With the Steelers 53-man roster set and the team preparing to open the season at the New England Patriots, let's look at the depth chart for the defense and special teams. Defensive line (7): Cameron Heyward, Steve McClendon, Stephon Tuitt, Cam Thomas, Daniel McCullers, L.T. Walton, Caushaud Lyons The starting trio of Heyward, McClendon and Tuitt won't remind anyone of let's say Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel circa 2008, but that does not mean they are capable of a solid ... Read More
Pouncey placed on short-term IR, re-sign Legursky
In a move expected since breaking his tibia on August 23rd in a preseason tilt against the Green Bay Packers, the Pittsburgh Steelers have placed Maurkice Pouncey on the team’s Reserve/Injured; Designated For Return List and re-signed OG/C Doug Legursky just 24 hours after being released. Neither move comes as a shock after the Steelers made an array of moves to set their 53-roster and 10 player practice squad. Pouncey will now be eligible to join the active roster after week eight of the ... Read More
Roster overview & analysis for 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers: Offense
The Pittsburgh Steelers trimmed their roster down to 53 yesterday and will now prepare to open to the season against the New England Patriots Thursday night. Let's take a look at the offensive side of the ball and evaluate the players by position. Quarterbacks (3): Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick, Landry Jones Roethlisberger is coming off a career year where he just missed surpassing the 5,000 yard plateau through the air and looks to be hitting his prime at 33. Although he has clearly ... Read More
Steeler announce team captains for 2015 season
Earlier this morning the Pittsburgh Steelers announced their team captains for the 2015 season as voted by the players. The four players selected were Ben Roethlisberger (offense) Cam Heyward and William Gay (co-defensive) and Robert Golden (special teams) The selection of Roethlisberger has become an annual occurrence as he has now been selected as the offensive captain for the fifth consecutive year. Roethlisberger is coming off his best statistical season of his career and will look to lead ... Read More
Brady suspension nullification latest challenge for Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers got their wish. Now the question becomes should the Steelers be careful what they wish for? In a ruling that is certain to send shockwaves throughout the NFL and bring outrage to most fans outside of New England, Judge Richard Berman announced this morning that the four game suspension of Tom Brady related to the "deflategate" scandal has been nullified. In other words, this time next week the Steelers will head to Foxboro not only with the challenge of facing the ... Read More
Bryant suspension provides big opportunity for Steelers Heyward-Bey
When Darrius Heyward-Bey was taken seventh overall in the 2009 draft by the Oakland Raiders, he was known more for his speed than production as a player. Immediately labeled another one of the late Al Davis's famous "reaches" before he had even played a down for silver and black, Heyward-Bey struggled to live up to the heightened expectations that come with being a top-10 pick. Though Heyward-Bey would have success as a return specialist and put together a 64-catch, 975-yard season in 2011, ... Read More
COLUMN: Despite questions, don’t give up on Steelers defense just yet.
After a 2014 campaign where the defense was far from the dominant unit fans have been accustomed to having over the years, the Pittsburgh Steelers head into the upcoming season with many questions and plenty of doubters. That's certainly fair. Despite of an 11-5 record good enough to win the challenging AFC North, it was the Steelers prolific offense that was largely responsible for that success. The Steelers defense never found a groove in 2014, ranking 17th in the league in both total yards ... Read More
COLUMN: Loss of Bryant adds another early season hurdle for Steelers.
It's certainly been an interesting week for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Already dealing with a significant injury to All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey, along with the overwhelmingly negative reaction of fans to the signing of Michael Vick, now the Steelers must deal with the loss of one of their top offensive weapons for the first four weeks of the season. That's because according to multiple sources, wide receiver Martavis Bryant has been suspended for four games for violating the leagues ... Read More
Steelers mailbag: Why Vick? Prognosis for Pouncey? Rising Shazier?
Why would the Steelers take a washed up QB (Vick) when they have arguably one of the more physically solid QB's in terms of injury and ability to handle the hits received?---Charles McKenna, Santa Barbara, California. The whole Vick to the Steelers story has blown up out here in Pittsburgh like nobody's business. Specific to your question, I tend to agree with the "washed up" premise regarding Vick. He's 35 and has had a long history of injuries throughout his career. Add that Vick has never ... Read More
COLUMN: Vick decision has nothing to do with ‘Steelers way’
Reports surfaced late this morning that the Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing in free agent quarterback Michael Vick for what will essentially be a job interview later today. This is in the wake of the news of that Bruce Gradkowski will need surgery to repair a dislocated finger in his non-throwing hand, leaving the Steelers precariously thin at quarterback. As it stands right now, the Steelers only have one healthy quarterback to back up Ben Roethlisberger and that is the still very much a ... Read More