Steelers News: Will Devlin Hodges seize the opportunity he could have in Week 6?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 6 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Los Angeles Chargers we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at whether Devlin Hodges, the team’s third string quarterback, will be able to seize the opportunity he has facing him as the team prepares for the Chargers in Week 6.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers found Devlin Hodges after an offseason tryout. Can he actually make a name for himself on Sunday Night Football in Week 6?

Could Steelers’ Devlin Hodges become the next Gardner Minshew?

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

They were born five weeks and about a four-hour drive apart in the South. Each stands 6-foot-1, set records playing in an “Air Raid” offense and was far from a coveted prospect in last spring’s NFL Draft.

And now, it appears Devlin Hodges is about to join Gardner Minshew as an NFL starting quarterback.

The two are linked in many ways.

Minshew has become something of a league phenomenon after starting four of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ five games; Hodges could be in line to start the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers.

“I’ve known him for a while. We met at the Manning passing academy,” Hodges said last week, before he came on to replace an injured Mason Rudolph to make his NFL debut during the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“We had a good time together there, and we’ve talk a couple times since.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Mike Tomlin to the Redskins? Good luck getting a straight answer on that...

Mike Tomlin brushes off question about potential Washington interest

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin already has been linked to the vacancy in Washington. As expected, Tomlin was asked about it during his weekly press conference. As expected, he said nothing.

“I’m not worried about that, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin told reporters. “I’m the head coach of a 1-4 football team going on the road to face a Hall of Fame quarterback with my third-string quarterback. Do you think I’m worried about anything but that?”

No one expected Tomlin to say anything that would suggest that he’s interested in leaving Pittsburgh for Washington. But on a question so central to his loyalty to the team he has coached since 2007, Tomlin arguably should have been more forceful and unequivocal, adding something like, “This is the job I have. This is the job I want. Have I ever said or done anything to create the impression I don’t want to be here?”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• The Steelers showed some new defensive packages in Week 5. This is something to keep an eye on moving forward.

Steelers defense debuts new hybrid packages against Ravens

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Among many previously unseen wrinkles the Pittsburgh Steelers showed during their loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday were a pair of defensive subpackages: one with three inside linebackers and another that featured three safeties.

“Before, it was just (nickel and ‘base’ defenses),” inside linebacker Tyler Matakevich said, referring to the Steelers’ scheme of just a couple of years ago. “Now, it’s all different. We have (different, new) packages.”

Against the Ravens, one of those new looks was one in which a special “position” was created for Vince Williams, who normally plays inside linebacker. But with the offseason additions of Devin Bush and Mark Barron, finding ways of keeping three on the field became more of a priority.

Perhaps the package was Baltimore-specific, although Williams’ return from a hamstring injury after missing 2 ½ games might have triggered its usage. That it was still deployed after Barron suffered a hamstring injury Sunday – Matakevich played seven snaps – proves the Steelers were committed to it.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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