The Utility Man Can - Steel Here Episode 53 Ft John Rhys Plumlee

what the going on on this team Jerry Barry up Barry up Jerry TJ wat he is the best defensive player on the planet go yes yes we [Music] fire run it down their throat no no no no that's not a penalty game over game over don't ask me to do nothing this is he's aggressive hello hello welcome back to another episode of the steel here podcast where I'm your host Kevin Adams alongside my partner in crime Jersey Jerry Jerry Dawn we're coming off of one preseason game uh it wasn't a good game Let's uh before we get into all of that we're going to do an interview with John rice plumbley quarterback wide receiver you know utility man for the Pittsburgh Steelers we'll come back we'll discuss the game after that point it's time to welcome to the show from the University of Central Florida the Swiss army knife of the Pittsburgh Steelers playing quarterback wide receiver kick returner and punt coverage he is number 18 John rice plumbley what up John rice welcome to the show what is up guys yeah good to be here glad to be here talking to you fellas today absolutely brother so you have a day off from camp today is that uh you in your dorm is that where you're at yeah yeah we're over here at St Vincent so we're in the dorms uh but there those off days we soak them up right so I got to sleep in today going to do some recovery stuff you know uh then study study study for me I'm doing a lot of stud right now I'm sure trying to learn a few different positions now so is this the the first time that you've you've played wide receiver in your career is this kind of something newer the Steelers are trying to get you to do um so I played ball at Old Miss before uh I went I transferred to UCF um and in my last year at Old Miss they asked me to play a receiver and so I've done it for I've done it for a year but um um obviously I haven't done it you know in the past two years so uh you know knocking the rust off trying to trying to figure it out again yeah absolutely is it coming easy to you you enjoy it you enjoy it more than quarterback uh you know I think I enjoy quarterback more you know I'm just trying to show all the things I can do right I'm trying to I'm trying to make a squad right so I wanna they say the best ability is availability right and so I want to show that you know I can return a kick return a punt I can block a punt you know I can you know I can play quarterback I can catch some balls I can do whatever right I'm just trying to to show All That I Can Do Absol what's the uh what's the 40 time John rice uh I uh so this last football season um had a knee injury so really couldn't move around as quickly as I wanted to during the season because you know I have this big you know knee brace on my knee and it wasn't 100% but finally got that off and then uh during draft prep and stuff started started getting my back right but I ran a 449 at at our pro day our Our Big 12 pro day that's good yeah that's the that's the information I have here is 449 but I I saw you in the uh when you were back at Old Miss I think it was 2019 you were playing against Burrows uh tigers at that point in time I think you had like 220 some rushing yards uh 212 rushing yards and four touchdowns but they said if they would have clocked you during that game it would have been like low fours high high four threes so yeah that was a that was a crazy game also I didn't I didn't weigh as much as I do now right so wasn't carrying around as much weight so I was moving a little quicker I think John rice so when you uh have you played kick return like obviously against that uh the Texans on Friday night you took the opening kick uh you received that is that something you've done a lot in your career obviously you know you're you're pretty versatile but I I don't remember you being a kick returner no no I haven't done a ton of it again that last year old Miss uh I was kind of doing the same right like just trying to get on the field um and I played off for Turner in kickoff obviously the kickoff rules were different then right there's there's obviously a new wave that's that's coming on now but um that was the only time I had done it and so now I'm getting here and I'm I'm catching punts and catching kickoffs right I'm trying to trying to my biggest thing is you w to uh receive the ball first right you don't want to go anywhere and have the ball going somewhere else right so that's the biggest thing for me uh early on was hey I just got to receive the ball and then after that I told the fellas I told the fellas hey look this is either going to be a house call or a 911 call so like I'm I'm gon to hit it right whatever happens happens and so uh but yeah it was good it was fun how does that how does that even come about did you like tell like Danny like hey I can return kicks if you want like how does that even come about first off Danny's awesome right have youall got to me Danny he's unbelievable oh yeah yeah no piece of gum is safe around that man I didn't even know he chewed gum like that until we got in the preseason game he's got a cheek full I'm like holy cow this is this is unbelievable here but anyway nonetheless uh he comes up to me when we're in like uh mini camp and OTAs you know uh before we came to camp and he was like hey would you have any interest of returning or doing anything and again same mindset right like anything that I can do I want to do right like anything that that that uh any role I can f i want to F and so I was like yeah let's rock and roll and so um he started putting me back there and I was catching balls right and now with the new kickoff rules they can skip it to you right if they want to yeah so we've been you know obviously practicing catching off the jugs ball skipping to us and you know I've caught some ground balls I played baseball in in in college and through high school so caught some ground balls but when they're when they're football shaped they bounce a little different right so taking some some crazy bounces and and uh it's it's been nonetheless you like the new kickoff roles like what's your thought on that obviously it's as fans it's interesting it's different I I hate it personally I I am a very loyalist to a traditionalist to the game I I think it's terrible but I'm interested to hear what you guys think about it I think you know obviously as a football fan you love the big hit right like you love the hey big men running really fast each other and just explosions happening right like that's fun to see um you kind of are taking that out with the new kickoff rule uh especially from the blockers you know from from the guys that are blocking for you but I still think you have that opportunity uh with the returner um because if you if you cut one of those guys loose or they shed a block pretty quick then there's a there's a collision waiting to happen right um do I like it yeah I think it's something that we kind of gotta get used to um you know we watched the film from the first preseason game there's some Kinks we got to figure out right and um but there's going to