Steelers Morning Huddle 2/19/14
Nov 10, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro (66) and tackle Marcus Gilbert (77) block Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams (95) during the second quarter of a game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
It’s time to huddle up, Steelers Nation. Here are some links about your Pittsburgh Steelers to get you through your day:
Steelers granted extension for North Shore plan
According to Mark Belko of the PPG, the Steelers have been granted an extension by the city planning commission to submit a plan that would create more public open space adjacent to the Stage AE entertainment venue on the North Shore. This is something that’s been on their plate since 2009, but the organization is blaming their woes on the Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority and the legal battle that continues over who is going to pay the majority share of adding 3,000 seats to Heinz Field. The team keeps asking for this extension of the North Shore development because they want to make the seats AND the development one comprehensive plan that is submitted. Anyone else wish this stuff would just go away and the team just have to deal with putting back together a Super Bowl winning squad?
David DeCastro ‘Emerging
Oct 20, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Haloti Ngata (right) rushes the line of scrimmage against Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro (66) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Behind the Steel Curtain’s Neel Coolong reports that David DeCastro was named to MMQB’s All Emerge Team for 2014. DeCastro had a very solid season last year despite a few injuries that caused him to miss some time in the second half of the season. One thing MMQB’s Andy Benoit points out that I completely agree with is that DeCastro pretty much was forgotten as one of the better true guards taken in a first round simply because of his injury that kept him out of 75% of his rookie campaign. That includes fans of his own team. An offensive lineman rarely gets noticed, and when they do it’s usually because they let a defender get by and jack up their QB. Grading the offensive line is for the trained eye, which makes me be of the opinion that DeCastro is underrated in Pittsburgh. If DeCastro can stay healthy all season, he will be a phenomenal guard. I’ll get on this Emerge Team train and take it all the way to the end of this season when DeCastro is named to All-Pro and could even reach the Pro Bowl (not that that is really an honor any more).
Big Ben needs big target
Bleacher Report’s Dan Snyder gets the sense that it’s time for the Steelers to find a big receiver for Big Ben, and that they can find one in the draft. Hard to believe that in recent years (last year aside) Hines Ward was the tallest receiver that the Steelers had (who was successful) coming at six foot even. Hard to count Plax in that mix because Ben and Plax only played 11 games together. No biggy. I really like Snyder’s breakdown of four potential ‘tall’ receivers the Steelers could target in the draft. I like even better when he picks an unlikely candidate in Davante Adams of Fresno State. That kid is 6’2″, good speed and nabbed 24 touchdowns in one season. 24! Talk about a much needed red zone threat the Steelers could desperately use.