Brief and to the Point ...
• While no one was looking, the Steelers' Dri Archer climbed to No. 5 on the NFL's list of most productive kick returners, thanks in part to a career-best 38-yard return early in Sunday's game. He's averaging 26.7 yards, this despite still not having broken the big one.
While everyone was looking, Landry Jones showed well enough the past two weeks to finally be considered a legit backup quarterback moving forward.
Those two players have been cited as often as anyone by those critical of Kevin Colbert's recent drafts. And to an extent, any such criticism remains fair. Better players at positions of greater need were taken.
But I'll say this: If they're all the ammo anyone has left, it isn't much.
In the five drafts before 2015 -- too early to tell on that, though Bud Dupree is already making an impact -- Colbert, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers' scouts have produced Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, Martavis Bryant, Maurkice Pouncey, Cam Heyward, Marcus Gilbert, David DeCastro, Kelvin Beachum, Ryan Shazier, Jarvis Jones, Stephon Tuitt, Vince Williams, and that's not a complete list.
Nitpick those from here to eternity, but the fact is, there are exactly 31 NFL executives who would trade their total draft hauls in that span for AB, Le'Veon and Martavis alone.
Good drafting is about adding depth.
Great drafting is about uncovering Hall of Fame-type talent.
• Can there be more compelling evidence for why no NFL team should ever invest a draft pick or meaningful dollars into a kicker or punter than the current Steelers?
Chris Boswell is 7 for 7 in field goals, and Jordan Berry is averaging 43.8 yards per punt, with 14 of his 30 punts planted inside the 20, and a long of 79. This right after both virtually walked in off South Water Street to get their jobs.
• I was rough on Mike Mitchell last season. I was rough enough that, at one point, he asked the Steelers' media relations team to meet with me and discuss some of what I'd been writing. Obviously, I obliged. There were no hard feelings then. There are none now.
Last season, Mitchell didn't play well, and he came across as complaining excessively.
This season, Mitchell has been one of the team's better defenders. He's been smart, versatile, consistent and at times downright mean. He's also been, as was evident again Sunday in Kansas City, a real team leader. You should have seen the rest of the DBs swarm to his corner after the game, heeding every syllable he spoke.
One learns to never over-complicate this praise/criticism concept. The performance comes first, and that stuff follows.
• Before judging DeAngelo Williams too harshly for that poorly timed drop in the first quarter, ask first why his number was called on such a play rather than Bell's. Todd Haley has improved as a coordinator, but there remain times when he's just hellbent on showing everyone how clever he can be.
Best way to impress: Score the (bleep) touchdown. Win the (bleep) game.
Sidney Crosby steps on the puck as he and the Predators' Viktor Arvidsson battle Saturday in Nashville. -- GETTY
Chris Blewitt is mobbed by Pitt teammates after his winning field goal Saturday at Syracuse. -- PITT ATHLETICS