Good Friday to you Steelers fans.
Some of the greatest players in team sports were able to achieve that greatness because of others around them. Or because of those who gave them a break when needed. The recent addition of Markus Golden may fall into this category. Maybe for a year, maybe more more, but don’t dismiss the signing of the veteran pass rusher as “just as a Training Camp body.” At age 32, Golden has tremendous experience. He has 47 career sacks and three times he was over double-digit sacks in a season. To be very transparent here, none of us should expect Golden to come in and put up big numbers because that’s not why he’s here. I also don’t believe this will be a “Melvin Ingram” type situation either. Golden knows that T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are the starters and any suggestion that he get more snaps than either of them is ludicrous. But… Golden has position flexibility meaning he can play on the edge from either side. He instantly becomes the back up OLB on each side. But more to my point from the opening, Golden might be able to give Watt the necessary plays off for Watt to return to his Defensive MVP form. When you run hot the way Watt does, getting a breather now and then matters. What Golden also offers is the ability to start should someone miss a game or two. If Golden understands his role and can fill it with QB pressures, run stops and occasional sacks then he immediately makes the Steelers’ defense better. And he also helps prolong the greatness of T.J. Watt too.
The Podcast
Episode 320 of the SCB Steelers Podcast presented by DEK Roofing Inc of South Florida is now available for your viewing and/or listening pleasure. Don’t be fooled in the opening, despite just me starting out Scarps and Ben jumped on for another great show. We covered OTAs, new rule changes and much more!
Tweet of the Day… Often forgotten in the long line of great Steelers’ LBs because he didn’t win a Super Bowl. Lloyd was outstanding.
Happy Birthday Greg Lloyd! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/e1zsxTGeZI
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 26, 2023
Is Khan Getting Ready to Strike Again?
There have been some rumors that the Steelers are interested in Arizona Linebacker Isaiah Simmons. The former Clemson All-American hasn’t lived up to expectations for the Cardinals and the Steelers could certainly use a guy with sideline-to-sideline speed. Part of Simmons’ problem in my opinion is that he’s a man without a position. He’s tall, athletic and fast but the Cardinals have struggled with where to put him and how to use him. Simmons will be a free agent after this season and with the Cardinals in a clear rebuild, getting something for him wouldn’t be a bad idea. My gut tells me Khan would go as high as a fourth but would want a later pick as part of the package. I’d pull the trigger personally. He’d be around veteran players in a very different culture. If you don’t like what you see then off he goes in 2024.
On the Personal Side
A couple of things of note from me… First, no podcast next Thursday. I’ll have family in town for my son’s graduation and trying to put together a show while dealing with four or five dogs, not to mention the increase in humans, is asking too much of me… Secondly, Over a month ago I was having a conversation with a great friend of mine I met through me doing this site. I had mentioned to him that one of my great regrets in life is that I never learned to play a musical instrument. I said, “Maybe I’ll get a ukulele and learn that.” He told me, “No, I got you.” About a week later a large box arrived on my porch. In it was a guitar, an amplifier and all things a budding rock star would need. Thanks to the internet, I’m learning the instrument but at my age it’s going to take longer and I’m learning to be patient. I’m forever grateful for the gift.
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