Former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace joins Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders on The Matchup to debate the NFL's top 10 receivers and cornerbacks heading into Week 9.
Episode summary
Former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace joins Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders for the Week 9 rankings episode of The Matchup. Wallace settles the debate over whether he or Tyreek Hill was faster, explains how the Steelers kept finding receivers in the middle and late rounds, and looks back on losing to Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos in the playoffs and facing Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl. He then weighs in on E's Top 10 Problems, where Jaxon Smith-Njigba is No. 1 and Justin Jefferson misses the cut, and Chris' Strap List, where Denzel Ward is No. 1 but Wallace would still take Patrick Surtain II.
Topics covered
0:00 Mike Wallace vs. Tyreek Hill: Who was faster?
2:14 How Pittsburgh kept finding receivers
4:37 Playoff memories: Tim Tebow and Aaron Rodgers
7:33 E's Top 10 Problems: JSN, Chase and Higgins
13:12 Why Justin Jefferson missed the Top 10
16:36 The Strap List: Denzel Ward vs. Patrick Surtain II
20:28 Which corners would Wallace and Sanders want to face?
21:49 Has cornerback play changed since their era?
Mike Wallace vs. Tyreek Hill: Who was faster? (0:00 to 2:14)
After a quick preview of the episode, Emmanuel Sanders welcomes his former Pittsburgh Steelers teammate Mike Wallace, crediting him for showing him and Antonio Brown the ropes early in their careers. Emmanuel said he doesn't know if he goes on to win in Denver without Wallace's help, and noted that Wallace later did the same for a young Stefon Diggs with the Minnesota Vikings.
Emmanuel said he and Chris always call Wallace and Tyreek Hill the two fastest players they've seen on a football field. Chris remembered Wallace "floating" past the Denver Broncos defense in a playoff game during his rookie year, until Champ Bailey tipped the ball away at the last second.
Wallace gave Hill his due as "a track guy," but made his own case on the field.
"I would get played 15 yards off me and I'm still running past him, you know? So that's kind of hard to do," Wallace said.
How Pittsburgh kept finding receivers (2:14 to 4:37)
Chris asked how the Steelers kept finding receivers with the same smaller, shifty build, from Hines Ward to Wallace, Emmanuel and Antonio Brown. Wallace said it came down to mindset more than size or raw talent.
"I think for them it was more so like heart and mentality than just straight talent," Wallace said.
He pointed out that Pittsburgh landed him and Emmanuel in the third round and Brown in the sixth, and said the team needs to get back to developing homegrown receivers under general manager Omar Khan.
Playoff memories: Tim Tebow and Aaron Rodgers (4:37 to 7:33)
Emmanuel recalled the Steelers' wild card loss in Denver, the Tim Tebow playoff game. Wallace admitted Pittsburgh underestimated Tebow, who had struggled throwing the ball for much of that season before getting hot.
"I don't know how we lost that game," Wallace said.
Chris said that was his first playoff game, and he remembers being nervous looking across at Pittsburgh's defense, with James Harrison, Troy Polamalu and a front seven full of 250-pound players. Wallace said those Steelers teams were good enough to win more, but they ran into Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl. He called that game the moment he realized Rodgers was one of the greatest, and remembered how much spin Rodgers had on his throws.
Emmanuel added that he had a bad feeling the week before, when Mike Tomlin showed the team highlights of Rodgers. "I said, damn, we about to lose, man," he joked.
E's Top 10 Problems: JSN, Chase and Higgins (7:33 to 13:12)
Emmanuel has Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks at No. 1 on his receiver list, and Wallace agreed JSN deserves the top spot this season. Wallace said he still loves Ja'Marr Chase, a fellow New Orleans native, but Emmanuel had Chase's Cincinnati Bengals teammate Tee Higgins at No. 2, noting Higgins is averaging 103 yards a game.
Rank | Receiver | Team |
|---|---|---|
1 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle Seahawks |
2 | Tee Higgins | Cincinnati Bengals |
3 | CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys |
4 | Puka Nacua | Los Angeles Rams |
5 | Christian Watson | Green Bay Packers |
6 | Ja'Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals |
7 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit Lions |
8 | Chris Olave | New Orleans Saints |
9 | Zay Flowers | Baltimore Ravens |
10 | Malik Nabers | New York Giants |
Wallace was disappointed not to see Drake London of the Atlanta Falcons on the list. Emmanuel said London fell off because he has only one touchdown despite the yards. "This game is about points," Emmanuel said, and Wallace compared it to Julio Jones putting up big yardage in Atlanta without as many touchdowns.
