Anyone Realize That A Steelers Game Is About 24 Hours Away?

by cgolden on Aug 7, 2008 3:47 PM EDT Comment 21 comments

It's been just over seven full months since we saw the Black and Gold run out onto the field and battle an actual opponent but tomorrow will bring an end to all of our waiting. Since the ill-fated playoff game against the hated Jaguars we've been in a holding pattern not-so-patiently waiting to see football return the Burgh and tomorrow at 7:30 PM (EST) the Steelers kick off their preseason schedule against cross-state-rival Philly Eagles. Now of course we can't get too excited because it's a preseason game and several prominent Steelers won't be on the field very long, if at all, but it's still Steelers football, right? Anyways, here are things that I can't wait to see tomorrow night:

Rookies: Obviously all eyes will be on Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed when the ball is in their hands but I'm just as interested to see how they respond and execute the finer points of the game. With Mendenhall I want to see if can recognize and pick up a blitz and with Sweed I want to see how well he blocks for his backs. Bruce Davis should see his share of playing time with the second unit and also on special teams and I can't wait to see if he can hold the point of attack and shed blocks. Tony Hills has had a rough camp and might not get into the game until the third unit takes the field but I still want to see how well he holds up.

Other Youngsters: I'm just as excited about seeing second year linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons. It'll be interesting how long Woodley plays
considering that the first unit may only go a couple of series but hopefully he'll be in there long enough to make a couple of plays. Timmons on the other hand should get more playing time on both the second unit and on the nickel or dime defense.

Ryan Clark: We all saw how much Clark meant to the secondary when he was out last year and I can't wait to see him back on the field. By all accounts he's fully recovered and back to his playing weight. I'm sure we all have our doubts about his ability to go 'full-bore' but I for one will feel alot better after I see him lay some hits and make a couple tackles.

Fast Willie Parker: The question is simple: Is he fully healed and is he still FWP?

Offensive and Defensive Line: We all know the question marks with these two units so there's no need to rehash them. Mahan will start at center this week and Hartwig will start next week so we can compare "apples to apples" very soon. Marvel Smith will play so we'll be able to gauge if he's back to his normal healthy self. We'll see if Starks will play both right at left tackle at some point and if Colon really is quicker this season.

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Man we're so close to an actual football game, I can't hardly stand it. Who's going to the game? What else is everyone else waiting to see?

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Call me crazy

but I don’t hate the Jaguars. Sure, they whip us and up down the block, but I respect them in a way that I don’t the Patriots, and certainly not the Ravens or the sad-sack orange twins.

It doesn’t hurt that they spent a significant portion of their short history trying to emulate the Steelers.

by Desroko on Aug 7, 2008 4:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree and disagree

I totally respect the Jags like you…and maybe I just hate playing them. Every time I see them on our schedule I just cringe a little – somehow they just have our number. It would be better if we took it to them a few times every now and then.

by SCSteeler on Aug 7, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, certainly.

It’s getting embarrassing, at this point.

by Desroko on Aug 7, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you beat me to it

I hate the Jags with a passion every time I see them on the schedule but I have a ton of respect for them. They play with the same physical nature that the Steelers have for the past 40 years and that’s pretty much why I hate playing them (not to mention that they’ve had our freaking number for the past couple of years).

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Aug 7, 2008 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For awhile there it seemed that the Titans were the same way back in AFC Central days with Fisher vs Cowher. It’s the Jags now for sure.

by SCSteeler on Aug 7, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't it a luxury to say

that someone who has your number, has only beaten you roughly 50% of the time? During the Cowher era The Jags had the best (or second best, i’m not going to bother to look right now) record against us of all teams that we played more than 4 times with an 8-9 record (that game during Ben’s rookie year was tough as hell, and also one of the best smashmouth ball games of that season). The Steelers still won that one, we lost two games against them last season, we were injury depleated, and without our starting RB (not sure if that would have made a difference). What I’m trying to say here is that this team hardly has our number. We’ve beaten them before, and we’ll do it again.

Just because it is 50-50 don’t get all bent out of shape, if anything those are the real rivalries.

SCSteeler, the other team that may have been better agains us during the Cowher era was the Oilers/Titans, I believe that record was something like 13-11 counting playoffs.

But for now the Pats have our number, at least now they don’t have our latest practice footage.

The Jags are simply competitive with us, and got the best of us last time, they do not have our number.

"Damnit mom! You almost ran over Greg Lloyd!"

at an autograph signing back in 95. He walked out in front of our minivan, and my mom almost hit him. He apologized.

by PA ARMY OFFICER on Aug 8, 2008 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the main thing is that they beat us 4 times in a row, and that we haven’t beat them since that 15-1 year, which seems like a long time ago. The other thing is that all of those games were close, but they somehow found a way to win:

2005 – Ben’s injured, but we get the ball in OT with a good return. Maddox throws TWO int’s in overtime, one returned for a TD. I wonder how many QB’s can say they got the chance to throw 2 int’s in overtime.

2006 – Ben’s injured but plays for some terrible reason. Jags offense can’t do crap, but they do more than ours, 9-0 final score.

2007a – our run defense sucks, Ben makes an incredible comeback, but our run defense sucks

2007b – Ben sucks, Ben makes an incredible comeback, only to be thwarted by refs, Arians, Najeh, 12 yard 2 pt conversions, 3rd and 6’s, and MJD, so we lose by 2 points.

Hardly dominance by the Jags, but they always seem to find a way to win. Sounds like Manning and the Pats a little. They don’t really scare me that much, but they always seem to win close games against us.

by BadMaafala on Aug 8, 2008 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cripes that

2005 game was disheartening.

by steelerark on Aug 8, 2008 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh man

I seriously felt like Maddox was intentionally throwing the game. Remember he also fumbled to keep us from winning in regulation. So began the Charlie Batch era of backing up Ben.

by Chicago Steeler on Aug 8, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shouldn't Garrard

be in the list of suspects for 2007b? He was the one who converted on a fourth-down run.

by Desroko on Aug 8, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember the the Titans.....

Yep – I felt the same way about them then too. For some reason it always seemed like Fisher was one little step in front of us.

Two things about the Jags that bug me – I don’t like the Steelers to be out-Steelered. I know we were knocked up last year, but we can rarely put together any run game versus these guys. The other thing is – as BMF says – we haven’t won the thing in a while, and it feels like a stomach ache when I think about it.

Mentioning the Pats --that feels a lot worse. We REALLY owe them some payback. Hopefully this year. I am thinking positive at this moment.

by SCSteeler on Aug 8, 2008 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I'll be watching Mason and Mundy,

for reasons that should be obvious by now, along with the ones you mentioned.

Ernster and maybe that new punter they worked out, if they sign him.

by Desroko on Aug 7, 2008 4:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Clark and others

I hope so much for his return. Felt so sorry for the guy last year. With the previous year’s Chris Simms down in Tampa never really returning to his full tilt I have been quietly worried about Clark’s future. I’ve been encouraged by the things I’ve heard, but as you mention. It won’t be until he’s at speed that we see and he knows if he’s back….

I suppose the same thing really goes for FWP – as you said.

I am mostly wanting to know if the o-line can produce and if the defense is as Terrible (that’s with a capital T!) as we hope they will be.

Unfortunately, as near as I can tell, the game will be not be shown over here in the UK as the damn Olympics are on. Y’all better take good notes!

by SCSteeler on Aug 7, 2008 4:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

wideouts

I want to see Sweed, Baker, Reid and possibly some of theother lower tier wideouts. I’m also interested to watch Moore and Russell try to make their mark.

by schnifin on Aug 7, 2008 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Looking forward to it!

Finally! As most have already mentioned, I’ll be curious to see the OL, and also look to see how some of our new pickups do on special teams (Fox, Humpal, Davis, etc.). Of course, it will be interesting to see Mendenhall and Sweed.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Aug 7, 2008 5:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll be looking forward to

one of Gold’s favorite moments of the game. Passing situation and the Steeler D is just milling about around the line of scrimmage, enjoying the night air, chit-chatting, not doing much of anything. And then BAM! the ball is snapped and all hell breaks loose. Can we get to McNabb, Kolb, whomever with our pass rush? That’s what I’m hoping to see.

by RickVa on Aug 7, 2008 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

tv/radio?

Any ides how a chicagoan might hear or see this game?

I’m looking forward to nobody getting hurt! crossing fingers

"It's time to plant some seeds. What that means is, hit them in the mouth. Ya know, plant some seeds. Show 'em what time it is." --Levon Kirkland

by steelerinchicago on Aug 7, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It is on the NFL Network. If you don’t have that and your not whithin local broadcast signal your SOL!

by frankrmineo on Aug 7, 2008 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm SOL too!

I’ve got Time Warner Cable in California and they won’t carry NFL Network. If anyone has any links to video highlights or footage of the game I”d appreciate it if they posted a link on this page. Nothing illegal mind you, just links to legitimate video files.

by Steev1705 on Aug 8, 2008 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs