Observing a Gang of Wolves

Gang of Wolves photographed by Alex Young

Success can happen with numbers just like success can happen individually. While readers here know success in Pittsburgh's creative community feeds off of support and togetherness, Gang of Wolves legitimizes the pack mentality as an artistic collective.

Comprised of outgoing twenty-somethings, G.O.W. operates as a multimedia production group delivering graphic, music, and video content. Jacob Finch is the creative director who manages Dillis, Pk Delay, and Patches all of who rap.

Essentially, Gang of Wolves aims to enhance the outputs of a co-working network of artists. Before Dillis, Pk, and Patches linked together they were acquaintances working in the 'Burgh's hip-hop community. Each of the youngsters carries a contemporary persona that appears in photographs, on stage, and on the internet. The G.O.W. artists "understand how to use the internet as the place to go to establish their brands," Finch says. Pk has executed multiple wearable merchandises on the net that have accompanied his music. His "Dad" hats symbolize the smart marketing habits available to Gang of Wolves. Dillis and Patches are clever too. Their latest work, "We're the WET BOYZ, and You're Watching Disney Channel," is so nostalgic with its imagery that the album cover is perfect advertising for a playful project. On the fast-paced web, marketability is valuable for getting attention to specific people or projects.

With training in photography and multidisciplinary graphic design, Finch organizes the Gang of Wolves to be funny and smart in their media on a consistent basis. Inside the building that was formerly known as Allegheny Center Mall on Pittsburgh's North Side, Finch and videographer Alden Roth made G.OW.'s efforts visually cohesive as Dillis, Pk, and Patches wandered around the sprawling facility.

As a group, Gang of Wolves makes its mark with "Grand Opening," video and animation that assists new music singles. Along with promoting music, the gang entertains their audience with thorough visual content to compliment the rappers' lyrics. Music mixes will also be available on the group's SoundCloud. Working in a pack makes Gang of Wolves more efficient in their delivery.

For 2017, those who are interested should look for editions of "Grand Opening" weekly. To learn more about G.O.W. go here or follow them socially here. Introduce yourself to the group with the trailer below shot by Finch.

Pittsburgh Year In Review with Commendations

Say what you want about Pittsburgh, the ones who know the city best are those who live here and work here to grow a socially progressive environment. National organizations invest in the area to improve the post-steel economic development, like Dick's Sporting Goods' headquarters or Uber delivering self-driving cars to the streets.

But along with the corporate industry that Pittsburgh benefits from, various native and transfer residents independently create a community that supports art, activity, entrepreneurship, and city-inclusion. As a group, these Pittsburghers are young in both spirit and age. They represent a population that is open in thought and gracious to all life from all social-backgrounds.

For a year now, InTheRough has adjusted our appreciation for popular culture to focus on genuine commentary and respect for those offering progressive outputs in our staff's native environments. A lot of our conversation regards Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania because three of five ITR staff members were born in the city and call it home.

Since ITR-staff has developed different perspectives about creative communities worldwide, our fifth year of probing is rewarding because we have met youthful people in Pittsburgh who care about how life affects art and vice versa. The relationships we have formed and the contemporary life we have experienced at home from events like Creatives Drink or any forward-thinking interaction at Boom Concept's venue generates thorough promotion from talented communicators at InTheRough.

The scope of our involvement in Pittsburgh will become more thorough as years continue, but 2016 set a foundation for ITR to support one of the city's most enterprising bunches. Here I write to commend some people on the contributions they made to the steel community in 2016.

Of the 141 articles published on InTheRough this year, 90 considered music and 51 detailed Life's Goods. All together ITR documented Pittsburgh 54 times in a range of topics.

"Support each other" is a theme that describes the youth's movement in their coined town "Pixburgh," by Ryan Brown of lifestyle label farESH Brand. Tucker "Dillis" Pillsbury, a transplant from Maine who finds himself active in the burgh's hip-hop community, says it best; the city is "very collaborative. It seems like people are working to build the city as a mass, not individuals."

