Penguins' Sidney Crosby eager to start new championship quest

By Jonathan Bombulie

https://triblive.com/sports/penguins/14067136-74/penguins-sidney-crosby-eager-to-start-new-championship-quest

September 10, 2018

Camp countdown: With three days left before the Penguins open training camp Friday morning in Cranberry, beat writer Jonathan Bombulie highlights three things that have changed for captain Sidney Crosby and his teammates since last season.

The last time Sidney Crosby shot a puck in anger was May 7. That’s when the Pittsburgh Penguins saw their three-peat hopes come to an end with a Game 6 second-round loss to the Washington Capitals.

The next time Crosby takes to the ice in an official capacity will be Friday morning. That’s when the Penguins open training camp at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.

That’s a 129-day summer.

A lot can happen in 129 days.

Here’s a look at three offseason developments that will affect the Penguins and their captain.

1. Time passes

A 129-day summer is extraordinarily long for the Penguins given the standards they set recently. After winning the Stanley Cup in 2016, they had 102 days off. After repeating the following June, their summer was only 95 days long.

Crosby used the extra time this year to go on a European vacation. He celebrated his 31st birthday. He hit the gym and the practice rink religiously, just like he does every summer.

He appreciated the time off, but enough is enough. As he visited a home in Scott Township to deliver a family’s season tickets Monday afternoon, he clearly was ready to get going.

“It’d be nice if it started tomorrow, to be honest,” Crosby said. “At this point, you’ve trained all summer. Everyone’s back in town. You’re just counting down the days now.”

2. Losing the bull’s-eye

When the Washington Capitals raised the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history in June, the Penguins officially went from hunted to hunters. They no longer are the defending champs.

The last time that happened, after the Penguins won the 2009 championship, it took them six frustrating years — including a new general manager, two coaching changes and a near-total total roster overhaul — to get back to the top of the mountain.

Crosby said the six-year drought taught him the idea shouldn’t be to try to copy the previous championship blueprint. It’s to put together a new winning plan.

“Regardless if you have a lot of the same personnel and expectations are the same, no year every really goes the same,” he said. “To try to replicate something isn’t always the best way. You want to have habits. You want to have a way that you go about things, but understanding in some way, shape or form, it’s going to shake out a little differently.”

3. Favored nations

Two events that occurred during the offseason dramatically changed the landscape of the Eastern Conference.

First, the Capitals won the Stanley Cup, forever shedding their playoff underachiever label.

Second, the Toronto Maple Leafs made the NHL’s biggest free-agent signing in years, prying top-line center John Tavares away from the New York Islanders.

The Penguins might have the most talented roster in the league, but when pundits start making a list of Cup contenders in the East, they’ll probably start with the Caps and Leafs.

Crosby doesn’t disagree.

“I like to think we’re right in that mix, but I think those two teams are probably the favorites right away, with Washington not losing a lot of guys and Toronto doing what they did. They become a pretty big favorite right away too,” Crosby said. “There’s always teams that are in the mix, and at this point, with how close the league is, you’ve just got to find a way to get into the playoffs. That’s the most important thing. But yeah, I would say those two teams, it’s fair to say, are probably the biggest favorites.”

Jonathan Bombulie is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jonathan at jbombulie@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BombulieTrib.

MORE PENGUINS/NHL

Penguins' Sidney Crosby delivers 'highlight of my life' for season-ticket holder 

Penguins prospects go winless in Buffalo rookie tournament

Long summer's rest coming to an end for Carl Hagelin, Penguins

Penguins rookies fall to 0-2 in Buffalo tournament

Penguins rookies fall in tournament opener

Steelers succumb to pressure, as turnovers spoil James Conner's sparkling start

By Kevin Gorman

https://triblive.com/sports/columnists/kevingorman/14064071-74/kevin-gorman-steelers-succumb-to-pressure-spoil-james-conners-day

September 9, 2018

Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) rushes for a 4-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

The pressure is always there, James Conner said, whether you’re feeling it or applying it.

When Le’Veon Bell was a no-show for the Pittsburgh Steelers the week of the season opener, Conner understood there would be pressure to perform to the standard of the All-Pro running back.

