Thoughts on David Johnson's ACL Tear

David Johnson entered 2012 training camp with an interesting tale to tell. He’s a pure Tomlin-era player, drafted as a tight end by the Steelers with their final pick in the 2009 NFL draft. But Johnson’s first action in the NFL came at full back, where he saw spot duty during his rookie campaign.

Johnson entered 2010 on the bubble, as almost any 7th round pick would, but assured himself a roster spot with his continued development.

The Steelers faith in him paid off on opening day when Johnson took on two blockers to pave the way Rashard Mendenhall’s thrilling 50 yard overtime touchdown vs. the Falcons. (Available as of 8/10/12):

After Johnson's role with the team grew.

In December of 2010 Johnson had his biggest game in Baltimore vs. the Ravens. Matt Speath was out with an injury and during the game the Steelers lost Heath Miller would after a vicious concussion leaving Johnson as the team’s lone tight end.

Johnson rose to the occasion, catching three passes including a key 25 yard completion, earning him Unsung Hero honors for the week.

One of Todd Haley’s first official moves was to reinstate the fullback into the Steelers offense, and Johnson was tapped to take that role, although Mike Tomlin clarified a week ago that he’d also be playing some tight end.

In short, David Johnson had a tremendous opportunity in front of him heading into 2012, and that is all for naught as report indicate that he injured his ACL when Marcus Gilbert rolled over him in the Steelers preseason opener vs. Philadelphia.

The Steelers are almost certain to put Johnson on IR, ending his season, and ending his shot and proving himself worthy of a big payday in free agency. Steel Curtain Rising wishes David Johnson the best of luck in his recovery.

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Steelers Fall to Philly as Mike Adams, David Johnson and Jonathan Dwyer Injured in Preseason Opener

The Todd Haley era on Steelers offense opened last night in preseason vs. the Eagles. By all reports, the Steelers offense looked different, featuring a short passing game and a more even mix of passes and runs.

While that is good news, it must be tempered with the bad.

The objective of any preseason game, coming even before evaluating talent under “Live Fire” circumstances, is to avoid injury.

On that front the Steelers were not so fortunate:

• Fullback/tight end David Johnson was injured on the game’s first series
• Rookie left tackle Michael Adams was injured on the game’s second series
• Reserve running back Jonathan Dwyer also was injured

Little is known about the extent of the three injuries, but David Johnson’s looks to be the worst.

All three Pittsburgh quarterbacks looked strong. Ben Roethlisberger played for one series which consumed 10 minutes off of the clock. Byron Leftwich finished out the second half, and rookie Jerrod Johnson played the entire second half, and looked fairly good – judging by the stats sheet.

Another rookie to make an impact was Chris Rainey, who took a short pass and ran it 57 yards to the house.

The Steelers ultimately fell 23-21 to the Eagles in a game that saw the lead change twice in the fourth quarter.

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Dermontti Dawson, Jack Butler Round Out Chuck Noll's Hall of Fame Resume

In 1987, Joe Greene and John Henry Johnson entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame together. Happy happenstance allowed the first Super Steeler to share this individual honor with a star from Pittsburgh’s SOS (same old Steelers) era.

Greene and Johnson had little in common beyond having worn the Black and Gold.

Scribes in Steelers Nation might be tempted to say the same thing about this past weekend’s induction of Dermontti Dawson and Jack Butler, but they’d be mistaken because the two men share a deeper, if latent, connection that spans several generations of Steelers football.

Dermontti Dawson – Succeeding a Legend

Men who follow legends generally fail, at least by comparison. Frank Pollard took Franco Harris’ place in Pittsburgh backfield, and while he did finish his career with a better yards-per carry average, Pollard’s sin was to be merely good instead of great.

Dermontti Dawson followed legendary Pittsburgh center Mike Webster, and in a very literal sense of the word, he succeeded his predecessor.

Success on offense starts with the offensive line but, in an ironic twist of fate, few metrics exist to evaluate offensive lineman. They accumulate no yards, score no points, make no splash plays. Instead, their efforts empower others to make plays.

