Pitt-Penn State: Breakdown/Prediction

The big day is upon us. It's a Saturday that Western Pennsylvania sports fans have been waiting for since 2000, and judging by the title, you already know I'm talking about Pitt-Penn State. Before I get into breaking down the two teams, I'd like to say that, while Saturday is a very exciting day for the state of Pennsylvania, the sad fact is that Pitt-Penn State is not, and probably will never again be the phenomenon that it was in its heyday (1977-82). I can't confirm anything, since I wasn't alive back in the late 70's/early 80's. But both programs have lost a lot of luster since then, and since Eastern football has fallen off quite a bit (Syracuse used to be a power as well), I can't imagine this rivalry will be nearly that hot ever again. The fact that ABC chose to televise the Michigan-Central Florida game over this once nationally acclaimed pastime speaks volumes about the state of both Pitt and Penn State on the national radar. Nonetheless, both fan bases have every right to be pumped up. Let's get into the key match-ups to watch for Saturday, and who I think has the edge in each one. Oh, one more thing. Since I had originally planned to write a historical piece in addition to my match-up preview but never had time to do so, I will make up for it by posting random pictures from the past and briefly explaining their meaning. Let's get into it.

Pitt's D-Line vs. Penn State's O-Line

Taken from the last meeting in 2000. Pitt won that game, 12-0, and yinzers love to bring that up as if it is still relevant. 

Penn State's offensive line stinks, and you can thank Bill O'Brien for not recruiting enough big boys. I still wake up in a cold sweat over last season's opening loss at Temple in which the line allowed ten sacks. Although I did not get to watch this years season opener against Kent State, from what I have heard, there is still work that needs to be done from the boys up front. Pitt has a solid defensive line anchored by Ejuan Price, so I think the Panthers have the edge in the trenches. Although, assuming Penn State's O-Line hasn't improved drastically, that isn't saying much.

Edge: Pitt

Penn State's D-Line vs. Pitt's O-Line

LaVar Arington doing his thing, blocking David Fleischhauer's 52 yard field goal to preserve a 20-17 Penn State Victory

The defensive line is one area where Penn State has lost some talent, with defensive tackles Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson as two notable departures. One key starter who is still here is defensive end Garret Sickles, who last week, recorded 1 of the seven sacks produced by the Penn State defense. Pitt's offensive line struggled against Villanova, and I don't think the O-Line will be a strong suit for the Panthers in 2016.

Edge: Penn State

Pitt's Secondary vs Penn State's Wide Receivers

Dan Marino was 2-2 against PSU in his 4 years at Pitt (see, 48-14)

This is the most intriguing match-up to watch, as I feel both teams are strong in these fields. Penn State has a talented group of receivers that hopefully new offensive coordinator Joe Moorehead will utilize much better than his predecessor John Donovan did. Chris Godwin is one of the better playmakers in the  Big 10, and Daesean Hamilton is not too far behind him. Pitt has an exciting and athletic group of defensive backs and safety's, led by Sophmore Jordan Whitehead, who was the 2015 ACC Rookie of the Year. Ryan Lewis and Avonte Maddox are both talented corners, and honestly, I don't know who has the edge in this match-up. So I'm calling it a push.

Push

Penn State's Secondary  vs. Pitt's Wide Receivers

Curt Warner was a national champion. Dan Marino was not

The Nittany Lions return 2 of 4 starters from last year's defensive backfield, and at least 3 of their starters this year can play. Free Safety Marcus Allen could be one of the better defensive backs in college football, while Grant Haley and Malik Golden are two more big time players coming out of the back. Pitt builds it's offense on running the ball, so don't expect new offensive coordinator Matt Canada to dial up many pass plays that will test Penn State. I don't think Pitt's receivers have the firepower to give Penn State too many problems in the defensive backfield

Edge: Penn State 

Now let's talk about the match-ups that won't be head-to-head, but will still have an impact on the outcome of this game

Linebackers

Just a good ole brawl. Gotta love those numbered helmets.

Linebacker U has two new products. Now Jason Cabinda and Brandon Bell might not yet be LaVar Arrington and Brandon Short, but they are both fine football players and will be ones to watch on Saturday. Pitt has a tough linebacking corp led by Mike Caprara, but I'll give PSU a slight edge, partly based on reputation.

Edge: Penn State 

Running backs

James Conner vs. Saquon Barkley. That's where the big debate is regarding running backs. I feel that, while Barkley is better than Conner (especially considering Conner has played one full game in the past year), Pitt's running game is deeper than Penn State's is. Qadree Ollison did a great job filling in for Conner as a redshirt freshman last season, and he should play a role tomorrow as the #2. Darren Hill is another solid running option for the Panthers. While Barkley might be the best offensive player in the Big 10, Penn State's backups are unproven. Akeel Lynch transferred to Nevada. Mark Allen didn't impress too much last season, and although much has been made of Miles Sanders, the freshman from Woodland Hills High School will be used mainly as a return man on special teams. So, because of the depth, I'll give the edge to Pitt.

Edge: Pitt

Special Teams

#22 John Cappelletti took home the Heisman in 1973. Tony Dorsett would get his 3 years later. 

It feels like Chris Blewitt has been kicking for Pitt since 2005. All kidding aside, he gets the job done. Penn State's kicking status isn't so secure. Joey Julius looks to be the man in the kicking game, but the big man struggled a bit towards the end of 2015, and the verdict is still out on #99. DeAndre Thompkins and Miles Sanders look to lead the way in the return game for Penn State, while Quadree Henderson is an explosive kick returner for Pitt who took a kickoff to the house in the season opener against Villanova. It's too early to tell exactly how things will play out with special teams, so I'll call this one push.

Push

Quarterbacks

Neither Nate Peterman or Trace McSorley have proven to be anything too extraordinary quite yet, but I'll give Pitt's Peterman the edge because of experience. Peterman is a senior who took over the QB job in Week 2 last year, while McSorley is a sophomore who made his first start last Saturday. Both are fairly even, but Peterman is more experienced and savvy.

Edge: Pitt

Final Prediction

I think this game could go either way. Because of that, I was tempted to pick Penn State due to my allegiance to the Blue and White. However, I decided that if I were a neutral fan, I would pick Pitt to win this game. So that's what I'm going to do here. I feel that Penn State has better athletes than Pitt, but this game gets decided in the trenches. Pitt's defensive line will overpower Penn State's offensive line, making life tough for Barkley and company, and that will be the main difference in this defensive battle. Nate Peterman will play a smart game at QB, making the big plays when he needs to, however often that may be, while Trace McSorley will get rattled and throw at least one key INT. It will be close, but Pitt is a 6 point favorite for a reason. They have the home field advantage, and I feel that the Panthers will be very motivated and overall, smarter than Penn State is. So, I'm sorry to say.

Pitt 23, Penn State 17

And so, the Panthers will make the one game that kids are willing to make the daunting drive from Oakland to the North Shore for worthwhile.

2016 Penn State Football Breakdown

Hello, all. Saturday marks the beginning of the 130th season of Penn State football. The Lions have an exciting schedule, so I'm going to write about every game, who will win it, and how it will happen. Just to clarify, I will not be breaking down Penn States roster, giving in depth reasons why they will win or lose games,  and, most importantly, I will not be breaking down the Pitt game. I will save that for when the time comes.
Week 1
The Nittany Lions roll to an opening day win. Saquon Barkley rushes for 145 yards and a touchdown, while Trace McSorley puts together a solid debut at QB, going 17-24 with 250 yards and 2 TD;s one to Chris Godwin, and another to Daesean Hamilton. On defense, Jason Cabinda and Brandon Bell both shine at linebacker, with Cabinda picking off a pass and recovering a fumble. The Lions win easily against a cream puff.
Penn State 42, Kent State 10

Week 3
vs. Temple
Barkley explodes again, rushing for 165 yards and two TD's The Penn State defense is relentless all day, and everyone forgets about Temple's 27-10 drubbing of Penn State last year. The Lions will have too much talent and motivation to lose this one
Penn State 27, Temple 10

Week 4
at #7 Michigan
Jim Harbaugh has not decided on whether to start Wilton Speight or John O'Korn at quarterback, but whoever gets the nod will have Jehu Chesson to throw to. Chesson will carve the PSU secondary up for 135 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Trace McSorley receives a harsh introduction to Big 10 football via way of a Jabril Peppers pick six late in the first quarter, and will go on to have an erratic game passing the ball. Sequon Barkley will be the one shining light on the PSU offense, rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown. PSU will score a touchdown in garbage time to make the score seem closer than it was, but it will be too little too late, and the Nittany Lions will suffer their first loss.


Michigan 36, Penn State 21


Week 5
vs. Minnesota
The defense will be the story of this matchup. Jason Cabinda will step up with 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery, while Garret Sickles will pick up a big INT late to seal the win. McSorley will struggle a bit, but Sequon Barkley and Miles Sanders will combine for over 150 yards rushing the ball, and Penn State will pull away from a scrappy Minnesota bunch.


Penn State 27, Minnesota 13

Week 6
vs. Maryland 
Maryland is tricky. They look to be an awful team this year, as they were in 2015, but I still have a feeling that they will play Penn State tough... at least for a little bit. QB Perry Hills will have his moments, but at the end of the day, the Nittany Lions will be too much, mainly due to McSorley having his best game of the season, through for 330 yards and three touchdowns. A Jason Cabinda INT will seal the deal late in the 4th quarter.

Penn State 35, Maryland 24

Week 8
vs. Ohio State
Yes, the Nittany Lions get the Buckeyes at home. But this Penn State team is not ready to compete with Urban Meyer's athletes just yet. Penn State will keep thing tight in the first half, mainly due to adrenaline, but J.T. Barret will go off in the second half, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for one more.

Ohio State 35, Penn State 17

Week 9
at Purdue
McSorley throws for 315 yards, while Sanders and Barkley both rush for 75+. Purdue is a joke, and the Lions will have too much firepower

Penn State 44, Purdue 14

Week 10
vs. Iowa
Iowa is a damn good football team that could win the Big 10. But playing in Beaver Stadium at night is one of the toughest things to do in college football. I have a feeling that the Penn State defense will rise to the occasion, Garret Sickles will sack C.J. Beathard twice, the second one forcing a fumble Tamba Hali style.

Penn State 17, Iowa 14

Week 11
at Rutgers 
Rutgers will be a tough game for Penn State, as Piscataway is an underrated place to play regarding toughness. The Scarlet Knights will lead Penn State late in the 3rd quarter, before SeQuon Barkley takes over, rushing for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the game away.

Penn State 31, Rutgers 20.
Week 12
at Indiana
Indiana has beaten Penn State once since PSU joined the Big 10 in 1993. This won't be the second time.

Week 12

Week 13
vs. Michigan State
Penn State will not get embarrassed by Sparta the way they did last November. The Spartans will get all they can handle. However, Tyler O'Connor (300 yards, 3 TD's) will make enough big plays, squeak Sparty by,  and win yet another Land Grant Trophy.

The Impossible Has Happend: A belated ode to UFC 202

Connor McGregor celebrates his latest and greatest triumph (Photo creds to www.dailymail.co.uk)

By: Joe Smeltzer 

In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!
- Vin Scully

That was a quote from my favorite sport, baseball, and I am using it to begin the first article that I have ever written on what was previously my least favorite sport; Mixed Martial Arts.


Until last Saturday, there was no sport in the world that I despised more than Mixed Martial Arts. While I've always respected what fighters go through, I've also felt that UFC was a place of arrogant asses, stupid nicknames, and 3rd-grade intelligence. I also felt the fights themselves were too barbaric for my liking. I thought that, while boxing was a sport that was violent, yet artful, UFC was just a constant bloodbath that lots of  bloodthirsty blockheads enjoyed. On Saturday, around midnight, all of that changed.

Last Saturday night, myself and a few  friends from college (Dakota, Mitch, and Ron), decided to watch the big fight between Connor McGregor and Nate Diaz. Because our dorm did not have access, we went over to the other underclassman's dorm. When we got there, there were a handful of people in the room. The people there were friendly, but because it was UFC, I had the urge to leave.

Then the first fight of a five fight card started. It was a youth vs. experience story, with the savvy Tim Means taking on Sabah Homasi, who was making his debut. Means took care of the rookie with a second round TKO. Up next was another rookie, Mike Perry, going against Hyun Gyu Lim. Perry faired better than Homasi, taking out Lim in the first round via TKO. I started to be intrigued.

Cowboy (Photo creds to sports.yahoo.com)

My intrigue progressed further with the next fight; a Welterweight clash between Donald ''Cowboy'' Cerrone and Rick Story. Finally, I found a UFC nickname that I didn't find stupid as hell. Cowboy took care of business with a second round TKO. Next, we had the light heavyweights. It was Brazil's Glover Teixeria taking on American Anthony ''Rumble'' Johnson. This looked to be a good, hard-hitting brawl, but it was not to be. The fight lasted all of 13 seconds, with Johnson getting one good shot to put the Brazilian to bed. Now I was starting to like this thing, but I still wasn't ready to admit that to myself. As we all know, the best was yet to come.

My opinion on Connor McGregor has been an odyssey. My first impressions of the young Irishman were that he was just another cocky UFC guy who was the idol of teenagers everywhere. My opinion of him turned to a positive one when he knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds this past December. My love for McGregor grew to the point where in early March, just before he was scheduled to fight Nate Diaz for the first time, I considered penning an article entitled ''Why I love Connor McGregor''. I did not watch that match, but when I saw that McGregor had lost, I was disappointed.  Then came the retirement.

On April 19th, 2016, McGregor sent this tweet. I speculated that it was a hoax right away, and it turned out that, as with most things in life, I was right. This turned me against McGregor, as I now looked at him as a drama king, and at Dana White and UFC as a charade. I was indifferent towards McGregor in the coming months until, in early August, he made offensive remarks towards WWE wrestlers. As a long time wrestling fan and somebody who knows about a lot of what pro wrestlers go through, I was not pleased by this, and as a result was full on against McGregor. I even told some of my friends that I thought McGregor was a product of Irish ethnicity and unique interviewing skills and that he was not nearly the superstar that he was made out to be. I now know that I could not have been more wrong.

By the time the fight started, there was a head count of 21 guys in our small room.Those who could not fit were sitting outside, peeking in to see. As soon as The Chieftains rendition of the Irish classic ''The Foggy Dew'' blasted out of the speakers to introduce McGregor, I knew I was hooked. I still didn't want to admit it to myself, but I knew I was hooked.

Photo creds to www.bloodyelbow.com

The first round was a fairly dominant one for McGregor, and with a predominantly McGregor crowd around me, I figured I was in for a long night. But Diaz fought back in the second, although I still thought McGregor won the round.The 3rd round was where jaws began to drop. Diaz fought hard in Round 3 and came away the clear winner. But all who watched wondered how much more Diaz could take. The face above says it all. Diaz was a bloody mess, and he was fighting purely on heart, not physical strength. While Diaz was blind, McGregor was exhausted, and that began to show in the later rounds. As Round 3 ended both men had shocked the world just by going this long into the fight. After all, McGregor had only had one fight go to the 3rd round in his UFC career, while Diaz had only one make it into the 4th. Surely, it has to be over after 4.

It wasn't over. McGregor won Round 4 fairly convincingly, and we were going to a 5th and final round; something that fight fans and experts did not envision. At this point, I was full on converted, and I was ready to come to terms with that. I could not find the words to describe what I was watching. I never thought anything could ever convert me to something even resembling a UFC fan, but it had happened, and we still had one more round to go.

The 5th round did not disappoint. On a few occasions, Diaz came close to making the Irishman tap, just as he had on March 5th. But he just could not get McGregor on the ground, and Connor made it through.  Now it was up to the judges, and the world anxiously awaited what Bruce Buffer would announce.

The result was a McGregor victory by a majority decision. While McGregor won the fight, it would be beyond absurd to call either man a loser. What those two men went through for those 25 minutes is something that still makes my jaw drop a full eight days later, and it has changed my outlook on Mixed Martial Arts.

I still see problems with UFC. I still see Dana White as a jerk. I still see a lot of fighters as arrogant asses, and I still find non-fighters who walk around wearing ''Tap Out'' t-shirts as a major pet peeve. But I cannot deny what those fighters go through, and how entertaining a fight card is to watch. Connor McGregor and Nate Diaz are now athletes who I will follow, and Cowboy is not too far behind.

Last summer, I sent out a tweet proclaiming that I would never write about Mixed Martial Arts. But now I'll say it; UFC, you have my attention.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 Preview: Defense

Hello, all. Last week, I gave you my preview of the 2016 Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Today, it's the defense. I didn't do a good job of making this clear in my first preview, so I'll do a better job here. The starting 11 that I project for the Steelers is not necessarily the same guys that you will see on the first play of the first series in Washington week 1. It's just who I think should be starting, and how they would do if they did start, combined with the Steelers depth chart listen on the team website.  Let's get into it

Defensive Tackle


Daniel McCullers

I can't give you a real opinion on McCullers because I don't have one yet. After losing Steve McClendon to free agency, McCullers is presumed as the Steelers #1 defensive tackle. I have not seen much from the 3rd year hoss from Tennessee, and I admit that I did not watch much of the preseason opener against Detroit, or the second game against Philadelphia. Hopefully, McCullers does an adequate job of replacing McClendon, assuming he will be that man.

