Steelers could snag another wide receiver
By Dale Lolley
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
The Steelers wrapped up their minicamp last Thursday and will be off until the start of training camp at Saint Vincent College July 24.
There’s still plenty that can happen between now and then, but looking at the roster, the one position that could still use an addition is wide receiver.
The Steelers have a budding star in George Pickens and plenty of veteran options who have shown the ability to hurt defenses in varied roles at the NFL level. But they don’t have a true No. 2 receiver.
Then again, given how much they plan on running the ball, they might not need one.
“I don’t get too caught up in labeling guys, especially this time of year,” new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said last week. “The guys are all wearing football shorts, trying to do their job. Things will be worked out in Latrobe and things can always change too.”
It still wouldn’t be surprising to see the Steelers try to add another veteran wide receiver.
Veteran Van Jefferson is probably penciled in as the starter opposite Pickens, with rookie Roman Wilson working out of the slot.
But the Steelers also have been working Pickens out of the slot during offseason workouts.
“Not more than I ever have,” Pickens said of his work in the slot last week at minicamp. “I did at Georgia, but more than I have in this league.”
That’s been something plenty of teams have done with their top wideouts in recent seasons. And it’s an obvious way to keep opponents from double-teaming him.
The issue the Steelers could have right now is what happens if Pickens has to miss playing time? Can the other receivers on the roster hurt an opposing defense enough to keep it from stacking the box to stop the run?
That’s debatable at this point.
• With head coach Mike Tomlin’s contract now extended through the 2027 season, the Steelers can turn their attention to signing players who have one year remaining on their current deals.
But don’t bet on Cam Heyward or Pat Freiermuth getting new deals until training camp opens.
Nothing raises the spirits of the players at training camp like seeing other players get new contracts.
• The Founders Pony League will hold its four-team championship series Monday and Tuesday at Lew Hays Pony Field, with the division winners from Washington, Canon-McMillan, the former Route 50 teams and Mon Valley teams meeting to decide the overall champion of the league.
There were 21 teams in the Founders League this season with the additions of Charleroi, Beth-Center, Ringgold, Bentworth and California. While players from those teams won’t be eligible for Washington County’s automatic-bid team to the Pony League World Series this season, they will be next year. And this year, they are eligible for the team the Founders League will send to the Pony Host Zone tournament.
Given the overall talent in the league, both teams should be strong.
• There’s already discussion about who the Pirates’ All-Star Game selection will be.
ESPN’s Dave Schoenfield put together his analysis of who he feels should be on the roster and chose Mitch Keller for the Pirates.
Here’s the problem with that: With a month remaining before the game is played, Paul Skenes will make an additional four or five starts.
Through six starts, Skenes has a 3-0 record with a 2.43 ERA and 46 strikeouts. And he’s become one of the league’s must-see players.
The All-Star Game is played for the fans to see the best play against the best. And Skenes certainly qualifies as one of the hottest names in the game right now. It would be silly not to have him in that game.
That said, Keller deserves to be there. He’s 8-4 with a 3.36 ERA, so there’s a good chance he could have 10-plus wins at the break. He deserves to be there, as well.
• In much the same way Skenes needs to be chosen for the National League roster, Bethel Park graduate and Waynesburg University product Mason Miller is a no-brainer pick to represent the Oakland A’s.
In his first 24 games, Miller struck out 55 batters in 30 innings. All apologies to Skenes, but Miller has the most electric arm in Major League Baseball.
Imagine Skenes and Miller squaring off in a late inning at the All-Star game with both throwing more than 100 mph.
Dale Lolley hosts The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and writes a Sunday column for the Observer-Reporter.