Steelers-Browns: Why Darnell Washington is emerging as a key offensive weapon

Steelers-Browns: Why Darnell Washington is emerging as a key offensive weapon

Hello and welcome to the Northshore Drive podcast. It’s Monday here for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. I’m Chris Carter. He’s Ray Fidal. We’re back from the bye-week and the Steelers are ready to spring into action this week against the Cleveland Browns. We’re going to get you ready for the week here as we have lots of different angles to cover coming out of the Steelers by week at 3 and one sitting at top the AFC North. As always, this podcast is presented by FanDuel and brought to you by Edgar Stein Associates who also do workers compensation. When you’ve been hurt on the job, who decides when you’re better? Who decides when your treatment’s over? Who decides when your benefits are over? The answer might surprise you. It’s the insurance company’s doctors. How does that make you feel? The answer is not great. Call Edgar Saturn Associates today at 1800 94 Edgar. They’ll fight for the workers compensation rights you deserve. And remember, there’s never a fee unless they get money for you. Ray, we will get to the results of this weekend in the AFC North in a bit. But you and I wrote about similar or basically the same groups uh uh for for the for the Steelers and that’s the the the tight ends and the run and then how they contribute to this team uh in some of their jumbo packages. Uh Darnell Washington, Pat Fryouth, John Smith, even Connor Hayward being weapons there. The Steelers tight ends aren’t racking up big numbers in the passing game, but they are they have become real weapons for the run game and how they’re used. My film study went over how they use what’s called a wham block when a a tight end is basically set in motion right before the snap and that motion is used for them to target a specific defender to block and that kind of offsets the defense and gives the offense a little bit of an advantage in the run game and that helps spark their success against the Vikings. What have you seen from this tight end group that has either impressed you or disappointed you so far this season? Yeah, I think Darnell Washington, his usage, right? I mean, he’s played uh the most of any tight end so far, and I don’t know if I would have predicted that, right, when the season began. So, you know, it’s a little bit out of skew because of what happened against the Vikings. He had uh 48 snaps in that game and, you know, John Smith and Pat Fri had 13 and 15 uh respectively in that game. So, that might skew it a little bit, but you know, as I wrote, Chris, you know, that was really good for them. I thought that was their most complete offensive game against the Vikings. I I think they might have found something there and I think they’re not going to hesitate to go back to it. And then, you know, I was thinking about this. What does this mean for John Smith and Pat Fryouth? Because to me, they’re different players, but they’re similar enough, right? They’re they’re passcatching tight ends who are willing run blockers. And the Steelers had to go to Spencer Anderson and Darnell Washington to to really get that that run game going. So, you know, I you know, you mentioned in your article they’re they’re doing a fine job, but the fact of the matter is they just, you know, they played sparingly in that Vikings game. So, like to me, that’s the that’s the next question that has to be answered. And if they can’t run out of their base of 12 personnel, then they’re going to have to go to that jumbo package more. And it’s just it’s kind of a um like an unintended consequence of of you know a good victory against the Vikings. But you know we’re sitting here and we’re talking about two of their highest paid offensive players not really seeing the field in that football game. I I think that’s the that’s the crazy thing here is that uh you look at you look at the how this this offense was built and you think oh they they’re going to throw a lot to Pat Frymouth because they don’t have a a pure number two wide receiver. They got Ju Smith they’re going to involve him. No, it’s been using these guys in pinches to get you certain wins here and and and it’s and also the usage of it. Connor Hayward was used was used quite a bit, you know, against the Vikings. And but I think part of it is these Arthur Smith sees these guys as weapons in multiple ways. He’s not just looking to line you up and say, “Hey, run this route here and toast this linebacker or safety that that that’s going to ma match up with you.” A lot of it is, hey, you know what? This team, uh, you know, when if we can if we can neutralize their their defensive line, uh, you know, or we can set off this this one edge rusher with a wham block that kind of takes him out of the play, uh, that can be the thing that springs the run game. And one thing I noted was Dallas Turner, who’s a secondyear first round pick for Minnesota, a guy that um that they drafted along with JJ McCarthy in the first round in 2024. Um, you know, he was a very good edge rusher, a young edge rusher that everyone’s looking at in the NFL. They teed off on him. They would say, it was everybody, Fry, Ruth, Hayward, Smith, and Washington all through wham blocks where they’re just coming down the line and their job is just take him out of the play and don’t you don’t have to crush him. Just seal him and and and that creates the the crease for a Kenneth Gainwell to cut up. And I I think it’s important that the if the Steelers can find rhythm there, Ray, because you know, at the same time, like this that was an impressive rush rushing performance, but they still ranked next to last in rushing yards in the NFL, and that’s something that they absolutely want to change going into the rest of the season. Yeah. I mean, the way they played against the Vikings is the way they want to play. Um that’s Arthur Smith’s, you know, identity and other places he’s been. That’s the way Andy Widel and this front office want to play. And I get it. You know, the NFL is a week- toeek game and, you know, if they hone in on the Browns defense and they think they could take advantage of their secondary, they’re going to develop a game plan around that. I’m not sure that that’s going to be the case. Their corners are actually really good. It’s going to be interesting to to see what they come up with because the Browns are um, you know, are are a very good defense. They’re a well-rounded defense that’s, you know, strong on the edges and they’re they’re pretty good up up front as well. So, um, you know, to me, I asked Pat Meyer about this last week, Chris, and you basically I said, “Is this jumbo package? Can this become a staple for you, or is it just an occasional thing?” And he he basically said, “Listen, we saw some weaknesses in the Vikings defense where we thought we could take advantage of them.” Perhaps one of the issues was was Dallas Turner. That’s probably one of the things he was talking about. But you just get to thinking about it, Chris, it was so effective. you know, if you really do want to develop that as your identity, that’s who you should be and you should make other teams react to you, right? So, I I get it. Whole thing about week-toeek game planning, I I understand that. But at a certain point, you got to know who you are as a football team. And like I said, I I thought that Vikings game was their best offensive game of the season, even though they didn’t get their highest scoring output. To me, that’s the way they want to play football. I I agree. I think that that that’s the way they want to play football. And so much of it is identity when we talk about that, right? And and we oft we we talked about that for years with Matt Canada. We’ve talked about that, you know, since they’ve gotten Arthur Smith and really since since Ben Rothosberger, the Killer Bees era ended, right? Because Ben Rothosberger, you know, was able to get the offense going in the air for a bit in 2020, but then in 2021 when he was older, Ben Rothosberger, it wasn’t the same. uh they didn’t have they still didn’t really have a run game outside of Naji Harris just plowing forward through just just hordes of defenders because they had no offensive line. And so they’ve been looking for that uh that offense to the offensive identity. And um you know Aaron Rogers certainly makes smart plays. DK Medcap is a big playmaker. We saw it with that 80 80 yard touchdown that he had uh you know against against the Vikings. But the thing that they’ve been investing in the offensive line uh with Brderick Jones, Troy Falanu, Zack Frasier, Mason McCormick, they want them to form form that force. And while they’re figuring it out, you know, Troy Falano just has four starts at right tackle. Same thing for Brderick Jones at left tackle. It having other guys that are solid vets to help in that in that direction, I think is another way to give them a boost while they’re figuring things out. And you know, you see Darnell Washington blocking at the point of attack. He’s a huge asset. And then you throw in a Spencer Anderson, like you said, a swing tackle who can just help you here and there. Those type of things can be tough matchups if if defenses don’t have the personnel to match up with that. Yeah, they like Spencer Anderson. Pat Meyer was talking about him. He basically said that was a way to get him on the football field. You don’t really hear that a lot about um you know back offense backup offensive lineman. But obviously what they did is they played him um you know at the at the expense of uh Frier Muth and and Johnny Smith. To me the thing that I want to know and we haven’t seen it we did not see it in the first three games. I want to see if they could just block with their basic personnel. Can they run block? Can they have a good game like they had against the Vikings without having to go to the jump up package? because I do think eventually, Chris, if you’re going to be a well-rounded offense, yes, two of your better playmakers have to be on the field more often than that. Um, so that’s that to me is what what I want to see against the Browns. Um, you know, maybe maybe it’s a a mix of both personnel packages. Maybe it’s not 48 for Darnell Washington, but maybe it’s 28 and, you know, you get Pat back up there. You get John Smith back up there as well. But Arthur Smith has a tough job. It’s been tough on him to spread the the ball around to as many targets as he has. You know, they finally got DK on track a little bit. And now I think everyone wants to know, okay, let’s let’s see that with Pat Fryouth and let’s see that with with John Smith and we’ll see if if Arc can dial that up this week against the Browns. Certainly. And speaking of that game against the Browns, FanDuel, who who presents this podcast, gives gives you the opening odds for the for the week right now. The Steelers open as five and a half point favorites over over the over the Cleveland Browns. Uh and remember that game is at home for the Steelers. So that’s another boo boost for them there. Um they uh they’re also the Steelers money line set at minus 245. Brown’s money line set at plus 200 with the overunder currently at 38 12 points. Let’s talk about the AFC North next because they all lost this weekend and the Ravens especially lost badly and that could put the Steelers in an advantageous situation going the rest of the way. Let’s talk about that next here on the Northshore Drive podcast on Pittsburgh Post. Cazette Chris Carter Ray. Stick with us. Be right back. [Music] We’re back here on the Northshore Drive podcast on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Chris Carter, Rafe Ben Apollo. Uh, this show is also brought to you by Olivian Numismatic Rarities. If you’re looking to diversify your playbook beyond the stock market right here in Pittsburgh Shadyside neighborhood, Oliv Olivian Numismatic Rarities helps investors and collectors build wealth with rare coins, paper money, and precious metals. Whether you’re stacking gold or silver, building a tangible asset portfolio, or selling an inherited collection, ONR brings integrity and expertise to every transaction. Stop by their premier gallery at 5833 Ellsworth Avenue in Shady Side or learn more at onrcoins.com. That’scoins.com or call 412900coin today. We’re also brought to you by Goldberg Perski and White. If you were diagnosed with meloma or lung cancer, call your local attorneys at Goldberg Perski and White for over 40 years. Their firm has represented thousands of lung cancer and meaththeloma victims. Call 1800 complex or visit gpwlaw.com for free consultation. Ray, there’s a lot of consultation needed for AFC North fans this week as uh all three of the AFC North teams lost this this weekend. Uh the Browns losing with their Europe game before they play the Steelers. They lost 217. The Vikings uh got a late touchdown that gave that gave them just ahead of Dylan Gabriel’s first start. The Bengals predictably lost to the Lions, though I do think it it it bodess well for them. They scored 21 fourth quarter points to make it a at least a closer game than it appeared for most of it. They lost 37-24 to the Bengals. But the biggest story is the Ravens not just losing, but getting utterly destroyed by the one and three Houston Texans who are now two and three 44-10. Granted, no Lamar Jackson, no Marlon Humphrey, no Roan Smith, Matab’s out for the year. Travis Jones, their other defensive tackle. They they are a banged up team, but man, things look rough in Baltimore for John Harbaugh right now. Yeah, I saw Trey Essex tweeted this last night or this morning, I forget which, but he said, “Victory Monday.” It kind of feels like a victory Monday for the even though they’re on a by-week, right? Like everything that could have gone right for them over the weekend went right. But, uh, yeah, Chris, you’re right about the Ravens. Uh, listen, they’re going to get some of those players back. um you know, especially on defense, I think, um you know, they’re down some of their some of their key guys right now and that’s obviously um hurting them and their product. Um to me, you know, I’m not counting them out for the division. I I still think they can come back and and uh give the Steelers all they want in the division race, but when you start one and four, um you pretty much take yourself out of being a top seed. Now, I I know the Bills lost last last night. There’s no more undefeated teams in the NFL, but you know, even if the Ravens do win this division, what are they going to be? A three, a four seed? And we we’ve seen with the Ravens how important it is to have homefield advantage. So, um you know, that that to me is what I take away from this past weekend. Yeah, you can still come back and maybe be a factor in the division. I don’t think you’re going to be a factor for a top seed in the