OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Super Bowl? Thats like a giant pot of chips or popcorn right?

[The Great Mighty Poo]

How awful! So sorry..

Thanks man.

 

[DanielPlainview]

He has been open on being on a snap count so he can be more impactful but play less its why they being trying to get a real OLb3

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Reading about the Gruden leaked emails and came across this excerpt about JayZ's affiliation w/ the NFL

How Gruden email leaks led to Snyder's demise

The October 2021 leaks of Jon Gruden's toxic emails triggered a series of events that forced Dan Snyder to sell the Commanders. Sources interviewed by ESPN connect the leaks to Snyder, but they also say a larger cast of people might have been involved.

www.espn.com

*************
LONG BEFORE ANY leaked emails, the NFL enlisted Jay-Z's entertainment company, Roc Nation, to help solve a big problem. The league in 2018 remained on defense from the fallout of then-President Donald Trump targeting the NFL over former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and a small group of players kneeling in protest during the national anthem. The silent protest of police brutality and the political reaction to it contributed to eroding TV ratings and strained relationships with sponsors. Goodell had lengthy discussions with various groups of players about systemic racism and social justice, but the NFL was now struggling to find ways to be proactive. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, among other owners, thought the league needed outside help. Kraft consulted Jay-Z, who had called out the NFL after ESPN reported that then-Texans owner Bob McNair had said of players in a closed-door meeting: "We can't have the inmates running the prison."

According to sources, Kraft told Jay-Z, "The NFL isn't picking up on these social issues. We need your help."

Kraft connected Jay-Z and Roc Nation to Goodell. Soon, sources told ESPN, the league partnered with Roc Nation in a $25 million, five-year deal to reshape the Super Bowl halftime show, produce music tied to the season, amplify the league's social justice agenda and, perhaps most importantly, move beyond the controversy around teams' unwillingness to sign Kaepernick. At an August 2019 news conference at NFL headquarters announcing Roc Nation's partnership with the league, Jay-Z told reporters, with Goodell sitting nearby, "I think we've moved past kneeling."

Top league executives and at least a few owners believe the alliance has worked, beyond the more than $250 million the league has raised to commit toward social justice causes. Executives believe that Roc Nation has raised the bar with Super Bowl halftime shows the past few years. The affiliation with Jay-Z has helped the NFL improve its image on race with fans, according to an executive outside the NFL with knowledge of the league's internal data.

The partnership also gave Perez, the Roc Nation CEO, an open door to the league office. Perez had overcome a criminal past to build a reputation as one of entertainment's most powerful executives. In 1994, she had been arrested for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, later working as a DEA informant and serving nine months in prison for a probation violation. She was among the dozens of convicted felons Trump pardoned a day before he left office.

Some in the league office believed Roc Nation had essentially appointed itself as the league's marketing arm. And some league officials believed Roc Nation employees treated NFL staff dismissively, angering those who sincerely wanted to help find solutions to the league's social justice problem.

Goodell refused to back his staff when tension arose between the league and Roc Nation in 2020, instead telling his charges to just work it out. Roc Nation owned all the leverage. The NFL couldn't afford to suffer a fallout with Jay-Z, not after the Kaepernick controversy, and not after how much it had publicized their partnership. Plus, Goodell seemed to appreciate and trust Perez, inviting her to key meetings, an action that mystified some owners and executives. "The NFL became afraid of Roc," said a former NFL official, who adds that the partnership has been "a mess."


Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, left, enjoyed an open door to the league office and also became a trusted confidant to Dan and Tanya Snyder, sources told ESPN. Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Perez became a trusted confidant to Dan and Tanya Snyder and, according to a letter from a team lawyer to ESPN last December, sits on the board of the Commanders. Jason Wright, the first Black team president in NFL history for Washington in 2020, hired Greg Resh, a former Roc Nation chief financial officer, to be his CFO and, eventually, chief operating officer. Roc Nation and Snyder are both clients of Reed Smith, a firm with a reputation for taking an aggressive approach on behalf of famous clients. Previously, Perez and Reed Smith were allegedly involved in leaking documents to reporters and putting private investigators on now-MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to help Rodriguez's lawsuit against Major League Baseball.

Reed Smith's brass-knuckles reputation appealed to Dan Snyder, who in the fall of 2021 was impatient to return to his team.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Probably grew tired of Tomlin ignoring his analytics and doing the opposite because he felt lucky and was due.

 

[Factorial]

Probably grew tired of Tomlin ignoring his analytics and doing the opposite because he felt lucky and was due.

I had never heard of Centre College -- it's a private school of 1,400 in Kentucky.

Centre College - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[JTG]

Steelers have no plans to open up the offense for Kenny Pickett

Matt Canada says he’s only doing what he’s been told.

steelerswire.usatoday.com

Canada is doing what he is told - i.e. if this doesn't go well, Tomlin will fire Tomlin, and replace Tomlin with Tomlin.

 

[OnMyOwn]

Steelers have no plans to open up the offense for Kenny Pickett

Matt Canada says he’s only doing what he’s been told.

steelerswire.usatoday.com

Canada is doing what he is told - i.e. if this doesn't go well, Tomlin will fire Tomlin, and replace Tomlin with Tomlin.

Yea we’ve been saying for months now this is pretty much the last chance for canada. He still calls the plays within what type of game Tomlin is trying to play. I don’t care for either, but Canada has shown nothing and really needs to pull through this season. The squad is pretty loaded with talent.

 

[JTG]

Yea we’ve been saying for months now this is pretty much the last chance for canada. He still calls the plays within what type of game Tomlin is trying to play. I don’t care for either, but Canada has shown nothing and really needs to pull through this season. The squad is pretty loaded with talent.

The excuses are definitely up. This offense needs to produce. This may be the most talented offense since the Killer B era.

I'm actually curious what would happen is this team really bombs this season. Art II doesn't have balls, but this city is going to get reallllllly loud if the team shits the bed. That'd make 7 years without a playoff win, only 3 playoff wins since 2010, and still the 7-8 playoff record.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

The excuses are definitely up. This offense needs to produce. This may be the most talented offense since the Killer B era.

I'm actually curious what would happen is this team really bombs this season. Art II doesn't have balls, but this city is going to get reallllllly loud if the team shits the bed. That'd make 7 years without a playoff win, only 3 playoff wins since 2010, and still the 7-8 playoff record.

If this team bombs (offensively or otherwise), nothing will really change.

They'll fire Canada and Tomlin will be given a pass because "he's got a 2nd year QB" and we'll continue to be mired in mediocrity

 

[Coastal Kev]

I find it harder and harder to be critical of the Steelers when I have the Pens & Pirates as shining examples of poorly managed franchises. Since Colbert departed, I have seen a remarkable improvement with their roster construction.

No one can predict where this years team lands, I could easily make an argument for the win total from 14 to 6. But I am leaning very heavy towards the positive total, even with Canada as OC.

I also laugh at the media who think Steelers football is passe' in today's NFL (herd, madden), it's not. In fact, Steelers football is the answer to all of the chuck and duck offenses. The key element is being aggressive early to get a lead and then implementing your power running game late.

I haven't been this excited about the team since the early 10's.

 

[xlm34]

I’ll be a lot more critical if they don’t have at least a competitive playoff game this year. The talent is there so there really aren’t any excuses.

I find it hard to be too pissed about the lack of playoff wins over the past 6 years though. Should they have won one or two? Probably. But there were rosters that shouldn’t have even sniffed a playoff spot. They were just incredibly flawed and had a lot of really unfortunate injury luck along with some early retirements or complete mental breakdowns.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I had never heard of Centre College -- it's a private school of 1,400 in Kentucky.

Centre College - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It’s a pretty good school actually. Worked with a girl who went there, she was smart as shit. Think she’s in med school now or something

 

[JTG]

I find it harder and harder to be critical of the Steelers when I have the Pens & Pirates as shining examples of poorly managed franchises. Since Colbert departed, I have seen a remarkable improvement with their roster construction.

No one can predict where this years team lands, I could easily make an argument for the win total from 14 to 6. But I am leaning very heavy towards the positive total, even with Canada as OC.

I also laugh at the media who think Steelers football is passe' in today's NFL (herd, madden), it's not. In fact, Steelers football is the answer to all of the chuck and duck offenses. The key element is being aggressive early to get a lead and then implementing your power running game late.

I haven't been this excited about the team since the early 10's.

THe Steelers front office is kind of the lone shining spot in Pittsburgh sports right now, because I think they have a good thing there and they will at least give the coaching staff the players they need. If they do that, the coaching will just show how good or bad it is.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

THe Steelers front office is kind of the lone shining spot in Pittsburgh sports right now, because I think they have a good thing there and they will at least give the coaching staff the players they need. If they do that, the coaching will just show how good or bad it is.

This season’s success will be measured by KP’s growth or lack thereof.

Not exactly a big revelation.

However, KP’s growth can be held back by Tomlin and Canada if they force him into a caretaker role and Tomlin lives in the fears he claims not to.

They need to find out if KP is their guy, and that won’t happen if they try to baby him again this season.

Either he can handle being the man or he can’t, so let’s get to finding out.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

This season’s success will be measured by KP’s growth or lack thereof.

Not exactly a big revelation.

However, KP’s growth can be held back by Tomlin and Canada if they force him into a caretaker role and Tomlin lives in the fears he claims not to.

They need to find out if KP is their guy, and that won’t happen if they try to baby him again this season.

Either he can handle being the man or he can’t, so let’s get to finding out.