People work together in Pittsburgh, and the support for one person crosses over into support for the next person. Encouragement for people in the city displays on the streets, through text InTheRough, and on social media.

Local legends Cody Baker and Chancelor Humphrey of Keep Pittsburgh Dope inspired initiative in people when the duo hosted their Creatives Drink series. Creatives Drink editions have lured a mass of progressive people to each event. At CD6 at Ace Hotel gallery curators like Sean Beauford mixed in a room with automotive enthusiasts like Matthew DeSantis, other DJs listened to DJ Pete Butta's catalog while he played CD6, and local businesses, like Ace, offered sponsorship to better their reputations within the interactive youth community. People who advance Pittsburgh socially frequent Creatives Drink and other events like it because of their innovative environments.

The success of the residents' contemporary ambitions predicates itself on the Pittsburgher's supportive qualities. Familiar faces should appear event to event because most people understand progress occurs by working "together," as retailer 412 advertises. RB of farESH is quick to be at a Creatives Drink event, and then he is off collecting the city's best DJs, like EYEJAY and Paizley, for a party dedicated to new hip-hop bangers that attract major players in Pittsburgh's young music scene, like rapper Choo Jackson and producer Christo.

Going to events and being active in the community is important, but creating the forums for people to enjoy Pittsburgh's contemporary culture is necessary. RB has done well by merging lifestyle and music choices. Operating in the Lawrenceville neighborhood, RB integrates urbanity with the district, industrial community. He held a music festival at Spirit bar called The City which showcased blues, rock, and hip-hop sounds by local musicians. RB even hosts trade shows for streetwear vendors at Ace Hotel. At the next neighborhood over, in East Liberty, publisher Thomas Agnew, and painter D.S. Kinsel own a hub that serves African American art, intellect, and products. Officially named Boom Concepts, space, and its operators introduce locals to stimulating experiences. A musician named Jordan Montgomery held a pro-black album release party there for his "Driving While Black" project. Once I went to a rap show at Boom that featured The Company Only's Pk Delay, Joel Kellem, Fat Corey, Seas Supreme, Deem Trill, and Slicky Williams. The group put on a set that got people bopping like any good rappers should. Following the Pittsburgh crew, Cleveland artists named Shawn K and DJ Topgun took the stage and made a name for themselves raging in front of the youth.

There are genuine people and organizations in the city who produce creativity and entertainment for like-minded people to enjoy. From the parties that cleverly disguise as networking events, to the clothing brands who find their garments on the backs of popular city rappers, many people take up work to involve themselves in Pittsburgh.

Marketing professional Natalie Coccia is the essence of this overarching support system in Pittsburgh. She seems to be everyone's friend, and she plugs her most artistic acquaintances with local lifestyle brand Daily Bread. She pushes the clothing label amongst her crew to expose the brand and those who are wearing it. Natalie's positivity sends praise to many people she interacts with, and her numerous ad flyers alert people to upcoming things in the city. People like Nat represent a network of young and competent advocates for Pittsburgh.

In the days after Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa's emergence out of the 412 rap scene, millennials find success by throwing shows for local audiences at bars, house parties, and event spaces. Rapper Choo Jackson seeks commercial success as he leads a Remember Music and Foreverkool Records roster. His "Choo, Where U Goin?" album earned respect amongst music fans for its genre-bending qualities. Producer Christo could gain consistent national attention as he continues to tour with prominent artists like J.I.D. from Atlanta. Christo's production credits stretch far in Pittsburgh also. His sound is noticeable. Other rappers like Pk Delay and Pet Zebra (Joel Kellem) created the best musician merchandise this year. Pk thrived off his "Dad" nickname and Pet Zebra, along with designer Aris Tatalovich, came through with "Hennsylvania" shirts to charge spirits and praise his home state.

The productive group of Pittsburghers extends far beyond who is written about here. On InTheRough's "Commendations" list for 2016, we selected key figures who connected young people across the city, and key figures who placed Pittsburgh on a pedestal from their ideas and executed deliverables, like photographers and other artists. Fashion designer John Geiger serves as an example because he brought the sneaker community's focus to Pittsburgh several times with custom Air Force 1s. The "Commendations" list also identifies people and organizations who offered some of the most exciting and interesting experiences in the city this year, like Post 9 To 5 Thoughts who created a sexier version of the Pirates hat or rap group Eight by Two who had the best performance at their "Bedouin" release party.

