Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to tackle the hot topics in Pittsburgh sports, starting with the Steelers’ struggles at the wide receiver position in 2024.
Was owner Art Rooney II just being realistic about the team’s lack of talent in the passing game when stating his preference to build around the running game earlier this week? Who or what is most responsible for the current mess in the WR room. Is it former GM Kevin Colbert and current GM Omar Khan for failing to cultivate depth? Is it Mike Tomlin’s personality management of players like George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool? Was it moving on from JuJu Smith-Schuster, who’s now an important piece for Patrick Mahomes and the Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs? And where do depth options like Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson fit into the conversation?
Our duo tackles those questions, then reacts to headlines on the college front. How crucial was Pitt basketball’s victory against the North Carolina Tar Heels this week? Is Jeff Capel starting to figure out how to better use his forwards around star guards like Jaland Lowe and Ishmael Leggett?
And on the Penn State front, what does the Jim Knowles hiring say about James Franklin’s intent to compete at a championship level? And does early 2025 College Football Playoff hype make sense for this team with the return of key pieces like Drew Allar, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen? Our duo tackles those questions and more.
For more sports, visit post-gazette.com.
18 Comments
nothing new, every year theres a mess at WR
Why trade Pickens for bad antics? bad antics is normal under Mike Tomlin he allows it
Pickens, Dionte, Claypool, JuJu, AB, Martavis Bryant the list goes on & on
Art Rooney is Bob Nutting. A boring, passive, complicit owner who is committed to the mediocre status quo, rather than winning championships, because it maximizes his profits.
In summary there is VERY little reason for a Steelers fan to continue to follow the team.
The Thursday Blame Game, instead of holding the players accountable. George Picking was a bad hire for the Company. He's an employee write his up, no improvement fire his ass. At the end of the day they are all employees. He is unhappy because the OL & QB play was "Hot Garbage".
George Pickens has shown to respond well to a stronger leader. Basically a father figure. Tomlin tries to hard too be best friends.
I always enjoy watching first 10 can’t wait to see what this new show brings
Would be nice to have some adult WRs instead of children writing swear words on their face and quitting on plays . nothing Tomlin says at this point holds water on anything.
Trade Pickens he is a waste of time if you have to sit some guy down and tell him how to produce, come on. Bring in players who wants to play, wants to produce, Noll traded away Jefferson because he was a head case do the same to Pickens
I dont get it, we get Davante Adams, our 1st, George is the 2nd, Calvin the 3rd, Roman the 4th and Skewronick our 5th. What’s so bad in that ?
Fanboy Tomlin LOVES wide divaceivers. He's like a teenage girl at a Taylor Swift concert at the Senior Bowl. Hire a replay guy! Hire a clock management guy! Admit your weaknesses and FIX THEM.
Love the new format Jason!
Like the format Mackey. Hearing you give more of your opinion is welcomed
Oh, now Mackey has 20/20 hindsight on discipline and structure with our WR (team). Really? You think? In 2016 Big Ben and Terry Bradshaw told us. Tomlin built a culture of no discipline and a lack of accountability. Bradshaw summed it up by saying Tomlin was a cheerleader. The culture that took the Steelers to the SB in 2008 & 2010 was the one created by Cowher. Pickens needs to escape and go to a team with an aggressive offense that won't have him run half his routes as if he was Ryan Switzer.
The biggest WR problem is not having an offense/QB that gets the ball to them consistently over the last 3 years
Coaching. When the Ravens lost their receivers, they utilized 2 tighends more, and their running game. Their offense is the same offense from Atlanta. Poorly utilizing way to many guys. Arthur Smith doesn't get the ball in the hands of his playmakers enough. It's coaching. Utilize Washington, Freiermuth, Heyward, Harris, Warren, Pickens and Austin. It wasn't 100% the talent. It was putting them in position to be successful that was the problem. We currently have that problem on offense AND defensive. The Steelers have talent. They are poorly utilized.
The only thing that can "fix" Pickens is success. That's it, and that's on the coaching. The football team is poorly coached. That's what leads to the outbursts. Also, Stafford and Kupp would be excellent additions to round out the offense.
Why you still talking about Mike Tomlin and GP. This is tiring. Let’s talk about the draft picks