Drive11.5.26Labs: Bob Labriola Returns!

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Steelers Nation Radio. Hour number two of The Drive on this Thursday. And boy, do we have a special treat for the audience out there in Steeler Nation. You wanted them, you got them. It is the Dean of Doom, the Lord of Living in His Fears, Steelers historian Bob Labriola joins us on the phone lines. Labs, thank you for taking the time as always. Great to connect and catch up with you here. I got to ask you, we are, we're heading into the bi-week and how do you, how do you kind of look at where this bi-week week lands?

Do you look at it and say, you know, this is a team they're coming off of an international game and a kind of big AFC North emotional rivalry game. This bi-week is coming at the right time. Or do you look at it and say four game win streak, the team is playing good football and fine in itself. I wish they were lining up again and playing on Sunday.

Well, um, let me tell you as a, I've done a lot of these bi-week things. The bi-week is always sweet. It really doesn't matter. When it comes, there is something about it that is appreciated or necessary or whatever adjective you want to use. But it's a feel-good week. It's a dial-it-back week. I'm just talking about everybody else, you know, where the football team is, you know, again, a week off is never a bad thing for what these guys put themselves through over the course of 18 weeks. I mean, you played 17 games over 18 weeks and you know, it's, it's a physical toll. It's an emotional grind and, And so a week off is always good. You know, it's going to be interesting to see how this, you know,

Mike McCarthy gave him the week off, which I didn't realize that. Yeah. Yeah. So again, I have come to understand two things. Number one, the way Mike McCarthy is doing things is not going to be the same as it has been. And number two, Mike McCarthy knows what he's doing. So, Um, you know, he gave him the week off. That's not how it used to be, but I, I trust him to know what he's doing and knowing what this team needs, you know, at this particular time. Um, Hey, things look good. Uh, you know, somebody asked me recently in an ass and answered, why did the Steelers have to play the Ravens at the end of the seasons now, you know, and after, uh, explaining how that's what the network would want and what the league would want, you know,

to drum up interest in a division race because, you know, when you're doing the schedule, you announce it in May, you're thinking Pittsburgh, Baltimore is always, you know, a war. Good ratings. I mean, it's physical. It's, you know, it's football. But, you know, this year, the Steelers get lucky that they're playing the Ravens late. Yep. Because... who knows, who knows going to be, who's going to be taking snaps. Uh, when those games are played, looking at my handy dandy schedule here, one in December and one in January. Um, you know, I don't know that I don't know that Lamar Jackson comes back.

I kind of lean like he won't, he's going to look great in a Miami dolphins uniform.

Well, and that's the thing. I mean, you know, if, um, He's going to have surgery on his throwing thumb. That's got to be two months. Oh, I would say, yeah. Yeah, okay. And then in two months, you haven't played in really... I can't even remember the last game that he played the whole game. So... I just, I don't know if it's any good for him and I don't know if it's any good for the team either. You're just throwing a guy out there who's, you know, you're virtually taking him off the couch. I just don't know you'd do that to a guy who's won the MVP award for you.

You know, that had the kind of career that he's had so far and I would think you might want to do business with him next year. So, you know, what's the point of You know, get them well, re-sign them, and, you know, take another run at it. But anyway, that's a long-winded roundabout. I took you down a couple of dark alleys to answer your question there. But, yeah, there's a lot to like about the Steelers, where they are right now. But I'll tell you this. You know, the whole score more points thing we've talked about for, like, the last couple, three years, it seems, well, that's still an issue. And that's going to be critical moving forward.

They have to find ways to get the point total up in some of these games, whether it's special teams, if the defense has to score, whatever it might be. But I don't know that you're going to win a lot of 16-10 kind of games here with Cincinnati. You got, I think, Jacksonville can score points. Um, you know, so could, uh, uh, the Texas Denver. Um, so I think you're going to have to score some points in some of these games, um, to really, they have an opportunity to separate themselves a little bit. Um, you know, I don't know who's going to, who's going to win the AFC and I'm not predicting that the Steelers are going to win the AFC, but we've seen already how this league has changed from, um, you know, September 13th to where we are now in

terms of who we think is good and why. So, you know, in another month, that could be a whole other power poll or whatever they call those things that they post on the internet that I'm proud to say I've never clicked on once. No, I mean, seriously, it's somebody's, you're guessing, you're ranking these teams. I mean, I just, you know, nine to 13 teams Or 9-15, you're going to tell me which of those teams is really better?

You know, I just, again, you know, that's why they play the games. But, you know, they have an opportunity to separate themselves a little bit, and it's going to be on the field. And you're looking at some of these games or some of these teams, and I'm not predicting because I hate that. Well, they don't have Jalen Hurts or they don't have whoever. You know, you play with who you got. I remember, you know, there was a time the Steelers had to play without Ryan Shazier down through December and into the playoffs and how that impacted things. But, you know, some of these teams have been weakened by injuries. You know, you hope that back to Mike McCarthy knowing what he's doing, giving these guys

this week off. You know, some of these, this is an older team. And some of it has to do, I think, with physically healing. You know, you don't heal as quick as you used to. 30-year-olds versus 20-year-olds. You know, the body is... It's not a video game. I mean, that's actual, you know, flesh and blood and muscles and tendons that sometimes tear and or pull. So... Um, but it's, I'll tell you what, uh, when we were back in August, when we were in Chuck Knoll press box, um, you guys on the air, me chart and practice. Um, I think what we all hoped for at that time was to be where we are right now, Thursday, November 5th, uh, eight weeks into this 2026 season and still being relevant.

And this team is definitely relevant. So it should be interesting.

Boy, one question from Wes went a long way. It's been a.

While, Labs.

Call me Walter Cronkite, baby.

I thought there was a chance in Drive history that we might go a whole segment that I didn't have to say one word. It's good to have you back, dude.

Well, I didn't mean to.

No, that's why we have you on. lighten the load. So you touched on a lab. It sounds like you're pretty happy and content and maybe not. I mean, excited about what this coaching staff's doing. I mean, different doesn't mean worse. That's for sure. I think it's a very thoughtful and well thought out unit starting with Mike McCarthy.

Yes. and you know a lot of stuff is planned you know what hasn't been talked about at all how about the challenge.

Yeah going for it on fourth downs and game management's a lot different no.

No no but I mean the procedure that had to be because that came in late that challenge flag came in late I mean I was watching the sideline Um, and McCarthy got engaged late. I mean, somebody was talking to him. I don't know who it is. I don't know how their procedure is, but that's a, they ha he has a procedure.

It's definitely different.

Yeah. And right. And it worked now. Um, you know, as they say in baseball, you're only as good as tomorrow's starting pitcher. Um, you know, Mike McCarthy is one more, uh, first and goal to fade past the DK Metcalf call to, uh, you know, people, people want to run them out of time. I mean, that's the way this job, that job is, uh, you know, but, um.

But they're not flying by the seat of their pants. I could, I mean, I think that's your point here. I mean, everything's really well thought out.

Yes. They are. They're planning a lot of things. Um, they're planning for a lot of eventualities, uh, They, you know, the, the fire drill field goal player development, the other one that they, that they, that I've gotten them. I've gotten submissions to ask and answer criticizing McCarthy for having to run up and spike the ball to stop the clock and get the play that turned into what did they, did they kick? No, they went and then they used the tush push. and scored a touchdown. Okay. Now that to me was planned and executed or, and communicated. Oh, they definitely caused that. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Both of those things. And I'm sorry, I don't, I'm not apologizing for, you know, having to use emergency procedures in games, but

if you plan for them and drill them, that's part of the game. That's, that's being prepared.

That's, situational football yeah.

Yeah situational football exactly so um you know i again i think i mentioned it uh earlier in this segment you know this is not a video game um you're working with real people and it's the clock is really ticking and the play clock the game clock Um, there's a lot of situations that are going on. There's a lot of people that sideline is very active. There's a lot of people plugged into headphones and stuff. And, um, somebody has to be making sense of it all and boiling it all down and then making the decision. Um, and I would say so far, Mike McCarthy is, uh, got a pretty high average. Yeah. Um, So, uh, you know, there is something to be said for a veteran coach.

