Big Winners – PSU@WVU

All I saw on social media the last two weeks was my Penn State buddies dunking on Greene’s completion rate, their all-time record against us, the fact they’ve never won a Heisman…

I wasn’t quite that confident. I thought we’d have to win this one late; they’d hang around but in the end we’d make a blue-blood, chess-not-checkers move that would haunt Neal Brown’s nightmares for decades.

I may have given Garrett Greene a bit too much respect in my pre-game analysis of the Mountaineer’s offense. If we proved anything today it’s that the Big Ten is head-and-shoulders better than any college football conference not named the SEC. Greene built that resume in the Big12; welcome to the B1G, my friend.

Lets take a look at the Big Winners from today’s game.

The Safeties

Jaylen Reed

9 tackles, 2 PBUs, 1 TFL, 1 FR

Kevin Winston

12 tackles, 7 solo (both led team), 1 FF

On the first play of the game Reed broke up a potential chunk pass (pictured above), and he stayed hot all day. He recovered WVU’s first fumble – an unforced error – slamming the door on a dangerous scoring opportunity. On his next defensive snap, Reed trapped Garrett Greene in the backfield for a loss of 9.

Winston’s forced fumble on Greene – although the Mountaineers were able to recover – had a lot to do with Penn State holding one of the best mobile QBs in college football to 5 rushing yards on 10 attempts. You were looking at a man who respects his opposing defense.

The QB’s

Drew Allar

11/17-216 yds-3 TDs

6 rushes-44 yds

Beau Pribula

1/1-19 yds-1 TD

3 rushes-25 yds

Both these guys are out to prove they’re complete players. We’ve known who those guys are since they showed up: one’s a pocket passer, the other’s a mobile threat. Drew showed us some nice things as a runner (whoo boy, that stiff arm) and Beau threw that dagger to Tyler Warren.

Kotelnicki has shown he’s not handcuffed to a single starting signal-caller. He’s spoken glowingly about Beau’s skillset and the ways that can wrinkle opposing defenses. It’ll be interesting how this rotation shakes out as the season unfolds.

The Returning WR’s

Tre Wallace

5 rec-117 yds-2 TDs

Omari Evans

55 yd rec

Many hands were wrung this Spring/Summer about the lack of returning production in the receiver room. Wallace struggled to stay healthy in 2023 and Evans hasn’t been able to live up to the prophecies from the Blue-White games. It felt like there was a lot of weight on Julian Fleming’s shoulders, even before KLS transferred.

I know a couple guys who heard all the noise, and couldn’t wait to shut you up. Both pulled in hook-ups from Drew for 50+ yards in this game. Their ability to win downfield was definitely the headline but their ability to win consistently, in all phases of the field, really stood out to me – especially the back shoulder chemistry between Allar and Wallace at the end of the first half.

The aforementioned Fleming didn’t show up in the box score today. Surely that will change when they need to throw more than 18 times to win a game, but it’s good to know the returning cast is solidly on the SWIM side of sink/swim and you’re not resting all your hopes and dreams on an Outlander.

Steelers Deepen QB Room

Earlier this week the Steelers re-signed Mason Rudolph to a one-year deal. On Thursday Mitch Trubisky inked a two-year extension. Along with the starting sophomore signal caller – one Mr. Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh may now boast the deepest QB room in the NFL.

Rudolph’s signing was the big surprise; as the only incumbent Steelers QB last year he seemed displeased with his opportunities in the preseason and more than ready for a fresh start. Trubisky was already under contract for 2023 but the terms of his new deal should mitigate his $10.6 million cap hit – admittedly a rather spicy meatball for a backup QB.

Both moves were met with predictable incredulity from some of the more ignorant constituents of Steelers Nation. Last year’s 49er’s team proved if you want to go The Distance you need not one, not two, but three guys capable of directing your offense. As it turned out that team actually needed four – apparently Zeus himself had a score to settle with the Bay Area.

Traveling back a little farther into the annals of NFL history, consider the 2018 playoffs. When Eagles QB Carson Wentz went down in Week 14 the Eagles were 10-2, headed to 11-2. That team was on its way to being one of history’s best and it all would have went off the rails…if not for Nick Foles.

Neither Rudolph nor Trubisky are “blow-you-away” guys but they have starting experience, they know the system and they insulate the team from needing meaningful reps from undrafted rookie Tanner Morgan. I don’t think any of us are interested in re-living the Duck Hodges odyssey – by the way: best of luck to him in his fledgling relationship.

Plan A is clear: give Kenny all the time and weapons he needs to develop into a franchise QB. In this multi-billion dollar industry, however, you can’t afford to not have a Plan B…or a Plan C. Rookie GM Omar Khan never would have got to be a rookie GM if he weren’t keenly aware of the violent nature of this child’s sport being played by genetically-engineered super-men.

Steelers Draft Post-Op

Rd 1, Pick 14: Broderick Jones – OT – Georgia

Jones played mostly LT in college but there are whispers he might be destined for the RT in Pittsburgh. The Steelers shelved the power running game after the bye last year in favor of the zone rush; Jones’ addition could put those pages back in Matt Canada’s playbook.

Rd 2, Pick 32: Joey Porter Jr – CB – Penn State

Porter was barely tested in college – for good reason. Playing behind the best pass rush in football is going to give him plenty of chances to dispel the myth of his subpar ball skills. Stop thinking of him as Joey Porter’s son; he’s made his own name.

Rd 2, Pick 49: Keeanu Benton – DT – Wisconsin

Benton won’t win with speed but the Steelers have plenty of speed. This four-year starter has a wrestling background and a prize-fighter’s hands. He’ll play in the middle of a defense that already spreads blocking schemes thinner than butter melting on a hot English muffin. He’ll get his chances but I’m more excited thinking about the chances he’ll bring the other guys.

Rd 3, Pick 93: Darnell Washington – TE – Georgia

Possibly the steal of the draft. A big-body red zone threat who’s more than a tall receiver. Finally a legit in-line blocker in Pittsburgh. It’s hard to tell who should be more pleased with the addition: Kenny or Najee.

Rd 4, Pick 132: Nick Herbig – OLB – Wisconsin

Don’t start with the nepotism angle; Nate Herbig has only been here for a month and a half. Nick was drafted because of his pass rush repertoire, his plan, and his versatility to help out an under-staffed off-ball linebacker room.

Rd 7, Pick 241: Cory Trice – CB – Purdue

Trice is a 6’3″ press corner with a career 3.2% missed tackle rate. He slid because of medical concerns but he’s got all the tools and all the upside in the world. Don’t be surprised if he makes Ahkello Witherspoon expendable.

Rd 7, Pick 251: Spencer Anderson – IOL – Maryland

In his five years at Maryland Anderson logged time at all five OL positions and only allowed five sacks. The Steelers have historically prized that kind of versatility in their OL depth. Light a candle for Kendrick Green.