Steelers News: Shaun Sarrett begins the journey of replacing Mike Munchak

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 its attention to mandatory minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how new offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett now begins the tough task of replacing the giant shoes left by Mike Munchak.

Let’s get to the news:

• Mike Munchak is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player, but if they held spots in Canton for position coaches, he could have a bust for the work he does along the offensive line. Now gone to Denver, Munchak’s giant shoes are hoping to be filled by Shaun Sarrett. Sarrett isn’t new to the Steelers, but it doesn’t make the job any less daunting.

Tim Benz: Can ‘Sweet Feet’ Shaun Sarrett fill Mike Munchak’s shoes with Steelers?

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

But now Munchak is off to Denver to hold the same position on the Broncos staff. So Sarrett is in charge of the group entrusted to block for Roethlisberger.

“That guy has been here, developing for a number of years,” Tomlin said. “He worked with (Sean) Kugler prior to Munch. He has grown and developed within our program. He’s very capable and ready for the assignment.”

Pro Football Focus rated the Steelers as the best pass-blocking unit in the NFL last season. All five of the primary starters return, along with quality reserves in Finney and Chuks Okorafor.

You could say Sarrett basically has been given the keys to a perfect car and is simply being asked not to scratch it.

To read the full article, click HERE

• In a surprise to absolutely no one, the Oakland Raiders were the NFL’s choice to host the HBO series “Hard Knocks” during 2019 training camp. It makes you wonder just how Antonio Brown will come off in front of the cameras...

Raiders, Antonio Brown chosen for HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ this season

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The NFL sideshow that is Antonio Brown will play out on subscription television this summer.

The Oakland Raiders, who acquired the mercurial wide receiver in March after he forced a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be this year’s participant on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” the NFL announced Tuesday night.

The award-winning show, which chronicles a team’s training camp highlights and lowlights each summer, airs its first of five episode about the Raiders on Aug. 6. It is Oakland’s first time appearing on “Hard Knocks.”

To read the full article, click HERE

• Speaking of new coaches, let’s not forget new running backs coach Eddie Faulker who is now in charger of James Conner, Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell Jr.

Steelers new running backs coach Eddie Faulkner settles into 1st NFL coaching job

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

After almost two decades as a college assistant coach, Eddie Faulkner is embarking on his first NFL gig this summer. In his Pittsburgh Steelers position room, at least the faces Faulkner encounters are just about as green as his.

The seven running backs on the Steelers roster combine for four accrued NFL seasons, 61 regular-season games and fewer combined career regular- and postseason yards from scrimmage (1,973) than Le’Veon Bell had in his most recent season for the Steelers alone (2,102 in 2017).

In other words, the Steelers’ running backs are collectively just about as new to the NFL as Faulkner is.

To read the full article, click HERE

• The Pittsburgh Steelers had some special guests to their first day of Mandatory Minicamp Tuesday. None other than their Penguin brethren from across town.

Penguins coaches visit Steelers minicamp

By: Taylor Hasse, DKPittsburghSports

Mike Sullivan, assistant coaches Mark Recchi and Jacques Martin, and goaltending coach Mike Buckley were in attendance for Day 1 of Steelers minicamp Tuesday at the Rooney Complex.

The four coaches were on the sideline for practice, chatting with Kevin Colbert.

Dejan Kovacevic asked Mike Tomlin about having the Penguins coaches in attendance.

”You know, we’ve got very fluid relationships with our local partners,” said Tomlin. “Man, those guys, we’ve got a lot of respect for them. We glean and learn from them, they learn from us. There’s a lot of mutual respect. And, man, why wouldn’t you listen and learn from those guys? They’ve had a lot of success in their space, particularly of late.”

To read the full article, click HERE

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