Dermontti Dawson claims his share of success in this regard, because Dawson:

• Opened holes for 1000 yard rushers Jerome Bettis and Barry Foster
• Did road grading that allowed the troika of Erric Pegram, Bam Morris, and John L. Williams to help Pittsburgh to Super Bowl XXX
• Blocked and pulled open the door to Merril Hoge’s cult-hero status

“Pulling” is perhaps Dawson’s greatest legacy. Prior to Dawson, only guards pulled.

Outside of quarterback, the center has the most difficult job on the offense.

He’s got to keep one hand on the ball, pay attention to shifts by linebackers and lineman, release the ball backwards, get the snap count exactly right, snap the ball backwards and then, in a split second, shift his attention to one or two 300 pound tackles with blood in their eyes.

• Dawson was able to do all that, then move outside to take on linebackers and defensive backs.

A single play suffices to illustrate Dawson’s excellence at pulling.

In January 1998 the Pittsburgh Steelers were hosting a playoff game vs. the New England Patriots. The two teams had fought a neck-and-neck battle that the Steelers won in OT after never leading in regulation.

The game was a pure chess match, and Dawson made the pivotal move.

Early in the game Kordell Stewart rolled out. It was meant to look like a pass, but it was in fact a designed run. After snapping the ball, Dawson pulled out wide to the strong side, and as Kordell began his advance up field, Dawson obliterated the closing defender.

• 40 yards later Kordell was in the end zone on a day when the final score was 7-6.

"Dermonti Dawson" doesn’t appear in the box score, but his ability to pull and then deliver a decisive block carried the day.

The Butler Did It

Jack Butler came from an era where the Steelers played third fiddle behind the Pirates and Pitt. He became a Steeler because Fr. Silas, St. Bonaventure’s athletic director, was Art Rooney Sr.’s brother.

Butler joined the Steelers in 1952, playing it wide out and the defensive end. Then, as a testament to how times have changed, a defensive back got hurt and Joe Michelosen put him in the game.

As Ed Bouchette detailed, in his second game, Butler took his first NFL interception to the house and never looked back.

In fact, Butler hauled in 52 interceptions – an incredible sum during an era when seasons lasted 12 games and a 200 yard passing game was considered exceptional.  When Butler retired he held the number 2 spot on the all-time interceptions list. Over 50 years later, he’s still 14 on the list.

BLESTO, Butler, Noll and Dawson

Canton is honoring Butler for his achievements on the field, but he easily could have earned induction for his accomplishments off of it. From 1963 to 2007, Jack Butler directed BLESTO (Bears Lions Eagles, Steelers Talent Organization), the league’s first scouting combine.

Obviously, the Steelers were not the only team to benefit from Butler’s prowess as a scout.

• But four generations of Pittsburgh Steeler rosters can’t help but bear his figure prints. 

And of course, the Pittsburgh Steelers won a few games during that time.

The key to winning those games, was of course the players. From 1969 to 1991 one man had the final word on draft day, and his name was Charles Henry Noll.

• Noll’s run of Hall of Famers selections in the 1970’s remains unprecedented. 

But Noll’s drafting record slipped in the late 70’s, a tendency that worsened in the ‘80’s.

Many reasons those draft misfires, but a big factor was Noll’s inability to get along with effectively with Art Rooney Jr. (to better understand Pittsburgh’s drafting woes in the 80’s, click here to read the article Chuck Noll vs. Bill Walsh – Talent Evaluators.)

Tensions got so great in 1986 the Dan Rooney was forced to make a choice, and he fired his younger brother.

Ed Bouchette chronicled the move in his classic, Dawn of a New Steel Age, and concluded that Dan’s difficult decision failed to pay dividends.

The record suggests Bouchtte is mistaken.

• In his first post Rooney Jr. draft, Chuck Noll drafted Hall of Famer Rod Woodson
  A year later he picked Dermontti Dawson 

Even in his twilight of his reign The Emperor retained an uncanny ability to transform raw data from the scouts like Butler into draft day home runs.

And that’s what makes Jack Butler and Dermontti Dawson’s simultaneous induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame just a little extra special for Steelers Nation.

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Aaron Smith, Willie Parker, Marvel Smith and Joey Porter Retire as Pittsburgh Steelers

There’s one thing that no one in Steelers Nation can deny. Kordell Stewart is a man of many talents. But no one would have predicated that nearly a decade after playing his last game in Pittsburgh, Stewart remains a Steelers trend setter.

At least that is how it seemed Friday night at Latrobe Stadium.

A number of weeks ago Joey Porter announced that he was going to officially retire as a Steeler. Kordell Stewart had inspired his decision, Porter discussed the issue with management and that they were happy to oblige.

How they were.

Joey Porter was joined by Aaron Smith, Willie Parker, and even Marvel Smith at a ceremony held before the Steelers annual night practice in Latrobe. The act is largely symbolic, as no “one day contracts” were signed, but the fact that these men desire to “go out as Steelers” reinforces the fact that Pittsburghis a special city, and the Steelers are a special franchise.

All four men made the Pro Bowl. Aaron Smith, Parker, and Marvel Smith were veterans of  both Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII teams and Porter played a pivotal role on the Super Bowl XL squad.

Of the four, Porter is the only one to wear another team’s colors.

Dan Gigler of the Post-Gazette reported that Jerame Tuman, a back up tight end from the Super Bowl XL squad, was also in attendance as was former Steelers running back and running back’s coach Dick Hoak.

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Watch Tower: Alan Robinson Joins the Trib, PG Plus Subtracts Readers + Plaxico Burress?

Steelers training camp has entered its second week and the Pittsburgh press corps is in high gear!

That leaves no shortage of stories for Steelers Nation to savor, but here at the Watch Tower we’re looking for the story behind the story. Or perhaps more aptly put, the story of those who bring us the news of our beloved Black and Gold.

Tribune Review Beefs Up Coverage I – Alan Robinson Steps Aboard

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review is the smaller and less prestigious of the Steel City’s two dailies. Yet they’ve always tried to match the Post-Gazette when it comes to Steelers coverage.

• To that end, the Trib. deserves mixed reviews. 

One of my colleagues in the blogging community, once (privately) described one of their lead columnists as a “tool” suggesting that we shouldn’t even cite the Trib.’s stories.

I thought that went too far, but John Harris has caught the ire of the Watch Tower more than once, and their attempt to deflect credit from the Post-Gazette’s breaking of Mike Tomlin’s 2010 contract renewal raised the concept of "Bush League" to an art form.

But the Tribune-Review has offered solid coverage at good insights at other times, and they’ve just made a significant step towards doing that on a regular basis.

For 28 years Alan Robinson covered Pittsburgh sports. Those of us who grew up in parts of Steelers Nation outside of Pittsburgh grew accustomed to reading his work, most often under an unnamed Associated Press byline.

• Starting in July, Robinson’s byline began showing up in the Trib, but this time as a member of the staff.

Alan Robinson is a veteran writer who knows his way around the Steelers locker room and has a rolodex that has got to spans 28 years worth of NFL contacts.

Readers of the Tribune Review are already benefiting from added-value that he brings to the beat. He told us that the Atlanta Falcons were interested in signing Max Starks before the Steelers beat them to the punch. He also provided the useful medical background on the severity (or lack thereof) of Ben Roethlisberger’s torn rotator cuff.

Those were two pieces of information that Post-Gazette readers did not get. Looks like Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac have some competition, which for us is a good thing.

PG Plus Subtracts Readers

Regular readers know that the Watch Tower's been very support of PG Plus, the Post-Gazette’s paid premium content section. The extra coverage provided by PG Plus is generally worth the four dollar, or 18 Argentine peso in my case, monthly fee.

PG Plus recently changed its billing system, leaving PayPal for direct billing.

• And that’s where my problem began.

My subscription expired on July 11th, and I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RENEW.

Message I got AFTER being told my subscription had expired....

They’ve told me it was browser incompatibility (it wasn’t, not even close.) They told me, “sorry we’re having problems, be patient.”

