Innholdsfortegnelse for September 30, 2015 i Steelers Digest

Le’Veon Bell returns from the suspended list this week and DeAngelo Williams wanted to make one thing clear as his time wound down as Bell’s replacement: “I’m going to tell you right now,” Williams stated before the question even came up. “There’s not one person more excited than me when Le’Veon gets back. I tell him every day, ‘Man, I can’t wait till you get back. I can’t wait till you get back.’ Because I love watching him run the football. There’s not another guy in this league who runs the ball like he does. He’s special. And I’ve told him that day in and day out. He’s special. I like to see him run the football and I can’t wait till he gets back. So for everybody outside that…

It’s great to get the home win in the opener (against San Francisco) and a necessary win coming off a sub-par performance a week ago. If you’re going to be competitive in this league, you have to bounce back from negative performances and you have to perform at home. We did both (against the 49ers). We appreciate the efforts of everyone. A lot of effort in all three phases. We appreciated that work. On defense, we played better situational football, especially when the field got short. We were competitive and we were better finishers on offense when the field got short. This was a necessary response from some known weaknesses a week ago. We’re probably not as bad as we were a week ago and we probably aren’t as good…

After Doug Legursky signed with the Steelers in late August to provide depth at the position following the injury to Maurkice Pouncey, not many expected to see his name on the list of the team’s final cuts. But Legursky was fine with it. Because of why it was done. The team released Legursky on the final roster cut day, then re-signed him the following day when Pouncey was placed on injured reserve/designated for return. As a vested veteran, he couldn’t be claimed off waivers by another team, and he wasn’t going anywhere. “Anytime something like this happens everybody kind of takes a gasp, family and stuff,” said Legursky. “For us in the building we understood what it was. I knew I wanted to be back here in Pittsburgh and play…

From the notebook of a sportswriter who’s been reborn, maybe even baptized, with some good defensive football on a beautiful late fall day: • Yes, football really can be America’s pastime. • I was starting to worry about that last week after the New England Patriots laughed in the face of the NFL off the field and then whipped the Steelers on it. • And I found myself becoming excited about baseball at that point. • But with the Pirates-Dodgers in the ninth inning of a one-run game Sunday, and the game being televised in the Heinz Field press box, it was with satisfaction that I tuned it out and went into these deep football thoughts. • Like how can DeAngelo Williams go from being replaced at the goal line…

Assistant Editor The training room, normally a place filled with the boisterous sounds of football players getting treatment, was nearly silent as they all had just headed to position meetings on the second floor with the coaches. Only one player still lingered, kicker Shaun Suisham, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury suffered in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings. It wasn’t where he wanted to be, wasn’t what he ever imagined would be the scenario when training camp opened in July. “This is the first time I have had a significant injury since I was a freshman in college,” said Suisham. “It’s very…” He paused, the look on his face saying it all. He didn’t have to share the feeling, the emotion that came after, “It’s very.” His eyes,…

Sunday, Sept. 27 Pittsburgh at St. Louis Time: 1 p.m. Site: Edward Jones Dome Television: CBS Series record: Rams lead 15-8-2 (including playoffs) Last meeting: 2011 at Pittsburgh; Steelers 27, Rams 0 Series trend: The Steelers were 1-12-2 against the Rams before beating them, 31-19, in Super Bowl XIV. Starting with that game, the Steelers have won seven of the past 10 meetings. Scouting report: In an effort to end their 10-year playoff drought, the Rams made a drastic change at quarterback in the offseason when they sent Sam Bradford to Philadelphia in exchange for Nick Foles. But what ultimately could make the difference is the defensive line, which was ranked in the summer by Sports Illustrated as the best in the NFL. The star of that group is former…

Associate Editor It was Friday, the 13th of March, when DeAngelo Williams guaranteed the fans of his new team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, that he’s “got a LOT of gas left in the tank.” But those fans were unsure — until the opener, when the 32-year-old running back rushed for 127 yards on 21 carries in the Steelers’ loss at New England. It was the Carolina Panthers’ all-time leading rusher’s most productive game since the 2012 season finale, and his second-most productive game since the first half of the 2009 season. That’s the year Williams went to the Pro Bowl. That’s the year Williams turned 26. Anyone who watched Williams on opening night with the Steelers easily might have confused this running back for that one. “I felt pretty good,” Williams…

Assistant Editor Josh Scobee wasn’t expecting the phone call, never once thinking about being traded to another team as the 12-year veteran was simply focused on the competition he was facing at kicker. So when he got the word that he was being traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was surprised. Then he learned he was headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he was immediately excited. “When they told me who it was to there was genuine excitement there because of the history of this franchise and where the team is going,” said Scobee, who was acquired after Garrett Hartley was placed on injured reserve. “The possibilities for this season are there to win a championship. I am excited to be a part of it. “Coach (Mike) Tomlin talks about…