Pittsburgh Steelers General Thread

[Don Wassall]

To give an early update on the Steelers' LB battle, Cole Holcomb is getting lots of good pub and is set as the only three down linebacker. The only issue with him is whether his foot injury from last season is completely healed and will hold up.

Rookie Nick Herbig is also getting lots of favorable coverage and has a good chance to start the season as the top back-up at OLB. He's behind Watt and Highsmith, both entrenched starters so it will take an injury for him to see a lot of playing time for this season and maybe beyond. There's still the pretty good possibility that he may eventually be moved inside.

Things don't look nearly as promising for Tanner Muse and Nick Kwiatkoski. An article in today's Post-Gazette says Nick is behind Holcomb, Elandon Roberts, newly signed Kwon Alexander, and second year player Mark Robinson. Muse isn't even mentioned in the pecking order, being described merely as a "special teams maven," an ominous sign that if he makes the team it'll be only as a WSTD. Pittsburgh sports writers traditionally spin narratives the coaching staff and front office want spun, so don't get your hopes up too much for Muse and Kwiatkoski, though it's still early in training camp. As I mentioned above (post #187), having three White starting LBs is most likely a bridge too far for the Tomlin regime, but injuries and the ups and downs of the season always spurs changes. As of today, thanks to the signing of the now mediocre Alexander, it's unlikely both Muse and Kwiatkoski make the final roster.

 

[Don Wassall]

I think Gunner is still a longshot to get much playing time as a receiver, but praise like this from Kenny Pickett sure can't hurt:

Kenny Pickett Names Surprising Candidate for Steelers WR4 Job

UNITY TWP., Pa. — Kenny Pickett is in their first true offseason as the Steelers QB1, and in doing so, he has been evaluating and watching all the receivers that he throws to over the course of training camp. The top three guys, Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Allen Robinson are locked in...

steelersnow.com

 

[white lightning]

Steelers signed FB John Lovett to fill the void left by Pottebaum.

Even if one of our guys moved on at least John Lovett gets his time to shine. I miss old time football with huge fullbacks and power
running backs just plowing over people. The Steelers are getting a little more white friendly the last few years abut it still amazes me
that they continue to support this coach. He has been average but he hasn't taken them to the next level. For most coach's you get fired.

 

[Don Wassall]

In Derek Watt's three seasons with Pittsburgh, he had a total of 22 yards rushing and 14 yards receiving. 36 total yards, or 12 yards per season. The Steelers' FB is a WSTD who occasionally comes in to block, nothing more.

 

[Warhawk_46]

In Derek Watt's three seasons with Pittsburgh, he had a total of 22 yards rushing and 14 yards receiving. 36 total yards, or 12 yards per season. The Steelers' FB is a WSTD who occasionally comes in to block, nothing more.

It is crazy to know how much the Steelers paid for Watt and then hardly used him: Watt could easily get 3-4 rushes and receptions per game and produce sizable chunks of yardage. He should have been their goal line back as well. A total waste of three years, if you ask me. And now he remains unsigned.

 

[Don Wassall]

It is crazy to know how much the Steelers paid for Watt and then hardly used him: Watt could easily get 3-4 rushes and receptions per game and produce sizable chunks of yardage. He should have been their goal line back as well. A total waste of three years, if you ask me. And now he remains unsigned.

I've posted before my belief that Watt could be a capable power runner who averages 4.5 yards per carry. Why not, given his brute strength and that of his two superstar brothers? Only in a caste system such as the U.S. has would the brother of two all-time greats be completely wasted as a special teams player and human blocking dummy rather than be properly used at a "verboten" position.

At the very least, why wouldn't you want to find out what he can do? At 6'2" and 234 he's only a little bigger than the biggest tailbacks, actually lesser in weight than Fournette and Stephenson. Also, J.J. and T.J. are both fast and shifty, why wouldn't Derek be also at a considerably lesser weight? He could shed weight down to 220 or so and still be an effective power runner, but only in his granddaddy's NFL, not today's.

 

[Rocky B]

I've posted before my belief that Watt could be a capable power runner who averages 4.5 yards per carry. Why not, given his brute strength and that of his two superstar brothers? Only in a caste system such as the U.S. has would the brother of two all-time greats be completely wasted as a special teams player and human blocking dummy rather than be properly used at a "verboten" position.

