Who had the Steelers at 8-5 at this point of the season after they started out 0-3? What we’re seeing out of this Mike Tomlin coached football team is one of the most improbable and fun seasons in Steelers’ history. It’s certainly not pretty, but it is entertaining. The Steelers have no business being where they are with all the injuries, yet they’re finding ways to win. Can anyone say Tomlin for NFL Coach of the Year?
· The legend of Duck keeps growing. Devlin Hodges is now 3-0 as a starter for the Steelers. He’s not doing anything spectacular, but the Steelers aren’t asking him to do anything beyond what he’s capable of. Once again Hodges made some big plays against Arizona and was a great game manager. He did what he had to do to lead his team to a victory. Duck has also become a cult figure in this football-crazy town. Should he lead the Steelers to the playoffs he will go down in history as a Steelers’ legend.
· I think the Steelers knew what they were doing when they took Diontae Johnson in the third round of last year’s draft. If Sunday’s game was any indication of what he can do in the future, the Steelers have a real find on their hands. I was hoping Pittsburgh would have selected local product Chase Winovich, the pass rushing machine from Michigan, when he was on the board. Instead, the Steelers took Johnson. He was the best player on the field for Pittsburgh against the Cardinals. As he gains more experience he will only get a lot better. The kid just may end up being a star.
· No fan base takes over an opposing stadium like that of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was Yinzer Nation again in Arizona with so much black and gold in the stands. It also sounded like a Steeler home game. I know I am biased, but I have never seen a team with such a following on the road.
· Penn State had hoped to end up in the Rose Bowl. Instead, the Nittany Lions are headed to Jerry’s World in Dallas to face Memphis in the Cotton Bowl. Penn State lost out to Wisconsin for the trip to Pasadena. Having been there for two Rose Bowls and two Super Bowls, there is no place like Pasadena. And the Rose Bowl game plus the incredible New Year’s Day parade is simply spectacular. Penn State has never faced Memphis. Hopefully the Lions don’t take this team lightly and remember to show up.
· Pitt can’t be too happy about ending up in Detroit the day after Christmas. The Panthers, who finished a disappointing 7-5, will play in the Quick Lane Bowl against Eastern Michigan. I doubt many Pitt fans will be making the trip for this one.
· This year’s college football playoff field is terrific. I’m glad LSU got the number one seed. They deserved it, and their win over previously ranked number four Georgia sealed it for me, as well as the committee. Ohio State is second ranked and they are a machine. It
will take a great team to knock off the Buckeyes. Clemson, winner of two of the last three titles, is the third seed. Nobody wants to play Clemson these days. Oklahoma rounds out the field at number four, but is capable of winning it all. The two semifinal matchups on December 28th should be great.
· LSU’s Joe Burrow will win the Heisman Trophy next weekend in a landslide. I’m really happy for him, and all the great people connected with LSU. Billy Cannon is LSU’s only Heisman Trophy winner in history. I knew Billy when I worked in Baton Rouge years ago. He would have loved Joe Burrow and this LSU team.
· If the Penguins ever get healthy they just might be dangerous. In the meantime, Evgeni Malkin is certainly doing his part. Geno said he would have to carry the Pens when Sidney Crosby got hurt and that’s what he’s doing. The Pens have now won three in a row. If they can just manage to hang in there until everyone gets healthy, who knows how the year will play out.
· Derek Shelton was most impressive in his introductory press conference as the new skipper of the Pirates. Shelton seems like a player’s coach, but also a guy who knows the game of baseball. It’s a welcome change for the Pirates.
· I like the hire of Don Kelly as the Pirates’ new bench coach. He’s a Pittsburgh guy who was part of the Astros staff last year. Kelly also wore the Pirates’ uniform, so he knows what the Buccos mean to this area. Good move by the Bucs.
· I look for new Pirates’ GM Ben Cherington to be active in this week’s Winter Meetings. No, he’s not going to sign former Pirate Gerrit Cole, or even bring in other big name players with huge money deals. But I do think Cherington will make a move or two if he can find viable trading partners. Don’t be surprised if Starling Marte is an ex Bucco after this week. Even if he doesn’t make trades this week, you can count on Cherington at least laying the ground work for future deals.
