Steelers News: Looking at a few of the longest plays in Steelers history

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 three of the longest touchdowns the Steelers have scored.

Let’s get to the news:

• The longest day deserves the longest touchdowns

Summer’s here and the time is right

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

Happy summer.

It’s official. Today is the first day of summer. The summer solstice. The longest day of the year.

While we all enjoy every minute of daylight, and every minute of sunshine, thinking about the longest day of the year can’t help but make me think about some of the longest plays in Steelers history.

Yes, I know, football is always on my mind.

And while I think about those really long plays in Steelers history, there is one that definitely jumps out because first, it was the longest interception return for a touchdown ever in team history at 100 yards, and second, it might have been timed as the longest play in team history as well. I mean, just ask James Harrison who was exhausted afterwards.

The play I am talking about is one no Steelers fan should need a reminder for. But just in case being out in the sun has made you forget, here it is.

Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers were holding on to a 10-7 lead near the end of the first half when the Cardinals Karlos Dansby intercepted a tipped Ben Roethlisberger pass at the Steelers 33-yard line. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner moved his team into scoring position with completions to Tim Hightower, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

With the ball at the one-yard line and just 18 seconds to play in the half, the Cardinals were anticipating Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison blitzing, but Harrison gambled and dropped back in coverage. Warner threw it to the end zone and Harrison intercepted the pass at the goal line. What happened after that, nobody could ever have expected. Harrison headed up the sideline, following his blockers and evaded would-be tacklers for a 100-yard touchdown return, and a 17-7 Steelers lead, going into the half.

To read the full article with video clips, click HERE (Free)

• More from Cameron Heyward on the 2020 Steelers

Despite positives, Cameron Heyward seeks improvement from Steelers defense

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

As he looks back at the 2019 season, Cameron Heyward doesn’t take comfort in the Pittsburgh Steelers having the most takeaways and sacks in the NFL.

It’s no consolation to him that the defense carried the offense in the second half of the season and was the reason the Steelers had an 8-5 record in December without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger contributing to a single victory.

The Steelers, of course, lost their final three games as the offense couldn’t find the end zone — again — and defense suddenly couldn’t stop the run. It cost the Steelers a playoff berth and took the shine off all those interceptions, forced fumbles and sacks.

As he prepares for a 2020 season that potentially could be delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, Heyward casts a critical eye at all of the defensive faults and corrections that need to be made before the regular season begins.

“We weren’t the No. 1 defense,” Heyward said Thursday on a video conference call. “We can sit here and say we want to be this, we want to be that, but we weren’t. We led the league in sacks, and we led the league in turnovers, but we weren’t off the field enough to give our offense opportunities.

“You can still improve on that.”

Heyward then zeroed in on the one area that has been the trademark of Steelers defenses since the 1970s — stopping the run.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Unofficial group workouts now discouraged for health reasons

NFLPA advises players to avoid group workouts

By: Jeff Hartman, DK Pittsburgh Sports

Over the past 48 hours there have been numerous athletes across the sports landscape who have tested positive for COVID-19, and this has had a ripple effect with each league. For Major League Baseball, training facilities were shut down for deep cleaning. The NHL has had players in isolation after testing positive. And the NFL has recently had a rash of players who tested positive for the coronavirus.

While MLB, NBA and the NHL are looking to get back to game play, the NFL is in their offseason. Players are not permitted in team facilities right now, but there is nothing stopping from players getting together and training during the pandemic.

Most recently, a group of 49ers, including quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, trained in Nashville and were exposed to the virus. They were told to stay in Tennessee until test results come back. Several teams have reportedly had players test positive, but not many names have been identified out of personal privacy of the player.

In the wake of this news, the NFLPA, and medical director Dr. Thom Mayer, released a statement urging players to not participate in group workouts during this time.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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