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Chinks in the Armor

The Steelers have a well scouted "army of athletes" playing a physical brand of football. We have so many players that can flat out "dominate" an opposing team. Their armor is strong on both sides of the ball, but nothing is perfect. We have "Chinks in the Armor" like every known team to man. Hey Dick and Bruce, lets fix these chinks "grandpas"! (No pun Intended) 


Star-divide

  • Ok first you grandpa Arians, whats up with the lack of balance through 4 quarters? You need to let "Running Hard Rashard" loose more in the 4th Qtr. Ben has dominated early this season, we always have a lead early behind his arm. So here is what I need you to do Bruce: Get the pigskin to Holmes, Wallace, Heath, and Ward early. Make teams do a lot of zone defenses to try and slow our passing attack down. But don't get greedy. After building a solid lead with Big Ben's amazing arm, you let someone else loose. 

(Above Pic) "This is Arians, I have that 14 point lead you said i would get. Who do I unleash now again?" 

<a class='sbn-auto-link' href='http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/34448/Rashard_Mendenhall'>Rashard Mendenhall</a> #34 of the  <a class='sbn-auto-link' href='http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/PIT'>Pittsburgh Steelers</a> carries the ball during a preseason NFL game against the <a class='sbn-auto-link' href='http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/MIN'>Minnesota Vikings</a> at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome  August 23, 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  (Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rashard Mendenhall

This man right above me Bruce. The AFCs 8th rusher in yards gained. Also is 3rd among top 15 rushers in Avg YPC. And if the five 300 plus pound individuals can blow open a hole. You can watch "Running Hard Rashard" run hard with reckless abandon! You won't get many negative gains with his burst. And he is great at gaining yards after initial contact. When D's stack the line after Mendenhalls good runs, I expect Ben to exploit the man to man matchup(aka audible the play). Leave "Running Hard Rashard" to be "Blocking Hard Rashard", he is a strong blocker. Ben can then give the ball to Holmes and Wallace in space with only one man to beat. The offensive formula is deadly Bruce. Use it wisely, and warning it may cause "excessive winning". 

 

  • Ok now you grandpa LeBeau, whats up with the personnel in the secondary this year? Why are you letting Ratliff and Townsend cover TEs and 3rd WRs who are way too fast for them? Why is Tyrone Carter such a liability in the passing game? Looks like age has caught up with these three. They are solid players on any other defense, but they can not get it done in ours. You need speed to be good at coverage, it is the most important factor in keeping up with receivers. 

(Above Pic) "Wow, you are actually making a little sense BlitzKurtain. So what should I do? In your opinion of course."

Unleash Mundy, Dick. He was great in college so lets see what he can do in the pro game. He is a hard hitter who is disciplined and brings way more speed than Carter. More speed will cover more field in less time. It is his 2nd year in this defense, he should be ready to contribute to the fear we give offenses. 

As for the 3rd CB position. Give the nod to this young ball hawk. Keenan Lewis was a big reason our 2nd string defense was good in the pre season. Lets see what he can bring to our secondary. Remember last time you started a rookie CB with good speed? Yeah Bryant Mcfadden was great when he had limited responsibilities as a 3rd CB. Lewis wasn't beat deep in college, I don't see that changing. His size alone can upgrade our secondaries run defense. Playing Time is all thats missing from this kids success story. 

(Above Pic) "This is Mike Tomlin, and I approve this message!"

Poll
Would you "rec" my article please?

  73 votes | Results

1 recs  |  Comment 21 comments  |  Add comment

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Understand your impatience, but I agree with the coaches...

….cause they know more than either of us.

CT is going with MeMo in the fourth quarter because of exactly what happened on the
Vikings four yard line last week. Mendy is a risk to fumble. That ain’t exactly the way to put away an opponent.

And, as for the defensive backfield, the schemes are incredibly complicated. With Polamalu out – and now at less than 100% – Coach Dad wisely decided to stick with the veterans for now. A mistake can kill you back there.

If there’s a knock of LeBeau I’ll even consider listening to, it’s that he waits too long to give young players a chance. And it’s true that Polamalu sat as a rook, and Deebo waited forever. But I look at his record and reputation and trust his judgement. That said, I think you’ll be seeing a lot more of Mundy this year…and Lewis, probably next year.

If the Steelers had some big leads, we would be seeing a lot more of the depth chart on the field, but there hasn’t been that luxury so far.

I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson

by Homer J. on Nov 1, 2009 8:24 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Nice Homer

Yes the coaches know more than us.
But we know what we know too. We know the stats and the athleticism as witnessed in highlights and game film.

I think Rashard should be fed the ball to make up for his excuses. Give him a purpose to run for. Motivate him beyond just the game itself. Like in San Diego, when he was playing “determined” to prove his draft status.

Yes a mistake can kill you back there. Thats exactly how we lost to Chicago and Cincy. Remember those two TD throws directly at Carter? I’m sure Mundy would have made that play.

