The first day of the calendar year brought a sense of anticipation for a productive future for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The last days of 2023? This shows how complex and unstable the outlook for organizations really is.
When Kenny Pickett directed an 80-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes of a road game against rival Baltimore on January 1st, it was a sign of what promise Pickett had as the Steelers’ franchise quarterback at the time. It was said that it showed how good the player was, and by extension, how good the player was. The outlook for the Steelers over the next few seasons was clear.
But 364 days later, the Steelers will not have Pickett in the lineup on New Year’s Eve and Mason Rudolph will start at QB for the second consecutive year. And while an ankle injury has been cited as the reason for Pickett’s status (Pickett has declared himself healthy enough to play), Rudolph made his only start and the stats are higher than at any point in Pickett’s two-season career. It shows Pickett’s vulnerability that he produced such a good game. The nature of Pickett’s long-term position as the face of the franchise.
Pickett continued to excel in the 2023 season, producing three comebacks and three game-winning drives in the fourth quarter of games earlier in the season. However, he ranks among the league’s starting quarterbacks in completion percentage (62.0%), passer rating (81.4), QBR (38.4), touchdown passes (6), and his passing yards per game (172.5). ranked near the bottom of the list. ), per attempt (6.4), and per completion (10.3).
Pickett’s lack of development, the Steelers’ 2022 first-round pick, contributed to the firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada on Nov. 21. Overall production, which ranked fifth-worst in the NFL in both points and yards, of course, also played a role.
But while Canada’s firing satisfied the fan base, it did little to improve the Steelers’ scoring output, at least until Rudolph led the team to a 34-11 victory over Cincinnati on Dec. 23. Rudolph replaced incompetent backup Mitch Trubisky late in the game the previous week. .
The lack of offensive progress was particularly disappointing and frustrating after a preseason in which great optimism reigned as the first-team offense scored five touchdowns on five drives. But all the good vibes came to a screeching halt with a disappointing 30-7 loss at home to San Francisco in the regular season opener.
Still, a strong draft that produced three rookie starters (right tackle Broderick Jones, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and defensive tackle Keanu Benton) and an initial Buoyed by an aggressive offseason of free agency, the Steelers managed to make it through. They remain in playoff contention throughout the season. It also helped that NFL sack leader TJ Watt continued to play as an elite player.
The Steelers, who finished 7-2 last season, started this season with 6-3 and 7-4 records. Tomlin had been mentioned as a candidate for Coach of the Year, but the team’s 19-season undefeated streak was in jeopardy after an ugly three-game losing streak that began in December, leading to many calls for Tomlin to be fired.
Kutch’s return, highlights of hot start to Pirates campaign
After enduring back-to-back 100-loss seasons, the Pirates became one of baseball’s greatest stories during the first two months of the season, starting with the swing of an imaginary sword and ending with hope for the future.
To the delight of fans at PNC Park, Andrew McCutchen is back in black and gold. Five years after being traded, the five-time All-Star and 2013 National League MVP received a huge ovation before his first at-bat in the home opener. Fans celebrated the 10th anniversary of the wild-card victory over Cincinnati with a blackout crowd, watching A.J. Barnett throw out the first pitch to Russell Martin and hearing McCutchen’s mother, Petrina, sing the national anthem.
Despite losing shortstop O’Neal Cruz to a fractured left ankle during the first homestand, the Pirates finished April with the best record in the National League with a 20-9 record. An early catalyst was outfielder Bryan Reynolds, who signed a franchise-record eight-year contract worth $106.75 million after requesting a trade in the offseason.
Coached by 42-year-old left-hander Rich Hill, the rotation had 18 quality starts in the first 28 games. The Pirates maintained first place in the National League Central Division until mid-June, but season-ending injuries to pitchers JT Brubaker and Vince Velasquez took a toll, and a 10-game losing streak caused them to fall from first place to worst in the division standings. I fell.
Mitch Keller, who was demoted to Triple-A in 2021 and demoted to the bullpen the following year, was selected as an All-Star for the first time and developed into a staff ace, starting 32 games for the first time and setting the record for the most strikeouts (210) in club history. By right arm. David Bednar had the highest save percentage among closers, making 39 saves in 42 chances.
At the trade deadline, the Pirates acquired veteran Hill, first basemen Ji-man Choi and Carlos Santana, and catcher Austin Hedges, but chose to keep Bednar and Keller, both players considered key to their rebuild. suggested that it was being done.
That future came in waves, starting with former first-round picks Carmen Mrozinski and Henry Davis — the first player in the majors to hit two home runs in one game off superstar Shohei Ohtani. — and the promotion of catcher Endy Rodriguez.
The Pirates had six rookies starting against Cleveland on July 17, but ended the month with a dramatic overtime victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Rookie Davis, Rodriguez, and Nick Gonzalez converted a 9-2-4-2 double play in the top of the 10th inning, and Joshua Palacios hit a two-run walk-off home run for a 6-4 victory.
Behind the batting and Gold Glove-winning performance of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, the Pirates went 29-28 over the final two months, recording the largest come-from-behind victory in franchise history in the process. The Reds trailed by nine runs after four innings, but rallied to win 13-12 on September 23 at Great American Ball Park.
When the season ended, the Pirates (76-86) had improved to 14 wins, had the youngest roster in baseball history, and believed the best was yet to come.
Penguins survive management and change roster
The Penguins started the 2023 season on a low note, losing in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston.
And their 2023 ending is… well… still in the works.
So much has happened in those 363 days.
With top goaltender Tristan Jarry hampered by various injuries, the Penguins stumbled in the final months of the 2022-23 season, missing out on the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.
After general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke were fired on April 14th, Fenway Sports Group owners conducted an exhaustive search to find a new leader for the team. We conducted a survey.
By June 1, Kyle Dubas, who had just been fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, had become president of hockey operations and began reforming the club.
Starting with the trade for forward Riley Smith from the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Draft on June 28, Dubas began to assemble complementary players. On the first day of the NHL’s free agent signing period, Dubas brought in forwards Noel Acciari, Lars Eller and Matt Nieto. Defenseman Ryan Graves. and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.
Additionally, they made the bold decision to re-sign Jarry to a five-year contract worth $26,875,000 despite his injury history and limited playoff success.
While adding (or retaining) these names, Dubas began laying the groundwork for the largest trade in NHL history, which ultimately materialized over a month later on August 6th.
In a three-team deal involving the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens, Dubas traded nine players, three They found a way to move draft picks and $34,478,334 that could hit the salary cap. in NHL history.
“This is just a statement that we believe they have a chance to compete for a championship,” Dubas declared after the trade was completed.
So far, the argument that the Penguins can contend in 2023-2024 seems like a stretch.
After a mediocre first two months of the season, the Penguins entered the new year at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division thanks in part to a ferocious power play. Arrival at Carlson.
The Hounds were eliminated in the first round.
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds won the USL Players Shield this season with the best record in the league. The Hounds (19-6-10) also advanced to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, defeating two MLS teams, the New England Revolution and Columbus Crew, along the way.
However, the season ended with a 1-0 loss to Detroit City in the first round of the USL Championship Playoffs in front of 6,123 fans at Highmark Stadium.
Albert Dikwa was named the league’s Player of the Year and Arturo Ordonez was named the league’s Defender of the Year. Bob Lilly was honored as the USL Championship Coach of the Year.
Mauler eliminated from USFL
After it was announced earlier this month that the USFL and XFL would be merging for the 2024 season, the Pittsburgh Maulers signed a deal with the USFL after two seasons.
The Maulers finished 1-9 in 2022 and improved to 4-6 last spring. They advanced to their first USFL Championship by defeating the Michigan Panthers in the USFL North Division Championship Game, but lost 28–12 to the Birmingham Stallions.
Staff writers Kevin Gorman and Seth Lorabaugh contributed.
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Contact Chris via email at cadamski@triblive.com or on his Twitter. .
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Moellers | Penguins/NHL | Pirates/MLB | Riverhounds | Sports | Steelers/NFL