Aaron Smith Out At Least Three Months

Ugh. At least Snack has been playing like a man possessed this year.

You sure Ike isn’t reacquainting himself with his fingers, he certainly doesn’t use them for catching. - Brian (DaBolts) on "Face Me Ike"

by steelguy99 on Oct 13, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

Oh boy

This one hurts.

by worldtrip on Oct 13, 2009 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

If they can sign Sonny Harris, I hope they do !

And soon

by lightningrod on Oct 13, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

Ugh

That eff-ing sucks.

" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.

by John Stephens on Oct 13, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions

All I can say is

we’ll see how good Ziggy is if they IR him for the rest of the season

"Polamalu’s lineage can be traced through several roots. Chuck Norris mated with an Amazon Queen, and on the other side, Tony Hawk mated with Mother Nature. The two children of these spawned and fused in a tantric love session to create Troy Polamalu. The mother however died as he tore through the birth canal with a spin move."
Mechem on the roots of Troy Polamalu

by WVPiratesfan on Oct 13, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

FML...

This is not good, to say the least.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Oct 13, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Crap

The one player on the DL we could least afford to lose. :(

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Oct 13, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

Ziggy/Eason/Travis time

Wonder how the percentage of playing time will work out.

BTSC Obituaries

OldManSteeler, ominously died two days before Superbowl 123 where the Ravens are set to attempt their 7th superbowl win, facing the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He was 86. His last words are believed to be "MALOR CAN SUCK IT!!!". Like friends and family, we can only guess what this could mean.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Oct 13, 2009 4:51 PM EDT reply actions

purple jesus looks a little more intimidating now

there’s no sense wasting bandwidth saying how horrible this is. I will say that I am glad I tempered my enthusiasm for this season by anticipating such devastating injuries.

I believe it was theSteelers D line coach who said that Eason and Travis K. have both improved significantly since 2007. Whoopy GD freakin doo. I want to go torment the browns fans now. And kick some puppies.

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Oct 13, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

4-3 and 2-4-5?

Wonder if we’ll see a whole lot more of the alternate packages, now.

All I can say is thank goodness we’ve got Lebeau to scheme around these problems.

by Varmint on Oct 13, 2009 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

Bummed

I am trying to stay optimistic, but this really stinks. I know everyone knows, but he is so valuable to the defense. I don’t see how we are going to stop AP now or even Jamal Lewis. Is he still playing for the Browns? I guess we will see what kind of intestinal fortitude this team has now.

Erik

by ekl on Oct 13, 2009 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

5 TD lead

is what we need from now onwards going in the 4th quarter.

by Han on Oct 13, 2009 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

Troy comes back Sunday

we’ll be fine

by SteelerStuckintheSouth on Oct 13, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Smith was saying that Ziggy Hood is gonna be a good one...

he’s gonna have to learn on the fly and step up. I can see them playing Kirschke on downs 1 and 2 and then have Hood come on the field on 3rd downs and obvious passing situations. Then, Eason can spell them and back them up. No time to panic, especially since they are supposedly much better then in 2007. I would get busy signing that Harris kid quickly if Aaron goes on the IR. Damn it Damn it Damn it…

by SteelersFnRule on Oct 13, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

Sucks the big one, but ...

that’s life sometimes. Wow, what a big hit, again!

by datruth4life on Oct 13, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

Blessing in disguise

Color me optimistic, but this might be the fire under the ass that the defense needs lit. They’re inspirational leader is out for the season (reportedly), they’re all-universe safety is a week away from coming back, and won’t be at 100%, the media is ripping the defense, Steeler Nation (including members of this blog) is ripping the defense, and other teams don’t seem to be afraid of them like they were last year. This is the time when guys like Harrison, Farrior, Snack, Woodley, Troy (when healthy), and Timmons step up. This is when superstars earn their money, status, and respect.

breathe in deep feel your heart beat, just to know that life's worth livin'. feel your feet on the earth, better love it while it's still here spinnin'.

by NoCal-SteelCity on Oct 13, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

I´m sorry for Smith, but kind of agree b/c this will put fire under all that D, and will force t

development of at least one player I think will be Ziggy or Sunny. And also force to call some crazy experiments from Le Beau´s lab.

