Steelers News: Leadership is key to success for the 2020 Steelers

It has been a one-of-a-kind offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. Unable to attend most player pro days and participating in the NFL’s first virtual draft, the Steelers keep pushing forward toward a return to football activities. Just because the Steelers are unable to hold their typical OTA’s 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 the leaders in the Steelers locker room and their focus on winning.

Let’s get to the news:

• Leadership in the locker room will make or break the 2020 Steelers

Mark Madden: Steelers locker room leaders need to prioritize winning mindset

By: Mark Madden, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

In 2013, as a rookie, Le’Veon Bell rushed for 860 yards. That season was Antonio Brown’s fourth. He had his best year to date with 110 catches. These were two rare talents. It seemed inevitable the Pittsburgh Steelers would return to the Super Bowl.

But, not long after, I proclaimed on my radio show the Steelers had zero chance to win with Bell and Brown. The Toxic Twins were too selfish and had too much baggage. It permeated the locker room, sabotaged leadership and made it impossible to jell.

Despite those two rare talents, a nailed-on Hall-of-Fame quarterback, a coach with a ring and plenty of other assets, the best the Steelers did in the Bell/Brown era was a 19-point loss to New England in the 2016 season’s AFC championship game.

In the Toxic Twins’ five years together, the Steelers made the playoffs four times and had a 3-4 postseason record. Much better was possible, except it really wasn’t.

Now it’s easy to wonder if the Steelers’ culture has been changed permanently, made more superficial, and has it rubbed off on the fans?

Mindset used to be one of the Steelers’ biggest strengths. The team had big egos before, like Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward. But when push came to shove, those two (and everybody else) focused on winning.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• What Memorial Day means to Steelers legend Rocky Bleier

What this day really means

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

It’s a day that has become known as the unofficial start of summer. A day to kick off what will hopefully be a summer filled with sunshine.

For Rocky Bleier and many others, Memorial Day means much, much more.

Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember those who lost their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. A day to appreciate and respect that they made the ultimate sacrifice for the love of their country and those who continue to benefit from the freedoms they fought for.

“The biggest thing about this day is sometimes we lose sight of the meaning behind Memorial Day. It becomes a holiday. We have celebrated it in the past,” said Bleier. “At times we have lost the sense of what it really stands for. That is to honor not necessarily those who served the country, but those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave up their lives in serving their country.

“It has become more prevalent over the period of time recently that sometimes we lose the meaning because we thank our veterans all of the time for their service. On this day, it is those who made the ultimate sacrifice that need to be remembered. Remembering them reminds us of our responsibilities to those who served and gave all and a thankfulness of a nation to those who gave their lives. We just need to put it back into perspective of what that day is all about.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• What to look for during the Steelers non-traditional OTAs

5 (virtual) things to (virtually) watch for at (virtual) Steelers OTAs

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

If the Pittsburgh Steelers conduct organized team activities, but the players are not together in performing any activities, did they really conduct the OTA’s?

It is not a question for a philosophy doctoral candidate, nor is it a dystopian future of virtual-reality football. Instead, it is the reality of the 2020 NFL. Concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic have led to a ban of teams gathering in person, but the offseason charges onward.

For the next three weeks, NFL coaches will turn to whatever video-messaging software they choose to work with players and begin the players’ preparations for a 2020 season that — for now — remains on course to be played.

That doesn’t mean some nuggets of useful information won’t emerge during the 10 virtual OTAs and three virtual mandatory minicamp sessions over the next four weeks. With that in mind, here are five things to watch for during Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 virtual OTAs that begin Tuesday:

1. Elbow room

Information about the condition of Ben Roethlisberger’s surgically repaired throwing elbow or the status of his rehabilitation and throwing program has been scant.

That changed, in part, last week by way of a 38-second video of Big Ben throwing to teammates on a local high school field. Odds are, one way or another, a greater peek into the condition of Roethlisberger’s elbow will emerge from OTAs.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• BTSC articles you may have missed

The NFL is one step closer to holding practices

Player Preview: Ola Adeniyi

If others can do it, the Steelers can play without fans

Announcing the staff changes at BTSC

• Social Media Madness