Not only did the hit occur well after Ben released the ball but he specifically lowered his helmet and drove it into Roethlisberger’s right shoulder. It looked to me like he was deliberately trying to injure Roethlisberger. Fortunately, Ben was able to make one more big throw when we needed it (to Heath Miller). That play was huge.

I thought, in general, Ben threw the ball really well. Ward dropped two passes that he normally catches and Parker could have had the deep one or Ben’s stats would have been even better. On the deep ball to Parker he appeared to have Ward wide open for what would have been a 20 yard gain.

We ran pretty well, even in situations when they knew we were going to run. IIRC, our pass protection only looked awful on two plays (a first quarter sack, where nobody blocked anyone, and another play where Marvel Smith got burned). Rogers’ sack occurred on a play where a DB blitzed unexpectedly and Roethlisberger didn’t get rid of the ball in time and basically moved forward right into Rogers. It is hard to fault the OL too much for that one.

In general, we had a lot of drive-killing mistakes, for example Hartwig’s holding call, or Ward’s drop on our first? series. Our lack of points primarily resulted from these mistakes. Another factor was our extremely conservative play-calling. It seems like the plan was to not make TOs and use our running game and D to win. The plan worked, a win is a win. If we had thrown more, a ball might have slipped out of Ben’s hand to set up the Browns for an easy score.

I have two primary concerns going forward:

1. Our DL and LBs were generally unable to beat their OL and get pressure on Anderson. IIRC, our sacks were both more coverage sacks than us swarming through their line. Then again, Cleveland’s line is said to be very good in pass protection.

2. Injuries: I hope Keisel and Big Ben are OK. I like Keisel way more than Eaton.

Here are some goods:

1. Big Ben played a great game under the circumstances (weather + injuries) he made a lot of great throws and didn’t make mistakes.

2. Kemoeatu did great, IMO. There were several very well-blocked running plays in general.

3. Our run D was impressive. Lewis was running really hard tonight, and we did a good job of gang tackling him.

4. Our kickoff/punt coverage teams seem 180deg from last year. After Rogers’ dirty hit on Roethlisberger, Harrison came down and hit Cribbs helmet-to-helmet on the punt return. Not sure if the latter was related to the former, but I liked the way we tackled in special teams in general.

5. Polamalu is creating turnovers again.

6. We are 2-0

That’s all I can think of right now.

Just three peripheral points since Blitz and the others covered it well…

1) The old adage that you are rarely as bad as you look (Browns vs, Dallas) or as good as you look (Steelers vs. Texans) once again holds true. When your team wins the opener as we did, we can’t help in the backs of our minds think that maybe, just maybe, we could be like the 2005 Colts or 2007 Patriots or 1984 49ers or 1985 Bears where we basically come out and impose our will every week. Just maybe we have strengths all over the place with nary a weakness. That will not be the case. We may have a very good team capable of doing something very special, but this will be a dog fight all season so buckle your chin straps.

2) It amazes me how fans of any team with Braylon Edwards could call Hines Ward a punk. Edwards drops passes every single game (though Hines dropped a pair yesterday), is more interested in talking gabage than thinking about the game, and has even “punked” the city’s icon athlete, LeBron James. At least Hines caught two HUGE passes yesterday, including the game winner. Edwards has light years to go before he is Hines Ward. Edwards has now dropped six passes this year, incredible after only two games, which is more than Hines Ward has dropped in five years.

3) Romeo Crennel is Ohio’s new version of John Cooper. Cooper did just enough each year to have his contract renewed, but could never beat his rival or win the big one. Cooper won eight games every year, which I could have done also with the talent differential that Ohio State always has against Big 10 opponents. He is riding that 8-3 wave into the College Football Hall of Fame. Michigan fans, however, were delighted when his contract kept getting renewed, for good reason. Last year’s 10-6 Browns’ record was good for us. Crennel got an extension. Unless the Browns implode, he will keep his job. We need him to win just enough to keep that job. The end of the first half was horrible and the field goal with a minute and a half was worse. He did the same field goal thing a week ago against Dallas. When I saw Phil Dawson trotting on the field, I shouted then as loudly as with the Ward touchdown.

would add that on the final 4th down, would rather the steelers had gone max protect and taken a shot at the endzone. Clock stops anyway, they were outside the 20 so an int in the endzone would have been fine and a turnover seems less likely. Less risk and much greater reward than running.

and that timeout call by tomlin, wow, you almost never see the defense encroach in those 4th down situations anyway

if the eagles beat the cowboys tonight, it’s gonna be a monster game coming up

Yes that Roger’s hit on Ben should have been a 15 yarder, just like Woodley’s.

I loved the Clark hit on Edwards that shook up both players, that was a hard friggin hit. Polomolu’s throwdown of K2 to keep him from getting a first down brought a smile to my face. McFadden stealing the ball from Edwards was awesome, but even prettier was his pass defense late in the game. The Farrior tackle on Lewis, where Lewis dragged him two yards made me cringe, how many other running backs get thrown two yards the other direction from Farrior? Lewis played strong, the Browns played strong. We played stronger.

A lot of mistakes were made, on both sides of the ball, to include coaching blunders.