I’ve got a half-dozen “Thanks for Renewing” emails from these folks, but still can’t see more than one article before getting the “Your subscription has expired.”

There has even been a time when I got this message, tried to renew, and was told “You’re already a member, you can’t renew” (no lie, see above for yourself.)

The issue, as I have now explained to them twice, is that I am trying to renew with a non-US credit card yet their form (which does leave space for a country) requires you to select a US state, which will instantly invalidate any transaction with a non-US card.

This is inane.

The newspaper industry in the United States is on its knees, struggling to make ends meet.

Paid content on-line sections or paid on-line subscriptions, are likely essential if the institution is to survive in some recognizable form.

You’d figure they’d know that.

• You’d figure they’d make it easy for you to give them your money.

Apparently that’s not the case.

Bye Bye Scott Brown

Prior to Alan Robinson’s arrival, Scott Brown held down the Steelers beat at the Tribune Review. Brown is, voluntarily, departing from the beat to focus on Penn State.

• That’s a shame. While Robinson must be considered an upgrade, Scott Brown was young and hungry and it showed in his work. 

Last year he reported that it was the Steelers who turned down Flozell Adams early in the season. He was also way out ahead of Ed Bouchette (but not Gerry Dulac) on the Steelers decision to resign Willie Colon after the lock out.

These are only two examples of Scott Brown out hustling his more experienced rivals. His work will be missed.

Tribune Review Upgrade II – Steel Mill Blog

During the off season the Tribune Review gave its Steelers section a face lift, and in doing so gave more prominent position to their Steel Mill Blog.

That’s a smart move, because it’s a good blog with lots of interesting information and interviews, and readers can now access it in the right column of the Trib’s featured stories.

However, the blog is not accessible or at least there is not prominent link from their main Steelers page, which really makes no sense….

Steelers Sign Mike Wallace er, um, Tomlin

The news of Mike Tomlin’s signing broke the day before training camp. That contract renewal was expected (except perhaps for Ron Cook). But of course the transacation everyone was waiting for was the signing of Mike Wallace.

It hardly amounts to Steelers-Nation’s "Dewey Defeats Truman" moment, but the Post-Gazette jumped the guy, is was evident in the url linking for their story on Tomlin’s signing.

Look Closely at the URL

A source at the Post-Gazette indicated that the error was simple typo that only appeared on-line for a few seconds. Changing the URL took more time, the Watch Tower was told.

• That’s an easy error to make. 

Yours truly did the same thing when the Raiders signed Rod Woodson as DB’s coach.

Finally a Football Related Note - Plaxico Burress to Return?

Football, not media news is what most of us care about, and we’ll end with a little gem from Dale Lolley.

Lolley offered this surprise a few days ago:

Every day the Mike Wallace holdout continues is one day closer to Plaxico Burress returning to Pittsburgh.

The Steelers did court Plaxico Burress last year upon his release from prison, but Plex opted for greener pastures in New York.

A veteran like Lolley wouldn’t print an observation like this unless it was based on sources which, if nothing else, indicates that the Steelers are prepared to play without Mike Wallace at all this season if need be.

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Is Signing Antonio Brown a Good Football Move?

As mentioned previously here on Steel Curtain Rising, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a decisive statement when they cut off negotiations with Mike Wallace andopted (instead?) to resign Antonio Brown.

The move also satisfied an emotional need for a fan base who traditionally has had little sympathy with hold outs, although this later factor undoubtedly had no impact on the Steelers decision making.

But if the move provided Steelers Nation with an emotional high, the the question still remains:

Was giving Antonio Brown big money now the right football move?

It’s hard to say.

Based on what I saw during the second half of 2011 I was of the mind that if forced to choose between Mike Wallace and Brown I’d choose Brown. But then again, I thought drafting a quarterback in the first round of 2004 was a mistake….

Antonio Brown impressed greatly as a rookie, making an immediate impact and aggressively working his way into the Steelers offense.

He continued on that trajectory in 2011, becoming such a significant play maker that the drop off in Hines Ward’s play barely impacted the team.

Yet one stand out season is not a lot to hang your hat on.

