Pittsburgh Steelers in the trenches: Line up for a quarter

Defensive Line/Edge

Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, and Javon Hargrave…please stand up! You have been called to testify on behalf of the defensive line…now, what say you? We also call for TJ Watt and Bud DuPree to join your defensive brethren in this inquisition into your performances during this first quarter of Steelers football.

Any witnesses for the defense? Any tangible evidence pertaining to their effectiveness in the games that have been played thus far? Dare we ask, are there any reasons as to why teams are averaging over 400 yds. passing and minimum 75 yds. rushing against you? You came into this season with marginal expectations which we thought was a slap in the face for this proud franchise that has cut its teeth on defensive intimidation.

Now, look at you, scraping the bottom of the rankings with the likes of, ugh, the bottom feeders that shall remain nameless! You, of first and second round pick status, where is your pride men? GUILTY, as charged according to the court of public opinion! What do you intend on doing about it, huh? You were better in 2017 with the needle pointing upwards going into this year, are you telling us that a year later that you are worse?

Heyward, step forward. You are the captain of this snarly bunch, the All-Pro, 12 sack last year man, the man that commands the most attention, so I give you the floor, now what say you?

We will do better this quarter, I will do better this quarter and if I have to go hard on my brethren to shake them from this slumber, I will. If we all have to line up by height to have a knockdown, drag-out fight in the locker room or on the practice field to find our inner toughness, then we will!

Mr. Tuitt, you of immense size, strength and potential, come forward! We expected by now your name would have been bandied about with the likes of Fletcher Cox, Cameron Jordan or the highest of highs…Aaron Donald. But your ghostly stats and performances have drawn our ire the most. You have 0, I repeat, 0 sacks and 15 tackles. Speak up man, what say you?

I submit to you no reasons nor try to lean on any excuses, I simply have to and will do better. I look around this locker room at a lot of unsatisfied players about their performances but take stock in more of what I have not done. The team has been counting on me and I myself but I just have not gotten the job done.

But let me say, my singular focus going forward is on what I can do to make our defensive unit proud again to wear the Steelers uniform! I will rise up like the Phoenix from the ashes of mediocrity to reach the heights that have been set forth before me!

Ok, ok Mr. Tuitt, save the bravado for the field and we trust we will not have to have this conversation ever again after any quarter.

Watt and DuPree, front and center, the both of you, now. Let us give you a history lesson on whose shoes you are walking in as well as the backs that you are climbing on as a part of this proud franchise. Does the name Jack Lambert ring a bell, or Greg Lloyd, maybe Jason Gildon, how about Kevin Greene, then there’s recent teammate James Harrison, even Lamarr Woodley and the man who is coaching you now that we often see with his face buried in his hands, Joey Porter?

Every last one of them had Sunday meetings at the Quarterback with such regularity that they retired or got cut countless left and right tackles. They brought a fury and meanness that rubbed off on their teammates lifting their play to a higher level.

They were so tough I can recall Greg Lloyd daring Ray Lewis from the Ravens to get off the bus for a fight. Jack Lambert scared Dallas into submission in the Super Bowls and Joey Porter, your coach, going over to the other team’s sideline to start a fight but nobody stepped to him. Tradition, intimidation but above all production.

We don’t have to mention your putrid stats to further embarrass you but we want to know, at this very hour, at this juncture going into the second quarter of the season…what say yinz?

Well, I and TJ have been talking over this past week after that humiliating loss to our divisional rivals. We had to take a hard look at ourselves as players and teammates. The conclusion was ugly, especially knowing the tradition of the edge rushers throughout the years with the franchise.

After soul searching, knowing how the team needs us to perform, we are ready to take our rightful place in the pantheon of great edge rushers. The team has shown confidence in me by exercising the fifth-year option, but to date, I have not earned it. This quarter, beginning with this game, I will be a difference maker. And Mr. Watt? As far as I am concerned, I am ready to shed my brothers’ shadow and get back on track to being the best TJ Watt that I can be.

The first quarter is behind us and it has not been a pretty one obviously, but don’t give up on us because we will never give up on ourselves. Time to put some quarterbacks in the pressure cooker to see if they can stand the heat in the kitchen. Bud and I will not quit but will lineup and win this next quarter. That’s our admission.

After all of your testimonies, we are cautiously optimistic with what you have stated and thus will support you going forward. Remember, the jury is still out, but the best way to get this next quarter started is with a win come Sunday. We know Coach Tomlin has told you one play at a time and that will lead to one game at a time.

This court is now adjourned, you are permitted to the lineup and go win this next quarter together. Line it up, go get those quarters and don’t let the season go strolling by. The Steeler fans got your back, don’t let a little tough love make you think otherwise.