Pittsburgh Steelers Fact or Fiction: Dying For Action Edition

Minicamp is not here. Sure the rookies did their virtual meetings on Zoom, as is my fifth grade daughter. The only thing that has benefitted my household from that is that I now know what a parallelogram is and everybody from the school system has lied to me. My daughter is not a joy to have in class. But nonetheless, football is happening at a snails pace at this moment. With that offered up, BTSC tries to answer some poignant wonderings surrounding the eventual Steeler season. Take a gander at some bold statements on this and more as we label them as fact or fiction. Are we on point? Only time will tell.

James Harrison does not need to have to try and stay relevant with stories like “Mike Tomlin and the bulging envelope”

Fact

I am half-perplexed and kind-of amused with Deebo’s claims of an envelope given to him by Mike Tomlin to cover his fines years back. Yes, they’ve been debunked. But it makes me wonder what his motivation was. Was this just another instant over the media and the public blowing a story out of proportion? That has happened a time or two. Or is this merely James trying to stay relevant and in the public eye? If it is the latter, I don’t find it necessary. The legendary heroics of Harrison on the field over his career were more than enough to last me my fandom. No need to fabricate stories. They simply are tarnishing.

The Steelers will sign a veteran player after June 1

Fiction

I have changed my prediction of Kevin Colbert and company signing a veteran for defensive depth. I would still love to see a player that can contribute now signed, but that seems less likely to occur. The amount left under the cap will go towards rookies and practice squad players. Sure, I am never surprised with the teams’s ability to find money “under the couch cushions”, but I’m not holding my breath this time around.

The Mike Tomlin stance of not having a RB by committee is “writing on the wall” that James Conner’s Steeler days are numbered

Fact

James Conner could be a great feature back in this league, but he just can’t stay healthy. I could be way off and hate to claim this about a coach I respect, but Coach T’s “running the wheels” off of his feature back seems a lot like using him for all he’s worth and letting him limp away to another team in 2021.

JuJu Smith-Schuster hears the talk of his exit and is hellbent to silence it

Fact

Although there has been a ton of chatter that JuJu is not a WR1 and will be allowed to leave in free agency, I still subscribe to the fact that he will remain in black-and-gold for the long haul. In social media posts, JuJu has been working like a man possessed and seems to be on a mission to prove last year was an aberration and that he is the top pass-catcher in Pittsburgh. With a supporting cast freeing him up, I’m expecting a huge year.

Kevin Dotson as a starter in 2020 ideal for the Steelers

Fiction

The rookie from Louisiana/Lafayette shows a lot of traits of being a starter in the NFL. However, the plan will be to have No. 69 “redshirt” for a year in Pittsburgh. With Stefan Wisniewski, Matt Feiler and Chucks Okorafor ahead of him, Dotson emerging as a starter would mean a rash of injuries or disappointing play from the other linemen ahead of him. He will be worth the wait, but let’s let him simmer awhile.

Are these statements valid? We will soon see. I, personally, am nor endorsing all five of these scenarios, but it’s what my gut tells me will occur. What matters most is your opinions on the matter. Please state them in the comments below.