So, what was it that Chuks Okorafor spoke during the Steelers' Oct. 29 game that had a "significant" influence, according to Mike Tomlin, in his ongoing benching?
The mind can really race with this sort of thing, right?
Well, it shouldn't: Okorafor's a good player, a good teammate, a good guy. Who, I'm told by multiple locker-room sources, made a mistake near the end of the 20-10 loss to the Jaguars at Acrisure Stadium in remarking, apparently within earshot of Tomlin, that the offense should simply kneel out the remainder of the clock rather than continuing to run plays.
And to be specific for context, the Steelers were down 10 points with 1:52 remaining upon taking the ball at the Pittsburgh 2 for what'd be their final possession. It'd end with a Mitch Trubisky interception with five seconds remaining.
Yeah, I know. Ouch. All of it.
Understand that I'm not questioning Tomlin's decision. At all. Every head coach has the right to manage a team per their own standards. If Tomlin interpreted Okorafor's remark as defeatist -- it's glaringly obvious he did -- then he can act on it as he pleases. To be honest, I'd have a tough time arguing the decision, and the same applies to Okorafor, who acknowledged the following after the benching: "I kind of said stuff I shouldn't have said. Being in Year 6, I can't act out how I was acting out."
Right.
What's happened since then, of course, is that Broderick Jones started in Okorafor's place against the Titans and excelled. Moreover, Jones confirmed after practice yesterday that he's still taking the first-team reps and, thus, expects he'll start again Sunday against the Packers.
What's also happened, though this part's out of public view, is that Okorafor's been helping Jones, a natural left tackle, adjust to right tackle, both on and off the field. Jones likened it to the help he received from Dan Moore Jr. through training camp and the preseason, even as those two were dueling to start at left tackle.
"It's basically the same thing that was going on with me and Dan," Jones would say. "Chuks is like a big brother on the field, being able to talk to me and coach me through the things he sees, things I can do better, giving me little tips. I feel like it's a big help for me just having him be able to watch me."
That's Chuks. No need to make anything else worse than it is.
MORE STEELERS
• Anyone worried about George Pickens is wasting their own time. He's immature for a 22-year-old. That's not a shot. That's a fact. And even within that, being immature for a 22-year-old -- which I was myself -- isn't a crime. He competes like crazy on the field, he's visibly engaged and having good fun with his teammates in the locker room, and he's worth the fuss. Sure, it'd be easier if he carried himself like, say, Keeanu Benton, but not everyone's the same. Big whoop.
• Pat Freiermuth's gonna be a while.
• One might think Mark Robinson's extra-stoked for Sunday and beyond, given the sudden -- and obviously unwelcome for all, unto itself -- opening at inside linebacker with Cole Holcomb's injury. One might be wrong. As he'd tell me yesterday, "I have to prepare myself the same way every week, so I've done that. Nothing changes for me. I'm grateful for any opportunity, but my preparation doesn't change." He also gets that what the coaches most need to see is pass coverage. It's been an obsession for him for more than a year now. He's got everything else.
• No matter how many inside linebackers go down, Nick Herbig won't be moving inside. I know that seems like it'd be cool. It's not. He's flat-out not equipped. In 2023, more than ever, it's an extraordinarily different position.
• More Calvin Austin III. Less Allen Robinson II. That's not a plea. That's a prediction.
• No one associated with the Steelers is fretting that Joey Porter Jr. can't tackle. He can and will. Eventually. They just feel he's worth deploying now because of his sticky coverage and, within that, accept that he'll get there with all else.
PENGUINS
• Erik Karlsson's advanced from tiptoeing around his teammates to having a genuinely good time, much closer to the way I remember him being in Ottawa. He's drop-dead serious about the game, but he loves to get to know guys. And I'm convinced it's no coincidence that he's become more productive, as he demonstrated yet again in the rousing OT victory early this morning in Los Angeles, as the comfort level and communication have grown.
• Jake Guentzel will be brought back. Too many internal signs suggesting that. From all directions. But if that isn't sufficient for anyone, just keep repeating that he's Sidney Crosby's left winger in a time where the franchise is fully focused on doing right by Sid. It's not more layered than that.
• I asked Reilly Smith about his clear chemistry with Evgeni Malkin, noting that Geno's had some challenges over the years with linemates, particularly if they aren't straight-line, enter-the-zone-first types: "Yeah, I've heard that. I guess I don't really see any problems. He's a great player, and great players want the puck. He's also a great passer, great at everything. For me, it's just a matter of learning what he needs as we go."
• P.O Joseph will continue to exist on the fringe of the defensive top until he settles himself positionally. And that won't happen for as long as he thinks he'll be effective offensively at the NHL level. The coaches would much prefer he models his game after that of Marcus Pettersson.
• Regarding Lars Eller: Told you so. Way back in July, no less.
PIRATES
• I'm told that Bob Nutting and the Pirates have until Thanksgiving to make up their collective minds regarding a TV network. I have no idea what Thanksgiving represents in this context, but hey, don't shoot the messenger even if he shows up with terribly little elaboration. I continue to believe they'll end up connecting with Major League Baseball on this, in part because the more commonality there is to the revenue distributed between teams, the greater the possibility that you-know-what becomes a real discussion before the next labor pact.
• There's no suspense as to whether or not Andrew McCutchen will be back with the Pirates in 2024. Cut through any conversation on any front with this: He's one of the few players across Major League Baseball who legit makes more money for his team than he earns.
• Rich Hill won't be back. The goal isn't Hill. But for another, the man really spoke his mind, and that's not always ideal in settings like this one.
• Thanks for reading Insider! Kind of a cool change to this feature in the works, one I'm confident everyone will like!
