First Call: Steelers’ Highsmith praised; RMU hockey players unload; Pitt, Penn State Hall of Fame nominees
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Thursday’s “First Call” has an odd honor for Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith, Hall of Fame nominations for Pitt and Penn State greats and Marc-Andre Fleury back in the crease for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Plus, the Robert Morris hockey teams get to air their grievances against the university president who cut their programs.
Can’t sign off on this one
NFL.com published a list of one “underappreciated” player per team. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith was the Steelers’ nominee.
Sorry, I can’t go there. If anything, I’d go the other way.
Well, sorta. I can’t call Highsmith overrated. That wouldn’t be accurate either.
I would suggest there is perhaps too much presumption in Steeler Nation that he is going to jump right into the starting lineup this year and make us all forget Bud Dupree. Because that sure didn’t happen last year.
The Steelers won only one game down the stretch after Dupree got hurt during a victory over the Ravens on Dec. 2 at Heinz Field. And Highsmith was the starter during that time.
But here is the argument advanced by writer Cynthia Frelund:
“In his rookie season, the third-rounder made a tackle on nearly 10 percent of his snaps (9.9 percent tackle rate). This was the second-highest rate among edge defenders last season (min. 400 snaps). While I don’t expect his rate to stay that high…I do expect big things to continue.
“The two main reasons for that: 1) In terms of his speed in the first 3 yards traveled, Highsmith ranked in the top 10 percent in 2020; and 2) his hips stayed facing the quarterback even after contact at a rate in the top 15 percent (this helps predict recovery and pursuit of pressure).”
Those are great stats. Anything in there about sacks, though? Because Highsmith is going to need a few of those. He had two all of last year.
I love that Highsmith is smart, steady and efficient. But you need some splash at outside linebacker. And I haven’t seen it yet. That doesn’t mean his talent won’t manifest eventually. It just means I think “underappreciated” is a bit of an odd tag for him.
Unproven? Yes. Uncertain? That’s fair. Unknown? That’ll work.
But not “underappreciated.” Nose tackle Tyson Alualu may be a better fit for that tag.
Like the old days
It’s always fun to say Pitt and Penn State in the same sentence and have good flashbacks.
Some popular ex-players from both schools are on the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. It was published Wednesday.
Former Nittany Lions linebacker LaVar Arrington (‘99), linebacker Paul Posluszny (‘06) and guard Steve Wisniewski (‘88) have been included.
Former Pitt quarterback Matt Cavanaugh (‘77) and running back Craig “Iron Head” Heyward (‘87) are up for vote as well. So is former West Virginia Mountaineer defensive back Aaron Beasley (‘95) and head coach Jim Carlen.
The ballots will be emailed to more than 12,000 National Football Foundation members and current Hall of Famers, who submit their votes to the NFF’s Honors Courts. The class is expected to be announced early in 2022. Those selected will be inducted during the 64th annual NFF awards dinner on Dec. 6, 2022.
Former Steelers linebacker Levon Kirkland (Clemson, ‘92) and quarterback-turned-wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (Indiana, ‘02) are also up for consideration.
In the dunking booth
Embattled Robert Morris president Dr. Chris Howard spent an hour Tuesday night in a virtual meeting with angry members of the Robert Morris hockey teams.
By the time it was over, he probably felt like a goaltender fighting off slapshots during a 60-minute power play.
Players from the men’s and women’s teams spent most of the call venting their frustrations about why their programs were eliminated without warning last week and why there appears to be no hope to keep the teams afloat through fundraising efforts.
It was the first time the players had a chance to speak with Howard since his decision. And let’s just say none of them was worried about going to the box for roughing.
Via audio of the meeting obtained by TribLIVE.com, players on the call told Howard that they felt he was “unempathetic,” “disrespectful,” “unacceptable,” “ridiculous” and “cruel.”
That was the nice stuff.
Others asked Howard, “How do you look in the mirror?” A men’s player frustrated with what he felt was a lack of transparency in Howard’s responses said, “I have a question, but if you are going to give me any more of this political (expletive), don’t bother answering.”
At the outset of the call, Howard tried to express sympathy for the emotions that the players were enduring. One women’s player later responded by saying, “You said that you understand our grief and our pain. For one, I hope you don’t. And for two, I don’t think you do.”
I’d say that was a walk-off moment. But there were, um, 50 minutes after that.
Oof. It was rough. I would’ve said, “Throw in the towel!” But I heard Howard cut all of the athletic department bath linens from the budget, too.
Back in the saddle again
After being named a Vezina Trophy finalist for the first time, Marc-Andre Fleury was back between the pipes for the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night. He sat during Game 1 of the team’s playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, and the Avs peppered Robin Lehner, 7-1.
In Game 2, Fleury was tested quite a bit as well, especially early. While the Avs’ shot total wasn’t extremely high — just 25 in a game that went to overtime — Fleury stopped a number of quality chances over the first two periods.
But it was Colorado who netted the winner in the extra session on a power play.
MOOSE WITH THE OT WINNER! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/D8tllS6rGi
— NHL (@NHL) June 3, 2021
That was Mikko Rantanen at the 2:07 mark. The Avalanche have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven second-round series.