He waits too long because of the personnel decisions by Coach T. Which is to stick with Veterans. But this years Vets have been slow. We need to give our talented young pick to shine. Like we did with Wallace. I don’t see this move hurting us in any way.

Thats true and I think passing early,and mixing in the run will give us many leads. Our OL is so much better. Which makes our skill players so deadly.

Ben has magic. Only a hand full of QBs can dominate like him. We see that every year. Why don't the dumb asses out there see it...

by BlitzKurtain on Nov 2, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Your points aren't without merit, however the MMQB tone that is set annoys me.

Not a fan of anyone not named Mike Tomlin questioning Coach Dad. Even Tomlin knows better than to question Lebeau.

I armchair quarterback Arains all the time as does most of Steeler Nation, but Lebeau? Never.

"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 Nov 1, 2009 11:07 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Uhh... ok

I was just “role playing” dude lol. No harm intended on any coach.
I would never question the godfather of defense.

Ben has magic. Only a hand full of QBs can dominate like him. We see that every year. Why don't the dumb asses out there see it...

by BlitzKurtain on Nov 2, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Steelers have shown some flashes but they haven't been able to run consistently.

I’d love to see the Steelers protect a lead in the 4th quarter by grinding it out the way they used to do. But this team simply hasn’t made a very strong commitment to the ground game. Still, you can’t knock their reliance on the pass, even late in the game. Face it: we don’t have the Bus anymore and neither Mendy nor FWP are going to convert a reasonable percentage in 3rd-and-short or goal-line situations. Also, other teams with passing firepower will blow you out of the water if you go conservative late in the game.

But I agree that we don’t need to be calling post patterns when all we need is 7 or 8 yards to get a first down. Assuming that he’s calling the plays, Arians often gets too greedy for the team’s own good in the second half. I sometimes wonder if this guy has ever heard about RB screens or passes to the RBs. He calls extremely few.

As for LeBeau, he has to stay with the guys he believes can get it done. Apparently, he doesn’t think Mundy or Lewis are ready to start yet. But as we’ve seen with Ziggy Hood, sometimes key injuries will accelerate a young player’s development.

by Billy52 on Nov 1, 2009 6:10 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Intresting points Billy52

But the Steelers do run consistently as far as gaining yards. They just don’t run very often. Because the passing game is favored to build and extend leads.

We don’t have the Bus but don’t forget about our OL. They alone can ignite this running game.

I think LeBeau believes Keenan Lewis can get it done. Mike Tomlin just likes to save new talent for later. Like their saving Isaac Redman on the PSquad.

Ben has magic. Only a hand full of QBs can dominate like him. We see that every year. Why don't the dumb asses out there see it...

by BlitzKurtain on Nov 2, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Will you be going to................................

the Hall of Fame like LeBeau is? I’m sure he knows more than you do. Remind me never to read another post of yours.

by grapes on Nov 1, 2009 7:40 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

LOL ok

Hey uhhh… “grapes” (lol why do they call you grapes?)
Don’t. Ever. Read. Another. BlitzKurtain. Post!

Ben has magic. Only a hand full of QBs can dominate like him. We see that every year. Why don't the dumb asses out there see it...

by BlitzKurtain on Nov 2, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I rec'd that

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Nov 2, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

lol Thanx PixburghArn

But May I Know Why?

Ben has magic. Only a hand full of QBs can dominate like him. We see that every year. Why don't the dumb asses out there see it...

by BlitzKurtain on Nov 2, 2009 10:53 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I rec'd Johnny's comment

Because I like irony

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Nov 2, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh sweet irony

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

by Johnny_S on Nov 2, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Wasn't fishing

Its just a funny poll.

Ben has magic. Only a hand full of QBs can dominate like him. We see that every year. Why don't the dumb asses out there see it...

by BlitzKurtain on Nov 2, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Would you “rec” my article please?

You’ve got a tackle box full of bait and a big fishing rod in your hand and you are trying to tell me you aren’t headed down to the lake? I don’t buy it.

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

by Johnny_S on Nov 2, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

They're props

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Nov 2, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for all the great comments Steeler Nation...

Hope there are more real fans who would read my stuff lol

Ben has magic. Only a hand full of QBs can dominate like him. We see that every year. Why don't the dumb asses out there see it...

by BlitzKurtain on Nov 2, 2009 10:53 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Here go some good pics

http://i.oodleimg.com/item/1626473561u_0x?1256144978
I guess it only posts a link lol

Ben has magic. Only a hand full of QBs can dominate like him. We see that every year. Why don't the dumb asses out there see it...

by BlitzKurtain on Nov 3, 2009 12:59 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

i just blew my

………..load! took me a sec to compute, then it HAPPENED. nicccce bltktz

Ron Paul was Right.

by Steelchamps !! on Nov 3, 2009 2:49 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs


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