O sales tickets,...and let D rest a little, and D Win Championships.

by YeOldeMexFan on Oct 14, 2009 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

"Sunny" Harris

Apparently his nickname is “Sunny”, not “Sonny”. Check Ed Bouchette’s most recent chat transcript.

Also, Ziggy isn’t ready to take over for Aaron, which might mean we made a mistake with our 1st round pick. Get ready for our run defense to drop a number of ranks.

by zacharai on Oct 13, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

I’m not going to change that….I have seen it spelled both ways, although it is more commonly (and I believe to be correctly) spelled Sonny.

It is a variation of Ra’Shon

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Oct 13, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Except he prefers "Sunny".

http://pit.scout.com/2/909026.html

by zacharai on Oct 14, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

saw that….

up until that article all the Pittsburgh media including the Steeler official site had it spelled “Sonny”…. my bad…you’re right.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Oct 14, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

And just because our first round draft pick isn’t ready to contribute in his first season doesn’t mean we made a mistake….

Cough….Troy Polamalu, Lawrence Timmons, Rashard Mendenhall, Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes…Cough….

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Oct 13, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

so true

and its not like he won’t contribute. Ziggy will be in a rotation playing and learning. Expecting the number 32 pick to come and start/replace the best 3-4 DE in the game is a lot to ask.

by SteelBuckeye on Oct 13, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s why I said ‘might mean’. I still think he was a good pick, and it might speed up his development to get first-team playing time.

And I don’t think Rashard’s proven his worth yet with two good games against the #21 and #27 ranked rushing defense.

by zacharai on Oct 13, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking the same thing

about him playing with the first-string more….he can pick up on tendencies and formations alot quicker with Potsie, Snack, Diesel, Troy and Deebo pointing things out to him between plays, telling him where to be and how/when/when not to blitz, etc.

I won’t be a bit surprised if he picks things up quickly and becomes a solid contributor by playoff time. Aaron Smith seems to think highly of him, as does LeBeau.

It’s going to be tough but, as someone said earlier today, we are alot better prepared for this now than we were the last time this happened. Hopefully the coaching staff and front office take notice of the fact that this isn’t the first time this has happened and draft some D-Linemen early on again. There are some good looking, very skilled guys in next year’s draft class.

We will miss Aaron, no doubt. Thank God Troy is coming back – we need him as badly as Sweed needs stick-em.

by SteelerStuckintheSouth on Oct 13, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea, I agree with most here and think this is a big loss. Hopefully Ziggy is ready to contribute more and Kirschke keeps playing pretty well.

by Jett on Oct 13, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

Here are the best available DE’s according to Adam Caplan from Oct. 7th.

Kevin Carter (DE in 3-4) – Source said he’s not interested in playing as of now.
Paul Spicer – Solid third end. Worked out for a few teams recently.
Travis LaBoy (OLB in 3-4) – Lots of injuries in his career, but still has talent.
Anthony Weaver (DE in 3-4) – Versatility should help him find work.
Kalimba Edwards – Should find work as a third end.
John Engelberger – Can play inside if needed. Decent backup.
Rosevelt Colvin (OLB in 3-4) – He’s had his share of injuries in his career and fits in as a backup.
Ebenezer Ekuban – Fits in as a third or fourth end.
Josh Thomas – Decent fourth end.
Earl Cochran – Texans took their restricted tender off the table, but have some interest in re-signing him at some point.
Jerome McDougle – Underachieving former first-round pick of the Eagles who has battled a lot of bad luck and injuries over his career.
Gary Stills – He was recently selected in the UFL draft.
Orpheus Roye – 3-4 DE who fits in as a fifth end. Worked out for the Falcons recently.
Simon Fraser – Can play in either 3-4 or 4-3, but is a deep backup.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Oct 13, 2009 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

