Steelers Podcast - The Terrible Podcast

Season 8, Episode 126 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Friday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to talking more about the Pittsburgh Steelers failing to come to terms with running back Le’Veon Bell on a contract extension earlier this week. We discuss several new numbers related to Bell’s failed deal that have come in and go over several things that the running back’s agent has said during interviews since Monday. We look forward at the Steelers potential running back group in 2019 as well. We also make sure to shoot down some recent speculation about Bell put out there by some well-known NFL insiders. Former Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison made some media rounds on Thursday so we go over a few things he said about head coach Mike Tomlin. Former Steelers tackle Max Starks recently had a few interesting things to say about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, so we go over his comments. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs talked recently about the scheme the new Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner is expected to run so we go over his quotes. We also talk about the gap between how the NFL and college is closing. Alex and I preview the Steelers defensive line group late in this episode and then take some listener questions that came in via the Twitter machine. We close the show with a quick recap about the joint statement released Thursday by the NFL and NFLPA concerning the anthem policy. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 125 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Tuesday show, David Todd is back in the main chair again and we get right to talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers failing to come to terms with running back Le'Veon Bell on a long-term contract extension by the Monday 4:00 p.m. deadline. We discuss why Bell likely didn't take the reported deal from the Steelers and go over the early numbers being thrown around. We discuss what options the Steelers have with Bell moving forward and what kind of money he might look to get from another team during the 2019 free agent signing period. We go over a few things that Adam Schefter of ESPN had to say about Bell Monday morning and specifically discuss his speculation that Bell might sit out games in 2018. With Bell likely out of the picture until the start of the regular season, David and I discuss the two other younger running backs on the roster we hope to see play extensively during the preseason. We talk about what the Steelers running back situation might look like in 2019 and if the team will ultimately spend an early-round draft pick on one. We close out this show by talking about the Steelers possibly signing kicker Chris Boswell to an extension during training camp in addition to discussing former Steelers defensive tackle Gabriel Rivera, who passed away Monday night at 57. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 124 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Friday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to giving our final thoughts on Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell ahead of Monday’s contract extension deadline. We move on to recap an extensive stat study I did on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as it relates to his end zone throws the last five years. We also discuss other red zone issues the Steelers have had and if we can put our fingers on exactly what elements need to be improved starting in 2018. The Steelers pass defense was horrible in 2017 when it came to defending against passes of 20 yards or longer. Alex and I review the stats and speculate on if those numbers will improve in 2018. Will safety Terrell Edmunds or wide receiver James Washington win the Steelers Rookie of the Year award in 2018? We discuss that topic and if Washington can easily beat the stats registered in 2017 by wide receiver Martavis Bryant. We move on to preview the Steelers offensive line position group ahead of training camp getting underway. We talk extensively about the backend of the offensive line depth chart and which players are most-likely to make the final 53-man roster. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 123 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Tuesday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to talking about the quickly approaching contract deadline for Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell. I have now contextualizing all the receptions made during the 2017 season at North Carolina State by Steelers rookie running Jaylen Samuels and Alex and I go over what the tape shows regarding where he caught most of his passes and where he lined up at. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t have a great statistical 2017 season overall when it came to his red zone pass attempts into the end zone. Alex and I go over the numbers and wonder if this is an issue that needs further examining. We move on to preview the Steelers wide receiver position group ahead of training camp getting underway. We talk extensively about the backend of the wide receiver depth chart and which players are most-likely to make the final 53-man roster. Will the Steelers have anything to do with this year’s supplemental draft? Alex and I briefly discuss that topic once again. 2018 figures to be a crucial year for Steelers tight end Xavier Grimble and we go over what he’s done so far during his career and what we hope he shows this year during training camp and the preseason. We close out this episode by answering a few listener questions that came in via Twitter. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 122 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Friday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to talking more about the Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback battle between Landry Jones and Mason Rudolph and if the rookie has a legitimate shot at winning it. Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva has an impressive streak going when it comes to consecutive games started at left tackle. We tell you why it’s impressive when it comes to Steelers history as part of this segment. Did former Steelers guard Alan Faneca miss out on an All-Pro award in 2003 because he switched to left tackle? We discuss that topic and how it relates to Faneca’s push to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Alex and I contextualize a recent stats-related tweet sent out by Pro Football Focus concerning the passes caught last season by Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell. We move on to preview the Steelers tight end position group ahead of training camp getting underway. We talk extensively about Vance McDonald, Jesse James, and Xavier Grimble in addition to the other young tight ends currently on the 90-man roster. We close this episode out with an interview with former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch. Charlie gives us insight on Rudolph’s arm strength entering the NFL, the battle for the backup job this summer in addition to some thoughts on Jones and Joshua Dobbs. Charlie also talks some about how things transpired in 2004 when Ben Roethlisberger was a rookie as well what happened with the quarterback depth chart in 2010. We get him to also talk some about his final career start in 2012 against the Baltimore Ravens. This is a great interview and you won’t want to miss it. Make sure you are also following Charlie on Twitter at @CharlieBatch16 and watch him during the preseason on KDKA-TV. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 121 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Tuesday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to previewing the Pittsburgh Steelers running back group with the start of training camp less than a month away. Has there ever been a running back that started his career with the Steelers who went on to have continued success after leaving Pittsburgh? We discuss that topic briefly. What kind of red zone threat will Steelers rookie wide receiver James Washington be in the NFL? We go over his college production in that area of the field in an effort to answer that question. We also discuss as few challenges Washington will face in his transition to the NFL. I am currently contextualizing all the receptions that Steelers cornerback Artie Burns allowed during the 2017 regular season and Alex go over what that research has shown us thus far. Former NFL players turned analysts James Jones and Maurice Jones-Drew predict the Steelers to go 10-6 in 2018 and as part of that they have Pittsburgh being swept by the Cleveland Browns. We briefly go over their recent seemingly crazy thoughts on the Steelers 2018 schedule. Former Steelers wide receiver coach Richard Mann recently had a few nice things to say about wide receiver Antonio Brown and head coach Mike Tomlin, so we recap his comments to close out this episode. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 120 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Friday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to talking about video games and their relation to better understanding football. We also discuss a new video serios that NFL.com has started that is worth checking out. The NFL officially announced the suspension of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston on Thursday so Alex and discuss that and what that means for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We follow that up with a talk about NFL suspensions overall and how they might impact the future CBA negotiations in 2021. I am winding down my contextualization series on new Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and share some new observations I have. Alex and I also discuss how his play in 2017 differs from that of Steelers backup quarterback Landry Jones in 2012 at Oklahoma. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is listed at 25/1 to win the annual NFL MVP award in 2018. Alex and I discuss if it’s worth placing a $100 bet on that happening. We then move forward with our pre-training camp positional breakdowns and start with the Steelers quarterbacks. We let you know what we would like to see more of out of Roethlisberger in 2018 and what kind of numbers we think he can post. We also discuss the other three Pittsburgh quarterbacks. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 119 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Tuesday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to talking about Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell finishing 2nd and 5th overall in the annual NFL Top 100 players rankings. Bell joined the NFL Network Monday night to discuss his ongoing contract negotiations with the Steelers and how he’s optimistic the two sides will ultimately reach a deal before the July 16 deadline. We discuss what he had to say about that topic in addition to him saying he might see less carries and more catches in space in 2018. Former NFL quarterback David Carr left Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out of his top 10 position rankings recently so that item gets discussed briefly. We also fully recap my offensive players who are buzzworthy ahead of training camp getting underway. Is it possible the Steelers might have interest in veteran edge-rusher John Simon should the Indianapolis Colts decide to part ways with him in the coming months. Alex gives his thoughts on Simon and how he matches up against current Steelers outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo. How will the Baltimore Ravens use rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson during the 2018 season? We discuss that topic briefly. Alex is currently doing a series on former Steelers players who were one hit wonders so that leads to us discussing a few of them he’s already done posts on and a few more he’s likely to write about soon. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 118 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Friday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to talking about Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph and a few things that have stuck out about him while contextualizing all his 2017 pass attempts. Does Rudolph have a legitimate shot at overtaking Landry Jones for the backup job by the start of the regular season? We address that subject again in addition to talking extensively about how the Steelers might ultimately divide up the preseason playing time between their four quarterbacks. Will Matt Symmes eventually become the Steelers new quarterbacks coach? We discuss that topic along with his path to the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be without starting quarterback Jameis Winston when they host the Steelers in Week 3, so Alex and I hit briefly on that topic. Who are the buzzworthy young offensive players on the Steelers roster ahead of training camp? Alex and I build a list and discuss each one. We close out the show by recapping a few Steelers related items written by other media outlets. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 117 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Tuesday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to talking about Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger being ranked 18th on this year’s top 100 players of 2018 list. Roethlisberger talked about his contract situation over the weekend, so Alex and I examine his quotes on the subject and discuss if he’ll sign another new long-term before calling it career. We also talk about the state of the Steelers offensive line entering the 2018 season. Alex and I then turn our attention to linebackers and pregame tape study before having a conversion about the current pecking order at the inside linebacker position. I released my latest Steelers 53-man roster prediction on Monday, so Alex and I review that in addition to talking about if this year’s Week 1 team will ultimately include a player not currently under contract. How bullish is too bullish when it comes to rookie season expectations for running back Jaylen Samuels? Alex and I hit that topic hard and go back in time to talk about previous Steelers running backs and how they performed statistically during their rookie seasons. We close out the show by talking quickly about rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph and his 2017 season at Oklahoma State as part of me contextualizing all his pass attempts in a current series on the site. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 116 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Friday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to talking about the recent news concerning former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant, who is reportedly now facing the possibility of more discipline from the NFL related to the league’s substance abuse policy. After recapping the Bryant news, Alex and I move on to start recapping the several talking points that came out of the Steelers 2018 mandatory minicamp that wrapped up on Thursday. We start by breaking down several things that Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said earlier this week concerning his unit and that includes comments he made about outside linebacker Bud Dupree flipping sides as well as the free safety position. We talk about the impact a few of the Steelers new defensive coaches might have this season due to each recently spending time at the college level. Will Steelers rookie quarterback Mason Rudolph overtake veteran quarterback Landry Jones for the backup spot by the time the regular season begins like a few media members are already suggesting? We discuss that topic and go over a few things that head coach Mike Tomlin had to say during a Steelers Nation United question and answer session this past week. Alex and I close this episode out by answering several listener questions that came in on the Twitter machine. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 115 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Tuesday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd again and we get right to previewing the Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 mandatory minicamp that gets underway on Tuesday. We talk about the few non-rookie players who have generated the most buzz up until this point of the offseason and go over players we hope get cleared to practice this week. Some positive comments were made recently about the Steelers rookie tackle by one of the team’s veteran tackles, so we examine topic briefly. Alex and I are working on contextualizing the 2017 regular season pass coverage targets of new Steelers linebacker Jon Bostic this week and with half of them already completed we go over what we have observed thus far. Would Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell really settle for a new deal that averages $14.5 million per season? We go over a recent report that stated as much and revisit the current situation with Bell and his contract situation with the deadline to extend him now just a little more than a month away. Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson are both reportedly sitting out their team’s mandatory minicamps this year, so we discuss the situations of both and if either will ultimately sign new contracts prior to the start of the regular season. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 114 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Friday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd and we get things started by reviewing the 2018 OTA sessions that just ended for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We review a few main talking points that came out last week and that includes the possibility of seven defensive backs being used more often in 2018. We also talk about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returning for the team’s final two sessions and go over a few of his recent comments. Pass-rushing guru Chuck Smith had some interesting comments about Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree recently, so Alex and I recap those and talk about the upcoming season for the former first-round draft pick. 2018 figures to be a crucial season for Steelers cornerback Artie Burns and tackle Marcus Gilbert as well and we tell you why. Injured linebacker Ryan Shazier spoke to the media this past week about his current condition and future plans, so we go over what he had to say in addition to a talking about several other more insignificant Steelers-related topics. We close the show by talking about former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens deciding to bypass his Hall of Fame induction later this summer. The Baltimore Ravens and their most-recent misfortune is also recapped at the end of this episode. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 113 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Tuesday show, David Todd and I start things off by reviewing the recent transactions made by the Pittsburgh Steelers and how an NFL bylaw change made this offseason played a role in it. As part of that discussion, we discuss the future of the two players who were injured last week, tackle Jerald Hawkins and tight end Jake McGee. Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has had a busy last few days on social media, so we go over his recent activity and if it is at all worrisome. Brown also recently asked on Twitter to be ranked generationally so David and I spend a bit of time attempting to do just that. That discussion also includes us talking quite a bit about a few other top wide receivers over the course of the last 10 years. The Steelers offense did without several of their starters at various points throughout the 2017 season and David and I go over the total amount of plays run that included all five starting offensive linemen in addition to their three main offensive skillset player, Brown, running back Le’Veon Bell and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. We also look at how those numbers compare to the 2016 regular season. Former San Francisco 49ers tight end Dwight Clark passed away on Monday from ALS at the age of 61 so David and I quickly pay homage and respects to him. We also end the show with discussions about the Cleveland Browns signing linebacker Mychal Kendricks on Monday in addition to talking about if Steelers backup inside linebacker L.J. Fort will make the final 53-man roster this year. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ

Season 8, Episode 112 of The Terrible Podcast is now up and in this Friday show, Alex Kozora sits in for David Todd and we get right to discussing the two Pittsburgh Steelers who suffered serious injuries during the team’s second week of OTA practices. With tackle Jerald Hawkins being one of those two players who seemingly suffered a serious injury this past week, Alex and I discuss what it might mean for third-round draft pick Chukwuma Okorafor as well as discussing which other offensive linemen might now stand to have a better opportunity to make the 53-man roster. We also discuss the injury suffered by tight end Jake McGee this past week. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown have both missed most of the team’s OTAs this year, so Alex and I spend time on that topic and if it is a big deal. Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave had some interesting comments this past week, so we discuss those in addition to what his role in the defense will be in 2018. We also discuss defensive linemen snap counts in this show along with how we expect six in total to be kept on the 53-man roster once again. Alex and I both believe that Steelers tight end Vance McDonald is primed to have a career year in 2018 and we tell you why that is. Alex and I close out this show by discussing inside linebackers Tyler Matakevich, Jon Bostic, the new Steelers throwbacks, Heinz Field, and Pittsburgh sports fans. As always, several other smaller talking points are mixed in throughout the show that are not highlighted here in this post. Thanks for listening and don't forget to call or email with questions or comments and please pass us along to your friends! The new message hotline is (814) 429-YINZ