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 five reasons to be optimistic for the Steelers 2020 season.
Let’s get to the news:
- Hope springs eternal heading into 2020 for Steelers Nation
2020 Steelers should create optimism
By: Jeff Hartman, DK Pittsburgh Sports
The NFL is preparing for its triumphant return to the sports landscape in late July as teams report to facilities for the first time since things were shut down in mid-March. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the return to play, and if the games actually will be played, but this article is built around optimism.
Optimism there will be a season, and optimism about the 2020 Steelers.
There are a lot of reasons why fans of the black and gold should be excited about the upcoming year, as it pertains to on-field success. Fans might not be in the stands, but some football is better than no football, right?
I give you five reasons why fans should be optimistic about the Steelers chances in 2020, and when you mention success to Steelers fans it means one thing, a championship.
Here we go...
1. BEN IS BACK
Ben Roethlisberger missed nearly the entire 2019 season after suffering an elbow injury that needed to be surgically repaired. No one knows for sure what Roethlisberger will look like when he returns, but I think it is safe to say an 80% Roethlisberger should be better than the quarterback play in 2019. Just having Roethlisberger under center will help the offense run smoothly as his play above the neck can get the team in and out of calls to maximize the success of the team. Having Roethlisberger back on the field and healthy is paramount for the Steelers’ 2020 success.
2. THE DEFENSE
There was the ‘Steel Curtain’ and ‘Blitzburgh’, but it might be time for the current Steelers defense to get their own moniker. I am not sure what that would be, the fans reading this are more creative than me in this regard, but if you don’t think this unit is elite you haven’t been watching. Last season, they led the NFL in takeaways and were in the top six of every major defensive category outside of rushing yards surrendered. This will be the last run with this current group, and T.J. Watt, Bud Dupree and Cam Heyward will be looking to take the group to the next level.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- Looking at how the Steelers new quarterback’s coach could help the running game
How Canada will help Steelers’ north-south game
By: Dale Lolley, DK Pittsburgh Sports
Matt Canada might be the new quarterbacks coach for the Steelers this season, but his biggest effect just might come on the team’s running game.
Canada was hired to work with third-year quarterback Mason Rudolph and either Devlin Hodges or Paxton Lynch, depending on which one wins the No. 3 job behind Ben Roethlisberger. Randy Fichtner, who also served as the quarterbacks coach in 2018 and 2019, remains the offensive coordinator, overseeing the installation of the scheme and calling plays on game days. But he also gets input from his entire offensive staff when building that game plan and installing the scheme.
Canada is known for his ability to scheme up plays in the running game, whether it be via jet sweeps to the wide receivers or zone option reads with the running backs. Mike Tomlin often says he doesn’t care where good ideas come from, only that they come.
In this case, Canada’s pre-snap motions and other college innovations would prove worthy of inclusion in the Steelers offense. According to NFL analyst Warren Sharp, the Steelers used pre-snap motion 34 percent of the time in the first three quarters of a game — it’s often meaningless in the fourth quarter of games when a team is holding a big lead or trailing. That was the seventh-lowest in the NFL last season.
“He’ll work hand-in-hand with all the quarterbacks and help them in their growth and development and readiness for the season,” Tomlin said recently of Canada. “And not only that, he’s going to bring some fresh ideas to us as a coaches collectively — and probably bring some schematic ideas, as well.”
Given the Steelers’ anemic rushing attack the past two seasons, it would be a welcome change. The Steelers have ranked 31st and 29th in the past two seasons running the ball.
From his time early in his career starting out as a running backs coach at Northern Illinois, where he recruited and coached future NFL star Michael Turner, Canada has always been closely tied to strong running games and good running backs.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- Getting to know one of the new Steelers for 2020
Football was an escape for Battle
By:Teresa Varley, Steelers.com
Get to know Steelers safety John Battle
John Battle
Safety
Louisiana State University
Most entertaining person you follow on social media? Chad Johnson. He is a Miami native for one. He is just a funny guy. He is the ultimate competitor. The things he does are very comical.
Must have food? I am going to go with shrimp pasta.
Must see show? Family Guy or The Office.
Morning person or night owl? Morning person.
Who is your football mentor or inspiration? Growing up I was a huge Sean Taylor fan. I grew up in the same neighborhood. I watched him from the time I was a little kid until the tragedy happened. He is pretty much the reason why I started playing football.
As a kid who was a fan of his, how tough was that when he was killed? I was in middle school, around 12 or 13. It was pretty tough. The school I was attending was around the corner from where he lived. We were on shutdown because of what happened. It was a crazy day.
What motivates you? My family, my mom, my dad and grandparents. They have always been there for me and wanted a better life for me. It’s my motivation to want the same for them so they can lead the life I feel like they deserve.
To read the full article, click HERE (Free)
- BTSC articles you may have missed
Three players not many are talking about who could make a big difference for the Steelers in 2020
Bill Nunn needs to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The best Steelers players to wear number 73
Game predictions for the AFC South
Will Devlin Hodges make another start in Pittsburgh?
- Social Media Madness
.@minkfitz_21 picks it up.@minkfitz_21 runs it in. pic.twitter.com/59q21NX1zX
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 7, 2020
Welcome to the 7 (yes, 7) newest members of the Roethlisberger family! pic.twitter.com/J3g1QzTtd0
— BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) July 5, 2020
@JamesWashington | #SteelersJukeBox request by @wroblewski_luke! pic.twitter.com/FpEafvvUAd
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 6, 2020