The biggest and perhaps saddest news from training camp thus far happened yesterday as fan favorite and rookie sensation Baron Batch will be out for the year with a torn ACL in his left knee. Please pray for a speedy and thorough recovery for him. Kevin Colbert joined KDKA Radio to address the upcoming game against the Redskins and talked briefly about the ACL injury to Batch and what it means to his future. He also updates progress of Cameron Heyward and the plan for Washington. Scott Brown has a piece on Jason Worilds and how linebackers coach Keith Butler is trying to show the second year Read more [...]

Season 2, Episode 6 of The Terrible Podcast is up and David Todd and I really cover a lot in this very fast paced episode. We start with the new LaMarr Woodley contract and then go into the recent visit of free agent receiver Jerricho Cotchery and how he left town without a contract. It does not bother David too much, but I still voice my ongoing concerns about the health of Emmanuel Sanders and the total progression of Antonio Brown and if he is ready to assume the number three role if called upon. David thinks Tyler Grisham could still make the 53 man roster and we quickly go over the rest of Read more [...]

Sunday was day 4 of Steelers training camp and once again the news got off to an early start as the Plaxico Burress watch is now over after he agreed to terms on a one year deal with the Jets for a little over $3 million. Perhaps the trip to Pittsburgh was just a ploy to drive his price tag up, but I am willing to bet the Steelers were not in the ballpark money wise. Whatever the reason was, it doesn't matter at this point. The next bit of news we got right before practice started is that the Steelers had agreed to terms with cornerback William Gay on a one-year deal. No terms were announce, but Read more [...]

The bloggers on ESPN.com are at it again with their latest power rankings. They are running out of things to rank and have resorted to ranking the rising assistant coaches around the NFL now. Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and Cowboys new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan topped the rankings of rising assistant coaches and Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler finished tied for last among coaches that received at least one vote. It is no surprise that the lone vote for Butler came from AFC North blogger James Walker. The purpose of this latest power ranking reportedly was to develop Read more [...]

Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler held a short press conference to discuss the Steelers 5th round selection, Fresno State linebacker Chris Carter, of the 2011 NFL Draft after he was drafted with the 162nd overall selection. Butler tells what he liked about Carter and why was selected and how he will take time to transition from defensive end to outside linebacker in the Steelers 3-4 defense. Below is the audio of the short presser and Q & A Butler had with the media. [audio:http://www.steelersdepot.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/butler-press-conference-chris-carter.mp3|titles=Linebackers Read more [...]

The Steelers drafted linebacker Chris Carter, from the Fresno State with the 31st pick in the 5th round (162nd overall) of the 2011 NFL draft. Carter is another college defensive end that will make the transition to outside linebacker in the Steelers 3-4 defense. Carter led the WAC and tied for ninth in the nation in sacks as a senior as he totaled 11 sacks. Right now described as a one trick pony and will need to develop more counter moves. He is a big kid at 6 foot 1 and 248 pounds with a good motor and good speed off the edge. Right now he is a classic speed rusher and dropped because he was Read more [...]

Steelers defensive backs coach Ray Horton has left the Steelers to take a position with the Dallas Cowboys according to a tweet by Jason La Canfora. Horton has been rumored to have been courted by the Cowboys for some time now, but had to wait until the season was over to interview him and offer him the job. Reportedly Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler is not being granted permission by the Steelers to interview for the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator job according to a tweet by Brandon Butler, the son of Keith. Butler reportedly is still a close friend of Cardinals head coach Ken Read more [...]

Emmanuel Sanders fractured his foot in the Super Bowl and will need surgery according to a post on his Facebook page. Speaking of Sanders, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians thought the foot injury Sanders suffered that knocked him from the game played a factor. It caused the Steelers to shuffle personnel in their multiple-wideout sets. Gerry Dulac looks at how the Steelers coaching staff might turnover next year including Arians and linebacker coach Keith Butler. The Steelers are 10/1 odds to win it all next year in 2012 Super Bowl XLVI. Right behind the Packers at 7/1 and Patriots at Read more [...]

Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley was on the Scott Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio talking about the game Sunday, the Packers and Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Larry Foote also chimes in about LaMarr needing that new contract money. Steelers running back Isaac Redman joined 93.7 The Fan to talk about the win over the Jets in the AFC Championship Game, the upcoming Super Bowl and his thoughts on the Maurkice Pouncey injury. Steelers backup center Doug Legursky also joined 93.7 The Fan to talk about the win over the Jets, the bad snap on the safety and several other things. Great interview. [phpbay]Steelers Read more [...]

Kent Somers reports that the Arizona Cardinals may miss out on Steelers linebacker coach Keith Butler because a clause in his contract that prevents him from interviewing for the defensive coordinator job with another team. Ed Bouchette joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday to give an early preview of the Steelers Ravens AFC Divisional Playoff game coming up this next weekend. Nose tackle Casey Hampton says defensive end Ziggy Hood is one of the strongest players on the Steelers. Here is the pregame release & notes for Steelers Ravens AFC Divisional Playoff game in PDF form. Heinz Field Read more [...]

Here are some locker room interviews from Thursday from Mike Wallace, Hines Ward and Maurkice Pouncey. Troy Polamalu was on Jim Rome Thursday for the first time ever and you can hear the interview right here in it's entirety. Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt is expected to come after Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler to be his defensive coordinator again according to Ed Bouchette. Things are looking up for running back Mewelde Moore, who reportedly is back practicing after missing the Browns game with a knee injury. John Harris has a look at how the Steelers pass defense has Read more [...]

Ron Cook wrote this morning that Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith was told he would be out 8-9 weeks with partially torn triceps. That puts him perhaps returning for the Panthers game. Hopefully no other injuries occur. Ed Bouchette reports that crowd noise was a huge factor Sunday night in New Orleans and it apparently caught the Steelers players and coaches off-guard and left them confused. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu says he blew an assignment that led to a 50-yard reception by Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem in the fourth quarter Sunday night and I believe is being too hard on Read more [...]

I missed this on Monday, but according to Gerry Dulac, some players did not get the defensive call on the Willis McGahee TD run that tied the score at 7-7. Linebacker James Farrior said the call wasn't relayed fast enough because linebacker coach Keith Butler had a headset malfunctioned. Andrew Chiappazzi has a story in the Beaver County Times about the maturation of inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons and how he is realizing his potential.Veteran linebacker James Farrior thinks it is just his maturity and him growing up a little bit. Ed Bouchette has a wrap up on the return yesterday of quarterback Read more [...]

Ed Bouchette blogs that Maurkice Pouncey should now be given the starting job at center and the only question left is what to do with Justin Hartwig. He also points out the Steelers used a pony backfield a few times on Saturday night when both Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman lined up in the backfield together. Rookie linebacker Stevenson Sylvester has been turning heads all preseason, but Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler says he needs to play lower and they are going to try to get the high playing out of him so he will have a lower center of gravity. Cornerback Ike Taylor apologized Read more [...]

The first preseason game against Detroit is rapidly approaching and training camp is already in its 12th day. One of the biggest disappointments thus far in training camp has been the news on second round pick Jason Worilds. Worilds has missed valuable time trying to shake a hamstring injury and is having to learn the complex Dick LeBeau defense by merely taking mostly mental reps. Worilds is already getting knocks in the local papers and is probably pushing himself way too hard to overcome both the injury and the early naysayers. Before I go any further, let me state I was not a fan of the Read more [...]