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.

Excuse me, John? 

Not sure if you saw John Harbaugh meeting with media Thursday to talk about Zay Flowers not being in the lineup this weekend. Oh, but don’t worry, Harbaugh said he’ll be back next week.

Excuse me?

Someone tell Wang Harbs they have to win this week. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/21nqf9T7o1

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) January 9, 2025

Some people might not be into bulletin board material, but I certainly am. Chuck Noll once said, “If I have to motivate you, I’ll cut you.” Certainly great in the 70s, but in today’s day and age you need to motivate these young men to go out and make plays. Sometimes little things like this can go a long way in the locker room.

Finally a healthy secondary

I stumbled upon this statistic yesterday on Twitter/X from Nick Farabaugh, and it made me do a double take. Take a look at the last time the Steelers had their full secondary healthy in a game.

This is the first time since the Steelers’ December 8 game against the Cleveland Browns (their last win) that they will have their entire starting secondary healthy. https://t.co/DhII0FYiC0

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) January 9, 2025

Since the December 8th game the following injuries have happened:

• Deshon Elliott (hamstring)
• Joey Porter Jr. (knee)
• Donte Jackson (back)

Only three players, but it has forced the Steelers to rely on players like James Pierre, Cory Trice and Cam Sutton far more than they would have hoped coming into the season. It was valuable experience, but it will be good to see the Steelers have their full allotment of secondary defenders ready and available when it matters most.

Gotta feel for T.J. Watt and others

Thursday T.J. Watt met with media for his weekly availability, and he was far more candid than he usually is when speaking with reporters. Normally you get the, “We just have to do our jobs.” answers, but when asked about how he has never won a playoff game in his career he opened up.

Check it out below:

T.J. Watt, DeShon Elliott, Najee Harris, Joey Porter Jr. and Spencer Anderson spoke to the media on Thursday, January 9 ahead of the Steelers Wild Card Round game against the Ravens. @PondLehocky pic.twitter.com/1DTCK055qf

— Steelers Live (@SteelersLive) January 9, 2025

You have to feel for players like Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, drafted in 2017 and 2018, who have played in plenty of postseason games, yet have never won one. Watt even talked about the importance of winning a Super Bowl, referencing the players who return as alumni who have, or have not, won a ring for the Steelers. I can’t speak for you, but I really hope the Steelers at least get T.J. a playoff win this year.

Smitty getting HC looks?

For some Steelers fans, they were shocked when they saw Arthur Smith’s name being in the mix for potential head coaching vacancies. The New York Jets are slated to interview Smith for their vacancy, and his name has been talked about for other openings as well. It makes me wonder if I’ve missed something? Has Smith’s job in Pittsburgh been so good in 2024 to warrant interviews for vacancies? Also, was his tenure in Atlanta so good he should get a second shot? That’s not a decision for me to make, but I was surprised to see his name on some lists for head coaching openings.

No Zay, Big Problem?

The Baltimore Ravens will be without wide receiver Zay Flowers in the Wild Card Round, as John Harbaugh said above, and many are downplaying how significant this could be. But not me. I think Flowers not being in the lineup will absolutely help the Steelers match up with the Ravens. When you have the Steelers full secondary available, and the Ravens are without their top receiving threat, it makes things easier.

Think about it, now Joey Porter Jr. will mark up Rashod Bateman, Donte Jackson covering Nelson Agholor, and freeing up the linebackers, Payton Wilson, and safeties to cover Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. I know, easier said than done, but at the same time it is much easier without Flowers than the alternative. If the Steelers aren’t having their ongoing communication issues, this could negate the aerial attack and put the onus on the biggest part of this matchup — stopping the run.

Who is going to step up?

When you think back to these classic Steelers vs. Ravens games, someone always steps up and makes a play which turns the tide. Even in the last game in Baltimore there were individual plays which helped turn the game in Baltimore’s favor. In this history of the matchup you can think back to Heath Miller’s diving touchdown to the pylon. You can talk about Santonio Holmes, Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward all making those key plays in key moments.

Makes me wonder who is going to step up in this playoff game? Will anyone step up? Who will make the play which turns the tide?

Announcer Review

The Steelers faithful will have to hear the Thursday Night Football crew Saturday night with Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit on the call. Outside of Herbstreit at times falling in love with specific players/teams, I don’t mind this crew. I don’t hear a ton of them, but when I do I can think of a bunch of crews who are worse. Now the TNF pre and post-game show crew are unbearable, but that’s for another blurb.

Officiating Crew Breakdown

It’s Alex Kemp’s crew who has Steelers vs. Ravens on Saturday night. Let’s break it down…

Referee assignments for Wild Card weekend: pic.twitter.com/Uf56p1Wuml

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2025

Here is the crew:

What first stands out to me is Sean Petty. Is Petty even employed outside of officiating NFL games, or is this just his main hustle for income? I looked it up, and NFL referees make between $1,000 and $10,000 per game, depending on their experience level. They also receive bonuses for working high-stakes games, like the Super Bowl. Is that enough to live on for someone with only two years experience? Outside of Petty, shoutout to former NFL player Mike Morton. Morton was a 4th Round pick who won a Super Bowl with the Rams before retiring, becoming a an official, and a dentist and opening his own practice. Talk about a winner. As for Robert Richeson, who is a high school technology teacher, I’ve been around plenty of those teachers. Let’s just say you hope he isn’t called to make a critical decision at a critical juncture in the game.

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 Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs.