Drive10.30.26Missi: Missi Matthews Joins The Drive

0:03 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

0:07 Steelers Nation Radio. Now it feels like a Friday. You hear that bounce, you know what that means. It's time to go to the sidelines and talk to the great Missy Matthews, of course, Steelers sideline reporter, the queen of the sideline. Missy, thank you for taking the time for us on a Friday, as always. I kind of opened our show in our previous segment, and I told Matt, you know, the Steelers and the Browns have played twice in the playoffs in my lifetime. But if you take those two postseason games out, this might be the most excited, the most anticipated I've ever been for a Steelers-Browns regular season matchup. Both 5-2, first place in the division on the line, an opportunity for the Browns to sweep the Steelers,

1:05 something they haven't done since Aaron Rodgers retired. was four years old. Is that, is that a little too far? Or do you think that that, that energy is being reciprocated by both of these teams?

1:17 Oh, heck no.

1:18 I think it's the trash talking the, you know, it's not that far away.

1:22 It was week four. This is week eight. I totally think it's, it's what we've seen.

1:28 Similarly, similarly when we've played in Cleveland first and perhaps lost on a Thursday night and then, you know, got them again in Pittsburgh and, They think it's going to be the sweep and.

1:38 It doesn't happen.

1:39 I just, I don't know if it's the nice weather, what it is. I just, I feel like the Steelers are going to give it like handed to them and make them wish that they didn't say, you know, Jared verse that we're going to go into Pittsburgh and dominate. It's like, you didn't even have a sack last time. You don't have a sack on the season, but I'm here for it. Cause I think that energy rubs off not only on all of us, but on the fans and it's going to be a perfect Pittsburgh fall day on Sunday.

2:07 So, you know, fans are going to go wild for this game.

2:10 I should probably know this Missy, but how many or what percentage of Browns fans show up here for, road games for them? And do you think that's more or less than usual? I know the division doesn't ever get really taken over by the opponent, any of the divisions.

2:26 No, I do feel like sometimes Browns fans, um, you'll see some of those in like pockets. Obviously the way team does get tickets, but I think, you know, typically I feel like this game is like week 17, um, or like.

2:38 It doesn't matter against the Browns.

2:40 Yeah.

2:41 So then maybe sometimes some Steelers fans are like, well, you know, I want to save up for playoff tickets.

2:45 So maybe they sell them or whatnot.

2:47 Um, but I think, you know, it's a two hour drive, you know? Right.

2:50 Yeah.

2:51 So yeah.

2:52 Two hour drive. You know, it's still closer than Baltimore. It's closer than Cincy. And I feel like.

2:58 I bet they show up.

3:00 I think, oh, I think they're going to do everything they can to show up for sure. I just, hopefully Steelers fans, no one gave their tickets away or sold them. And, you know, we're going to see very little spurts and little.

3:15 Pockets of orange or brown or whatever color they're wearing.

3:19 I will not wear that gaudy orange. I won't do it. Yeah, Steelers fans.

3:23 Oh, all my stuff went straight to eBay when I got fired.

3:25 Yeah, Matt.

3:26 I mowed the lawn in my orange shoes.

3:27 Matt has some great stories, Misty, about like his year with the Browns. He came home for Christmas with a bunch of Browns stuff and his family members were like, we're not wearing that. What's the matter?

3:35 I sent all my buddies Browns Christmas cards. They burned them, you know.

3:39 Yeah, yeah.

3:41 And those are good yinzers.

3:43 Oh, yeah, yeah.

3:43 Exactly right. So, yeah, let's be good yinzers on Sunday. Don't put your tickets up there on StubHub or SeatGeek or whatever for those thirsty Browns fans, all right? Hold on to them or give them to somebody in your family or your neighborhood that you know is wearing the black and gold.

3:57 Somewhere I do have a Brown sweatsuit that says Williamson on it, though, that I mean, what am I going to do with it?

4:01 What you should have done is bring it to the studio today and we could have burned it in our final segment and put a voodoo curse on Todd Munkin and company. Missy, I feel like I ask you this every time we play an AFC North opponent, but part of what we do in our jobs and radio and sports coverage is cyclical. But there is just a different, with Cleveland, with Cincinnati, with Baltimore, I know you can just feel a different energy on the sidelines for these AFC North matchups.

4:29 A hundred percent.

4:31 I mean, you know, there's obviously certain Steelers Browns games, whether it was in Cleveland or here that stick out for good and bad reasons. But like, I just always go back to Ben's last game against the Browns. It was at Akershire stadium. He was a Browns killer his whole career. He never got over the fact that they passed him up, you know, being an Ohio kid and was just absolutely torching them until Baker Mayfield came.

4:55 He had the most wins in their stadium and, Um, it was just like an emotional night. His family was there.

5:01 You know, I know Carl Roser, the team photographer got like this awesome shot of him and his family.

5:06 He's still in his uniform, like walking into the tunnel.

5:09 And how could you, you know, not love that knowing that he carried that, um, that not pettiness, but like kind of, I proved you wrong.

5:19 You guys are with him. Yes. And I love that. I'm so here for that.

