Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A member of the Steelers coaching staff has left to go join the Arizona Cardinals.

Former Steelers offensive coordinator and new Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians is carrying on the proud tradition of filling the Cardinals payroll with people with Steelers ties. Special teams coach Amos Jones will be leaving the Steelers to go become the special teams coach for the Arizona Cardinals. I’m not quite sure if that’s a promotion, but the weather is nicer. So Coach Jones will have that working out for him.

Special teams was one of the many thorns in the side of the Steelers this past season, so perhaps a different coaching approach is what the Steelers will need going forward in 2013. That, and perhaps committing less stupid penalties on punts and kick-offs.

In other news, President Art Rooney II was less than impressed with Rashard Mendenhall and the running game this season.

“The season Rashard was not what we would have hope for,” Steelers president Art Rooney II told SteelersDigest writer Bob Labriola. “Obviously, we knew he was coming back from an injury so there were some unknowns there. So, without getting into the real specifics with Rashard, it’s fair to say that we are going to need a better performance out of the running back position if we’re going to be successful.

“Whether it’s Rashard or Jonathan or Isaac (Redman) or somebody else, we have to be better at that position, as well as others, but certainly at that position. In this offseason that’s something we’ve got to look at and decide how we get better and who we get better with.”

Things aren’t looking good for Mendenhall returning to the Steelers. But he should cheer up. If all else fails, he could probably play in Arizona. I think they are contractually obligated to hold roster spots for former Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are thrilled to have Rashard Mendenhall back on the field. (from the team’s Google + page)

When I watch the Steelers play, I’m an emotional fan, just a member of Steeler Nation.  It doesn’t matter if I’m on my couch, at a bar, or in the stands at Heinz Field, as I was this past Sunday.  Without the options of reviewing each play myself, I don’t always know if the penalties were legitimate or bogus, how an injury occurred, or what went right on that fantastic splash play…I’m just caught up in the thrill of competition, with no idea how it will end.  Sure, I leave the game with a feeling of how it went, but it’s just a first impression.

Thanks to the magic of DirecTV and NFL Game Rewind, I can go through the game in a more objective matter after the joy of victory or the agony of defeat has dulled a bit. » Continue reading “Second Thoughts: Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers”

Preseason Week 2

Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Time: 8:00

Site: Heinz Field

Last Meeting: 9/25/11, W 23 – 20

It’s been forever since the Steelers had a preseason game. The Steelers have needed the time, due to the million or so injuries incurred in the game against. The Steelers’ depth at running back will be tested, what with injuries to Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer.

As for the Colts, this will be the Steelers’ first glimpse at Andrew Luck. Not to mention this will be Bruce Arians’ first trip back to Pittsburgh since “retiring” and “unretiring”. This just may be the one chance that the Steelers can finally benefit from Arians’ questionable play calls.

Top Five Burning Questions

• How much playing time will the starters get?
• How often will we hear about DeCastro and Luck being BFFs at Stanford?
• Apparently the Eagles game didn’t really reveal much of Haley’s playbook. Will we see some exciting new things from Todd Haley’s offense, or will the Steelers keep it basic?
• Will the defense be able to keep the pressure on the quarterback?
• Will I be able to stay awake during the entire game?

 Coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media 2 days ago while in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the NFL owners meeting.  It was the first time he stepped up to the mike since his final press conference of the 2011 season, the day after a tough loss to the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.  He spoke for about 45 minutes.  Although he didn’t provide the entertaining “Tomlinisms” (my all-time favorite is still “we/he didn’t blink”) that often pop up in his weekly “Tomlin Tuesday” regular season pressers, he did give insight into some of the current issues the Steelers face.  You can read the entire transcript here.

Since that time, the Pittsburgh Steelers have seen some changes.  Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians announced his “retirement”, only to sign on with the Indianapolis Colts a mere week later as their new OC.  Todd Haley was hired as the new OC.  Speculation ran rampant that the Rooneys made both of these calls.  Many veterans have been released in an effort to trim the hyperinflated budget and get below the salary cap.  Mike Wallace received a 1st round tender offer, a gamble that seems to have paid off.

Tomlin addressed all of these topics candidly, as is his style.  He clarified that the change in OC was his decision, not the Rooneys.  He expressed confidence that Ben Roethlisberger and Todd Haley would work well together and answered a variety of questions about what the offense might look like this season.  He also mentioned that although he does expect Rashard Mendenhall to evenutally play in the 2012 season (he will start on the PUP list), they will add another RB through free agency or the draft.  He also spoke about players stepping into leadership roles, now that 3 captains (Hines Ward, James Farrior, and Arnez Battle) are no longer on the roster.

As always, Coach Tomlin seems to have his battle plan ready.  I expect the Steelers will have a strong 2012 campaign.

Melanie Friedlander is a contributor to Steel City Blitz.  You can follow her on Twitter @girlsurgeon.

It’s that time of the year again. Valentine’s Day. In order to celebrate this day/join in on the commercial aspect of it all, I have once again made Steelers Valentines (you can check out last year’s batch here).

Happy Valentine’s Day!

» Continue reading “Will You Be My Valentine, Steelers Nation?”

• While most of Steeler Nation rejoices in Bruce Arians‘ departure, not everyone is pleased. Ben Roethlisberger, who is in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, plans on speaking with owner Art Rooney II about the matter.

“When I get back, I’m going to go up to Mr. Rooney’s office and ask him what he wants from me, what he wants from this offense, because I think that’s a viable question for him,” Roethlisberger told the Tribune-Review on Thursday following an AFC practice at Hickam Air Force Base. “He’s our owner and our boss, so I really would like to know kind of what he wants and where he sees our offense going because I’d like to tell him where I see us going.”

I can’t speak for Mr. Rooney, but I’d like to see an offense that doesn’t have to rely on our duct tape and gum band offensive line attempt to keep Ben from getting sacked 50 times a game. And maybe one that has less fumbleceptions.

» Continue reading “Steelers News Blitz: The “Now With Even More Arians Drama” Edition”

• Former Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians pretty much confirmed that he was forced out.

Arians said he “retired” because “when I wasn’t offered a contract, it was an easy decision for me.”

He told the paper that Steelers president Art Rooney II did not give him a reason for not offering to renew his contract and he does not know why.

“I can’t answer that question,” he said. “Only the people there can. That’s the business. I know the job we did as a staff. I don’t have any regrets.”

  I’m sure Steeler Nation is just broken up about this.

• Ryan Clark has been added to the Pro Bowl roster. Other Steelers on the AFC roster include Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace, Maurkice Pouncey (will not play due to injury), Troy Polamalu (will not play due to injury), Antonio Brown, and James Harrison. This is Clark’s first Pro Bowl selection. Well done, Ryan!
• Chris Hoke has announced his retirement. Congrats on a wonderful career and enjoy retirement, Chris!

We have a mystery on our hands! Somebody fetch me a deerstalker hat, stat!

Mmmmm. I love intrigue.

It appears that former Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians’ retirement may not be as cut and dry as it seems.  According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Bruce Arians may have been forced out.

Less than a week after Arians told people he intended to return for the 2012 season, the Steelers said Friday that he has decided to retire — a bizarre turn of events that began with the team’s decision to not renew his contract, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has learned.

That decision appears to have come from team president Art Rooney II, even though coach Mike Tomlin told Arians several times since the playoff loss in Denver that he wanted him to return next season.

The Post-Gazette reported three days ago that Arians, 59, who was in the final year of his contract, might not return next season. But it was unclear at the time if he was going to retire or if the Steelers were not going to renew his contract.

Fired/forced out/retired either way Steeler Nation (or at least the more vocal factions) got what it wanted. Now if only we can get an OC who will actually stick with the running game.

The offseason just got a little more interesting, as Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians has decided to retire.

Head Coach Mike Tomlin has released a statement on Arians’ retirement:

Bruce Arians has informed me that he will retire from coaching. I appreciate his efforts over the past five years as the team’s offensive coordinator and for helping lead our offense to new heights during his time with the Steelers. I am grateful to Bruce for contributing to our success and wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.

I can’t wait for all the speculation on Arians’ replacement. Let the madness begin!

By SteelCityHobbies, via Wikimedia Commons

Before Sunday’s game, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense had not gone to the no huddle offense on the road this season. That all changed in the third quarter.

“[Bruce Arians] came to me and said ‘Do you want to do it?” Roethlisberger said, “and I said, ‘Absolutely, you don’t have to ask me twice.’”

Roethlisberger is certainly a fan of the no huddle offense and has done his fair share of lobbying to go that route. Obviously he’d be up for the task.

It certainly worked out well for the Steelers. They managed to generate a nice drive that was capped off with a Rashard Mendenhall 9-yard touchdown run.

» Continue reading “Roethlisberger Continues to Thrive in No Huddle”