My post Bungles thoughtages

by Mechem on Nov 21, 2008 8:25 AM EST Comment 18 comments

Well I must say I am please with this game. Very much so. As with the last one we pretty much kept it close at halftime then poured it on, and thats fine by me. I really felt like we were in control and cincy was always trying to do SOMETHING to get over us.

Here are a few things I loved and hated about the game

For the love:

1. This was a classic Steelers win. We ran more than passed, We just looked like the same team that won a superbowl. About time we put that outfit back on, it still fits and it looks sexy as ever.

2. Big Ben put his snow tires on. Ben wasnt sacked at all. He did a great job of avoiding rushers. On top of that, HE RAN THE FOOTBALL. Ive been crying about this for weeks. He finally bossed up, and charged. And it got us a key TD and 1st down. Made me very happy.

3. Diversified running backs all chipped in. I love that FWP didnt have to get 25 carries. I also liked Gary Russells short yardage punches. That 4th and 1 was hardcore. We found us a guy folks and now with 3 backs doing different things we can confuse defenses and find success.

Although not big deals, heres what I hated.

1. 1 sack?!! Obviously we can credit the Bengals O-line here, because they did good. And Ryan Fitz for throwing the ball away a lot. Still, I felt like we could have had a few more.

2. Punting. This was gawd awful. I dont care if its snowy or not. Ernster has to go. I had given him a chance and today he could have blown the game out. I've never seen more drives start around midfield.

3. The ruling on Limas Sweeds touch of the punt. Although he only touched it by a nanometer, I'm convinced its still cause he was pushed towards it. He really had no other option to avoid the ball. Oh well, he had a couple nice catches though.

All in all good game, looked like a timeless victory over our lowly neighbor.

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That was my question to those watching the game with me. If he is pushed into touching the ball shouldn’t he not be penalized for touching the ball?

by frankrmineo on Nov 21, 2008 9:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pushed?

I’ll have to dig up the rule, but as I saw it he wasn’t pushed into touching the ball, he touched it with his hand—and actually touched it hard enough to spin it on a different axis. That said, I’ve seen this same call when the ball hits a player being blocked. I believe contact is irrelevent, unfair to be sure, but irrelevent. Under the hood I go …

Perhaps being pushed was why the refs had to go under the hood for such a seemingly obvious call.

Punting was a bit of a problem and since Coach Tomlin made an issue of it [like Ben practicing]—need I say more; rest assured there are guys warming up their legs all over America and checking flights to Pittsburgh.

by tenthmtnman on Nov 21, 2008 9:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Punt rule?

I didn’t find this issue address in any specific punt category. However, it was addressed in the kickoff category and it deals with touching only. If touched the kickers can recover but if caught and dropped the kickers may recover and advance. I believe this is a case where a general rule is apllied to many circumstances.

by tenthmtnman on Nov 21, 2008 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks for clarification

by frankrmineo on Nov 21, 2008 10:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Outside of punt-gate I thought Sweed showed some improvement – although he really could have gotten a first early in the game if he had used his height. Still, he showed some improved hands and made at least one killer grab.

by BluegrassSteeler on Nov 21, 2008 10:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The punt was definitely Limas’s fault, he should have gotten the hell out of there. I did think the pushing was a bit questionable. He hit the football with his hand because he was trying to not fall down. He was off-balance from getting shoved by 1-2 guys.

Regardless, it was obvious he touched it, and kudos to the bengals for flailing to do anything with it.

I have a new plan for our ST though. We have harrison and timmons on it, why not use them? I think we can get our punter to just punt the ball straight up, harrison and timmons can pick up a guy on their team and force him to touch the ball, then we recover. It’s almost full-proof.

by steelguy99 on Nov 21, 2008 11:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hmmmm ...

I guess if you’re expecting the punter to punt more than 30 yards, then you’re probably thinking it can’t drop out of the sky right at your feet. Then again, from where I sat I couldn’t hear the receiver telling Limas to stop, move left, move right, look out or even WTF? I vaguely remember the receiver giving the waving arms [safe sign] indicating don’t touch it. Darned if you do and darned if you don’t situation that went bad. Probably would have been safer if he hadn’t positioned himself on what became the straight line path of the ball and not run down so close to the receiver.

by tenthmtnman on Nov 21, 2008 11:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Upon further review ...

kind of puts it the sheiza happens category vice indictable offense.

by tenthmtnman on Nov 21, 2008 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sweed

Pushed or not, it just looked like he wasn’t aware of where the ball was or what was going on around him. If he’d have located the returner (Holmes) he’d have been 10 yards away from the ball. Chalk it up to a bone-head rookie mistake. When was the last time you think Sweed played special teams?

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Nov 21, 2008 11:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Upon further review ...

you’re correct. As the video at the link below shows [1:11 mark], Limas’ actions during the play were clearly outside the bounds of proper ST play [which is probably new to him]. I suspect the team will fine him for the audacity of setting himself up to block, being unable to extract himself from multiple engagement and then having the temerity to get physically knocked airborne into the ball.

Actually, Coach Tomlin will see it for what it was … unfortunate.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ca8361

by tenthmtnman on Nov 21, 2008 12:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Eh stuff happens

Im not mad at him. Cincy didnt do diddly with it.

These things happen. Its much better than the early days of Santonio punt catching. Where I would cringe every time.

Another thing I would like to note.

Aaron Smith is a beast. He was blocking shots like Shaq on nate robertson. Just insane. Gotta love his play last night.

by Mechem on Nov 21, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vote Smith for ProBowl!

by Chicago Steeler on Nov 21, 2008 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

He got my vote. I vote a couple times a week. I declare democracy of steeler nation!

by Mechem on Nov 21, 2008 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think currently the entirety of the skins team is winning in the NFC, which I find amusing…

by steelguy99 on Nov 21, 2008 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

Well you know you got Portis… But other than him who really stands out as an OMGWTFBBQ player? Santana Moss is solid. But yeah I dont see too much there.

Expect lots of Giants players and some Panthers to get in there. Jeff Garcia probably will too which is impressive.

But whatevs the NFC doesnt really matter to me. I wanna know how many hypocycloids are gonna be in Hawaii.

by Mechem on Nov 21, 2008 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs