SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The ‘High Expectations’ Edition

Good Monday to you Steelers fans.

There’s a difference between “high” expectations and “realistic” expectations. Sometimes they can be one in the same and other times they can be as distant as the moon. On last week’s podcast we talked a little about how the Pittsburgh Steelers, from top to bottom, seem to be all in on the highest of expectations. They are saying “the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal.” Personally, I’m totally good with this. I’d rather hear that than “I hope we can get into the playoffs.” Shoot for the moon and see where things end up. At the same time, I have great respect for those with realistic expectations. That’s largely what we do and what we believe in here at SCB. We aren’t sugarcoating what we believe the Steelers are capable of and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Are the Steelers a Super Bowl team in 2023? I don’t believe they are but that doesn’t mean I won’t root like hell for it to happen. So ultimately are high and realistic expectations for the Steelers at the same level this year? I don’t think so but letting the season play out is always a good idea too.

Tweet of the Day… Let the Mason debate continue.

Alas, there are still lots of Mason believers out there. It's just that none of them are GMs or Head Coaches. https://t.co/ByQ8ABtk8L

— Ben Anderson (@BenAnderson58) July 30, 2023

Holcomb Took That Personally

It appears that Steelers’ LB Cole Holcomb was less than thrilled about the team bringing in Kwon Alexander. After a couple of average days in coverage by Holcomb, Alexander signed. The last two days however Holcomb has markedly improved in coverage. In all fairness to Holcomb, this is a guy who rarely came off the field in Washington and you can be certain he wants to keep it that way. As most of you know, Mike Tomlin is a HUGE believer in competition. It brings out the best in people and while Holcomb wasn’t necessarily in jeopardy of not playing or not starting, he’s a competitor and Tomlin has to be enjoying this.

Retired?

Rookie fullback Monte Pottebaum was placed on the injured/retired list and hours later it was announced that he had retired from football. I’m hoping to get more info on this today. His departure is raising the natural question of “what about Derek Watt?” For the right price, I think you bring him back. His Special Teams’ prowess is more coveted than his FB play to be honest. My guess is they’ll roll with Connor Heyward for now and see how things transpire.

Camp Tidbits

The jury remains out on Calvin Austin III. Our people on the scene there at St. Vincent College report that he might be the fastest guy they’ve ever seen there. But he’s also had some drop issues too… Anthony McFarland is having a good Camp so far but he also had a good camp last year too so I’ll remain a bit reserved… Lots of veteran players off on Sunday… Mason Rudolph looked brutal on Sunday. He was picked twice by safety Kenny Robinson and overall didn’t throw the ball well… The quietest Camp so far has to be rookie Darnell Washington. Not sure if that’s good or bad… Chuks Okorafor was one of those vets given the day off so Dan Moore flipped over to right tackle. Broderick Jones got most of the reps at LT… The players put on their armor for the first time this season as the pads make an appearance on Tuesday. I expect that Tomlin will take it easy on the first day but that will change quickly. With limited time in pads, Tomlin wants and needs to see who rises and who falls. It’s literally a right of passage.