For the longest time in the NFL, one of the games within the game has been the corporate spying that goes on within the league.
It rarely rises to the level of Spygate, with the Patriots taping the practices and sidelines of opposing teams to assess what their opponents are trying to do, but adding players from opposing organizations before you play them has been around since the dawn of the league.
In fact, it was so prevalent, the league had to put rules in place that keep teams from signing a player off an upcoming opponent's practice squad in the week leading up to playing them.
The Steelers' opponent this week, however, has found some ways around that and just might have more insight into what Pittsburgh likes to do than anyone outside of their AFC North opponents.
The Broncos not only hired away former Steelers longtime offensive line coach Mike Munchak last year, they added linebackers Mark Barron and Anthony Chickillo to their roster, as well, with Chickillo being signed this week.
For many teams, adding a player or coach who hasn't been around for a season or even an offseason isn't a big deal. For a team such as the Steelers (1-0), who are lauded for their continuity from year to year, it could be a bit of an advantage for the Broncos (0-1).
"I don’t know about change, but we have to be aware of the idea that he has been a part of this system," Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said of Munchak. "But the system always is changing and working, and we are working to find new things and new ideas. But the basis of your football and the communication things, Munch is well aware of.
"Talking with (defensive coordinator Keith Butler), we are well aware of some of the things they do offensively as well when you are talking about the offensive line play and how they protect and things like that. I think (Maurkice Pouncey) and those guys (on the offensive line) do a nice job of all their communication and non-verbal communication. You’re playing without the crowd noise in general, so we’ve had to be thoughtful about that even before Munch comes to town."
To that point, the Steelers have been cognizant of adding players in recent weeks who have been part of their system in the past. They added safety Sean Davis last week after he was released by Washington, and he was able to play last Monday night because the Steelers defense hadn't changed much. This week, they signed offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins off the practice squad of the Texans to help offset the loss of tackle Zach Banner.
>Hawkins' first question when he entered the UPMC-Rooney Sports Complex and saw Fichtner was whether a handful of certain things had changed. When Fichtner said not, the 2016 fourth-round draft pick of the Steelers, who was traded away to the Buccaneers last summer, said he was good to go and could very well be active for the team against the Broncos.
"Munch is the ultimate spy right now," said Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward. "He has broken down our defense more than any other offensive coordinator or offensive line coach has. He's going to put his offensive (line) in a good position, whether it's combo blocking, trying to take the pressure off his line, play-actions, boots. We've got to make sure we stay in our gaps. Munch's offenses have always been really good when they can get d-linemen and linebackers out of their gaps and they can get to the second level. We've got to make sure we have a disciplined defense that runs and hits, because once you get focused on that run game, they tend to beat you up with the passing game."
And Munchak won't be alone with his insider trading secrets.
Barron spent just one season with the Steelers, but as one of the team's inside linebackers, he made a lot of the defensive calls, perhaps gaining some insight into the scheme others might not have. Chickillo spent five seasons with the Steelers, leaving in free agency for the Saints in the offseason. New Orleans released him at the end of training camp, but he was signed by Denver Thursday.
This could be a case of trusting your Jimmys and Joes over what the other team might know in terms of Xs and Os.
"We have to be sound in what we do defensively, and if we are, I think we will be alright," said Butler.
That could be the deciding factor. No matter what Munchak, Chickillo and Barron can tell the Broncos coaching staff about what they know regarding the Steelers, Pittsburgh still has better players across the board.
If those players execute, it might not matter how much the Broncos know.
"I think it’s highly expected that we should play well because they have played together for a while," Butler said. "We’re not trying to invent the wheel here. Our guys are just doing or trying to do some of the stuff we’ve asked them to do the last year, year and a half and stuff like that. They’re doing it, especially our outside guys. T.J. (Watt) and Bud (Dupree) are doing a good job. Cam and (Stephon) Tuitt are doing a good job. All our guys are doing a good job up front, including the guys in the back too."