- The play design, which allowed receivers to catch passes while moving, caught my attention. That's what a good or average offense looks like. I'm not used to it. but want to be.
- There's something to be said for offensive play execution, no infractions, synchronized, on schedule. It's more than a drive or two. It's the norm, not a novelty. If it sounds like a low bar, it is, but for consecutive seasons the Steelers have had long stretches of mediocrity.
- There's also something to be said for tempering expectations for preseason games, the first one especially. I champion the high performances and dismiss the disappointing ones.
- Translated. I look forward to seeing Kaleb Johnson show something in a preseason game, if for no other reason to ease the anxieties of some who won't be at peace until then.
- Staying with execution and expectations, my wife and I were also in midseason form. If you read on on family, fun, and football, I discussed how we have an '"understanding" concerning my high prioritization of Steelers games that's not debatable, from preseason through playoffs. Well, Saturday morning she asked if I was up to going to a movie or something in the evening. My response. "Steelers game this evening, hon." Case closed.
- Max Hurleman. When I read his bio, I immediately thought of Rich Erenberg, the overachieving camp darling of 1984 who challenged 1982 first-round running back Walter Amercrombie for playing time and started a few games his rookie year. Ironically, Erenbeg played at Colgate, Hurleman's alma mater, before transferring to Notre Dame.
- If I wasn't a Steelers fan and someone asked me who was the first-round pick and who was the fifth-rounder, I couldn't tell the difference. It's not a knock on Derrick Harmon, but a compliment to Yahya Black. He's everything Dan McCullers wasn't.
- The Steelers have two standout physical specimens. Of course, I'm talking about DK Metcalf, a tight end playing receiver, and Darnell Washington, a tackle running routes and catching passes, but playing the tight end position. Shame on the Steelers if he doesn't have 35-40 catches and 5 touchdowns.
- Can you imagine how lit the fanbase would be if Will Howard had a performance like Skylar Thompson's or Mason Rudolph's?
- I'm assuming Logan Woodside was attempting to stay inbounds even though he was nowhere near the sidelines when he had an angle to outrun the defender, only to surrender? I'll leave it alone, but still ...
- I have to admit, the Aaron Rodgers addition feels right, and for a few months it didn't.
- Just the fact that Broderick Jones went largely unnoticed is noteworthy. Hugely.
Undrafted rookie Max Hurleman celebrates a second-quarter TD (Photo: Corey Perrine-Florid, USA TODAY Sports)