Ivan was a giant in my eyes because he embodied many of the characteristics I hoped to be better at and grow into as I progressed through life. Pragmatic but optimistic. Serious but with a funny streak. Welcoming to others but intensely loyal to those in his original orbit.

On the website, everyone always wanted to raise their game a little bit when Ivan was involved in a conversation. To try to be a little more thoughtful with their analysis, a bit more crisp with their writing, and definitely to leave the ad hominum nonsense at the door.

Ivan brought people together. In my small little sandbox of the website, that meant bringing more readers into the site and making more people feel emboldened and safe to share their thoughts in a respectful way.

When I asked Ivan to write for the preseason magazines we did for three years, I learned through the stories he shared in his pieces that Ivan was the type of guy everyone knew and respected, no matter the neighborhood, no matter the campus, no matter the setting.

This impression has been strengthened in my cherished conversations with Ivan’s friend Mike Silverstein, who explained to me just recently that Ivan was able to connect him to a whole new wide range of fellow Yinzers even decades later.

Even though we never got to meet in person, I certainly felt like I knew Ivan. We talked like friends, but I always made a point to treat him like an elder whose respect I had to earn. I cherished our phone calls over the years, and I am especially thankful that Keith Thomas alerted me to the importance of trying to reach out a few months ago when Ivan was not feeling well. On every call we would talk football first and foremost, but he would ask about my life, my girlfriend (and now wife), and he would always have a new story to share about his daughter. Then we’d get back to football and I’d learn something new, or reconsider something I was passionate about with that year’s team or upcoming opponent.

So even though we never met, and even though it’s been awhile since I’ve been involved with the whole Steelers fan writing community, I say from the bottom of my heart that I loved the man.  I couldn’t be more appreciative of everything he taught me about the game, about how to tell stories, and about how to be a man at a time in my 20s when I was craving for role models just like him.

RIP Ivan and thank you for everything you meant to me.

His name on Behind the Steel Curtain was Rick(VA), and he was a regular contributor. Mine was HomerJ, and so was I. We were both rock solid Steeler fans.

He was from the East End of Pittsburgh. And so was I.

We were both living in the DC area, and we decided to take in a Steeler game together at one of the many Steeler bars in the area. 

It turned out we grew up in the same general area at about the same time, that his brother was a classmate of mine, and many of his closest friends in the DC area were high school friends and classmates of mine. Some of us had been friends since grade school. There was a strong connection.

Ivan and I grew up during the time of the great Civil Rights movement, when there was so much hope. Ivan, the introspective football player, navigating his way through high school and college as a black kid, seeking new opportunities. For me, the world brought opportunities my parents never had. Both of us had done relatively well professionally, 

And now, forty-some years later, we were able to reflect on our lives – the parallels and the differences, how race, class, and so many other factors came into play. And, from day one, we felt comfortable talking about these things with a liberating sense of honesty.

Ours was a deep and abiding friendship, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were the river that ran through it.

Even before we met at that Steelers’ bar, we knew from one others’ writings that we shared the values that are the hallmarks of Rooney U: hard work, loyalty, acceptance, dedication, teamwork, and using the platform of sports for the greater good.

We both loved the stories of Ray Kemp and Bill Nunn and Mike Tomlin and Lowell Perry. And how the Chief had been part-owner of the Pittsburgh Crawfords. And Ivan had gone to Temple and played football with Randy Grossman. Equality and breaking down barriers was important to both of us, and was a recurring theme of our years. 

We would meet Sundays at Steeler bars on Capitol Hill, Crystal City, Landover, Fairfax, and wherever—to take notes, compare notes, cheer, swear, and curse Al Riveron to hell. We didn’t like that Vontaze guy either. 

We would go to Steeler watch parties and watch playoffs together at other folks’ homes.

We would bounce ideas off one another and proof-read stuff before submitting it. 

During the off-season or whenever, we would see stuff on the web and forward it to each other. 

We only attended one Steeler game – a pre-season contest at FedEx Field or whatever it was called at the time. 

But Sunday afternoons, half a dozen of us from the area would find a place to gather and watch the Steelers, down a bacon cheeseburger and a beer or some iced tea, before heading home.

Ivan and I made an annual habit of heading up to Latrobe to visit Steeler training camp. The first couple of years, it would be a day trip from DC on a weekday. 

More recently, we decided to do Friday Night Lights, the one Friday that the Steelers practice under the lights at Latrobe High School Stadium. 

We’d drive up Friday morning, take in the night practice, stay in a motel, watch the Saturday afternoon practice at St. Vincent, and then head back.

Our last trip was August, 2019. 

We’d rendezvous, as we always did, in the parking lot at Montgomery Mall outside DC, where Ivan dropped off his car, and then headed off in my Honda Accord on our three hour, 180 mile journey to Greater Latrobe Senior High School.

I loved our road trips, because we talked history and sociology, politics and race, and did so with complete honesty and trust. 

Our conversations were deep, often with periods of silence, when we were both in thought.

As we headed west on I-70 in Maryland, we talked about the great contradictions that are our nation and our people. That a nation in many places built on slave labor could elect a black man President. And how there were a thousand contradictions like that in our past and present. 

“Nothing is ever as good as it seems,” I said. “And nothing is ever as bad as it seems.”

We had planned our weekend, and would be meeting Rebecca, who lives in Squirrel Hill, at practice in Latrobe. We would be staying at a Residence Inn in Monroeville (everything near Latrobe was sold out) and would have breakfast Saturday morning in Squirrel Hill with Rebecca.

Ivan started talking about Squirrel Hill, a neighborhood he always loved.

“As a black kid,” he said, “I always felt safe in Squirrel Hill. Sometimes safer than I felt in Homewood.”

He then referred to a New York Times article by an African-American former Pittsburgher who wrote that Squirrel Hill was exactly the kind of place a white nationalist would target because it was so diverse and so accepting. It was the kind of place that haters would hate.

A peaceful place that became a killing field, he said. The kind of contradiction that is America. 

I then told him how, on the day that my family’s synagogue became that killing field, I was at a college football game in Youngstown, watching an openly gay biracial football player breaking barriers. Along with Jake’s family, I was welcomed before the game into YSU President Jim Tressel’s private box. And two hours later, as we sat in the stands, Jake’s mom broke the news to me that there had been a mass shooting in Pittsburgh. She asked if I knew anything about Tree of Life, and I said my grandpa had become a member in 1882. 

“Contradiction,” Ivan said. “your friend breaking down barriers, and yet hate comes back and people die on the same day.”

We talked, listened to XM on the radio, stopped for a late lunch at the Eat ‘n Park on Route 30 in Latrobe, and then headed to the high school for the Steelerfest that preceded the Friday night practice. 

