Joe Rutter stories, Page 73
Joe Schobert expects to be three-down inside linebacker in his role with Steelers
With his trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joe Schobert finds himself being coached by his sixth defensive coordinator in as many NFL seasons. Schobert played under three coordinators in four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and two in as many training camps with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Keith Butler becomes No....
Inside the ropes: Defense excels as Steelers return to practice field
It was a big day for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense at practice Saturday. Returning to the field for the first time since playing in their second preseason game, when the Steelers shut out the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half, defense prevailed in “seven shots” to open practice and the...
Steelers notebook: Kevin Dotson works way into starting spot — for 1 day, at least
Clarity began to take shape Saturday on the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. Kevin Dotson, the projected starter at left guard, took his first snaps with the first-team offense, and rookie tackle Dan Moore, after taking reps entirely on the left side, practiced on the right side with the second team....
Dwayne Haskins states case as No. 2 quarterback; Steelers rally to beat Eagles
PHILADELPHIA – Hindered by penalties on the first three drives, the offense wasn’t in concert when quarterback Mason Rudolph was in the game Thursday night for the Pittsburgh Steelers. When Dwayne Haskins entered in the second quarter, he made sweet music – and short work of the Philadelphia Eagles. The...
Steelers’ Kevin Dotson agrees with Mike Tomlin’s decision to put him on 2nd team
As he enters his second NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kevin Dotson is content getting his initial snaps of training camp with the second-team offense. Despite being a projected starter after the departure of the team’s top two guards, Dotson didn’t expect to be thrown immediately into the mix...
Joe Haden’s agent reaches out to Steelers about contract extension
If Joe Haden has his way, his fifth season with the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be his last. Drew Rosenhaus, Haden’s agent, confirmed to the Tribune-Review he has approached the organization about signing his client to a contract extension. Haden, 32, is entering the final season of his deal that is...
Devin Bush, Zach Banner taking different paths toward returning to Steelers lineup
The second Pittsburgh Steelers starter to tear an ACL last season will be the first to return to a preseason game this year. Coach Mike Tomlin said over the weekend that inside linebacker Devin Bush will make his preseason debut Thursday at Philadelphia, and the former first-round pick acknowledged Monday...
Inside the ropes: Dwayne Haskins, Joshua Dobbs put to test in 2-minute offense
If all things are equal when a roster spot is at stake, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin likes to see how his players react in pressure situations as a determining factor. Tomlin put quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs to the test at the end of practice Sunday. Each quarterback...
Kevin Dotson returns to practice for Steelers, but works with second-team offensive line
Kevin Dotson, the projected starter at left guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers, took his first reps in team drills during practice Sunday at Heinz Field. Dotson, though, got his work in 11-on-11 periods with the second team instead of the first. Rashaad Coward, a free agent signed in the offseason,...
Troy Polamalu leads Super Steelers contingent at Pro Football Hall of Fame induction
CANTON, Ohio — Troy Polamalu kept his long flowing hair tied up Saturday night, but not for long. When he ultimately let it down, he took the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony along with it. With thousands of Pittsburgh Steelers fans cheering loudly while hanging on his every...
Offense struggles in first half before Steelers pull out 16-3 victory in Hall of Fame Game
CANTON, Ohio – Good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers that most of their offensive starters didn’t suit up Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game. With backup quarterback Mason Rudolph playing deep into the second quarter and only three anticipated regulars in the lineup, the Steelers were shut out...
With most of regulars sitting, Steelers offense shut out in 1st half of HOF Game
CANTON, Ohio — Good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers that most of their offensive starters didn’t suit up Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game. With backup quarterback Mason Rudolph playing deep into the second quarter and only three anticipated regulars in the lineup, the Steelers were shut out...
Steelers place DB DeMarkus Acy, OT Anthony Coyle on waived/injured list
One day before the Pittsburgh Steelers open the NFL’s preseason schedule by playing the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game, they cut two players from their 90-man roster. Offensive lineman Anthony Coyle and defensive back DeMarkus Acy were placed on the waived/injured list Wednesday. No corresponding moves were...
