Preseason Week 4

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Date: September 1, 2011

Time: 8:00 PM

Site: Bank of America Stadium

The final preseason game of the year is upon us. With the opener in Baltimore looming on the horizon, this serves as the final tune-up before the regular season begins. That being said, the starters aren’t going to see much playing time. The Steelers don’t need any more injuries heading into Baltimore, and this game is mainly one last chance for guys to make the team.

Five Burning Questions

• Who will be the better Cam(eron): Newton or Heyward?
• Will Emmanuel Sanders play?
• Will Antonio Brown see much playing time?
• Will the defense be able to create more turnovers?
• Who will get more rushing yards: Jonathan Dwyer or Isaac Redman?

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Time: 7:30 PM

Site: FedEx Field

TV: KDKA-TV (live)

The wait is over. The Steelers finally return to football. Granted, it’s a rather meaningless preseason game, but it’s football none the less!

This game should answer a few questions:

• Will Hines Ward see any playing time, or will he sit to rest his thumb?
• Will Troy Polamalu play?
• Will any of the regular starters play for more than one series?
• Which quarterback will see more snaps: Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch, or Dennis Dixon?
• How soon will we see Cameron Heyward on the field?

• The Steelers signed Cameron Heyward and Curtis Brown. They have now signed all seven of their draft picks. Now let’s see what these rookies are made of!
• Plaxico Burress made a stop in Latrobe to have breakfast with Kevin Colbert and meet with coach Mike Tomlin. It sounds to me as though the Steelers are interested in entering the Plaxico Burress Sweepstakes. According to Kevin Colbert:

“I don’t want to get in to specifics, but Plax is interested, Drew Rosenhaus, his agent, is interested, and we’re certainly interested, so where it goes we’ll find out.”

At long last, training camp is back in session.

• The Steelers cut offensive tackle Max Starks and receiver Antwaan Randle El. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Starks could be re-signed by the Steelers. With the emergence of Wallace, Brown, and Sanders, Randle El may just be the odd man out. As for Starks, this may just be a salary cap issue.
• Former Steeler Plaxico Burress is due to meet with Mike Tomlin on Saturday. Did the Steelers cut Starks and Randle El to better position themselves in the Plaxico Burress Sweepstakes?
• Mike Tomlin called Harrison’s remarks in Men’s Journal “inappropriate.” 

“I think it was inappropriate,” said Tomlin. “Whether or not it was detrimental to the development of our team, that remains to be seen. But it was inappropriate. What he said regarding the Commissioner was inappropriate.”

In a surprising move, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected DE Cameron Heyward out of Ohio State. The Steelers used the 31st overall pick to add some youth to the aging defensive front.

I have to say I’m a little confused by the pick as the Steelers are in need of some help at cornerback. However, Kevin Colbert is a wizard at first round draft picks. He knows what he’s doing so I can’t feel too upset by this pick. Perhaps this means Colbert is confident that Ike Taylor will be re-signed and/or the Steelers will be able to draft a CB in the second or third rounds.

All in all, I’m a little surprised but very pleased. We’ll see what rounds two and three bring tomorrow!