Steelers Rookies, 2015 Playoffs, LeBeau Month

The NFL offseason has officially begun and as we prepare for combines, free agency, and the draft Steelers season never officially ends. We’ll be busy looking around for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Wednesday, Feb. 4^th.

Rookies Shining

Mike Prisuta details five times during the 2014 season in which he says the rookie class shined. The first example was in the January 3^rd Wild Card loss to Baltimore, rookie wide receiver Martavis Bryant caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, earning him the Joe Greene Great Performance Award as the Steelers’ Rookie of the Year.

The defensive rookies also shined in games late in the year. Rookie defensive end Stephon Tuitt hustled after Jamaal Charles in the 20-12 win over Kansas City to force a fumble recovered by Vince Williams. And rookie nose tackle Daniel McCullers, a sixth-round “project pick” started his first NFL game on a Monday night 27-24 win over Tennessee, playing 13 of 40 defensive snaps. The future seems bright with this class indeed.

Playoffs? We talking about Playoffs?

Before the Patriots have even had their championship parade we’ve already started looking forward to next season. ESPN’s Scott Brown speculates on whether or not the Steelers, who finished 2014 at 11-5 and AFC North Champions, will be a repeating playoff team in 2015.

ESPN NFL Insider Mike Sando projects the Steelers will be next year’s No. 2 seed in the playoffs, behind the Patriots, of course. He has the Colts and Broncos rounding out the rest of the division winners with Baltimore and San Diego capturing the Wild Card spots. What’s funny is he basically puts the Ravens in by default, not for any confidence in them citing that the Dolphins would be the better pick aside from their tendency to fade late in the season.

Dick LeBeau Month

When a city honors a person they typically get a “key” to the city and a day named in their honor. That wasn’t sufficient enough for the Pittsburgh City Council to honor former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Robert Zullo from the PPG reports that Tuesday afternoon the council declared the entire month of February as Dick LeBeau Month.

LeBeau was joined in the celebration by his family members and former players including James Harrison and Brett Keisel. Keisel spoke on LeBeau’s behalf and declared that LeBeau will be remembered as one of the greatest defensive coaches ever.

"“But why James is here and why I am here is because of what he did for us off the field. He was much needed for a group of guys who were wild and crazy and could have easily went the other way. I will forever be grateful for his influence in my life. I love you to death, coach.” – Brett Keisel"

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