In case you weren’t aware, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-3. Despite being out-gained in every, single game they’ve played, they’ve found ways to win and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters in the National Football League. Don’t tell that to the fan base known as Steelers Nation however. With lightning rods such as Kenny Pickett, Matt Canada and George Pickens, there are no shortage of things to argue over. Apparently I was wrong.
While I shouldn’t have been even one bit surprised, I admit that I was. Despite the dominant running game and opportunistic defense leading the team to a victory, one of the more pressing issues for fans and other outlets like this one was… The starting lineup. Oh sure, we can argue until the cows come home over who should have started and who shouldn’t have. We’ve done it with Broderick Jones and the cornerback situation all year. But when I see people arguing about “who was announced” during the pregame, I can’t help but wonder if we’ve finally lost our minds.
NOTE: Aaron Smith was once announced in the final spot, which was normally reserved for Troy Polamalu. His status for the game was “uncertain” due to his son being in the hospital.
For background, the Steelers will typically announce the unit that will take the field first so on Sunday that meant the offense. Fans immediately noticed that Jaylen Warren was announced as a starter and George Pickens was not. Let’s focus on Warren first.
Many fans and pundits immediately suggested that this meant that Warren was now the official number one running back. Wrong. Najee Harris was also introduced but don’t let that stop fans from creating a story where there isn’t one. Has Warren been more dynamic this season than Harris? No question he has and he proved that again on Sunday. This only increased the narrative that Warren was the starter and Harris was not.
NOTE: In 2005, both Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis were often introduced during the starting lineup announcements despite only one typically being in the backfield on the first play.
Then we have the receivers. Pittsburgh introduced a lineup consisting of two running backs, TE Darnell Washington and receivers Allen Robinson II and Diontae Johnson. When the Steelers’ offense took the field for their first play, George Pickens was in the lineup. But let’s not allow this to get in the way of “getting clicks.” Many fans and blogs immediately started talking about how Pickens was being “punished.” You know what? Maybe he was. But I’m willing to bet if you asked him if he’d rather be on the field for the first play or be announced in the ‘starting’ lineup, he’s going to want to be on the field every time.
NOTE: Zach Banner’s popularity as “Eligible #72” was so great that he was announced with the offense despite not seeing the field on the first play.
Being announced in front of the home crowd is a huge deal for players. It’s literally one of the great adrenaline highs of all-time but let’s not make more of who is announced and who isn’t. There is no controversy here. There is no narrative worth creating. Getting upset over who is introduced and who isn’t is preposterous.