To wit, the Steelers have never given a contract extension to a player after only two years.  The only exception closely resembling this would be the deal Willie Parker got in 2006, but that does not compare. Parker was an exclusive-rights free agent and had no contract.

Parker had also clearly proven himself as a starter by not only pushing Jerome Bettis but also Duce Staley to the bench.

In contrast Antonio Brown has started only three games for the Steelers.

That’s right, the Pittsburgh Steelers have just given 42 million dollars to a man with three starts under his belt who has yet to face a situation where defensive staffs game plan specifically to stop him.

That is a very thin resume.  But with that said, Antonio Brown has:

• earned his stripes in the trenches
• come up with clutch catches in the playoffs vs. the Ravensand then vs. the Jets
• is clearly in a position of establishing himself as a leader on and off the field.

At the end of the day the Steelers are taking a risk, but on balance its one worth taking. If Brown works out to be the player he is on track to become, this deal will look like a total steal for the Steelers come 2014 or so.

Why Resign Brown Now?

The next question is now the time for the Steelers to make such a move?

In cold, calculating football terms, the answer is certainly “no.” Wallace has one year left on his contract, and then he’ll be a restricted free agent. The Steelers would still hold the lion’s share of leverage next March.

Had Machiavelli written on NFL personnel matters as opposed to matters of state, he’d undoubtedly would have counseled Kevin Colbert to play the cards close to the vest, and hold off until the off season.

But that’s not the Steelers Way. Never has been and hopefully never will be.

Consider, in the past twelve months the Steelers have:

• Given a long-term extension to Troy Polamalu, when the smart money would have been to wait
• Released Troy Smith when Bryon Leftwich’s injury historywould indicate it would have been “wiser” to bring him to camp
• Cut Jonathan Scott instead of keeping him in camp

Each of the moves was the “wrong” move from both a football and a business stand point (with the possible exception of the money that releasing Scott freed).

Yet each of these moves signaled that the Pittsburgh Steelers are an organization that believes in taking care of its people. Make no mistake about it. The NFL is a business and the Steelers make unsentimental business decisions about personnel ever year.

That capacity was on display last spring with the departures of Aaron Smith, James Farrior and Hines Ward, to name a few.

But even in business, there’s a right way to treat people and a wrong way to treat people. And the Steelers, for the most part, treat their players right.

The most of the players associated with the franchise know this, they understand it, and they respect it. The organization is stronger because of it and the team certainly need not tie itself into knots over the players who don’t recognize that.

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Ben Roethlisberger Admits to Rotator Cuff Injury

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave a lengthy interview to reporters at training camp in St. Vincent’s in Latrobe today.

The primary focus of his conversation was on the development of the new offense that Todd Haley is installing. Steelers Nation will be pleased to know that Roethlisberger is taking well to the new offense and thinks highly of it.

The other piece of news to come out of the interview was far less encouraging.

Roethlisberger admitted, for the first time, he suffered a torn rotator cuff in the Steelers November loss to the Baltimore Ravens. (This admission adds further irony to the loss, because the game was arguably the offensive line’s best outing of the season.)

Big Ben insists that the injury no longer causes him problems and that he does not expect it to be an issue in the coming season.

Such confidence in the face of injury is admirable, but  rotator cuff injuries are nothing to make light of, particularly if you’re a quarterback. Roethlisberger insisted that the injury did not impact his play late last year, but that assertion is dubious.

Aside form the fall off in offensive performance, Behind the Steel Curtain’s Neal Coolong noted that he saw a significant drop in Roethlisberger’s arm strength.

Tribune-Review Steelers beat writer Alan Robinson downplayed the severity of the injury observing:

A lower-grade rotator cuff tear usually does not require surgery, only rehabilitation. An injury common to athletes, it is more like inflammation, and the shoulder often returns to normal function without surgery.

Ben Roethlisberger, while helping redefine the concept of "tough" for his willingness and ability to play with injuries is also noted as being some what of a drama queen.

Nonetheless “rotator cuff” and “quarterback” are two words which you never want to see in the same sentence….

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