Steelers News: Can the Steelers defense return to it’s 2019 form?

It has been a one-of-a-kind offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. With the scheduled start of training camp just days away, it looks like we’ll have to wait until opening weekend to see the Steelers take the field. Just because the NFL has cancelled the preseason 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 ability for the Steelers defense to recreate what they built last season.

Let’s get to the news:

• Was the Steelers 2019 defense the exception or the new morm?

Biggest issues as Pittsburgh sports return: Can Steelers defense recreate 2019 dominance?

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Two of Pittsburgh’s pro sports teams are on their way back to competition after the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The Pirates open their season on Friday in St. Louis. The Penguins are supposed to face the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference hub city of Toronto on July 28.

That’s also when the Steelers are supposed to start training camp — if the NFL can pull off such a deadline as the players continue to express concerns about covid-19 testing and protocols.

It appears the NFL preseason isn’t going to happen. But what about the regular season? If it does, odds are the Steelers will need another monster performance from their defense if they are to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

In Wednesday’s edition of our series examining issues surrounding the potential return of Pittsburgh sports, we look at the Steelers defense and if it can replicate its success from 2019.

The accomplishments of the Steelers defense in 2019 were significant. The unit’s 38 takeaways and 54 sacks led the NFL.

It allowed the third-fewest pass yards per game (194.6), third-fewest rush yards per carry (3.8), and fifth-fewest total yards allowed (304.1). It was tied for fifth-fewest defensive points allowed per game (18.9).

So if we are to ask if coordinator Keith Butler’s players can put forth numbers such as those again, three things leap to mind.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Ben Roethlisberger and Vance McDonald once again team up with Convoy of Hope

Coming together to help others

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

Ben and Ashley Roethlisberger and Vance and Kendi McDonald know that families are hurting right now. They know there is a need for the basic necessities, things as simplistic as bread and milk, with so many still impacted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That need, that lack of resources for so many, is why the Roethlisbergers and McDonalds once again teamed with Convoy of Hope to help those in Western Pennsylvania, in particular those in the New Castle community where Ashley Roethlisberger grew up.

“We want to help the community, this is my wife’s community, where she grew up in New Castle,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “We did one a few weeks ago at Heinz Field, so to be here in New Castle to help the community, it’s a way we can show our kids and the next generation it’s about love and helping others. It shouldn’t be about us. The more we can do, the happier we are.”

The Roethlisbergers, McDonalds and Convoy of Hope worked with Jubilee Ministries International, Nourishing Others Well-Being Project and the Christian Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania to host a drive-thru food giveaway for up to 1,500 families.

“We are passing out a lot of food,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “We are boxing everything up. I saw the crazy amounts of personal hygiene stuff, food, baby food. We are excited to see the joy on people’s faces.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Former Steelers tackle Carlton Hasselrig passes away

Former Steeler, NCAA wrestling champion Carlton Haselrig dies at 54

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Carlton Haselrig, the six-time NCAA wrestling champion who switched sports and became a Pro Bowl guard with the Pittsburgh Steelers, died Wednesday at his home in Johnstown.

Haselrig was 54.

Cambria County coroner Jeffrey Lees told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat that Haselrig died of natural causes. An autopsy will be conducted.

Friends said Haselrig had been suffering from liver disease that deteriorated a body that measured a rock-solid 295 pounds in his NFL playing days.

“For those of us who were close to him, we saw it coming,” said Pat Pecora, Haselrig’s wrestling coach at Pitt-Johnstown. “He had been sick for a while. He was losing a tremendous amount of weight, but we were still shocked when it happened this morning.”

Haselrig won six heavyweight wrestling titles at Pitt-Johnstown, a record that never will be equaled because of a change in NCAA rules. Despite never playing football in college — an injury kept him off the field as a freshman at Lock Haven, and tiny Pitt-Johnstown didn’t field a team — Haselrig was selected by the Steelers in the 12th round of the 1989 NFL Draft. Almost 15 years after his playing career ended, Haselrig took up mixed martial arts and competed professionally.

“His athletic accomplishments were amazing — almost downright impossible to think about,” Pecora said. “Carlton didn’t think it was that big of a deal. That was the funny part. To him, he wasn’t impressed with himself. He was so humble about his accomplishments.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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