Ivan and I ran into Jon Kolb at Steelerfest. First met Jon 47 years ago. Blonde haired kid from Ponca City, OK, graduate of Oklahoma State University, offensive lineman for the Steelers, and would soon finish fourth in one of those televised World’s Strongest Man competitions. I covered the Steelers back then, but didn’t think this cowboy Adonis and I had much in common, to be honest. Oh, was I wrong!

Jon played for 11 years, and was an assistant coach for another 11. During that time, he picked up advanced degrees in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Therapy, and opened up a rehab center for seniors with hip and knee problems, for wounded vets, and for injured athletes. He’s been deeply involved in charity work in the Pittsburgh area, and he teaches at a nearby state University.

Friday afternoon, Ivan and I introduced Jon to our friend Rebecca, who headed up the Pittsburgh Camerata, and we got into a discussion of how Jon’s kids got him and his wife into opera, and his favorites. So this cowboy brute is not only into the healing arts, but also the performing arts.

An hour after our conversation, Jon spied us going into the grandstand to watch practice, and he came up to us to let us in on a deep, dark secret.

“I might love opera, but I can’t sing. In my very first elementary school Christmas pageant, I was a sheep. Everybody else had a singing role, but I couldn’t sing a note, so they had me just stand there and play the sheep.”

We all have our secrets, but I never would have guessed there was a sheep in Kowboy Kolb’s closet! Four Super Bowl rings, and a remarkable guy!

Practice was the usual three-ring circus, hard to follow, but there were flashes of excellence. Much of the time was spent looking at the roster sheet, trying to figure out who was who. 

When it was over, we headed to Monroeville, for a good night’s rest.

Had breakfast Saturday at Pamela’s on Murray Avenue amid the joy and diversity of the Squirrel Hill that I love. For nearly 40 years, Pam and Gail have been cooking up Pittsburgh’s best breakfast, and the Obama’s even invited them to the White House, so wonderful are their crepe-style hotcakes.

A trio consisting of two well-groomed young gay men and their girlfriend sat across from us. At the table next to them was a Jewish family, who pointed out pictures on the wall of high school friends and summer camps of years gone by. There were black families and interracial groups. Members of one African-American family, waiting in line for a table, wore “Stronger than Hate” T-shirts. The vibe, like the young gay man sitting across from us, was fabulous.

Pamela’s is one block from the church Fred Rogers attended, three blocks from Rebecca’s home, and maybe ten blocks from the Tree of Life Synagogue, where I was Bar Mitzvah.

After a great breakfast with Rebecca, we said goodbye to her. Ivan and I headed to the Steelers training came in Latrobe. But on the way, we stopped at Unity Cemetery, to pay respects at the grave of our spiritual mentor Fred Rogers. It’s only two miles away, down a winding road. 

At Steeler practice, we saw dozens of fans wearing “Stronger than Hate” t-shirts. The sun was shining. The wind was gentle. The Steelers were practicing among the green hills of Westmoreland County. All was right with the world. 

Heading back to DC after practice, Ivan checked his phone and told me the terrible news of a mass shooting in El Paso. I can’t adequately express the depth of sadness and fear that I felt for my country. Words fail.

The very contradictions that we had talked about for two days had struck us once again. And our conversation turned again to our spiritual mentor, Fred Rogers.

We both thought of “the helpers.” Fred Rogers told children that at frightening and terrible times, it is good to look for the helpers, because there are always people willing to help. 

And then it dawned on us that we can’t all look for the helpers. Some of us have to take on the responsibility of being one of the helpers. That we were the ones who had to be of help. We were the ones who needed to reach out and comfort others and speak out, even if we were broken and afraid.

We had to set the example. We had to be the example.

Ivan was a remarkably kind and wise man. He knew the contradictions of life, and was determined that his life would be a triumph of hope and achievement over pessimism and experience. 

His moral compass was unfailing, and love that he had for his family and friends, especially for his daughter Christine, was whole and complete. 

The Cole Family Christmas Party was a highlight of the holiday season. Ivan’s wonderful family, both his biological family and his logical family, would gather at the Reston Rec Center for endless portions of Italian food and conversation and music and line dancing and smiles and laughs and more conversation.

Half a dozen of us from Peabody High School in Pittsburgh would get together at one table and spend hours reminiscing, catching up, and talking. Fifty and sixty years ago, we were kids together, long before society had tried to teach us to hate. I can’t fully describe how much it meant to me to reconnect with my guys. Of the many gifts Ivan gave us, this one means the most to me. Our talks were often about race, completely honest, and non-judgmental. Truth, honesty, and acceptance across the racial divide are rare Christmas gifts, indeed. We all learned so much from one another. 

I always had trouble finding the Reston Rec Center, so, after making a wrong turn on my way to December’s party, I called Ivan for directions. He straightened me out.

The Peabody gang arrived early (and stayed late, as always) and we spent the night in conversation. Ivan didn’t make it to the party, and Christine mentioned that he had just taken a fall and needed to be checked out at the hospital. We assumed it was a bump or a bruise. 

It turned out he had broken his tail bone, and needed surgery.

The recuperation brought complications, bedsores and a terrible infection.

The infection meant additional surgeries. 

For four months, Christine watched over her Dad and cared for him in his infirmity, just as lovingly as he had cared for her as a child. Friends came to visit, both at the hospital and at the rehab center. Rebecca flew down twice from Pittsburgh. 

Then, with COVID-19 spreading, with hospitals and nursing homes in lockdown, Ivan’s last days were in isolation. 

We would speak by phone, and I called him three days before he died.

He was alert, but tired, and his voice was weak. 

As we were about to say good-bye for the last time, I told him once again what I told him the last time I saw him at the rehabilitation center. That he had meant so much to me. That our friendship had enriched our lives. That he had made me a better person. That I loved him very much. And that I would never forget him. 

And so I will carry on rooting for our Steelers, as much as I will miss him, because Ivan will want me to do so. And he will be watching over me, or be at my side. 

Here we go, Steelers. Here we go.

Good-bye, dear friend.  

We continued to communicate through the medium of BTSC articles and comments until one summer Ivan, an ex-pat Pittsburgher, expressed an interest in driving up from Virginia and attending training camp. I invited him to stay with my husband and me. Although my husband is lamentably uninterested in the NFL, he is interested in people, and he was also curious to meet Ivan.

Ivan showed up at our house the afternoon before we were scheduled to go to camp. I’m guessing he was, like me, slightly apprehensive as to what he’d gotten himself into, but mostly was excited to finally meet in person. The rest is history. Ivan was a “brother from another mother,” as my kids would say.

We talked far into the night and discovered many more things in common than just the Steelers, despite our very different backgrounds and experiences. A surprising common passion was human trafficking, (or more precisely, the victims thereof) but for anyone who knew Ivan’s outsized heart, it would be no surprise at all. Another common interest, one that is perhaps more obvious, was a concern for the well-being of NFL players and consequently in CTE and other issues they face.

Ivan came to Pittsburgh several more times for training camp, coming with his brother Andy and/or Mike Silverstein. We would meet up in Latrobe, and each time there was an instant feeling of connection. Although what brought us together was the Steelers, what kept us connected was much more than that.

One of the results of our friendship was this website. Both of us were interested in writing in-depth pieces, and were distressed by the overall sports journalism trend to cater to the presumed tiny attention span of most readers. We felt there was a niche for a site dedicated to long-form opinion and/or analysis pieces. It turns out we weren’t entirely wrong, if by “niche” you mean a small number of highly appreciative people.

It also turns out it is quite exhausting to keep up a site and generate thoughtful content on a regular basis, and we ran out of steam a few years ago. I’ve been loathe to officially kill the site, though, as there is so much in the archives which is worth reading. It won’t surprise anyone who knew his work that the majority of the timeless articles were written by Ivan. If you haven’t been here before, please check them out. You can search by his name and get a list of everything he wrote. I am going to keep the site alive for another year so that people can do so.

That’s the history. As far as Ivan the person, I’m sure that each of us penning our thoughts had a somewhat different experience of him, as he was such an incredibly multi-faceted person.

My experience was of one of the most thought-full people I’ve ever met. He didn’t just look at an issue from the obvious angle, but asked himself why there was a divergence of opinion on it and therefore what might be missing in his first reaction. In these degenerate days this seems to be a rare trait. He was kind, but didn’t suffer fools gladly. He believed in facing facts, particularly facts about oneself.

As a consequence he was very involved in a ministry which held retreats for men to help them be better husbands and fathers. One of the common issues was a problem with/addiction to pornography. Part of what Ivan did as a team leader was to help the men at the retreats to connect the dots to the human trafficking aspects of pornography. Like so many of the causes and issues Ivan was interested in, it was the aspect of the dehumanization of the victims which particularly distressed him.

He was eloquent on this subject in regards to NFL players as well. One of the projects we often spoke of in the past several years but which was destined to never be realized was an exploration of how the modern sports environment turns the players into nothing more than commodities. For Ivan, it has uncomfortable echoes of slavery. It is a great pity he never found the time to work on this—it would have made a book well worth reading.

One of the aspects of Ivan which has always impressed me is the diversity, for lack of a less loaded word, of his friends, family and acquaintances. On a number of visits over the years to Virginia, including my last sad visit in the hospital in early March, I encountered many of them. They were from all walks of life, of all colors, and were all interesting and a pleasure to meet. The Cole Family Christmas party, which Mike talks about in his tribute, was something of a revelation. Once again, this is no surprise to anyone who knew Ivan and the vast range of his interests and activities.

It’s been difficult in the past few days (and to be honest, months, once I realized just how serious his condition was) to imagine a world without Ivan. I haven’t quite wrapped my head around it yet. The one thing I know for sure is that it is going to be a poorer one. My heart goes out to his daughter Christine and her family, his brother Andy, and all his extended family. To all of you, my prayers and thoughts are with you.

And to his extended “family” which are the rest of us, let’s try to pay it forward. It’s surely the best way to honor his memory.

Farewell, Ivan, and Godspeed.

The stories of how his life became intertwined with some of ours, and what he meant us, can be found in various locations. My piece and one by Mike Silverstein are below. I know that several other people are writing about him for other sites, and when I get locations for them I will update this with links to the other articles.

I hope those of you reading this will also take the opportunity to look at some of Ivan’s work. I’m going to link a few of my favorites below, but there is much more available.

Training Camp for Fans Part 8: What is the Steeler Way?:

Comments on the Tree of Life shooting:

Training Camp for Steeler Fans, 2018:

The Real Issues Facing the 2018 Steelers:

The NFL’s Problem:

Packers@Steelers—Something for Everyone:

Pittsburgh Peculiarities, Part One:

Knowing What We Don’t Know, Part V—Coaching in the Fog of War:

Roasting the Goose, Part 3

photo Karl Rosen, Steelers.com

by Ivan Cole

Question #6: What might the path to a championship look like for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019? 

Though the 53-man roster and practice squad are basically set as I begin to write this, matters still feel as if they are in a state of flux. Nonetheless, the major disclaimers have been accounted for and most questions concerning how this particular team will address this season’s challenges have either been answered or clarified. The purpose here is to frame the issues that may make the difference between success and disappointment in the coming weeks. 

Talent, or specifically its lack, will not be the determining factor for 2019. If anything, with one glaring exception (tight end), the Steelers have, broadly speaking, an embarrassment of riches across the roster. When I have been asked about this team over the past weeks my response has been consistent: “They’re loaded”. 

Consider who got cut or were considered to be on the bubble. What other year would players the caliber of Eli Rogers and Johnny Holton be cut (with Holton being eventually retained on the practice squad), not for substandard performance but a lack of spectacular play? The same could be said regarding Brian Allen, with Marcus Allen and Trey Edmunds salvaged to the practice squad. Just as interesting is that there was conversation about pushing out Roosevelt Nix, Tyler Matakevich, Artie Burns and Anthony Chickillo, though there has been no discernible drop off in performance (and in the case of Burns, a return to a higher level). Sutton Smith is just gone. 

The perception that talent would be the problem centers upon the departure of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The media, particularly the national media with many fans obediently following their lead, decided that this would be a crippling blow. This reflects, in my opinion, a shallow understanding of what is important to championship success. 

In Part II of this series I advanced the theory that, apart from their level of talent and entertainment value, some players are more essential to team success than others. In other words, their absence due to injury is more problematic. You could be forgiven if, based upon the promotional hype surrounding the concept of the Killer ‘Bs’, concluding that Bell, Brown and Ben Roethlisberger were equally valuable to the fortunes of the team. They are not.

In Part V I point out that the efforts of some of the greatest running backs to ever play the game did not, generally speaking, translate into championship appearances or trophies. Haven’t done any research, but the impact of wide receivers would seem to me intuitively to be even less. 

I don’t want to hit on this too hard. It would have been better to have them than not. And if you do have them you would be foolish to not maximize their ability to produce. But it is on this point that an illusion exists which would encourage us to believe that their outsized contributions makes them  essential to an extent they are not. The Patriots, just to cite one easy example, have managed to win championships with running backs and receivers that are more pedestrian. Absent AB and Bell, the Pittsburgh front line skills players are quite good. 

Offense 

Quarterback 

I outlined my thoughts about this position in Part V, but let’s review some of the events of the 2010 season which may add some useful perspective. 

If Steeler Nation has developed some unrealistic expectations about the quarterback position, this may well have been its genesis. There were four QBs in camp: Ben, Byron Leftwich, who was viewed as a legitimate Franchise quarterback in his own right based on his previous experience with Jacksonville, Charlie Batch, a solid, starter who helmed Detroit previously and Dennis Dixon, a bright young talent with plenty of potential. 

