Category: 2022 Steelers season

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It is time for my mea culpa. Aside from what social media might tell you, it is a good thing to admit when you are wrong and it feels great to get it off your shoulders. This is where I am when it comes to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.

I readily admit I was on board with the Steelers making a trade for Watson prior to the acquisition of Mitch Trubisky and subsequently the drafting of Kenny Pickett.

But as the sheer volume of potential problems continues to heap on Watson and the Browns, it really makes me wonder why I ever endorsed the idea. Probably because I’m a fan and I don’t want to see the floor fall out from under the Steelers this season. And I had to wonder just how bad all these allegations are.

The fact the Browns haven’t traded Baker Mayfield yet tells us Cleveland is bracing for a long season minus Watson. This is something the Steelers did not want to introduce to the team.

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Here is your chance to anonymously get it off your chest. Cast your vote and tell us if you were like me and did endorse the notion of trading for Watson, were you against it from the beginning or are you keeping your shame to yourself.

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When it comes to analysis and breaking down film, few guys do it like former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hodge. So when Hodge called out Steelers linebacker Devin Bush for the shortcomings in his game on 93.7 TheFan, it came from a point of objective analysis and not an emotional response.

Hodge was brutally honest in his breakdown of Bush’s play last season and went so far as to imply the team need to let Bush walk after the season ends.

“You gotta cut bait there,” Hodge said. “Doesn’t play smart or fast. Doesn’t play with good technique. Doesn’t play with good instincts. He gets targeted by teams in the passing game. Not a good football player.”

Hodge didn’t hold back but based on what happened in 2021, he’s not far off. Bush’s career has not gotten off to the start everyone hoped for when Pittsburgh made a big trade to go up and draft him. His rookie season was solid but after his knee injury in Week Six of the 2020 season, Bush struggled to return to form last season.

But luckily for Bush, he’s got this season to get things back on track. Given it is a contract year, all the pressure is on him to perform. You add in the Steelers signed Myles Jack to play inside linebacker next to Bush and the bar is even higher.

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With the news that Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt was planning to retire. the team is now tasked with how to replace a player as talented as him in the lineup. Let’s rank the most effective and realistic options for moving on without Tuitt.

Be prepared to hear the same names all season long when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kenny Pickett, Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick are going to dominate the headlines. But we want to give some attention to the more underrated guys on the roster. Here are our top four.