Steelers/NFL category, Page 297
Madden Monday: Steelers need to be cautious of looming spending spree
It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers will have a lot of salary cap space in 2022. According to OverTheCap.com, the most in the NFL at a projected $63.6 million. But if all the players Steelers fans want to retain get the money they are looking for, then that number...
Steelers inside the ropes: Dwayne Haskins continues to open eyes
The team portion of Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers camp practice began with Dwayne Haskins directing the only assured scores during the “seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation. Practice ended with Haskins leading the only drive that scored during a 2-minute drill simulation. And Haskins did that latter deed while leading the first-team...
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....
Steelers notes: Anthony McFarland better conditioned, more prepared in Year 2
By all accounts, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Anthony McFarland is having a better training camp this year than he had as a rookie in 2020. He’s most certainly had a better preseason; last year, the NFL did not play preseason games. The latter, McFarland’s position coach said, helps lead to...
Steelers’ Terrell Edmunds still working back from shoulder injury to begin contract year
First, coach Mike Tomlin revealed recently, came the offseason surgery for Terrell Edmunds. Then, the shot to the ego — and bank account — that was the Pittsburgh Steelers declining their 2022 contract option on him. Now, Edmunds has been navigating a training camp in which he’s been at less...
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....
Mark Madden Hot Take: NFL taunting is stupid, not fun
The NFL plans to crack down on taunting. Only 10 flags were thrown for taunting last season. It was the league’s least-penalized infraction. It would be better if the NFL kept T.J. Watt from being held on every snap. Perhaps Watt circumvents that by refusing to play. Taunting has defenders,...
Minkah Fitzpatrick elevates his leadership to match his production for Steelers defense
Try as he might, Grady Brown missed out on the opportunity to coach Minkah Fitzpatrick six years ago. In the time that’s passed since, Fitzpatrick has grown from a New Jersey kid into a college All-American all the way to standout safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It’s cool for me...
Steelers make it official, trade 6th-round pick to Jaguars for ILB Joe Schobert
The Pittsburgh Steelers will get their first look at their new inside linebacker Sunday. Coach Mike Tomlin said Joe Schobert, who didn’t practice Saturday for his new team because of covid protocols, is expected to suit up Sunday when the Steelers conduct a closed practice at Heinz Field. An inside...
Stock up, stock down among Steelers after 2nd preseason game
Until early Friday evening, players on 27 of the NFL’s 31 teams had yet to make their 2021 preseason debut. The Pittsburgh Steelers, meanwhile, already have played two full games. That’s plenty of extra film and data to comb through and surely that makes coach Mike Tomlin and his staff...
Tim Benz: Improving QBs and run game, sluggish defensive moments as Steelers win again in preseason
If we strip away some of the over-analysis and hyper-excitement assigned to Steelers preseason games, a few basic tasks exist for specific players and overall position groups: Build on positive momentum where it exists, and improve on previous shortcomings in limited opportunities. Painting with a broad brush from the 16-3...
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 reportedly trade for former Jaguars, Browns ILB Joe Schobert
The Pittsburgh Steelers addressed depth issues at inside linebacker, and they did it with a familiar former Pro Bowler. The Steelers traded for former Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Joe Schobert, according to a report from the NFL Network. A message posted Thursday night to the account of Schobert’s...
Mark Madden: Steelers can control narrative in training camp, but results speak differently
What is the big story of Steelers training camp? We’re told it’s not T.J. Watt refusing to be a full participant in practice while his contract extension gets settled (if it does). He’s their best defensive player, but…nothing to see here. We’re told it’s not Kevin Dotson being dropped to...
TV Talk: Former Steelers linebacker James Harrison wrestles in ‘Heels’Video
For Steelers linebacker-turned-actor James Harrison there’s a commonality to playing for the NFL and acting in a TV series. “It’s bonding, it’s team building,” he said of making “Heels,” a Starz eight-episode, first-season drama he co-stars in as a wrestler. “You can’t just go out there and think you’re gonna...
First Call: Eagles corner Steven Nelson talks about facing Steelers; ESPN’s pessimistic Pittsburgh projections
Thursday’s “First Call” gets Steven Nelson’s view on playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We take a look at ESPN’s projections for the Steelers in 2021. The Baltimore Ravens receive bad news regarding this year’s first-round draft pick. And a New York Jets wide receiver finds himself swimming … um …...
Tim Benz: Steelers who flashed in 1st preseason game look to build on positive momentum Thursday night
Just because the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys played each other in Canton last week, that doesn’t mean the game tape needed to stay there. No, the Hall of Fame Game was hardly Hall of Fame-worthy viewing as the Steelers outlasted the Cowboys 16-3 in a less than enthralling battle...
U mad, bro?: Ben Roethlisberger, Bob Nutting, Mike Tannenbaum, Tim Benz all feel heat from readers
This edition of “U mad, bro?” looks like Tony Gwynn’s spray chart. Wherever the ball is pitched, it’s a line drive in the other direction. Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Tannenbaum, Bob Nutting, Jameson Taillon and even … me. We’re all ducking hard line drives back up the middle this week. So...
5 things to watch in Steelers Preseason Game 2
While the rest of the NFL adjusts to playing three preseason games (in lieu of the four they’d grown accustomed to), for the Pittsburgh Steelers it’s business as usual in 2021. The Steelers and Dallas Cowboys are scheduled for four preseason games because they met in the Hall of Fame...
Under-the-radar Steelers defensive lineman draws praise from Mike Tomlin
One of Mike Tomlin’s most tried-and-true touchstones when it comes to coaching axioms is to analyze the development of players between their first and second seasons. Just look at recent Steelers Hall of Fame inductee Troy Polamalu. He looked like a complete bust as a rookie in 2003. He was...
First Call: How much did Ben Roethlisberger consider retirement? Hines Ward’s Hall of Fame odds
Former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is up against some longshot odds of getting into the Hall of Fame. How seriously did Ben Roethlisberger consider retirement last winter? Some Baltimore Ravens are banged up, and we rank the AFC North wide receivers. All of that in Tuesday’s “First Call.” Big...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin can call T.J. Watt’s contract situation just a ‘brushfire,’ but the Steelers may eventually feel the heat
For the time being, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he’d be wise to avoid fanning the flames surrounding T.J. Watt’s in-person holdout. On Tuesday, Tomlin was asked how the decision was made to get the star outside linebacker to attend training camp practices but only to do individual drills with...
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...
QB Mason Rudolph to start again as Steelers will stick with same plan for 2nd preseason game
Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback again for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he figures to have largely the same roster around him as in last week’s Hall of Fame Game. “It will be very similar to last week for who you...
