The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to reload in the 2013 NFL Draft by selecting Le’Veon Bell, a running back from Michigan State.

Le’veon Bell

There has been a large question mark over the Steelers running game for quite some time now. Former number one round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall began the season recovering from an injury, and his many replacements could never really find any rhythm. The million fumble game against the Browns also didn’t help.

Bell will look to compete with Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman (whenever he signs his tender), and the newly-signed LaRod Stephens-Howling. 

Running back has been a bit of a thorn in the side of the Steelers. Pittsburgh has been looking for a durable back since the great Jerome Bettis retired. So no pressure, or anything, Le’Veon.

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.

As Steeler Nation braces for yet another Baltimore-New England AFC title match, Kevin Colbert and company must try to find a way to improve a Steelers team that finished 8-8 this season.

But if the Steelers are to improve, just don’t expect the same old, same old.

Then when asked about the possibility of changes during the offseason, Colbert added, “If we don’t change 8-8, if we don’t change the roster that produced 8-8, we’d be silly to expect a better result if we have the same group of guys … We’re not married to any of these guys.”

Yeah, but I’m sure there are probably some big name guys and free agents who are safe, right?

The Steelers have the ability to use the franchise tag on one of their free agents, but Colbert’s view of that possibility was “very doubtful.”

“Again, in my mind when you’re 8-8,” said Colbert, “I don’t think we have too many franchise players.”

Welp. We are a year removed from the vicious offseason in which notable Steelers and team leaders in the likes of Hines Ward and James Farrior were cut. If Kevin Colbert is looking to make changes, methinks we may have seen the last of the likes of Mike Wallace, Rashard Mendenhall, James Harrison, and Casey Hampton.

 Loading ...

Now that the 2012 season is in the books for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s time to look ahead to 2013.  While other teams, including two AFC North foes, are gearing up for the playoffs, the Steelers can only think what might have been.

Quarterbacks

While the Steelers are fortunate to have a franchise quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, it’s time to take take a serious look for a serviceable back-up or two. Both Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch are free agents this offseason.

» Continue reading “Steelers: Looking Ahead To 2013″

The end is near.

No, I’m not talking about the Mayan calendar. I’m talking about Rashard Mendenhall’s time in Pittsburgh. The former first-round draft pick was benched the past two weeks for his spectacular performance in Cleveland. Mendenhall’s suspension is due to his failure to show up for last Sunday’s game despite being inactive.

According to Mendenhall’s agent, Rashard is looking forward to rejoining the team next Monday.

“What’s happened, happened,” McCartney told the Post-Gazette. “When I spoke to Rashard, I know he is very excited next Monday to rejoin his teammates. He’s going to come back with great energy to do everything he can to help the Pittsburgh Steelers win football games.”

Baron Batch has been signed from the practice squad to take Mendenhall’s place on the roster.

December is here, and that means two things: I really should start my Christmas shopping, and I can’t start my Christmas shopping because the Steelers are making their final push for the playoffs.  Coming off a huge upset win in Baltimore against their division rival the Ravens with 3rd string QB Charlie Batch, the team received excellent news when HC Mike Tomlin announced on Thursday that Ben Roethlisberger would resume his role as starting QB when the San Diego Chargers come to Heinz Field for the week 14 matchup.

The 4-8 Chargers season is all but over, having lost 7 of the last 8 games.  Just this week President Dean Spanos was doing damage control when it was reported that he had already decided to fire HC Norv Turner and GM AJ Smith at the season’s end…although he never directly said it wasn’t true.  The Chargers are 0-14 when playing at Heinz Field, and it’s likely the Steelers will make it 0-15.  Then again, we all know the Steelers have a tendency to let weaker teams hang around and struggle to put the game away early. » Continue reading “Steelers Eve: San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers”

You’d have to be living under a rock to be unaware of the countless injuries the Pittsburgh Steelers have sustained this season, and Week 12 was no exception.  Several more players went down in the slugfest vs the Cleveland Browns, resulting in a mind-boggling shift of players on the active roster and practice squad.  Check it out:

1. RT Marcus Gilbert, hoping to return from an ankle injury, suffered a setback and was placed on IR.
2. Rookie T Mike Adams, the 2012 2nd round draft pick who has been filling in for Gilbert, suffered an ankle injury and will reportedly miss “significant time”.
3. Rookie Kelvin Beachum will likely start in place of Adams, whom he relieved during the Browns game.  It will be his first NFL start.
4. 2012 1st round draft pick RG David DeCastro, who sustained a knee injury during preseason, was activated from the “IR with designation to return” list.  It is unclear if he will start, as Ramon Foster has played well in his absence.
5. LG Willie Colon has been sidelined with a swollen knee and may sit this week again…rumor has it that if Colon can’t play, ProBowl center Maurkice Pouncey may slide into the guard position, leaving backup Doug Legursky to fill in at center.
6. Rookie G John Malecki continues to bounce between practice squad and active roster.  This week, he’ll again be on the list of 53.
7. WR Antonio Brown practiced well this week and is expected to make his return against the Ravens.  This is good news indeed.
8. With Brown returning, rookie WR David Gilreath was released to make room on the roster.  The Steelers would likely have signed Gilreath back to the practice squad, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed him off waivers.
9. Other rookies that were released were lost to other teams as well: WR Toney Clemons was signed by the Jaguars and G Ryan Lee was signed by the Saints.
10. To fill out the practice squad, T Joe Long (brother of Dolphins 1st round pick Jake Long), G Justin Cheadle (no relation to the actor Don Cheadle),  and WR Bert Reed (not in any way connected to paper towel dispenser killer K Jeff Reed) were all added.
11. RB Jonathan Dwyer will get the start over Isaac Redman and Rashard Mendenhall, who sits at #3 on the depth chart after fumbling twice on 4 carries against the Browns as part of the turnover marathon.  I guess Dwyer’s fumble was the least offensive?
12. WR Mike Wallace got a mini-demotion and now shares the starting position with Emmanuel Sanders opposite Antonio Brown.  Sanders has performed well in AB’s absence.

1. LaMarr Woodley will sit out with an ankle injury, and Jason Worilds will again start opposite James Harrison.  Both Worilds and Harrison have been performing well recently.
2. QB Ben Roethlisberger if officially out vs the Ravens, and Charlie Batch will again get the start.  Byron Leftwich continues to recover from rib fractures.
3. WR Jerricho Cotchery is also trying to return to the field from his rib injury, but don’t expect him to play this week.  Plaxico Burress will fill his spot.
4. After playing a mere 1.25 games this year, safety Troy Polamalu may finally make his return this week.  The #1-ranked defense has been playing so well the past few weeks, I think a lot of fans have stopped missing him.
5. Safety Ryan Clark has managed to avoid even minor concussions since he started wearing his new, big (unfashionable in his opinion), kevlar reinforced helmet.  Looking good, Ryan.

I don’t know about you, but all this roster movement makes my head spin…I need to rest up for the big game Sunday.  Steelers vs Ravens is always huge, and never more so than this week.  Ravens will essentially clinch the division with a win.  If the Steelers can pull off the upset, who knows?

Cleveland Browns 20 Pittsburgh Steelers 14

This sums up the Steelers’ offensive effort in one simple image.

The Steelers were playing without Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the offense decided to take the game off as well.

How else can you explain the million fumbleceptions given up by the offense?

With the third-string quarterback starting for the Steelers, the running game was going to be the primary focus. Unfortunately for the Steelers, the entire running back corp came down with a severe case of fumblitis. Rashard Mendenhall kicked things off in the Fumble Sweepstakes, but Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, and Chris Rainey also managed to fumble the ball.

Not to be outdone, Charlie Batch threw three interceptions.

It’s rather telling that the best looking Steelers throw on the afternoon came on a last-ditch lateral by Mike Wallace.

The defensive unit put forth another spectacular game in a wasted effort. Considering the sheer amount of turnovers and the field position advantage the Browns had, this game should not have been this close. Credit the Steelers’ defense for pushing the Browns out of field goal range.

» Continue reading “Steelers Fumble Game Away Against Browns”

Week 12

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

Time: 1:00 PM

TV: CBS

Site: Cleveland Browns Stadium

Last Meeting: 01/01/12, W 13-9

Charlie Batch and the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns in yet another AFC North mach-up. The Browns may be a 2-8 team, but they are not to be taken lightly. The Steelers have had more than their fair share of issues with teams with losing records this season. Two of their loses came to the Oakland Raiders and Tennesee Titans, and the Steelers have looked less than impressive against the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs. With this being a divisional match-up, it could be another one of those ugly close games that the Steelers are all too familiar with this season.

» Continue reading “Week 12 Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns”

Good news, everyone!

Good news everyone! 

Rashard Mendenhall and Ryan Clark are listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. With the injury issues the Steelers have faced this season, “probable” is a magical word.

Mendenhall has seen limited playing time this season due to the knee injury he suffered at the end of last season as well as the Achilles injury he suffered against the Titans. Clark is coming off his second concussion in three weeks.

As expected, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Antonio Brown, and Marcus Gilbert will be out for the Steelers. Roethlisberger will be out indefinitely with his shoulder/rib injury. Steel City Blitz contributor Melanie Friedlander discussed her take on Big Ben’s injury in her latest House Calls article.

» Continue reading “Mendenhall And Clark Probable For Sunday”