Good Thursday to you Steelers fans.
I’m going to take the unusual step here and start off with a couple of tweets. I’m doing this because they are really the best way to break down what I’m going to discuss.
Both sides particularly liked the modified IR rules, which allowed players to return in three weeks instead of eight and removed the cap on the number of players designated for return. Teams had more flexibility, and players often got extra time to recover from minor injuries.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 2, 2021
So what exactly do these tweets mean? If things hold accurately, then this gives coaches a lot more leeway and flexibility with their rosters and week-to-week personnel choices. Pelissero points out how much coaches liked the tweaks that were made due to Covid-19 last season. The downside is that coaches can manipulate things in terms of “stashing guys on IR” but no matter what rules are in place there’s always going to be coaches trying to take advantage. Besides the expanded Practice Squad, the ability to have a player on IR for a shorter period of time is significant. Under the old way, if a player went on IR he was done for the season. With the added game, I like what the NFL is doing here and I think the players and coaches will as well.
Tunch
After nearly 40 years as a player and broadcaster, the Steelers’ Tunch Ilkin is retiring. He announced that this morning via the Steelers Twitter feed. He is retiring to focus his attention on his battle with ALS. I had the opportunity to interview Tunch many years ago when I was still very wet behind the ears in terms of podcasting. He couldn’t have been nicer. Wishing him the very best going forward.
Actual Tweet of the Day… Any answer here that isn’t from Caddyshack is wrong.
What is a sports movie quote that you use in daily life?
I’ll go first- “Pick me out a winner, Bobby.”
— PGA Locker Room (@PGALockerRoom) June 2, 2021
Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside
Steelers’ Defensive Back Cam Sutton spoke to the media yesterday about how the team plans to use him both as a boundary corner and a slot (or nickel) corner. The question is of course, how well can he do this? While I believe Sutton has improved tremendously since his rookie season I’m honestly not sure where my confidence level is with him. As a slot CB, I think he covers better than Mike Hilton did but he isn’t nearly the tackler or blitzer that Hilton was. On the outside, Sutton does a solid job but his overall speed and lack of ball skills is a concern. He’s actually starting to remind me a bit of former Steeler Willie Gay. Boy, did he struggle early on in his career but talk about turning things around… Gay became a guy the Steelers could really rely on later in his career. Perhaps that’s where Sutton is headed.
Mountain Out of a Mole Hill
Is it any real surprise that many fans and pundits have taken the words of Ben Roethlisberger and made them WAY more than they were? Tuesday he praised the arm and throwing style of Dwayne Haskins. By Tuesday night, people were screaming about how much Ben loved this guy and how great he will be and blah, blah, blah… Let me give you an analogy. I have a very nice golf swing. I do, not going to lie, but that doesn’t mean I’m a good golfer. Because I’m not. I don’t play nearly often enough to even suggest that I am. Big Ben said Haskins has a great throwing style. He did not say anything beyond that. This is exactly why fans need to be careful where they get their information from and how they interpret that info as well.
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Have a great day Steeler Nation!
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