conference, though. Yeah, I think that’s the thing here is that now the Ravens are going to have to battle back to catch the Steelers right now. This the Ravens at one and four, the Steelers at three and one. Uh if if the Steelers handle their business and beat the the Browns and the Bengals in these next two weeks, the Ravens have to play the Rams this this upcoming week. The Rams no slouches themselves. They’re pretty tough right now. Uh they’re they’re sit they’re sitting at three and two, but they’ve also had some tough games on their hand. If Matt Stafford uh walks into Baltimore, lights them up too, and and all of a sudden they’re staring at one and five and the Steelers are staring at one and five. Uh that’s a fourame difference uh for for a Ravens team. It’s still going to be dealing with injuries. Lamar Jackson’s not guaranteed to come back right after the buy. Uh you know, they’re hoping he does. Uh but that’s a rough spot to be in and it’s going to put the onus that they will need to win almost out like I think they have 10 games after after the buy. uh they would need to go like nine and one or something like that to even have a chance I think to win the division unless the Steelers have an epic collapse. But uh which after last year, you know, could happen. But uh but I I just I look at the things that the Ravens are doing right now and you brought up this up before the show, but they’re just giving up an insane amount of points on defense. And yes, there’s injuries, but man, you’d think that this defense would have been able to find some answers this early in the season. Yeah. even before guys like Roan Smith and Matabway went out of the lineup um they were among the worst offensive teams in the NFL um when they were playing. So, you know, I think the stat was they’re on pace to give up 35.4 points per game, which would shatter the NFL record which was set last year by the Carolina Panthers who gave up 31.4 points per game. Now, listen, I know they played a tough schedule early. I know they’re eventually gonna get some of these guys back, but Chris, when you’re giving up almost 36 points per game over a fiveame stretch, that’s not that’s not a fluke. That’s who you are as a football team. And I’m sure John Harbaugh, yeah, they got to get ready for the Rams this week, but he cannot wait for this bye-week to get here because they got a ton to fix on that side of the ball. Absolutely. Uh right now, for a perspective, 35.4 four points a game is 601.8 points on the if you multiply that out that rate out for 17 games. Uh that’d be the first ever time someone gave up 600 points in a season. And granted, probably not going to happen. I I I did a quick search of through the first five games of the season. This is the seventh time since 2000 that a team has given up 177 points or more. Um the other six teams that that did it before, they got a little bit better as the year went on because they didn’t end up giving up 600 points by the end of the season. But uh each of them uh the Bills in 2002 uh finished 8-8. Uh the Dolphins in 2019 5-1. Cowboys in 2020 6 and 10. Titans in 2012 6-10. Broncos in 2023 8-9. And the Giants in 2013 7-9. All teams that gave up as many or more points than the Ravens did in these first five games. The Ravens got some explaining to do. And granted, I think one thing that they have on their side is they do have an MVP quarterback. And if he can come back healthy this year, then maybe they can claw their way back. But Ray, I think this this puts the ball in the Steelers court a little bit here because we all counted out the Cleveland Browns before the season got. And you and I talked about the Bengals going into this season. They needed Joe Bro to be elite and he’s out for three months. So they’re pretty much out of the picture. It puts the ball in Steelers court to say like, “Hey, if we handle our business and build up a big lead, we can just be the front runners for the AFC North this year.” Yeah. And it’s a great spot to be in, Chris, just knowing the way the Steelers have struggled in the playoffs really since, you know, 2017, since their last um, you know, that’s what I consider their last really good playoff team. How important would it be to get a home game? I I I know they had a home game against the Browns. Uh, wasn’t a real one. Wasn’t a real one, but you just think about the the road games they’ve lost, right, in Baltimore. A tough place to play. they get their doors blown off in Buffalo. Again, tough place to play. Uh in Kansas City, I mean, you’re going up against the elite of the elite when those teams were humming and they were AFC contenders year after year after year. How nice would it be not to be a six or a seven seed, but actually go in as a two, a three, or a four, right? And then you you have people coming to you, you set yourself up for success. That’s kind of how I look at this. um you’re in the driver’s seat now. Um I’m not saying you have to go 13 and four, but if you