In the Aug. 4 Friday Insider, I reported, based on a source, that one big reason the Steelers signed Allen Robinson was that Frisman Jackson, their wide receivers coach, wasn't controlling his room. I offered no elaboration -- as I hadn't heard any myself -- but I did throw in on my own that Robinson was more than fulfilling his end on that front. And at the end of that paragraph, in parentheses, there was the following:
(As has Diontae Johnson, by the way.)
Remember that?
OK, cool, then that'll likely mean also remembering the Aug. 18 Friday Insider, in which I reported, based on a talk Diontae and I had following the preseason game in Tampa, Fla., that he'd never felt as football-tight with Kenny Pickett as he has this summer. And within this, that his confidence in the quarterback, the playbook and all else was there to match.
Well, yesterday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, this was Matt Canada's verbatim reply when asked about Diontae's continuing efforts toward becoming a complete player: "I think Diontae's really continued to mature since I've been here. He's come in with a real hard-working attitude this camp. I think he's excited about where we are and excited about where he is. I think he and Kenny have done the things that we all wanted to see happen much faster last year, which really don't happen fast. I mean, timing and those things ... that does take time. I think you see that. With that, you've seen some more confidence with 'Tae and with Kenny. ... He's working hard at it. He came in to put the work in. He put the work in this summer to get that. I think he's continuing to try to be a master of his position."
I don't have as much to add today as those previous entries. But, entering this weekend of the season opener, the first at home in nine years and exactly 90 years since the franchise was formed, I can share my own accrued observation that there's not one individual on this roster more poised for a rocket-launch-scaled breakthrough than No. 18.
He's 27. He's entering his fifth NFL season. He's got this year and one more on his contract. He's caught 100 balls only once, and barely. He's topped 1,000 receiving yards only once, and barely. He might've accrued as many negative yards after the catch as the positive. And his next touchdown of any kind will be his first since Jan. 3, 2022, a 5-yard catch from Ben Roethlisberger that probably now feels like it came from Johnny Unitas.
We had another talk this week. He's aware of all that. Just as he's aware of all the offensive circumstances, meaning a total overhaul around him. Just as he's aware of all the advanced metrics that point powerfully to his ranking among the NFL's most efficient route-runners. Just as he's aware of all the warm-and-fuzzy that's followed him inside the Steelers' world the past few months.
Remember this Insider, too, OK?
MORE STEELERS
• Can't stress this strongly enough: Dan Moore's the starting left tackle because he earned it, not because of any shortfall on Broderick Jones' part. If anything, the sense I keep getting on the inside is that, if Moore keeps performing as he's been -- and hey, here come Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett on back-to-back weeks -- then it'll be Chuks Okorafor who's ultimately at risk of being odd man out.
• There aren't many intangibles Mike Tomlin values more in a player than being a good teammate, and Moore's ongoing effort to be not only Jones' principal competitor but also his biggest help and even a friend, that'll go a long way. And it's no act on Moore's part. He's just all that. And so's the kid. If this all works out, they'd make quite the bookends.
• Don't expect to witness another Melvin Ingram/LeGarrette Blount episode, in which an outside hired gun flat-out doesn't fit within the Steelers' world for whatever reason. "Not a chance," Patrick Peterson, one of this summer's newcomers told me. "I can't speak to what's happened in the past with anyone, but this group ... we're all one. We're all Steelers." Toss Markus Golden's name into that figurative pile, as well. He told me something similar.
• The next time I hear a player mention the name of Glenn Thomas, the offensive assistant coach hired over the offseason to work under Canada, will be the first. Doesn't mean he isn't doing the job. Doesn't mean he isn't respected. But it's safe to say it does mean there's nothing unusual occurring in the offensive hierarchy. It's Canada's show.
• A weekly radio show or podcast for Kenny Pickett? Eh, not this year. But I'm told it's been considered.
• This one's for all of Gunner Olszewski's brigade of bashers: As I approached him for a brief interview this week, I began by explaining the context that I was seeking out 'heart-and-soul' guys for this set of questions. To which Mason Rudolph, seated a couple stalls overrr, uncharacteristically interjected, "He's the heart-and-soul guy here. You just found him."
PIRATES
• Andrew McCutchen will continue his career with the Pirates in 2024, and Cutch will complete his career with the Pirates. There's no drama, no suspense to be had, no matter how long -- or how soon -- it'll be until the pen's put to paper. I was told this past spring in Bradenton that, from the day Cutch was brought back, that could never again be in question from the team's perspective. I don't believe everything I hear from 115 Federal. I believe this.
• The 20 or so professional innings that management had allotted as a maximum for Paul Skenes in 2023 was never going to include Pittsburgh, I'm told, no matter how well all else would've gone. And as things are, his PNC Park debut shouldn't be anticipated until at least two months into the 2024 season, partially to build him back up and partially to accommodate future Super-2 arbitration status. Though everyone will hotly deny it.
• If it felt like management made some organized attempt at a P.R. push related to preserving Andy Haines -- and to a lesser extent, Oscar Marin -- for another year on their respective jobs, that's because that's what it was. Even got the team-employed broadcasters to partake. What a franchise, man. Imagine that this was anyone's in-season priority for even a split-second.
• To be clear, as I've been sharing for months, neither Haines nor Marin was ever in trouble. All that happened was that all concerned read, saw and heard the criticism, understood that they've got to make the situation plain by season's end, anyway -- can't leave coaches hanging even a few days beyond the final game -- and responded by ... my God, by trying to convince everyone that there's been actual improvement.
• Oneil Cruz isn't worried about his future. Like, at all. Including at shortstop. Leaving this one right here.
• No extension approach yet for Mitch Keller. Might want to get on that this winter, though, unless the Pirates happen to feeling really good about this TBD character they're now sending out to the mound three of every five days.
PENGUINS
• Phil Kessel? Wow, no. Not a chance. Sure, he's still out there on the NHL's open market, he'd barely cost half a penny, and he'd probably make anyone's power play better. But anyone suggesting that there's a fit here won't know of a fraction of the headaches he caused for Mike Sullivan. All those were worthwhile when Phil was Phil, but they wouldn't be now.
• The roster's the roster, from what I'm hearing. Meaning that Tomas Tatar's name isn't coming up -- not in Pittsburgh and not anywhere in the NHL, oddly, considering he's coming off a 20-goal, plus-42 season for the Devils -- and neither is anyone else's. With the three tryout signings the other day, a complete camp roster can easily be carved out by the Sept. 21 opening.
• I wrote a couple weeks ago that Alex Nedeljkovic likely has the upper hand over Magnus Hellberg for backup goaltending duties. Update that: He's got the definitive upper hand. He's No. 2 behind Tristan Jarry. They really like him.
• Know who else is being taken more seriously as a depth option than maybe I'd anticipated? Radim Zohorna. Clip and save.
• Fully expect Kyle Dubas to keep pumping this theme of the Penguins -- even their vaunted Core -- being doubted or disrespected by the hockey world as a whole. That's really a thing with him, from what I gather.
• I've communicated with the broadcasters, both current and former, over the past week. Steve Mears might still be retained for radio, but Bob Errey won't be retained at all. Don't weep for him, though. His trademark toughness -- not to mention his experience, passion and talent -- will get him a gig before long. His biggest obstacle will be, naturally, that he's been forever associated with Pittsburgh.
• Thanks for reading Insider. Never taken for granted.