Yet Conner swore he had no nerves for his first NFL start. He was just focused on playing football and applying pressure on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium. For three quarters, Conner shined for the Steelers by rushing for 100-plus yards and two touchdowns.

But Conner didn’t feel the pressure, at least not until it was too late. It came from the backside, when Browns defensive end Myles Garrett popped the ball loose from Conner’s grasp and instantly changed the momentum of a game the Steelers were leading by two touchdowns.

“It’s football, part of the game,” Conner said. “Can’t let it happen anymore.”

The fumble was the pivotal play of the game, one that was recovered by safety Jabrill Peppers and returned to the Steelers 1-yard line. That set up Carlos Hyde’s touchdown run to cut it to 21-14 with 7 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of what was looking like a walk by the lake.

Suddenly, the Steelers were in a game. That it ended in a 21-21 tie provided no consolation, especially with how the Steelers gave the game away.

The Browns were in it because of turnovers. Not just the one by Conner but five by Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers quarterback might as well have an ownership stake in the Browns, given his 11-2 record here. He has more victories at this stadium than any Browns starting quarterback since the NFL returned in 1999.

But the pressure got to the Steelers as Big Ben was pressured in the pocket and threw three picks in the first half. He also lost a pair of fumbles, one in the fourth quarter and another in overtime.

“You can’t win the game when you turn the ball over that many times,” Roethlisberger said, to which a reporter reminded him that the Steelers almost did anyway. Big Ben’s response? “We didn’t, though.”

That was the overriding theme of this game, as disappointing as a defeat. The Steelers were one of the best teams in the league the past two seasons, and the Browns its worst. Somehow, the Steelers allowed the Browns back into a game they had no business winning.

But they couldn’t hold a lead because they couldn’t hold onto the ball, and it wasn’t just because of the steady rainfall. The conditions were certainly less than optimal, but Conner is from Erie and Roethlisberger from Findlay and both have played football in worse weather.

Conner was making everyone forget about Bell, whose absence had become a distraction. The Steelers players were supportive of Bell and his contract demands during the offseason and preseason, up until it crept into their regular-season opener against an AFC North foe.

“I’m so tired of Le’Veon, so tired of it,” Steelers guard David DeCastro said. “Let’s just worry about the guys who are here. I love Le’Veon, but we’ve got to worry about the guys in here. It’s the only people that matter to me.”

Conner is easy to root for, given his All-American career at Pitt that saw him overcome a knee injury and an inspiring battle with cancer to become a third-round pick of the Steelers. The offensive line shifted their focus from their frustration with Bell to supporting Conner, so he naturally celebrated by hugging them after scoring his first career touchdown untouched on a 4-yard run in the second quarter.

While Roethlisberger was throwing picks, Conner was piling up yards. Not only did he score his first NFL touchdowns but made his first NFL catch and broke the century mark for the first time. In fact, by halftime, Conner had more yards against the Browns (46 rushing on eight carries and 32 receiving on three catches) than Bell did in the opener a year earlier (32 rushing on 10 carries and 15 receiving on three catches).

“It is what I expect,” Conner said. “It’s the mentality of our offense. We feel like we’re going to run the ball when we want to run the ball, so I know the mentality of those guys up front. I knew the lanes were going to be there. I knew today was going to be a good day on the ground, just not enough to win. I have confidence in myself and the guys in front of me blocking, so it’s what we expect to do.”

It’s a shame that Conner ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries and had five catches for 57 yards only to have his breakout game be overshadowed by a costly fumble and inability to control the clock.

“He’s a great running back,” Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva said of Conner. “It’s unfortunate we couldn’t get critical first downs in the second half. That would have calmed everybody.”

Perhaps it would have calmed Roethlisberger most of all. Instead, he lost a fumble on a strip-sack by Garrett and spent the rest of the game under siege by the pressure and a ridiculous 12 penalties for 116 yards. Roethlisberger passed for 335 yards and a touchdown but was sacked by linebacker Genard Avery and fumbled into the hands of Joe Schobert to put the Browns in position for a shot at a winning field goal.

The Steelers went from applying the pressure to feeling it. By then, it was too late. You can’t win that way — and they didn’t, even if they didn’t lose, either.

If that’s something that happens in football, it’s something the Steelers can’t let happen anymore.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kevin at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.

MORE KEVIN GORMAN COLUMNS

Kevin Gorman's Take 5: Five thoughts on Steelers 21, Browns 21

Kevin Gorman: Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi can't allow team to sink further

Kevin Gorman's Take 5: Five thoughts on Penn State 51, Pitt 6

Kevin Gorman: For soap-opera Steelers, it's Super Bowl or bust

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers offense fail to take flight

By Jeremy Fowler

http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/28637/ben-roethlisberger-offense-fail-to-take-flight

September 10, 2018

Ben Roethlisberger runs for a first down in the first half of Sunday's 21-21 tie in Cleveland.(David Richard/AP)

CLEVELAND -- The Pittsburgh Steelers reached back for the fastball that put so many games away last season.

With a manageable two-touchdown lead already lost in a flurry of punts and fumbles, the Steelers' offense still had the Browns right where it wanted: Ben Roethlisberger taking the ball from the shotgun, 48 seconds left in overtime, 62 yards from the end zone.

Seconds later, Roethlisberger was picking himself off the FirstEnergy Stadium turf after another sack-fumble, left tackle Alejandro Villanueva had his face buried in his hands and the Browns thought they had set up a victory with linebacker Joe Schobert's recovery.

For both teams, the 21-21 tie was as messy as the nasty conditions it was played under. But the Steelers' passing game went flat for several long stretches, which must be concerning entering Sunday's matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs' video-game offense.

Six turnovers is inexcusable for any team, let alone one expected to be upper tier.

The Steelers' final nine drives resulted in five punts, three fumbles, eight first downs and a missed field goal, offsetting a reasonably good defensive performance and sullying the debut of offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner.

"It's just frustrating that you can’t make the plays down the stretch," said Roethlisberger, who finished 23-of-41 passing for 335 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. "We didn’t make them."

Sunday was a strange day for Roethlisberger, who posted several impressive plays but got burned by risky ones. He made plays with his legs (a throwback 15-yard run with a vicious stiff arm? No one expected that) and hit a 67-yarder to JuJu Smith-Schuster. His back-shoulder throw to Antonio Brown for a 22-yard score was vintage for the duo. The offense appeared to try some run-pass option plays to varying success.

The offensive line played a large role in the team's four sacks, three of which resulted in fumbles.

"I think we all took some turns [with that]," Pittsburgh guard David DeCastro said.

And Browns defensive end Myles Garrett might have been the best player on the field for stretches.

But Roethlisberger also missed throws he typically makes, held the ball longer than usual at times and never really heated up with Brown despite the 93 yards together. Their signature plays by the sideline weren't popping.

The two were on opposite pages on a deep-ball interception in the first half, with a safety closing over the top.

"We've just gotta find a way to connect," Brown said. "We don't make excuses."

The Roethlisberger-Brown pedigree suggests the two will catch fire. And Roethlisberger is known for the occasional struggles on the road. But even in sluggish games, the Steelers usually find a way to put teams away, especially this team.

The Steelers had won 80 straight games when leading by 14 or more points to start the fourth quarter, according to ESPN stats and information data.

Pittsburgh guard Ramon Foster simply called it "one of those days."

The Steelers should hope so.

"Momentum is a helluva thing," Foster said. "We got kind of stagnant and just didn't finish."

Cleveland Browns: Can fans feel OK with tie?

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

terrypluto2003@yahoo.com

https://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2018/09/cleveland_browns_can_fans_feel.html#incart_big-photo

September 9, 2018

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett beats Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (L) to get to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a first half sack, September 9, 2018, at FirstEnergy Stadium. John Kuntz, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you're a Browns fan, you feel...what?

Your team didn't lose.

That's progress.

Your team easily could have lost, and your team was playing the Pittsburgh Steelers.

So that's good news.

But how do you handle a final score of 21-21?

"A tie," Browns coach Hue Jackson said.

"A tie," Jackson said again, this time biting down hard on his lower lip.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said: "It's an awkward feeling."

It wasn't a loss for a team that had lost 17 in a row dating to Christmas Eve 2016. But it wasn't a win for a team that still desperately needs one.

And what do you say about a possible Zane Gonzalez game-winning field goal that was blocked with 13 seconds left in overtime? Jackson thought the Steelers had jumped offsides. Maybe. Maybe not. But no penalty was called.

And the Browns are still undefeated...and winless...in 2018.

WHAT IT MEANS

These are not The Same Old Browns.

For years, Browns fans have watched their team lose close game after close game just like this to the Steelers and future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

But they didn't.

That's real progress.

The Browns defense was relentless, aggressive and so much fun to watch. They picked off Roethlisberger four times! They forced two fumbles.

This defense, which forced just 13 turnovers all of last season, had six on this rainy afternoon.

Myles Garrett....Oh, my goodness! The edge rusher had two sacks. He forced two fumbles. He drew two penalties. He was a force!

Cornerback Denzel Ward had two interceptions in his NFL debut with the Browns. The rookie from Nordonia and Ohio State was beaten for a touchdown on a great pass from Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown, another likely future Hall of Famer. But overall, Ward held his own against Brown.

"Denzel is made of the right stuff," Jackson said.

The defense wasn't great. It had some breakdowns, especially early in the game.

Pittsburgh's James Conner, taking over at running back for Le'Veon Bell, rushed for 135 yards, including 22 for a touchdown.

The Browns were behind, 21-7, with 7:34 left in the game, then the defense forced turnovers and opened the door for a comeback. The type of game-changing defense being built by coordinator Gregg Williams was on display -- and it could change things for the Browns.

"The guys (players) can see we're an improved football team," Jackson said.

HOW MANY PENALTIES?

In the preseason, the Browns first-string offense didn't play together very often.

When it did, the Browns were clunky and looked like a bunch of guys who didn't know each other.

Call them Strangers In The Rain.

The Browns starting offensive line didn't play a single preseason snap together. That's because Jackson waited until a week before the game to promote Desmond Harrison to starting left tackle.

While the new starting offensive line did practice together for a week or so, there was no game action.

Here's something I've never seen before:  The offensive line was flagged for back-to-back false starts (Joel Bitonio and Harrison) on the first possession of the game.

Remember, the Browns were playing at home...so crowd noise was not an issue.

The Browns were flagged four times for false starts. They also committed an illegal-formation penalty.

Jackson said: "Those things, we need to clean up."

I wonder why they came up at all. Five pre-snap penalties...that's just not paying attention.

The Browns were penalized 11 times. Then again, Pittsburgh had a dirty dozen yellow flags heaved in its direction.

WHAT ABOUT TYROD?

New starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was sacked seven times. Some were his fault as he held onto the ball too long, looking for a receiver.

But other times, he was under a lot of pressure. His mobility was a big plus. He ran for a 20-yard touchdown. He carried the ball eight times for 77 yards -- very helpful in a wet, soggy afternoon like this.

Early in the game, Taylor had zero chemistry with his receivers. He didn't seem to know where they were going -- and they weren't sure when the ball was coming to them.

Late in the fourth quarter, though, he connected on a beautiful 17-yard touchdown pass to Josh Gordon. And Gordon made a Gordon-like leaping catch, reminding everyone of what he can do on the field. But that was his only reception of the day.

Taylor was 15-of-40 for 197 yards. He had one TD pass, one interception.

I'm no going to rush into a grand conclusion on Taylor or the offense, other than it was nice to see only one turnover for the game. And odds are it should improve as the season goes along.

"Wins and losses, that's how a quarterback is judged," Taylor said. "But a tie?"

For the Browns, at least it's not a loss.

Cleveland Browns will beat Pittsburgh: Making the case -- Terry Pluto

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

terrypluto2003@yahoo.com

https://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2018/09/cleveland_browns_will_beat_pit.html#incart_river_index

September 7, 2018

Hue Jackson and Todd Haley (Getty Images)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Is this the biggest game of Hue Jackson's coaching career in Cleveland?

