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Steelers Lose Pouncey

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Tennessee Titans v Pitsburgh Steelers

This is why I hate the preseason.

Nothing good  ever happens. If the starting offense marches down the field and scores an easy touchdown, so what? Then the starters come out and you end up watching guys who are either about to be cut or are so far down the depth chart they only see the field in desperate situations. What’s worse is you actually pray for the starters to come out because as long as they’re playing, the only significant thing that can happen is somebody gets injured.

Guess what happened Sunday?

Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey broke his foot in yesterday’s preseason victory over the Packers at Heinz Field. It’s the second catastrophic injury for Pouncey in three years as his 2013 campaign ended after one quarter thanks to friendly fire from teammate David DeCastro. At least this time an opponent was responsible as Green Bay’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix rolled him up from behind on a run blitz.Read More »Steelers Lose Pouncey

Hartley Wins Steelers Three-Legged Race

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garrett-hartley-saints-vikings-nfc-title-7860478d8d79e549

We’re not even a week in and I’m already sick of the preseason. Two posts into the preseason anad so far all we’ve talked about is kickers. I suppose it serves me right for blowing off the Hall of Fame game in order to watch the Pirates play the Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed kicker Garrett Hartley after a three-way battle royal at Heinz Field on Tuesday. Hartley successfully bested NFL journeymen Jay Feely and Alex Henery in a kickoff I was told will be spoken of in hushed tones for years to come. Read More »Hartley Wins Steelers Three-Legged Race

Steelers Lose Suisham

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NFL: NOV 21 Raiders at Steelers

Thanks a lot, Bus.

Because of Jerome Bettis being inducted in the Hall of Fame, the Pittsburgh Steelers were tabbed to play in the annual Hall of Fame Game. That’s one extra meaningless exhibition game where nothing good can possibly happen. And, sure enough, nothing good did happen. In fact, something really really bad happened.

The Steelers lost their best offensive player.

Kicker Shaun Suisham tore his ACL after getting caught up in a tackling scrum in kick coverage. He’s almost certainly going on injured reserve, ending his 2015 season. And, yes, I am being slightly sarcastic with the “best player” stuff – although with the team’s epic struggles to score inside the red zone last year, it’s hard underestimate his importance. Not to mention he’s seemingly mastered kicking at notoriously difficult Heinz Field.Read More »Steelers Lose Suisham

The Bus Stops At The Hall of Fame

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The state of Ohio may belong to the Browns and Bengals but the city of Canton certainly belongs to Steeler Nation.

If you’ve never been to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it’s something that belongs on any sports fans’ Bucket List. It may not hold the almost mythic reverence associated with Cooperstown but as someone who enjoys frequenting museums of all types, it’s an experience second to none. Of course, the highlight is the collection of busts representing each inductee. Doesn’t hurt that you can’t take three steps in that room without coming across a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Most of the Steelers in the Hall come from the Steel Dynasty of the 1970s. There have been a few more members of the Black and Gold enshrined since then but generally speaking we have yet to get to the guys responsible for our most recent run of glory. Until now, that is. And how fitting that the first man inducted from this era is Jerome Bettis.Read More »The Bus Stops At The Hall of Fame

Pittsburgh Steelers Complete 2015 Draft Recap

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nNvD5OUBud Dupree
Outside Linebacker
Kentucky
6’4  270 pounds

Is there some secret clause that says every number one draft pick’s first stop in Pittsburgh has to be Primanti’s?

Without further ado, let’s begin our complete recap of the Pittsburgh Steelers selections in the 2015 NFL Draft. I’ve already written about our first choice, outside linebacker Bud Dupree.  Just for posterity, here’s a quick thumbnail sketch. Dupree is a freakish physical specimen with outstanding speed, size, strength, and athleticism. What separates him from Jarvis Jones is Bud can bring heat on the quarterback by either beating his man around the edge or just flat out bull-rushing the blocker in front of him. Also worth noting in a draft where seemingly every other player came with a rap sheet, Dupree is given high marks for both character and fashion sense.

The biggest negative you hear is he’s raw. Somewhat relatedly, scouts think he’s slow to diagnose plays and wonder about his football smarts. I’m not sure these are huge worries as with good coaching, it’s only a matter of teaching him where to go and who to hit. Playing at Kentucky, he didn’t exactly dominate in a way you expect from someone with his pure ability so he’s still a ways away from fulfilling his full potential. When – or, rather, if – he does, the sky truly is the limit.Read More »Pittsburgh Steelers Complete 2015 Draft Recap

Steelers Go Corner, Wide Receiver in Rounds 2 & 3

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tennessee-coach-attempts-to-trip-senquez-golson-a

I’m sure the Pittsburgh Steelers have a plan – I just have no idea what it is.

On the second day of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected cornerback Senquez Golson and wide receiver Sammie Coates in rounds 2 and 3. Neither player is quite what I expected. They needed a corner. I know it, you know it, they know it. I’m just not sure they needed *this* corner.

Then again both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay were ecstatic about Golson’s selection so maybe I just don’t get it. He’s certainly a fascinating player. The word “ballhawk” doesn’t do Golson justice as he hauled in a whopping 10 (!?) interceptions last season at Mississippi. Blazing 4.46 40 speed combined with superior ball skills make for what appears to be an ideal cover corner. What’s more, he’s not afraid to stick his nose in the line of scrimmage and provide some sure-tackling run support.Read More »Steelers Go Corner, Wide Receiver in Rounds 2 & 3

Make It A Bud – Steelers Pick Dupree In First Round

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Bud Dupree

Gotta admit they’re nothing if not consistent.

For the third year in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers took a first round linebacker, selecting Kentucky’s Bud Dupree with the 22nd pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. As I feared in my draft preview, a run on corners in the mid-teens pretty much guaranteed the Steelers would have to address other areas or risk reaching on a pick. Not that pass rushing OLB wasn’t a desperate need as well. With practically their choice of pass rushers still on the board, it was the obvious move.

Alvin Dupree, who goes by “Bud” although now that he’s in Pittsburgh perhaps should consider changing it to “Iron,” was certainly one of the more highly rated prospects in this year’s draft. As I mentioned in my preview, the mocks were all over the map as after Dante Fowler – who went third to Jacksonville – the so-called “experts” had him, Vic Beasley, and Shane Ray all over their boards in all different orders. Most draftniks I saw had Dupree going somewhere in the teens so for what that’s worth it appears the Steelers got a guy they didn’t expect to see at #22. Of course, it seems like we say that every year only to learn there’s usually a reason a guy fell.Read More »Make It A Bud – Steelers Pick Dupree In First Round

Steelers Can’t Afford To Screw Up Tonight’s Draft

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Mel-Kiper-Feature

I know, I know, you’ve heard it before. “This is the most important draft in [insert number] years!!!” In reality, every draft is important as when you punt on an entire draft class – like the Pittsburgh Steelers did in 2008 – you miss the playoffs two years in a row like we did in ’12 and ’13. Obviously there are many other choices that go into building a team but history has proven teams that consistently win do so because they consistently have strong drafts.

Which brings us to tonight and the 2015 NFL Draft. The Steelers can’t afford to screw up tonight’s draft. The defense, as currently constructed, appears to be among the worst in the league. Ike Taylor is gone. Bret Keisel is gone. Jason Worilds is gone. Troy Polmalu is gone. The future is now.Read More »Steelers Can’t Afford To Screw Up Tonight’s Draft