First Call: Steelers work on addressing drops; ex-Steeler on covid list; Andrew McCutchen back at PNC Park

Friday’s “First Call” takes a look at the sticky situation of not-so-sticky hands from Steelers receivers. Bad news for Bud Dupree. The Pirates prepare to welcome back Andrew McCutchen. An update on the Robert Morris hockey front. And a Pittsburgh kid gets a big NHL contract.

Addressing the issue

Last year, dropped passes were a major concern for Steelers receivers. According to Pro Football Reference, their drop percentage of 6.6% in 2020 was the worst in the NFL.

Correcting that problem needs to be a significant point of emphasis during training camp.

“I’m not concerned about what happened last year,” coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday. “I just want everybody to progress, to build, to grow in terms of skill development relative to their position. To grow in terms of their football intellect. I think all guys are bringing that mindset in terms of their work. You can waste a lot of time worrying about 2020. This is 2021.”

To date in camp, some claim to have seen stagnation in that regard. That includes a drop off the facemask from JuJu Smith-Schuster on Thursday. But then we’ve seen many other plays where Smith-Schuster and other receivers have looked sharp. Little known University of Hawaii rookie Rico Bussey showed out in a big way during Thursday’s drills.

Second-year receiver Chase Claypool also made a nice contested catch against defensive back Cameron Sutton on Thursday after Sutton got the better of him on two similar plays Tuesday and Wednesday.

Big Bud’s bad news

Former Steeler Bud Dupree is already finding himself on the shelf for the Tennessee Titans.

Not just because of his knee rehab. He was already on the physically unable to perform list because of that problem. Now it’s because of coronavirus, too. The newly signed pass rusher tested positive during training camp.

Via ProFootballTalk.com, Dupree will be able to come off the PUP list at any point but will have to be cleared through the league’s covid-19 protocols to come off the other list.

During the offseason, the pass rusher signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract, including a $16 million signing bonus. Roughly $35 million was guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $16.5 million.

The Titans aren’t the only Steelers AFC rival dealing with covid-19 issues. So are the Baltimore Ravens. Via RavensWire, “On Tuesday it was reported that running back Gus Edwards had tested positive for covid and would miss the first 10 days of training camp. Then on Wednesday, Lamar Jackson wasn’t present for the first day of practice, and reports started to surface that the quarterback was missing practice due to a coronavirus related case.”

Bye-bye, Brandon

After enjoying an excellent playoff run with the Colorado Avalanche, Pine-Richland product Brandon Saad is on the move.

The forward signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. It’s a five-year contract with a $4.5 million average annual value.

The 28-year-old forward has spent 10 years in the NHL. He also played in Columbus and Chicago. Saad tallied seven goals in 10 playoff games this postseason.

Catching up with Cutch

The Pirates are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers. In those three defeats at PNC Park, the National League Central division-leading Brewers won by a combined score of 28-3.

Now the Pirates play host to the Philadelphia Phillies. That means a return of one-time Pirates star Andrew McCutchen.

The former NL MVP is in a power groove of late. The Phillies split a four-game series against the Washington Nationals. McCutchen homered in three of them.

Back-to-back blasts! ??#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/g5NeIpTH7C

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 29, 2021

He now has 20 on the year and is up to 58 RBIs. Rhys Hopkins (23 HRs, 63 RBIs) leads the Phillies in both categories. McCutchen is second.

Decision day

The NCAA deadline for Robert Morris to decide whether its hockey teams are going to play this upcoming season is Saturday.

The university issued a news release July 14 stating it would give the newly formed Pittsburgh College Hockey Foundation two weeks to show how it could get on a path toward raising $7 million over five years to keep the men’s and women’s teams financially solvent.

This after RMU President Chris Howard and the board of trustees decided to cut the teams from the athletic department in May with no prior warning to the players or coaches.

A wave of public pressure and a meeting with lawyers representing a coalition of displaced players resulted in the university granting a stay of execution to both teams if they could show enough fundraising momentum toward that goal.

No updates beyond an initial declaration of $500,000 from the foundation have been provided, and the NCAA has to know by Saturday.

University spokesman Johnathan Potts said Thursday, “I don’t have any details to share. Certainly, we are mindful that we are approaching July 31, and we anticipate providing an update soon.”

Even if the teams are reinstated, a massive rebuilding task will exist for men’s coach Derek Schooley and women’s coach Paul Colontino, as both rosters have been decimated by transfers and recruiting efforts have been forced onto the back burner.