Ben was slated to serve a six-game suspension at the beginning of the year (later reduced to four). The belief was that Leftwich would be the logical backup, with Dixon being # 3 and Batch being the odd man out. Batch wasn’t even getting any reps in practices or games. Probably no disrespect intended, but whoever the selected replacement was would need to have plenty of reps. Then both Leftwich and Dixon suffered injuries, and Batch, 4th on the depth chart, led the team to a 4-1 start on their way to a Super Bowl appearance. 

Who cares who is #2 behind Ben? 

As for Ben, what should be encouraging for Steelers fans is that there is no need to over-compensate for the absence of AB and Bell. In fact, if the team that has been constructed for 2019 can deliver at or near its potential, particularly on defense, then all that is necessary is for Roethlisberger to remain healthy and perform at a typical (for him) level, nothing more. 

The special challenges for Ben will be how quickly he establishes the necessary rapport with a very young receiver corps, as well as having to take on an atypical leadership role with this group. Some of this has already been occurring over the course of the summer with Ben being present in the receiver’s room in a mentoring capacity. 

I believe that the role of the offense is returning to something more resembling Steelers tradition, where success is more of a shared enterprise of the offense in partnership with a highly effective defense. This is a shift from the notion that the offense must carry the team and consistently generate a high level of points, which also fed the perception that AB and Bell were essential to the team’s success. 

Because of the bias to focus primarily on the so-called skill positions it may pass unnoticed that the winning difference with this team will probably be the offensive line. It is not mere partisan hype to assert that they may well be the best in a business, which if you have been following this team for the last decade at least is a rather astonishing paradigm shift in itself.

Specifically, this unit serves to minimize two vulnerabilities that could derail the offense: They keep Ben both upright and with time to maximize his strengths, and they can facilitate a balanced attack that is not solely reliant on Ben’s performance. This second point demands emphasis in that it must be accepted that part of Ben’s character is to be tempted by low percentage decisions which result in ineffectiveness at best, disaster at worse. 

Overall, beyond the threat of injury the offense is solid. Even at tight end there is a world of difference between being thin, which is the real issue here, and being incompetent. Keep in mind that, for reasons that I don’t fully understand, Steeler Nation has something of a fetish about tight ends; Heath nostalgia, Gronk envy, who knows? 

The bottom line for this offense is that unless what is brewing on the other side of the ball is a complete mirage, all that will be necessary for success will be to stay in their lane. They must be capable of a balanced attack, which is not the same as saying that they should feel duty bound to do so in any specific circumstance. If the defense delivers on its promise the offense will not have to score as many points, and may have more opportunities and better field position in order to do so. If they can continue to deliver upon their success in the red zone, especially touchdowns, they will be fine. 

Defense 

It is on this side of things where the excitement and the possibilities lie. With the understanding that what passes for defensive dominance is defined down in this era, I am both fascinated and encouraged by what Tomlin and his staff is attempting to do. It remains to be seen if and when they jell, but there can be no question that both the talent and depth is present. If it happens it will probably come as a surprise to many observers. Like the offensive line, defensive excellence can be overlooked, due perhaps to fantasy football values. 

Defensive line 

This group has been overshadowed by both the offensive line and whomever plays behind them, whether they be good or bad. But—and I don’t say this lightly—when healthy there have been moments when this group has been virtually unblockable.  Just as we don’t talk nearly enough about the improvement in red zone effectiveness by the offense, too little is being said about the Steelers pass rush, best in the league I think, and not solely due to linebacker play. 

For me the most surprising and encouraging story is that of Dan McCullers. Frankly, referencing back to scapegoating, count me as one who thought Big Dan was a failed experiment, no matter what John Mitchell said. Overall, this group is on a trajectory to be in a conversation comparing them in ways with Smith/Hampton/Keisel, as well as the original Steel Curtain, as they display positive characteristics relative to both groups. 

Linebackers 

As we know, Mike Tomlin is not one given to making a lot of promiscuous statements of praise, which makes comments he made over the summer concerning rookie Devin Bush and the duo of T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree all the more significant. 

The need to accommodate the potential and depth of this position group was such that its impact has been felt across the entire roster. 

Secondary 

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think the work that is being done with this group makes me feel that someone is playing possum. Solve the challenge of shutdown or takeaway (whichever comes first) and a clear path to a Lombardi presents itself. The pieces they possess for this puzzle are, like the linebackers, qualified and deep. The important question remains—if and when will they jell. 

Summary 

As stated earlier, talent, though crucial to success, will not be the issue on which the 2019 Steelers rise or fall. Consider the following: 

• If and when will this team learn how to win. I am not speaking to simply scoring more points than an opponent. The term On Any Given Sunday is correct as far as it goes, but the ability to deliver week in and week out to the point of being a playoff caliber team is something altogether different. Most teams don’t do it consistently. Further, there is a championship level of winning that even relatively great teams fail to reach. Cincinnati, Minnesota, Carolina and Atlanta come immediately to mind as examples. It is this quality that the Patriots possess in spades. And it is this issue, not talent, which will be the principle challenge for Cleveland this season. I suspect it is one of the reasons the Steelers and Ravens react to the Browns threat with yawns. Cleveland has the ability to win individual games, maybe even a bunch of them, but can they transform their culture to change the balance of power over the long haul? Pittsburgh has less ground to cover in this regard and a more supportive culture, but they are the most difficult steps of all. 
• How do they handle adversity? It doesn’t have to be a big thing: A key injury, an unexpected (trap game) loss or a losing streak. They are already amid such a circumstance in the aftermath of the Darryl Drake passing. 
• It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Interestingly, the two entities who are probably the most disinterested in the outcome of the Sunday’s opener are the Patriots and the Steelers. Each knows that if there is going to be an important encounter between these teams it will be coming in January. Like a marathon, consistent pace and then ramping it up toward the critical portion of the race (December) is key. This is part of the formula of learning how to win at a championship level 
• Leadership. All the above necessitates a lot of good leadership stepping to the fore. There is a core group that includes the captains (Ben, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward and Rosie Nix) and a few others (Ramon Foster, Joe Haden, Vince Williams). Some more will have to assert themselves. My votes go for Alejandro Villanueva, Donte Moncrief, James Connor, T.J. Watt and Sean Davis. 

Karl Rosen photo, Steelers.com

by Ivan Cole

Question # 5: Heading into the 2019 season, what is fantasy and what is reality? 

During a recent program that was covering the Democratic Primaries for president it was mentioned that voters of that party tended toward a desire to ‘fall in love’ with a candidate as opposed, presumably, to a more calculated decision process. 

That struck me as an accurate description of many Steelers fans during the preseason. We are looking to fall in love and that impulse leads us to identify those who will be ‘camp Darlings’. And in a compensatory manner we also select scapegoats and anti- heroes who must be cast out if we are to reach the Promised Land. 

The Darling captures the imagination in delightful ways. They could be described as the quirky overachiever who somehow competes for and earns a seat on the team bus, or a hidden gem who could become a central contributor to success. The best recent example of this type of player would be Isaac Redman. The shadow side of this would be the Scapegoat, who is most likely a veteran but might also be a highly touted newcomer. In either case he is distinguished as being a disappointment or a fraud who is a waste of human flesh but more importantly is holding the team back. The classic example would be  William Gay. 

For the most part it’s all part of the fun of being something more than just a casual fan who is only paying attention on game days during the Fall. But there are some elements which can make things toxic and unpleasant.

Falling in love (or contempt) often involves either ignoring or embracing some questionable interpretations of the truth. The Darling builds his reputation on something less than the highest levels of competition, and even if the dream comes true and they make the team it is likely they will disappear into the obscurity of special teams or the practice squad.

Of greater concern are the whispering campaigns directed against the Scapegoat, which often amount to baseless slander. While the criticisms of Ziggy Hood or Jarvis Jones may have been closer to the mark, the assessment of Gay proved to be inaccurate. The same could be said concerning Landry Jones, and before him Jason Worilds. The best current example to my thinking would be Bud Dupree. It is fortunate that the Steelers are not as influenced by public opinion as some other organizations. 

This season the Darling dynamic can be best captured in one position group: Quarterback. 

You will recall that Joshua Dobbs began his Steelers career as a Darling. He was the rocket scientist that was going to replace Ben (I will get to this delusional “replace Ben” phenomena soon). Then Mason Rudolph came along (who was going to replace Ben, and still is in the eyes of many). Though hated, no one could bring themselves to believe that the more seasoned Landry Jones could be supplanted. So, Dobbs became that high school sweetheart who had no place once you started dating people in college. ‘Can we help you pack, Josh?’ Shockingly, the team parted way with Landry Jones instead, providing an unexpectedly easy ending to that nightmare, as well as sparing Steeler Nation the guilt of having to unceremoniously dump Joshua Dobbs. 

Everything was looking good heading into 2019. Fans can cheer for Rudolph (mainly) or Dobbs to be the heir apparent of Ben (Not!) without guilt or much acrimony. But then Devlin Hodges comes along and complicates matters. Though no one is crazy enough to see him as the replacement for Ben, he is a Darling, as much or more so in the classic sense than either Dobbs or Rudolph. We find ourselves back to the point at which somebody has got to go. As to who, it will be a matter of whether it is about talent (Bye Duck guy), competitive leverage (Rudolph) or emotional resonance (Dobbs). 

It all makes for interesting drama that has gotten us through the summer but will probably be rendered irrelevant by the end of Labor Day weekend. This ground has been covered before and I apologize in advance for being redundant, but I feel that many are still having a hard time grasping the full meaning of the following: 

Ben Roethlisberger is a Franchise Quarterback, not just a starting quarterback. There is a difference. The Steelers have had two Franchise Quarterbacks during the Super Bowl Era. With Terry Bradshaw they were dynastic in the 70s, winning four championships. With Ben they have participated in three Super Bowls and have won two. Though they still had great players and coaching, for the quarter of a century between the tenures of these two quarterbacks, the team made it back to the Super Bowl one time and lost (due to quarterback play, I might add). 

A franchise caliber quarterback is one of the rarest and most valuable commodities in professional football. Many organizations go for generations without one, and it usually shows. Having one does not in itself guarantee success (that is the real tragedy in the eyes of Colts fans with Andrew Luck’s retirement), and there are plenty of examples of teams managing to succeed with less gifted players at the position. But if you have any pretensions for long-term sustained success, you had better have one. 

Here’s a comparison: The OJ Simpson Bills, Walter Payton Bears, Barry Sanders Lions, and Eric Dickerson Rams equal one Super Bowl appearance. The Jim Kelly Bills, Fran Tarkenton Vikings, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman Cowboys, Tom Brady Patriots equal twenty-one. 

How do we know that Dobbs and Rudolph aren’t franchise caliber quarterbacks? Because the team didn’t have to trade draft choices or sell kidneys to obtain them. They were available. There are cases when one can be selected further down in the draft, with Russell Wilson being a recent example. It is possible for a smooth transition from one franchise player to another to occur—for instance, Joe Montana to Steve Young for the 49ers and Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers for the Packers. But the most likely scenario is that, at best, given current contract realities, one of these two quarterbacks may usher the Steelers into the post-Ben era as a solid successful starter and leader of a team that will have to struggle year to year to maintain its status as a contender.

For now, they are competing to see who gets to wear a baseball cap and hold a clipboard on the sidelines. 

Next: How 2019 may unfold 

Rebecca Mehling photo, Steelers.com

by Ivan Cole

Question # 4: Why isn’t Roger Goodell and the NFL smart enough to utilize Alejandro Villanueva to help with its image problems?

When you first heard of it you couldn’t help but smile. I know because that was how Rebecca and Homer first reacted when they heard. ICYMI, early in the first week it was announced that the camp had experienced its first fight. The combatants? Any number of hotheads and bad actors might scroll through your head. Your first guess probably wouldn’t be defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva.

Then the mind goes giddy as it absorbs the concept: The son of Iron Head in single combat with a 6’9” army ranger. Both men are as affable and likeable as you could want, but it is entirely possible that, unlike other encounters of this sort, someone could end up dead. Now admit it. You might not drop a nickel to attend a practice, but you’d pay good money to see that fight. Wouldn’t you love to have a license to promote a rematch? How did it come to this? Villanueva’s explanation after the fact was precious: They had a disagreement over the ending of The Game of Thrones. (Question from Rebecca—how soon can this man be persuaded to run for public office?)

On a much more serious note, the unique quality of the man was on display after the passing of wide receivers coach Darryl Drake as he assumed leadership and spoke for the team.

https://www.steelers.com/video/villanueva-everyone-respected-him

Of particular note was an exchange with Ed Bouchette during the latter portion of the interview, where the question was raised as to the difference of how death is dealt with in the military context. The safe bet would have been to punt, deflect or perhaps even ridicule the comparison. Check out how Villanueva handled it.

The back story and present circumstances of this man are so compelling that it is mystifying to me how the league can virtually ignore it.

An organization that openly and aggressively allows for an association with the Armed Forces but has very few representatives within its ranks has the good fortune of having one elite combat veteran among its roster of players.

These types of players are going to be rare for a variety of reasons. Actual combat veterans such as Rocky Bleier and Pat Tilman were the exception rather than the rule during the 60s when, presumably to protect their investments, the league stashed military eligible players in the Reserves. Service obligations precluded those from the service academies making a transition to the professional ranks, with a few prominent exceptions such as Roger Staubach and David Robinson.

Villanueva also has an intriguing “rags to elite” trajectory. Originally picked up off of the NFL ‘scrap heap’ as a failed defensive lineman by Mike Tomlin, he is now playing at what most believe to be the second most important position on an offense (or the
entire team), left offensive tackle, and is, further, at the top of the profession as a Pro Bowl player.

His genuinely humble and inoffensive persona is embraced and admired by all within and outside the organization. His admiration and respect for Tomlin is based upon the unique and difficult to assail perspective of leadership; something he is particularly qualified to evaluate.

You think the Spanish surname might help?

Given the current public relations challenges that the league is mired in, one might think that there was someone in New York who might advance the idea that it could be helpful to put this West-Point-graduate-highly-decorated-Army-Ranger-combat-veteran-Pro-Bowl-left-tackle front and center in some prominent but tasteful manner. Say, some sort of Public Service campaign. Just asking here. What am I missing?

If I may be allowed to interject an opinion here, I would be inclined to say that Ivan inadvertently put his finger on the answer with the word “tasteful.” It seems to me that is a quality in short supply at NFL headquarters…

Next: Camp darlings and anti-heroes

Tevin Jones; Karl Rosen photo, Steelers.com*

by Ivan Cole

Question # 3: Will the road to a championship in 2019 run through the Steelers wide receivers room? 

A week or so ago this would be a somewhat over the top question, but not by much. If you subscribed to the idea that the losses of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown would be critical factors in the ability of the Steelers to compete then there is some relevancy here. Additionally, the circumstances for the receivers would be different those for the running backs, who have already had to cope with the absence of Bell. This brought to bear a series of complex questions concerning how this group, with JuJu Smith-Schuster as the centerpiece, would respond. 

And then Darryl Drake passed away. 

Team dynamics are complicated and often difficult to comprehend because they are often based, in part, more on the mystical than the scientific. We know and usually accept without much question that concepts such as ‘chemistry’ and ‘momentum’ can result in an organism which operates at levels higher or lower than the sum of its individual parts. Those with extremely long memories of the Pittsburgh sports scene may recall the dynamics of the more successful Pirates teams of the Sixties. The 1960 World Champions were known for consistently creating late game rallies to produce ‘come from behind’ victories. Later in the decade, kangaroo courts and totems such as the famous ‘green weenie’ helped propel them to successful seasons. 

Take a group which would be under considerable scrutiny and pressure heading into the season in the best case, a group which is frighteningly young (Smith-Schuster, a third-year grizzled veteran is still all of 22 years old,) and then decapitate its leadership and stir in a healthy portion of grief. Perhaps I am being an alarmist and the response will be that they will muddle through the season somehow, just another cog in the wheel of the 2019 team. But this group, more so than others, has the potential to either be galvanizing and heroic or to crash and burn, taking the rest of the team along for the ride either way. 

A word or two about the villains. 

Unwelcome as it is, at least we can thank Death for being less than cruel in its timing. Looking at things from a cold, football-focused perspective, there is time to digest the loss and move forward. We can have faith that the culture of the Steelers is such that it can absorb this blow and not mishandle the steps to recovery. 

And then there is Antonio Brown. 

A lot of anger, some appropriate to the circumstances, some not, is being thrown in his direction. I am inclined to have a more compassionate take on the situation. 

In his comments after Pittsburgh’s first preseason game Head Coach Mike Tomlin noted that for rookie cornerback Justin Layne the moment was “too big” for him. I don’t believe Tomlin meant this comment as a permanent judgment against Layne. In a similar manner I believe that the space of fame and celebrity Brown currently occupies is too big for him and likely most people. 

It is not my intent to completely absolve Brown from the consequences of his behavior. Wide receivers seem particularly resistant to the culture of sacrifice and interdependence so essential to team sports.* There are also questions surrounding the potential levels of narcissism undergirding the desire to be the focus of daily public attention. On the other hand, these are not entirely self-made monsters. They are people subjected to temptations and pressures that are probably difficult for the average person to imagine. Let’s take a very simple example involving a cup of coffee. 

It can be such a simple but meaningful gesture; a way to bond or break the ice in a relationship accessible to everyone. But bring the element of celebrity into play and things can get complicated and ugly. Consider the conflicting forces of unearned privilege on the one hand and unfair obligation on the other. Who pays for the coffee? Outside of Starbucks this isn’t even a relevant question. Normally there is no protocol of who buys based on the ability to pay. However, it is not hard to imagine someone believing that one party in this “transaction” is too wealthy to accept the gesture from their companion without being thought of being exploitative. And all this assuming the proprietor of the establishment will allow for either to pay (unearned privilege) and this in an important way neuters the purpose of the gesture.

Then there is the specter of hidden costs (unfair obligation) maybe in the form of a request for a selfie or an autograph. Or the question of whether topics discussed are accorded appropriate confidentiality. Then there are the intrusions of others. The most innocuous and brief encounter is an uninvited intrusion, tolerable in small doses but no doubt wearing as a steady diet over time. 

This introduces a blind spot and area of fan complicity that can contribute to the pathology—sense of ownership and voyeurism. A fan took umbrage this week that Brown hadn’t reached out to the Drake family. Of course, no one knows whether this is true or not. What the fan was really asserting was that there had been no action available for public consumption. And what would the purpose of that be? It should be noted that the one public statement made by the Drake family this past week was a plea to respect their privacy. What would be the assumption behind the belief that the public was entitled to knowledge of the communications which did or did not transpire between the Brown and Drake families? Could this not be interpreted by some to be like the Pharisee who had someone play a trumpet every time he committed a good deed? 

But let’s be clear, none of the preceding excuses Brown from behaving like a jerk. Among the intriguing questions going forward is whether, absent the benefits of the strong guardrails the Steelers organization has provided over the years, how far off the rails is Brown capable of careening? I fear we will learn in due course whether we want to or not. 

In Part I of this series I wanted to stimulate a meditation on how the absence of certain individuals from last year might adversely impact the team in 2019. With the passing of Coach Drake add another candidate to the list: Darrius Heyward-Bey. 

The areas of strength and vulnerability among the receivers have been rather consistent over the past several years. Talent hasn’t really been a problem. Credit can be split between the front office with its acquisitions and Ben Roethlisberger, who demonstrates one of the most important traits of a true franchise quarterback—he makes the surrounding talent better. Of the receivers who have left the organization in recent years only Emanuel Sanders has managed to maintain or improve on his level of productivity, no doubt due in large measure to the fact that he joined another franchise quarterback, Peyton Manning. It will be of some interest to see if AB’s productivity maintains or improves in partnership with Derek Carr. (Assuming, of course, that Derek Carr ever gets the opportunity to throw him a pass…)

As has been the common for this time of the year, I would be comfortable with any combination of up to nine different receivers on the current roster. We can quibble over our individual preferences, but that is all they would be, quibbles about preferences. 

There are two issues that need to be addressed and solved. The first is the question of how JuJu handles the challenges of being a number one receiver, and the cascading impact down the depth chart. Two immediate impressions—say what you will about AB, it is undeniable he has been producing at a Hall of Fame-caliber pace. So even outstanding production from Smith-Schuster could seem to be a drop off in the eyes of some. On the other hand, as mentioned before, JuJu is still very young and probably has a huge upside. 

What will also be important is the support that comes from the other receivers. As of this writing James Washington would appear to be up to the challenge, but that was the case last year as well. From there it is a bunch of guys with plenty of promise but some question marks as well. 

However, it is the second issue, exacerbated by the loss of Drake, that is even more important going forward—leadership. In this sense, while what he can contribute on the field is crucial, the most important role for Donte Moncrief may be off the field. JuJu may need more support in this regard at this point in the process than he does on the field. 

*Interestingly, former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher blames fantasy football for the selfish, diva-istic nature of wide receivers these days. He may have a point, although I seem to recall this sort of behavior not being completely unknown prior to the rise of fantasy football as a pastime for the average person, thanks to the easy access to information granted us by the internet. Although honestly it’s pretty difficult to imagine anything comparable to the Antonio Brown saga which is still unveiling happening 20 years ago.

And speaking of the opposite of a diva, both by position and personality:

Next up: Alejandro Villanueva 

Steven Nelson and Sean Davis: Karl Rosen photo, Steelers.com

by Ivan Cole

The Disclaimer. It has always been my standard practice when discussing the possibilities of any new season to caution that all is subject to change based upon the potential impact of an unavoidable factor in the NFL dynamic: Injuries. 

Usually I have spoken of this in the manner of those commercials where a narrator in rapid fire fashion attempts to slip past you the possibility that in addition to the wonders provided by the product they are selling, there is also a chance that it could kill you. In this segment there will be a deeper dive into the Disclaimer, providing a more specific set of arguments and information related to just how injuries might play out as anything from an annoyance to a derailment of the 2019 Steelers’ championship aspirations. 

Question # 2: Who do we not want to see on a long-term injury report? 

We begin with a basic assumption that informs all that follows: All injuries are not the same in terms of their impact on a team’s fortunes. For the past several years the Steelers have been very fortunate in the area of injuries. It is not a matter of having not suffered from any. No team in the league is that lucky, rather, they have avoided for the most part those losses that could severely affect the team’s ability to function at an acceptable level of competitiveness. There is a truth that must be acknowledged that all the sloganeering and mythmaking about the ‘next man up’ and ‘the standard is the standard’ cannot gloss over: Even in the rarified environment of a 53 man NFL roster there are players who are expendable and others who are not. Let’s make some distinctions. 

• Some losses degrade the entertainment experience but have less of an impact on competitiveness. A great current example would be rookie linebacker Devin Bush. The quality of his contribution to the team’s success is completely unknown at this time, but we would be deeply disappointed if he were not available for play. Losing Joe Haden would be another matter altogether. 
• Certain losses can be tolerated without any discernible degradation in play. Think Olasunkanmi Adeniyi (or just meditate on the pronunciation) and Cameron Sutton. While a too doctrinaire adherence to the standard is the standard is a bit much, it does not mean it is without truth or value. 
• In some cases, though it may not be ideal, a reduction in effectiveness can be compensated for by others stepping up. Marcus Gilbert’s injury last season did not cause the offensive line to fall apart but provided the opportunity for Matt Feiler, Chuks Okorafor and others to step up. It could be argued that because of the supplemental personnel available it established Gilbert as expendable and could be part of the explanation of why he is no longer part of the team. 
• Other factors include the type, timing and duration of an injury. A few weeks in dry dock early or in the middle of the season is one thing (Sutton, Haden) injured reserve for the year (Adeniyi, Jerald Hawkins) is something else. 
• And Rebecca would add that some injuries resulting in long-term IR can be highly convenient—as was Ola Adeniyi’s injury last summer. It allows the team to stash away a promising player who isn’t ready to take a roster spot and who might well not make it through waivers. His injury last week was not quite so convenient…

What follows is my assessment of the twelve players likely to be part of the 53 who should deeply concern us, should they end up on a long-term injury list this season. They will be presented in relatively ascending order. Naturally, debate and discussion are both welcome and expected. 

Sean Davis. The first three selections may not seem as obvious because of the nature of their contributions to the team. Their presence may not be noticed because so much of the value of their play is in facilitating the efforts of those around them. When they are not in or ineffective, we notice something amiss but may not be able to identify what is wrong. When discussing the strengths of the Steelers’ secondary Davis’ name is rarely among the first players mentioned. To me, he is somewhat reminiscent of Ryan Clark, whose presence allowed Troy Polamalu (and before that the late Sean Taylor of Washington) the freedom to be great, in addition to making great plays in his own right. 

Stephon Tuitt. Not the top guy in his position group but besides being an incredibly disruptive force when he is playing at the top of his game is also a facilitator of the other linemen and linebackers that surround him and amplifies their effectiveness. 

Alejandro Villanueva. The importance of his position would be reason enough to appear on this list—something many casual fans may tend to overlook or not understand. Add to that him being at the top of the class league-wide in the quality of his play, and then factor in the intangibles of leadership and toughness. 

James Connor. You might wonder about the relatively low ranking that this Pro Bowl running back is being given. One of the unintended consequences of the antics and absences of Le’Veon Bell is that he inadvertently provided evidence in making the case for the reduced value of running backs in today’s NFL. Connor, and before him, DeAngelo Williams demonstrated that an adequate running attack could be had without having superstar caliber running talent. Similar trends are occurring with nose tackles and return specialists, which is why Javon Hargrave won’t be part of this list. Losing Connor would be something we would prefer not to see, but it would not be a bad bet that Jaylan Samuels, Roosevelt Nix, Bennie Snell Jr and Trey Edmunds could stand in the gap and deliver. 

Joe Haden. There are three things Haden brings which are difficult to replace. He has the talent to play competitively against the best receivers in the league. He brings strong veteran leadership, essential for a relatively young team, not just to the locker room but to the field of play. Most importantly, as demonstrated against the Patriots last season, he plays big in big games. A lot of players can throttle an opponent on a Dolphin team in October but come off as average at best on the largest stages. 

T.J. Watt. Watt is developing similar traits to Haden and is ranked higher because of his position. Those factors are more front and center throughout the course of the game. Less veteran leadership for now, but this is just a matter of time. There is no doubt concerning both his talent and the bigness of his play. 

Maurkice Pouncey. The distribution of virtues is a little different here relative to others. His leadership is what puts him off the charts. Under ordinary circumstances the team is fortunate to have a player of the caliber of a B. J. Finney who can technically execute the position. However, what Pouncey brings as leader of the position group, the offense and the team is irreplaceable. 