be taking some some some getting used yeah I like it do I like the other one better sure maybe but um I think as we adapt and get better at it it's it's going to be a lot more enjoyable and I think you I think you're going to get a lot more returns is what is what's going to be more fun for me yeah absolutely John R you uh you mentioned you played baseball in college how the hell did you lose the Home Run Derby to Justin Fields I looked up your stats 11 was it you had 11 career uh home runs in college is that what the number is yeah I hit 10 of them my last year so I was feel feeling really good about myself right I was I was pumping on myself this I got this right like this is going to be easy and so the way we did it was um it was on the the St Vincent baseball field right here and um you didn't even have to hit a home run we got 10 outs right and so they put lines in the Outfield like here if you hit it past this line it's one point you hit it past this line it's three if you hit it over it's it's a home run so I'm like I'm gonna be hitting all day right like this is gonna this is gonna take a long time well so I get up there and I'm hitting and I'm like geez like I'm not hitting very well today right we had a couple warm-up swings I'm like geez I gotta I gotta get back right I haven't swung a bat in in a little while and I get up there rookies obviously go first right so I'm up there you know breaking the ice for everybody and I'm fouling balls off I'm swinging too hard I'm trying to send it into into the building that's in left right I end up with just awful performance get out in the first round didn't even make competitive run at so but Justin had a really good showing so did Russell those guys were they were swinging yeah Russ Russ played uh that's probably relatable for you Russ played a little bit of baseball too so is that something you you talked to him about uh you know two sport athlet something like that obviously that's that's something you can relate about yeah for sure he uh he's he's you know telling stories about when he was in college and I'm telling mine and um you know he got to play at the professional level as well and so I haven't got to to hear any stories about that that but I'm I'm I'm definitely going to start working on them try to get some of those stories out of them but um yeah it's cool right not a lot of people have gotten to do uh the two sport thing and it's it's pretty cool that that we both got the ability had the ability to do that and had the opportunity to so it was it's it's cool to talk about John who's uh who is the person in Camp you would say that you've grown closest with so far at lat trobe uh you know in your rookie class you I mean really your rookie class kind of gets tight right because you know you're you're doing a lot of the same stuff together right you're they're making a sing up there in front of everybody what did you sing what what what did you sing I sung Stand By Me a pretty easy one so I think that you know the the key is you got to get everybody singing with you that's all that's the that's the key if you get people singing with you you're doing it right yeah they're not going to boo you off stage at that point you're Who had who had the worst perform uh all right so this isn't so Troy he's as as the as the first round guy he goes first right like he is he is the first the one to go so you know kind of sucks for him terrible he doesn't know that he necessarily has to sing he's just they call him up there and they tell him to do something well he tells a joke well he they didn't like that he told a joke they wanted him to sing they BW him off they they boo him right out of there and it's like oh thanks so we're singing right so the next day they kind of they called Troy back up there and they're like hey sing you need to sing well Troy can really sing like if you don't know that about Troy he's he can he can really sing so then at that point he he he uh uh had a good comeback and he sang really well I don't know what I can't remember what song he sang but he he it was a good performer really yeah I mean that would be one of the last guys I would expect to have some some vocals but dude no he can he can sing it I don't know if he wants me telling that but he can do he can see John rice what are your thoughts uh playing under coach Tomlin obviously we we talked to a lot of guys and they all say that he's the best coach they've ever played for where where are you at with that any any other coaches you can relate to he's he's unbelievable um talking about like a leader of men like that's him and like like there's a way that that he does things that kind of makes you fired up to go do it right like he talks about the fight a lot you know I'm not going to break down all of all the stuff he says but um if you do some things it's going to lessen the fight in people and if you do other things it's gonna it's G to heighten the fight and and he really heightens the fight in people and it's really cool uh to kind of be in this culture the only coach that I can kind of compare him to um is the Old Miss baseball coach Mike biano just two unbelievable leaders that I've been around um and not to say my other coaches haven't met leaders their their leadership style is similar um like hey when they speak this this is this is some really good stuff they're speaking about right like you need to be you need to be tuned in and listening to it um can't say enough good things about him he's he's been great you have a favorite Tomlin ISM he's got a he's got a bunch of onliners that like if you said it like this is what he like let let me uh like um if you said if you go to anybody on the team if you and say hey there's nothing mystical about this like there's nothing mystical about you know having a good day or or having a good day at practice there's there's nothing mystical about it right like it's either like you're working to do it or like it's not just going to land in your lap and that was that's one of the things that I really like that he says there's nothing Miss and you know his his voice booming voice right oh yeah he's like good morning it's like shaking your chest but yeah I like I like I like that one L John rice do you uh do you kind of have a gauge like obviously undrafted you're on the Steelers now do you kind of have a gauge as a player like hey I got a really good chance to make this team or hey um I don't know if I'm gonna if I fit well here like where are you at uh in terms of of your Camp so far yeah um hard to gauge for me right you know being being an undrafted guy you're you're kind of trying to to find your way and make your own way right and so um it's hard for me to gauge like you know um do they do they really love me or or hey are they looking somewhere else right of course they're they've been super helpful and they're great coaches and they coach me up a ton but um you never really know what they necessarily need right like they hey we got we gotta have this guy we gota we gotta have this guy right and so for me it's hard to gauge and so what I try to