Steelers News: Unlike other sports leagues, the NFL has no plans of altering their schedule

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 NFL has absolutely zero plan of changing their offseason plans anytime soon.

Let’s get to the news:

• The NFL is seizing the opportunity to be the only sports league who is actually continuing their schedule, despite the scare around the corona virus.

With other leagues shuttered, NFL continues march to new league year

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

he day after the sports world stood still, the NFL continued chugging along with some of its offseason business Friday.

The Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens used the franchise tag on players, and the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans cut veterans in advance of the 2020 calendar year opening next week.

As the only major sports league not playing or preparing for a season, the NFL has been the least impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

One day after cancelling its annual meeting, the NFL announced Friday it is prohibiting teams from conducting pre-draft visits at team facilities, and several clubs, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, temporarily have eliminated travel by coaches and scouts.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Taking a look at the Steelers’ kickers, both placekickers and punters.

Steelers-By-Position: Specialists

By: Bob Labriola, Steelers.com

Another in a position-by-position series in advance of the start of free agency on March 18.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Jordan Berry, Chris Boswell, Kameron Canaday

(Free Agent Scorecard: 1 restricted – Kameron Canaday)

A LAST LOOK AT 2019

The significant development here was Chris Boswell’s return to form as one of the most reliable placekickers in the league. One year after his worst season in the NFL, when he made only 13-of-20 field goals (65 percent) and also missed five PATs, Boswell bounced back in a big way with a performance that certainly saved his job with the Steelers.

Whether his problems in 2018 were mechanical, psychological, or some combination of both, Boswell handled things perfectly in 2019. He was due a sizable roster bonus in the spring of 2019, but he agreed to defer it until the end of August, which effectively set up a situation where Boswell would be spending the offseason program, training camp, and the preseason kicking for his job and that bonus. During a competition that in truth was more with himself than against another kicker, Boswell cemented his roster spot when he made both of his field goal attempts and all four of his PATs during the preseason.

After he earned his bonus and secured his roster spot, Boswell never allowed his performance to become an issue during the 2019 regular season. He was 29-of-31 on field goal attempts (93.5 percent), and 28-for-28 on PATs. Boswell had thrown a wet blanket over what could have turned into a burning issue all season long, and he is back to being entrenched as the team’s placekicker.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Jordan Dangerfield, the answer for the depth at safety for the Steelers?

Dangerfield has the right attitude

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

There is a special attitude you need to have, a mindset that needs to prevail to be the best at what you do.

When it comes to playing special teams, Jordan Dangerfield has that.

It’s that mentality that every snap matters. You have to play with reckless abandon, without anything but making a hit or a block on your mind.

”It’s kind of a crazy attitude,” said Dangerfield. “Don’t judge me then. Just don’t judge me. You have to be a little crazy. You do have to be a little crazy.

”I am night and day different on and off the field. Total opposite. You become a monster when you are running down there thinking about everything and going out there just trying to get the guy down. As a person smiling, loving, caring. I am a dad. Once I get between the white lines it all changes. There is a switch that goes on and off.”

That switch is helping Dangerfield make a career being a special teams standout. Sure, he is like every player in the league who wants to be a starter. But he understands the numbers game and is more than willing to fill the role that is currently his.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• BTSC articles you may have missed...

Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) should be the talking point for the Steelers

Steelers met with Tanner Muse at the Clemson Pro Day

An updated look at all the Steelers offseason meetings

Bud Dupree is putting in the work this year

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