Driveby report Divisional version

by PixburghArn on Jan 12, 2009 3:52 PM EST Comment 23 comments

Because I don’t have time to go into depth I write a quick hitter with random comments on this week’s game. Feel free to reply. As a matter of fact these are not only my comments they are meant to bring out your opinions.

1. How many of you felt the familiar feel of the "ghosts of the past" when Rivers hit Jackson for the long TD early in the game? Visions of Tim Mckyer being roasted and silencing the crowd?

2. I was feeling better about the Steelers stopping Sproles as the week went on because it sunk in that Sproles won't be a surprise. I figured they would work on defending the screens. I was still concerned with him in open space. They did a good job of keeping him from breaking anything in the kicking game until his 3rd quarter burst. Who ever called putting Timmons on him in certain situations hit it on the head. It looked like Timmons was right there most of the times Sproles got the ball.

3. Big play Willie Gay was Johnny on the spot again.

4. Don't be so quick to jump on Ike Taylor. He played well. That TD to Jackson was put where it needed to be. Ike had a blanket over him. Rivers found the hole in the blanket. He still couldn't catch a football if you placed it on a tee though.

5. I think Ben got over his headache. He must have gotten a haircut because his helmet fit. He did well. He didn't stare down his receivers and stay too long on his reads. He also put the ball in tight. When Ben has problems, it's usually because he's too high on his throws.

6. Does Ike Taylor wear #14 on offense? Oh wait that's Sweed...hmm he catches like Taylor.

7. You may not like it, but I like how Tomlin takes chances. It could cost us one day, but it gives your opponent something to think about. Coaches like to coach against predictable teams. I liked going for it on 4th at the one (though I didn't like the play). I really didn't like the fake punt, but that's because of the blocking scheme. By showing some imagination you make your opponent have to spend some of that precious preparation time on something different.

7. Hines is the man. He is far more valuable than catches and even blocking. He gets in the opponents' head. His game is solid.

8. I think San Diego's O-line had more tackles than their D-Line.

9. Keisel the diesel is back!

10. This number is reserved for your driveby comment. Post one.

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Ben can ...

block! i think that is one of the best QB blocks I’ve ever seen.

by tenthmtnman on Jan 12, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would certainly challenge anyone who says otherwise.

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

With cut blocks like that, he could probably get an OL job in Denver.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jan 12, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cut blocks are ok. Its cutting someone down when they are already engaged which is illegal (chop block), see also Denver Broncos Blocking Manual, page 1, 2, 3…

Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.

by BostonWahoo on Jan 12, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I wasn’t saying it was illegal. The Broncos do legal (but ethically questionable) cut blocks all the time. I’m just glad Ben didn’t get a knee to the head like Trent Green.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jan 12, 2009 4:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like Ben would ever get a head injury…

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Or trying to stop santonio holmes on a punt return.

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 2:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

good thoughts

I think #9 is really big for us next week.

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

I try to keep it real. :) I agree I am really stoked about Bret being back.

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Jan 12, 2009 12:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

He is a good player. May be as underrated as Smith.

by worldtrip on Jan 12, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

#14

Sweed Sweed Sweed. I don’t see this as a dissapointment. He is a deep threat as we all saw. He runs a fast route and uses his build to get to the ball. Now he just has to learn how to catch. Write this down. Sweed is going to break out next year. I still like everything about him. He’s a fantastic project in progress

by Hochuli loves Broccoli on Jan 12, 2009 1:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

7.

How about confusing the SD defense into thinking we were going to go for it, start the snap count, and then wait for them to burn a timeout. Tomlin looked very smart in the aspect of making sure Pitt owned the timeouts when the halves were closing. That’s just one more aspect where we controlled the game. Kudos big heads

by Hochuli loves Broccoli on Jan 12, 2009 1:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The refs might have screwed that one up, actually. I don’t know the intricacies of the rule, but that was a weird play.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jan 12, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That was legit

There is no rule limiting who can punt the ball: as long as it is behind the line of scrimmage and there has not been a pass you can punt. Kordell did this a couple times and I believe at one time owned the record for longest punt in Steelers history (maybe still does) on one of these punts that just kept rolling with no one there to return it.

by CarlWeathersMustache on Jan 12, 2009 11:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How many of us were screaming

for the pooch punt after the Giants game? I’m glad the higher ups are finally listening.

by Jonny B. on Jan 12, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Point #4 - Ike Taylor

I’m a big Ike Taylor fan, but I don’t think that he played particularly well. I concede that his coverage was fine on the first TD, but I remember watching some drives when Rivers hit whomever Ike was guarding in succession. It’s possible that most of what I’m thinking about occurred when we were in prevent, but it’s definitely something I would take a closer look at if I had the game TiVo’d. Anybody else think that Ike had an off day? Either way, I’m thrilled its a moot point and that our O line is starting to perform.

by HereWeGo on Jan 12, 2009 1:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ike had an okay game, but he might have been the best in our secondary, which as a whole was wretched. McFadden was lucky he didn’t give up a TD on that long third down play, let alone a long catch and a first. If Rivers puts the ball on target, Bmac’s not catching him. Polamalu missed a huge tackle on Gates?, got penalized for a (questionable) roughing call, and got embarassed by Sproles on that huge TD late. I could be wrong, but Clark should have been right with Ike and Jackson on that first TD – why is SD’s lone deep threat one on one down the field with Clark not appearing to cover anyone? Even on the first play of the game, why was no one covering Gates?

It didn’t really matter in this one, but if we pull this crap against a balanced team like Philly, we’re going to pay for it.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jan 12, 2009 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

TP was a non factor…I can’t see him having two quiet games in a row.

by HereWeGo on Jan 12, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

our D

was just good, nothing special at all yesterday. made a few big plays that we needed but our defense isnt going to just giftwrap us any SB. need our O to carry its weight some.

this is yet another reason in my opinion why its so big we’re playing BMore at home. Titans on road, no matter what u think of them, are more dangerous offensive team than BMore on the road.

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agree they were nothing special

But, I think the reason is the type of offense we faced. Up until garbage time the defense did what it had to do. San Diego has a really good O. Look at them for the most part and even whenthey were struggling they still put up big points. (I think they were the number one scoring offense) You can expect a few breakdowns against an offense like that. What we needed was to keep them out of the endzone. Outside of the early TD and garbage time they did that. Not many big plays on D needed.

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Jan 12, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

question

relating to 4th and 1 at the goal line, why not let ben sneak it, it cant be because you are worried about him taking a hit, since you put him in front of a DE to block, I think Ben would give you a better chance at the TD, the plays we choose on that down and distance this season have taken way to long to develop,

by indianasteelers on Jan 12, 2009 4:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs