U mad, bro?: Steelers preseason hype, RB1 debates, SMU in the ACC and lanternflies

There is only one thing that has truly made me mad this week.

Lanternflies.

Gawd, do I hate those things! I feel like I’m in the Battle of Stirling scene from “Braveheart.”

“We’re outnumbered … at least three to one!”

Watch the video I posted of the war zone that is my front porch. Do so at your own risk. The carnage is pretty terrible.

But you, you have the luxury of fretting over preseason football games, conference realignments in college sports, running back battles and defecting wide receivers.

I’ll keep fighting the battle for independence from this invasive species so you can complain under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide in “U mad, bro?”

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A guy named “Shawn from the Mawn Valley” thinks there’s been too much Steelers hype after just two preseason wins.

“Reading the comments on social media about The Steelers winning their 1st 2 exhibition games was hilarious!

‘The Steelers Are Back!’

‘Watch Out NFL, Here Come The Steelers Again!’

‘Pittsburgh’s Going To The Super Bowl!’

A friendly reminder to Steeler fans:

A. Its exhibition football, the games don’t count.

And B. The Last Time The Pittsburgh Steelers Won A Playoff Game (2016).”

I hear you Shawn from the Mawn.

Let me add one more: C. They were 3-0 in the preseason last year and missed the playoffs.

Look, I think they are going to be better too. I think they’ll win 10 games and make the playoffs. But, in the social media age, the concept of declaring victory before anything has actually been achieved is incredibly easy.

Some of the hyperbole after two Steelers preseason games is evidence of that.

Michael wants to keep a lid on some of the Jaylen Warren fawning as the Steelers have a bit of a running back debate brewing.

Warren has been an excellent pick up. Stats and big runs don't always tell the story though. Carrying the ball 20+ week in and week out; and showing up big in December to grind out victories. That is really what it comes down to.

— twthandle02108 (@twthandle02108) August 22, 2023

Agreed. Now let’s see if they can get to December with the games still being big. Then he and Najee Harris can both have a shot at proving how good they are.

Meanwhile, this guy doesn’t like the argument Mark Madden made in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast about sticking with Harris as the No. 1 running back.

His draft pedigree argument is ridiculous. By his logic Antonio brown wouldn’t have gotten a serious look over the other guys the Steelers had at the time. Warren has an entire year under his belt. In addition to stats, the eye test clearly shows Warren is better

— Hazzyness (@Hazzyness) August 21, 2023

First off, to the previous guy’s point, one thing we haven’t seen with the “eye test” is Warren holding up as a 20-plus-carry back all season and still being good in December.

In 2021, Harris had games with 94, 93 and 188 yards in December and January. Last year, he had games of 111, 80 and 86 twice. In the last three games of his college career at Oklahoma State, Warren averaged 58.3 yards.

So I think your “eye test” needs to last a little longer.

Secondly, the Najee-to-A.B. comp isn’t apples to apples. As a wide receiver, Brown was one of three or four guys deployed in patterns at all times, with the chance to run himself open, make a catch, and maybe score afterward. The ball comes to him if he does the first thing, and then it may come to him again if he does the next two things.

A running back is usually deployed one at a time, and the play is called for him or it isn’t. And the offensive line blocks well or it doesn’t.

The opportunity to stand out — regardless of pedigree — is much easier for a wide receiver.

A different Michael has some thoughts about the dumb idea of SMU joining the ACC.

I live here in the Dallas area. All they ever talk about is beating Pitt. Heck, there are signs on the interstate saying "Beat Pitt". Yep, this is a rivalry that must be cultivated. I can't wait... (LOL)

— Michael Filak (@Michael_Filak) August 23, 2023

They are still crowing about that 1983 Cotton Bowl, huh? I bet Eric Dickerson is still running.

Johnny doesn’t like the fact that former Steelers receiver Anthony Miller is now on the San Francisco 49ers, who visit Pittsburgh in Week 1 of the NFL regular season.

I really don’t get cutting Miller (former 2nd round pick), especially after cutting Butler. They said Miller was great in camp last year before the injury, what happened?

— Johnny “JaXsiin” (@JaXsiin) August 23, 2023

It’s a good lesson to learn, Johnny. Just remember, whenever “they” say “fill in the blank player” is having a great camp, “they” say everybody is always “having a great camp.”

That’s part of the reason why all of Pittsburgh thinks the Steelers can’t possibly do worse than 13-4 now.

Finally, I get the impression that this guy is getting tired of a certain “Tomlinism.”

Just need more routine plays routinely. It’s as simple as that.

— SlossBoss12 (@sloss_boss12) August 22, 2023

You know what’s become routine around here? Nine-win seasons that end without a playoff victory. That’s a routine I’d like to see change.

Now, back to the lanternflies. “FREEEEEEDOOOOMMM!!!!”