Thursday, July 28, 2016

Headlines From Steelers First Day of Camp

It's finally here! Players began arriving at camp Thursday and with that came a plethora of headlines. Here is some of the noteworthy news for those who may have missed out.

The Bell saga continues



Antonio Brown is going to play fast & furious this season



Weight Watchers: Steelers Edition


Xavier Grimble's got the look down


Tomlin continues not to live in his fears


We shouldn't worry about losing Wheaton at least


Vince Williams is ready go to infinity and beyond



Kevin Colbert gains a new title


Artie Burns is ready to roll


No new money yet


Pacman still salty


Better late than never 


The Ferrari is still in the shop


St Vincent college - still beautiful in the rain

Meanwhile in New England...

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Monday, July 25, 2016

What Should We Expect From The Steelers 2016 Draft Class


Training camp is almost here and we are all excited to see the new rookies in actions. It's important though to have reasonable expectations for these young players entering training camp and their first season in the NFL. 

 1. Artie Burns (CB)

Artie Burns is in a tricky position. The Steelers have not drafted a 1st round cornerback in years and many fans are excited to see a big, long cornerback in our secondary. On the other hand Burns is in a similar spot as Bud Dupree was last year: very athletic and talented but raw. In a recent interview with USA Today, Mike Tomlin said Burns, as well as Sean Davis, has a chance to start this year. Tomlin's optimism makes me feel better about Burns, but I think it's best to have patience with Burns and not have too-high expectations for him this year. He will surely flash his immense talent in training camp and during games, but don't be shocked when he makes rookie mistakes. 

 2. Sean Davis (S)

 Sean Davis is the draft pick I'm most excited for. In an article with Steel City Underground I named him the biggest addition to the defense. Though he may start the season slow, I think Davis will get significant playing time in the latter half of the season. He brings versatility to the defense which will allow them to implement more dime defense, as well as move around Mike Mitchell and Robert Golden. It's been reported that he'll be utilized as a slot corner as well, where I imagine he'll be used to cover tight ends. I don't expect him to fly out the gate, but I think he'll turn heads in training camp and eventually be an impact player. 

 3. Javon Hargrave (DT)

 I honestly didn't expect Javon Hargrave to fall to us in the 3rd round, and I'm ecstatic that he did. With the Steelers defense evolving into a hybrid scheme, he brings a lot of value as a nickel defensive tackle and a pass rusher. His presence will also allow Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt to get some needed rest. Though he may face some growing pains due to him coming from a smaller school, I can see Hargrave being a major asset for this defense. Steel City Blitz shares my optimism about the potential of Hargrave in an article by Steel Dad. 

 4. Jerald Hawkins

 Our least sexy pick was for sure Jerald Hawkins. He was drafted for offensive line depth and it's very unlikely he'll see the field in 2016. His focus should be on learning as much as possible from offensive coach Mike Munchak. Jacob Klinger wrote an in-depth article on Hawkins where the player explains how his size doesn't matter - the article may make you a fan of Hawkins. 

 6. Travis Feeney (OLB)

 Travis Feeney has a solid chance to make this roster despite being a late-round pick. His superior athleticism gives him the opportunity to be a special teams demon. He has the potential to eventually contribute on defense as well, but because he is a raw player he would be best focusing on special teams in his rookie year. See Behind the Steel Curtain for a breakdown of Feeney's play by Jeff Hartman.

 7a. Demarcus Ayers (WR)

 Demarcus Ayers is a player I questioned when we first drafted him, but a further look shows a very talented player. Despite his short stature and lack of elite speed, Ayers finds success because of his vision and shiftiness. He is basically the polar opposite of Dri Archer. He also has the potential to take over punt return duties for Antonio Brown. To learn more about Ayers, listen to an interview he did with Rudy Reyes. 

 7b. Tyler Matakevich (ILB)

 The player that I feel has the worst chance to make the roster, Tyler Matakevich will be fighting an uphill battle in training camp. The Steelers linebacker depth chart is very crowded this year. Matakevich will have to showcase his special teams ability if he wants to make this roster. He may lack athleticism, but by looking at his college stats you can see that he was a tackling machine. Tony Defeo of Behind the Steel Curtain believes Matakevich has a shot though based on his consistency,
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Friday, July 22, 2016

The Steelers Will Be Fine Without Le'Veon Bell

One of Steeler nation's worst nightmares came true this morning:

It's true, Bell is facing another suspension. This comes as a shock to many, but not to everybody. The idea of Bell facing suspension was tossed around last month when Mark Madden tweeted out that he had heard the news from a source.

