Tree of Life

03 May

Burns ready to start?

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016 – 10:29 am

Steelers selected Artie Burns because he is the guy who is most ready to help this season, but he is not the guy with the most upside. Ike Taylor gives his thoughts on all the Steelers draft picks.

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Travis Feeney
Linebacker
Washington
6-4, 226
Richmond, Calif.
Pinole Valley
6th Round – 220th Overall

2015 SEASON
Voted a team captain and an All-Pac-12 second-team selection…finished third in the Pac-12 in sacks (8.0) and tackles for loss (17.5)…started 12 of 13 games, compiling 56 tackles (40 solo)…totaled seven stops, including three behind the line of scrimmage and 2.5 sacks vs. USC earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week accolades…tabbed Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week for 11 tackle, 2.0 sack, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup performance vs. Arizona…had three stops in the Apple Cup victory over Washington State, and made three tackles, including a sack, in the team’s Heart of Dallas Bowl game win vs. Southern Miss…named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the school’s postseason awards ceremony.

2014 SEASON
Played in all 14 games, making nine starts, registering 60 tackles (43 solo) and 4.5 tackles for loss…recorded a sack and three stops vs. Arizona State…returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown at Colorado, to go along with five tackles…made two tackles in the Apple Cup win at Washington State, and three vs. Oklahoma State in the Cactus Bowl…tabbed the school’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player at the postseason banquet.

2013 SEASON
Appeared in 13 games, making two starts…had four tackles in the season-opening win vs. No. 19 Boise State…led the team with six stops, and a fumble recovery, vs. Idaho State…recorded six tackles, including a five-yard sack, in the Apple Cup win vs. Washington State and two stops in the Fight Hunger Bowl victory vs. BYU.

2012 SEASON
Earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 as well as honorable mention Academic All-Pac-12…started nine-of-13 games played…recorded a sack, two tackles for loss and five stops along with a forced fumble vs. San Diego State…amassed a season-high 12 tackles at Oregon…led the defense with 10 tackles in victory at Colorado, along with a sack…totaled nine tackles, including a stop for a loss vs. Boise State in MAACO Bowl game.

2011 SEASON
Redshirted as a true freshman…won the Mark Drennan Defensive Scout MVP award at the program’s postseason awards banquet.

HIGH SCHOOL
Earned first-team All-East Bay and first-team All-Metro (Bay Area) as a senior…MVP of the Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League…led the Spartans to an 11-1-1, 6-0 in league action, and to the CIF North Coast Section Division II semifinals in senior campaign…member of the 2010 ACCAL championship squad.

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

03 May

NY Red Bulls II vs. Riverhounds

published in category: Riverhounds on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016 – 10:21 am

NY Red Bulls II Defender Konrad Plewa joins Michael Grau to talk USL, MLS and preview the game vs. the Riverhounds.

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Mike Grau and Matt Grubba on Leicester City winning the Premier League, 5,000 to one underdogs. And this week in Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Posted in Riverhounds

 

02 May

Biggest underdog ever?

published in category: Riverhounds on Monday, May 2nd, 2016 – 6:34 pm


Posted in Riverhounds

 

02 May

Steel Mill with Mark Kaboly

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, May 2nd, 2016 – 6:14 pm

Steelers Draft, James Harrison coming back and Jarvis Jones being extended.

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The Steelers re-signed quarterback Bruce Gradkowski to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Gradkowski is entering his 11th NFL season and his fourth with Pittsburgh, after he signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2013. He missed the entire 2015 season on the Steelers’ Reserve/Injured List due to a finger injury.

Gradkowski has played in 37 contests with 20 starts during the regular season, and he also has played in one career postseason contest. He has thrown for 4,057 yards with 21 touchdowns in his regular-season career.

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

02 May

Pirates-Cubs

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Monday, May 2nd, 2016 – 5:35 pm

Pirates – Cubs Series Preview with Josh Taylor. Bucs are 8-4 vs. the NL Central, breaking down the pitching match-ups for the series. The Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics presents the Pirates Pre-Game Show, PIA’s Open house event coming up on May 14th at 10am. PIA Pittsburgh, an education with opportunities.

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Bucs Beat Writers Rob Biertempfel and Travis Sawchik in-studio taking your twitter questions and talking Pirates-Cubs series. Sponsored by Goodrich & Geist who are lifelong Pens fans and are hoping for a long Pens playoff run plus the guys are looking forward to their time at PNC Park cheering on the Bucs this summer!

Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

02 May

Steelers 4th round pick

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, May 2nd, 2016 – 1:31 pm

Steelers 4th round pick Jerald Hawkins joins Tim Benz, Ken Laird and Josh Taylor to talk about being drafted by Pittsburgh.

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Jerald Hawkins
Offensive Tackle
Louisiana State
6-6, 305
Baldwin, La.
West St. Mary High School
4th Round – 123rd Overall

CAREER NOTES
A three-year starter on the offensive line, playing and starting 37 games (25 at right tackle and 12 at left tackle).

2015 SEASON
Played and started 11 games at left tackle…saw action on every snap in seven games, including the Bowl Win vs. Texas Tech, helping the Tigers generate a school bowl-record 638 yards of total offense in the 56-27 win…was a key member of the offensive line that paved the way for the SEC leading rushing offense (256.8 yards per game).

2014 SEASON
Started all 13 games at right tackle, helping pave the way for 1,000-yard rusher Leonard Fournette…ranked second among all LSU offensive linemen in total snaps with 834…totaled 43 knockdowns for the year…had his best overall game in win over No. 3 ranked Ole Miss with 12 knockdowns on 71 plays from scrimmage…against Ole Miss, LSU racked up 264 rushing yards against a Rebels team that was allowing just 97 yards rushing a game.

2013 SEASON
Won starting job at right tackle during fall camp…played and started all 13 games (12 at RT and one at LT) for the Tigers…his best outing came in win over Texas A&M with nine knockdowns on 74 snaps in the 34-10 win over the Aggies.

2012 SEASON
Redshirted as a true freshman.

HIGH SCHOOL
Was a three-year starter for West St. Mary High School at both offensive and defensive tackle…helped West St. Mary reach the postseason for the first time in several years, finishing with a 6-5 record in 2011…didn’t allow a sack as a senior in 2011 as he recorded over 20 pancake blocks…on defense as a senior, he recorded 70 total tackles, 35.0 TFLs, six forced fumbles, one safety and one fumble recovery…as a junior in 2010, he registered 61 tackles and 18.0 TFLs at defensive end…earned 2011 LSWA 2A All-State Honorable Mention honors for his play on both offense and defense…tabbed a New Orleans Times-Picayune Blue Chip recruit…also participated in basketball, baseball and track and field throughout his high school career…won the Louisiana 2A state title in the shot put in 2011 with a toss of 52-9 ½ and followed that with a third place showing at the state meet in 2012 with a throw of 55-04.

PERSONAL
Parents are Theresa and the late Warren Hawkins…born Oct. 16, 1993…majoring in sports administration.

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

02 May

Steelers Coaches on Picks

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, May 2nd, 2016 – 11:56 am

Steelers Draft-hear from the players the Steelers drafted and hear from Colbert, Tomlin, Porter, Lake and more coaches on the picks. Pens-Caps Game 3. Orpik suspended. THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TEAM SPANOS GROUP OF RAYMOND JAMES. RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED AS THE FACE OF FINANCIAL GUIDANCE IN PITTSBURGH MAGAZINE.

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The Steelers have agreed to terms with 10 rookie free agents, the team announced today. All rookies will participate in the team’s rookie mini-camp next weekend, which runs Friday through Sunday, May 6-8.

The 10 rookie free agents include, five offensive players, four defensive players and one specialist:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2016 ROOKIE FREE AGENTS

Player Pos. Ht. Wt. College
Johnny Maxey DL 6-5 283 Mars Hill
Tyriq McCord LB 6-3 241 Miami (Fla.)
Will Monday P 6-4 210 Duke
Giorgio Newberry DL 6-6 295 Florida State
Christian Powell RB 6-0 235 Colorado
David Reeves TE 6-5 255 Duke
Jay Rome TE 6-6 250 Georgia
Quinton Schooley OL 6-4 298 NC State
Canaan Severin WR 6-2 205 Virginia
Devaunte Sigler DL 6-3 290 Jacksonville State

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

30 Apr

Steelers Draft Recap

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, April 30th, 2016 – 7:57 pm

Recapping and talking about every 2016 Steelers Draft pick, from the First Round through the 7th round.

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Demarcus Ayers
Wide Receiver
Houston
5-11, 190
Lancaster, Texas
Lancaster High School
7th Round – 229th Overall

CAREER NOTES
Finished his Houston career third on the program’s chart for career kickoff return yards with 1,613.

