Drive11.2.26King: Rob King on Browns Win

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

0:24 Rolling along on The Drive here on this Victory Monday. Steelers 27, Browns 6. That felt good. And joining us now is the man who narrated the entire broadcast on the Steelers Audio Network, of course, the voice of your Pittsburgh Steelers, Rob King. Kinger, I know we can be hyperbolic a lot in this industry. We can, you know, this guy's the greatest thing I've ever seen, and that was the greatest catch anyone's ever made and all that.

0:48 But this is your third year, I believe, calling the Steelers games, if I'm not mistaken. Was that maybe the most fun you've ever had in the booth, calling a Steelers victory?

0:58 That was a good one. Hard to rival Baltimore last year at the last game of the season. Oh, good call, good call. You know, that was a good one. There have been some entertaining games. They seem to have played a bunch of entertaining games at the Bengals, the Commanders a couple years ago. But just for sheer, you know, complete performance, like I've said this before, I think the Browns are a lot better than people think. I think nationally they started to get some respect. I'm sure that respect will wane after this defeat. I think they're building a good young roster. They've beaten the Steelers the first time around. First place in the AFC North in the line with a bye week coming up. Three-game winning streak

1:41 on the line. There's just a lot of stuff going on. And I think... you know, the Steelers kind of let the Browns know that, you know, even if they are a team on the rise, that they haven't quite gotten there yet. That was just a complete and dominating performance.

1:54 It has to be near the top of the list of games, just in terms of aggressiveness and physicality by the Steelers.

2:03 Yeah, for sure, Matt. I mean, you know, some of the personal fouls that were called against the Steelers, you know, we're talking about that in the locker room later today, you know, normally I dislike those things. I dislike the penalties, but a lot of that is when it occurs, you know, early in the fourth quarter of a tie ball game, you've made a stop and somebody hits a guy late out of bounds. That's an undisciplined, bad penalty. You know, for example, but, but I think these kind of were tone setters, you know, these, these let them know, Hey, this could be a long day. And I, you know, Todd Monk had talked about this after the game, his team lost their composure later on in the game. And I think part of that early physical style was was there.

2:47 But then the physical nature, it wasn't just about a statement. I think that Stewart did kind of make a statement with some of those things early. But then they just rolled through them. They dominated them in the trenches, which is what they're built to do. And that was a that was a thorough, really kind of a thorough beat down in this game.

3:07 Kinger, I think the birthday boy, Jalen Warren, he turned 28 yesterday. He had himself a heck of a day. We've got to do this birthday thing more often, right? Was it Pat Friermuth who had the birthday in Paris? And then was it, I forget who, one of the defensive backs, I think, had a birthday in Tampa. That was one of the finest performances we've seen from Jalen Warren.

3:28 He's had some great outings for the Steelers recently. in his tenure, without a doubt. I mean, he was fabulous last year in Detroit. He's had some really good games already this season, but that might've been the best game that we've seen 30 play as a pro.

3:40 He's just been, again, I don't know. I mean, he's had such a list of games. I mean, going back to Detroit last year when he also ran for 143, the total scrimmage yards he had a couple of games ago earlier in the season where, you know, he set a record that he did not pass yesterday. I mean, he's just, He's just a really, really, really good player.

4:03 And in every possible aspect of the game, he's good and willing and would pick up. He's a good receiver out of the, out of the backfield. He's a tremendous runner. There's just, you know, I was asked about it this morning on, you know, on the power hour on DBE, you know, is there anybody who is comparable to it?

4:25 I can't think of anybody. I mean, I can't, I just can't think of a back who runs with that kind of, you know, power and balance and attitude and speed. I mean, he's, you know.

4:38 And the well-roundedness, as you mentioned, too. You know, it's not just he's not a specialist by any means.

4:43 That's right. That's right. I think he's put himself on a short list of the best running backs in football, and I think it's well-deserved.

4:51 So you mentioned the bye week, and there's a first that kind of dawned on me. It's like everybody welcomes a bye. You, me, Wes, we're going to enjoy the bye week. You know, I mean, there's no doubt. It's the middle of the season. This profession, whether you're playing or announcing or analyzing, can be a bit of a grind.

5:08 But I kind of would rather they played tomorrow. You know what I mean? Like, let's keep it rolling.

5:16 Yeah, you know, it's funny. At the conclusion of the show with Max and Willie today, you know, Max was talking about taking the bye off and getting yourself rested and getting ready and getting– you know, getting ready for the game Sunday, you know, the next Sunday in Cincinnati. And I was like, you know, it was like squirrel.

5:32 Like all I heard was Cincinnati. And I'm like, let's go, man.

5:34 Yeah.

5:35 You know, I can't believe I got away two weeks from that game. Yeah. I'm fired up. I mean, I think that when you won four in a row and you've got the momentum going and there's a lot of good things happening, obviously you want to keep it going. But, you know, hopefully Roman Wilson is back. Maybe Derek Harmon is back. Ben Skoranek, you know, they're missing some important players and important pieces to their puzzle. So I guess I think it comes at a good time. But you're right, Matt.

6:03 I'm ready to go. And I'm sure they're rolling, are ready to go as well, you know.

6:08 Kinger, we rightfully so, you know, Matt and I spent the start of the show kind of just talking about the bully that the Steelers have in both sides of the trenches and how that was part of the vision for Omar Khan and Andy Weidel when they took the reins of this franchise a few years ago. But I think you kind of are seeing... what do I want to call it? The trickle down effect of that, particularly on defense and what that defensive front is doing, because my goodness, we haven't said these two names yet, but we absolutely should. I thought Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson were outstanding yesterday.

6:39 Yep. Yeah. Again, um, I'll add that, you know, I think there's a lot to unpack just with that, you know? So first of all, I think that, um, They are good players, and they have a lot of skill sets and a lot of gifts, and I think those are being maximized by this scheme that the Steelers are running. I think that they are going to end by the work of the defensive line. The defensive line is keeping guys off of them. They're not being blocked into their laps.

7:10 They're not having to deal with guards coming out because the front has been so dominant that it's freed up these two guys to do what they do best, which is run and hit, you know, seek the ball, find the ball, tackle the carrier, break up a pass. You know, we're seeing Patrick queen being utilized more in the blitz game.

7:31 You know, he had a, he had a season with Baltimore in which he had five sacks. And I remember when they got him, I'm, I was thinking, well, he's a, he was coming off a pro bowl year. He's a unique guy. He can cover with his speed, but he can also blitz. How are they going to utilize them? Well, they largely utilize them. the previous administration, in pass coverage.

7:49 Now we're seeing that there's more to his game. I mean, he could rush the passer. These guys are playing downhill, again, in part because they're freed up, in part because they're capable of it, and in part because the scheme allows them to do it. You know, tackles for loss. These guys are bringing that to the table as well. So there's just a lot to like about what those guys are doing. Yes, I think a lot of it starts up front, but I also think it starts with the scheme.

8:14 Deshaun Watson talked about this team after the game yesterday. You know, one of the things that they did so successfully, you know, you always hear, well, stay in your lane, stay in your lanes when you're rushing, got to stay in your lanes. You know, same thing on kick coverage, stay in your lanes, you know. Well, why does a kick return ever get called, you know, run back? Guys all stayed in their lanes all the time. It's not as easy to say or to do as it is to say, well, these guys, they stayed in their rush lanes yesterday. And that just created, when Deshaun Watson couldn't get that first throw off and he was looking to run, there was nowhere for him to go. That's just a way of expanding a little bit on how important I

8:53 think the scheme is. I think it's all important. And I think these guys are showing what they're capable of doing, both those inside linebackers.

9:00 I'm glad you mentioned Watson because he only had one scramble. I mean, despite being under that much pressure on a called pass play, he only ran once and it was for like three or four yards. I mean, they, really did a good job not only harassing him, hitting him, sacking him, obviously, but they also didn't let his legs affect the game, which was something I was a little afraid of.

9:22 Yeah, and I think it is because of the fact that they just stayed in their rush lanes. There was nowhere for him to go. The rush got home. It got home quickly. And even if there was a little bit of a lapse, okay, he looks up. First, the target's not open, which says something about the back end and, again, about the scheme. You know, look, that's kind of what the Browns did against the Steelers back in week four.

9:44 We're going to blitz, we're going to stunt, we're going to try to get to you quickly, and we're going to cover fast with man, and we're going to disrupt your timing, and we're going to get to the quarterback. And, you know, Aaron Rodgers was not only sacked five times, but he was hit 10 times. And in this game, you know, Deshaun Watson was not only sacked eight times, but he was hit numerous other times as well. And so, you know, I think that the ability and look again, what this is doing, I think is unlocking the players that are already there. you know, and we've talked about, and I know Matt, you've talked about, you know, Patrick Graham doing less with more, um, in the, in the past and doing a good job coordinating his defenses to

10:29 sort of play up while he's doing more with more now. Exactly. I mean, these guys, he's got good, really good players and he is unleashing those really good players and is in a, in a way we haven't seen now again. Um, let's see what happens as the season progresses. We're coming off some hot weeks. There's bound to be ebbs and flows, but as far as the way things are trending, basically for the team at large, I'm really encouraged by the way things are going. And I think there's still upside, which I'm not sure we've been able to say as much about this to this teams in the past few years, but they've rebuilt the roster. Um, they've got, you know, young defensive linemen, young offensive linemen, um, You know, DK

11:11 Metcalf's had some drops. I don't expect that to continue. I think there's a lot of reasons to believe, and Aaron Rodgers said this yesterday, students still haven't played their best football. And I think that's a very encouraging place to be when you're 6-2 and in first place in your division.

11:26 Rob King with us here. Just a few more minutes with the voice of the Steelers on this Victory Monday. Guys, another name that we haven't mentioned yet. Matt and I didn't call in the first segment just yet. And I think sometimes we, for so long, grew to expect it. But there were a ton of questions about one TJ Watt heading into this season.

11:45 Nice.

11:46 And were his best days behind him. You know, should should the Steelers look to move on and just go with Highsmith and Herbig, who were both outstanding yesterday, too, by the way. But Rob King, I'm looking at the NFL 2026 sack leaders to this point.

12:01 Greg, seven and a half.

12:02 Greg Russo has seven. Chase Young has seven. And at the top of the mountain tied for first, Will Anderson Jr., who was defensive player.

12:11 Of the year, was running away with it last year.

12:13 TJ Watt was seven and a half back at the top of the list, Kinger. And I think, again, I just, you could take it for granted because for so long, TJ was not just perhaps the finest defensive player in the world, but one of the best football players in the world. And my goodness, it has meant so much for this defense to have him back in that form.

12:35 Yeah. I mean, he's a great player who's playing great football, you know, and I think that you know, when everybody sort of buys into what's going on, I mean, like, like look at Nick Herbig, you know, Nick Herbig was being used a lot in coverage, you know, the first couple of weeks of the season. Right. And so the sack totals are down a little bit. What's going on with Herbig? Well, last two games, three sacks, you know? So, you know, a lot is how these guys are utilized.

13:01 And again, I think he's being utilized in a, in a really encouraging way.

13:07 He's leashed in a really encouraging way. And again, He showed that there's still a lot of really great football left in him with two sacks yesterday. And the batted, hit Deshaun Watson in the arm. That's another thing, too, guys. They came up with two turnovers. Eventually, some of these batted passes are going to turn into interceptions as well.

13:27 So the last thing I have for you, and I think it's really refreshing, and I didn't know that Coach McCarthy had this in him, but it seems like every week, there's a wrinkle we haven't seen added to the offense. You know, last week in Paris, oh, here comes Anderson out there for a dozen snaps or so. Then you basically double that and, you know, let's throw in a little fullback. Let's see all of them together. Let's see some old school 1970s Chuck Knoll trapping. You know, I mean, some of the play designs, but nothing is static and it's very innovative.

14:02 I totally agree. And, you know, I'm glad you said that too, because I do think that Patrick Graham is rightly being praised for what he's done for the defense and the styles he's used. But I don't know if Mike McCarthy is getting the praise for it, in part because both guys are very quick to deflect the credit onto the players. And look, the players do have to play.

14:24 We understand that. But I think he's done it. I'm glad you mentioned that, Matt, because I think he's done a tremendous job. And, you know, look, he's a guy that likes to run a lot of 11 personnel.

