Latest news with #MerrilHoge
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers 'Insanity' With Aaron Rodgers Easy To Avoid
Steelers 'Insanity' With Aaron Rodgers Easy To Avoid originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Want to get along with new Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers? Let him run the show. OK, maybe that is a bit harsh. But amid questions about how the QB might get along with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, former Steelers star Merril Hoge offered up the question ... Advertisement And the answer. And away we go ... Before signing here, Rodgers claimed he wasn't "holding anybody hostage.'' ... even though he was. Somehow, the four-time MVP accumulated that power then. And he's using it now, as his new team works to customize its offense to fit his legendary (if fading) skill set. After ending a three-month wait by signing a one-year contract, Rodgers is being allowed to put his hands on the steering wheel. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Rodgers have all been in communication about changing the team's offense to fit the new QB. And Hoge is buying it. Advertisement Said Hoge (via 102.5 WDVE h/t Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot. "When you have a guy like Aaron Rodgers, I personally believe it's insanity not to give the reins and trust the guy who's inside those white lines, who understands and feels the game, knows the game and is gonna get us in the best possible position." And nobody around here wants "insanity.'' Factually, though, Rodgers being allowed to "help run the New York Jets'' didn't work over the span of his two seasons there. he did as he wishes, skipped work when it fit him, pushed for buddies to be signed to the roster ... And ultimately was more part of the problem rather than the solution during an awful 5-12 season that got him kicked to the curb of free agency. Advertisement It will be a big for the Steelers - the only team that really bid on him - as they work to transform an offense built around 2024 quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Fields, in particular, can move. The 41-year-old pocket passer Rodgers? Not so much, as last season he was sacked 40 times. Does Tomlin fix all of that? Does Smith? Maybe Rodgers must take it on his shoulders to do so. After all, it's "insanity'' to not let him do so. Related: Steelers Receiver Poised for Huge Breakout This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Daily News & Links: Former Steelers Player Opens Up on Mental Health; Early Buzz on 2026 QB Draft Class
Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links 🏈 Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge opened up on mental health. 'May is Mental Health Awareness Month—and for me, it's personal. After losing my football career, I battled depression. It took ownership, action, and a 5-year journey to heal. Mental health matters. Seeking help is strength, not weakness. Keep going—you're not alone,' Hoge wrote on X. 🏈 ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said George Pickens wants to stay in Pittsburgh. Advertisement 'There was a little bit of smoke going on at the draft but I was told that Pickens in the end wants to be in Pittsburgh. He loves Mike Tomlin and wants to be part of things here in Pittsburgh,' Fowler said on NFL Live. 🏈 Antonio Brown and former All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel have been beefing on X. 'If Mike Tomlin never babied you @AB84 NFL would've been an after thought. You couldn't survive anywhere else. The Steelers organization and players allowed you to act crazy. Lucky you never played on my team. You would've been dealt with immediately and not by the coach. Facts!' Samuel wrote. 🏈 According to the FTN StatsHub, George Pickens (13.7) and DK Metcalf (13.2) are two of just eight receivers with 100 or more targets and an average depth of target of 12.0 or more yards during the 2024 season. They are also two of just 13 receivers with over 1,400 air yards last season, as well. 🏈 Arthur Smith's offenses have ranked top three in rush attempts in four of his last five seasons as a head coach or offensive coordinator,' according to Matt Williamson. 'His teams have also totaled 500-plus RB touches in each of the past three seasons. Najee Harris vacated 299 touches.' 🏈 Will Howard spoke becoming a Steeler into existence during his Ohio State pro day. 🏈 ESPN's Jordan Reid said on SportsCenter that there's plenty of early buzz about the potential of the 2026 QB class. South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers is one passer that many are already excited to watch next season. 🏈 New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields has gone viral for looking like a completely different player in offseason workouts. STEELERS NOW CONTENT FROM MAY 2 🏈 Steelers Will Have Ammunition to Work With in 2026 NFL Draft Advertisement 🏈 Mike Tomlin Becomes Longest-Tenured Head Coach in North American Pro Sports 🏈 Former Steelers LB Announces Retirement 🏈 Ex-Steelers DT Continues Football Career after Legal Trouble 🏈 Early 2026 Mock Draft Has Steelers Going Back to D-Line 🏈 Have Steelers Lost All Leverage with Aaron Rodgers? 