PITTSBURGH (93.7 The FAN) - The last time the Steelers and Browns met in the playoffs, the Steelers pulled off an incredible come-from-behind victory in 2002. Aaron Smith was a key player on that team and he joined The PM Team to talk about that game and this current Steelers-Browns matchup.
The Browns have not been on the practice field in about a week and a half now due to positive COVID-19 tests and Smith tells us how "insane" it is for a team to try and play without actually practicing.
"It's insane," Smith said. Pressed on how a team could possibly get ready for a game without actually practicing, Smith said "I have no idea. The games are so competitive and the line is so thin between winning and losing that you need every advantage you can get."
Asked how he'd exploit an opposing offensive line that hasn't had practice to get ready for him, Aaron told us all the advantages he'd expect to have.
"You're disguising, you're shifting before the snap, you're moving around just because they haven't had time to talk and figure out their calls and signals and communication. There's a lot that goes on before a play, a snap. If you six more inches over, it changes the whole call for the offensive line sometimes."
We also talked with Aaron about a Browns player serving as their offensive line coach last week and asked him who would have done that on the Steelers defensive line during his playing days between him, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel.
"Hamp wouldn't even want the damn job, he'd be like 'I'm done, I'm not doing this, y'all coach yourselves.' Keisel would be so fiery and yelling at everybody that he couldn't tell you what was going on, so it would probably have to be me."
Click the audio to hear more from Aaron Smith on the Steelers Super Bowl chances and the differences between Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin as he played for both coaches.
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