Hall of Fame selection for Steelers’ Alan Faneca brings attention to unheralded guard position
For one of the best guards of this century, it took three tries as a finalist before Steve Hutchinson made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I thought it was an eternity,” he said. He could only imagine what it felt like for another dominant guard from his era, Alan...
Trailblazer Bill Nunn made his mark on Steelers during Hall of Fame career
The Pro Football Hall of Fame counts 33 players from historically Black colleges and universities among its membership. It’s a safe bet Bill Nunn personally scouted or conducted film study on nearly every one of them. What is known is Nunn was responsible for bringing three of those Hall of...
Art Rooney II on attempts to sign T.J. Watt: ‘Both sides want to get something done’
Art Rooney II is hoping the Pittsburgh Steelers can sign outside linebacker T.J. Watt to a contract before the start of the season. He also isn’t ruling out signing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to another deal after it. Rooney talked about the future of the team’s two most important players Tuesday...
QB Dwayne Haskins to finish first half when Steelers open preseason in Hall of Fame Game
Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback Thursday when the Pittsburgh Steelers open the preseason against the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, but former first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins will close out the first half in his debut with his new team. Coach Mike Tomlin...
Steelers Hall of Fame RB Jerome Bettis announces he has tested positive for covid
Three days after Troy Polamalu announced a covid diagnosis, former teammate and Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis said he also has tested positive. On his Twitter account Monday, Bettis wrote that he has mild symptoms and is isolating at home. Bettis said he has been vaccinated. Part 1:...
Steelers ‘discovering’ if fullback Derek Watt can play bigger role on offense
For all of the money the Pittsburgh Steelers spent on fullback Derek Watt in free agency, they didn’t get much return on their investment in 2020. Then again, the Steelers didn’t exactly give Watt a chance to live up to his three-year, $9.75 million contract in his first year with...
Steelers notebook: Mike Tomlin likes physical nature of practice, but not fight that ensued
The Pittsburgh Steelers worked on short-yardage and goal-line situations Monday, which meant a lot of close-contact collisions between the offensive and defensive lines. One rep in a team drill got extra physical when rookie center Kendrick Green and 11-year veteran Cameron Heyward tussled. Rookie left tackle Dan Moore Jr. jumped...
Early adversity molded Troy Polamalu into having Hall of Fame career with Steelers
Despite the ease and excellence with which he played the safety position for 12 NFL seasons, Troy Polamalu didn’t exactly project to have a Hall of Fame career when he rarely left the sidelines for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003. The hardware he accumulated with the Steelers — two Super...
Hall of Fame was worth the wait for 4-time Super Bowl champion Donnie Shell
Donnie Shell enjoyed a 14-year NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning four Super Bowls and picking off passes more frequently than any safety from his era. He overcame the bias held against the star Steelers players from the 1970s and eventually was elected to the Pro Football Hall of...
Healthy number of offensive linemen on Steelers roster dwindling during camp
The number of offensive linemen who didn’t practice or left early Saturday nearly outnumbered the healthy ones who suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fourth public session at Heinz Field. June free-agent signing Trai Turner was given the day off, and he joined B.J. Finney, J.C. Hassenauer, Zach Banner, Kevin...
Tunch Ilkin headlines 5th Steelers’ Hall of Honor class
One of the most beloved members of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization was elected Saturday to the team’s fifth Hall of Honor class. The four-man group was highlighted by former tackle Tunch Ilkin, who retired from his long-time duties in the broadcast booth in the spring to focus on his fight...
Bill Cowher’s legacy built by playoff moments with Steelers
Before he brought the elusive “One for the Thumb” Super Bowl ring to the Pittsburgh Steelers after a 25-year drought, coach Bill Cowher thought his legacy might be defined by two plays near the end of AFC championship games. In January 1995, linebacker Dennis Gibson’s breakup in the end zone...