Spicer and Colvin are decent and hard-workers

by SteelerStuckintheSouth on Oct 13, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Colvin is really a 3-4 linebacker as it says…he won’t be a fit

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Oct 13, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't need re-treads

The 7th DL never dresses anyhow, why bother putting Smith on IR and signing someone who won’t dress on Sundays? If there is a problem it’s because Eason and Kirschke have been occupying a roster spot for years with very little upside potential. We’ll see if they are “improved”. Steelers lost Fast Willie in ’07 but scored plenty of points…The loss of Aaron Smith was devastating as the Steelers went from one of the best run defenses with him to one of the worst without him. Check out the stats, Aaron Smith may be the league MVP. We need some HGH, a titanium shoulder, something, anything to get Smith back :(

by steelerwheeler on Oct 14, 2009 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions

thx for the list

I was just looking this up. I doubt the Steelers make a move until after the surgery, but it will be interesting to see how they act if Smith goes on IR. I really think it will be down to two people Sunny Sonny Harris or Roye. Will they go with youth or the old vet that knows the system? With it being so early in the season and Ziggy also a rookie, I think we may see Roye back again.

by SteelBuckeye on Oct 13, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you…they will likely wait until the surgery and might wait a few weeks after the surgery to find out what the Dr.’s say on the follow up appointments….

I will admit that I will be disappointed if Smith lands on IR and the Steelers don’t use the opportunity to snatch up Sonny Harris.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Oct 13, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

If Smith does go on the IR, I hope they pick Harris back up. I like what I saw in preseason, and it would not hurt to have some more developing youth on the DL.

BWT, you irreplaceable Steeler post is starting to get a good work out. :)

by SteelBuckeye on Oct 13, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

haha…I was just talking to Blitz about that this afternoon….we will see I guess.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Oct 13, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I really, really want us to sign Igor Olshanksy from SD in free agency

but he was kinda hi-profile, and i believe the Cowboys paid him pretty well.

Luckily, it’s still trade-time, and maybe we’ll see some miracle swap for a #1 quality DE. Or, I’d like to see Chris Hoke work at the LDE spot; he’s strong, quick, smart and damned well-experienced. He even managed to anchor the 3-4 at NT in ‘04 when The Snack got hurt. No reason he couldn’t play outside in a pinch.

Who signed “T-rex” Scott Paxson? I know he had tiny arms, but kid was a beast…

by tobiathan on Oct 13, 2009 6:11 PM EDT reply actions

*"wanted us to sign..."

by tobiathan on Oct 13, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

or trade Oakland for Richard Seymour

that’d give Beliturd fits, no doubt…

by tobiathan on Oct 13, 2009 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

ha

i was about to laugh that off – but you never know, al davis might want sweed… ;)

by acrollet on Oct 13, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah-it sounds silly at first

but think about this:

trade our two next 1st round picks for Namdi and Seymour, maybe a sixth and and seven or two in each as well.

in return, we get: the hands-down best cover cornerback in the NFL and a very serviceable 3-4 LDE, both with proven track records and no history of serious injury. Plus, we lose the risk of overpaying high-round rookies in a potentially un-capped year, or the dreaded “first-round-bust” sceneriao while retaining all our more useful mid-round picks.

Not to mention that no doubt both players would jump at a shot to play on a contender.

In my mind it’d be worth the effort and pose little to no risk, especially if we keep our 3-4-5-6 rounders in both years.

It’ll never happen, of course, but BOY: what if…??

by tobiathan on Oct 13, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Or, add Willie and Sweed

Al Dais DOES love speed……

Crazy thing is, it could probably get done if anybody really tried. And how much would Seymour help out IF we ever faced NE again??

Asomghu is just awesome. Pairing him with Ike would raise our sack counts exponentially.

As far out as it is, i’d cream my pants if it ever actually happaned, which I’M WELL AWARE IT WON’T(so don’t bother telling me how “stupid” an idea it is…)

by tobiathan on Oct 13, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions