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 wide receiver James Washington and his first impression of the Steelers new wide receiver coach Ike Hilliard.

Let’s get to the news:

• James Washington is excited to finally meet his new coach in person

First impressions are everything

By: Teressa Varley, Steelers.com

During an unprecedented time in our country everyone has adapted to new ways of working.

For James Washington, who spent a lot of his time social distancing at the 26-acre farm he bought this year before recently returning to Pittsburgh, that included meeting his new boss over the phone.

This offseason the Steelers hired Ike Hilliard as the team’s new receivers coach. Washington was hoping he would have had the opportunity to work with him by this point. But due to guidelines because of COVID-19, keeping NFL players working virtually or with a small group of teammates on their own away from team facilities, that hasn’t come to fruition yet.

Instead they have only talked over the phone, and via zoom meetings, but those calls have meant the world to Washington.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• An argument for the 1990s as the most disappointing decade for the Steelers

Point/counterpoint: Steelers’ 1990s were worse

By: Dejan Kovacevic, DK Pittsburgh Sports

The Steelers’ history over the past half-century is rich to the extreme that it’s fair to ask which of two decades — the 1990s, when they repeatedly challenged for Super Bowls, or the 2010s, when they dominated their division — wrought the greatest disappointment.

I mean, think about it.

Want to see what a decade of disappointment looks like two hours up the Turnpike?

Pro Football Reference

Football-Reference.com[/caption]

Let’s not insult anyone by having me point out which team that was.

That’s not just disappointment. That’s devastation. That’s despondency. That’s wondering why in the world you’d ever invest emotionally in sports, much less that team.

So yeah, it feels appropriate to offer some context before carrying through with Jeff Hartman’s point-counterpoint challenge over the weekend. And if you missed Jeff’s entry, this arose from a reader asking me in my Live Qs at 5 session Saturday exactly what’s in the opening sentence above: Which was more disappointing, the 1990s or the just-completed 2010s? I immediately replied that it was the former, and Jeff, with whom I was speaking on a Zoom call, replied, in essence, that I was certifiable.

Hence, this.

I won’t get into the 2010s. Again, Jeff did that, with no shortage of strong points.

But sorry, I’m going to battle here with an armada of Alfred Pupunu and the added artillery of years and years of being awfully close to recapturing the glory years of the 1970s, again and again and again, only to have it repeatedly rubbed in the Nation’s collective faces.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Previewing the Steelers Week 4 matchup at the Tennesse Titans

Steelers 2020 Breakdown: Week 4, Titans

By: Jeff Hartman, DK Pittsburgh Sports

The Steelers hit the road in Week 4 to play the Titans in Nashville. This is by far considered the biggest challenge for the Steelers in the early portion of the 2020 regular-season schedule, so it’s time to break it down.

MATCHUP

Opponent: Titans
2019 record: 9-7
Overall history (W/L): 46-32-0 for Steelers (includes Oilers records)
Last 4 games: 2-2
Opening line: Titans (-2)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Nashville

OUTGOING PLAYERS/ FREE-AGENT LOSSES

OT Jack Conklin
QB Marcus Mariota
WR Tajae Sharpe
CB LeShaun Sims
DT Austin Johnson
WR Darius Jennings
RB Dion Lewis

RETIREMENTS

N/A

FREE-AGENT ADDITIONS

DE Vic Beasley
OT Ty Sambrailo
DL Jack Crawford
CB Jonathan Joseph

PLAYERS VIA TRADE

Jurrell Casey to the Broncos for a seventh-round pick

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• BTSC articles you may have missed

Uncertainties with revenue in 2020 should give the Steelers pause when offering contract extensions this offseason

Stephon Tuitt is entering the prime of his career

Both James Conner’s and JuJu Smith-Schuster’s workouts show they are ready for the season

The Steelers continue to support their community in various ways

Where does Deon Cain fall on the wide receiver depth chart?

• Social Media Madness