And We Are...The 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers

By now, it is not news that the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran QB Michael Vick to a one year, veterans minimum contract.  En lieu of the multiple surgeries to QB Bruce Gradkowsi during this offseason, the Steelers were in a position to fill a roster spot left by the loss due to injury of Gradkowski.

 

Steelers 2015 Training Camp in Latrobe, PA - image courtesy of SI.com

If you've checked your social media, took a trip to the water cooler, or turned on ESPN at any point today then you are aware that Vick turned out to be just that for the Steelers.  For some, this news is disturbing, while for others it is another weapon to throw in the potent Steelers arsenal of an offense.  For all, however, it has become a focus of heated discussions to support/defend their stance on Vick's controversial past.

Being new to the world of writing and choosing to do so about my dear Steelers, I gave a strong effort not to allow myself to participate in every debate invited to.  Well, I failed miserably.  I found myself leaving long, heated comments on articles and social media posts defending my position and perspective on the Michael Vick signing (stop here, for a minute.  There is really a trending topic occurring right now titled "the Michael Vick signing."  That says a lot!).  Some of my comments were so lengthy they could've been articles by themselves.  There were even comments I left that I found myself apologizing for to voices of opposition for not walking away and allowing the emotions to die down.  Needless to say, the disappointment in myself has been lingering.

You and I are going to share in the shame and disappointment, and here's why.  Do you know what is the most disappointing?  People have allowed their self-righteousness and how they feel about one player, and his past, to take away from the other 90 men who have busted their tails over the course of the offseason, and all of training camp, to get to where they are now.  Here are a few shining examples deserving of trending topics and national spotlight, but have been taken away from due to our self-centeredness:

• We've taken away from the compelling and success story that is Alex Villanueva.
• We've taken away from how, regardless of flawless execution, Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro still criticize each other between plays in search of that edge to be better.
• We've taken away from the fact that Ben Roethlisberger has been nearly flawless, so far, in preseason games.
• We've taken away from Cam Heyward's stellar, but unheralded, performance so far this offseason.
• We've taken away from the outstanding transition Tyler Murphy has made to WR.
• We've taken away from the celebration-worthy awakening of first round draft pick Bud Dupree.
• We've taken away from the fact that D'Angelo Williams looks like he has found the fountain of youth.
• We've taken away from... who is this kid, Jawon Chisolm?
• We've taken away from Keith Butler making all levels of the depth chart on defense look like first team NFL stars.
• We've taken away from how Deebo, at 37 years of age, is putting on a clinic on where pure will, determination, and work ethic will take you.
• We've taken away from the return of Doug Legursky.  Welcome back, Doug!

There are some amazing storylines taking place with this awesome organization, all deserving of headlines and hashtags, alike. Instead, we've ignored the team and given way to narrow-minded, self-glorifying, self-righteous "Stans" who are merely happy just to have something to be angry with.  Get over yourself.  This is about the team.  It is also about the tragedy-turned-success story that is Michael Vick, and how the Rooneys have finally been moved enough by his turnaround and conduct that they felt he would fit in with what is currently shaping out to be the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers. 

You don't like what he DID?  That's fine.  Me neither.  But I do like what he is doing and what he has become.  And now, I see Vick as another puzzle piece plugged firmly into what the 2015 NFL campaign is turning out to be for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Super Bowl 50 win or not even breaking .500 in the wins column aside, I love the individual journeys that are taking place which come together to make a beautiful collective effort.  I enjoy watching them push each other to heights that, individually, a player might not have had the drive to achieve.

Did I inject a small part of my thoughts and feelings on the debate into this article?  Well, yes.  I'm sure that will be pointed out and picked apart.  That is fine, too.  My hope is that the bigger picture can be extrapolated, here, and that is to look at the story of the 90 players that Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin, and the Rooneys have pulled together all working toward a common goal.  Let's not miss out on the beauty of the artwork because some do not approve of one out of the many colors on the palette, heated discussion ensues because others support the use of the color, and focus on the painting becomes lost by the distraction.  Subsequently, the strokes being used, the many brushes used to produce them, the vision of the painter, and the entire painting on a whole is missed out on because the audience couldn't see beyond their own perspective, their own opinions on the materials being used to paint the picture.  In the meantime, the rest of the art world recognizes that the painting has the potential to be a classic...the best of its era.