14:38 Sure.

14:38 He's still going to run a lot of 11 personnel. Now he's got, you know, wide receivers that can block, but you're also seeing, you know, pony, right. Two, two running backs, which is like a thing of the past. I mean, it's like Franco Harris, Rocky Blyer, man, you know, I mean, you don't, you just don't see that very often anymore. Like you said, Anderson and the use of a fullback and different things that they're doing. I just think it shows that offensively and defensively, this is a team that's able to adapt from week to week. I mean, the, the, the Titans track trap the heck out of the Browns.

15:11 Why?

15:11 Cause they stunt and they, and they come at you and, you know, you know, so here you are, you're a defensive lineman. You're like, ah, hi, whip my guy again.

15:18 Oh, wait a minute.

15:19 No, I'm just got earhold. Offensive linemen love trap locks. What do they like those, you know? And, and so, yeah, I, I, I'm glad you mentioned that, Matt, cause I feel the exact same way. I think they've done a really good job of scheming up offensively and defensively. Do the players deserve credit? Absolutely. Do the coaches deserve credit, too? Absolutely.

15:40 I think the voice of the Steelers, Rob King, deserves some credit, at least for joining us here for the last 15 minutes or so on The Drive. Kinger, great stuff as always, man. Enjoy the bye week, and we will talk to you soon.

15:51 You got it. Thanks for having me on, guys.

15:53 There he goes, voice of the Steelers and, of course, the host of In the Locker Room. Noon every single day here on this network with Max Starks and Willie Colon. I bet you those two were having some fun rehashing that.

16:05 Oh, I would think. Doing no-line stuff.

16:08 We mentioned in the booth, you know, Kinger, Max, and I. You know our producer, Dan Quinlan. And then we've got two other great spotters and a statistician, Ryan and Mark, who work with us that are both awesome guys and real pros. we said probably three times during that second half, when we'd go to a break, we'd be like, that Tunchen Wolf will.

16:27 Be loving this. Oh man.

16:29 This is the Pittsburgh Steelers team that Tunchen Wolf had been waiting to see in both sides of the ball, but especially on the offense.

16:34 He was talking about an ear hole and a D lineman on a trap. I mean, I'm like, oh, Wolf is probably salivating.

16:40 He'd like, he'd be salivating over that more than the donuts that are out in the break room.

16:43 There were some big holes in the running game. I mean, Warren was awesome, and Rico's really good. They maximized it, but there were some big holes.

16:50 There sure were, and that's when you get the type of day that the Steelers had on the ground. And, Matt, some of those numbers for Rico were really skewed because he had those couple big— Poor.

16:58 Guy had to finish the game.

16:59 Yeah.

17:00 You know, against an 11-man box.

17:02 So he ends up only getting 3.7 yards per carry, but I bet you if we took that last drive out of the game, that number, I think— He had a very good game. It was close to six, I think, before that final drive.

17:11 That adds up, yeah.

17:13 And so, yeah, 200 yards on the ground for the Steelers as a team that will travel, that will play just about every single week. Some more tees.

17:22 They've outrushed their opponents by like 300 yards over the last two weeks.

17:25 It's unbelievable. Yeah, I know. I have the if you give me a quick second here, I actually have the. Exact number in my notes. 345 to 52 over the last two weeks.

17:36 Yeah, it's nuts.

17:36 And if we did three and four weeks, that would probably even grow because they really limited Jonathan Taylor and Bucky Irving in those two games as well.

17:44 Absolutely. Two guys that are really good players. Outstanding.

17:48 Outstanding.

17:49 The Bucs just won a game without completing a pass.

17:52 I keep going back to the Bucs.

17:53 We'll talk about that in the second hour.

17:55 What the Bucs have done since the Steeler game really paints the Steelers even in a better light.

17:59 Completely agree.

18:00 I mean, the Bucs just did something that hadn't been done since O.J. Simpson was playing for the Buffalo Bills. That's been a long time ago. One more segment to go here in this first hour. I've got some more things I want to run by Matt, some T's to cross and some I's to dot as we continue to react to the Steelers' convincing win against Cleveland yesterday on the North Shore. Mueller and Williamson, it's The Drive, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.