can get to 11 and six, maybe 12 and five, you’re going to have a shot, I think, to be a two or a three seed. And uh as we know, that’s very important come playoff time. It is. You get to because you get that home game and then you also get that advantageous home game because you’re the two two seed. you played seven seed like you know looking at uh the standings right now in the conference the seven seed if the thing if all things started today uh would be the Patriots and and so uh and granted the Steelers right now would also be the third seed uh they so basically they get the Broncos but you’re talking about the wildard teams right now which are the Jaguars the Broncos and the Patriots but it’s also super early because right now if the playoff started today because Monday Night Football hasn’t happened the Chiefs would be out of the playoffs and that’s just that’s probably not going to happen and the Colts would be the number one seed in the NFL at 4- one right now. So, so some other things have to shake out. But again, there is a stage set for the Steelers and they’ve said it themselves. You know, you and I talked about the importance of at least winning two games in those first four. They won three. Now, they put themselves here where imagine if they if they had just dropped that Patriots game or or the Jets game or the any one of the three games that they won and they’re two and two. It’s not so much of a happy feeling coming out of the box like, “Oh man, what if you had just done a little bit more?” And now you’re sitting there saying, “Hey, wait a minute. We everything’s in front of us. let’s handle our business. Uh you got the Browns this week, the Bengals on a short week, which they still have never beaten a an AFC North team on the road on Thursday Night Football in since that that that whole thing started in 2006 of Thursday Night Football. Um but if you handle your business against those teams, then you give yourself some grace because after those two teams, you got the Packers coming to Pittsburgh, the Colts coming to Pittsburgh and they’re again the number one seed in AFC right now. you you go to Los Angeles to play the Chargers and then and when it gets to late November, you get a run of Bills, Ravens, Dolphins, Lions, and then the the Ravens again uh late for the last game of the season. You need to build up some some uh some space that you can lose some tough games but not give up ground, you know, a lot of ground because you set you getting yourself such a big leader early on. Yeah, I I could see the path. Like I I think it’s legit talk now. the Steelers actually have a a real shot to win the AFC North. Chris, if they get to five and one, I’ll be a true believer because if they get to that point, that will prove to me that they’re not going to um lose a game they’re not supposed to at home against the Browns or on a short week on the road against the Bengals. I’m sorry. I watched a little bit of that game against the Lions yesterday. I know it was close at at the end, but at one point, Chris, it was 28-3. Yeah, and they’ve got real issues on both sides of the football. So to me, Steelers, take care of your business. If you really are that team, you think this is going to contend for a division, you got to be five and one coming out of this stretch. I feel you there. We’ll be covering all of that leading into this week. In fact, we’ll be in the facility today as the Steelers get started a little early this week with it with it being a byee or coming off of a by-week. Uh so we’ll be in the facility uh today. Mike Tomlin talks Tuesday and then we’ll be at the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday practices. Get all your coverage on the Steelers as they get ready for their week six showdown with the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh uh this this Sunday. We’ll be covering that as well. Get all your coverage from the Pittsburgh Postcazette. Subscribe to the Postgazette by going to post-gazette.com and remember to subscribe to this podcast, the Northshore Drive podcast where you get podcast or on YouTube. We’ll be back later this week with more and check out all the daily content from our sports writers here at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. [Music] Thank you for checking out this content from Postgazette Sports. If you watch this video on YouTube, please like the video and subscribe to our channel. For all the sports coverage that PostGazette has to offer, visit post-gazette.com. [Music]

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo open Browns week with a look at the surprising role of the tight ends. Did Darnell Washington prove he is more valuable then Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith with his run blocking in the Steelers’ latest win over the Vikings? And after watching the AFC North disasters this past weekend, is the road clear for the Steelers to win the division?
For more sports, visit post-gazette.com.