SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The ‘Touchback Remains’ Edition

Good Tuesday to you Steelers’ fans.

The National Football League’s Competition Committee said this week that there is little momentum to change the NFL’s touchback rule regarding fumbles into the end zone.  I could not be happier about this. Every single year we go through the same dance and it almost always involves a play of great significance either late in the season or in the postseason. For those unfamiliar with what I’m talking about… When a ball carrier fumbles the ball into the opponent’s end zone and the ball rolls out of bounds either on the side or out the back, the defensive team is immediately awarded a touchback. This means they get the ball first and 10 at the 20 yard line. Many fans hate this rule and they advocate the offense should retain possession at the spot where the ball is fumbled. I could not disagree more. So many rules in recent decades have been altered or created that favor the offense that it’s getting to be downright obscene. To me, this one is simple. Number one, hang on to the damn ball. Number two, why should the defense be punished for your mistake? I’m glad the Competition Committee did the right thing here. It’s good for the game this way.

Dan Moore

Dan Moore gets a raise from $1.055M to $3.366M next season through the proven performance escalator (playing time). The reason I bring this up is because that’s still quite cheap for a starting right or left tackle in the NFL. What concerns me however is that the Steelers may roll with Moore another year while addressing Center, Cornerback, Linebacker, etc. Do I get that thinking? I do to a degree but this draft is loaded with good offensive tackles and while Moore has been reliable, he isn’t what you need starting at the position.

Larry O

Do I think Larry Ogunjobi is worth the money the Steelers paid him last season? No I don’t but much like last season, their options are relatively limited. With an aging Cam Heyward and a rising Keeanu Benton, the need for Larry O is there and I tend to believe the Steelers will honor his contract this season.

In Indy

All 32 teams are now in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine. Last night I wrote up this little ditty for you Steelers’ fans. Here’s the schedule for those looking for anything in particular.

I Have a Question…

It was bright to light this weekend that Russell Wilson believes that Sean Payton lit into him on the sidelines this past season in an effort to get Wilson to react. Had he done so, Wilson believes the team would have cited him for conduct detrimental to the team and would have voided his contract. Exactly what Payton and the Broncos wanted. I have no love for Sean Payton but here’s my question as an “older NFL fan.” Have we reached a point now where a coach can no longer yell or bark at a player? If so, then Bill Cowher would have never survived coaching in this generation.

Peter King

After 40 years, NFL writer Peter King announced that he will be retiring. Before King’s ‘Monday Morning Quarterback’ was Paul Zimmerman’s weekly column which I read consistently. King has always been a ‘must read’ for me the last 40 years but I also found myself wondering just how much of his voice was truly his. His love for the Patriots was enough to make a goat puke and his defense on Spygate and Deflategate were equally as bad. I find it funny that the same week that Ernie Adams, the mastermind of Spygate stated that he’d go to the grave with everything he knows, that King chose to retire. It’s rather fitting in my book.

Draft Prep

Click on this link which will take you to all of our Draft Profiles and Mock Drafts. We’ll start rolling out more profiles later this week.