Ben wasn’t asked about win or carry the offense until year 4. It’s usually year 3 you go all in on finding out about your young Qb. I don’t think we will see tons of games where Kp attempts more than 38 passes a game

 

[DanielPlainview]

Not expecting a whole lot from Pickett this year. He'll be better than last year but I expect issues from an OL that won't have much chemistry, at least in the first half of the season. I do expect Pickens to be a monster and Friermuth to be a bigger safety blanket. Hopefully Austin can stay healthy and be a good underneath option as well. Biggest questionmarks are Najee, TE2, and DJ's clutchness.

It's also hard to have any confidence in the offense when the man in charge of scheming it sucks at his job.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

I think the o line is going to be a top 10 unit. They brought in a pro bowl caliber lg. The other 4 looked really good down the stretch. I look forward to more 2 TE sets more packages with both Najaee and Warren together more play action. Seeing what Canada did with Henderson at Pitt gives is a glimpse into what he will do with Austin

 

[ChaosAgent]

I think the o line is going to be a top 10 unit. They brought in a pro bowl caliber lg. The other 4 looked really good down the stretch. I look forward to more 2 TE sets more packages with both Najaee and Warren together more play action. Seeing what Canada did with Henderson at Pitt gives is a glimpse into what he will do with Austin

Khan has put together a good team. We are down to Pickett, Canada and TJ's health. I think unless all 3 bomb (and by bomb, I mean something like Watt missing 10 games instead of 4-5) we will be a playoff team.

 

[DanielPlainview]

The OL is not likely to look good early on. Playing well as a unit even if there is individual talent takes time. You can’t replace 3/5 of it and expect a plug and go situation. Just doesn’t really happen

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Ben wasn’t asked about win or carry the offense until year 4. It’s usually year 3 you go all in on finding out about your young Qb. I don’t think we will see tons of games where Kp attempts more than 38 passes a game

I don’t mean he should be slinging the rock 40x a game.

I’m talking about letting him get the ball down the field, coming out and and letting him attack the D to open games, and trusting KP to make plays.

They can’t shelter him and be afraid KP will make mistakes.

If he’s sheltered all season he won’t grow.

It will also bite them in the ass come playoff time, because game manger QBs almost always crumble when the real season starts.

Cowher took the reins off Roth in the ‘05 playoffs and let him toss the ball around in the first half, and we know how that ended.

 

[ChaosAgent]

The OL is not likely to look good early on. Playing well as a unit even if there is individual talent takes time. You can’t replace 3/5 of it and expect a plug and go situation. Just doesn’t really happen

I don't think year to year chemistry between a starting OL is that important, but I'm open to being proven wrong if there are statistical analyses.

Do you really remember how the guy who played next to you in December 2022 likes to play in September 2023? Somehow I doubt it. The level of football increases as the year goes on anyway.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

The OL is not likely to look good early on. Playing well as a unit even if there is individual talent takes time. You can’t replace 3/5 of it and expect a plug and go situation. Just doesn’t really happen

They aren’t replacing 3 out of 5 they are replacing LG which was their biggest problem. Moore is still starting week 1

 

[bigdaddyk88]

I don’t mean he should be slinging the rock 40x a game.

I’m talking about letting him get the ball down the field, coming out and and letting him attack the D to open games, and trusting KP to make plays.

They can’t shelter him and be afraid KP will make mistakes.

If he’s sheltered all season he won’t grow.

It will also bite them in the ass come playoff time, because game manger QBs almost always crumble when the real season starts.

Cowher took the reins off Roth in the ‘05 playoffs and let him toss the ball around in the first half, and we know how that ended.

I do think they will let him go down field more I think it will out of play action a lot. He has spent all off season working on getting better playing of script and throwing on the run. He has said they are tailoring the verbiage to what he is used to

 

[Peat]

I don't think year to year chemistry between a starting OL is that important, but I'm open to being proven wrong if there are statistical analyses.

Do you really remember how the guy who played next to you in December 2022 likes to play in September 2023? Somehow I doubt it. The level of football increases as the year goes on anyway.

Why wouldn't they remember it when it's being presented as the most important thing in their lives for those months?

Not that I think it's the be all and end all here. I'm sure there's plenty of examples of offensive lines gelling quickly. Kansas replaced their entire offensive line before 2021 and finished top 5 acccording to PFF.

I'd say it's more of a known unknown as to how the unit starts out as opposed to a definite obstacle. Meyer's system appears quite quirky opposed to most NFL units too, but then you've got to balance Seumalo having a serious rep as a smart cookie.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I do think they will let him go down field more I think it will out of play action a lot. He has spent all off season working on getting better playing of script and throwing on the run. He has said they are tailoring the verbiage to what he is used to

This offense has needed PA in its book for years, but I believe that was Roth’s fault.

Not sure why we didn’t see much of it last season.