Steelers Improve Road Mark To 5-1 With Resounding Victory Over New England

by Blitzburgh on Dec 1, 2008 5:45 PM EST Comment 22 comments

I'm a bit late to the party due to a busy schedule the past day, but a couple more thoughts son the Steelers impressive 33-10 victory over New England yesterday.

* One thing I have not seen emphasized or discussed amidst the undeniably sweet euphoria of thrashing New England on the road is the fact that we had issues in the red zone again. On our first trip there, we were faced with a 1st and 10 from the NE 11. Definitely a tough situation in this league, but we failed to punch it in on the goal line and had to settle for a FG from the 3 yard line. Jeff Reed would have two more attempts of 25 yards or fewer. There's not much to find fault in yesterday on either sides of the ball or in the coaching department, but it'd be nice if our redzone offense (goal line in particular) kept pace with the rest of our development on offense.

* We still have not given up a 300 yard game in the __________. What's supposed to be in the blank? The passing game? No, no. We haven't given up a 300 yard game. Period. In fact, we've yet to surrender more than 290 yards in a single game this year. That's just ridiculous. I really hope you're appreciating just how historically amazing this group has been. And if this defense continues to force turnovers, look out. It's going to be awfully tough to beat us if we continue to get +2 or better in the turnover department.

* It's been discussed, but the offensive line deserves a tip of the cap for their performance yesterday. Gaping running lanes at times, more than adequate pass protection. Limited penalties. Great stuff.

* We have a new leader in the clubhouse! Troy Polamalu is leading the NFL in Interceptions with 6. That's three straight games (all victories) with an INT for P.

* James Harrison is easily the best value in the entire National Football League. He makes just a pittance compared to Joey Porter with better production. I love Peezy, I really do. But ever notice how he has to force the spotlight on him when times are good whereas James Harrison just goes to work reigning terror on opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks? We best lock up Harrison this offseason. Care to imagine what he'd do against our tackles? Me neither. Get it done front office!

* The Pats were 1/13 on 3rd downs. WOW. I don't care who you are, you can't win with that number, even without all the turnovers. Describe it for us Big Ben:

"It was unbelievable," Roethlisberger said. "You just get to the sideline, put your coat on, your hat on, and, all of a sudden, you're ready to go back on the field."

* Quietly, very quietly, the Steelers have proven they are capable at doing something they weren't able to do last year: win against solid teams on the road. We still travel to Baltimore and to Tennessee, so no time for the team to feel too good about itself. Of the remaining things I still am concerned about with this team though, over confidence and lack of focus is not one of them. I think this game may be just the jolt of confidence needed to convince the group that, yeah, they have what it takes to polish a few more things, get on a roll, and not look back.

* More soon from me on the offense, as well as a closer look at the sparkling resume of the defense this year.

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big test

Again, our offense looked good (or at least moderately productive), which is a good streak we have going. Thank the lord for the running game. The big test, though will be how we play against good defenses, which we haven’t faced since maybe New York. Basically, we need our offense to not self destruct against quality defenses and put together just a few solid drives. If we can do that, our defense can do the rest.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 1, 2008 7:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Like you said, we haven’t played many quality defenses as of late. While this past interception was awful, it has been nice that in the last 3 games Ben has only throw one interception out of 104. There have only been three throwing interceptions (and one run by him), but I’ll take it.

“Basically, we need our offense to not self destruct against quality defenses and put together just a few solid drives. If we can do that, our defense can do the rest.”

Preach it.

by steelguy99 on Dec 1, 2008 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea

I wouldnt say Dallas’ D is great, but they do pose some threat in the pass rush department.

Agree about the theme for the offense: been my motto/hope for this offense since about the NYG game.

But if we get turnovers like that, we’ll be unstoppable. Even if we have to settle for Spikey FGs

by Blitzburgh on Dec 1, 2008 7:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lucky for us

Ware is battling an injury right now. He is “day-to-day” but missed practice all together. Thats a good sign for us.

by shleeve on Dec 1, 2008 8:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ware will be ready, you can take that to the bank

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 1, 2008 8:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, we’ll have to play against a pass rusher.

~~Lucky the cowboys don’t.~~

by steelguy99 on Dec 1, 2008 10:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

And won’t Pacman be ready, too? What a joke!

by Jonny B. on Dec 2, 2008 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Last Chance Pacman

And this time we REALLY, REALLY mean it. ok?" What do you think is going to happen? I wonder what the over/under is until he F#&(s up again.

by Jonny B. on Dec 2, 2008 10:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oh, haha

I didn’t mean Dallas was a good defense, haha. I meant the Ravens and Titans coming up. The Cowboys do some things decently, but they’re average in most of the important statistics. I’d like to see us really run at them.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 2, 2008 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hopefully you'll have a letdown this week ;)

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 1, 2008 8:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

a few thoughts...