This journey is not over.  The team is not lost.  The hard road travelled has just begun.  Individually, we fall, we struggle, we've made mistakes, we've overcome, we climbed, we've seen success.  As a unit, we will write the book of who we are.  And we are...The 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Steelers Will Have New Leaders in 2015

Image Courtesy of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With the Periscope™ broadcast now expired, a follow-up to support the "Bold Steelers Predictions for 2015" entry is due.  The other night, I installed the twitter creation and found it to be a great tool to discuss Steelers topics with fellow fans, writers, and sports enthusiasts.  During the first broadcast, topics such as who to watch out for in the preseason home game against Green Bay, thoughts on Mike Tomlin and the job he's done thus far, and interesting undrafted rookies who have made a name for themselves, were discussed with inquisitive followers chiming in.

In addition to the topics listed above, I made a bold prediction that I am sticking by, whether it manifest itself or not.  Come the end of the 2015 season, I will own up to the gamble, accepting stark criticism if I'm wrong or welcoming lofty praise if it turns out my prediction was accurate.  I'm not one to turn away from any statements I've made, or tries to explain my way out of them.  For instance, go back far enough on my twitter timeline and you will see that prior to the 2014 training camp I went out on a limb to predict Sean Spence will snatch the gift of a starting inside linebacker job from rookie Ryan Shazier.  Now, whether or not that prediction can be considered bold is up for debate, seeing as though Shazier was a rookie for the 2014 season, albeit a first round pick.  It was still enough of a risk to stand as a risky statement given that Sean Spence had yet to see any time on the playing field in regular season prior to the 2014 preseason.  Remember?  Spence had suffered injuries in his rookie and sophomore campaigns that were severe enough to threaten his career.  Many thought his future as an NFL football player was history.  Coach Tomlin, however, had not given up on the prospect out of Miami.  Then linebackers coach Keith Butler was not so optimistic, stating that he didn't think the speedy draftee would ever play again.

Enough for the look back into past predictions.  Are you ready for my bold prediction for the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers season?  Here goes:

Wide receiver Martavis Bryant (Tay) will end the season with more receiving yards than stud wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Mark it down where you heard it, first.  I would include that he will finish with more touchdowns in addition to receiving yards, but somehow I think that will be expected given the deep threat that Bryant presents.  The possibility of Tay coming down with more yards than Tone is 100% dependent upon injuries to either player.  Any significant injuries to Brown and I will void my prediction as there is no risk, there.  Any significant injury to Tay leads to the obvious.

With the prediction being out there, now, with no retraction possible, let's clarify a few things.  Does this indicate that I believe Martavis will be the better receiver out of the two?  That is an absolutely not!  What I do believe is that Tone will pose so much of a threat, whether it be intermediate, across the middle, or beating coverage deep, it will attract a great amount of attention from opposing defensive coordinators that it will make Bryant feel as though he is facing Pop Warner secondaries.  Bryant and Wheaton will both partake of the buffet, this year, while Brown will have to work a little harder for his contributions to the offense -- which will be significant, however.

Allow me to follow that up with another bold prophecy for the other side of the ball:

At only 20 to 25 snaps per game, James Harrison will lead the Steelers defense in sacks in 2015.

Again, this is barring a healthy Deebo who is able to contribute for more than 75% of the season.  Yes!  I'm saying that even if Harrison misses a quarter of the season that he will still lead this group of youngsters in getting to the quarterback.  The only other defender I see threatening the fruition of this prediction is Cam Heyward, who tied with Jason Worilds to lead the team with 7.5 sacks in 2014.  Without OTAs and a training camp under his belt, Harrison was next in line with 5.5 sacks.  Arthur Moats was the only other player to come close to Deebo, specifically out of the OLBs room, closing the season with 4.0 sacks.

While Moats appears to be playing with some tenacity and toughness this preseason, I don't think he has the repertoire of moves that Harrison sports.  Deebo's dip under the outside hip of the tackle is about the most dangerous I've seen since the Greene/Lloyd duo.  Have I even mentioned his strength?  All I have to say is, opposing teams better put a seasoned veteran at the left tackle position.  Deebo throws around 300lb rookies like rag dolls with his bullrush.  Unless Shamarko becomes a sack specialist this season from the safety position (which we witnessed a glimpse of against Green Bay), there just isn't anyone, including Jarvis Jones and Moats, who will threaten Harrison's impact in the pass rush.

What are your bold predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 campaign?  Yes, we all know we will be representing the AFC in Super Bowl L.  Share your performance predictions in the comments.