The Khan Artist Strikes Again
Is there anyone in the Steelers organization crushing 2023 more than General Manager Omar Khan?
Trading an expendable offensive lineman -especially one as ineffective as Kendrick Green- for anything at all is highway robbery.
Coupled with some key free agent signings and an excellent draft and, at least at this point, it has the makings of one of the best Steelers offseasons we've ever seen.
Final 53?
Trading Green the day after moving Kevin Dotson to move up multiple times in the 2024 Draft spelled out which way the Steelers would be headed at offensive line. A few other positions seemed fairly straightforward as well.
But I don't think anyone had them keeping two punters.
Undoubtedly, this has to mean Khan is working on yet another deal.
Fourth Down in the Steel City
When that move to clear one of the two punters off the roster inevitably happens, you know where to turn: Audacy Sports' Steelers podcast, "Fourth Down in the Steel City."
Josh Taylor and I -with the help of producer Greg Finley- will get you your daily dose of insight, analysis, and opinions during what should be a fascinating season.
Go subscribe now so you'll get new episodes as soon as they drop – including one later today breaking down the Kendrick Green and Kevin Dotson trades, the 53-man roster, and the skyrocketing expectations for the 2023 Steelers.
Oh, Momma…
In-between keeping up with this season's team with daily episodes of "Fourth Down in the Steel City," get ready to look back on the last of the Steelers' six Super Bowl Championships.
Specifically, I'll be focusing on the 2008 Steelers defense.
One of just four defenses in the franchise's illustrious history to lead the league in both Points Allowed and Yards Allowed in the same season (1976, 2004, & 2011 are the three others), it was immortalized not only with a Lombardi Trophy, a parade, and rings, but one of the baddest magazine covers in sports history.
2008 Steelers defenseESPN
"Oh, Momma: A Look Back at the 2008 Black & Gold Defense" will debut next Wednesday with the first half of a two-part episode featuring Pro Football Hall of Famer and coordinator of that defense, Dick LeBeau.
Hot & Hayes-ey
Ke'Bryan Hayes just will. not. stop.
After spending much of July recovering from back issues, Hayes has spent August absolutely on fire, slashing .366/.422/.683/1.105 with 6 HRs and 19 RBIs since August 8th.
Is a gaudy 48 homer/115 RBI pace to be expected regularly? No, absolutely not. But it sure would be nice to see Hayes continue even a semblance of the consistency he's found at the plate over the last three weeks a little more often.
'Duzz Tosses Shade Franklin's Way
I'll be honest: I appreciate everything Pat Narduzzi does to try and keep the flames of rivalry alive between Pitt and Penn State, at least on his program's side. As a Pittsburgher who went to Penn State, I still wish they could play every year.
But I'm also an adult who understands that Penn State doesn't need Pitt. And between trying to stack seven home games every year, not having more than one Power 5 non-conference opponent on the schedule, and reinforcing their regional rivalries with WVU, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, and others, it's not hard to understand why it's unrealistic to think it will ever be an annual game ever again.
Nice try, though, 'Duzz!
