DK Metcalf, Darius Slay Media Availability (Sept. 24) | Pittsburgh Steelers

DK Metcalf, Darius Slay Media Availability (Sept. 24) | Pittsburgh Steelers

you were obviously a part of that first regular season game in Germany there. Talk about what it’s like being a part of a team to play in another country for the first time. Uh I think it was just an amazing experience. Uh cuz I’ve never been to Germany, so it gave uh me an opportunity to travel. Um but you know, the ultimate goal there was to win a football game. We came up short, but uh you know, this just another opportunity for us to go to another country, uh see another country, but also you know, play in front of some fans that um you know, really don’t know what we do for a living. So, we just got to put a good product on the field. Absolutely. This is like the first time that a lot of these countries can experience NFL football there. Talk about the pride that maybe you see them take and in and hosting an NFL game. Um, I just think it’s um they’re filled with excitement uh cuz they they cheer for kickoffs, they cheer for first downs, so they they just cheer for anything uh penalty uh on the opposing team. So, anything that uh you know they see happening on the field, they’re just going to cheer. DK, have you been made aware kind of with the Rudy connection with the ownership of the Steelers with Ireland? Yes, sir. He briefly uh gave us uh you know overview of things. Um was it Monday before the team meeting? Yes, sir. What are you looking forward to about playing internationally this time? Um a new country um but you know we get to go against a well established defense uh you know a good uh football team and you know just looking forward to competing. Is there a secret to three weeks now? How comfortable do you feel with this offense? Where do you think this offensive identity is right now? Um it’s really not for me to say uh where the identity is, but uh I think it’s headed in the right direction. Uh our run game is uh you know getting better. Um it’s going to take all 11 of us on the field at one time if we want to see that continue to trickle in the right direction, but we just got to get our pass catchers uh involved more. Um and that starts with us being ready with the details and everything. DK, did you learn anything last that time about rest and preparing for playing in an overseas game, travel, any of those issues? No, I’m I’ll be ready to play regardless. Yes, sir. Nothing you can take from the last time you were there? No, I’m the wrong person at Yes, sir. DK, how multiple compared to other teams or what the Vikings do defensively? Um, I mean, they try to disguise a lot, but you know, it’s up to us uh for us to put uh something out there on the field that they they can’t disguise too with shifts, motions, and you know, just our playmaking ability. in terms of in terms of the things Aaron does at the line of scrimmage, how much more complex is it maybe than what you’ve done with the past and just because of his experience and has that taken some time to get used to? Uh, no sir. I mean I’m I’m used to you know people making checks at the lines or giving signals uh late and everything. So I just got to uh you know be on my details and make sure um you know I know the checks to the run game, the pass game and you know what to expect. Does their disguises make that kind of at the line communication more important this week? No sir, it’s not up to me. It’s up to Aaron and uh Art. I just go out there and, you know, do what they tell me. DK, what do you see in the run game that tells you it’s it’s heading in the right direction? Um, well, we we could have broke a couple uh runs last week if uh you know, one more person could have just made a block or, you know, a strain here or there. Um so I I think from week one to now, I think that’s headed in the right direction and what we have put on film. What do you think has made this red red zone success so good for you guys? You said who? The red zone success you’ve had. All of us. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. All of us. Okay. Yes, sir. I can’t point out one specific person. Uh Arts, you know, uh Art and the uh offense are are watching film on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Uh coming up with a great plan for us to go out there and be successful. What’s the next step do you think for this offense that it needs to take this week? Uh just start to put more points than the other team on the board and not not settle for three and outs as much uh in the second half once we get rolling. Make sure we stay on the field and convert uh third downs. about what you remember in that trip to Germany that you guys had out there. Maybe some of the stuff outside of just playing football. Oh, no. I was there to play football. So, I told you I’m the wrong person to ask, bro. I I didn’t do it do do much uh besides uh you know, we went to practice. Um I I got a chance to get a Five Guys burger. But, uh one thing that really stuck out to me was uh me being in another country and trying to communicate. So it gave me a little more leniency when people from out of the country or who don’t uh you know understand my my dialect or the way I talk uh gave me you know a little bit more courtesy when you know they don’t understand me or I don’t understand them. So I think it helped me with patience. You guys might get back and Julie back. How do you feel like that depth has shown out here over the last couple? Uh great man. That’s a great uh aspect of our group is you know we got a lot of guys that could be changeable that could play you know corner role, safety role or nickel role whatever need to be played. So, uh, we got a great group and, uh, you know, it’s always going to be good to get them guys back out there. Is this as dynamic a group as you fe you face when you you get Jefferson and now they get their other guy back? Oh, yeah. They’re very talented group, man. Go. A great challenge, you know, for our secondary, you know, for the whole team. Uh, Jefferson, one of the best receivers in the league. Then, you know, they got Addison coming back, you know, a very vertical guy that can really stretch the field. So, uh, we got to be alert and make sure we know where he at at all times of all receivers. So, uh, you know, it going to be a good competitive game. Going back to the fourth down thing, if it’s third and seven, teams are happy to get five or six yards, does that change the way you guys think about third down defense? Uh, you know, I mean, telling me truthfully, I’m not thinking too much until he g me a call. Yeah. And see, then I know what he thinking after a call. But, uh, for us to just know, you know, while I’m out there, I’m just playing ball, man. Trying to get off the field as fast as I could. Say, how well do you know? God, I just see you just staring at you and caught my eye. How long do you know WZ and what kind of challenge is he gonna present? Oh, I know him very well, man. Uh, you know, I came there and got, you know, traded over there in 20 and, uh, you know, a great dude, man. Competitor. We know, um, he’s going to, you know, let his talent show. So he go try to use his arm talent to make plays and you know try to stay in plays with his legs.

DK Metcalf and Darius Slay spoke to the media on Wednesday, Sept. 24 ahead of the Steelers Week 4 game against the Vikings in Dublin

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