do is not kind of think about it right I I just kind of try to play football um and have fun doing it because I feel like that's the the time I play my best football is when I'm having fun with it and so um if I start thinking about hey I had a bad day I'm not gonna make the team hey I had a good day I'm gonna make the team then you know then you start worrying yourself to death and so um what I try to do is you know pray about it give it to the Lord and then have fun and go play some ball that's what that's what I try to do now John rice are you in quarterback meetings and wide receiver meetings and stuff like that now like they moved you into to both of those position groups or or you're still mostly with the the quarterbacks and when they have you run some routes you do that stuff too no so I'm I'm I'm in the quarterback room right I'm playing quarterback um you know installing with the quarterbacks you know watching film with the quarterbacks and then when we get on the field coach Z might come up and say hey uh I need you for for two two reps this this uh this rack and and pass under pressure or in in in special period right like hey I I need you for for three plays here like all right sweet just let me know which three and I'll pop in there and get it done because you know as a quarterback you got to you got to know right like so that's the that's the studying piece that I've really been trying to lock in on right like it's a lot of studying for me you know um coming from a you know college offense to to an NFL offense right the verbiage is different the the scheme is different and so a lot of studying for me um but in doing that because I've been studying so hard I know a lot of times what what individual receivers have and I just have to get to the land the landmarks that that they're they're meant to get to right John rice are you do you have a are you planning on getting any snaps uh at quarterback this preseason game coming up or like they don't fill you in until later on in the week yeah it's gonna be later on in the week when they tell us uh hopefully yeah fingers crossed right we hope that we can get in there and mix it up um but you know again I I've always told myself from you know a young age in high school in in in Early College as well like you don't work because you're promised an opportunity you're worked because an opportunity might come right that's kind of how I've always been wired and so kind of working for the for the unknown opportunity right whatever that looks like and and whenever that is um I'm working to be ready for it that's a great [ __ ] mindset because a guy like you that's obviously coming in you know fourth on the depth chart as far as a quarterback the fact that you've taken on the mentality of I'll do whatever it takes to play football like wherever you need me I'll do it I think is it it shows a type of it's a testament to who you are as a person you know what I mean it doesn't matter adversity comes you're going to find a way to to push through it as far as that's concerned that's what I think a lot of the Steelers are trying to find guys like that willing to help the team in any capacity that they can and so it's nice to hear you talk about that so so willingly a lot of guys wouldn't do it I mean think about it there's a lot of guys that would be like no I'm a quarterback I'm not doing it even though you're wildly athletic the fact that you're willing to do that says a lot about you personally sure appreciate that um you know I feel like I've been blessed with the ability to do a couple of different things and so um when given the opportunity I I try to to to Showcase that and so um but nonetheless right love playing quarterback I feel like that's what I'm I'm best at but again um hey if if it means I get to play football let's play football right let's do it are there any uh are there any like pranks some of the veterans play on the rookies at Camp pranks they Haze you you get hazed in there is that is that something happens in the NFL uh you know I mean they're they're they're gonna get after me a little bit in the quarterback room here and there because you know I'm I'm I'm I'll make a dumb mistake every now and then just because I again I'm learning at a really fast pace and so I'll do something that's just super Bon head you know Miss emotion or something else and so you know they're gonna get they're gonna get on my head for that in the o line room I feel like they get after guys a little bit more you know because they have Zack uh Troy and Mason right they have three rookies in there so I feel like they get after those guys more than necessarily the quarterback room does um they've told me some funny stories because they they'll have to go up there and like start every day every morning with a joke like hey you better have a joke because if they call on you J right so I think as far as the hazing goes the o line probably has it a little bit tougher than me uh but it's it's been fun it's something good yeah R Russ doesn't really seem like a prank guy right Kev I mean he's all business Russ all business he's hilarious guys I mean he's awesome right you know going from being a you know Russell Wilson fan and now you're in the in the same room as him he's he's awesome but he's hilarious too like you know obviously knows the game like the back of his hand right like he's been he's been doing it for a long time um but he he'll he'll crack a joke at me or something about playing baseball or um I mean any I mean really any he's he's like what I like to call it sometimes when when when people or my family ask about him because you know everybody wants to know about Russ or wants to know about Justin it's like you have to remember he's a dad too like a lot of these guys are dads so go crack a dad joke every now and then it's like okay all right there there's the reminder that hey Russ is is a dad as well he's unlimited that's Mr unlimited John rice and looking you up you were drafted third overall by the Arlington Renegades in the UFL is that something like how does that work so obviously if you get signed to the Steelers you make the team or like even if you make practice squad how does all of that ultimately work for you uh I don't know completely um I do know that if the NFL doesn't work out right like if if you know worst case scenario happens the NFL doesn't doesn't work out Steelers don't work out and I went to play in that League they hold my rights so I couldn't play for a different oh wow play for a different team in that League um but as far is that's that's now you know as much as I know that's as far that's as much as I know about it yeah so if you hypothetically you make the Steelers though like Arlington can't be like hey you belong to us you can't play for the Steelers like they'll relinquish your rights to the Steelers at that point I'm assuming that is not that is not at least to my knowledge no I don't think that is true that's hey third overall baby take it wins or wins baby I told everybody here look I was drafted third overall I'm a first rounder and you can't take it away from hey wins are wins the day I die I'm a first round dra you can't tell me that's great John R grown up did you have uh were you a big obviously baseball and football fan but were you a professional fan obviously you grew up in was it Hattisburg is that where you're from right and down there it's Brett far country right and so that was my guy growing up Brett farre was like that that I wanted to be Brett farre I wanted to be number four I was run my my P my mom and dad have pictures of me running around in a diaper in a number four jersey like that's that's that's who I wanted to be and so um but then growing up his youngest daughter Brey and my older sister Ryan became really good friends they went to the same high school they played on the same volleyball teams oh wow and so they played on the same travel volleyball teams and so we got to know the faves um and ultimately I got to know Brett as well and unbelievable guy um even through hype like all the way through High School through college right like he's he's been you know will willing to give a help in hand I went and thrown with him a couple of times he's he's unbelievable dude um but yeah that was my guy growing up I was I wanted I wanted to be Brett far so you were a Packers fan is what you're saying you were a Packers fan growing up I wasn't a DI hard Packers fan but like when you know at his end of career where he started jumping teams around everywhere and then he ended up eventually retire and I was like well now who do I cheer for right and so I just went back to I'll be a Packers fan I guess because he did the most damage there and so um yeah I think I think that's fair to say so 20 2010 pack at that point Brett's not there obviously it's Aaron Rogers but the Steelers have a crushing defeat in that Super Bowl you were you were cheering against the Steelers that day weren't you scumbag don't do that don't you were doing that that no way no way I play the fifth on that one that's awesome John rice what's dorm life like at uh at St Vincent obviously you know it looks like it looks like the rehab facility I was at for drugs uh yeah we uh it's it's dorm life it takes me back to freshman year of college right we're in our we're in our little you know cubicles here and and and it's all football right you get up brush your teeth go downstairs the meeting is the meeting room is one floor down right like it's right there so it's it's all ball um which is cool um and and kind of drives you crazy at the same time right like you wake up and it's like I'm in a jail cell and then go down like hey I'm with the fellas right so it's it's cool um but it's it's it's neat because it kind of forces you to be around your teammates a lot more right like I think at other spots you know you go to Camp after practice guys are going home to their families right which a lot of guys have families you're going home to your family well here we're stuck at the dorm right and so we'll have snack outside we have you know cards guys are playing tunk you know bay like we're we're sitting around and and kind of I think it helps in the team building process like you're you're around the fellas a whole lot more um and it's you can you can definitely see it how's the food uh food has been really good um the here at the at at the cafeteria here at St Vincent they've been serving us three meals and then uh at night time we get a snack which is essentially a fourth meal with I mean like they'll bring in Chick-fil-A they'll bring in monter Bay they like they're bringing in you know good food and like so it's not shitty College cafeteria food uh no no it's not it's good food it's good food they have a pizza they have a like a pizza brick oven pizza here that's it's pretty good I'm eating it every day and you you don't you don't have roommates I get I guess that's something I automatically expected you guys all have roommates is that not something that exist we have roommates um I'm in my own little I guess you would call this like a like a sweet style right I have three other roommates me Julius uh beanie and jacobe all uh all rookies right all the same room yeah on in the same not in this room but like in the same little Suite we have a little common area well there's like common space jar so like Jerry Jerry dropped out of college so he can't relay I didn't drop out I didn't drop out I got kicked out difference there is a difference correction so like it's one big space and then you have your own little rooms off of it so that's it's not like they're all sleeping four Dudes in one room it's not like that one one of I will say that you know sometimes you go to a dorm room or you go to a hotel and it's like hey this air condition doesn't work very well and you know it's it takes for a really bad stay oh yeah I will say St Vincent air conditioning AC units have been unbelievable I mean great has been set on like 65 and it it has not cut off in three weeks like cryotherapy in there awesome all right jar you got anything else for our boy no dude I'm I wish you the best of luck John rice man I'm I'm hoping you make the team uh love watching you out there and I I hope you get some snaps I want to see you get some snaps this week yeah yeah that'd be great that'd be great you know but again waiting for that opportunity wherever it comes whatever it looks like we're going we're gonna get out there and mix it up oh yeah John rice you get out there you have a touchdown celebration in mind like hypothetically you take that kick to the house are you you [ __ ] roaring or what's that look like kick to the house y' listen I'm gonna run laps around the field if I take that y are gonna know what to think I take but just be ready for something crazy well we wish you the best brother I hope you stay healthy make the squad uh we're looking forward to watching you play we appreciate you taking the time come on Ste here podcast with us wishing you nothing but the best he yeah fellas hey I appreciate you having me on and God bless absolutely brother thank you have a good one all right man John rice he's a good interview he's he's actually pretty funny dude I'm really pulling for him after talking to him he's funny anybody that is committed to doing those types of things anything it takes to make the team I'm all for that you know whether he makes the team or not it's yet to be seen he's got an uphill battle obviously uh you know quarterback four but the fact that he's willing to do the the punt coverage the kick returning playing a little bit of wide receiver you never know the value that the team sees in that so we'll see how that shakes out yeah well you see uh beanie Bishop undrafted right exactly I mean he's pretty much the starter now it looks like but you know hopefully uh you know John rice makes the team I i' love for to see him on the field return some kicks absolutely he's electric I don't a lot of people don't know when he was at Old Miss this guy was a [ __ ] freak dude I mean you get him in space he was a monster just go back just Google search John Rice plumbley versus LSU four touchdowns 212 yards the guy was a a machine oh he just D shredded their defense in that game so he's he's fun to watch if they find a place for him that's awesome but uh Jerry Don a guy we need to find a place for what the hell is going on with the Brandon iuk Saga listen I I've got the same stuff that a lot of us have gotten you know pretty much the Steelers are and I nuke that side is done it's the holdup is the is the 49ers and and the compensation for it like I said last week it's still the same story so uh I think Khan is definitely playing some hard ball and I don't blame him for it uh I personally think the Steelers really need a wide receiver and I also listen to some other Steelers podcasts and you know some other people say that um the Steelers are just fine you know with the receivers they have and uh I don't think I agree with that um I think I think they're good you know they're they're good wide receivers they're not great wide receivers listen we've been saying this for years you have to score points okay you have to score points in today's NFL and I don't know if this offense that we're going to put on the field and these receivers if we're going to score 28 30 points a game I I don't see that I see the same type of ball that has been played um for the Steelers like this last I don't know seven eight years where it's like defense defense defense um will keep the uh the game low scoring and we'll try to win the game in the fourth quarter and I think that's where you watch that you watch that preseason game and while I think George Pickin is still obviously special van Jefferson you know he's going to be what he's going to be you saw some other things in that game quz Watkins muffs a pun you know he didn't look great Calvin Austin it wasn't good Calvin Austin then he makes some nice catches he you know has some he has some receptions he puts some yards up there but also he gets a shitty ball from Kyle Allen you know he should have been wide open just dump it over but it wasn't and I tweeted you know I would have liked to see Calvin Austin make that catch and I got a lot of backlash all blaming Calvin Austin you're you're an [ __ ] for that it wasn't Calvin Austin's fault if you go back and watch the play itself he's inbounds when the ball hits his hands he just alligator armed it it tips off his fingertips for the people that are upset that I'm not blaming Kyle Allen and instead I want to Blame Calvin Austin then Calvin Austin will play on Sundays okay he will be part of the Steelers plans on offense Kyle Allen will not and if he is the season went to [ __ ] anyway so I don't care so it's I'm going to hold guys that I expect to be playing on Sunday to a higher standard the ball was not perfectly placed but you still would have wanted to see the guy come down with it and so well that's the thing you just said it yourself the passes aren't going to be perfect every single play you know so so you know there's some catches that you have to that you're going to have to make that are tough catches but hey you got to make those catches if it hits your hands hold on Jerry I I have to come to this just because right before we ended the the John rice plumbley interview and we started this recording I get a DM from a Steelers beat writer all right I'm not going to say the guy's name very well respected highend he said her it's today I said we're going to land him today let's [ __ ] go and uh he said you know how crazy this is it could change in a heartbeat no way I'm reporting that last thing I need is to be wrong uh it's not Pony this this is a this is a very well-respected Steelers Insider beater and this is what he is saying so you know it it feels like the [ __ ] Brandon auk Saga could be coming to an end but it needs to end you know last week we come on here we're confident Jerry is confident that his source is is right when he said it's done and then we go a week and still no progress and you know we had heard some things on the back end 49ers pool pulled back just because they W another receiver and they wanted to try and move our picks for another receiver and then that was the hold up and then they go back to the table with Brandon iuk and they sit down with him and try and work out an offer but as of yesterday we're recording Tuesday morning as of yesterday Brandon iuk was not satisfied with the 49ers offer and he said there are two options trade me or up the offer the 49ers Jerry they're not going to up that offer there's no way they can afford no and the reason is this you essentially had the Steelers the Browns and the Patriots they all made offers to Brandon auk contract offers right and that pretty much gave an gave the upside to the 49ers they didn't even have to negotiate with Brandon iuk they could have seen those offers heard those offers and be like okay Brandon auk is okay with these offers let's just offer him that and we're going to get him they still have yet to do that so that means that they're not close to what he wants so at the end of the day he's not going to play so I I think they have to trade him I I really don't see him going back to the 49ers I really don't agreed and as of last night you heard uh Mike garolo of NFL Network on The Insider show say that this deal could happen in a matter of minutes from when the 49ers agree that it is done trying to sign Brandon auk he could be with the Steelers signed good traded in a matter of minutes so we're it's come down to the Steelers of 49ers everybody knows that at this point we are on the precipice of Landing him so I want I want you to be right and Jerry's sources and to be clear Jerry's not coming on here making up [ __ ] like he is hearing it that the Steelers have him everything is done on their end it's just up to the 49ers to send it through so again we're going to find out we're going to find out very soon I would guess I mean I know I know the source is is really good I mean everything he's said to me is really accurate and it's what shefer has been reporting the last few days so I know it's real right yeah absolutely and I mean we we need him that that game on on Friday night against Houston told me that I would really really like to see another wide receiver in that room I don't want to have to rely on on what we have you know I would feel a whole lot better Brandon iuk opposite George Pickins than I would van Jefferson and and everything else going into it but what do you think about Jerry what do you think about Justin Fields first time we get to see Justin Fields where are you at with him you know I uh threw the ball well essentially he went six for six right um cuz that was a catch to um on on they said it was out of bounds but it was really a catch Tomlin in mid-season form doesn't throw the challenge flag J I know I know it's crazy um but I think he looked pretty good uh I think he was comfortable back there there was a uh two fumbles which uh I don't like at all you know that's just you know rookie mistakes you shouldn't be making that those mistakes you know a couple years in the league but you know I think I think he played well I I he didn't he showed a couple flashes but nothing that like jumped off the the page at you like oh my God this guy is the guy you know um there were some sacks that that I didn't like that he took um I felt like you know last last year with the Bears he was able to escape some of those so um you know I'm sure you know just a little rust and whatnot you know first preseason game I'm looking forward to uh this second game too and I'm also looking forward to to Russ too I'm excited about Russ uh getting some snaps in in this preseason game but overall I think Fields played well um I think the offensive line did not play well uh didn't I don't think they ran the ball good early on um but yeah offense didn't really like do nothing for me that game uh it was just like ah whatever uh first preseason game it wasn't good we'll see what happens next SL very very sloppy I mean you had Troy fno he didn't look very good and then he bangs up his knee but Jerry dlac reports yesterday that the Steelers aren't going to wait around he's going to be the starting right tackle so you have Troy Fu who's going to be the starting right tackle for the Steelers uh and that's great news Jerry that you know what that signals that signals they're done doing this archaic [ __ ] where oh the guy has to earn it we got to bring him in you know he needs to he needs to work through it in in preseason and then early in the season before you give him any starting any starting chances I love that you you drafted this guy first round [ __ ] plug him in there let's go do you believe that though do do you think that's true do you think that's accurate I do Jerry Dak wow he catches a lot of [ __ ] if he's going to Tweet about stuff like that if he's going to put that out there that the Steelers are going to go into the season with him as starting right tackle now barring an injury or a setback with his knee recovery which I would guess that it's I would guess that it's not as serious as we might have thought it was if they're already saying that he's going to be the starting right tackle but I I do believe it I I do believe it and also who's going to play over him you know you would think this means he plays right tackle and then you bring broadrick Jones who also did not look good Friday night I mean neither of those guys looked very good be be all the way real about it and you know Nate herbig at Center he didn't look very good at Center you know he was part of the botched snaps now whether that's on Justin fields or it's on you know Nate herbig at center it's hard to know without actually being the one in the exchange or in the meetings thereafter they both blame themselves so who knows right I mean but when you brought in Zack Fraser to play center those things kind of went away and good he looked good he did look good he did look good I mean that that's one guy you would just expect at this point in time to to be your starting center moving forward I don't I don't need to earn it or you know Nate herbig is a guard Nate herbig is not a center okay he is a guard and not only when he got the snaps down there were plays where he just got he got swimmed he got bullied back into the backfield I mean no disrespect to him playing Center is a lot different than playing guard and I just think he's a better guard and after last year Jerry when you have Kevin Dawson playing on the wrong side of the line and then they trade him to the Rams in LA and he goes on to become the highest paid guard in football you know the Steelers need to start playing guys where they belong and that's why I want to see Zack Frasier at Center and I don't want to see Nate herbig at center now having said that I want to see brri Jones as your starting left tackle I know that Dan Moore might be more you know seasoned right now and you know you don't have Rodrick Jones looking great but you drafted him in the first round you traded up to get the [ __ ] guy man let's put him in there we're going into year two with this guy he's not a rookie anymore let's get him in there I'm done with the Dan Moore [ __ ] yeah yeah and you know it's surprising that you know uh Fatu is going to start at right tackle to me because it's like the Steelers really don't do those things so so I'm under the assumption now that brck is going to start at left tackle you know and and uh Frasier is going to be the center like you know maybe they're just going about things differently now you know than they did in years past which I love I love because it's supposed to be that way you know and also another guy I want to bring up um and the last couple days you've heard his name in Camp Corey Trice is is doing his [ __ ] thing man I'm excited for him we've heard stories last year about this guy early on in Camp um so I'm really excited for him dude and will he start no probably not but I think he's a good cornerback three man and I think you can use him uh on the field you know to give Joey Porter a rest or or or um you know go in in the nickel or something like that you know I'm I'm I think Sky's a limit for that guy he's a big body physical plays just like Joey Porter and when you watch them on the field it's like it's hard to tell each of them apart because they they have this same exact play style say build long arms press coverage you know you you see that Dante Jackson the the Steelers quarterback to is a little dinged up right now he didn't practice yesterday now there's no practice today so he'll have an off day anyway but um it's interesting to see what that is but all that does is means more more reps more early reps with the ones for for Cory tce and what Jerry's alluding to for those that don't know that we talked about on prior episodes we were told by you know pretty high and at that point it was it was guys like Kenny telling us man Cory TRC is is good he might be just as good as Joey Porter Jr now the question marks coming out of college were injuries you know could he could he stay healthy and then unfortunately he he hurts his leg in in training camp last year and we don't get to see him like a fourth or even a third maybe round great on him though like if it wasn't for the injuries yeah that's exactly it and so you get another guy who plays very similarly to Joey Porter Jr and now he he had to sit for a whole year so he looks [ __ ] massive I texted Jerry yesterday I'm like his upper body he put on some size between last year so obviously rehab in the leg he didn't skip any time you know putting on some some Mass which is going to help him in the NFL stronger receivers body them at the line so yeah Cory tce I'm excited for Jerry pyton Wilson ah dog dog dog baby i' that's guy was most excited to [ __ ] see play football and he did not disappoint he had some bad plays but he looked [ __ ] great the only thing that scares me to him about him is like he like plays off of instincts and whatnot and you've heard him talk about that before he has the capab capability to just overshoot something so fast and Like Totally Miss which he did I think two one or two times um the last game because he's just so fast and he just gets the ball so so quick so you'll have some of those plays where he'll you know blatantly miss a tackle or something because he's just moving so fast but dude he is dangerous I'm excited to see him on special teams as well oh yeah I mean that dude he's a [ __ ] rocket ship you know what he does you know what he does you didn't you were hoping that Deon Bush would do with all of his speed and he just never would do crash the [ __ ] hole and he and he does and so you you alluded to it yeah sometimes he's playing too instinctually and he's overp pursuing and it's getting little bit of trouble but I would rather a guy that is willing to put his face in the fire and put his head down and crash the hole versus a guy that's getting washed at the at the second level by linemen that are breaking through and so when you when I saw him making some of those plays and he was everywhere Jerry he's sideline to side line you know he got beat in some some pass coverage he didn't look great in some in some coverage but you know those things come that's going to be a f thing in the NFL knowing where you should be you know breaking on routes and coverage things of that nature but from a strictly snap the ball get the ball standpoint that guy does not disappoint he is gonna be something for the Pittsburgh Steelers you know you said last week you think he'll start by week four I don't even think that's crazy initially when you said it I'm like I mean he'll see time I don't know about start because Alon Roberts is pretty damn good and Patrick Queen is obviously Patrick Queen but the one the more I see him play the more I want to see him play and the more I think that he could be very very special in that middle linebacker role for us oh dude yeah I mean super excited uh for him and you know he's a rookie dude you know uh could you imagine what if he stays healthy what it be like in year two three I mean dude sky's the limit for that guy super excited for him can't [ __ ] wait another thing that that got me well the points weren't on the board that you know we didn't score a ton of points in that game the offense was just they couldn't finish in the Red Zone a little bit sloppy couldn't couldn't finish drives out however it was a lot of the play calling you saw early on with Justin Fields the play action Jerry the play action getting him out naked boots and he throws a little sidearm to uh to George picks you know and George Pi up the first down throws around the defender when he makes that throw but it was the play calling for me play action it was like a 25 yard completion left side on a [ __ ] Dart an absolute Frozen rope dime from Justin Fields he he to me looked like what you think he was going to look like he he was he was good he moves around with his legs he did take some sacks you know he took some sacks that I prefer that he would have got rid of the ball especially took a sack down in field goal range takes a sack that bumps them out of field goal range those are things you just cannot have as the starting quarterback especially the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback we've dealt with that for too long not being able to finish drives or get points when you're down in that area but I mean all in all I would give him a b somewhere around there B minus maybe for for how he would grade out for me but like you said he should have been six for six so hard to really hate on that but for me Arthur Smith you could see a difference in the way that the Pittsburgh sers call it an offensive game plan and I'm excited about it oh for sure I wonder how how much do you think Russ is going to play do you think Russ and fields are going to play the whole first half I'm going to get yeah I would say yes I'm going to guess Russ gets a quarter um depending how it goes He marches down the field scores a touchdown opening drive they might shelf him you know it's hard to say I want to see Russ play some though I mean let's let's remember Jerry he's never it's not like this is Big Ben in year 10 where he doesn't have to play until the final he doesn't know the Steelers they're not familiar with him he's not familiar with them they're feeling each other out at this point I want to see him play I would like a quarter out of him I would like another quarter out of Justin fields and then second half you can go to Kyle Allen and and uh who knows John rice plumbley maybe gets in there for some snaps but I I really do want to see him play a quarter and I want to see what what everybody says Russ commands the Huddle I want to see I want to see real Russell Wilson you know I want to see him pushing the ball down field taking some chances I I don't want to vanilla this thing because then you just don't know I want to know who he is I I think I think they're going to open up the Playbook I think with Russ and I think they they want to see everything as well so I think you'll see a bunch of play action boots I think you'll see a bunch of deep passes I think you'll mix it up in the screen game and they'll see what what what he's like there um so yeah I think you're going to get everything this second preseason game so one thing that was concerning and I talked to you about this is so obviously they play Stroud Stroud plays he starts he plays quite a few series we looked we contained him a little bit but then you you let the tank Dell touchdown get away for like 60 yards or whatever it ended up being and it they said it was a miscommunication in the defense in the secondary I don't want to go through another season where we're doing the miscommunications in the secondary man I mean I I I really well granted Minka wasn't out there exactly exactly so but you know for me I just don't want to see that [ __ ] that's what scares me is is how many times how many seasons are we listening to the miscommunications in the secondary but all in all it was a sloppy game it's preseason game one a lot of guys that aren't going to be playing or out there uh you know you don't have TJ Watts you don't have your your Alex High Smith cam Hayward didn't play Minka didn't play you know running gamej will play this one I would kind of be shocked if he didn't yeah I mean if if they're GNA play Russ maybe a series yeah he'll probably play like a series two I don't think he plays more than two Series right no it's a lot different than it used to be so remember it used to be preseason game three was the one you'd see all your boys and then preseason game four was kind of just a wash you know get it over with now that there's only three preseason games I mean I I would say that you're going to see him a little bit I think you would see him a good bit you know in next week's game but I would like to see I hope that the bills do play uh you know they're starting their ones cuz I would like to see our ones against their ones because that's that's a test they they pretty much marched up and down on us in the playoffs that's somebody you would expect to possibly have to go through in the playoffs if you want to get to where we want to get to so I hope they do play their starters and we get