Chris Adamski stories, Page 123
Through 1 week, Steelers in once-familiar position of leading NFL in rush defense
A quick look at the NFL team statistics through one week finds the Pittsburgh Steelers at what used to be a very familiar place. No. 1 in the league in rush defense. During Monday’s season-opening win, the Steelers allowed the New York Giants an NFL-low 29 rushing yards on 20...
All injured skill players on offense return to Steelers practice
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin likes to use the terms “varsity” and “junior varsity” in context when referring to players at various levels of acumen and resume. After a “junior varsity” practice on offense Wednesday, the Steelers’ “varsity” was back on the field a day later. Of the eight offensive...
With 2 veterans still out, rookie Kevin Dotson appears in line to start for Steelers
In discussing the possibility of Kevin Dotson starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers, coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday said, “There is some angst here.” If that’s the case, the way things are trending it’s becoming increasingly likely that Tomlin and the Steelers could have plenty of angst-filled moments leading into Sunday’s...
Steelers’ Maurkice Pouncey to remove Antwon Rose Jr.’s name from helmet
Maurkice Pouncey, a co-captain and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-longest tenured player, indicated he will remove Antwon Rose Jr.’s name from the back of his helmet. “I want to make sure (police) understand I inadvertently supported a cause of which I did not fully comprehend the entire background of the case,”...
Injury forces Steelers to continue offensive-line turnoverVideo
A school of thought heading into this pandemic-affected 2020 NFL season was teams with the most continuity could have the best chance to thrive. Judging by how it has played out so far, that rationale doesn’t portend success for the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. Although the line played its part...
Mike Tomlin takes blame for gaffe of Steelers playing one man short in opener
The Pittsburgh Steelers played Monday’s season opener with one more player than they had in the past, but it was one fewer than the maximum allowed — and one fewer than their opponent. The Steelers activated 47 players. The New York Giants made 48 available. Until the new NFL/NFLPA collective...
Special teams not too special for Steelers in opener
Because of developments such as Ben Roethlisberger’s return from injury and four rookies making debuts, Monday’s season-opening victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers was in some ways special. The Steelers’ special teams, though, were not. “Obviously,” coach Mike Tomlin said during his video news conference Tuesday, “we have some work to...
Mike Tomlin gave Alejandro Villanueva his blessing for using alternate helmet honoreeVideo
Saying that Alejandro Villanueva did discuss it with him beforehand, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gave his blessing to Villanueva for putting a different name on the back of his helmet than the rest of his teammates. The Steelers’ starting left tackle, Villanueva put the name Alwyn Cashe on the...
Tomlin: Wisniewski, Conner questionable, Banner out for Week 2. DeCastro? ‘I don’t know’
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin began his weekly news conference by definitively declaring that right tackle Zach Banner would not be able to play in Sunday’s home opener against the Denver Broncos. Tomlin offered less clarity — albeit with more optimism — on the injury statuses of guard Stefan Wisniewski...
Down went the ‘bell cow,’ so in came the (Benny) Snell cow to close out Steelers win
Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin referred to James Conner as “our bell cow.” Monday, they turned to their Snell cow. Benny Snell Jr. had 19 carries for a career-high 113 rushing yards in helping the Steelers to a 26-16 season-opening victory at the New York Giants. “(Snell) was...
Steelers’ helmets to have Antwon Rose’s name on them throughout season
Helmets worn this season by the Pittsburgh Steelers will bear the name of Antwon Rose II. Rose was 17 when he died after being shot by an East Pittsburgh police officer in June 2018. The officer, Michael Rosfeld, stopped a Chevy Cruze matching the description of a vehicle reportedly involved...
After offseason of ‘twists and turns,’ Steelers focus on Giants, Monday Night opener
That the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing their first game during the second week of September in a high-profile time slot is about the only thing that lends a semblance of normalcy to the 2020 opener. For the fourth time in six years, the Steelers open in prime time. The 7:10...
Four Downs: Steelers proficient at forcing fumbles but can’t again depend on recovering them
1. Fumble Foibles The Pittsburgh Steelers led the NFL in takeaways last season, and it in no small part contributed to their 8-8 record and ability to remain in the playoff race through their season finale. But can that be replicated? The law of regression to the mean suggests it...
2017 draft class was a winner for Steelers, but time together might be running out
They grow up so fast. It wasn’t long ago players such as JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner and T.J. Watt were seen as the future of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, it appears two of them are mere months from becoming part of the organization’s past. That’s not assured, of course, but...
Steelers have dominated Monday Night Football, especially under Mike Tomlin
Only four teams have appeared more often than the Pittsburgh Steelers on the NFL’s iconic flagship scheduling window, “Monday Night Football.” If the Steelers beat the New York Giants on Monday, no team will have more victories on “MNF.” A victory in the Week 1 Monday opener at MetLife Stadium...
Diontae Johnson returns to Steelers practice, likely to play in opener
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson returned to Pittsburgh Steelers practice Friday, signaling it is highly likely he will be able to play in Monday night’s season opener against the New York Giants. Johnson was listed as a full practice participant on the official injury report a day after he did not...
4 years after memorable college meeting, James Conner, Saquon Barkley face off in NFL
The only time they were on the same field together for a meaningful game, James Conner and Saquon Barkley combined for 276 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. Two of the best running backs in the respective histories of Pennsylvania’s two biggest college football programs, Conner and Barkley meet again...
Breaking down the 2020 Steelers: The special teams
Here is a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 special teams: (Italics denotes player is on the practice squad) Starters: Chris Boswell, Dustin Colquitt, Kameron Canaday Others: Corliss Waitman Breakdown: For the first time since 2014, the Steelers enter a regular season with someone other than Jordan Berry as their...
Minkah Fitzpatrick much more comfortable in 2020 Steelers debut than last year’s
You wouldn’t have known it by looking at the stat line, but Minkah Fitzpatrick says now that his debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a frenzied “learning on the fly.” Fifty weeks later, the first game of Fitzpatrick’s second season with the team doesn’t have near the same feel. “This...
Steelers’ Diontae Johnson has foot injury, does not practice 4 days prior to opener
The first official injury report of the Pittsburgh Steelers season has been released. It’s short on names but not on potential impact. Two offensive starters, receiver Diontae Johnson and guard David DeCastro, did not practice Thursday. While DeCastro’s absence was expected, Johnson’s came as a surprise. Johnson, who led the...
Breaking down the 2020 Steelers: The offense
Here’s a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 offense: (Italics denotes player is on the practice squad) Quarterbacks Starter: Ben Roethlisberger Others: Mason Rudolph, Josh Dobbs, Devlin Hodges Breakdown: All eyes will be on Roethlisberger, the future Hall of Famer who, at 38, is entering his 17th NFL season coming...
Saying he ‘still loves football’ despite serious injury, Steelers’ Ryan Shazier officially retiresVideo
Ryan Shazier had to stop to compose himself while recording a prepared statement released Wednesday. Later in the day, he told his wife hearing from coach Mike Tomlin and Vince Williams, likewise, almost made him cry. Kevin Colbert wasn’t as adept at holding in his emotions, choking up while addressing...
Extension comes to fruition quickly for Cameron Heyward, SteelersVideo
At various points over the past eight months, Cameron Heyward and representatives of the Pittsburgh Steelers brain trust said all the right things about hammering out a contract extension. But it often also was said over a malaise of doubt. “There was a time where this was almost dead, to...
Steelers sign veteran punter Dustin Colquitt, release Jordan Berry
The Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday signed 16-year veteran punter Dustin Colquitt, the son of the team’s punter during Super Bowl seasons of four decades ago. Dustin Colquitt missed only two Kansas City Chiefs games from the time he was a third-round draft pick in 2005 until his release by the...
T.J. Watt, Jordan Dangerfield 1st-time Steelers captains among 5 named for 2020
Three familiar faces were joined by two newcomers to the ranks of the Pittsburgh Steelers captaincy. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Jordan Dangerfield were among the five Steelers captains announced by the team Monday. An All-Pro last season, Watt is entering his fourth NFL season. He shares the defensive...
