There has been a lot of speculation over the last 24 hours if indeed Bruce Arians will return as The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator in 2012 and it was fueled further by a report late on Wednesday by Gerry Dulac stating that he had learned that Arians might not be back next season. Art Rooney II told Bob Pompeani in a one-on-one interview on KDKA this evening that the decision to keep Arians or not is one that head coach Mike Tomlin will make. Mr. Rooney told Pompeani, “Well, that’s really Mike’s decision, I mean, and that’s the process Mike’s involved in right now is talking Read more [...]

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was on 93.7 The Fan this morning and talked candidly on several subjects. Cotchery, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, talked about his want to stay in Pittsburgh and his meeting with head coach Mike Tomlin after the season ended. Cotchery also talked about the rumor that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians might be gone next year and how he enjoyed playing in his system. He also discussed the great year that Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders had, but thinks they could still use a veteran presence in the lockerroom. Below Read more [...]

Gerry Dulac is reporting tonight that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians might not return in 2012. Dulac reports that it is unclear if Arians is retiring or is just not having his contract renewed at this time. Arians has been the Steelers offensive coordinator since 2007 and was the Steelers wide receivers coach from 2004–2006. Before coming to the Steelers, Arians was the Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator from 2001–2003. Steelers president Art Rooney II said in his interview with the Pittsburgh media on Tuesday that some members of the Steelers coaching staff were Read more [...]

Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II sat down with a few members of the Pittsburgh media on Tuesday for a half hour interview to discuss the Steelers past season and look ahead to 2012. You can read the question and answers here on the Post-Gazette blog. When you read through everything there were not too many surprises if you ask me, but I will go over the main talking points below with my own comments and view points added to a few of the things that Rooney said. Even though we do not usually learn too much from these interviews every offseason, it is just good to hear some of the things Read more [...]

One of the biggest gripes you will hear from Steeler Nation concerning the play calling of Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is his use of the wide receiver bubble screen. Everyone screams bloody murder when one goes for negative or minimal yardage and to hear the fan base talk, Arians uses it 10 times a game and 10 times too much. The bubble screen is predominantly used as a run game alternative and is effective in getting the ball in the hands of your best play makers using a high percentage throw. The use of it can help in keeping defenses honest in regards to over-committing Read more [...]

Ed Bouchette is confirming that Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will indeed return for the 2012 season. This will be his 9th straight season running the defense since his return to the Steelers in 2004. The Steelers 2011 defense finished first in the NFL this season in both points allowed and total defense. They finished first in yards allowed per game (271.8), yards allowed per play (4.51), passing yards allowed per game (171.9) and passing yards allowed per play (5.19). The defense also finished first in first downs allowed per game (16.5). There is still no official Read more [...]

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch was on 93.7 The Fan today and was asked about several different topics that ranged from the loss Sunday to the Denver Broncos, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, the struggles on offense this past season and the future of both Hines Ward and Dennis Dixon. I transcribed the important questions and answers below and you can listen to the whole interview here. RE: On why Bruce Arians is a good offensive coordinator Batch: When you look at what he has done, he's been able to break down the playbook to exactly what Ben likes. So immediately in 2007 Read more [...]

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked during his Monday press conference if he anticipates both defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians returning for the 2012 season and Tomlin said, "I anticipate it, but of course you know we all understand what the end of the season is about and movement is a part of it in today's NFL for both players and coaches. So were are going to work to maintain continuity like we always do. we believe that is a benefit to us, but we also understand that things could happen and we will deal with those things as they arise." Tomlin Read more [...]

The playoffs begin today for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they take on the Denver Broncos in the 2nd AFC Wild Card game of the weekend in Denver. With a win, the Steelers will move on to face the New England Patriots next Saturday. As I have done each and every week this season, here are my 7 things to look for against the Broncos. Also included is my score prediction for the game. Seeing Red - Isaac Redman will make his second career start at running back now that Rashard Mendenhall was lost for the season last week with a torn ACL in his right knee. His first start came back in week 5 against Read more [...]

Mark Kaboly is reporting this afternoon via Twitter that Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey might not be able to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos in the AFC wild card due to his bad left ankle. Kaboly reports that Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said today that he is concerned that Pouncey won't be able to play Sunday because he felt sore after the practice on Wednesday. Kaboly quoted Pouncey as saying today, "I'm sore. My ankle isn't feeling right." Pouncey originally suffered a high left ankle sprain against the Cleveland Browns in week 14 and it forced him to miss Read more [...]

The press conferences of Pittsburgh Steelers 2011 Team MVP Antonio Brown and Chief Award Winner James Farrior from yesterday are up on steelers.com for your viewing pleasure. Bruce Arians and Dick LeBeau both talked to the media on Thursday and here is what they had to say during their Q & A's. Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron also talked to the media yesterday and discussed the possibly blitzing Ben Roethlisberger more and how tough it is covering the Steelers receivers. Brian Baldinger does a great job breaking down some of the Steelers favorite plays and how they do it out of Read more [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers were back on the practice field on Thursday as they continue to prepare the Cleveland Browns this Sunday on the road in Cleveland. The Steelers look to move to 12-4 on the season with a win in their final 2011 regular season game. The Thursday injury report is out now and it shows that guard Doug Legursky (shioulder), running back Mewelde Moore (knee) and safety Troy Polamalu (knee) all did not practice again today. Legursky and Moore were practically ruled out on Tuesday by head coach Mike Tomlin. The status of Polamalu is unknown right now and Friday will be a key day Read more [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers were back on the practice field Thursday in preparation for their week 15 Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. The first official injury report of the week was released on Thursday and it shows that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (ankle), center Maurkice Pouncey (ankle), wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (foot), linebacker Chris Carter (hamstring), tackle Marcus Gilbert (illness) and safety Troy Polamalu (hamstring) all did not practice. Roethlisberger, Pouncey, and Polamalu were all injured in the Thursday night game against the Cleveland Read more [...]

Scott Brown is reporting via Twitter that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians announced today during his session with the media that veteran Charlie Batch would start Monday night at quarterback against the San Francisco 49ers should starter Ben Roethlisberger not be able to play with his sprained left ankle. Arians also said that Trai Essex would get the start at left guard should center Maurkice Pouncey not be able to play Monday night because of his sprained left ankle. Both Roethlisberger and Pouncey were injured last week in the first half of the Steelers 14-3 win over the Read more [...]

The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Cleveland Browns tonight at Heinz Field as they look to move to 10-3 on the season and inch even closer to a playoff birth. The short week went by fast and the Wednesday injury report shows that five players were ruled out and one player as doubtful. That makes the inactives for Thursday night very easy to predict with the only real choice being the 7th inactive. As I do every week, here is the prediction of the 7 game inactives and a few notes on each of the players. The official list will be announced 90 minutes before kickoff. LB LaMarr Woodley - Woodley Read more [...]