to see some of that but all in all sloppy game preseason game one nothing to get too upset about uh what are you where are you at with it for for right now jar uh you know I'm just a little nervous on the um you know rece the receiving room is my biggest concern man it's it's you know Roman Wilson has been hurt okay he's a rookie so you don't really know what to expect when it comes time for week one Sunday okay y um when Sundays come around uh van Jefferson was never really a two you know what I mean so like you don't really know what to expect from him either uh George you you kind of know what you're going to get and I and I think he has progressed since last year I think he'll be better um than last year but like at this this all is all like what I'm trying to say is how how do you really know like these are your guys like Brandon auk already has a track record of being a really [ __ ] good wide receiver and why go 95% all in and then not go 100% all in because Steelers are almost there with the off season they had the free agents they've acquired the they drafted they're almost all there why Short Change yourself you're almost there you might as well go all in go get iuk get the deal done and now you see that roster on paper and you're like holy [ __ ] this team is [ __ ] loaded bro like this team's not just loaded on defense they are loaded on offense as well with the you know two-headed monster at running back and uh Nai and and Warren the tight ends they have the receivers they have now and listen Roman Wilson could be great we don't know that I just don't have high expectations for a smaller rookie coming into the NFL and being you know possibly a wide receiver two wide receiver three I don't know we we didn't Calvin Austin really didn't do much uh last year we had high hopes for him but um that didn't turn out great uh he didn't have the best year he's just little he's little like for that's the thing he's just a little receiver you're wide receiver too be little Roman is not a big guy though either but Roman is going to be your slot wide receiver while we [ __ ] hypothesize about is Roman Wilson going to be your wide receiver too he's not he's just not that's not his that's not who he is he is a slot receiver that is gonna have success out of the slot now could he play outside in some instances yes now you say that okay great now what happens if van Jefferson gets hurt well that's my that is my concern that's why van Jefferson would make a great three you know or a backup to one of those guys you put him in on maybe four receiver sets [ __ ] like that but van Jefferson I would prefer if we go into 2024 season and he's not your wide receiver too I I just that's I'm I cannot get over this Brandon auk thing and I don't think the Steelers can get over it either Jerry they have 17 million in cap space or whatever it is and they haven't spent it this is a team that perennially spends right to the right to the [ __ ] number bro every dollar and so to go through this it's not like they're adding to the defense Justin Simmons was a guy the safety that was floting maybe they could sign him possibly but you would think that they're saving this money for a wide receiver Omar Khan did not trade Deontay Johnson a way to go into this season with Van Jefferson as is two again no disrespect to Van Jefferson but that's not what he did it for I I would be highly shocked if they look at this roster and they're like yeah we're good with that let's roll it out there yeah I'd be shocked as well um that's why I think a deal is going to be done I really do agreed and especially because you know the the the DM and so you guys know I I'll I'll show you a little bit of what it what it says just keep the it could really change I just don't need that uh that bad PR right now hahaa and so I don't know if you can see that you know how yeah you know how crazy this is it could change in a heartbeat no way I'm reporting that last thing I need is to be wrong her it's today we're gon to find out we're gon to [ __ ] way are we're we going find out here very soon Jerry Dawn anything else you want to discuss this episode it was a good one John rice plumbley great interview great cat no great cat no I'm excited man I'm excited uh get to see Russy out there in action um you know I've said it on the podcast before I think he is the qb1 um I think I think he'll play the whole year I think I think he's good people call me crazy I'm I'm very biased on Russy but um I think he's going to play the whole year I really do I'm coming around to the idea you know I flip-flop on this pretty much daily depends on the day you'll get where I stand on who I think the Steeler starting quarterback is going to be by week week 18 but it should be Russ you would think it's Russ if Russ you know does what he was brought in here to do it will end up being Russ so then we we had the conversation last week what do you do with Justin Fields then you know is Justin Fields going to be the guy you know next year Etc the more I got to thinking about it the more maybe you give us this season see how things go and then you also sign fields to maybe a two-year extension that's fairly cheap you know what I mean maybe they're shelfing him this year because they have the ability for him to learn get 100% comfortable in the system he's still young as [ __ ] he's still younger than Kenny picket he is still younger than Kenny picket so maybe you right so maybe you have the ability to then get him cheaper moving forward after this season so I mean we're going to find out these things are all going to play themselves out this week biggest thing to watch is is brck Jones your starting left tackle is Dan Moore junr starting left tackle is Nate herbig your starting center is Zack Fraser your starting center to me those are the everything else is going to work itself out you know it's there's not many other positional battles that are incredibly important to me I think defense is pretty set defense is set you know you know the guys you're going to have now you know who's who's going to get more reps is it is it going to be uh middle linebacker Landon Roberts or is it GNA be pton Wilson those things again or they're going to work themselves out but the biggest battles for me on who I want to see make the starting roster it comes down to Dan Moore Jr and uh and BR Jones and Zack Fraser and Nate herbig so that's what I'm most interested in seeing this week we appreciate the [ __ ] out of you guys we will be back here again next week make sure you're subscribing now the the episode it did well the episode did well Jerry the comments we love the comments leave us a comment in the YouTube it helps push the show through the algorithm share the show like comment subscribe make sure you are subscribing to the steel here podcast YouTube channel it is on Apple it is on Spotify again so everything is is running like a well oiled machine here leading up to week one we appreciate the [ __ ] out of you guys and we'll see you here next week see you next week later jar we're here we're still here we are still here