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.

Home Sweet Home

Don’t look now, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are having a great season at Acrisure Stadium this season. They have a nice 5-1 home record so far this season, and only have two home games remaining on the docket for the rest of the regular season. Maybe it’s just me, but there have been seasons in recent memory where it didn’t feel as if there was any advantage of the Steelers playing at home. The aura surrounding the field felt like it was lose when the name changed from Heinz Field to Acrisure; however, it feels like some of that aura is starting to return. If the Steelers can get a home playoff game, they’ll need that place to be rocking to make home field advantage just that…an advantage.

PPG reaching ‘Killer B’ levels?

The Steelers are averaging 24.8 points per game this season, and some fans are wondering if they are reaching some new heights in the team’s history. The one era which everyone wants to compare is the “Killer B” era when Todd Haley and his crew had the goal of 30 points per game.

So, how close are they to those years? Let’s take a look. Here are the points per game averages by season:

2015: 26.4

2016: 24.9

2017: 25.4

2018: 26.8

The 2019 season was the one where Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season with an elbow injury, but his return in 2020 saw the Steelers hit the 26 point plateau yet again.

2020: 26.0

Could the Steelers get up to 26 points per game? It would be tough when looking at the teams they have remaining on the season, but this season has been closer to those years of offense than the 17 and 18 points per game the team saw the past two seasons.

Minkah Magic?

There is nothing definitive I’m about to write. I wish there was, but we all know it has been a long time since Minkah Fitzpatrick has gotten his hands on a football. Will it happen this week? That’s anyone’s guess, but you have to wonder if the Minkah Magic has run out? It used to be a “when” will Fitzpatrick get another interception, now people are asking “if” when mentioning No. 39. The Steelers aren’t unhappy with Fitzpatrick and the work he’s doing, but the splash has been gone for quite some time now. Will it return? Has the magic left Minkah? Nothing would make me happier than to see him having a game-changing play in the final weeks of the season in a key moment. But we’ve been saying this for quite some time now.

Hard Knocks, Part Deux

This past Tuesday was the second installment of the AFC North Hard Knocks series, and I’ll just say this episode wasn’t nearly as good as the first one. No, it isn’t based on the fact the sequel never lives up to the original, but more about the reminder of teams having veto power over what is, and isn’t, covered in the series.

While the Ravens were on a bye last week, they were hardly covered in the show, but it isn’t as if there wasn’t news which could be covered. Nothing was even said about Diontae Johnson being suspended for refusing to play vs. the Eagles the week prior. Likewise, nothing was covered with George Pickens and his outbursts vs. the Bengals which got him flagged twice.

NFL teams on Hard Knocks get final say about what is released and not, and it just reminds you, the viewer, that what you’re seeing is not a truly uncensored product.

Takeaway Machine Rolls On

The Steelers have been able to take the ball away at a ridiculous clip this season, and their takeaway machine continues to roll on after three more takeaways vs. the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. The Steelers now have 28 total takeaways, 1st in the NFL, and their +17 turnover differential is tied for 1st in the league with the Buffalo Bills. At this point, fans are able to sit back and wonder when, not if, the Steelers will rise up and take the football away from the opponent. Let’s hope this holds true for the team as they head into Philadelphia in Week 15.

Playoffs are not the goal, but a stepping stone

In case you missed it, the Steelers have two ways of clinching a playoff berth in Week 15 this week. Those scenarios are:

• PIT win or IND loss / tie + MIA loss / tie

While punching their ticket to the postseason would be awesome, it is far from the ultimate goal. But make no mistake about it, this is the first stepping stone for the Steelers as they continue towards their ultimate goal of a long playoff run ending in a championship. Unlike in past years, which saw the Steelers having to wait until close to Week 17 or 18 to find out their postseason fate, it would be nice to see the Steelers take care of that part of the journey earlier than what fans are accustomed to.

Announces in Week 15

The Steelers are on the road in Philadelphia, but CBS doesn’t have the game. I hate how the NFL screwed with the typical format of visiting teams carrying the coverage, in this case the Steelers, and AFC team, would have this be a CBS game. But while this format has changed, the Steelers vs. Eagles game will be on FOX, and that means the audience will get their ‘A Team’ of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady. I have to be honest, I haven’t watched an entire game with Brady on the mic, but have heard portions of games throughout the season, and he has improved. I’ll hold judgement until I watch a full game with him on the call. Last thought on this, I’m still convinced Greg Olsen is the best color commentator on FOX, but when you pay a guy $10 million a season, you have no choice but to put him in the seat as the top dog.

Officiating Crew Breakdown

The Steelers officiating crew is Alan Eck’s team. Let’s take a look…

Of all the officiating crews we’ve reviewed this season, Eck’s crew is pretty boring, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have some questions. Joe Wollan has an occupation of recruiting. Recruiting who, and for what? Likewise, Larry Hanson is in health and safety. What does that entail?

All jokes aside, Dale Lolley of Steelers.com outlines what we can expect from Eck’s crew this Sunday in Philadelphia.

Steelers-Eagles draw’s Alan Eck’s crew this week. They call 11.77 penalties per game, fifth-fewest among crews. They call 2.85 holding penalties per game, 1.85 false starts, .92 DPI, .85 unnecessary roughness penalties per game as their most frequent calls.

— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) December 11, 2024

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 Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.