Good Thursday to you Steelers fans.
If… When someone says that it automatically denotes a feeling of uncertainty. Not all “ifs” are created equal as most of you know however. Sometimes the word is used intentionally to create doubt when none is necessary. Steelers’ captain and All-Pro Defensive Lineman Cam Heyward used the term when being interviewed after the game Sunday night. He stated “If” I’m back” a couple of times and that should have elicited an immediate “whachoo talkin bout Willis?” type of response. Heyward was asked about this during an appearance on the DVE morning show this week and he didn’t walk back anything suggesting that it’s a long offseason and lots of things change. Personally I think I know what’s going on here. Heyward is tired. It was a long season as it always is but this one probably dragged at times more than others. He’s never been part of a defense that got gashed the way his did at times. I’m also going to guess there’s some uncertainty as he pointed out it’s the first time he’ll ever play when Ben Roethlisberger isn’t in the locker room. Players go through a lot of emotions when the season ends so I get it and I’m not going to jump to any conclusions. From the financial aspect, it would be awful for the Steelers to release or trade him if you were wondering. Heyward wants to win. He wants to play in a Super Bowl and he likely sees that opportunity much harder to achieve now.
Buts
Steelers’ Defensive Coordinator Keith Butler or, Buts as many refer to him, is considering retirement. This came from Mike Tomlin on Tuesday and Cam Heyward also acknowledged the possibility on the radio yesterday. Butler is most known to Steelers fans as the DC but he also served as the linebackers’ coach for many years as well where I would argue he was much more successful. It is expected that if Buts does indeed retire then Teryl Austin would likely become the Defensive Coordinator. This then leads to numerous questions about just who really calls the defense. Is it the DC or is it Tomlin? Betting money suggests that if Austin gets the gig then Tomlin is likely going to have serious say over the defense.
Tweet of the Day… Good for teachers too! Unless they have meetings.
Kids school closed today due to weather. Not one snowflake has fallen. Good for them…bad for mom and me.
— Bill Pershin (@BillPershin) January 20, 2022
QB Perspective
I honestly don’t get the hate towards Mason Rudolph as a person. I thought the Steelers had him valued way too high (reportedly Colbert had a first round grade on him) but that’s as a player. For whatever reason, there’s a significant portion of SteelersNation that just flat-out despises this guy. Why? If you hate him because you see him as Big Ben’s successor that’s just dumb. It’s not his fault he was drafted and placed in the position he’s in. He had zero control over that. Do you dislike him because he’s arrogant? Show me a QB who doesn’t have some arrogance and I’ll show you my Ocean Front Property in Nebraska. As for Dwayne Haskins, it’s almost the complete opposite. There seems to be this love affair with him that I don’t understand either. He has done very little to warrant being the starting QB for any team let along ours. Perhaps it’s all the Ohio State fans who are also Steelers’ fans… Either way, I don’t care who the QB is, I want to see them play win and win games.
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