Beyond the 2016 happenings in Pittsburgh, InTheRough focused on activity in other geographic regions, like Washington, D.C. where several ITR-staffers go to university and in Los Angeles where one staffer explores further into his home city.

While we continue to detail life at home or any place on Earth, InTheRough acts as a collection facility to organize, distribute, and discuss the phenomena that humanity appreciates most. Please allow the 2016 "Commendations" to credit those in Pittsburgh and elsewhere who have added to an increasingly progressive environment. All names on the list are searchable within intheroughstyle.com.

A Christmas Story

How was Christmas?

Photograph by Maxwell Young

The thrilling loss to the now 13-2 Dallas Cowboys in Week 9 really was the catalyst for the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers' season.  As they head into 2017 with one game left to close out the regular season, the Steelers have welded together a six-game winning streak and an impressive AFC North championship in a Christmas Classic.

There's something that happens inside that Stillers locker room, when the air gets colder and guys start putting on hand warmers.  Maybe its the "cheerleader" talk Terry Bradshaw derides, but when the battle for playoff positioning becomes imminent, the Stillers get down to business.  By December and January, teams have battled roughly two-thirds of an NFL season, players are nagged by lingering injuries and divisional match-ups heighten competitive stakes.  Undoubtedly, some teams falter, like the self-destruct Cincinnati Bengals.  However, there are some teams--the Steelers and other blue blood franchises like the Packers and Patriots--that are able to fine tune their games and play like teams in the hunt for a Lombardi Trophy.  In the last fifteen years, since 2001, the Steelers have gone 57-19 in the months of December and January, winning 75% of their games.  Considering the numerous coaching and positional changes throughout this time span (e.g., head coaches Bill Cowher to Mike Tomlin and quarterbacks Kordell Stewart to Tommy Maddox to Ben Roethlisberger), this mentality of December football is not just a byproduct of key personnel, but rather a tenet of Stillers football.  

Illustration by Maxwell Young

Over the last six games, the Steelers have worked to become a cohesive team, balancing offensive weaponry and a rapidly maturing defensive unit.  There were games against the Browns, the Colts on Thanksgiving, and the Bills in which they dominated both sides of the ball.  Holding Cleveland to a meager nine points was due in-part to the Steelers' trio of rookies (Artie Burns, Sean Davis and Javon Hargrave) making impact plays, like Burns' interception and Hargraves' awareness to jump on a loose football in the endzone, forced by a streaking Ryan Shazier.  Antonio Brown was inside Lucas Oil Stadium having a feast as he caught three touchdown passes, while Le'veon Bell watched a Bills defense cautiously look for footing as he scampered for 236 yards and three scores in snow-covered Buffalo.

Some games in December though, were a battle of attrition, requiring the Stillers to really grind out each victory.  In games against the Giants and Bengals it became clear that I had mis-spoke about our veteran players lacking the consistency to make game-changing plays.  Moreover, it was evident that the younger players on the roster, who had been ordered to "grow up" by the Steelers coaching staff, had finally internalized the message.  The Steelers offense was clicking in the Week 13 match against the New York Giants.  Tight-end Ladarius Green gave Big Ben a formidable option down-field, forcing the secondary to alleviate some of its pressure on Antonio Brown.  The Steelers never surrendered the lead to Eli Manning and jittery Odell Beckham Jr. because of two major red zone interceptions by ten-year veteran, Lawrence Timmons and Steelers Rookie of the Year, Sean Davis.

With a week remaining until the showdown with the Ravens, the Stillers tried to not overlook the little brother of the North, the Cincinnati Bengals.  A game that still had boiled-over emotions from last year's AFC Wild Card game, the Bengals were looking to make our playoff path that much more arduous.  By half-time, the Steelers had been making the same mistakes that had put themselves on a four-game losing skid mid-season.  A 20-9 deficit was highlighted by undisciplined football.  The Stillers were going to start the game off on the right foot with a three-and-out forced by Stephon Tuitt's pressure on Bengal's quarterback Andy Dalton, until he was called for a face-mask penalty, allowing the drive to continue and the Bengals to score a field goal.  The next time the Bengals had the ball, Artie Burns was called for a 39-yard pass interference on receiver Brandon Lafell, setting up Dalton's one-yard QB sneak.  Just when Stillers Nation thought the Black n' Yellow to be waking up, a 13-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown was called back due to Le'veon Bell's chop block.  Without Chris Boswell's fifteen points through six kicks travelings a total of 262 yards, the Steelers would not have been able to come from behind and win.  After the half, roles had been switched and the Bengals didn't score another point.  Jeremy Hill, the player who fumbled the Wild Card win away for the Bengals, tried to rip apart a stray Terrible Towel after a touchdown in the first quarter.  He was held to 2.2 yards per carry for the day.  Ryan Shazier's sack, Lawrence Timmons second interception of the year, and Ross Cockrell and Artie Burns' pass deflections halted four consecutive Bengals drives in the second half. The Stillers offense continued to fight the length of the Bengals defensive front and rabid play by Vontaze Burfict by pounding the ball and taking the open shots.  Despite the relatively tame performances by Bell, Brown and Big Ben who only combined for one touchdown, the Stillers responded with 18 unanswered points, capping the game off with Eli Rogers' game-winning grab.

Illustration by Maxwell Young

Christmas Day. Steelers vs. Ravens. Nike Color Rush uniforms. AFC North crown.

The gravity and theatrics of the second round fight was known well in advance of the Steelers late season surge.  I think football fans were anticipating this game because it's rare to see football on television; there have only been 18 Christmas football games in the NFL's history.  I know the TV is traditionally reserved for premier NBA basketball during the holiday, but not this year.  When you add on the level of animosity some players have for each other--a la Mike Mitchell and Steve Smith Sr., plus the fact that the Ravens have beaten the Steelers in games decided by a touchdown or less, it was hard to think this game would be anything other than a classic.

After a surgical first drive by Bell, topped off by Big Ben's 20-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Grimble, the Stillers' momentum was halted by drive-killing penalties, chunk plays and an equally hungry opponent.  The game turned into a typical rivalry scrap.  Both teams were on the scoreboard within the first ten minutes of the game, yet by half-time it was 7-6.  Honestly, I don't know that a comeback victory is necessary if Big ben doesn't throw two costly interceptions within the first three drives of the second half.  Roethlisberger is a gunslinger though, and sometimes gunslingers get shot.  What was an errant throw on the first play of the third quarter and a telegraphed interception by Alabama's CJ Mosley resulted in a ten point lead for Baltimore with 14:18 left in the fourth quarter.  Having just come back from an eleven point margin the week before in hostile territory, it was time for the Stillers to make their run. 

“I don’t care about the football elements of this game. I just know that when the final buzzer sounds, the Steelers better have won this game. Let’s look at this: They have lost six of the last seven games to the Baltimore Ravens, four in a row, including two at Heinz Field. They almost cost themselves a trip to the playoffs last year when Baltimore didn’t even have anybody available, and they still went and beat the Steelers. Enough is enough. If you are the Steelers, a team that calls yourself Super Bowl championship contenders, you have better damn well go into Heinz Field, your home-turf, in the Steel City and act like you know what the Steel Curtain is all about. You better step up. You better handle your business. You better beat them down.”

— Stephen A. Smith

We learned that the 2016 version of the Pittsburgh Steelers know how to play Stiller football.  When the stakes become the highest and the game is on the line, the Stillers put on their hard hats and we watch them forge a victory.  The Steel Curtain didn't hold in the fourth, but this game was going to be determined by the last team with the ball.  Ben threw his interceptions for the day, what remained in the final ten minutes was quick precision.  Number 7 completed eleven of twelve passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns.  The offense started to move down-field quickly just like the very first drive of the game.  38 times did Ben Roethlisberger lead the Steelers on a game winning drive, but his 39th--the most since 2004--will be replayed a thousand times over. Big Ben hit six different receivers, including three or more receptions by Bell, Brown and tight end Jesse James.  No play comes close to Antonio Brown's championship clinching extension, though.  AB is a playmaker; his four punt returns for touchdowns and 50 touchdown catches are evidence of this fact.  That play though, the awareness running towards Roethlisberger to catch the ball while surviving a hit levied by two Ravens cemented his place as the game's best wide receiver. 

It would be remiss of me to not attribute any of the success of the Steelers' season to Mike Tomlin.  Last week, Terry Bradshaw voiced his opinion about the Steelers head coach on Fox Sports.  Not only did he say Mike Tomlin is not a great coach, but he also went as far to say he didn't understand the kind of input he had on game planning as well as the x's and o's side of the game.  The Stillers' four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback saw Coach Tomlin as a "cheerleader guy", someone who was for the morale of the players.  Though he is not wrong, because what sets Mike Tomlin apart from the rest of NFL coaches is his ability to motivate and relate to players, the way in which he opined diminished Tomlin's value to the franchise.  Aside from reading and reacting to the pulse of his squad, Tomlin knows the schematics of the game.  As defensive coordinator of the 2006 Minnesota Vikings, he called a defense that only allowed 985 rushing yards all season.  The only other defense to do that was Super Bowl XXXV champion Baltimore Ravens.  Inside Pittsburgh headquarters, Coach T is quizzing all players on game scenarios every Wednesday in an entire team meeting.  Pro Bowl Center, Maurkice Pouncey, even talked about how he and the head coach were discussing quicker blocking tactics for different rushing defensive tackles.  "He coaches a lot," Jesse James said.  

Is Mike Tomlin a great coach?  I’m not sure he would even answer yes to that question, as he called himself a “working stiff” in his Tuesday press conference.  He reserved the “great” label for six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick and five-time NBA champion Greg Popovich.  The fact is though, in a league where it is so hard to find a productive and consistent head coach, let alone one that doesn’t get fired the day after the season ends, Mike Tomlin is a great coach.  Five divisional championships, one Lombardi Trophy on two trips to the Super Bowl, over one hundred wins, and zero losing seasons—something Belichick can’t even claim—is what Coach Tomlin has accomplished in ten short seasons.

Courtesy of Antonio Brown's twitter

As a Steelers fan, I was surprised when Bradshaw spoke so freely.  That’s his job to share his opinions as a sports analyst, and he has every right to opine about the Pittsburgh Steelers given all he has contributed to the franchise.  But I was surprised because I thought Stillers Nation past, present and future supported the Black n’ Yellow on the field at all times.  I don’t understand how one of our brethren could speak so discouragingly when we’re in the midst of the hunt for our seventh Lombardi trophy.  I don’t comprehend why Terry ignored the facts of his own team.

There’s no hiding Mike Tomlin is an African American football coach, and there is no hiding the bread crumbs of the NFL’s institutional discrimination from the quarterback position all the way up to the helm of the franchise (Art Shell was the NFL’s first African American head coach for the Oakland Raiders in 1989).  No matter Tomlin’s accolades, he will still be viewed through a racial lens; tinted lenses Terry must’ve put on as he read ‘STILLERS Kings of the North’ in his Monday morning paper. 

An Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Magazine

Creative Nonfiction magazine covers photographed by Alex Young

True stories are everywhere. People can hear real tales from many walks-of-life in different mediums. The story subjects range in an almost infinite amount of topics, and they often comment on certain time periods, geographic locations or societal characteristics.

In Pittsburgh, a publication called Creative Nonfiction operates to share written works that use "the crafts of storytelling" to explore factual narratives and interviews. What began as an academic journal 22 years ago is now fascinating prose that delivers significance through truth.

Issues of Creative Nonfiction magazine publish quarterly, and educated, suburban Baby Boomers enjoy the text-heavy compositions. Although there is a young Generation X and Millenial influence felt around the magazine and inside the CNF office that Lauren Boehm, the building and events manager, showed me.

CNF issues at HQ

Part of Boehm's objective with holding events at CNF's headquarter is exposing the magazine to a more youthful audience and to those who are engaged with the contemporary, creative culture in Pittsburgh and other cities nationwide. The building's location one street over from Penn Avenue's art district, which many Pittsburghers frequent for gallery crawls, like First Friday, plays a pivotal role in the magazine's growth within the community. Establishments like Boom Concepts diversifies the artsy East Liberty neighborhood that Creative Nonfiction situates itself in. 

Creative Nonfiction also interacts with local academia. Find some Chatham University students from Shadyside as contributors to the magazine. Additionally, various advertisements for postsecondary institutions' writing-centered Master of Fine Arts degree sprinkle throughout magazine editions. Chatham, City University London, Northwestern University, and Sarah Lawrence College feature in CNF issue 45. The college listings allude to Creative Nonfiction's reach across the United States and abroad.

While Creative Nonfiction has roots in Pittsburgh, their focus as a literary magazine draws mass appeal due to the numerous and talented authors who the magazine publishes. Having a title that represents a college program and genre keeps the quarterly relevant too. 

One thing that Creative Nonfiction's young audience has to understand is that the work is "true stories, well told," reads their slogan. Those who enjoy reading good long-form or short-form stories by good writers should pick up CNF. Though the organization does well by offering programs that quick-reading people could get into. Tiny Truth Contests dares Twitter users to tell an interesting true story in 140-characters or less. "'I don't have any cash on me,' he said. The Moscow traffic cop, waiting for his bribe, pointed. 'There's an ATM right over there,'" @amalchik wrote in her online micro-essay.

The content the magazine values is cleverly written true narratives. Each piece displays literate skill on an interesting topic from special perspectives thanks to artistic authors. Ears are top of mind in Steven Church's piece, "Speaking of Ears and Savagery." Regarding the body part, he references Tyson vs. Holyfield II, other worlds, and a wild chimpanzee named Travis. "Grave Robber: A Love Story" titles Joyce Marcel's story following Church's in issue 45 about brutality, crime and violence. The honest tales in Creative Nonfiction are interesting, insightful reads.

Editors of CNF also publish a monthly pocket-size issue called "True Story" that features "one exceptional essay by one exceptional writer." In the first edition learn about two teenage brothers who self-recorded an album in the 1970s, in a log-cabin, and on their family farm. Upon the music's initial release the album flopped, but it was re-discovered and reached critical acclaim in 2008.

Quality storytelling keeps people reading Creative Nonfiction magazine. As the publication continues, it will offer opportunities for skillful writers to share true stories that reflect life from various concepts and backgrounds. Pushing CNF's presence as a media outlet in Pittsburgh that is beneficial to creative writers and storytellers could open up opportunities for CNF to collaborate with the youthful parties who find success in the city's urban environment.

Discover more about Creative Nonfiction and purchase the latest magazine issue, "Learning From Nature," here, as well as "True Story" here.

Creative Nonfiction Foundation

5119 Coral Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Bend Don't Break

Sunday's defeat to the 8-1 Dallas Cowboys was an ample opportunity for the reeling Pittsburgh Steelers to re-ignite their 2016 Super Bowl campaign and turn around a three-game losing streak.  Embarrassing losses to the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens could be well within the rear-view mirror if the Stillers could handle business at home in football's biggest game of the year thus far.  Despite the hype leading up to this classic match-up--the deserved buzz around rookie phenoms Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott who have managed to change the hopeless rhetoric of 'America's Team' through a seven game winning streak--the Stillers were expected to protect Heinz Field and have an answer for the hot-handed Cowboys.  All last week, the tone in the Pittsburgh locker room was a calm urgency.  Two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, told the younger cast members of the Black and Yellow to "follow my lead."

Courtesy of Steelers.com

It hadn't just been the three poor performances the Steelers had put on tape after beginning the season 4-1 that emanated concern, but rather the lack-luster and undisciplined play that has been so uncharacteristic of Steelers football.  The Pittsburgh offense has been praised for its potential as soon as they (and by "they" I mean an Antonio Brown and Le'veon Bell-less Steelers) were ousted from last year's playoffs by the Denver Broncos.  The machine of Big Ben, Bell, and Brown as well as the emergence of somersault-specialist, Martavis Bryant, had many analysts questioning who could stop an offense with a goal of scoring 30 points per game. Mental health has sidelined Bryant for the entire season, but the answer seems to be the Stillers stopping themselves.

Prior to Sunday's loss, the Steelers offense averaged 15 points against the Miami Dolphins (double-yoi), Patriots and Ravens.  Holding calls, mis-communication with the games best wide receiver, AB84, and an injury sidelining Big Ben for the inevitable loss against the Patriots left the offensive outbursts untapped.  What's more baffling than a sputtering offensive unit is how uncharacteristic the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has played.  Understand that the complexion of the Steelers' defensive team has changed since our Super Bowl appearances in 2005, 2008 and 2010.  Players like Casey Hampton, Brett Kiesel, Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu who anchored the 2000s Steel Curtain are now a part of Stillers lore, retired.  Those game-changers Pittsburgh still has on defense, namely James Harrison and Lawrence TImmons, are sadly nearing the end of their careers, bodies unable to consistently make the strip-sacks and timely interceptions that would close-out ball games--think back to "Silverback", James Harrison's 100 yard interception return for a touchdown to end the first half of Super Bowl XLIII.  

Courtesy of Steelers.com

Over the past several years, the Steel Curtain has been reconstructed to feature new linemen, linebackers and defensive backs.  Young players who were selected as high value draft picks such as Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier, Stephon Tuitt; and rookies Artie Burns, Sean Davis and Javon Hargrave have been called upon to fill the shoes of older impact players.  Before the game against Dallas, the Steelers coaching staff was quoted by Fox reporter Erin Andrews saying, "The young players have to grow up. Today.  The honey moon phase is over."  Becoming a feared cohesive unit takes time and experience to put together.  This losing streak has really highlighted these growing pains, though.  Between Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount, the respective running backs for the Dolphins and Patriots, the Stillers were mauled for over 300 rushing yards and four ground scores.  Pittsburgh's pass coverage was non-existent, too.  The mantra in the secondary has always been 'bend don't break' where pass yards may be given up, but yards-after-the-catch and touchdowns are relinquished seldom.  The issue over the past two and a half seasons; however, is that the Steelers are just giving up too many passing yards. From 2014 to this year, the defense has ranked 27th or lower in the NFL in pass yards per game. Signing defensive backs Artie Burn, Sean Davis, Ross Cockrell and Mike Mitchell was meant to rejuvenate an aged unit, but those aspirations have yet to come to fruition.  To be fair, injury has delayed some of the live-action opportunities for players, in particular for someone like 2015 second round draft pick Senquez Golson whom has yet to play a single snap.  For those players on the field, though, it's like watching the bully quarterback choose which kid to pick on next, as Rob Gronkowski, Jarvis Landry and Mike Wallace repeatedly burned defenders.  And when there looked to finally be some battles won, competitive plays were called for pass interference and face-mask penalties.  A Steel Curtain defense meets ball carriers at the point-of-attack, plugging any open holes and controlling the line of scrimmage.  A Steel Curtain defense takes pride in tackling, looking to abuse average quarterbacks, creating sacks and forcing turnovers, while limiting the home run ball.  A Steel Curtain defense plays disciplined, communicative football.

Sunday certainly felt like the pivotal moment the Steelers would point to as the catalyst of the remainder of their season.  In order to win, the Steelers were going to have to score points, like the analysts have been projecting, to cushion themselves against the matchup with Dez Bryant, the Cowboys' star number 88 receiver, and the game's best security blanket in Jason Witten.  Though Prescott and Elliott were taking the NFL by storm, it was my belief their play wasn't worth a drop until they faced a hard-nosed championship caliber team, like the six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.  Traditionally, the Stillers punished rookie quarterbacks; Pat White, the highly touted prospect from West Virginia, was knocked unconscious by Ike Taylor in 2010 and never returned to take another NFL snap.  This was going to be Dak Prescott's 'welcome to the NFL' moment, and Ezekiel Elliott was going to be punched in the mouth by a stout Steel front.

Courtesy of Steelers.com

Heinz Field had a playoff atmosphere as any game against the Dallas Cowboys evokes a sense of nostalgia, thinking back to the three times the franchises met to decide Super Bowls X, XIII and XXX, in which the Stillers have a two games to one lead.  Though a  record crowd of 67,737 fans featured a mass of Terrible Towel yellow, Cowboys faithful were heard loud and clear during some of the contest's most important moments.  For the first half, the Stillers were controlling the game.  Despite an 83 yard check-down pass to Ezekiel Elliott, Pittsburgh had forced a fumble on Prescott, thanks to Anthony Chickillo, and had bottled up many of Elliott's running lanes.  However, football is a game of four quarters and this game came down to a matter of will.

You could see how badly the respective players on the two teams wanted to win.  In back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, two former college teammates at Ohio State re-acquainted themselves on the gridiron, as Elliott flipped over a blitzing Ryan Shazier before reaching Prescott to showcase his skills as a pass-blocker.  As if to mimic Stephen Curry in last year's NBA playoffs saying, "I'm here. I'm back," Shazier came back pounding through the hole to blow up his Buckeye brethren for a six yard loss.  It seemed like the Steelers had a counter-punch to every Cowboys jab.  After their offensive line created time for Prescott to throw a dime to Dez Bryant, over a hypnotized Artie Burns, the Steelers marched down-field for Le'veon Bell's second touchdown of the day.  And when Dallas' offensive front again paved the way for number 21 to walk into the end zone for a second time to take the lead 29-24 with 1:55 left on the clock, no one at Heinz Field believed Big Ben would be stopped on a game-sealing drive.  Reporters in the press box said resoundingly, "These are the games the Steelers always find a way to win."  The fake spike to paralyze the defense as we watched Roethlisberger toss a 15 yard dart to Antonio Brown on what looked like a routine practice rep, symbolized check-mate.  Unfortunately, Dallas' rookie duo is very real and here to stay for quite some time.  Forty-two seconds and a face-mask penalty on Sean Davis was all the Cowboys needed for Elliott to scamper, untouched, for a 32 yard game-winning touchdown. 

To all the Dallas Cowboys fans pumping their chests: please remember yinz ain't shit until you win another ring to match the Black n' Yellow's tally of SIX.  But in all seriousness, yinz should really enjoy the kind of season yinz are having.  It appears that Sunday's victory was the validation Jerry Jones needed to finally determine whether Tony Romo would take over the reins from Prescott because Romo's address to the media today, as a backup, was given with the utmost respect.  The sky is the limit for yinz team.  That vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense is going to test you come January, but yinz should be thinking Super Bowl.

As for the Pittsburgh Stillers, we aren't in any kind of shape to contend for a Super Bowl championship.  We have shown flashes of how good we can be, and Lord knows come the post-season, every team looking at the Stillers should be fearful, but we must first become a more consistent and disciplined ball-club.  Our offense can score fifty points per game, but we will not be able to finish football games until our defense plays to the Steel Curtain caliber.  Luckily, we have put ourselves in this kind of predicament before.  In the 2005 playoffs, the Steelers became the first six-seed to win a football championship, and last year following  a loss to the Seahawks, we had to win out the regular season to make it to the post-season--shout out the Buffalo Bills for helping make that happen.  The loss to the Cowboys didn't squash our playoff chances altogether, as games against NFC opponents do not tabulate into the AFC conference standings.  But sitting in ninth place at 4-5, it looks like the only route to the big dance is to win our division, which is currently controlled by the Ravens.  So long as we win every remaining divisional game against the Browns (two games) and the Bengals (one game), Christmas day at Heinz Field against Baltimore looks to be the AFC North championship game.

Illustration by Maxwell Young