2015 SEASON
Named to The American’s first-team as a receiver and return specialists…started all 14 games, leading The American and finishing sixth in the nation with 98 catches for 1,222 receiving yards (18th-most)…his 98 catches were eight-best on the school’s single-season list and his 1,222 receiving yards were ninth-most…added 28 punt returns for 290 yards (10.4 average) and a touchdown…led all receiver with nine catches for 82 yards vs. Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and threw for a 20-yard touchdown pass…had a career-best 161 receiving yards on eight catches and one score in win vs. Navy…hauled in a career-high 13 catches for 127 receiving yards in win vs. Memphis…rushed for his first career touchdown and returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown, finishing with six catches for 93 yards in win at Tulane.

2014 SEASON
Saw action in all 13 games, making eight starts…tallied 33 catches for 335 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 34 kickoff returns for 592 yards…had two grabs for 29 yards and returned four kickoffs for 50 yards in the Armed Forces Bowl victory…caught 10 passes for 95 yards at Cincinnati…generated 90 receiving yards on seven catches to go along with three kickoff returns for 81 yards vs. UCF.

2013 SEASON
Served as the primary kick returner and started the final three games at receiver…earned The American Co-Special Teams Player of the Year honors, and was a first-team selection as a kick returner…led the conference (12th in the nation) with a 27.6 kickoff return average (37-1,021)…his 1,021 kickoff return yards set a program freshman record and were second-most in team history…posted 100 kickoff return yards or more in five games, and his 12 kickoff returns of 30 or more yards were second-most.

HIGH SCHOOL
Generated 1,337 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 184 carries as a senior, along with six catches for 180 yards and three touchdowns, leading Lancaster High School to a state title game…threw for 1,823 yards and 22 touchdowns (10 interceptions) in senior campaign…named MVP of the 2012 IFAF U-19 World Championship, as he led Team USA with seven catches for 155 yards and a score in title game victory vs. American Samoa…totaled 445 rushing yards (44 carries) and five touchdowns, along with 21 catches for 364 yards and six scores as a junior…was the school’s starting point guard in basketball.

PERSONAL
Son of Mark Ayers and Bernice Edwards.

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Tyler Matakevich
Linebacker
Temple
6-1, 235
Stratford, Ct.
St. Joseph’s High School
7th Round – 246th Overall

CAREER NOTES
A four-year letter winner (2012, ’13, ’14, ’15) and the Temple program all-time leading tackler with 493 stops…became the first Temple defensive player to earn first-team All-America honors and the first Owl at any position since 1986 (Paul Palmer)…recipient of the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nargurski Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player in 2015.

2015 SEASON
The only player in FBS to lead his team in tackles in every game, eclipsing the 100-tackle plateau for the fourth season, just the seventh player in NCAA history to accomplish the feat…was only one of two players be a three-time captain in Temple history…had a career-high 3.0 sacks vs. Penn State…hauled in a personal-best two interceptions and was part of a senior class that defeated Cincinnati for the first time in four tries.

2014 SEASON
Served as a team captain, leading the American Athletic Conference with 88 solo tackles…tied a school record with 16 solo tackles vs. East Carolina.

2013 SEASON
Led the NCAA with 8.8 solo tackles per game, and his 11.4 total stops trailed one San Jose State’s Keith Smith (13.3)…had 10 or more stops in seven of 12 games, surpassing the 100-tackle mark in Week 8…his 137 tackles were seventh-most in Temple record books, setting a school and conference record with 24 stops at Idaho.

2012 SEASON
One of 14 true freshmen to see game action, and one of four to earn a starting role…played in every game, one of three freshman to do so…became the first freshman in program history to record 100 tackles, finishing second on the defense with 101 tackles (67 solo), three tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble…ranked fourth in the Big East in tackles (9.2 per game).

PREP SCHOOL
Played linebacker at Milford Academy for one year, earning 2011 All-State honors.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended St. Joseph’s High School…a 2011 All-State honoree at linebacker, helping the Cadets to a 10-2 record in his senior season while capturing back-to-back state championship titles…2010 Connecticut Post Male Athlete of the Year…set the school record for touchdowns in a game with five vs. Trumball as a junior…also played baseball, leading the team as a junior with a .372 batting average, 32 RBI and five homeruns.

PERSONAL
Born on Dec. 22, 1992…son of Kim and David Matakevich…majored in adult and organizational development.

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 



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