— “it’d be nice if our red zone offense kept up…” — I remember during the game worrying about FGs vs. TDs. I felt better about it when our D kept giving us opportunities, and we kept with the run as the game progressed (and seemed to run between the tackles more), then had a goal line opportunity again at the end of the game (the O line and Gary had success). So I think there are seeds there to review tape on and hopefully integrate into our game planning.

—“best lock up Harrison this offseason…” — I think his mentoring and comradery with Woodley (plus leading-by-example for the entire D) is the intangible that nudges the front office to do just that. fingers crossed

OFF TOPIC, but…* with all of the Plaxico press going on, I heard a few press comments that he was a “problem” even back when he was a Steeler/in college… I didn’t remember that during his time there, but can anyone enlighten me a bit?

Looking forward to our next test in Dallas!

by BoiseSteeler on Dec 1, 2008 8:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He was a "problem" here, too

     His work ethic or lack therof was commonly known, and he ws probably fined and/or disciplined, but i dont believe the steelers make those things known to the public .
     The one play that stands out in my mind was when he was a rookie or 2nd year player and he caught that pass for a huge gain. He went to the ground untouched, got up, and spiked the ball while the play was still live! The other team recovered. What a bonehead!
    I don’ think the FO thought twice about letting him go, even though BB was pleading for them not to at the time.

by Jonny B. on Dec 1, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

forgot about the live ball spike... thx

by BoiseSteeler on Dec 1, 2008 9:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not that that had anything to do with him not being resigned.

It was just indicative of his bone-headeness. At the time, I just wrote it off as him thinking he was playing by college rules which happens sometimes to rookies, but now I see he is just a bonehead.

by Jonny B. on Dec 1, 2008 9:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't Forget

He also drove a semi with giant spinners to training camp and around town. I guess this isn’t a “problem,” but it’s not the sign of an upstanding citizen.

by CarlWeathersMustache on Dec 1, 2008 11:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

physicality

tomlin has preached since day 1, that for this team to be successful, they must be more violent than their opposition. can think of ANY team in the league that can match the violence of this team? forget the violence, how bout matching intensity? or motivation? desire? etc…

this is the hardest working team i’ve ever seen. every other play i see a guy like aaron smith wrapped up with two offensive lineman, freeing a lane to the ball carrier for a guy like Warrior (farrior). or TP43 literally flying over the offensive line. or james harrison getting held by a tackle twice his size, but still somehow getting pressure on the qb. i won’t even mention ryan clark….

this team is not only violent, they’re becoming scary. it’s bad enough that opposing offenses have to worry about 25.5 sacks coming at them off the corners, but now they have to worry about being beheaded by clark, troy picking off a pass, 94 drilling their qb, or casey hampton getting pissed off and embarrassing their center with a 350 lb + bull rush. this is steeler football at its finest.

oh, and nice job offense….(i’m a defensive guy personally)

by NoCal-SteelCity on Dec 1, 2008 9:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

"casey hampton getting pissed off..."

chuckling and +1

by BoiseSteeler on Dec 1, 2008 9:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What people who whine about ryan clark’s hit fail to realize is how powerful a hit like that is mentally. Every single receiver on opposing teams is going to see that hit.

You want to come over the middle? Be my guest. Who wants to run the middle route today? Show of hands? None?

by steelguy99 on Dec 2, 2008 8:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok is it just me or...?

Does it seem like in the red zone, when we spread it out and pass with 3 Wideouts and Heath as a reciever, we seem to sometimes run routes that aren’t productive and “Trap” our WR’s?
Example: on one side Hines and Nate ran a corner and the other a quick out. on the other side Santonio and Heath do the same thing..it just seems like Arians should have better playcalls for the redzone. He’s not helping out Ben any when he calls plays that get us looking confused out there. There’s a reason we only scored 1 TD in like 3 chances in the red zone for that stretch of time during the NE game.

by iBleedBlack&Gold on Dec 2, 2008 5:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

There have been at least 2-3 times in the red zone where we had 4 guys run patterns and no one be open. Against Indy? maybe, Ben took a sack and this game he almost did before throwing it away.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 2, 2008 11:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One thing I was happy about, though I do like running the football. Early on Arians called a pass on 1st down. We need to do this in the future to keep 8 men out of the box. There’s a few games where he’s taken the “run first, pass second” mantra a bit too far.

by steelguy99 on Dec 2, 2008 8:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Special Teams are our unsung heroes

Over the course of this season the kick coverage teams have been outstanding. With a revolving door at punter and a kicker who rarely kicks out of the end zone it is remarkable how these guys get after the kick/punt returner. For the past several seasons I’ve felt an unbelievable angst every time the Steelers kicked the ball. But no more, these guys are quietly going about their business and keeping the opponents backed up into their own territory.

As the defense shines and the Offense improves, lets not forget these blue collar guys!

by Steev1705 on Dec 2, 2008 12:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs