Welcome to BTSC, a blog dedicated to the five-time world champion Steelers. “Level-headed thinking.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Blitz, you are a jewel.

I rarely have anything to say on BTSC because your writing and the others’ comments are so concise and intelligent. You have done it again. We drove up from Va for the game, kicked a few puppies on the way back to the car, and were generally grumpy for 24 hours. We then read your explanation of the situation and apologia for the team and we both calmed down.

Today’s outline of your approach confirms how intelligently you oversee this site. I don’t usually read or contribute to blogs: BTSC is the exception.

Thanks.

you ever consider running for office? :)

B, You know DaTruth always got your back. Yeah, this team is flawed, but it was a holding penalty on Willie Colon away from beating the Giants. If the Steelers go up 21 – 9 in the 4th Q, with the way our D was playing, it’s lights out.

And as my great aunt used to say, “If a bullfrog had wings he wouldn’t be smacking his aarrssss against the ground everytime he hopped.”

On the real, the team’s first two picks this year need to be OL. They will have 9 draft picks, so this is the year that you trade some of them to move up to get your LT for the next 10 years. Every other area of this team is performing well enough to win (except our return guy) but I think that is more of Tomlin being stubborn rather than putting someone out there (give that practice squad guy a chance rather than having Dallas Baker active every week) who can do it. This year has some good tackles coming out, but the Steelers will probably have to trade up to the teens to get them.

However, I still don’t think you pencil in a rookie at LT unless they earn it. I don’t think the team is going to take a chance on M. Smith’s back. I think Max Starks could be around again next year as insurance as the Steelers break that rookie LT in.

I’m also for spending a 2nd or 3rd pick on a returner. That guy from Texas Tech, Crabtree, and the guy from Penn State, Williams, would be big upgrades for the Steelers return game.

This year’s Steelers remind me of the pretty girl who is a 10 when it comes to looks but a 2 when it comes to having her head together. No matter how good she is to look at or get with, if you are expecting more than that, you’re just going to be disappointed. That flaw ain’t going away. The same with our OL situation.

Thoughts?

at 4th, down one spot from 3rd. I was pissed after the game, simply because I am way to passionate about a team that literally does not know I exist. I have played sports, mostly baseball and track, my whole life, and the Steelers are an extension of my desire to continue to play competitively. I live vicariously through them(and the Pens, and, sadly, the Pirates). That being said, I was shocked at the negativity after this game. People throwing various players(namely Ben) and coaches under the bus. Also on ESPN, they let everyone vote on how their team is doing. Last week, Tomlin was at 92%, after that loss he fell to 83. Sheesh. They are the defending champs, and they do get paid to win as well. I guess it’s just tough to lose a game like that.

One thing I noticed early on, this was just one of those games where our team just did not get any breaks. Seriously, fumbles bouncing right back to the offending Giant, missed ints, penalties, flukes in the kicking game, dropped passes, injuries(again). It just seemed like everything was going against us, and we still took em to the wire. Im with Wolfpack.

One more thing, how great was Berger, booming 50 yarders while clutching his leg in obvious pain. Anyone here mess up their hammy? It ain’t fun.

Steelerark, just imagine how many more breaks this team would get if it had a good OL? Good teams can overcome bad circumstances. That line that the Giants have protecting Eli is sick. Never thought a line would hold us sackless this year.

The Skins do a good job of protecting Campbell and of running the ball with Portis. Santana Moss scares the ba-jee-bees out of me, especially with Tyrone “I can’t get there fast enough & even if I do get there in time I will miss the tackle anyway” Carter at Free Safety.

Thoughts?

If we can just get some qb pressure we should be fine. I think it was Blitz that mentioned Campbell is playing very well, very efficiently. I’m not worried about Portis, I think our run d will do fine. But NO JOKE, Moss scares the hell outta me too. Think I might buy some prayer beads for ole Tyrone.

Great post, Blitz! Thanks for reminding me of what I love about being a Steelers fan!

By the way, for some strange reason, my old ID, SLCFan, didn’t work, even though it seemed to take my password reset. Not sure what happened with that. Hope all is well in Seattle.

I don’t mind losses like the Colts and Patriots bombing us out of the Stadium. They were just better that year. I wish Ben would adopt a more careful attitude with the rock, we would win a lot more games. He acts like he has the Cincy D backing him up and we need to score 3,000 to win everygame.

BEN JUST DON’T BLOW IT. THROW IT AWAY ON 3RD DOWN AND YOU WILL LIVE TO WIN ANOTHER GAME, PLAYOFF GAME OR CHAMPIONSHIP.

Why Blitz, that is almost poetic. The reminders are always nice and nicely timed as well. The frustration for me is that we let an opportunity slip away that was in our grasp in a year where such opportunities will seem rare. But what was interesting was what has happened the last couple of days. As many of you know I live in Redskin Country and was expecting to be razzed unmercifully for the loss. Surprise. The reaction here and around the country if the media is to be believed is that respect for the Steelers went up as a result of this game. They saw that we had the Giants by the throat until that almost comedic stretch of injuries and poorly timed penalties. Skins fans are spooked. Several don’t think their team can beat us. My take is that the Skins offense line is dinged a bit meaning I’d be shocked if we can’t blunt their running attack and pressure them a bit in the passing game. If Parker and Holmes return that should be enough to put us over the top offensively. Particularly if 1. resources may be stretched in the secondary now that Nate has established himself as a solid deep threat, and 2. If Arians has the nerve to try the pony backfield with FWP and Moore. Imagine what could be done if we were to run a well designed, old fashion cross buck. This is not to say that I would be the least bit surprised if we lost. Especially without Clark.

Finally, a word of two in support of Blitz’s theme. If you’re a fan in your mid to late 20’s this your reality: If you root for Cleveland, Detroit, Arizona, New York Jets, New Orleans or Kansas City you might as well be a Cubs fan. Your team is often bad and hasn’t won a championship or had an opportunity to win since your parents or grandparents were children. It’s a little better if you root for Oakland, Seattle, Minnesota, Atlanta, Tennesee. An occasional good year, maybe a SB appearance, but usually no cigar. Cincy, Buffalo, San Francisco, Green Bay, Dallas, Washington, Miami, all were really good when you were a kid. Shit. The Pirates were really good when you were a kid. then there are the teams that appear to be in the mix year after year New England, Denver, San Diego, Philly, New York Giants (?), Indianapolis, Tampa, Chicago, Baltimore. (Carolina, Jacksonville and Houston haven’t been around long enough). But none of these teams have the record of sustained excellence over forty years as Pittsburgh. And expecially over the past eighteen or so years. My point: enjoy the ride. We get a lot more in return for our time and emotion that the typical professional football fan. We can afford to be level headed.

I don’t think anyone said that “Leftwich should be starting over Roethlisberger”.

I asked “How many clunkers does Roethlisberger get before Leftwich is allowed to compete for the position?”. Apparently, according to the blowback, he gets as many as he damn well pleases, from now until the end of time.

I defended Leftwich on the basis of the fact that his early career was very similar to Ben’s before he started to get hurt. Facts are, he was a starter from day one, and held the position quite well for his first 3 1/2 seasons before injuries stopped him, and a surprisingly effective David Garrard took over his job.

His numbers up to the point of missing large parts of his fourth and fifth seasons were very comparable to Roethlisberger. Byron was one of the most valuable young QBs in the league, and he is still just 28. Obviously the job is Ben’s to lose, but I don’t see anything incredulous about suggesting that if he goes into an extended slump, Leftwich gets to show if he can do better.

As for that lovable “ball of rage” James Harrison, maybe you should ask the 120 pound mother of his children how it feels to be trapped in a bathroom with the guy kicking down the door in order to slap her around.

for bringing everyone down to reality.There are teams in worse shape then we are. I think us Steeler fans are a little bit spoiled by the consistency of our franchise. We battled the so called “best team in football” down to the wire, and if a couple of breaks went our way we would have won. It`s the NFL, sometimes you play hard but the bounces don`t always go your way (or long snaps). We just need to be healthy for the stretch run because when 100%, we are capable of beating anyone the league throws at us. The Steelers have as good a chance as anyone to take the title this year. Everything has to fall into place at the right time.

Overall right on point except for the plea to leave Arians alone. His predictable game plans are really hurting our offense and his lack of adjustments are inexcusable. This is most evident when Big Ben calls his own plays in the no-huddle and we readily move the ball. I have no animosity towards Arians, just an undying love of the Steelers and I hate to see a potentially explosive offense handcuffed like this.