The Steelers draft picks have been signed and the offseason workout program is about to wrap up before the long break prior to training camp.
Steelers season never truly ends for Steeler Nation so while the team starts to put in the work to prepare for the 2016 NFL season we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Monday, June 13th.
Budding leader
The offseason workout programs are a chance for the rookies to get their first grasp of the playbook before training camp begins and for younger returning players to see how far they’ve come.
Mike Prisuta has Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter’s comments about how second-year linebacker Bud Dupree has advanced so far in the defense.
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"“Just like all my young guys, I want to see them get a little better than they were a year ago. He has had time to look at the stuff he did last year and he can judge himself where he is now. I catch him out there helping the young guys and the new guys on defense. He said, ‘I never thought I would be able to help somebody.’ But that show how far along he has come with this defense. He feels comfortable enough to give the other guys some knowledge of the game. That’s a beautiful thing that shows his growth.” – Joey Porter"
Aw, look at Peezy getting all proud of his guys. That’s a beautiful thing.
Pants on fire
Presidential candidate Donald Drumpf was in Pittsburgh recently campaigning and announced that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was not only endorsing him, he was going to be making an appearance at the Republican National Convention later this summer in Cleveland.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler explains that Roethlisberger quickly spoke out to the Post-Gazette to clear the air and explain that he’s not endorsing Drumpf at the convention or anywhere else for that matter. Roethlisberger keeps a pretty low national public profile so it would be odd to see him on a national stage like this.
In the same boat
There are some definite Steelers players who are about to embark on a make-or-break season in 2016. Ed Bouchette of the PPG explains that on defense linebacker Jarvis Jones and safety Shamarko Thomas are both in the same boat as far as being in the last year of their contracts and needing to produce.
Next: Steelers Training Camp Battles
Defensive coordinator Keith Butler was pretty blunt when describing the situation Jones faces this season.
"“If he performs, then fine. If he doesn’t, then find another job.” – Keith Butler"
Safety Shamarko Thomas faces the same scenario as he’s headed into his fourth season with the Steelers and hasn’t been able to put it all together on the field consistently. It’s poop or get off the pot for these two guys and by poop I mean sack quarterbacks and force turnovers.