Position Status: I don't know

The other guys

The only real intriguing guy aside from McCullers to watch at nose tackle is Javon Hargrave. A 3rd round pick this past April, Hargrave is a complete beast at 300+ pounds, and is the definition of the word disruption. Despite all the promise, I don't expect Hargrave to be the starter right away. He may very well work to be a starter soon, but I think the fact that other teams passed him over 88 times in the draft is evidence that he has some work to do

Overall
I don't know what to think. I haven't seen enough of McCullers, and Hargrave is a rookie who I have not had time to watch. Hopefully, the nose tackle position does not hold back the defensive line, and the loss of Steve McLendon does not prove to be too costly.

Overall thoughts: Minimal

Defensive End
Left Sideeeee!!!!
Cameron Heyward

Photo creds to www.postgazette.com

Class personified. Heyward is the heart and soul of the Steelers defense, and one of the better defensive lineman in the NFL. Unlike many of his buffoonish teammates, Heyward is as fine of a person off the field as he is a player on it, and that's why he was the Steelers nominee of the Walter Payton Leadership Award in 2015. Heyward is proof that you don't need Antonio Browns showboating or DeAngelo Willimas "look at me I'm cool" social media attitude to be a boss on the field. Cam shows up, does his job, does it well, and moves on. That may cost him some notoriety among the great unwashed, but it is beneficial to the Steelers. Oh, and Heyward knows how the respect legends on important days in their lives, which a particular backup running back can learn something from.

Position Status: Dependable
Strong Sideeeee!
Stephon Tuitt

Photo creds to www.steelers.com

In my first preview, I deemed Sammy Coates as the biggest breakout candidate for the Steeler offense. I'm giving the 3rd year player from Notre Dame that honor on the other side of the ball. At 6'6, 303 lbs, Tuitt is an athletic freak, and while  the 2014 second round pick hasn't been a bust in his short time in Pittsburgh, he hasn't turned heads the way he is capable of doing either. I think Tuitt will excel this season playing opposite Cam Heyward. He has a excellent blend of size and speed that I forsee to be on full display in 2016. Don't be surprised if you see this kid in the Pro Bowl. He is that good.

Position Status: Just you wait

The other guys

No famous names to report here and the Steelers don't need them. Heyward and Tuitt will be just fine, but if one of them goes down for a few games, Ricardo Mathews has a good chance to fill their spot. Mathews has size and experience but let's hope the Steelers don't need him in the starting lineup.

Overall
Heyward and Tuitt could become one of the better pass-rushing tandems in the NFL. Heyward is an established gem, while Tuitt has tremendous upside. Overall, defensive end is the area where the Steelers have the least amount of unanswered questions on defense, and fans should be excited for what these guys can bring.

Overall Status: Stable

Linebackers
Ryan Shazier

Photo creds to www.profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

The case of Shazier is a curious one. The 2014 first round pick out of Ohio State might be the most unique linebacker in the NFL, and this is because he is faster than any other linebacker in the NFL. But until Shazier proves that he can stay healthy for a full season, I refuse to jump on the bandwagon.

Whoever came up with the phrase "size doesn't matter" wasn't a football fan. In the NFL, size does matter, especially for a linebacker. I believe that Shazier's size (6 ft 1, 235 lbs) will cause durability problems for the rest of his career as an inside linebacker. When healthy, Shazier will be a force. Hopefully, Shazier can be a strength for a full season.

Position Status: Hit or Miss

Lawrence Timmons

Timmons style of play is similar to Cam Heyward's; he isn't flashy, but he gets the job done. Outside of James Harrison, Timmons has spent the longest time as a starter on the Steeler defense, and although he isn't completely satisfied with his current contract, I'm confident that that will be taken care of. We have come to expect solid play from the 10th year man out of Florida State, and provided he is healthy, 2016 will be no different

Position Status: Rock solid

James Harrison/Jarvis Jones
I'm writing about these two as a package because I expect Keith Butler to rotate these two at right outside linebacker. James Harrison is probably a better player than Jarvis Jones right now, but his age will not allow him to dominate on every down. What about Jarvis? 2016 is, in my opinion, a make-or-break season for the 2013 first rounder out of Georgia. To put it bluntly, Jones has been a bust. He showed nothing in his first two seasons and made baby strides at best last year. If Jones doesn't show some serious improvement, that will be a problem.

Position Status: Torch passing (hopefully)

Bud Dupree

I was contemplating on picking Dupree over Tuitt as my breakout player on the Steelers defense, but I went with Tuitt because I feel that, as he was a second round pick, fans expect less of him than they do out of Dupree, the Steelers first-rounder in 2015. Dupree played sporadically  last season, but he showed enough promise that this year, the outside linebacker job should be his to lose. The Steelers linebacking corp is built on speed, and Dupree has it. When the Steelers drafted Dupree 22nd overall in 2015, many experts said they got a steal. Let's hope Bud proves us right.

Position Status: Promising

The Other Guys

Arthur Moats is the only non-starter that is likely to play a prominent role in the Steelers defense, but a name I want you readers to think about is Tyler Matakevich. The Steelers last pick in this year's draft is not your average late round pick, as the former Temple Owl took home two of College Football's most prestigious awards in 2015 (Bronco Nagurski, Chuck Bednarik) and was a consensus All-American. The reason for all of Matakevich's success in 2015 was not due to his athletic ability, but due to his effort and his football IQ. If you want to see what this kid is about, watch his highlights from Temple's loss to Notre Dame last October. It was so obvious that he was a coach on the field, as it seemed as if he always knew where the ball was going. Matkevich does not fit the mold as an athletic beast of a linebacker. He doesn't have the lightning speed or freakish strength, but, pardon my cliche; he is all heart. He is unlikely to see a lot of playing time this season on defense, but look for him to grind it out on special teams at the very least. Matkevich could be somebody worth following very soon.

Overall
The Steelers corp of linebackers have a lot of talent, but little of a track record. Aside from Lawerence Timmons, there are just so many things to question. Is James Harrison too old? Will Jarvis Jones take a significant step forward? Will Ryan Shazier's durability lead to his downfall? Will Bud Dupree prove to be a bust? The Steelers linebacking corp could be great, but it could also be terribly underwhelming. Like so many great things in sports, we will just have to wait and see.

Overall Status: Boom or Bust
Overall, the Steelers front seven is promising. Every probable starter has Either established himself as a quality performer or has the potential to be one. Unfourtanly,  the reason the Steelers are a suspect defensive football team is because of the boys in the back. Let's talk about those guys.

Cornerback
Artie Burns

Will the rookie from Miami prove to be an ''excellent'' first-round draft choice?

The Steelers first round draft pick should be starting at corner from day one. Although Burns is better than Antwon Blake (the fact that he is an able bodied, breathing human being proves this), I do not think he will justify the Steelers drafting him at #23 overall. Burns has prototypical size for his position, but he is too flat footed for my liking, and I did not like the way he looked when his Miami team played against tough opponents (I.e he got schooled by Clemson's Artavis Scott.) Could Burns become a good player for the Steelers? Sure. But I don't envision ever feeling good about the Black and Gold passing on Clemson's Mackenzie Alexandre for Artie Burns. If the Steelers don't start Burns right away, that will be a sign that the made a mistake. Coming into this years draft, they needed to take a corner or safety that would be a starter by the time the ink dried on his rookie contract. Hopefully, they did that with Artie Burns, but I have my doubts.

Position Status: An improvement, at least

William Gay/Ross Cockrell
One of these guys should be playing opposite Artie Burns, and I would prefer it if it were to be Cockrell. Willy Gay has made his share of huge plays in his time with the Black and Gold, but I just don't see him as a starting cornerback. Gay is good at covering slot receivers, and he would make a solid Nickleback, but I like Cockrell over him because he has more room to improve. I've heard that when two players are close regarding ability, the tie always goes to the veteran. I disagree with that. I think that the young guy should get the nod in that type of circumstance because he has more learning and a higher ceiling to go for. Sure, Cockrell's tackling ability is fit for an 8th-grade squad, but he can get better at that. There's a lot about Ross Cockrell that I like; his tenacity and football IQ are robust. I think that Cockrell has potential, and hopefully, the Steelers can help develop him into a solid NFL player. Nonetheless, I do not believe that either Gay or Cockrell are great options to have in your starting 11.

Position Status: Meh.

The other guys

The Steelers starting cornerbacks are hard enough to rave about, so why on earth would the backups be a cause for excitement? Sure, Kennen Lewis is back, but he is not the same player he was when he left the Steelers in 2012 and is not a good bet to stay healthy, and therefore, I do not expect him to start. I will say, Al-Hajj Shabazz has one of the better names in the NFL.

Overall
Antwan Blake plays for the Titans, so the Steelers cornerbacks are better just based on that. However, having a good secondary has never been more important. While I feel that Artie Burns and Ross Cockrell/William Gay will be an improvement over whatever the Steeler threw out there last season, I still don't feel comfortable thinking of Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton or even Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing on this secondary.


Overall Status: Baby steps

Safety's
Free
Mike Mitchell

photo creds to www.behindthesteelcurtian.com

The fact that at this point, Mike Mitchell is the best player in the Steelers secondary,  is not sufficient. While Mitchell expressed a renaissance last season, he is still prone to dumb mistakes, mainly because it seems delivering a big hit is all that he cares about. Mitchell is a decent football player and is a guy who knows how to get his teammates fired up. But is he somebody who you'd want as the crowned jewel of your secondary in today's NFL? The answer is no. Hopefully, some of Mitchell's mates in the Defensive Backfield pick up the slack. If not, it could be a long year.

Position Status: Static

Strong
Somebody
Does anybody know who the Steelers will trot out at strong safety? The team's depth chart currently says its Robert Golden. I think Golden has potential, but like Willie Gay, I just don't see him as an ideal starter in an NFL secondary. Sharmako Thomas is in the mix, but if he couldn't cut it on special teams last season, how would he do it as a starting Saftey? Shanquez Golson will be out for a good chunk of the year. Jordan Dangerfield, Jacob Hagan, and Ray Vinopal are the others listed on the depth chart, and there's nothing to jump up and down about there. In short, I think not-resigning Will Allen is going to prove to be a mistake

Position Status: Not good



Overall thoughts
Mike Mitchell is who he is, so take him or leave him. It will be interesting to see who the Steelers trot out on the strong side, but odds are, whoever it is won't haunt the dreams of AFC wide receivers. In short, the Steelers safety's will be adequate at best, wrong at worst.



Overall Status: Meh



Wrapping it up
The Steelers defense will be improved from last season, as I see more players likely to improve than the other way around. With the Steelers offense being the well-oiled machine that it has established itself to be, the defense will be the ones who ultimately decide how far this team goes. Expect to see your fair share of 28-24 type games. So in other words, a lot of offense from both sides, so a lot of fun from both sides. Buckle up.



Overall Status: Improved, but is it good enough?

Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 Preview: Offense

Photo creds to espn.go.com

Hello, all. The 2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season is almost here, and I know you're all wondering what Joseph Arthur Smeltzer thinks of this squad. Well, I'll give you a win-loss prediction eventually, but for now, let's do a position-by-position preview, starting with the offense


Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger

Photo creds to bussinessesinsavannah.com

The Steelers don't exactly have a QB controversy brewing in training camp, and won't for a few more years. That is if Ben Roethlisberger can stay healthy. We all know how special of a player Big Ben is, but at 34, he is an old dog, and missing a few games is not out of the question for the big fellow. If #7 were to go down; Landry Jones is likely next in line to take his place. Let's all pray Ben stays healthy.

Position Status: Super 

Runningback 

Lev'eon Bell

Photo creds to sportingnews.com

So good, but such a ?. That's a fair description for the 4th year back from Michigan State. As we
know, Bell is facing a hearing  to see whether or not he will face a 4-game suspension
for a missed drug test. On the field, Bell is the best all-around running back in the game when healthy, but as the past two years have shown, Bell isn't always able to avoid the injury bug. If Bell can play a full season or at least 12 games, with his combination of running and receiving, he could be the Steelers greatest asset.

Player Status: Uncertain 

DeAngelo Williams 

Photo creds to www.sbnation.com

If Bell gets suspended, the Steelers will still be in good hands with DeAngelo Williams. Regardless of what an attention seeker he is off the field, Williams is as dependable as any backup running back in the league. Williams is a veteran, and he knows how to get the job done, although, at 33, he probably doesn't have another season like 2015 in him. Nontheless, Williams will play a key role on this squad, weather the Bell is ringing or not.

Player Status: Dependable 

The Other Guys

We all should remember Fitzgerald Toussiant from last season. Hopefully, he will not be needed, although he isn't a bad guy to have as a 3rd stringer. Daryl Richardson and Cameron Stingley are Ham N' Eggers who are very unlikely to make an impact on this roster.
Overall
In spite of Bell's potential suspension, the Steelers have the best 1-2 backfield punch in the NFL by a considerable margin. Although running the ball isn't as important as it was in the days of Franco and Rocky, a good running game is still a nice thing to have. The Steelers have that. Let's just hope they will be healthy enough to show it on a consistent basis.

Wide Receiver 

Antonio Brown 

Photo creds to www.espn.com

A boss. Brown is the best receiver in the NFL, and he will only get better. Brown has stated that his goal for 2016 is the break the NFL single-season receptions record, and given all that he has accomplished in his career, especially over the past two years, who the hell would doubt him? Of course, it would be a huge + if Ben Roethlisberger is throwing him the ball for all 16 games.


Player Status: Super Dependable 

Markus Wheaton

Photo creds to www.behindthesteelcurtain.com

Thanks to Martavius Bryant's love of pot, Wheaton is now the Steelers #2 receiver. That's not the worst thing in the world. Wheaton is very quick, and the Steelers are likely to use him as their #1 deep ball target. If and when the opposing defense keys on AB, Wheaton knows how to take advantage of it, case in point, last year in Seattle. While Richard Sherman was locking down Brown, Wheaton turned in a banner performance, catching 9 balls for 201 yards and a touchdown. That's what Wheaton is capable of doing. While I don't necessarily expect Wheaton to make fans forget about Bryant entirely, I expect him to have the best year of his career, now that he has more of an opening in Todd Haley's system. Hell, if Wheaton lives up to his full potential, the Steelers might not miss Bryant at all. Just don't let him return punts ever again.

Position Status: Manageable 






Sammy Coates

Coates is, in my opinion, the most intriguing of all the Steelers receiving options. The second-year player from Auburn didn't get a lot of chances last season, but when he did, he did ok. His banner performance came in the divisional playoffs at Denver, when he picked up a respectable 61 yards receiving. The best thing that could happen as a result of Bryant's season-long suspension is the emergence of Sammy Coates. Coats is quick; he has good hands and a high football IQ. When the Steelers need to convert, say, a 3rd and 6, Coates is a solid guy to go to along with AB.              

That's why he is my pick for Steelers breakout star of 2016.

Player Status: Just you wait. 



The Other Guys

The only other receivers that I can see making an impact for the Black and Glad are Demarcus Ayres and Darius Heyward-Bay. Heyward-Bay is who he is, which is a disappointing draft choice who is a decent backup and can do the job if somebody is on the shelf. The case of Ayres is more intriguing. The seventh-round pick from the University of Houston is a speedster who some say can challenge Coates for the #3 receiver spot. I don't buy that. Yes, Ayres can contribute to this team right away on special teams, but there's a reason he was passed over 228 times in the draft before the Steelers caught him with their final pick. The fact that the Steelers got Ayers so late does not mean he will never work to be a starting wideout in this league (see Brown, Antonio), but it probably means that he won't see significant pt as a rookie.

Overall
Any receiving corp that has Antonio Brown in it automatically a good one, but in spite of the loss of Bryant, the Steelers still have a talented and exciting group to accommodate AB. Wheaton and Coates make solid #2 and #3 options, and I think there is a decent chance that Sammy Coates could leapfrog Markus Wheaton on the Big Ben target food chain. There will be no Martavius, but there will be plenty of long bombs, flash, and scoring. I mean, it's the 21st century NFL. There has never been a better time to be a wide receiver.

Tight End

Laderius Green

Photo creds to bleacherreport.com

Believe it or not, Heath Miller made the Steelers a better team by retiring. Not to belittle Heath's accomplishments (he's the greatest in team history at his position) but because of #83's decision to hang em up, the Steelers signed former Charger Laderius Green. Although he was always second fiddle to the great Antonio Gates while in San Diego, Green performed well when given the chance, and he is a considerable upgrade over Miller as far as pass catching goes. While Miller's blocking ability is irreplaceable, Green is more of a play-making tight end. It is true that Green is still recovering from something (apparently it has nothing to do with his offseason ankle surgery.... but he says he should be ready for Week 1 in Washington, and hopefully, his recurring headaches won't be as big of an issue by then. The singing of Green adds a whole new element to the Steelers offense, and barring injury, Green should play a big part in the Steelers season, and not just because it's Le'Veon Bell's favorite color.Wait a second, are you telling me that Green might never play again due to head trauma, thus making everything I wrote here irrelevant? Well, let's just be optimistic here and pretend that what I wrote mattered. Jesse James is still the #2 tight end, and all is right with the world. 

