From the notebook of a sportswriter who’s optimistic about the 2023 season the morning after the Steelers routed the Bills:
• At 2-0, there was a lot of knocking on wood in the locker room afterward. The players are feeling it.
• The best quote, in my opinion, came from West Point graduate Elijah Riley when I asked him if this feels like a young team:
• “We’ve got a lot of experience. I think we’ve got some young guys who are stepping up to the plate and taking advantage of the opportunity. But we’ve got a lot of experience, a lot of vets who are passing on their knowledge to young guys. Very good team environment where everybody takes care of everybody. The vets are definitely a wealth of knowledge and willing to share.”
• Does he feel this environment is analogous to that at West Point?
• “Yeah, the family environment, the team environment. It’s about team-building. Our