When a coach has a 1-31 record and is on a 17-game losing streak, the next game is the biggest of his career.

Especially when it's the first game of the season. And it is the Steelers, who sometimes even seem bored when in the process of beating the Browns.

"It's a chance for us to go out and showcase our football team," Jackson said after Wednesday's practice.

That's more to the point.

From the moment the Haslam family decided to fire Vice President Sashi Brown and keep Jackson -- that was last December -- the clock was ticking down to this game.

New General Manager John Dorsey vowed to go out and find Jackson some "real players."

It's ridiculous to say Brown didn't bring in some talented players. The best player on the team is Myles Garrett, drafted by Brown.

But Dorsey's mission was to add veteran players who can help the Browns win now -- and also find younger players in the draft.

Jackson is right. This is showcase of the talent and the coaching staff. Do they know what they are doing? How will they look against the Steelers, whose quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger) has a 21-2 record vs. Cleveland?

THE NEW QUARTERBACK

A reason for hope is new quarterback Tyrod Taylor, whose 22-20 record in Buffalo has earned him respect across the NFL.

"His mobility and decision making are excellent," said Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin in a conference call. "Anytime you have someone under center with those two components...that's a weapon."

I don't consider that a coach simply hyping an opposing player. Tomlin knows Taylor is not the usual Browns quarterback.

He has faced the Steelers once in his career. That was in 2016. Pittsburgh beat Buffalo, 27-20. Taylor was 15-of-25 passing for 280 yards, two TD passes and one interception.

One of Dorsey's first priorities was to find an experienced quarterback who won't lose games.

There are a lot of remarkable stats when looking at Taylor vs. the Browns 2017 quarterbacks. But the most startling is this: The Browns threw more interceptions in the red zone (6) than Taylor had all year anywhere on the field (4).

In the red zone, Taylor threw 11 TD passes last season compared to two interceptions.

THE NEW GAME PLAN

As Taylor told the media, the offense needs to "protect the football and establish the run to get everything else going."

That's also why Dorsey signed veteran running back Carlos Hyde and drafted Nick Chubb in the second round. Both are physical, punishing runners who should take the pressure off the Browns needing to throw the ball.

New offensive coordinator Todd Haley does know how to design plays for the running backs to catch passes. That should make Duke Johnson more effective.

Haley spent the previous six years calling plays for the Steelers.

The Steelers must be looking at the Browns' offense and finding more reasons to worry than they have in years.

Jarvis Landry can be an impact receiver. David Njoku has the physical ability to be a game-changing tight end. Johnson, Hyde and Taylor are veterans who won't be intimidated by the Steelers.

And Jackson is correct when saying the Browns have a "weather-proof offense" because of Taylor and their ability to run the ball.

THE NEW HOPE?

For the sake of the Browns fan base, a victory would mean so much.

It would take the heat off Jackson and the players. About 60 percent of those in a Cleveland uniform Sunday were not with the team in 2017. But they inherit the weight of all the losing and despair.

Star Pittsburgh running back Le'Veon Bell is holding out. The Steelers have some problems on defense.

They seem vulnerable. Myles Garrett also is healthy and can put some pressure on Roethlisberger.

It's also the first game of the season, when strange things happen in the NFL. I know of some very serious gamblers who rarely bet in the opening week because it's so unpredictable.

But these are the Browns who have won just one game - that's right - ONE opening game since the team returned in 1999. That was Butch Davis and Jeff Garcia beating Baltimore 20-3 in 2004.

And these are the Steelers, who have a 19-3 record vs. the Browns since Tomlin became the coach.

I confess to having a lot of concerns about the Browns with all the new players and coaches being ready for a game like this. My head says they'll lose.

While I'd never bet on it...because I don't bet...I'm picking the Browns to win.

Why?

Because the roster seems better designed to beat the Steelers -- and I'm sick of writing stories about them losing to Pittsburgh.

PREDICTION: Browns 20, Pittsburgh 17.