Reed’d field goal in the wind was a thing of beauty. Timmon’s hit on Cribbs sent Cribbs limping off the field. I did see Kemo toss Rogers aside on one play, and Hartwig impose his will a few times, unfortunately I also saw Hartwig get pushed back quite a bit too.

The throw to FWP was a perfect pass with two defenders on him. No excuse for that one, went right through his arms.

All in all, I was entertained. Would have loved to see a Woodley and Harrison sack though.

Since you boys have already covered most of the bases. Great posts by all.

I did want to add one little bit about my adopted Steeler son, Ryan Clark. For the second game in a row he was out there putting the “fun” in fundamental. When something slips by our pack of hungry line backers Clark is there to lay a vicious hit on it. I am a little worried about his health, since he has come up rattled two weeks in a row, but both times he was right back in the game and making big plays. He put a beautiful hit on Edwards in the fourth.

More than anything, I think Clark’s play allows a healthy Troy to swirl around the field like a tornado in a trailer park. He knows that Mr. Fun-da-mental is roving in the defensive backfield ready to clean up what ever comes his way.

It wasn’t 3-2 but it was damn close. This may have only been a game of beauty to Steelers fans. To me it was a masterpiece. I will always take and be proud of a W. The Steelers are 2-0 and in early control of the AFCN.
 
Was impressed with Arians and Zeirlien. In horrible weather, Arians kept Cleve guessing all night. Going right back to Ward on the early TD pass after Hines dropped one on the previous throw was awesome. The pass to Ward from the 2 yard line in the 4th quarter to dig the Steelers out of the hole was HUGE in the field position game. Arians late call to throw to Heath Miller on second down trying to run out the clock was also an awesome call. That was a play he should have used against Jax last year! The Steelers ran out the clock with FWP and that was something they couldn’t do all last year. (see NYJ, Jax and Denv) Hats off to FWP and the O line for running off all but 26 seconds at the end of the game. My only Arians agonizing moment was on the 4th down call with under a minute to go., Instead of running FWP into the line which stopped the clock on the possession change, why not try a pass there? I guess if the Cleve DB picks it off and runs the distance (see NE) I’m singing a different tune. Since we got the win, Arians made the correct call. After watching Romeo Crennel coach, I guess I shouldn’t bitch about Arians. Crennel is a disaster. He needs to study clock management 101 (see first half) and grow a set of balls. (see FG in 4th quarter)
 
Thought Ben was gutsy. No one reported he had a separated shoulder! What a stud to go out there and zip the ball around in 50 MPH winds with that injury! Also, how do you flag Woodley for a late hit on Anderson but then allow that monster Shaun Rodgers to throw a shoulder into Ben and knock him to the ground seconds after the ball was released? That was a blatant 15 especially if the Woodley call is legit. Again, the O line could have protected better but that Cleve line is large. Loved the Marvel Smith block on the CB. (CB dives out of the way!) and Kemo looked like he blasted a couple people. Bottom line; FWP over 100. The best O players on the field were Ward and Holmes. When you don’t throw to the WR every play they need to make them count. While Ward dropped a couple early he surely atones. The big catch Holmes made in the second half was the direct reason we scored a FG.
 
The D continued to play great. They truly were the more violent team and deserved the W keeping the Browns out of the end zone all night long. McFadden had a great pick and hopefully will start pushing DeShea for more PT. Troy was all over the field. The leap into the backfield was stellar! That scares me though as 43 could have easily gotten hurt on that play. Ryan Clark continues to hit like a train and play like a stud. Concerned about Kiesel. The D slipped when he went out and while Eason and especially Kirscke made some plays, Kiesel is a Diesel.
 
Mendenhall looked like Barry Foster on the one KO almost letting the Browns recover. Was happy that Mewelde didn’t flub anything in those conditions. Could’ve meant the game. That pass to Hines by Ben out of the end zone was a big play and stifled the Browns in the field position game. Reed is money. GREAT KICK OFFS! Is he on roids this year? GREAT LONG FG! 48 yards into a hurricane. That’s freakin awesome. Berger continues to be the steady veteran P we need and the coverage units simply swamped Cribbs all night.
 
It only gets tougher. At Philly on Sunday. The D will have it’s hands full with Donovan McNabb. Control the clock Steelers! When you run the ball, good things happen.

I often find myself defending coach/coordinators, but I am much happier joining the chorus of praise. I thought that BA called a wonderful game last night, showing good balance in weather conditions that would lend themselves to a run heavy game plan. Moreover, I am delighted to by the confidence that he showed in his units – allowing Ben to through the ball early and often despite the wind and a less than impeccable start; going back to Ward right after a dropped pass; relying on the offensive line to protect by call a pass play on 2nd down at our own two; going to Parker on 4th and 1 (even though I suspect that Tomlin had a say on that call). All in all a gutsy game plan that was rewarded by solid execution. 3 cheers to consistency.

Troy P and Ryan Clark were flat out awesome last night. The way they threw their bodies around it looked like THEY were the ones creating all of that swirling wind…Tasmanian Devil style!!!!!

Does anyone know what happened during a commercial time out that caused the Steelers to get a taunting call? It seemed to me that both teams were doing alot of trash talking the entire game.

via footballoutsiders:

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2008/09/upon_further_review_defensive.html