pittsburghsportsdailybulletin – Page 13 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways!

Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Alejandro Villanueva, 2014-2020

First off, what’s been the plan post-football for you – what’s next?

I’m farming now here in Florida. My family in Southern Spain were farmers – they farmed avocados and fruit. Now I’m here in Homestead, Florida – I bought a bunch of property with fruit trees and sell them to restaurants and also do import-export as well. Farming in the United States is very different – you have to think outside of the box to succeed.

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Exclusive with ESPN Analytics Analyst Seth Walder

First – how did you get started in analytics coverage?

I started off as a traditional newspaper beat writer. I covered the Jets mostly – some Giants coverage too – for the New York Daily News. I always had a quantitative interest though and paid attention to what football analysts were doing. In the press box my fellow writers would remember me as being the crazy guy who said they should always go for it on fourth downs.

In 2017 I left for ESPN. I didn’t have the technical skills for a job in analytics- that ruled out 99% of the jobs I wanted. But I was lucky to find that one-percent job that opened up at ESPN. I didn’t have to do the modeling there – I used ESPN’s metrics to write stories instead.

It was exactly what I wanted. I shifted now to covering the NFL only which was what I wanted. I’ve been able to expand my own technical abilities too. I’m not as skilled as the analytics guys but I can do some analysis for myself now.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Tyler Vaughns, 2021-2022

First off, after a successful UFL season, what’s next for you?

Well right now I’m headed back to California and continuing to train and rehab. I’m just waiting to get a call really – waiting to hear from an NFL team.

What went right for you in the UFL this season to cause you to have such a big season?

I felt like I would have a good year. It was my third year in the system and I felt great. I gained confidence over the years and improved my pass catching and route running. I started producing more because of that.

I also think I’m attacking the ball more now – getting it at it’s high point now. That’s led to me getting a lot more catches and yards after the catch. Teams were changing the way they were covering me after a while.

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Exclusive with Mike Rittelmann, Director of Scouting and Player Personnel for The College Gridiron Showcase

First off, can you let me know about The College Gridiron Showcase – what it is and your role?

We’re on year 12 – I’m the Director of Player Personnel and Scouting for the event – the founders are Jose Jefferson and Craig Redd.

Our niche is those fifth through seventh round players and undrafted free agents – we have about 250 to 300 college players every year attend with scouts from every NFL team, CFL team, UFL… we have over 130 scouts attend each year.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Assistant Trainer Gary Stragar, 1981-1985

First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with your time since working for the Steelers?

Since I left the Steelers I spent 16 years as a financial planner then the last seven as a table games dealer at the Meadows in Washington, PA.

How and when did you get started working for the Steelers organization?

I was a trainer in high school for three years, then I worked for Don Lowe at Kent State, one of the best college trainers at the time in the US. That was in ’74 – Lambert’s last year there. Don James was the head coach and Lou Saban was the assistant there – so I got a lot of good contacts and worked with a lot of good players.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Damon Mays, 2005

First off, what have you been up to since your playing days?

I had so many injuries when I played. Unfortunately, my career wasn’t what I wanted it to be because of the injuries.

So after football, I took a liking to training kids and helping them. That’s what I’ve been up to – training kids on their football speed and conditioning. Helping them from that standpoint.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Wide Receiver Steven Black, 2009

First off, what have you been up to since your playing days?

I’m the business development manager for a company that sells insurance and brokers it for the Alabama and Mississippi area. I work with retail and broker agencies to sell insurance.

How was that transition for you?

I struggled after football – I can’t remember the last time I picked up a football. After Pittsburgh I played in the CFL then the Arena League. I tore my PCL in the Arena League – it all went the opposite direction of my dream.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Line Coach Sean Kugler, 2010-2012

First off, can you let us know what you’re up to now?

Right now I’m consulting. In the Spring I work with the UFL – I go to camps and evaluate players – the offensive linemen. I try to help them get placed in the NFL. Especially during training camp, NFL teams would often rather have an experienced lineman in camp than a college free agent that’s still green.

Then afterwards I work for Boise State – I go to camp and help them evaluate their offensive linemen and do some advanced scouting of their opponents’ front sevens and give them ideas on run schemes. Most of it is remote – with the multiple surgeries I’ve had on my spine that’s been beneficial to me.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Running Back Dreamius Smith, 2015-2016

First, what made you decide to become a college football coach?

I really didn’t think I’d want to become a coach. I decided to go to Butler, my old school, and see some practices and games. Coach Vignery there told me then that he had a running back job open on his coaching staff if I wanted it. I went back home and thought about it. I knew the time it took to be a college coach, but I decided to go do it.

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Exclusive with Former Steelers Offensive Lineman Mitchell Van Dyk, 2015

First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your football days?

I’m a police officer here in Tracy, California. I’ve been a cop here for two years. Before that I was in the San Diego police department for six years.

A number of people in my family were in law enforcement so I’ve always been around it, and I got a Criminal Justice Degree in college. I started at a crappy time with everyone hating the police now, but I love the job.

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