Pittsburgh Steelers Fact or Fiction: Taking the Long Way Home edition

There’s always so much to talk about when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the inquiries surrounding the black and gold are definitely ever-evolving, especially this week with the Steelers playing in Canton, five members of the Steelers’ family being enshrined and the rumors of James Washington wanting out of town. It seems like the musical selection that best fits this week’s Fact or Fiction could be Supertramp’s Take The Long Way Home.

Here’s a sample...

When lonely days turn to lonely nights

You take a trip to the city lights

And take the long way home

Take the long way home

You never see what you want to see

Forever playing to the gallery

You take the long way home

Take the long way home

When you’re up on the stage, it’s so unbelievable

Oh, unforgettable, how they adore you

But then your wife seems to think you’re losing your sanity

Oh, calamity, is there no way out?

Does it feel that your life’s become a catastrophe?

Oh, it has to be, for you to grow, boy

When you look through the years and see what you could have been

Oh, what you might have been

If you would have more time

Are these lyrics really related here? Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to listen to some Classic Rock? But anyhow, there is surely a lot to wonder about. BTSC tries to answer some of the poignant wonderings ahead of time. Take a listen to some bold statements on this and more as we label them as fact or fiction.

Are we on point? Only time will tell.

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The Steelers should comply with James Washington’s trade request

Fiction

First and foremost, did anybody ever hear James Washington say that he wants traded? Coach Mike Tomlin says that he never asked for a trade. We did hear former Cowboys, Saints and Ravens receiver Dez Bryant say that teams should trade for fellow Oklahoma State wideout Washington. After that, the story got bigger. I get that Grandpa Strong is in the last year of his contract. I also get that he does not receive a lot of playing time. But in 2019, the man was the Steelers’ leading receiver in a season in which he wasn’t expected to be. Washington is more valuable for 2021 on the roster than not.

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It doesn’t matter who the Steelers’ opponent in the preseason is

Fact

The Steelers opponent for the Hall of Fame Game wore silver helmets adorned with a blue star, but the true opponents donned the same black and gold uniforms and a single set of hypocycloids on their helmets. Truly, it does not matter if the Steelers play the 2021 Cowboys or the 1993 version. Hell, they could even play the dad-gum Texas Colts from Necessary Roughness. Nothing matters. In fact, wins aren’t necessary. It’s the scheme that the team is using and how well the players are performing in said scheme that is evaluated in these preseason games.

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The Steelers’ punter position battle is as good as decided

Fact

I actually wrote this particular title before Thursday’s preseason contest and it originally was a fiction. But Pressley Harvin III was majorly impressive in the Hall of Fame Game against the Cowboys with an average of 45 yards per punt. Big Press had one downed inside the ten and another at the one. Jordan Berry is a battler, but it would take a phenomenal effort by the incumbent and a below average performance by the seventh-round rookie from Georgia Tech.

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The Steelers moves in the broadcast booth are promising

Fact

The Tunch Ilkin era is over in the broadcast booth in Pittsburgh and it’s a sad thing. It’s hard to not hear legends like Ilkin, Jack Fleming and Myron Cope no longer on the mic. In Ilkin’s case, the ALS diagnosis makes it even tougher to deal with. But having the Steeler ambassador’s best buddy, Craig Wolfley, moving from sideline reporter to his spot might just make listeners feel like Tunch is still a part of it. Based on hearing Starks over the years in interviews, adding Max to the sideline team seems like a solid idea as well. While it won’t be the same without Tunch, our game days will continue to feel like home.

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We’ve learned nothing about the offensive line in the Hall of Fame Game

Fiction

In fact, we learned plenty about the future of the o-line when they played Dallas in Canton. We learned that Kendrick Green is a good bet to follow in the cleat-steps of Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, Jeff Hartings and Maurkice Pouncey. We learned that Rashard Coward, Joe Haeg and B.J. Finney provide solid veteran-depth. And we learned that Dan Moore Jr. needs some seasoning, but as promising as well. But most of all, we learned that Adrian Klemm brings a culture of toughness and nasty aggression to the unit. So even though starters like Zach Banner, Kevin Dotson, Trai Turner and Chuks Okorafor weren’t in action…Klemm’s group seems ready to rise up.

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