JuJu Smith-Schuster. Another player who, despite his playful, irreverent aura, displays that consistent ability to step up in big time situations (which is what made his fumble in the Saints game such a devastating moment—it was so out of character). In addition, he now must shoulder the responsibilities of being the #1 receiver. Moreover, the loss of Coach Drake and the potential cascading effect throughout that room easily makes the case 

Chris Boswell. Assuming he makes the team without incident, a midseason injury when there may be few, if any replacements available of similar ability would be difficult to overcome. What he provides is simply not easily replaceable. The case is easily made that the lack of productivity at his position was the difference between making the playoffs and not last season. (Which is a very kind way of putting it, Ivan…)

Cam Heyward. His value is most like that of Pouncey, and his productivity may be  even harder to replace given the system and the other talent available. 

Vance McDonald. This is a very straight forward issue. Tight end is the thinnest, most fragile position group on the team. If McDonald goes down, as of this writing, the whole unit, and with it, much of the offensive balance goes down the toilet. (Which is why so many of the local beat writers assume the Steelers are going to pick up a veteran at some point.)

Ben Roethlisberger. It makes for a nice diverting parlor game to discuss the relative merits of Dobbs vs Rudolph vs Hodges, but if we are doing anything in the coming weeks other than speaking in terms of any of them doing more than a little mop-up duty in the wake of a rout, Steeler Nation is screwed. It bears repeating as often as we must: Homer, Rebecca and I checked when we were in Latrobe.  There are no trees that grow franchise quarterbacks. (Western PA may be the cradle of quarterbacks, but they appear to be produced in the usual way.)

If Ben goes down, winning a championship will not be impossible. The ’68 Colts, ’72 Dolphins and the ’74 and ’76 Steelers got far with rather dicey situations at quarterback. But just because it is theoretically possible to drive a car with your feet while drunk, it is not something that sober folk would recommend. 

Next: The Receivers 

Note: As usual all italicized comments are editorial (in other words, by Rebecca) and Ivan cannot be blamed for them…

photo: Rebecca Mehling/Steelers.com

by Ivan Cole

As Rebecca has already mentioned, life has slowed both of us down a bit but that should not be construed to mean that interest has been lost in the fortunes of the Steelers. For me it represents an opportunity to approach the upcoming season in a manner opposite from that which has been the case since I have been privileged to communicate with you concerning the fortunes of what I believe to be a model of what a first class organization, in sports or any endeavor is, as it strives to reach its goals. 

The norms have been such in recent years that those who report on the NFL have had to pretend that there is more legitimate news than actually exists. This has resulted in all manner of speculation, fortune telling, creation of controversy—all designed to generate clicks and conversation and, presumably, interest during a period when little of real relevance is going on. This season I circumstances have freed me from all of this, and I am going to take advantage as best I can. 

Let me be clear from the outset: I probably know a lot less about the state of the team than many of you reading at this point. What I will be bringing is a set of fresh eyes, augmented with a bit of experience, to raise what I believe will be some of the important questions. The answers may very well help to define the relative success of the 2019 season. There is no particular order of importance of how they will be presented. 

Question #1. Whose (or what) loss from 2018 poses the greatest challenge to team success going forward?

The answer to this question has become dramatically and tragically complicated in the last forty-eight hours, but the bottom line hasn’t changed. 

The casual, mainline answer would have seemed to be the loss of Killer ‘B’s Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. I say no. Recent events have rendered this decision more obvious, but even absent the more outrageous of their recent antics I believe it is important to establish why certain assumptions about team building have to be challenged. 

I decided that for this series a good point of reference would be the 2008 team, the last one to win the Super Bowl. One thing stands out: Compared to many of the less successful teams that preceded and followed, they weren’t an outstandingly talented team. In several keys areas they were quite the contrary, which made the absurd assertion that Tomlin was winning with Bill Cowher’s players even more so given that some of those players weren’t that good. 

That ’08 team’s running backs featured Willie Parker, who was still effective but not as incandescent as he was during the championship season in ’05. He also had some struggles with injuries. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall was knocked out early in the season by Ray Lewis, meaning that there were times when the feature running back was Mewelde Moore, who qualifies as an answer to a trivia question. The receivers included Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, whose substance issues resulted in a critical one game suspension that contributed to a loss to the Peyton Manning led Colts, and the immensely talented but enigmatic Limas Sweed, who at critical moments could not catch a cold. Viewed purely in terms of talent, an impressive group, but things were more complicated in practice.

Currently, I am comfortable saying that Bell and Brown give with their talent but then take via their character flaws. Right now, the good people in Oakland and New York are reduced to hoping that the talent that will be on display during the season will be sufficient to offset the disruptions each player is causing. While at Latrobe I didn’t hear of anyone pining for the Steelers to have that kind of problem. And why should they?

James Connor is a Pro Bowl running back. The other players in the room compare favorably with that ’08 group at least. And besides, when did Bell actually play? As for the receivers, it could be argued that Brown’s demands for the ball served to suppress the potential of this group. Connor, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Vance McDonald are each dangerous, dominant receivers in their own right, with Jaylan Samuels, James Washington, Ryan Switzer, Eli Rogers, among others, capable of developing in a similar manner, particularly giving the amplifying nature of playing with Ben. I have come to the theory that some of the distortions and maddening inconsistencies of the Steelers’ offense recently was in an attempt to work around the demands of Brown. We’ll see. 

So, if not those two, then who? My vote would be for Mike Munchak. 

It should be amazing for anyone who has been following the team for more than a decade and has a decent memory to note the casualness in which it is asserted that the Steelers possess one of, if not the best offensive lines in the league. It was inarguable in 2008 that the O line was the weakest unit on the team. All Pro guard Alan Faneca and Pro Bowl center Jeff Hartings were gone. The best remaining player left tackle, Marvel Smith, was on injured reserve. Guard Kendall Simmons was forced into retirement due to complications related to diabetes. That left us with the likes of Jeff Hartwig, Chris Kemoeatu and Darnell Stapleton. Cowher’s players indeed. These guys won the Super Bowl playing the toughest schedule anyone had seen in thirty years and managed a number two seed.  No coaching involved though.

Today the offensive line is the strongest unit on the team. From right guard to left tackle it either has two All Pro and one Pro Bowl player, or viewed more conservatively, three Pro Bowl players. The rest of the unit is deep and versatile and populated as much by undrafted free agents as blue chippers. 

The fortunate thing is that if I am right, the impact of his loss will almost certainly not be felt this season unless there is a rash of key injuries. And it may not be felt at all if he was successful in coaching his most important student—his successor Shaun Sarrett.

Now there is a wild card at play. I will address, later in this series, the complexities involved with the receivers room moving on from Antonio Brown. The sudden passing of their coach Darryl Drake…well, do I have to say anymore?

Next: Injuries