You know, he's a been there, done that guy too, in the sense of being in a lot of these situations. So, um, people want to get excited about the next, or they were last January, you know, um, the young hot assistance. All right. And that's fine. Um, But I don't know that a young, hot assistant understands a veteran team like this as well as McCarthy is. And if you have one of those young upcoming coordinators as your head coach, your quarterback is not Aaron Rodgers. I don't know who it is, but it's not him. So there's something to be said for hiring a veteran guy like a veteran coach.

And definitely something to be said for it being someone like Mike McCarthy who has experience and success at flagship franchises in this league. Well said.

Labs, last one I've got for you. Matt and I kind of spent some time earlier in the week talking about, you know, we've seen really ever since Omar Khan, Andy Weidel, you know, new regime taken over for Kevin Colbert and kind of the reigns of this organization. the image that they had of building a bully in the trenches. And we saw that investment on the offensive line. We saw that investment on the defensive line. It feels like it's finally coming to fruition here. That offensive line has been a lot of fun to watch. I think particularly since they kind of made that line change to the right side and brought in Hoffman and Ihanachor. Cam Hayward and Keanu Benton are just beating up on guards every single week.

I think this is what the Steelers have on the offensive line and defensive front this This is kind of what we've all envisioned for the last couple years here finally coming to fruition.

And I bet it tickles you to no end, Bob.

Well, I mean, look at the history of the franchise. Who was Chuck Noll's first ever draft pick?

Mean Joe.

Why did Noll pass on Dan Marino and pick Gabe Rivera? Because what he said at the time was we had built it once with defense and And that's why he went back to that and picking a defensive lineman in that situation instead of the quarterback. You know, what was Bill Cowher's first ever draft pick? Leon Searcy, offensive tackle. So, you know, this is a franchise history kind of thing, being tough at the lines of scrimmage, playing the sport physically, you know, even back in the, fifties when the Steelers weren't very good, uh, you knew that you played them the day after the game. You may have won, but, um, you know, getting out of bed wasn't as easy as it was, uh, on some other Mondays. So yes, this is,

and this team is starting to play games in that spirit and win games because of that, which is not easy to do in the NFL. And, um, You know, blocking and tackling, travel well. Running the ball and stopping the run, travel well in this sport at any level. And so when you have some tough games on the road, if you can run the ball and stop the run, that's a good first step towards getting where you want to be.

Labs, if we've said it once in the last few weeks, Matt and I have said it 100 times, man, would Tunch and Wolf love watching this offensive line every single week. And I'm glad that we're all here to do that for them and continue that tradition and that memory. The Dean of Doom? Oh, go ahead.

No, no, I was just going to say I would have been very interested to hear their takes on the Mason-McCormick-Jared verse. It's strange. Well, I don't know. I'm going to say I saw Max Starks right after the game back in the, you know, the press area there at Accresure. And I said, I asked him real quick, you know, what do you think? What'd you think of that? And he said, Hey, we were taught when they jump, you dump.

That's good. That's what we're taught as offensive linemen. If they jump, you dump. He said he did exactly what he was coached. I love it.

So, Labs, great stuff as always. Thank you so much for taking the time here and putting a smile on our faces heading into the bye week. Enjoy the bye weekend, and we'll talk.

To you soon.

Thanks for the time.

Okay, fellas. Have a good one.

You as well. The dean of doom, the lord of living in his fears, great Steelers historian Bob Labriola. I forgot we were a little out of practice, Matt. I mean, for an 18-minute conversation, you really only need three or four questions for Labs.

Maybe one if we wasn't invited in.

Great.

I love a lot of these people we have on. You're like, you got to have some stuff prepped.

Yeah. Yeah.

Like, I'm not sure what to ask.

We kind of already down that road.

You got one or two questions and you're dynamite. You're in for a treat.

I love it.

Thanks.

Long since we chatted.

No, it has. And it definitely will not be the last time this season for sure. We will definitely get labs back on here sooner rather than later. But when we return, it's time to look ahead to week nine in the national football league. Matt and I will give some thoughts and some predictions about all the games on Sunday.

It is The Drive, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

Drive11.5.26Labs: Bob Labriola Returns!

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