Steelers News: When it comes to pass rush, there isn’t a better team than the Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the Pittsburgh Steelers have been the gold standard in regards to pass rush the past few seasons.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers defense hasn’t always been great, but getting to the quarterback has always been their bread and butter.

Steelers brought the heat in 2019

By: Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com

The Steelers sacked quarterbacks an NFL-leading 54 times in 2019.

The final defensive series on Dec. 8 at Arizona, which included sacks No. 47 and No. 48 on the season, was as representative as any in illustrating the impact of the pass rush.

The Cardinals got the ball back at their 25-yard line with 1:42 remaining in regulation and the Steelers leading by six.

On first-and-10, defensive tackle Cam Heyward got to quarterback Kyler Murray for a loss of 5.

On second-and-15, Murray fought off contact from defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and outside linebacker Bud Dupree but stumbled and fumbled and eventually fell on the ball for a loss of 6.

On-third-and-22, Murray threw incomplete under intense pressure.

And on fourth-and-22, Murray was flushed backwards by Heyward, rolled left and managed a downfield heave just before being buried by outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Cornerback Joe Haden came up with the interception that put the exclamation point on a 23-17 triumph.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Mason Rudolph is reportedly not going to be getting any of his $50k back from the NFL.

Report: Steelers QB Mason Rudolph’s $50K fine upheld for role in Browns brawl

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph’s fine for his role in the team’s brawl with the Cleveland Browns reportedly has been upheld.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Wednesday that the NFL “recently” upheld the $50,000 fine levied on Rudolph.

On Wednesday, the NFL ended Browns defensive end Myles Garrett’s indefinite suspension for swinging his helmet at Rudolph’s head in November.

Rudolph was not suspended for his role in the brawl. More than $800,000 in fines were originally doled out after the game among 33 players. The final tally for the brawl was $732,422 in fines, which is believed to be an NFL record for one incident, Cleveland.com reported.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• If Myles Garrett slips up again, he very well might be done.

If there’s a “next time” with Myles Garrett, it likely will be his last time

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

In the moments after he forcibly removed the helmet of Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and whacked him over the head with it, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett calmly explained that he “lost [his] cool.”

Indeed he did. And now that he has been reinstated, it’s critical for the Browns, the league, and Garrett that he never lose his cool that way again.

Everyone associated with the game of football (especially Rudolph) got lucky when Rudolph seemed unfazed by the windmilled whacking over his head with a hard plastic helmet. If he’d been seriously hurt or worse, the NFL may have realized a worst-case scenario.

With Garrett reinstated, the league and the Browns need to be completely sure he won’t do it again. That’s surely why Garrett didn’t receive a finite suspension. The NFL wanted/needed the ability to talk to Garrett and to ensure that his behavior was an aberration before allowing him to return to play. Although it’s unclear what the league did to come to the conclusion that Garrett won’t do it again (surely, opponents will be baiting him), the ultimate pass-fail proposition will be whether he does it again.

If he does, there may not be a second reinstatement. And if he inflicts a real injury on an opponent, the league and the Browns will be facing real liability for allowing Garrett to keep playing football at a time when the league knew or should have known that he had a propensity to blow a fuse.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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