🏈 Steelers Rookie DT Reflects on Weight Gain Journey to NFL: 'I Was a String Bean' 🏈 Steelers DT Derrick Harmon Tabbed as Best First Round Pick: 'Getting a Steal' NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK Pittsburgh Hockey Now: IT'S OFFICIAL: Mike Sullivan to NY Rangers Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Baseball Gods' Aid Pirates' Adam Frazier Against Former Teams Advertisement Pittsburgh Sports Now: Duquesne Lands Another Transfer Portal Forward West Virginia Sports Now: WVU's Javon Small Invited to NBA Draft Combine Nittany Sports Now: Transfer Portal: Big-Time LB Sets Penn State Visit Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Takeaways and Player Grades: Makeshift lineup, without a natural target forward, Hounds falter late in USL Cup opener This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Daily News & Links: Former Steelers Player Opens Up on Mental Health; Early Buzz on 2026 QB Draft Class
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'He's going to be an epic failure': NFL legend calls Shedeur Sanders a fraud and warns he'll destroy the Browns
Merril Hoge delivers a sharp critique of Sheduer Sanders' NFL prospects (Getty Images) Shedeur Sanders ' unexpected drop to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft surprised many, but for former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge , it wasn't a shock. In a revealing radio interview just days before the draft, Hoge outlined his reasons for believing that the former Colorado quarterback might struggle to establish himself as a dependable NFL starter. Merril Hoge questions Shedeur Sanders' readiness for NFL, cites "Mediocre" core skills On April 23, during an interview on 102.5 WDVE in Pittsburgh, Merril Hoge recognized Sheuder Sanders as a capable college quarterback but argued that he didn't stand out beyond that level. While Sanders demonstrated some impressive plays in college, Hoge believed his fundamental quarterback abilities, like precision and decision-making, were only "mediocre." 'I think the best way to sum him up is, he's a really good college quarterback . His accuracy is good, his processing is good," Hoge said. "And when I say good, I use a scale from 1 to 10, so good is around a five." Hoge took particular issue with Sanders' inflated 74% completion rate in 2024, attributing it to Colorado's tendency to favor short passes. He noted that more than a third of Sanders' throws (168 in total) were either behind or at the line of scrimmage. According to Hoge, this kind of statistic manipulation creates a misleading perception of a quarterback's effectiveness. "Nobody threw more bubble screens than Shedeur Sanders when it mattered," he said."You're going to protect the kid. I get that from a coaching aspect. That's the skill set you're looking for .He ain't even close, he ain't even in the ballpark. ... There's some toughness to him I like, but how he moves, he ain't going to put fear in anybody." Hoge's doubts didn't stop with Sanders' mechanics. He pointed to the quarterback's late-season slump at Colorado-specifically a poor showing against BYU in the Alamo Bowl-as another red flag. "He got worse as the year went on," Hoge said, comparing Sanders' bowl performance unfavorably to that of Mitch Trubisky . Perhaps most damning of all was Hoge's warning to any team considering Sanders as a future franchise player: "He can't handle the expectations that are coming his way. He's going to be an epic failure and he's going set your organization back another two or three years." In closing, Merril Hoge made it clear that he sees Shedeur Sanders as a risky investment for any NFL team. While Sanders may have name recognition and flashes of talent, Hoge believes his average skill set, reliance on short throws, and poor late-season performance raise serious red flags. Also Read: Did the Miami Dolphins just jeopardize their 2025 season by ignoring the cornerback position in the draft? Hoge's blunt assessment that Sanders "can't handle the expectations" and could become an "epic failure" serves as a stark contrast to the hype surrounding the young quarterback. As Sanders begins his NFL journey, only time will tell if Hoge's warnings hold true or if Sanders can prove his critics wrong.
Fox News
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Merril Hoge: A Weak 2025 QB Class? Plus, How To Build A Football Team Through The Draft
On this edition of The Will Cain Show's Friday sports episode, former ESPN NFL analyst and NFL running back, Merril Hoge joins Will break down why this year's quarterback class is one of the weakest in recent memory. Hoge explains why top prospects like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are overvalued and lack key NFL traits like structure, timing, and accuracy. He emphasizes building teams from the inside out and warns against drafting QBs too early. They also dive into the real value of running backs and debunk the myth that accuracy can be 'fixed' at the next level. Tell Will what you thought about this podcast by emailing WillCainShow@ Subscribe to The Will Cain Show on YouTube here: Watch The Will Cain Show! Follow Will on Twitter: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
