Depot After Dark
Depot After Dark
A Steelers Depot daily segment. A quick hit of some Pittsburgh Steelers-related stories that may not require a complete article, but nuggets worth mentioning and passing on to you guys.
Your Depot After Dark for Aug. 26.
STEELERS’ OLD PLAYBOOK
The 2000s Steelers were known for their great defenses. However, some of their offenses weren’t anything to scoff at, either, especially once Ben Roethlisberger got there. Roethlisberger gave Pittsburgh’s offense a boost, although the team still relied heavily on its run game. Running backs like Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker were key parts of the Steelers’ offense.
Former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex posted a small piece of the Steelers’ playbook from that era. Specifically, he showed what the team’s base runs were called in 2007. That was one of Parker’s best seasons, seeing him run for over 1,300 yards. Those run packages were a big reason for his success.
A little bit of insight #SteelerNation:
2007 Steelers Offense
9th overall
3rd in rushing
22nd in passing
These were our base runs with 22/23 dbl being far and away our bread and butter. Lots of big playaction plays were had based off that run. Ahhh, those were the days…..… https://t.co/AwzXXYhfOB pic.twitter.com/dxbrUY7SKj
— Trai Essex (@TraiDay79) August 26, 2026
SEAHAWKS’ NEW OWNER LIKES STEELERS
The Rooney family has owned the Steelers for their entire history. Art Rooney II is the current owner, but his father and grandfather were major reasons Pittsburgh is one of the league’s most accomplished franchises. While the Steelers spent many years as losers, they became powerhouses in the 1970s.
That dynasty also created a ton of Steelers fans, including new Seattle Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla. NFL Network’s Judy Battista recently shared that Khosla said that he still likes the Steelers, despite owning a different NFL team. He just purchased the Seahawks this year, so his fandom may shift as he spends more time as their owner.
Vinod Khosla says he is still a big Steelers fan, because he came to the United States during the mid-1970s, at the very height of the Steelers dynasty.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) August 26, 2026
HIGHSMITH HELPS KIDS
T.J. Watt gets the most attention out of any Steelers edge rusher. However, Alex Highsmith shouldn’t be forgotten. He’s an underrated player, being a consistent starter for many years. He’s been with the Steelers since 2020, and he has 45 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and three interceptions in that time.
Highsmith has also developed into a solid leader and role model for the Steelers. While he isn’t originally from Pittsburgh, he’s worked hard to try to make the city better. That includes helping provide kids with back-to-school supplies, as shared by Steelers Community Relations on Twitter. It’s a good example of how Highsmith tries to be just as good off the field as he is on it.
On Tuesday, Alex Highsmith & the @AHighsmithFF hosted their 3rd annual Back-to-School Bash at @BestoftheBatch.
The event provided students with essential back-to-school supplies & resources for the new school year.