Wallace said he'd personally take Puka Nacua over CeeDee Lamb, praising how the Los Angeles Rams use him alongside Davante Adams. He called Christian Watson fast and dangerous when healthy, and said Chris Olave of the New Orleans Saints could be a top five receiver if he stays on the field.
"He's not the fastest receiver, but he's fast," Wallace said of Olave. "He can run the same speed and break down into a comeback route."
Why Justin Jefferson missed the Top 10 (13:12 to 16:36)
Wallace's biggest issue with the list was Justin Jefferson.
"How we have a top 10 without Justin Jefferson in it, though?" Wallace said.
Emmanuel said the list is based on this season's production, and Jefferson isn't even in the top 30 in receiving yards. Wallace argued it comes down to the system, saying Jefferson would be a top five receiver in yards in Cincinnati. Chris joked that he kept Pat Surtain II in his own top 10 while hurt, calling him "grandfathered in."
Emmanuel said that if he were Jefferson, he'd be "flipping tables" to get the ball. Wallace said receivers are the most dependent players in football, but that Jefferson is handling it the right way and protecting his image while his team wins.
The Strap List: Denzel Ward vs. Patrick Surtain II (16:36 to 20:28)
Chris moved Denzel Ward to No. 1 on his cornerback list, ahead of Trent McDuffie. Wallace agreed Ward has earned it this year, pointing to how well he matches up with bigger receivers like DK Metcalf.
"He's the new face of the defense. They ain't talking about Myles Garrett. They talking about Denzel Ward," Chris said, adding that Ward is on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
Chris also highlighted Isaiah Rodgers for his low passer rating allowed and interceptions, and said Ward, McDuffie and Rodgers are separating themselves. Wallace gave Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots his due, but made his own pick at the top.
"Ward probably is number one this year, but if I'm picking, I'm still going P2," Wallace said, praising Surtain's technique as close to unmatched.
When Wallace asked about Derek Stingley Jr., Chris said the Houston Texans secondary has had a tough year, with Stingley and Kamari Lassiter both giving up touchdowns, but stressed that the list changes week to week. Wallace also said Joey Porter Jr. needs to get paid, and the hosts agreed Travis Hunter of the Jacksonville Jaguars could climb four or five spots. Chris noted Byron Murphy Jr. has three interceptions while playing all over the Vikings secondary.
Which corners would Wallace and Sanders want to face? (20:28 to 21:49)
Asked which corner on the list he'd want to test, Wallace picked Christian Gonzalez because of his size and speed. "Let's see if he can really go deep into that water," he said.
Emmanuel picked Travis Hunter, saying he wants to see if Hunter's athleticism holds up in press coverage. Wallace said that in his prime, he would have beaten anyone on the list.
"Anybody right there, bro, I'm cooking them," Wallace said, while adding that Hunter is a great athlete who's still young and developing his technique.
Has cornerback play changed since their era? (21:49 to 24:39)
Emmanuel asked whether defensive back and receiver play has fallen off. Wallace said the game is much softer now than when he came into the league, when players like Hines Ward were laying out defenders on blocks.
"I think it's definitely falling off from where we were at," Wallace said. "It's too much money on the table now."
He said he understands the league protecting players and their investments, and that he still loves watching the game. The episode wraps with the hosts thanking Wallace and inviting him back.
NFL Week 9 Top 10 takeaways from Mike Wallace, Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is No. 1 on Emmanuel Sanders' wide receiver list, and Mike Wallace agrees he deserves the top spot this season.
Justin Jefferson missed the top 10 because Emmanuel ranks this season's production, while Wallace blamed the system rather than the player.
Denzel Ward is No. 1 on Chris Harris Jr.'s Strap List, but Wallace would still pick Patrick Surtain II.
Wallace said he'd want to test Christian Gonzalez, and that in his prime he would have beaten any corner on the list, including Travis Hunter.
Wallace credits the Steelers' run of receivers to heart and mentality, not size or raw talent.
Why is Justin Jefferson not in The Matchup's top 10 receivers for Week 9? Emmanuel Sanders ranks receivers on this season's production, and Jefferson isn't in the top 30 in receiving yards. Mike Wallace disagreed, saying Jefferson's numbers are a result of the system, not his talent.
Who is No. 1 on Chris Harris Jr.'s cornerback list in Week 9? Denzel Ward is No. 1 on Chris Harris Jr.'s Strap List, ahead of Trent McDuffie. Mike Wallace agreed Ward has earned it this year but said he would still pick Patrick Surtain II.
Who was faster, Mike Wallace or Tyreek Hill? Mike Wallace called Tyreek Hill a track guy, but said that on a football field he was running past defenders even when they lined up 15 yards off him. Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders consider the two of them the fastest players they've seen.
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