a handful of harrison
by agentorange on Dec 17, 2008 1:13 PM EST
18 comments
It has been pretty thoroughly discussed in some other threads that the steelers haven't been the beneficiaries of a holding call for the last 23 quarters of football. Conspiracy theories abound, as does just a general frustration that James Harrison, who could very well be defensive player of the year, is being flagrantly held on so many occasions that he is being robbed of sacks, hurries, knockdowns and forced fumbles. Steeler nation has collectively yelled, "Hey! Not fair!"
But here is what I am wondering: could all this lack of holding turn out to be a huge benefit for the team down the stretch? While it has certainly been a detriment to Silverback, it just may be that the Steelers defense - in particular their pass rush - will enjoy the fruits of this into the playoffs.
Here's how: the league certainly has to notice this. I understand that some of Steeler Nation thinks that the league is purposely not calling holding against opposing teams, but I am inclined to doubt that. I believe the league doesn't want that accusation being made, especially with 23 (and how many more?) quarters of football to support it. I believe that, at some point, the league will compensate--maybe even over-compensate--for this egregious/ridiculous lack of integrity in enforcing the rules of football.
Further, I think the more we talk about it and make it an issue, the more likely we are to see some results. I am seriously thinking that we will see several holding calls in the coming weeks against the Titans and Browns, and hopefully into the playoffs. And not only that, but if we do start to see some calls go our way, then teams will have to be careful about holding Deebo, and then watch the terror that is unleashed. Call me an optimist, but I have a feeling we will see an impressive run by our untamed beast of an outside linebacker over the next month and a half. Any thoughts?
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I agree with you, I don’t think anyone in the league office is sending out memo’s saying “do not call any holding penalties against lineman on Deebo”, but I do think the leauge is going to start to get concerned when bloggers, journalists, and broadcasters start brining up the topic, the stats, and perhaps someone that has way too much time on their hands could put together a slideshow of all the pictures of people holding Silverback that weren’t called this year.
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by drinkyourmilkshake on Dec 17, 2008 1:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
that's exactly what i mean
i think the league wants nothing to do with that, because they’ve got nothing to say about it except, “oops. our bad. we missed those 127 holding calls. sorry about that.”
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
by agentorange on Dec 17, 2008 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If I were the Steelers
I would assign a video intern to collect all the evidence of Harrison being hugged on the way to the quarterback. I would send the league office this video with a private but stern demand that this video be responded to. I would not stoop to public whining, but I would insist that the league be fair to Harrison. They would appreciate the private communication and, agreeing with agentorange, we might see some calls in the future.
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
by maryrose on Dec 17, 2008 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
don't send it to the league office
send it to CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN.
by schnifin on Dec 17, 2008 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Nah
We are guilty of holding, too. If complaints become a public nuisance, the refs could just as easily go after our boys with flags-a-wavin’. Better to keep complaints behind closed doors so that no one gets lampooned by the media.
by Varmint on Dec 17, 2008 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
don't agree
yes, there is holding on probably every play that is not called, but not like this. not so flagrantly against one player and uncalled for over 5 games in a row. i think the media would love this story, actually.
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
by agentorange on Dec 17, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If our line can get away with holding like this...
why is Ben near the top in sacks…
also…why can’t Colon breath without getting a penalty?
It doesn’t add up….somebody out there educate me on which official(s) on the field have the responsibility for making sure the poor old QB doesn’t get mangled after they throw the ball away? Where on the field does this official stand and is it relevant to the lack of calls against opposing linemen.
I think Harrison’s jersey should come with airplane-like warnings “not a hand hold”.
by SCSteeler on Dec 18, 2008 2:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The question
Is not whether a complaint should be registered. Something should be said. The question is whether taking to a public venue is the right idea.
How much sympathy did TO get for venting to the media?
We’ve got a dominant defense. Harrison is a now a 2 time pro bowler. We are the one of the teams being talked about (seriously) for SB contention. If the complaint goes public, it’s not going to do any good. The refs, who just adore public criticism, will be ready to turn our games into a 4th of July parade with all the flags that will be flying. They may not be holding calls, but they’ll find something wrong with every move we make.
Public reaction would go like this, “Awww, poor little Steelers can’t get no holding calls. Boo hoo.”
No, when you’ve got a problem with the zebras, you take it like a man. You go through the proper channels. You act like a professional. Tomlin knows what he’s doing.
by Varmint on Dec 18, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Doubt it
They honestly dont care. The League would cover it over even if the accusation did arise.
Even IF people started to expose this, the NFL would find a way to get the blame away from itself. They’d destroy the tapes so to speak.
by Mechem on Dec 17, 2008 3:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Isn't he ...
holding him up to make sure he doesn’t fall on Donovan’s legs?
by tenthmtnman on Dec 17, 2008 3:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
isn't there something we can do?
I mean, I’ve seen about a billion and a half snapshots of Harrison being held as well as a few YouTube videos. Can we actually send this to the league? I know The Post Gazette wrote an article on the holding but that really didn’t make it outside of Steeler circles (as expected).
I sat here and watched some (and by some I mean about 10 minutes real time) of the Ravens game on NFL replay and caught him being held twice. Thats 2 times in less than 10 minutes real time which is probably about a minute and a half in game time.
Something must be done I just don’t know if we can actually do anything. And I don’t necessarily think that the league will compensate for this…..I mean did they do anything more than apologize when they admitted Harrison was held in the Jaqs playoff game? Nope.
by shleeve on Dec 17, 2008 4:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
but that's exactly the point
we’ve got to be able to do something! all they had to do after the jags game was apologize because there was no other recourse. but what if there was some real rumblings among nfl fans that this is unfair treatment? what if the team also stood up and made a statement to the nfl about it (not whining, but specifically pointing it out and asking for an explanation)? what if local pittsburgh media outlets began showing footage of it over and over again as part of the sports news? what if the post gazette did a major write up about it, stirring up some national attention?
clearly what has been happening is not working. it just keeps going on. i feel like if something is done—if more attention is brought to this—we will reap the rewards of it.
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
by agentorange on Dec 17, 2008 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What does it say about this defense...
and our pass rush especially, that we’ve gone 23 quarters without a holding call in our favor and we lead the league in sacks and overall defense; won our last 5 games while holding our opponents to 53 combined points, and have forced roughly 15 to’s?
That’s incredible.
by NoCal-SteelCity on Dec 17, 2008 7:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not sacks anymore
Dallas passed us on the sack count by raping NYG… Sorry.
by Mechem on Dec 17, 2008 7:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Pretty sure dallas wins the #1 in that stat this season.
by steelguy99 on Dec 17, 2008 10:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
we will get some holding calls
probably in the cleveland game because it means nothing to us, or maybe tennessee since that one is kind of purposeless too especially since i believe we should beat them handily.
But then we go into the playoffs and they no longer call them. This sucks. Harrison is now behind 3 people with sacks because these stupid teams keep holding him because they know the refs won’t call it.
He was put into the HEAD-LOCK in the ravens game, and phil simms gave the T credit for a great block, until he saw the replay and his co-commentator was like
“Oh wow is that holding”
“Yep”
by Bleed-Black&Gold on Dec 17, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
probably no one will see this now, but
the post gazette did a little article today about the holding . you can see it here.
funny stuff, really, with the defense playing all sarcastic about it. interesting that they say they shouldn’t complain about because then they won’t get any calls at all. and yet, they certainly didn’t say “no comment” when asked about it. they know its happening, and they are hoping what i am hoping, that it will pay off for them in the next month and a half.
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
by agentorange on Dec 20, 2008 1:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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