Recently I was thinking about my time writing about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Throughout my career doing so, I’ve essentially done it all.

Commentary, news, breaking stories, features and even took a stab at simple film room breakdowns.

The one thing I’ve never done is work on just a random thought type format.

I can’t speak for you, the reader, but I am always thinking about writing and the Steelers. Thinking about different aspects of the team and game. Thanks to reading Myron Cope’s biography I decided to put a unique spin on this type of feature.

Now, for the name of the article, anyone who is familiar with the Styx song “Renegade” should know where it came from. If not, this is where it came from…

The jig is up, the news is out
They finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Nevermore to go astray
This’ll be the end today of the wanted man

The jig is up…time for some randomness.

What else can you ask for?

In case you didn’t see the Steelers Injury Report Thursday, it was near perfect. Unless you’re talking about players who are on Injured Reserve (IR), the Steelers are about as healthy as a team could ask heading into Week 14. Yes, I just knocked on wood for those who are superstitious. When Alex Highsmith (ankle) and even Calvin Austin III (concussion protocol) are full participants on Thursday’s practice it would take a setback for them to miss this game. On the Steelers Preview podcast last night we were debating who will be without a helmet among a group of healthy players. Quite the difference from last season when the team was having to pick players off practice squads to fill out their active roster. It’s a good problem to have.

Where are the sacks?

There have been several eras in the NFL where the Pittsburgh Steelers have been known for getting after the quarterback, but the 2024 season is certainly not one of them. To date the Steelers have just 29 sacks on the season, and that puts them in the back half of the league in this statistical category. The Denver Broncos lead the NFL in this department with 47 sacks, but it makes you wonder why the Steelers aren’t able to get to the quarterback with any regularity. There are a lot of factors, and having both Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith healthy opposite T.J. Watt will absolutely help improve these totals heading into the final stretch of the regular season. If the pass rush gets hot in the final five games, no one will bemoan the lack of production earlier in the season.

Takeaways are no fluke

I have believed for a long time that takeaways are a statistic which can fluctuate. A statistic which can come in bunches, but the Steelers have absolutely proven these takeaways are no fluke in 2024. The Steelers 25 takeaways (13 INTs, 12 FR) have proven they are not just getting turnovers in bunches, but have consistently getting takeaways in key moments of games. If this trend holds true heading into a postseason berth, the Steelers will be a tough team to beat.

Pick your poison offense

With Russell Wilson at the helm of the offense you are seeing the full vision for the type of offense the Steelers are wanting to build. Their ultimate goal is to be a pick-your-poison type of offense who can run the football when they want, and can pass it when they want. In other words, they dictate the style of play based on the opponent. But, in my opinion, there is another layer to this style of offense. The Steelers are using a wide array of players to get the job done. Looking at the distribution on the ground and through the air vs. the Bengals and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. Everyone getting involved. You want to slow down George Pickens, we have other weapons who can attack you. Najee Harris has a style which is vastly different than Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson. This is the offense we’ve envisioned all along, and hopefully it’s here to stay down the stretch run.

Week 14 is a huge game

A lot has been made about the Steelers second half of the schedule, and rightfully so, but the final five games of the regular season will be huge. And with the AFC North now just a two-team race between the Ravens and Steelers, it’s worth looking at the final five weeks of the season and comparing.

Let’s take a look:

Steelers

• vs. CLE
• at PHI
• at BAL
• vs. KC
• vs. CIN

Ravens

• BYE
• at NYG
• vs. PIT
• at HOU
• vs. CLE

The Steelers have by far the tougher road to finish the regular season, but when you look at Week 14 the importance in the game for the Steelers is vital. If the Steelers beat the Browns, they head into Week 15 with a 10-3 record, and a full 2-game lead over the Ravens. Regardless of the rest of the games, if the Steelers were to beat the Ravens in Baltimore, it would be the final nail in the coffin for the Ravens’ hopes of winning the division in 2024. But you have to beat the Browns first…

Is the book out?

NFL officiating is sketchy, at best, and you have to see what has been developing with two Steelers in particular. Those players would be Joey Porter Jr. and George Pickens. Whether they like it or not, the book is out on them with officiating crews across the league. If you don’t believe these crews aren’t looking at Porter Jr.’s style of play and Pickens’ antics on a weekly basis, you are kidding yourselves. It is up to these players to clean up their styles and prove they shouldn’t be in the cross-hairs of officials every time they step on the field. Whether they can do that has yet to be determined.

Play-By-Play Crew for Steelers vs. Browns

The upcoming AFC North battle is on CBS, and shockingly the Steelers vs. Browns will be getting the ‘A-Team’ with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on the call. I’ve openly admitted I love Nantz and his calls, he is the consummate professional regardless of the sport he is calling. As for Romo, I soured on him a couple years ago, but games I’ve watched this season with him on the call show he has calmed down a bit. In other words, I feel he is more tolerable than he was in the past. It will be weird hearing this crew on the call based on how they are always tasked with Chiefs, Ravens and Bills games on a weekly basis. Nonetheless, I’ll enjoy the break from Ian Eagle for another week.

Officiating Crew Review

This week it is Land Clark’s crew who is officiating Steelers vs. Browns in Week 14. Let’s take a look at the crew.

The referee of this game is Land Clark, and Clark is a “chief building official”. I’m curious what building he is overseeing? Residential? Commercial? Brad Freeman seems to be a good guy, as he is a sports park director. It’s a busy job, but should provide some enjoyment setting up activities for others to enjoy. Bob Hubbell, who we’ve talked about before in this section of the article, sells steel. The game will be played Sunday in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh used to be a steel capital of the United States. Do I see a correlation? I think I do…

Let’s hope this crew does a good job officiating this contest so I’m not writing about how awful the officiating is heading into the Steelers Week 15 game vs. the Philadelphia Eagles.

That does it…the jig is up, they’ve finally found me. This renegade is outta here…be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Cleveland Browns in Week 14.