U mad, bro?: Quarterback concerns; stadium name-change anger; RB depth; Pirates draft discord
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We’ve had a week off from “U mad, bro?” because I was on vacation. As a result, we’ve got a ton of angst built up.
So I thought it would be best to release a bit of the building pressure on my inbox and my Twitter mentions before they pop.
Their tough times are your gain. Here’s an early edition of “U mad, bro?”
We begin with Michael. He was a big fan of my recent Steelers training camp predictions.
“You are an idiot. You should disappear in one of the glorious waterways that run through the almighty city of steel(ers). You are a fool. To be polite!”
I don’t know, Michael. That didn’t seem very polite to me. You called me an idiot, a fool and wished my death via drowning in the Monongahela.
What are you like when you are impolite?
Joe didn’t like it when Mark Madden and I recently suggested that the Pirates drafted shortstop Termarr Johnson in the first round with an eye toward having a replacement for whenever Oneil Cruz leaves town.
The notion that the position that the Pirates drafted has anything to do with anyone on their current roster. MLB draft is about best player, not filling a positional need. Drafting Johnson had absolutely zero to do with how they feel about Cruz.
— Joe (@LasSalamancas21) July 25, 2022
You’re right. You Pirates futurists are always right. Despite 30 years of the Pirates proving you wrong.
They’ve acquired Cruz, Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero and now Johnson. They still have Kevin Newman, too. And they are all going to be the shortstop of the future, at the same time.
It might get confusing when they ban the shift, though, huh?
Listen to the clip again, Joe. I said Cruz will play shortstop until this Johnson kid is ready. Then they’ll trade Cruz. Which is what they always do. It’s not commentary on how they feel about Cruz as a player. It’s commentary on their business plan.
Which marks like you always buy, for some reason. Open your ears … and your eyes.
Dave has a thought on the Steelers QB situation. He thinks the Steelers positioning Mason Rudolph as the second quarterback on the depth chart is a phony attempt to build his trade value.
“Is it possible that all this bluster about Pickett vs. Trubisky vs. (yikes) Rudolph is really an elaborate play to get something for Rudolph in a trade? (A decent backup running back comes to mind as something that would ruin my sleep if I ran the Steelers).
Maybe Pickett being ready is why they can pretend Rudolph ever will be.
I hope so.”
I’d hope so, too, Dave. But I really don’t think that there’s a “let’s try to make Rudolph look good” smokescreen agenda here.
I mean, sure. Every team is going to try to pump up whatever asset they have as much as they can. But, as I’ve previously said when this notion has been floated by fans, no team is going to reevaluate Rudolph’s tape based on reports they read out of Steelers minicamp.
The Steelers are going to get a third-day pick for Rudolph — at best — regardless of what position on the depth chart they claim he has in minicamp.
They know it. The rest of the league knows it.
Speaking of that backup running back situation, here is an email from Jim on that front.
“Why the Steelers think that they don’t need a much more NFL capable and proven RB to automatically reduce the load on Harris for an average of about 12 carries per game is a head scratcher. Even more critical will be when the wheels do predictably come off Harris. Then we will have to suffer through ‘Benny Snell Football’ … whatever that is? Based on watching Snell run the past few seasons it’s apparently averaging about 2 yards a carry and frequently getting creamed by a wave of tacklers who meet him at the line of scrimmage.”
Granted, Jim sent this email before the news that the Steelers signed a running back Tuesday — Jeremy McNichols, formerly of the Tennessee Titans. But he may just be a body and not so much viewed as an upgrade over Snell.
You’re right, though. I’d love to see the Steelers get another complementary back for Harris. But if they don’t, they can still lighten the load by getting the ball to other outlets in their passing game more often. Harris doesn’t need to have 74 receptions (second on the team last year) to the tune of just 6.3 yards per catch on dump-downs.
Or, as Chase Claypool pointed out, be less methodical and more aggressive offensively to shorten drives.
Finally, we still aren’t done complaining about the Heinz Field name change to Acrisure Stadium. A guy named Gary sent his email titled “Identity Cri$i$.”
“The naming rights revenue should go back to the taxpayers that funded it and technically own the stadium. Maybe the Steelers could even refund the seating licenses.
But this is all about sports/corporate greed just like the $26 beer. This former season ticket holder relinquished my seats when the seating license came to be.
There is life after sports….”
Well, Gary, if there is life after sports, then let me suggest you find one. Because for a guy who claims to be over sports, you sure are obsessing over a rather inconsequential topic.
Ooops! Wait. Before we go, it looks like Michael is back for more.
“Your job is to be critical?? Do you live in the city? Do you know what holds this place together? Are you human? How old are you!? Does not matter! Because, you don’t know what matters. Get off your journey to make your career in writing because frankly you (stink).
On the wagon or off. We will vote you off, starting tomarrow. Did you ever even play one down in a football game ? Did you? For real. And for who because I know when this conversation goes public, I’m Pittsburgh!!”
Let me try to respond to your questions point-by-point, Michael.
“Your job is to be critical??”: Yes. Actually. It is.
“Do you live in the city?” I do. Hopefully on the opposite side of town from wherever you live.
“Do you know what holds this place together?”: Near as I can tell, salads with fries, giant bottles of ketchup and unresolved anger that the 1970s came to an end.
“Are you human?”: According to Ancestry.com, yes, I am.
“How old are you!?”: Old enough to know I shouldn’t be responding to this email.
“On the wagon or off. We will vote you off, starting tomarrow”: When is “tomarrow” and where do I vote? Can I vote for myself?
“Did you ever even play one down in a football game? Did you? For real”: I played flag football last Sunday. Does that count? I skinned my knee really badly to prove it. For real.
“I know when this conversation goes public I’m Pittsburgh!!”: Well, it’s public now, and I’m sure Pittsburgh is proud to know you are on its side, Michael. I sure am.