Steelers News: Developing a rookie class “virtually” is something the Steelers will have to master

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 NFL Draft is officially over. After finishing last year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, have 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 Steelers will have to develop their 2020 rookie class “virtually”.

Let’s get to the news:

• Developing a rookie class virtually is not ideal, but at least the entire NFL is all in the same boat.

Steelers face challenge of developing rookies during ‘virtual’ offseason

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

If Randy Fichtner can do it, by his admission, anyone can.

The most challenging offseason program in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers officially began Monday. Normally, that would have meant dozens of players shuffling in and out of UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for the first formal work of 2020.

But amid the coronavirus pandemic, nothing is normal. And the new plan seems anything but formal.

The South Side facility’s weight room and fields aren’t filled with players taking part in strength and conditioning activities. Instead, players will be looking into phones or setting up iPads in their living rooms and basements.

For a 56-year-old football lifer such as Fichtner, this can be jarring.

“I’m an older generational, noncomputer, no iPhone, so it’s probably going to be more difficult on me,” the Steelers offensive coordinator said. “But I’m excited about that challenge.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• What a story about one of the Steelers’ rookies...

How a Steelers rookie saved the life of someone he never even met

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

It was probably just a spam call. Christian Montano saw a New York area code on his phone that he didn’t recognize.

Now a Steelers rookie free agent, Montano was in his apartment near Tulane’s campus when the phone rang. The offensive lineman was anticipating his grad transfer year with the Green Wave.

Before Montano hit ignore, he remembered what the date was: Feb. 2, 2019. It was a year — plus one day — after the procedure.

Montano guessed who might be on the other end of the line. He was given a heads up that a call may be coming soon.

This wasn’t going to be a robot with a prerecorded message or a shyster trying to scam him.

It was the person Montano never knew. The person who may not be alive without him. The guy Montano could only refer to as “recipient” up until now.

As soon as Montano answered that call, all these months and years after the process began, this person would have a voice. A story. And a name.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• The COVID-19 crisis has hit home for one member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The fight of their lives against COVID-19

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

The video Christian Scotland-Williamson posted on his Instagram story one day last month was heartbreaking.

It was simply gut wrenching to watch, and nobody struggled more with seeing it than Scotland-Williamson himself.

It was something that broke his heart. Something that hurt him deeper than anything ever has in his life.

But it was something he felt he needed to share. Because while it hurt to the core, while he cried like he never has in his life watching it, he knew in his heart he had to post it.

It was a video of his mother, Hazel Scotland-Williamson, 60, laying in a hospital waiting room, struggling to breathe, an oxygen mask over her face aiding somewhat, but not nearly enough as you could visually see how much she was suffering.

She had been lying there waiting for six hours in the hospital in their hometown of Northeast London, England, waiting to have a chest x-ray to see if the symptoms that had her feeling so horrible were the beginning of COVID-19.

But despite the obvious struggle she was going through, despite how she was suffering, after the x-ray she was simply sent home.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• BTSC articles you may have missed...

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A scouting roundup on Kevin Dotson, offensive guard

Chase Claypool has claimed a number, and it wasn’t what everyone expected

Did the NFL did too good of a job with the virtual NFL Draft?

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