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SPORTS Friday 18 OctOber 2019
'Fragile' Steelers still optimistic 2019 is salvageable

By WILL GRAVES ers (2-4) have tried to stay
AP Sports Writer upbeat even with a revolv-
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike ing door under center and
Tomlin's expression and the an offense that lacks the
circumstances surround- dynamic playmaking that
ing it summed up the plight once came so easily dur-
of his injury-ravaged team ing the height of the "Killer
perfectly. B" era.
"Seriously, guys?" the Pitts- "We're not in style point
burgh Steelers coach mode," Tomlin said. "We're
said when asked if Ma- not even in personality
son Rudolph would be the mode. We just need to do
quarterback after being what is required to move
cleared of the NFL's con- the chains, to ring up the
cussion protocol. scoreboard, to score one
It's a question that seemed more point than our oppo-
preposterous six weeks nent in an effort to win foot-
ago. Of course, back then ball games."
Ben Roethlisberger's right Allow wide receiver JuJu
elbow was healthy, Ru- Smith-Schuster to offer
dolph was simply relieved proof. Tasked with taking
to beat out Josh Dobbs for over as the top target fol-
the right to serve as Roeth- lowing Brown's departure,
lisberger's understudy and Smith-Schuster's numbers Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin watches from the sidelines during the first half of an
Devlin "Duck" Hodges was have dipped drastically. NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Carson, Calif.
looking for work after being A year removed from a Associated Press
cut at the end of training 111-catch season, Smith-
camp. Schuster is on pace to they're off to their worst against the Chargers — through so far, it's all they're
How quickly things have barely reach half that to- start since 2013, the Steelers there is room for hope. really asking for and some-
changed. Roethlisberger tal. Yet last Sunday night in remain optimistic they can "We're not in the type of thing that looks doable if
has been relegated to the Los Angeles, with running still be a factor in the AFC state where we can make the defense can continue
highest-paid mentor in the backs James Conner and North. Yes, the first six weeks any bold predictions about to be disruptive.
league after undergoing Benny Snell Jr. churning out haven't gone according to personality and things of Rookie inside linebacker
season-ending surgery in yards and chewing up the plan — nowhere close, ac- that nature," Tomlin said. Devin Bush has been a rev-
late September. Rudolph's clock against the Chargers, tually — but they are intent "We're going to do what- elation and every bit worthy
last appearance on the Smith-Schuster was in of- on focusing on the silver ever is required for us to of the investment the team
field ended with him be- fensive coordinator Randy linings. The defense is near secure victory week in and made when it traded up to
ing knocked unconscious Fichtner's ear telling Fich- the top of the NFL in sacks week out." grab him with the 10th pick
against Baltimore while tner to keep the ball on the and turnovers. Save for a Rudolph will be the starting in the draft. Bush already
Hodges — an undrafted ground. 30-point beatdown at New quarterback when Pitts- has two interceptions and
rookie free agent — be- Imagine Brown doing that. England in Week 1, they've burgh hosts woeful Miami four fumble recoveries, in-
came the first champion "You hear that from a wide been competitive regard- coming off the bye week, cluding a scoop-and-score
duck caller from Alabama receiver, it makes you less of who is under center. the start of a three-game in the first quarter against
to win his first NFL start. proud," Fichtner said. Only three of their final 10 homestand that includes the Chargers that helped
For a team that spent most And it's an example of the games are against teams visits from the underper- take some of the early pres-
of the offseason looking to "next man up" philosophy currently with a record over forming Los Angeles Rams sure off Hodges.
avoid drama — much of it Tomlin has preached dur- .500. While their margin for and the unpredictable In- "I think it has all come to-
manufactured — after An- ing his 12-plus years on the error is virtually nonexistent dianapolis Colts. Two wins in gether for all of us as a unit,"
tonio Brown and Le'Veon job. For his current group, — particularly with de- three tries would keep the Bush said. "A lot of new fac-
Bell left in the offseason, it it's a mantra the team has fensive end Stephon Tuitt Steelers in the mix heading es out there. I think week
somehow has found them been forced to cling to now out for the year after down the stretch. Consid- in and week out, we keep
anyway. And yet the Steel- for survival. Even though tearing a pectoral muscle ering what they've been taking our steps.q

Indians C Pérez has ankle surgery,

expected ready for camp

By TOM WITHERS Pérez had a career-best plate, not allowing a
AP Sports Writer season for the Indians, who passed ball. Perez threw
CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians made him their full-time out a league-high 41 per-
catcher Roberto Pérez had starter after trading All-Star cent of would-be base
surgery to remove bone Yan Gomes to the Wash- stealers while handling one
spurs in his right ankle. ington Nationals in Novem- of baseball's best pitching
The team said Pérez un- ber. Pérez batted .239 with staffs.
derwent the arthroscopic 24 homers and 63 RBIs in Only Bill Dicky (1931), Al
procedure Thursday in 119 games. Todd (1937) and Johnny
Green Bay, Wisconsin. The He entered the season with Bench (1975) caught more In this Sept. 3, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez
30-year-old Pérez is expect- just 21 homers. games than Pérez with- hits a three-run home run in the seventh inning in a baseball
ed to be fully recovered by He also played at a Gold out committing a passed game against the Chicago White Sox, in Cleveland.
spring training in February. Glove level behind the ball.q Associated Press