Steelers News: Can the Steelers’ kickers have a bounce back season, or just more of the same?

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2019 season is fast approaching, and the news surrounding the black-and-gold is far from over. As the team now turns their attention to more offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at whether 2019 will be a different year for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ specialists, Chris Boswell and Jordan Berry, or if their dreadful career paths will continue.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers’ kickers was awful last season. There is no better way of putting it, but can fans expect a bounce back season from Boswell and Berry? Or maybe they won’t even make the team?

Analysis: Special teams jobs up for grabs?

By: Dale Lolley, DKPittsburghSports

Typically, the focus on a football team in terms of position battles is on the offense and defense. Special teams are largely an afterthought.

But anyone who watched a single Steelers game in 2018 knows this team had issues aplenty with their special teams performances, most notably at placekicker.

That’s why starting Tuesday, when the Steelers open Phase 3 of their OTAs, there will be a lot of attention on the special teams units.

We’ll take a look at the special teams battles and what to look for as they are set to begin. We’ll do these in order of significance, with the most pressing battles listed first...

To read the full article, click HERE

• One of the biggest question marks on the Steelers’ offensive roster is at the tight end position. Who will actually be the depth behind Vance McDonald?

Steelers OTA preview: Who is behind Vance McDonald at tight end?

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Today: Tight end

Who’s back: Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble, Christian Scotland-Williamson*

*International player/roster exemption

After battling injuries in 2017, McDonald made 14 starts last year and played in all but one game. Not surprisingly, he set career highs with 50 catches and 610 yards while tying a personal best with four touchdowns. He returns as the starter. As he begins his fourth season with the Steelers, Grimble enters OTAs as the backup for the first time in his career. Scotland-Williamson is entering his second year as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program and doesn’t count against the offseason roster limit.

Who’s gone: Jesse James, Bucky Hodges, Jake McGee, Ryan Malleck

To read the full article, click HERE

• A pretty big name country music star was in town recently, and he paid the Steelers a visit.

Brooks: ‘I like the people here’

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

“Where I was from everybody was a Dallas Cowboys fan,” said Garth Brooks, who is from Oklahoma. “If I am going to go against the grain, the two teams going against Dallas at that point were the Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh had (Jack) Lambert and (Jack) Ham. If you are a little kid and see those guys, that’s who you want to be.”

His love of all Pittsburgh sports teams grew through the years, as did his friendship with players, from Ben Roethlisberger and Brett Keisel, to newcomers like Mason Rudolph and James Washington, who both played at Oklahoma State.

“I’m in love with Ben Roethlisberger,” said Brooks. “He’s my guy. Any time I get down, I look in the mirror and say, ‘I am Ben Roethlisberger.’

“Ben always told me the difference between this city and others is that they expect you to get up here. If you get knocked on your (butt) you’re in the game, which means you’re living.

“I think that’s why I like Ben. I like the people here. They’re the kind of people I want to be.

“Keisel might be one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met. Thank God that God put a sweet soul in a man that size. He is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, at the same time one of the most feared guys I have ever seen. You put him around children, and he becomes this teddy bear. That’s the kind of guy I want to be around. It’s pretty cool.”

To read the full article, click HERE

• If you live in the Pittsburgh area, and you have a small child, this is a football camp you might want to attend.

Roethlisberger to conduct 11th annual youth football camp

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Roethlisberger’s 11th annual event will take place June 16 at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The last day of mandatory minicamp — the final football work until training camp — for the Steelers is June 13.

The camp, which runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., is open to boys and girls in grades one through eight.

Camp attendees will be taught fundamental football skills and will have a chance to interact with Roethlisberger, who is entering his 16th season with the Steelers. Participants will receive a limited-edition T-shirt, a mouth guard, a souvenir autograph and a team photo with Roethlisberger.

To read the full article, click HERE

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