Many writers, including myself, didn't believe Madden. Bell himself even disputed the rumors in an interview with Mark Kaboly:
“I don't know what you are talking about... I am fine,” he (Bell) said. “I can't keep talking about the drug test. I probably already said too much about it, so I really can't keep talking about it. People are going to say what they want to say on the Internet. It is people who really have nothing to do. I don't get upset or let it bother me.” - Le'Veon Bell
Unfortunately Madden was right and once again the Steelers will be starting the season without their starting running back. This article isn't about moping over Bell's suspension though. 

 My point is: the Steelers will be fine without Bell, now and in the future.

 The Depth Chart 

 Last season the Steelers lost Bell early and had to continue on with DeAngelo Williams. Nobody expected Williams to play at he level he did. In his limited playing time he managed to rush for 907 yards, catch 40 passes for 367 yards, and tie for first in the league with 11 rushing touchdowns. If you weren't familiar with the team, you may have not even noticed a change at the position. Though he'll be 33 entering the 2015 season and may not be able to replicate his success from 2015, he'll have help this season in Fitzgerald Toussaint. 

 Toussaint was signed to the practice squad in September during the 2015 season and was later activated to the 53 man roster in November 2015. Nobody expected anything for the young running back, but he ultimately played a critical role in the Steelers playoff run. Because of an injury to Williams, Toussaint started in the wild card game, splitting time with Jordan Todman.

 Toussaint displayed the patience, toughness, and vision the Steelers seek in their running backs. The play that comes to mind when I think back to Toussaint's performance is his third down conversion where Toussaint makes a beautiful and gains a first down in overtime. 


Behind the Steel Curtain did an excellent breakdown of Toussaints receiving skills. He proved he has versatility as a running back and receiver; a critical element for Pittsburgh running backs. 

 We have witnessed that the Steelers are capable of producing a formidable rushing attack without an elite running back. It's not solely Bell that led us to rushing success; you also must give credit to our offensive line and coaching staff. I have confidence that players like Williams & Toussaint can lead our rushing attack. 

 The Money

 One of the biggest questions to come from this news is how this situation will effect Bell's future with the team. My prediction is that the Steelers won't resign Bell. 

 The Steelers are an organization pride themselves on their reputation and legacy. They rarely take risks on players with character concerns, and when they do, they often face the consequences. Martavis Bryant, Mike Adams, Alameda T'amu, & Chris Rainey are all players they took risks on and paid the price. Bell is on his way to joining some bad company based on his track record.

 The contract Bell will be demanding certainly hurts his case. Though it is true he deserves to be payed like an elite player based on his play, it is extremely risky giving a premium contract to a player that is on the verge of a year-long suspension. Bell's contract would likely exceed $10 million/season, therefore the Steelers would be wise to let him walk.

 The Future 

 Luckily for the Steelers, the 2017 draft class is loaded with talent at running back. Cameron DaSilva of Fox Sports writes:
"So long as the top prospects stay healthy, there could wind up being as many as five running backs taken in the first round. That would be the most since 2008 when there were also five selected in Round 1, led by Darren McFadden at fourth overall."
In 2017 the Steelers can easily get a running back somewhere in the draft. The devaluation of the running back position has been a hot topic that has gone back and forth over the years. We've seen players taken high like Bell and Todd Gurley (LA) excel, and we've seen players taken later in the draft exceed expectations, such as David Johnson (Ari), Karlos Williams (Buf), and Devonta Freeman (Atl). Regardless of which of these paths the Steelers choose, I am confident they are capable of leaving the 2017 draft with a talented running back. 

 Final Thoughts

 It is to be determined how the organization views Bell's future after this news. They may trade Bell, they may have faith in him and resign him - nobody knows. 

 I predict that Bell will finish his contract with the Steelers and move on.

 I love Bell; I think he is a fantastic player and passionate about football and this organization. However, his repeated mistakes show he isn't as committed to this game as many of us like to think. Whether or not it's his rapping career or his friendship with Snoop Dog having an influence on him, Bell has proven that he still lacks the maturity to be a cornerstone on this team. The Steelers can win without Bell. 

While we have seen players mature over their playing careers and move past prior conflicts, I don't think Bell is worth the gamble. We'll be fine without him. 
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