Chris Mack's Eye Opener: The Apple & The Tree, A King for the Steelers, Holgorsen's Revenge

Apples and Trees and Such

While it unfortunately won't get him in the starting lineup any sooner, it's hilarious that the Joey Porter, Jr. apple hasn't fallen far from the Joey Porter tree at all, as exemplified in this clip from Sunday's comeback win over the Ravens, which was made possible by Porter's interception of Lamar Jackson in the Steelers' end zone.

(🎥OcksWRLD & NFL) pic.twitter.com/iNmz0EzjYC

— ML VIDEOS (@MlVideos12199) October 12, 2023

With a 0.0 QB Rating on throws in his direction, it's laughable that Porter still isn't starting and still won't be for some time, according to Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, who said on Tuesday "when the time comes, it will come."

What will be even more laugh-worthy will undoubtedly be when Porter starts to talk the same level of smack as his old man at a position that is built for elite-level smacktalk.

Reunited?

Speaking of Joey Porter Jr., his heir apparent as the best cornerback in the Big Ten and the keystone to the Penn State secondary, Kalen King, has been playing just as well if not better than Porter did a year ago.

And he'll be draft eligible next spring.

Is it waayyy too early to think about mock drafts?

Sure. But for a position group where the Steelers currently have one corner capable of truly locking down outside coverage, it wouldn't be a shame if they went corner in the 1^st Round of next year's draft. King is projected in the latest CBS Sports mock draft to go 15^th overall to the L.A. Rams, and the Steelers are projected to take another corner, TCU's Josh Newton, 25^th overall.

Let's be honest though: We know it's more likely the Steelers are picking in the mdi-teens than the mid-20s.

Holgorsen's Revenge

In what will go down as one of the wildest finishes in West Virginia football history, the Mountaineers Neal Brown'd about as hard as they've ever Neal Brown'd in the Neal Brown Era.

Looking to extend a 4-game winning streak on the road in their first conference game against new Big XII member Houston and former 'Eers head coach Dana Holgorsen, WVU was down by 11 points with just seven and a half minutes left.

Following an 11-play, 7-yard TD drive and a Cougars possession that ate just 2:17 off the clock, West Virginia somehow found themselves at midfield with just :22 left and staring down the barrel of a 4^th & 10.

Wooaaahh!!! West by-God Virginia was going to be a single win away from bowl eligibility while their hated rivals, Pitt, would still be searching for their first of the season against an FBS opponent!!

But never count out Dana Holgorsen.

So the Mountaineers go from a possible 5-1 (3-0) start that would've had them tied atop the conference with Oklahoma to a 4-2 (2-1) that plants them firmly amidst a throng of second-tier Big XII teams.

Still better than was predicted preseason, and still just two wins from bowl eligibility, but not where they could have been before Houston's improbable Hail Mary.