. They averaged 20. Which is still pretty horrible. That's bad. Yeah. Which is bad. But but it's not under. Right. It's not under. Okay. So you know coaching aside. Let's move on.
What we want to do here is we want to grade parts of this now. Daniel chimes in and says be great in the second half. Um be Daniel Rupert said also says D minus for Canada gotta go. Offense has enormous potential. Yep. We agree. Uh Richard is back and he wants to know why we're not talking about the Buckoes. Uh maybe someday. Uh alright so come back in May.
So so great. Great. Let's let's let's move on. So we just graded the coaching. Okay. Um let's grade the defense. Let's grade the defense. Steve give me give me your thoughts on that because we have so yeah the defense the defense is a little bit trickier than the coaching and the offense in my opinion I mean they were ninth against the run this is by yards in the NFL that's pretty freaking good considering they started out not being able to stop the run and they played without TJ for a little while there a healthy cam was very helpful and and the fact that their defensive linebacking core is less than average man this is a really tough one I think I gotta give the defense a a solid beat just because I think they I think they held their own those games and and even though they they held to teams below 20 points sometimes they still lost a game that's that's unacceptable you know that should be enough to win to win a game and once again they're only like two games like that maybe but if they win one of them they're in the playoffs and they're pretty hot defense I know you like to bring up the interception statistic I think that's I feels my thunder you can you can talk about I'm not going to tell them what the statistic is but I think that actually that yeah I I give I give him a B I I really like the way the defense played a full year with TJ depending on what they do with the defensive line I mean they got the the defensive lineman who's saying he's escaping he'll be back next year they're probably lose the other guy that he's playing this year and what they're really going to do is that the defensive end position on the other side is probably going to either make that defense the same or better and I'll say my analysis on the push for another segment we're going to be having alright Squabber what's your feeling on the on the defense on the great I agree with Steve I give him just a solid B Uh they were good against the run.
They would probably be better pass rush wise if TJ Watt was healthy linebackers I agree below average the the one area where I really am not thrilled with the Steelers they don't have terrible corners but I feel like both corners could be upgraded you know so I kind of look to this defense like if if you want to like truly be an elite defense give me like one shot corner and one corner that's really above average.
I feel like they kind of got two average guys. Yeah and I think and and I think the passing league that's really important. Yeah but you you know you have to draft those guys and and sometimes they work out for the Steelers they haven't worked out in the past. They haven't. Yeah I mean it's true. Yeah. I think that's missing. I give I give the defense a B plus because they let the league get interceptions and they kept the Steelers in in other than a couple games.
They kept the Steelers in every game, okay? Let's let's say that Deontae Johnson had five touchdown catches this year you could probably add three more victories so I I put this because the Steelers played I think in in they were among the tops in one score games this year so yeah I I think that this was less of I think people started to focus on the defense more when TJ Watt was out and they weren't getting the sacks and the rushing and and they weren't and they weren't able to stop the run game as well but I would give Terrell Austin in that defense a B plus grade because they adjusted as the year went on and Watt came back they still I mean he didn't he didn't go crazy and have 15 sacks in the last seven games of the year you know what I mean so I I I think the defense being the highest paid defense in the NFL they they under perform that paycheck but I think they over perform the expectations and they're a big reason that the team ended up 98 and I think there's a lot to build on you know we could talk about that when we talk about like most improved players and all that so I think the defense was a positive this year even though many many people would have thought it we're we're talking out of negative.
So well I think we we both called it a positive at a B. Yeah that's true. Good grade. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah that's a good grade. I think they they were good this year. I tell my kids all the time get bees. You know get bees. You'll be alright. Yeah. You'll make it through life.
Success. Hey I don't want to set them up for failure. I just want to did you tell Leah to get bees. Uh no. She if she got a B she would probably what's that Beatles song? Happiness is a warm gun.
I think I think that that alright alright whatever whatever so Mike Lawrence says not just Steelers some **** football this season I don't know how I I don't know did did does he know how to type her poor tackling midfield goals lousy passing bad ref calls how about Ruffy the pass off Cam yesterday what do you guys think well I think I think that's called the NFL yeah I I really do no disrespect but that's the NFL yeah it is like like you know what when that happened like when that happened yesterday my very first thought before the flag was thrown was I I looked at Amy I said they're going to flag that yeah yeah and they did and it was **** yeah but they but that's what they do.
They flagged that. I know. And that's it was a horrible call. Watch watch any other NFL games. There are horrible calls and you know I don't hear you complaining about the the non-face mask call on Deshaun Watson. Exactly. They usually tend to balance out. Like you can look at bad refereeing. Yeah. And being like that that cost us. Like you could look at that Dolphins game and that horse collar call on who whoever it was. I think it was Waddle got pulled down from behind.
He didn't grab it by the shoulder pads. He grabbed his jersey and pulled him down. Yeah. But you and that cost the Steelers a playoff position potentially. Right. So I mean I I can't get too excited about referee calls because they're bad in every game but they usually do bounce out. Right.
Except when Tom Brady's on the field. There you go.
Always a Brady reference. Okay. Uh let's grade the offense real quick. Um Schwabber, let's start with you. Go for it. Um I gave the offense a C minus. Okay. Um and I would actually say C minus is positive. That's a good score. Uh that's that's a positive. Um and and the reason for that is I I see I see a potential number one in George Pickens. I see I don't know that Najee Harris is ever going to be a top five back but he could be sort of like a number ten back in the league.
Oh Chris. Um and and I think Pittsburgh showed promise. I mean like he he did well enough for me to not feel like I have to go get a quarterback next year which is which is progress. Yeah. Now the the reality with Kenny Pickett I mean people did get excited because he engineered two fourth quarter comebacks. The problem with those is that he really didn't play very well in the entire game those games.
Yeah. And he really didn't play that well in this game until second half. It was a little more this fourth quarter. Right. Um Kenny Pickett's accuracy is not really good. He he actually throws some really great balls like a lot of quarterbacks do when they're learning and they're you know have room to improve but he was at like a 38% accuracy or 44% accuracy yesterday. Probably on the season it was around 60%.
So he needs to bring that number up to keep drives alive. I mean you know it's great he throw like a nice you know touchdown to to Pickens and he did enough to win the game that's a big part of it but you know I mean some of those passes in the first quarter were horrible yesterday over throws and under throws and he's got a long way to go in my mind okay so that that's kind of that's kind of where I'm coming from alright C minus for Suarez I really want to give the offense an F I really do I I can't I can't quite give him an F so I'll give him a D minus and here's why Let's not forget, the offensive play calling was horrible all year.
Way too conservative for NFL today. Um I get why they did it. It doesn't matter. You still have to open it up. Um so I'll I'll give the play calling an absolute F. When it comes to the running game, beginning of the season was terrible. The offensive line wasn't opening up any holes. Maje almost got killed. People wanted to start Jaylen Warren for god's sakes only because he was fast enough to at least run around guys.
You know, but the the the the rush the rushing schemes did get better minus the jet sweeps the jet sweeps have to go they still have to go so I think that was terrible let's go to the passing game I mean when you don't throw the ball across the middle for eight or 10 games of the season in an 18 game season that's just ridiculous I mean what NFL team does that other than the Steelers I didn't see one out there when I was watching games and you won't see any of this this weekend when you're watching the games because they use the whole freaking field right so So the offense has just been terrible.
It has it didn't get better. Yes. It went from a a F minus to an F to a D minus by the end of the season. But they still have a long way to go with this offense. I I get it. They have a lot of young talent on there. I do like that about the offense. But look can he pick it through what? Eight interceptions in the first you know six games that he played in the last four.
He only threw one. So he is getting better. Um and I think that he actually is throwing the ball down the field more. So to actually tell you right there that throwing the ball down the field doesn't necessarily mean it's a risky play. It actually could open some things up for a quarterback. So it the offense was just horrible. Uh I'm giving him a D minus.
Yeah and I'm going to I'm going to go with you Steve. I'm not going to give him a D minus but I'll give him a D I I think a lot of this is predicated on two things. One the whole Mac Canada issue. Uh which we've we I mean we've ground that one into the dust and we're just praying we don't have to ground it into the dust anymore next year.
I'll be happy to. And no you won't because I have a feeling they'll end up within the same spot next year. But and the the other issue to me again was the quarterback issue and the confusion in the first basically six games if you will even after the Jets game it it is Trubisky you know where's Trubisky? Why didn't they put Pittsburgh it in and and now all of a sudden he's kind of having to learn in real time so you know that took a whole hell of a lot away from the passing side of the ball on the rushing side of the ball you know what you saw was a rush a a a a rushing game a running game that got better as the year wore on and I think it got better for one reason and one reason only and that is that line which I would give my highest grade on offense started to play as a unit and they benefited from no injuries that would take them off the field.
You know they all get back up. Yeah. So you know they weren't hitting other teams hard enough. Well you know right. Right. But but Naje Naje started it. Naje started to be able to run the ball because they were getting a better they were getting a better push off the line. Yeah. For sure blocking schemes were better. They're learning to play with each other. But also Naje was with more purpose and he was running with more purpose but that goes that goes back to a little bit of jumping the other day yeah that little jumping that that goes back to what I've been saying all along and and Mark you actually touched on it and Steve was texting me yesterday during the game like saying he finally thinks he sees what I may see and that is that Nanjay Harris doesn't have a burst of speed he can't hit now now that the offensive line is creating holes what I've seen I one play yesterday where they were doing a blocking scheme and pushing everybody to the left and he ran to the left what he should have done is cut it back to the right because they were pushing everybody in the other direction and he ran right into the pile yeah and to me that that's one play but that's indicative of his running style it's almost like he wants the contact you know and you gotta hand it to him he's not afraid to play football the way it's supposed to be played but look man have a little vision take a little stutter step find the hole burst through it I I this guy is longest run this year was like 22 yards he's not a home run threat and if you're not a home run threat then you don't have to bring those linebackers up you don't have to create a middle of the field you know that's open for people to throw over it and I I honestly as as great a person as Najee is and I love him when I see interviews and all this I I he's just he's just not that home run hitting running back and and I worry about that next year especially if this offensive line starts to get together so often overall for me was a D as well but the caveat is that you know I I I think that the improvement if they change coordinators I I think there's there's a lot of improvement.
Um so let let let's move on here and again I want to remind everybody if you're listening to us on American Busker iHeartRadio that iHeartRadio has 150 million registered users. 2000 devices and 2 hundred and 60 platforms and please subscribe to our podcast on the iHeartRadio app. It's the Sports Porch or anywhere you get your podcast. Thank you so much for that. Um we want to move on now.
We're going to talk about some let's see most improved player this year or most improved unit on the Steelers.
Anybody want to step in and just grab that one? Boy that's a tough one. Schwabber go ahead. I'm going to go with Highsmith. Well that would be that would be okay most improved right? Yeah. Most improved player. High Smith. He had double digit sacks right? Do you have twelve? Yes he did. Twelve sacks. That's a lot of sacks. Yep. And he did get a good amount of them without TJ Watt on the field. He did. Um so I really felt that he elevated his game and has become a really good second you know tandem piece to to JJ Watt. So I think you're I I mean I I believe he is actually titled a linebacker but he more plays defensive end.
Yeah.
Right. Yeah. So to to me I feel like it kind of keeps you you're in a really good spot at defensive end as long as they're both healthy. Yep. Okay. Most improved Steve. I have a shocker here and actually this this plays into next year. So I'm going to go with Chase Claypool.
I think by trading him that was the smartest thing the Steelers did all season on the offense they were talking about how bad that trade was this this morning I mean it was addition by subtraction yeah it got it got Pickens on the field more so it got him more more FaceTime with with Pickett right and the Bears got the number one overall pick so we got a thirty-third pick out of it I mean that's just incredible yeah for some of you like Chase Claypool yeah so I think I think that was probably that was probably that was probably the most improved situation the Steelers had on offense all year long okay I like that call my most improved is the offensive line I don't think that I don't think that anybody is really talking about them the way they should and especially coming from the place of last year where it was like oh my god they're horrible and then this year oh my god they're terrible by the end of the year I would say I would wait to say by like the twelfth game you know tenth eleventh twelfth game nobody was talking about offensive line anymore you didn't hear about Kenny Pickett running for his life no last year remember last year how much we said god Ben's gotta throw the ball, like 1.
2 seconds otherwise he gets clobbered yes and that and that's a that's a place where I think some of the comments we've made in the past where you kind of have to have patience when you're rebuilding something sometimes it takes time do I think any of these guys were pro ball worthy no I don't but I think as a unit they really put a a magnificent season together is Especially considering the situation they were in.
So one of one of them was was pretty bad though. I think wasn't the right tackle Mason either led the league in sacks or he led the league in offsides penalties. Yeah one of one of the guys well and I'm I'm talking about the unit cohesively as a whole. They played they played very well together. I think on every offensive line you're going to have a couple guys who kind of aren't as good as the other guys.
You just don't run to that side as much. Yeah.
Were usually called plays away from that at that side yeah I would like to give an honorable mention to Cam Hayward though I think he I think he played really well this year again yes after having the season he had last year I had doubts he can make it through full season I think he only missed like maybe one or two games get that and and having other guys behind him really helped him you know be be a stud up in the middle and I think that's one of the reasons you know they were ninth against the run they just were really they were they were really difficult to run against in the middle and when you can't run it up the middle you know it it it makes for a up for a lot of mistakes so.
OB Joe. Honorable honorable mention. Alright and DG's in the house. What's up DG? He says Kenny Pickett is the most improved. Still a ways to go but definitely he's taking steps in the right direction. That's your opinion. Uh and DG says Cam is an incredible beast than he is. Cam is. Okay so who would you cut? Who would you who would you say get rid of him right now? Well since I already foreshadowed this.
I think I should jump right in here. Uh Devin Bush gotta go. I mean I know you know he he he played better than he did last year. He's still horrible. I mean the guy who makes way too much money. Uh he just needs to go. He does not need to be back. He does not need to be back. Gotcha. I can't I can't disagree with that but I will give another one.
It's gotta be the man. Deontay Johnson. Oh really. Has to be Deontay Johnson. Deontay Johnson. Look. I I know you can make an argument. Wow. I know They just they just signed him for like a three year contract. I know he can make the argument. He led the team in catches even though he had no touchdown catches. But the bottom line this is my feeling about Deontay Johnson.
He is a losing football player. He's a drive killer with his drops. You know and he is senseless. He's afraid to get hit. He runs backwards all the time. All the time. Even after people are talking about it week after week. The Bob line is you don't need him right draft the wide receiver you know and get rid of Deontay Johnson he's just a a he's he's an energy zapper well you like it better when Calvin Austin the third is in the lineup taking about forty of those catches away from it I would like I would like him better with nobody replacing him and and Pickens getting 12 targets a game so you're saying if the Steelers offered up him to the Eagles you know straight up for Devonte Smith you're you would say no oh absolutely not Devonte Smith had 91 catches 1200 yards and ten touchdowns yeah I know I don't even think there's an argument no I mean like could Deontae Johnson be the third receiver on the Eagles he good he's better than Quez Watkins there you go but no we don't want his negative energy okay guys so he's you know what do you mean you don't you don't like his backwards running you know when how about his backward running fumbles you know who Deontay Johnson is going to be when he goes another team.
When he goes to another team, he's going to be like the next Kenny Golladay. Yeah, you're right.
Like Juju or Juju. Basically nothing. Right. Yeah. I mean that's just the way it is. So we lost our producer and we're much better off for it. Um yeah. Next up on the next up on the docket Mark we're going to talk about the Steelers MVP. Most valuable player. Okay and you want me to go or you yeah why don't you why don't you this one because I don't want to take the same one as you.
Okay. Well, I gotta say. Although maybe we will take the same one. I don't know. Uh you know, this is a very odd MVP choice because it's not at a position where you usually label somebody as an MVP. Right. But I'm going to say it's Minka Fitzpatrick. Minka. Okay and and I'll tell you the reason for that. I I do not know off the top of my head but I'm going to guess that there were about four games this year that he made the key play to win the game.
Right. Um you know he he's you know he's a turnover machine in a good way. Yeah. Um and he does have tied for the League League in interceptions. Yep yeah he he has a knack for making the interception at the end of the game. Right. When the other he's a closer when it comes he's a closer. Yeah. Uh and he also also he's a leader.
I mean I know there was that kind of misunderstanding with him and and Cam but I that. You know I I think that he obviously really cares and he and he goes out there and like didn't he return like a week after he like had a serious injury. Yeah he had an appendicity. He had an appendectomy missed that week. So he's they said that he would probably be out two to three weeks and then he was back I think for the Tampa game.
So he's really tough and I mean and and if you if you think about it in a passing league where let's say at the other safety position and at your two corner positions and nickel position you know you're not throwing out any pro ball players I mean he really mans the the middle of the field really really well and you know forces teams to you know play in the mistakes so I I think he's just an excellent player yeah I can't disagree I think Minka definitely I mean he was chosen as the MVP by the Steelers so so for that reason you you you got it right big check mark for Mark there I I can't go with anybody on the offense for the clear reason that I wanted to give them an F grading so I gotta go with somebody on the defense actually I really want to go with like a kicker but Boswell was actually pretty terrible this year he was Matthew Wright probably gets gets an honor responded although he did I think miss his first yeah first couple were bad yeah but yeah actually you know what he he got picked up by Kansas City did you hear that Kansas Butker was terrible you know Butker's always Butker's always got like some kind of hamstrings so I think they put him up so I guess I guess I'm going to go I'm going to go I I know this sounds dumb but I think TJ TJ would be my MVP and here's why when the guy is in on the defense he just makes that defense the whole defense better he makes a better he makes Cam better he makes Highsmith better when they when he didn't play they fell apart so it's true I think for that reason it's one of those like you know you take him out of the game and the defense falls apart yeah okay I agree with you Mark I think he played injured the rest of the season and I'm not excusing any any his lack of sacks in the second half of the season but I do believe that for that reason I would just go with TJ I know there's an asterisk around it because I agree with you Mica probably is the true MVP but I just want to give a shout out TJ because I think he played through an injury once again playing with a torn peck that ain't easy that is that is not hard yeah most probably not going to go away so yeah most people are out for the season with that yeah and you know they said it wasn't whatever fully torn away from the bone or whatever so eh what are you going to do alright so we're going to switch it up we're going to move away from the Steelers hey Brad for that update for those of you who aren't watching.
Georgia is already leading in the national championship. Oh that's going on tonight. I forgot about it. We're planning on putting that on later Mark. I probably will. I think I'll put it on. Watch it till halftime. It should be it should be all over by then. You know. Yeah probably. That ceremony is kind of dumb though. Like the way they hand out that that trophy's not very good.
No. They gotta get a better trophy. Yeah. It's like they're trying to be the Stanley Cup but it's a smaller version of it. It's not good. No.
But yeah no surprise Georgia's already winning that game. But hey who who they playing against? The Horn Frogs. The Horn Frogs at TCU. The Horn Frogs can make a comeback. Don't don't count the Horn Frogs out.
Alright. I think it's time to go. Playoffs Playoffs Playoffs. Yeah we gotta go.
Playoffs.
Playoffs. Playoffs. You gotta let my you gotta let my I want to talk about playoffs. Let's talk about playoffs when smoke alarms go off in your studio. I thought we were actually going to be consumed with fire. Yeah no we're good.
We're good. I'm a little out of breath. It was a tense scene here. I'm a little out of breath. We're good. Okay. We're going to the playoffs now. However, what we got in thanks for filling in the time. I'm sure you did it incredibly. Oh yeah. Um I was running around going what the what the alright so last week rounding out the rounding out the season last week oh yeah this is it.
Mark's the big winner.
Let's just say it. Mark one. I got another three. You got a one in yes yes so that puts the final the final predictions for the regular season. Mark was 33 and 20. Chris was 20 and 33 and Steve was 28 and 25. So nobody had a losing record there. That's that's the good thing. That is pretty impressive. I agree. Yeah. So now we're moving on to the NFL Playoffs round. Playoffs. And we're going to pick every game. Let's start and we'll start with Steve pick this week even though he went oh and three last week. Oh that doesn't sound. Saturday Seahawks at forty-niners. Steve what's AU? Well I know Purdy's the guy so wide against him.
Purdy. Hall of fame. Purdy Hall of Fame. Class of 2035.
Alright so forty-niners. Um yeah. And and I'm going the forty-niners too. I mean how can you pick against them? I did actually pick against Seattle but then I was listening I was picking Seattle before we came and I was listening to some guys that said forty-niners just dominated them during regular seasons and and Seattle hasn't actually been playing well lately. Yeah. They're not. And I always like better at home anyways. Right. Right. Hats off to Gino Smith but Brock Curry is the man.
Well he's got I know I know.
I know. Alright. Next game up. Sunday or Saturday. Dolphins at the Bills. This is easy. Bills in a slaughter.
Bills in a walkaway. Yep. Bills win the game.
Alright. Wow. We're just blowing right through these. Uh this next one if Amar is back Ravens at the Bank. You you skipped the game though. Did I? No. You skipped that wires. Um no that's Sunday. That's Sunday. I'm pretty sure it's Sunday. Pay attention. Pay attention. Well in the glow of the number one seed of the Eagles so. You're a winner. You're a winner. You don't have the games and you've already won. That's right. Okay Ravens at Bengals. Steve. Piece of cake. This is the Ravens all the way. It's a shocker. Nobody's going to like it while I'm telling you. Is Lamar playing? If they're going to win.
The Ravens are going to win. You heard it here first.
Bengals in a route.
Uh and I'm going with the Bengals as well. Okay now Mark since you were so hipped to get to this game.
Chargers at Jaguars on Sunday. Tough one. The Jags all Dougie P does is win. Eagles fan. The Eagles fan picking the Jags. Okay Mark Jags. It is time for the Hare to win. Herbert over the other guys here. Yep. And and I'm going to have to go with my man Crush. I'm saying the Chargers are gone. Gonna win that game. Finally they win a playoff game. Alright next game Giants at the who are they? The Vikings. That's right. The Vikings. G Man at Vikings. I know everybody's going to take the Giants so I'm going to take them first.
Robert. I also got the Giants.
Minnesota is fake. I think Minnesota's better. I'm I'm going to go against my better judgement and I'm going to pick the fake Vikings. I went against my judgement and took the Giants. Yeah. Still still can't separate from Kirk Cousins. Kirk Cousins baby. Kirk Cousins. Alright. Last games. Last one's easy. Cowboys at Tampa Bay. I'm taking the favorites. That would be the boys.
One and done again. The Bucks and Brady are playing in Philadelphia. Alright so taking the Bucks. That's bad for you. And I can't I can't stand the Cowboys. Uh I'm taking Tampa Bay as well. Alright there you have it. You can't stand the Cowboys. That's right. That's right. That's how you do it. That's how you do it. That's how you finish last. Yeah. Okay. No no you finish last by thinking like me.
Alright. So thanks again for being here. We're going to move on to this part of the podcast where we bring the hockey Jesus in. As you all know Steve is our reigning Hockey Jesus. Talks about the Penguins. Every Penguins game after the conclusion. You can catch the Hockey Jesus sermon on the Sports Sports Podcast on the iHeartRadio app or anywhere you get your podcast or on the Porch Live.
com. Hockey Jesus, they gotta win. The Pens won. Yes. But other than that. They won on the road. They played in Arizona in a great arena called Mullet Arena. Wouldn't you love to go to Mullet Arena? I think they named it after you. I think they did. You know what they did their first home game? They handed out 5000 mullets. They this is a real this is a real story.
I love it. Why why is the name Mullet do you know? Uh it's it's the name of a business. I'm not exactly sure what the name sounds like it's a it sounds really stupid but Mullet sounds really cool. Yeah. Um and actually I I actually thought when you when you sent that text when they win a Mullet Arena I was like what is he talking about? Were there a lot of Penguins fans there? I don't get it.
Yeah there were a lot of Penguins fans. I bet. Cuz I mean it's Arizona. Right. That's that's Pittsburgh last. Right. It's just in case you want to know it's in honor of Donald and Barbara Mullet one of the University of Arizona State University there you go yeah there you go because they're playing on Arizona State's campus now they're building a new stadium and it only houses like 5, 000 people so that's definitely a destination hockey Jesus wants to go before they stop playing there for sure alright I mean can you imagine watching an NHL game and with 5, 000 people I mean that's gotta be incredible called Mullet Arena in Mullet Arena like yeah come on anyways Penns Penns won.
They were on they were on a terrible skid before that. I I don't know if you got to check out the the Winter Classic but the Winter Classic was an incredible venue and and then they go out to Vegas and get slobber knocked by Vegas. Vegas actually is a really good team. Uh they're my they're my first predicted team to make the Stanley Cup Finals.
They're that good. I mean, they're coached by Bruce Cassidy and he was former Bruins coach who got got canned just because they didn't think he was good enough but he's still really good coach kind of what would happen if Sully gets fired somebody would pick him up because he's a really good coach and he would do well he's doing great with Vegas he's got that team playing really hard and they don't even look like they skate and they skate really fast just good team so for them to get killed by Vegas they needed to win in Arizona and they did so that was good so now they come back and they play Vancouver this week that basically puts them at the halfway point actually Friday night is the halfway point.
They'll be midway through on Friday but they play on Saturday. So the hockey Jesus is going to give his first half analysis of the Penguins on Thursday night. How about a Blueger update? Bluger is still on the fourth line he's missing his pals Paling and Archibald both injured so he's been playing with I think he's been playing with Heinen and McGinn it's not been good for him he's not been not been doing well still killing penalties like a champ though but not scoring any goals actually had a a prime opportunity in Vegas that he just blew completely blue so he's he's he's having a mix mixed bag there's actually some talk of him maybe on the trade block we can't have I don't believe that I don't believe that they don't have anybody that can fill in for him on the power play I just don't believe that would happen but you know March I think March 3rd or March 1st is the deadline Is it happened? That'll be something we talk about in February.
So we got a while before we have to worry about trade deadlines in in that coming up but Pens are actually still in the playoff spot. They own the last playoff spot. Um they've got the eight spot right now with that win but anybody could jump over them. Uh the Washington Capitals are super hot right now. They jumped over the Penguins. They're about six points ahead of them for the the position that's in front of them.
So they're pretty far away from the next next spot. So they need to string some games together. Let's hope to keep it going against Vancouver on two Day and then they got back to back on Saturday on Friday and Saturday. So that is the Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Jesus update. Alright thanks thanks again for that Hockey Jesus and a reminder you can catch the Sports Sports Podcast and Hockey Jesus after every single Pens game on the iHeartRadio app or anywhere you get your podcast and thanks again for listening to us on American Busker iHeartRadio 150 million registered users 2000 devices 260 platforms and we will be back next week with another of the Sports Porch and I think that's all we got.
Thanks for listening guys. Thank you and don't forget to take down As always, replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. Thank you.
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