First Call: Steelers' offense called most 'depressing' in NFL; Ben Roethlisberger on George Pickens trade
Wednesday’s “First Call” has Ben Roethlisberger’s reaction to the Steelers trading George Pickens. A former NFL QB says the Steelers’ offense is at the bottom of the NFL barrel.
We monitor some potential free agent wide receiver movement. The Duquesne basketball team offers a scholarship to an interesting prospect, and we look at the give-and-take of the RMU hockey transfer portal.
Depressed Dan
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky isn’t holding back when describing the state of the Steelers.
The former NFL quarterback turned ESPN analyst was on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. He says the outlook for the Steelers’ offense is as grim as any of the bad teams in the NFL.
“Pittsburgh, the way I look at it now, there’s no offense in the league that scares you less than Pittsburgh,” Orlovsky said on Tuesday. “There’s no situation that is more, I guess, depressing than Pittsburgh’s right now.”
"We all know that there could still be the addition of Aaron Rodgers for the Pittsburgh Steelers..
If you look at that offense on paper right now it doesn't scare you" ~ @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/MeoqeR0Jt6
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 13, 2025
That sounds like hyperbole to me. As bad as the Steelers’ situation is on offense, if Aaron Rodgers shows up and is capable of playing the way he did toward the end of last season with the New York Jets, the Steelers could still be better than the likes of Cleveland, New Orleans, Tennessee, the Giants, New England and Carolina.
Orlovsky said that he would’ve preferred to see the Steelers retain Justin Fields or draft Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. Orlovsky is dubious of Aaron Rodgers’ 41-year-old body holding up very long.
That last point, granted, is difficult to debate — especially if Rodgers is going to be playing behind the Steelers’ offensive line.
Only seeing the surface
Speaking on his “Footbahlin’” podcast, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a thought that many Steelers fans have had since George Pickens was traded to Dallas last week.
“Is he a bigger headache than we even know?” Roethlisberger wondered. “Obviously, we saw last year there were some issues. Coach (Mike) Tomlin even came out for the first time in a long time and criticized a player. Saying he needs to grow up. Publicly.”
Roethlisberger lamented that the Steelers appeared to reach their boiling point with Pickens because his unmanageable behavior robbed us of a chance to see him work with DK Metcalf on the other side of the field.
“To me, it just seems like the Steelers were over it. That seems to be the biggest thing. They were over it. They weren’t willing to go one more year with those two receivers on the field,” Roethlisberger said.
“It would’ve been so much fun to see those two receivers on the field. And to be like, ‘This is awesome!’”
Now the Steelers are back where they were a year ago, searching for a No. 2 wide receiver.
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Another stop
One of those potential fits to replace Pickens could be Gabe Davis. He was recently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars with a failed physical designation.
As we pointed out in Tuesday’s “First Call,” Davis visited the 49ers on Monday. Now Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports that Davis is going to have a visit with the New York Giants.
That makes some sense. Giants head coach Brian Daboll was the offensive coordinator in Buffalo during Davis’ first two seasons.
The #Giants are hosting WR Gabe Davis on a visit after he met with the #49ers on Monday, per source.
Davis was previously coached by Brian Daboll in Buffalo, making this a potential reunion. https://t.co/ueVn6cflR7 pic.twitter.com/iwfbc7kfdk
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 13, 2025
Davis totaled 2,730 yards on 163 receptions and 27 touchdowns over four seasons in Buffalo.
He went to Jacksonville in free agency before the 2024 campaign. But, thanks in part to a knee injury that sidelined him for seven weeks, Davis caught only 20 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games.
Looking ahead
The Duquesne basketball team has tried to add size to its roster for next season by acquiring the likes of John Hugley, Stef Van Bussel and Frederik Jellum through recruiting and the transfer portal.
Now, head coach Dru Joyce III has made an offer to a potential inside presence in the class of 2026. It’s 6-foot-10 big man Collin Ross from SPIRE Academy in Ohio.
Ross made the announcement himself on social media.
Blessed to receive a D1 scholarship from Duquesne Dukes! pic.twitter.com/cxIBlOfCn5
— collin ross (@thecollinross) May 13, 2025
Robert Morris has also apparently offered Ross based on his posts. Other schools he has mentioned that have offered scholarships include Akron, Kennesaw State and Murray State.
Going to the Griffs
The Robert Morris hockey team is looking to replace its leading goal scorer from last year. Walter Zacher is transferring to an Atlantic Hockey rival.
The native of Buffalo has decided to play closer to home and will suit up next year for Canisius. The winger had 15 goals in 35 games to lead the Colonials during his sophomore year.
Mike McMahon of College Hockey News posted the information Tuesday.
Walter Zacher to Canisius out of the transfer portal. Buffalo native comes home. Very good add for the Griffins, too. Scored 15 goals for RMU last season. He's a top-of-the-lineup forward for Canisius.
— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) May 13, 2025
Zacher had three goals in three games against the Golden Griffins last year.
The Colonials have been busy in the portal themselves this offseason, landing four transfers so far: Clarkson forward Ryan Taylor, AIC center Dario Beljo, Union College goalie Lucas Massie and Merrimack defenseman Max Wattvil.
The Colonials are also getting goalie Charlie Schenkel from Kingston of the OHL. He was at the Penguins’ development camp last summer.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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