At the very least, why wouldn't you want to find out what he can do? At 6'2" and 234 he's only a little bigger than the biggest tailbacks, actually lesser in weight than Fournette and Stephenson. Also, J.J. and T.J. are both fast and shifty, why wouldn't Derek be also at a considerably lesser weight? He could shed weight down to 220 or so and still be an effective power runner, but only in his granddaddy's NFL, not today's.

He probably should have been on D all through college....

Fullback is mostly a wasted position

 

[Don Wassall]

He probably should have been on D all through college....

Fullback is mostly a wasted position

Yeah, that would've made sense considering his brothers. . . his NFL career has been a waste, though maybe he doesn't view it that way and he may be happy with the money he makes (or made as he's still unsigned). I don't think many White football players are anywhere near as aware of the Caste System as we are. That being said I'm not trying to start another discussion on that topic. The Carson Palmer nonsense from a number of years ago permanently exhausted my patience for that.

 

[Bucky]

He played both ways in HS, was a capable LB. Given his status as a WSTD I’m sure he could give you good reps at LB if the room was ever depleted.

Agreed total waste of Derek Watt. OCs are so unimaginative with Fullbacks. It’s ridiculous. It ain’t rocket science. Give capable FBs a few Carries/catches a game could be a real game changer. Make the Defense play assignment football and account for the big back!

 

[Warhawk_46]

I've posted before my belief that Watt could be a capable power runner who averages 4.5 yards per carry. Why not, given his brute strength and that of his two superstar brothers? Only in a caste system such as the U.S. has would the brother of two all-time greats be completely wasted as a special teams player and human blocking dummy rather than be properly used at a "verboten" position.

At the very least, why wouldn't you want to find out what he can do? At 6'2" and 234 he's only a little bigger than the biggest tailbacks, actually lesser in weight than Fournette and Stephenson. Also, J.J. and T.J. are both fast and shifty, why wouldn't Derek be also at a considerably lesser weight? He could shed weight down to 220 or so and still be an effective power runner, but only in his granddaddy's NFL, not today's.

Derek started as a linebacker at UW before he switched to fullback. He is plenty fast and athletic enough to do very well running the ball. So many of our guys were wasted: Hester, Nall, Ripkowski, Zenner, Gerhart, Leonard; I’ll even argue Burkhead and Woodhead were wasted.

 

[Don Wassall]

Derek started as a linebacker at UW before he switched to fullback. He is plenty fast and athletic enough to do very well running the ball. So many of our guys were wasted: Hester, Nall, Ripkowski, Zenner, Gerhart, Leonard; I’ll even argue Burkhead and Woodhead were wasted.

They're just the tip of a huge iceberg. They at least made it to the NFL albeit mostly as fullbacks and WSTDs who were screwed over. So many other capable White RBs never got a sniff of the NFL. The number literally is easily in the hundreds over the past 40 years, and then there's all the White high school RBs who were never recruited who should have been, or if they were recruited were forced to change positions.

There has been a small uptick in guys getting a chance to run the ball in FBS programs the past couple of years, but there's also been an uptick in White receivers for years now but few get drafted or otherwise get a genuine opportunity in the NFL. Almost all the roadblocks put in place over the past two generations are still there, though we've certainly made more people aware of what's going on.

 

[white lightning]

They're just the tip of a huge iceberg. They at least made it to the NFL albeit mostly as fullbacks and WSTDs who were screwed over. So many other capable White RBs never got a sniff of the NFL. The number literally is easily in the hundreds over the past 40 years, and then there's all the White high school RBs who were never recruited who should have been, , or if they were recruited were forced to change positions.

There has been a small uptick in guys getting a chance to run the ball in FBS programs the past couple of years, but there's also been an uptick in White receivers for years now but few get drafted or otherwise get a genuine opportunity in the NFL. Almost all the roadblocks put in place over the past two generations are still there, though we've certainly made more people aware of what's going on.

I've noticed more running backs at the college level without a doubt. Yes a few more receivers but the running back position has been
alot more positive. LIke you said though it's only good if they can eventually play on Sunday. We must continue to spread the word. These
young men deserve a chance at not only scholarships but also to play pro football someday.

 

[Don Wassall]

Nick Herbig continues to get great media coverage. He doesn't have a path to a starting position this season barring injury to T. J. Watt or Alex Highsmith, but he'll probably get more snaps than originally forecast as a dynamic rotational piece. He's been close to unstoppable as a rusher, a mini-Watt.

Among non-first-round rookies, Steelers' Nick Herbig has highest PFF preseason grade

The development of Steelers rookie Nick Herbig has been something to watch in the preseason.

steelerswire.usatoday.com