Kevin Gorman Columns category, Page 4
Kevin Gorman: Steelers plan to put blinding pressure on Jets QB Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold might have seen ghosts against New England, but the New York Jets second-year quarterback should be more wary of the shadows. Joe Namath of Beaver Falls casts a long one, as the only Jets quarterback to win a Super Bowl. So do Darnold’s classmates in the 2018 NFL...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers should show love for Le’Veon Bell with group hugVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers can’t begin to tell you how much they love Le’Veon Bell, as they bent over backwards Wednesday to talk about their respect for the running back. David DeCastro cherishes his memories of blocking for Bell. Maurkice Pouncey calls theirs a brotherhood that is misunderstood. Bud Dupree says...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Why Bud Dupree isn’t the Steelers’ biggest Pro Bowl snub
When the NFL announced the Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday, five Pittsburgh Steelers were chosen for the all-star game. That’s not a bad number for an eight-win team. Center Maurkice Pouncey, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick were selected to be starters and...
Kevin Gorman: Mike Tomlin, Steelers at best during this time of year
In one breath, Mike Tomlin sounded like he was in the spirit of the season, in terms of delivering on yearlong wishes in December. In another, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach said he didn’t care about what happened at this time last year. One year, he’s on the naughty list. The...
Kevin Gorman’s Who runs the North?: Running the North not enough for the RavensVideo
The Baltimore Ravens made official what we have been saying almost all season: They run the North. In winning their 10th consecutive game, the Ravens clinched the AFC North division title and celebrated by wearing T-shirts that read: THE NORTH IS NOT ENOUGH. “It’s our first goal,” Ravens coach John...
Kevin Gorman: In most significant moment, Steelers defense didn’t get job doneVideo
The disgust in Cameron Heyward’s voice grew with every word, as it was suggested to the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain that turnovers were the culprit for their loss to the Buffalo Bills. There is no denying that Diontae Johnson’s late first-half fumble and the four interceptions by Duck Hodges, including...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Steelers on losing end of another tight gameVideo
For an unpredictable team, we can count on this much about the Pittsburgh Steelers: Whether it’s a road game against a three-win team or a home game against an opponent seeking to crack double-digit victories, it will be a close game. For the 10th time in 14 games, it came...
Kevin Gorman: After giving a glimpse, Diontae Johnson ready to do big things for SteelersVideo
Now that Diontae Johnson has shown the Pittsburgh Steelers what he can do, the rookie receiver is ready for an encore. After Johnson went untouched on a punt return for a touchdown, reversed field on a dazzling run in the red zone and made a toe-tap catch in the end...
Kevin Gorman: Tackling the big question — will the Steelers throw the ball to Zach Banner?
The question for Duck Hodges came from the back of the media scrum in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room, from the offensive tackle that is their most-eligible receiver and has a personal interest in the rookie quarterback’s answer. How open does someone have to be to get the ball? Duck...
Kevin Gorman’s Who Runs the North?: Ravens clinch playoffs but division title still undecidedVideo
The Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff berth but not the AFC North Division title, the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a 13th consecutive non-losing season but not a playoff berth and the Cleveland Browns kept their slim postseason hopes alive. The Cincinnati Bengals? Well, they have a 69.6% chance of having the...
Kevin Gorman: William & Mary takes pride in being cradle for coaches in Steelers-Bills game
Jimmye Laycock doesn’t know what to expect when he visits Heinz Field this weekend to see the Buffalo Bills play the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game with playoff implications. “I’ve never done it before,” Laycock said, “… but I’m looking forward to it.” Laycock spent the past four decades coaching...
Kevin Gorman: Cameron Johnson becomes shooting star for SunsVideo
PHOENIX — Cameron Johnson is past the pinch-me phase of his first NBA season, where the wide-eyed wonder of playing against the world’s best basketball players has worn off. When it comes to shooting, Johnson is an old pro. The highest NBA draft pick from Western Pennsylvania since Danny Fortson...
Kevin Gorman: Making moves, Steelers’ Diontae Johnson brings big returnsVideo
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Pittsburgh Steelers special-teamers were talking in film sessions about how Arizona Cardinals punter Andy Lee likes to outkick his coverage. That’s something these Steelers certainly can relate to this season, winning for the seventh time in eight games. They are making a playoff push despite relying...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Diontae Johnson’s breathtaking game leads Steelers past Cardinals
In a season of hold-your-breath finishes, the Pittsburgh Steelers got a breathtaking performance from rookie Diontae Johnson and another heart-stopping ending Sunday. Johnson had a breakout game, returning a punt 85 yards for one touchdown and catching another touchdown to compile 163 total yards on nine touches. And Devlin Hodges...
Kevin Gorman: Vince Williams stars in an important leadership role for the SteelersVideo
As a seventh-year NFL veteran, Vince Williams has embraced becoming a valuable leader for the Pittsburgh Steelers, even if it’s required him to take on a reduced role. Whether Williams is on the field as a starter or in sub-packages doesn’t matter. Whether he’s their third-leading tackler, as he was...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers ready to throw curveball to Cardinals’ Kyler MurrayVideo
Forgive Keith Butler if he appears unfazed that the Pittsburgh Steelers face the 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick this Sunday in Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. The Steelers defensive coordinator is more concerned about the dual dimension that Murray presents — as dangerous running the football as he is...
Kevin Gorman: Derek Shelton receives endorsement from Pirates legendVideo
Not long after being hired as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Derek Shelton was having dinner with his wife, Alison, and some friends in Florida when he received a phone call. Shelton didn’t recognize the number but answered anyway, leaving the table for the conversation. The way his face lit...
Kevin Gorman: Mike Tomlin strikes a blow with his newest mantra for these selfless SteelersVideo
When it comes to cliches, Mike Tomlin is a master of mantras. The Pittsburgh Steelers coach has coined catchphrases that have become the standard, if you will, for coach speak. The latest Tomlinism, however, was like a Bud Dupree blindside sack. It came out of nowhere Sunday, just after the...
Kevin Gorman’s Who runs the North?: Playoff race could could come down to juicy endingVideo
The Baltimore Ravens have established themselves as not only the best team in the AFC North division but the entire conference and, after Sunday’s games, maybe even the NFL. What the Ravens haven’t done is clinch a playoff berth. Not yet, anyway. The AFC North has two of the hottest...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers revel in rivalry, as Duck Hodges plays his tail off to beat the BrownsVideo
Devlin Hodges dared to dream about the moment when he would receive a pre-game introduction as the starting quarterback, even if it wasn’t specifically for the Pittsburgh Steelers or at Heinz Field. “Just being in the NFL and starting in the NFL, that’s the dream I’ve always had,” Hodges said....
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: If Pittsburgh started it, the Steelers finished the Browns
There’s a popular saying in Cleveland — you might have even seen it on Freddie Kitchens’ T-shirt — that “Pittsburgh started it.” While that’s highly debatable, this isn’t: The Steelers finished it. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, Freddie. The Steelers turned to long-shot quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges to...
Kevin Gorman: Storyline continues to repeat itself for PittVideo
Pat Narduzzi couldn’t put his finger on the problem for his Pitt Panthers, as it wasn’t just one thing that caused them to lose their season finale to Boston College. Was it the four turnovers? Yes, as the Eagles converted them into four field goals. Was it the four false-start...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pitt ends season the same way it started, with an ACC loss at home
Pitt’s season ended the same way it started, with an ACC loss at home. It endured a familiar storyline, as Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi settled for field goals instead of going for touchdowns. And the Panthers fell short of an eight-win regular season when Boston College took advantage of four...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers looking for luck from Duck, the ultimate underdog quarterback story
What a weird, wild season this has been for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who looked so hopeless after losing Ben Roethlisberger to a season-ending elbow injury but are somehow positioned for the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs. Now, the Steelers’ hopes are down to a Duck. Nothing has been weirder...
Kevin Gorman: Steelers counting on turnovers as best offense to beat Browns
Mike Tomlin was counting his blessings before Thanksgiving, mostly for the way the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has feasted on turnovers this season the way we do turkey on the holiday. The Steelers rank second in the NFL in takeaways with 28, trailing the New England Patriots by one, and a...