Player Status: Fresh

Jesse James

Steeler fans, get ready to love this guy. I've been watching James since he was a Freshman at Penn State back in 2012, and he is what a tight end should be; tough. James is a large man at 6'7, 261, so he can hold his own in blocking an NFL defensive lineman. The problem is, James wasn't always as aggressive as he could have been while at Penn State. However, this is the NFL, and since James doesn't have the greatest set of hands in the world, he will need to become a quality run-blocker to stay in this league.  What Laderius Green may lack in blocking, James will make up. Most of Big Ben's passes to the tight end position will be directed at Green, while James will be used primarily to block. But just because James is more of a traditional tight end doesn't mean he isn't capable of catching his fair share of balls, as we saw last year when he stepped up for an injured Heath Miller. If Todd Haley is smart, he will use two tight end sets more often than he has in the past. James is a player, and his style of play is one that will grow to fit the old ''Steeler Smashmouth Football'' concept. Fans will love him; at least more than they did Matt Speath


Player Status: Fresh

The Other Guys

If and when Green is healthy again, the Steelers #1 Fullback, David Johnson, is also listed on the teams depth chart as the #3 tight end Aside from James, Green, and Johnson, there are no notable Steeler tight ends to speak.
Overall:
The Steelers have two solid tight ends for the first time in a while, and I'm excited to see them bring a whole new element to the passing game. Jesse James is a personal favorite of mine due to his time in State College, and here's hoping the South Allegheny graduate can become Pittsburgh's latest hometown hero.

Offensive Line

Photo creds to www.steelers.com

Center- Maurkice Pouncey 
Or so we hope. Like Le'Veon Bell, Pouncey is one of the best at his position when healthy, but he just hasn't been healthy nearly enough over his six seasons in Pittsburgh. If Pouncey were to get hurt again, Cody Wallace is the man to fill his shoes, just like what took place in 2015. While Wallace isn't a bad worst case scenario, all of Steeler nation would love to have Pouncey healthy for a full 16 games. To be blunt, I would not bet on the best case scenario taking place.

Status: The hell if we know 


Tackle 
Alejandro Villanueva  
What a story. This guy nearly lost his life as a soldier fighting for our freedom. Oh, and he's a pretty good football player. Villanueva's first few weeks filling in for Kelvin Beachum as the Steelers starting Left Tackle were rough. But he overcame that, and just got better as the season went on. I expect nothing but more improvement from Villanueva in season number 2. When you fight in combat, working to be a better football player is nothing.

Position Status: Strong

Marcus Gilbert 
This is easily the most underappreciated player on the Steelers O-line, and maybe on the whole damn team. Gilbert played extremely well at Right Tackle in 2015, as evidenced by the fact that he didn't allow a sack until Week 13. In my opinion, Gilbert was the Steelers best O-lineman last year, and I see no reason why he would lose a step this year.

Position Status: Secure

Guard
David DeCastro
Marcus Gilbert should have gone to the Pro Bowl in 2015, and David DeCastro did go to the Pro Bowl in 2015. DeCastro was more than deserving of that honor. Like Gilbert, he is consistent in doing the dirty work to make the Steeler offense go, and I see no reason, barring injury, why that should change this fall.

Position Status: Secure

Ramon Foster
Assuming Pouncey is healthy, Foster is, in my opinion, the weakest link of the O-Line. But that's not a bad thing. Foster has proven himself to be reliable over his seven seasons in the Steel City, and he is also a great teammate and locker room leader. His performance on the field, as well as his veteran presence off of it, is essential for this team.

Status: Savy

The Other Guys
Cody Wallace is also a candidate to return to his traditional position of guard should something happen to DeCastro or Foster. Aside from Wallace, the Steeler backup brigade includes Chris Hubbard, Brian Mihalik and B.J. Finney. Legendary names right there.

Overall
The O-Line is solid. All 5 assumed starters have proven themselves to be reliable, and with Big Ben getting up there in age, he needs some insurance that his remaining years behind center are as pain-free as possible. He has a good group of big boys to put his faith in, even if his starting center gets injured again. The Steelers offense is known league wide for their skill players, but don't overlook the strength of the boys up front.

Offense: Overall
Even without Martavis Bryant, and even if Le'Veon Bell is suspended, the Steelers offense is a machine. Every starter at every position has the potential to significantly help this team win. The numbers don't lie. The Steelers have never had this much going for them on the offensive side of the ball. If you watch this team enough, you know what to expect by now. Next, I will talk about the defense, and spoiler alert, I am not as optimistic about them. Stay classy, Pittsburgh.

Stupid Steelers

The ''S'' stands for something other than ''Super''. (Photo creds to www.moncityapparel.com)

I'm going to go against the beliefs of the rest of our city and take this time to thank Le'veon Bell. First, I want to thank Le'veon because he has given me something to write about in late July, which is a dull time for sports (especially with a boring baseball season in progress). Second, I'd like to thank Mr. Bell for allowing me to redeem myself for a missed opportunity. When the NFL suspended Martavis Bryant for the entire 2016 season in March, I wanted to do a post on how the so-called "Steeler Way" died along with Chuck Noll. But, because of the NCAA tournament, I just couldn't find time in my life to do such a post. But now, four months later;  Bell has given me that opportunity again, and I am going to cash in.

As we all should know, Bell is currently facing a 4-game suspension to start out the upcoming season. The reason for this is that he missed a drug test. Bell served a 2-gamer last season for the McNight Road incident in August of 2014, so one would think he would be cautious of his love of the greens. But he wasn't (at least presumably), and he is paying the price (at least presumably). But the purpose of this article is less about Bell in general and more about how the so-called "Steeler Way" is dead.

If you live in the Steel City, you know that the Steelers are religion. Not only have they developed a reputation as being arguably the most successful franchise of the Super Bowl era, but they also are perceived to conduct themselves in a manner that puts the lesser organizations to shame off the field. The first part is still accurate. The second part no longer is.

From a football standpoint, this hurts the Steelers, but it won't be fatal. DeAngleo Williams is a fantastic backup option to have, and he should hold down the fort well. Williams isn't as good as Bell, who is the best all-around running back in the league, but he is good enough. The Steelers first four games (at Washington, vs. Cincy, at Philly, and vs. Kansas City) aren't cake, but they are winnable. I see 3-1 as likely, 2-2 as a worst case scenario.

So what is the "Steeler Way" as far as noble behavior goes? Is it Bell and Martavis Bryant getting stoned at every chance and missing games because of it?

Could it be promising special teams player Chirs Rainey beating his woman, and his subsequent dismissal from the team?

Is it Vince Williams threatening somebody over Twitter? 

Speaking of Twitter, maybe the "Steeler Way" is creating drama through social media with the rival Cincinnati Bengals. I'm sure Chuck Noll would be so proud to see Marcus Gilbert running his mouth through a keyboard like a pissed off teenager. 

Maybe the Steeler way is DeAngleo Williams, a "good" running back with a superstar attitude.Remember when Williams insulted Peyton Manning through Twitter on the day of his retirement for no apparent reason. How about when he stirred the pot with Cincinnati's Vontez Burfict, instead of being the bigger man and ignoring Burfict's ill- advised Twitter jab? Williams is a great success story on the field, but an attention whore off of it, and for that, he is my personal least favorite Steeler.

How about Joey Porter? Can somebody tell this guy that he is an assistant coach who doesn't play the game anymore? As dumb as Pacman Jones was in that January fiasco at Paul Brown Stadium, a linebackers coach has no place antagonizing an opposing player. I don't believe Porter is malicious, but I do think he is immature and is living ten years in the past. Speaking of Porter, does anybody know if his dogs are still murdering other animals?

The greatest example of what it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler in 2016 is Free Saftey Mike Mitchell. Like Williams, Mitchell is a success story on the field. But he is nothing short of a punk and has shown signs of that off the field as well. Witness him knock Cincy's receiver Marvin Jones unconscious and then celebrate like he just won "Survivor". How about the time he celebrated in a game against the Raiders after forcing a fumble...... while the ball was still on the ground. Worst of all, witness a fan who dared to criticize his poor play after a game in 2014 that he should "kill himself", and then justify his actions. Mitchell is the most immature veteran on the planet, and his attitude on the field is unbecoming of the Steelers eagle scout perception.

All of this brings me back to the Mike Vick signing. You all know that there was plenty of outrage from fans about bringing in a man with such a dubious record. But you might not take into account what many said they were pissed off about. They didn't say it was that Vick was out of prison. It didn't bother them that he was still in the NFL. No, what got them was that he was paying for our perfect team. Playing in our perfect city. Because the wonderful Steelers are far too classy to bring in such a vile criminal. We aren't like the rest of the NFL. We are Pittsburgh. We do things the right way.

Well, I got news for you readers who still might have your head in the sand on what the Steelers are. The Steelers are like the rest of the NFL as far as conducting themselves goes. They have their good guys, such as defensive end Cameron Heyward. But they have their questionable characters, such as Vince Williams and Mike Mitchell. The Steelers are no different than the rest of the league as far as behavior goes. That's not the worst thing in the world, but it's also something that the arrogance of many fans will never wrap their heads around.

I watched all 16 games last season. The Steelers are a reality show, filled with zany celebrations and not a lot of the act-like-you've-been-there-before mentality. I don't have a problem with the Steelers showboating, in fact, I find it entertaining as hell. But it is just another example of how the Steeler standard of excellence established by Chuck Noll ain't what it once was. Maybe ''the Steeler way'' was always a myth. Maybe bad behavior from players is just magnified now. Whatever the case may be, the Steelers have no more or less class than what is the NFL status quo.

The Steelers may be an elite organization regarding wins and losses. But as far as how they conduct themselves on and off the field, they are just another team that falls in the line of the circus that is the National Football League. I still love the Pittsburgh Steelers, and you should too. But you, the reader, also should take in the account that the Steelers are not Eagle Scouts anymore. Welcome to 2016. The Pittsburgh Steelers are just blending with the times.

Euro 2016: Breakdown/prediction for the final.

The bad news: In less than 24 hours, Euro 2016 will be over. And we will have to wait another four years to see it again. The good news: we still got one more game, baby. Let's get into who Joseph Arthur Smeltzer thinks has the edge between Portugal and France.


Back Line

Patrice Evra

Portugal has Pepe on defense, but they have had their struggles (see: 3 goals allowed against Hungary). France, meanwhile, has a solid back line led by Patrice Evra and featuring Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna and holding midfielder Blaise Matuidi. Combine this defense with the goaltending brilliance of Hugo Lloris, and it's no contest.

Edge: France. 

Midfield

Paul Pobga

You got the best midfielder in the world in Paul Pogba. You've got one of the best free-kick takers in the world in Dimitri Payet. You've got the most dominant player of the whole tournament in Antione Griezmann (assuming manager Didier Deschamps sticks with the 4-2-3-1 formation).

With all due respect to Nani, France has the edge in the midfield.

Edge: France 

Front Line

It's hard to break this down since France will likely play with one player in the front while Portugal will probably play with 2. Portugal has Christiano Ronaldo, so they have the edge here

Edge: Porto

Goaltending 

Lloris is a winner. (Photo creds to www.express.co.uk

If you've watched France this summer, and if you follow Tottmahm Hotspur every other month of the year, you know that Hugo Lloris is special. He is world class, and best of all, he makes the big save when he is needed most. Rui has done well at times for the other side, but Loris is a superstar.

Edge: France

Prediction 

I'd like to tell you that this will be a great game and will be what soccer is all about and all that jazz, but in this case, I cannot. France is a better team than Portugal. They have better players, a better manager and are playing as the host nation. The fact that Portugal is in the final at all exposes a problem with the tournament format, that problem being that most of the top teams are on one side of the bracket. That's no knock on the Portuguese side; you can't control your hand,  but beating Croatia, Poland and Wales (two of those in extra time) should not make you one of the top 2 teams in Europe.

The France-Germany semifinal meeting should have been the final. That matched dripped of intensity, and I highly doubt that today's final tops that. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe France will be reckless and take their foot off the pedal. Maybe Ronaldo will score more than once (he's done it plenty before). These things could happen, but I don't think they will. France is too good and too motivated. They don't want to let the home fans down. One thing is a guarantee: whatever happens, there will be riots in the streets of Paris.


France 3, Portugal 1