5:25 So the Browns are. Actually, one of the worst first quarter teams in the league. They start really, really slow. Do you agree that it's really important that the Steelers get up early in this game? Especially to stick with the run.

5:40 Yes, and I think some of the players talked about that in the locker room this week, too. Because historically, through this beginning part of the season, the Steelers' defense isn't allowing.

5:52 touchdowns in the second half of the game.

5:54 So you really need, you know, they could kind of work with each other and, you know, make this in unison and hopefully special teams takes a step this.

6:02 Week as well.

6:02 Cause I think that's the unit we're really waiting to have that splash play per se. But I do think that, you know, they had that long drive in Cleveland.

6:12 They got on the board first and then kind of all went haywire.

6:15 I think that's, you know, you need to be scoring on every drive, especially in the first half of just stacking those points and not taking your foot off the pedal because a, you.

6:26 Don't want them to come back.

6:27 Like they had 21 unanswered points in Cleveland, but be like, you know, they want to hand it to this team. They wanted to make them go home and just be miserable on that bus ride.

6:38 Steelers sideline reporter Missy Matthews with us here on the drive on this Friday as we get ready for Steelers Brown Sunday, one o'clock on the North Shore at Accresure Stadium. Missy, one of the things that Matt talked about in our open, Matt and I discussed in the open was how, you know, ever since that Thursday night game in Cleveland, we saw some of the we could just call it communication stuff on the sideline between the defense and Patrick Graham. Longer week to prepare for Indianapolis. Patrick Graham moved down to the sideline and he's now been there for the last few weeks here and having a lot of success doing so.

7:11 The Steelers defense. Hey, maybe it was just that was the time it was going to take. And you always need a few weeks to learn your personnel and new coaching staff and all that. But it does feel like they've turned a corner since that moment as well, whether it's directly related to Patrick Graham moving from the booth to the sideline or not. But have you noticed any smoother lines of communication, any just what changes that you've picked up on since since Patrick Graham moved from the booth down to the sideline these last few weeks?

7:41 I love Patrick Graham's energy just as a person, even when he talks at the podium, seeing him on the sideline, um, interacting joyfully and, you know, exuberantly with the players.

7:52 Has been so cool. I know there was a clip that came out of after Pete Wilson's interception. He's like, Hey, first interception in Paris. Like you have the first interception in Paris.

8:03 You know, like you can just tell that the guys gravitate towards him and it's just, it seems like he.

8:09 Has a touch point, you know, quick meeting with every person.

8:12 Leader will say of like Jalen Ramsey for the secondary, he will touch base with cam he'll touch base.

8:18 With TJ and it's every drive and just having them ready.

8:22 And I think, you know, the players have just talked glowingly about how it is so much better for them to communicate with him on what they're seeing.

8:29 And I do think he is very open-minded. He flat out said he prefers to be in the booth. Um, but this is what needs to happen.

8:37 And I think too, he, every week, it sounds like, especially if it's a team that the Steelers have, you know, a division rival or Indy, for example, who we played last year, it's always, Hey, I went back. I wanted to see what they did successfully against Jonathan Taylor. And then I talked to the group about it to see what we can incorporate for this season. I just think he's collaborative like that. And it, it's so much more magnified and you can just visually see, you don't even have to hear it. between him and his defensive players.

9:05 So that was a solid, you know, self-scouting week to week for loss move by Mike McCarthy and Patrick Graham.

9:14 So I think it's pretty obvious, especially if you really watch the all 22, or if you're down at your vantage point on the, on the sidelines that the Steeler O-line has not only a lot of talent, but a lot of nastiness and a lot of finish to them. I mean, there's no doubt about that, especially those guards.

9:29 Right.

9:30 But I think it's also translated. I know it has, I've talked about this for weeks and I'm super impressed by it. The tight ends and receivers blocking to the whistle downfield, putting people on their back. And it's not just Darnell Washington. Is that something they gloat about and get super excited about on the field and on the sidelines to the, the non-offensive line blocking.

9:50 A hundred percent.

9:51 I was going back through some like week four notes and I was like, Oh, Pat Fryer move got Jared verse pretty good on one of those plays, you know? And it is one of those things, you know, we know DK's physical, obviously Darnell can just like stiff arm anybody with like one of his fingers.

10:07 He doesn't even need his whole hand. But I do think you see that from them. Even Jeremy Bernard.

10:13 I just, I'm so impressed by him being a rookie wide receiver gelling so well with Aaron and And continuing to make a step, it feels like, every single game into what they obviously thought of him when they drafted him and what he could be, maybe sooner rather than later.

10:31 But I still think that, you know, you see that... just that energy from them. And I agree with you.

10:37 It a hundred percent starts with the offensive line, um, because they're just crazy. Uh, you know, even after Aaron Rogers ran for that first down, Mason McCormick was like in his face celebrating before Aaron even stood up, you know? And I think, you know, Jalen Warren's pretty quiet. Even Rico, uh, is quiet, but you still see that energy from them.

10:58 It's just like a, a silent, um, celebration whereas the offensive line is like you know has party streamers and whatnot going because they're just jacked up on every play.

