Happy Friday to yinz and welcome to the first weekend of Pittsburgh Steelers offseason football in shorts.
The Steelers 2019 rookie minicamp got underway on Friday and it was good to see the photos, reports and interviews that emerged from that. It’s hard to read too much into all that will transpire this weekend but at the very least there doesn’t appear to be any drama. Hopefully all 60 players participating this weekend will remain fully healthy.
After rookie minicamp wraps up this week I will be taking a week off just as I did last year. It’s really the only time of year that I can get away without running the risk of missing something important related to the Steelers. Last year, wifey and I went to Washington, D.C. and this year we are going to Seattle and Los Angeles. As usual, Alex Kozora and Matthew Marczi will both be running the site while I’m away.
As usual, I have five questions for yinz to answer on this Friday night and look forward to reading all responses.
Thank all of yinz for visiting the site this past week and I hope a safe and prosperous weekend awaits everyone.
Peace and love, peace and love! Go Steelers!
1 – How much is Steelers cornerback Joe Haden worth per season on a two-year contract extension. Remember, he’s already due $10 million in 2019 so the total of the two new years split in half would be considered his new money average.
2 – How many games will Steelers rookie linebacker Devin Bush wind up starting in 2019?
3 – Last season, Steelers running back James Conner had 270 total touches. Will his 2019 total be greater than or less than 240.5?
4 – ESPN.com has the over/under for Steelers wins in 2019 at 8.5? Are you taking the over or the under as we sit here in May?
5 – Of outside linebacker Sutton Smith and inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III, which one has the better shot at making the initial 53-man roster and why?
Recap of Kentucky Derby Weekend Friday Night Questions
Question 1: 57.7% of Steelers Depot Respondents believe that Artie Burns will NOT ultimately make the Steelers 53-man roster this year.
Question 2: 61.5% of Steelers Depot respondents believe that Vance McDonald, Xavier Grimble and Zach Gentry will NOT be the Steeler’s three tight ends come Week 1 of the regular season. Many believe that the Steelers will pick-up a free agent tight end and that Zach Gentry will be on the practice squad and/or Xavier Grimble will not make the 53.
Question 3: Texas safety P.J. Locke generated the most excitement among Steelers Depot respondents. He was cited by 34.6% of respondents. Chris Boswell should not look to Steelers Depot respondents for encouragement … the next most popular undrafted free agent was kicker Matthew Wright with 23.1% of the vote.
Question 4: Steelers Depot respondents believe that either Ryan Switzer or Eli Rogers will be playing for the Black & Gold in 2019. 42.3% believe that both will make the 53-man roster while 50% say that just Switzer will make it. The remainder give the nod to Rogers over Switzer.
Question 5: Jaylen Samuels, with 66.7%, was the clear favorite among Steelers Depot respondents to have more total touches in 2019. While Snell’s running ability mentioned, Samuels ability to catch the ball was the deciding factor for most.
BONUS:
Here are the official results of the controversial Kentucky Derby. The votes by Steelers Depot respondents for their favorite to win are in parentheses. We better stick to football:
1 – Country House (0)
2 – Code of Honor (3)
3 – Tacitus (2)
4 – Improbable (5)
5 – Game Winner (0)
6 – Master Fencer (1)
7 – War of Will (2)
8 – Plus Que Parfait (0)
9 – Win Win Win (3)
10 – Cutting Humor (0)
11 – By My Standards (1)
12 – Vekoma (0)
13 – Bodexpress (0)
14 – Tax (0)
15 – Roadster (2)
16 – Long Range Toddy (1)
17 – Spinoff (0)
18 – Gray Magician (0)
DQ – Maximum Security (1)
