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 NFL has cancelled the 2020 Hall of Fame Game and cut the preseason to an undetermined amount of games 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 two assistants with the Steelers who now have a new job description for the 2020 season.
Let’s get to the news:
- The two new job titles will have one on each side of the ball
Steelers give two assistant coaches new titles
By: Jeff Hartman, DK Pittsburgh Sports
The Steelers have one of the smallest coaching staffs in the NFL. While they didn’t bring in any new coaches outside of Ike Hilliard, wide receivers coach, and Matt Canada, quarterbacks coach, Mike Tomlin did give two assistants new titles before the 2020 regular season.
Blaine Stewart, son of late West Virginia University coach Bill Stewart, has been promoted to assistant wide receivers coach. Stewart helped Ray Sherman with the receivers in 2019 after Darryl Drake passed away during training camp at Saint Vincent College. This change in title makes it official, and gives Hilliard a right-hand man heading into Hilliard’s first camp with the team.
The other promotion was Denzel Martin, who will serve as assistant outside linebackers coach. Since the departure of Joey Porter as outside linebackers coach, the team gave those duties to defensive coordinator Keith Butler. Butler, still the team’s defensive coordinator, will now have a new set of hands, and eyes, to facilitate him coaching the pass-rushers.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- The Steelers will head to “Heinz Field South” before their Thanksgiving showdown with the Ravens
Countdown to 2020: The Jaguars
By: Mike Prisuta, Steelers.com
Date: Nov. 22
Time: 1 p.m.
Venue: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
All-Time Regular-Season Series: Tied, 12-12. The Jaguars lead the postseason series, 2-0.
Last Meeting: The Steelers scored 20 unanswered points in the final 16:17 of regulation and won, 20-1, on Nov. 18, 2018 at Jacksonville. The comeback began with a 78-yard touchdown pass from QB Ben Roethlisberger to WR Antonio Brown with 1:17 left in the third quarter. Roethlisberger added an 11-yard TD pass to TE Vance McDonald with 2:28 left in the fourth quarter and then scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with five seconds left in regulation. The Jaguars out-rushed the Steelers, 179-26, but netted just 64 yards passing, thanks in part to six Steelers sacks of QB Blake Bortles (two each by OLB T.J. Watt and NT Javon Hargrave).
Last Season: The Jaguars went 6-10 and finished fourth in the AFC South. Jacksonville ranked 20th in total offense (17th rushing, 16th passing) and 24th in total defense (28th rushing, 16th passing).
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- The former Nittany Lion hopes to find a home with the Steelers
Blacknall takes advantage of every moment
By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com
Get to know Steelers wide receiver Saeed Blacknall
Saeed Blacknall
Wide Receiver
Penn State University
Most entertaining person you follow on social media? I guess I will say Tory Lanez. During quarantine he had his quarantine radio going crazy. So many people were tuning in. It was the only entertainment at the time.
Must have food? Fish. I like salmon.
Morning person or night owl? Morning person.
Who is your football mentor or inspiration? I would say my pops, Chris Blacknall. He couldn’t go as far as I could or have made it. I do things for him. It’s cool to see him live through me. He was like every high school athlete, trying to get recruited. He was the man around my area during his time in high school. He was a really good running back. Injuries and other circumstances stopped him from being able to do that. He had two sons and he put that in us. He put a football in our hands one day and the rest is history.
What motivates you? Time. I realized this is our only chance to walk this earth in history. Time is something you can’t get back. Once you are gone, it’s gone. Right now, 2020 changed that for me. I used to have a lot of other motivations. After watching Kobe (Bryant) die and so many things happen this year, I realized how precious time is and how you have to take advantage of it and use every second of the day.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- BTSC articles you may have missed
Will Bud Dupree get a new contract before Wednesday’s deadline?
What to expect from Justin Layne’s second NFL season
The inner workings of Patrick Mahomes new contract
Evaluating Matt Feiler’s pass blocking while playing guard in 2019
The Steelers Madden 21 rankings are lower than expected
- Social Media Madness
Be like @CamHeyward, @VMcDonald89 and @CharlieBatch16 and #MaskUpPA. pic.twitter.com/0wyxDGlHR8
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 14, 2020
#TFW you move up in your friend’s Top 8 on Myspace pic.twitter.com/evtW7LfpCa
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 14, 2020
That stiff arm though @JamesWashington | #TouchdownTuesday pic.twitter.com/IzEB7WBrIk
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 14, 2020