11:11 Smash bash and crash as Craig Wolfley would have said and they have certainly been doing that these last few weeks and hopefully it continues against Jared verse and company on Sunday queen of the sidelines Missy Matthews make sure you are listening to her on the call of course with our guys Rob King and Max Starks on Sunday Missy great stuff thank you for taking the time as always And we will see you on Sunday.

11:32 Sounds good. Have a great weekend, guys.

11:34 You as well. Enjoy Halloween. Oh, wait, real quick. What are the boys dressing up as for Halloween?

11:38 I didn't know what your girls were dressing up as, too.

11:42 One of them is being Bart Simpson.

11:44 I love it.

11:45 This is not my doing. Oh, that's so good.

11:48 This is my husband's I'll have to, it's actually pretty, it's a pretty good costume. And I found him a Bart Simpson hockey Jersey, which like really put it over the top.

11:56 That was, you know, like the icing on the cake, love Amazon. Um, and my oldest is, I think he's being a gangster. He hasn't asked for anything. He said, just watch. Uh, so I'm like holding my breath, like, what are you wearing? And like, where are you getting it from? And should I be scared?

12:13 But Missy, he's going to let you off. He's going to make you an offer you can't refuse.

12:18 Yeah, that's what I feel like. And I'm like, also, does he know what a gangster is?

12:21 I don't know.

12:22 I'm very intrigued on seeing how this turns out. But at least I know Bart Simpson. All of the pieces are here.

12:28 We got the yellow face paint.

12:30 We got the hair, yellow sleeves, yellow leggings to go under the shorts like he's he's ready to go.

12:36 The other one that could be hit or miss.

12:38 Missy, I'm not allowed to talk about what my kids are dressing up as at the University of Kentucky as we speak, but I need to know what Wes's girls are doing. what are we.

12:46 Doing youngest the three-year-old is dressing up as elsa she's got the you know from the disney movie frozen of course she's got the full gown and and white hair braided wig and all that stuff and kind of the duality of my daughters all right i know missy definitely won't believe me on this one but i swear scouts honor my daughter picked my oldest olivia who's five it's not wvu stuff is it she's being a wvu cheerleader uh.

13:11 Well at least it's Oh, I can allow that.

13:14 I respect that.

13:15 I swear she picked it herself. And here was the cutest part. She said, Dad, can you dress up as a WVU football player and go with me? And I said, I sure can. So I said, sweetie, I've been dressing up as a miserable WVU football fan for Halloween now for like the last eight or nine years. I can certainly do it one more for you.

13:30 So yeah, you're like, and I can walk around with a beer. It'll be perfect.

13:34 Exactly. Exactly. Put some face paint on and walk around. And yeah, so so a princess and cheerleader, the best of both worlds.

13:41 Wes, along those lines, I told you I went to my wife's niece's wedding Saturday while you guys were in Paris. She's obviously grown up and a woman now, you know, she's a stalker. But she dressed up as a Pitt cheerleader as like a three-year-old. We still have pictures of. For the first bowl game, I was at Pitt. That's awesome.

14:00 We played against Phillip Rivers. I mean, that's how long ago that was.

14:02 That's a long time ago.

14:04 He had kids at that point.

14:05 Yeah. Missy, awesome stuff. Thank you for taking the time as always. And enjoy Halloween tomorrow with the boys. We'll see you on Sunday.

14:14 Yes. Happy Halloween to everyone. We'll share pics on Sunday.

14:17 Sounds good. Can't wait. There she goes. Queen of the sideline. Missy Matthews. Awesome stuff with her on Sunday. And looking forward to the awesome stuff with her as always on Sunday. We got our IFB transmitter all fixed.

14:30 Oh, did it? You're not going to burn the house down?

14:31 We're not going to burn the house down at Accresure Stadium. We're going to leave that to the Steelers offense and defense to burn the house down and get a big win there over the Browns. I wonder how many people will still be in their Halloween costumes on Sunday now that we're kind of talking this out.

14:46 I flipped on the pens game last night looked like a ton there i would think so i think there was a fair amount at the uh thursday night game yes yeah yes in green bay.

14:55 Oh man if you're a college student too and you got a home game tomorrow on campus yeah that's a nice dress up go to the game keep the party going stay in costume all day stay in character all day by.

15:06 The way how cool was it donald you were watching at the point but the brewers showed up at the I did see that. The Thursday night game with the trophy.

15:12 I did see that. That's pretty cool, yeah. And they were zooming around the crowd, how many people at Lambeau Field were wearing Milwaukee Warriors. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

15:18 That'd be a good environment.

15:19 You win the World Series, and then you come back home, and you get dropped right into Lambeau. Right, exactly. And the Packers are running riot on the Panthers, so everyone's partying.

15:27 Perfect.

15:27 You couldn't have written that script better. One more segment to go here in the first hour of the show. We obviously will begin talking some matchups, talking some Steelers and some Browns, some key things to keep an eye on as we roll along here. in the first hour. Wes Shuler, Matt Williamson. It is The Drive, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.