There’s a lot of work yet to be done for a team that’s just getting started. But commitment to the cause and attention to detail were boxes the Steelers checked repeatedly in their season-opening victory over the Bengals.
Mike Tomlin’s team answered some questions in training camp, particularly at quarterback, but an offensive line that wasn’t good enough last season is still an issue.
Hamilcar Rashed wasn’t even on the team when training camp started. But he’s on the verge of securing a significant roster spot, making a name for himself and honoring a historic namesake in the process.
The Saint Vincent College experience has long been a part of the fabric of the team and the region. Based on the response to that connection being re-established, it had been sorely missed.
The second-year running back is being tasked with helping to help fill a leadership void on offense left in the wake of Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement.
There are possibilities on offense, but there are established stars on defense. So there’s little question regarding which unit is going to have to do the heavy lifting. Cam Heyward isn’t running from that narrative, he’s embracing it.
In the wake of repeated playoff failures, starting the season with a new quarterback might be the breath of fresh air might to get the team to begin measuring up to Tomlin’s standard again. It’s been a while.
The Pirates are who we thought they would be. But the Yankees have been as good or better than they’ve ever been so far this season. They’ll be something to see next week at PNC.
Oneil Cruz has the look of a player who’s ready to justify the hype. But if history is any indication, Pittsburgh will be nothing more than a pit stop in his career.
General Manager Ron Hextall has yet to publicly address what needs to be addressed in the wake of the collapse against the Rangers. But it’s what Hextall is willing to do, not what he says, that’ll matter most moving forward.
The free agent quarterback understands the position he’s in because of those who have played the position before him. And he welcomes the chance to follow in their footsteps.
It’s not the sudden death they suffered at the hands of the Rangers that stings so much. It’s the realization that an era unlike any other has come to a crashing, crushing end along with the 2021-22 season.
There wasn’t much to be excited about as the playoffs commenced. But an inspired effort in Game 1 established the Penguins have a different narrative in mind against the Rangers.
After what seems like a lifetime of doing the right thing and rooting against Duke, I’m backing the Blue Devils in the Final Four. Blame it on the coach with the name that’s difficult to pronounce and even tougher to spell.
Career goal No. 500 was a significant milestone, but for the Penguins’ captain, it was also just another day at the office in a 17-years-and-counting run of defining moments that range from subtle to historic.
It seems the Steelers are a long way from earning a trip to the league championship, but this season the Bengals have reminded everyone how quickly the game can change.
Mike Tomlin knows what he wants in looking for Ben Roethlisberger’s replacement. The question is what are he and the Steelers willing to do to get that guy?
The Steelers are 1-3-1 in their last five games but, amazingly, they’re still in the playoff conversation. They’ll probably get the help they need the rest of the way, too. But can they help themselves?
The Panthers’ rise from embarrassment to the ACC Championship was inspiring. It was also a lesson to those quick to jump off a bandwagon. Those inclined to do so risk missing a hell of a ride.
With the series tied at a game apiece, how the Pens fare the rest of the way will depend heavily on how their brand of physicality counters the Islanders’ heavy-hitting approach.
What looked like the end of an era was captured for posterity a bunch of times during and after the collapse against Cleveland. It might be a while before Mike Tomlin and the survivors find themselves smiling for the cameras again.
Cleveland won’t be what they could have been Sunday night due to circumstances beyond their control. The Steelers need to be all they can be, anyway, or else.
The quarterback and his team need to identify what’s wrong before they can fix it. There’s enough evidence available to identify the former, which gives them a chance to accomplish the latter in time.
The team, with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, has gone from being perceived as a legitimate contender to being doubted locally and nationally, and deservedly so.
Making it halfway through the season undefeated says a lot about how the Steelers are constructed. But their commitment despite whatever’s thrown in their path by the pandemic is also a critical component.
Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford is doing what he can to keep his team ready during the NHL’s current hiatus. But Rutherford also knows the league may not make it back until next season. We’ll soon get to a point where the NHL shouldn’t.