And people still try to say we only win by luck.

If they could just pull the trigger at the right time and not get costly turnovers, we would be alright. Against Denver I remember the fumble came just as we were beginning to establish a rhythm on offense, and the interception was in the endzone, on what was an obvious running situation. What really stands out to me though, isn’t that we had the two costly turnovers. It was Ben on the sideline rallying the troops after each one, and then marching down the field and regaining the momentum. That is proof that he is a leader of men.

But I’m being picky in my criticism. This is an elite offense and now that the line is playing the way Ben always told everyone they could (in no small part to his leadership, belief in the unit, and friendship of said unit). I think they are only just beginning to open up as well. They stuttered against Chicago and Minnesota somewhat, but really got a swagger going after Denver.

Bring on the Bengals. I am SO ready for Sunday.

These projected stats definetly reflect what could very well become one of the best offensive statistic-season in Steelers annals.
Having been watching other games not involving the black & gold, one can appreciate the incredible talent level that the steelers field at the skill positions and in the coaching staff who have been consistently putting guys in situations where they have had success. There are teams in the league that don’t even come close to having the production that we are getting from everybody on offense, and whose offensive coaching staff is questionable at best.
I, for one, am pretty excited for what the second half of the season and the run to the playoffs will be like, specially since I will be able to go up to the BAL game at Heinz.
One of the things that was clear from the MSP Steelers preview Blitz et. al wrote was that this team had the potential to play much better on offense, and that has slowly been taking lace before our eyes, beginning to peak at the right time of the year.
Can’t wait for the big sunday show-down.

Hines Ward: 49 receptions, 646 yards, 13.2 yards per reception, 80.8 yards/game, 4 TDs, 77% catch rate
On Pace For: 98 receptions, 1,292 yards, 8 TDs, 54.6 yards/game, 3 TDs,

isn’t something wrong with this mathematics?

if you look only at his starts, Mendenhall has:

5 starts, 93 carries for 528 yards (5.7 y/c, 106 yards/game) w/ 4 TDs

If you assume he starts every game going forward, and project those numbers, he should have the following over the next 8 games:

148 carries for 845 yards w 10 TDs

add those to his current numbers, and you have:

248 carries for 1318 yards with 14 TDs

I think I have the math right there….

I like the O-Line stats, we’re now 11th in line yards, which is a huge move up. They run heavily in the middle of the line and off right tackle, which I think we all know.

Cincinnati is ranked 17th, and has a greater spread of where they run, they really mix it up.

Also Run defense stats we are #1 in Line and RB yards, but an interesting situation arises in the numbers: We are 5th in the percentage of run plays stuffed, at 24%, but power success against us (picking up a first down or TD in short yardage) is at 71%, putting us 22nd in the league. Power success is only run plays.
The Power stat might be suffering from a lag in our improvement, since third and 2 is a bit rarer now, so it will be interesting to watch short yardage plays from now on.

Cincy’s run defense is rated solidly, but they aren’t great at stuffs or power defense, so I think it is a flowing to the ball defense more than a jam the line defense. That didn’t work so well in Denver’s favor, but we’ll see how Cincy does. Cincy also gives up the third least amount of runs over 10 yards. This game is a good test for Mendenhall, because if Cincy’s Defense is represented by their stats he will get short runs but will not get many long ones, which means more carries and more importance on ball control.

One last thing The breakdown of line yards per direction for our defense is interesting, up the middle and off guard we are the 3rd best on line yards. Kudos Casey Hampton, you’ll get your money somewhere.
Off the ends we are 7th (left) and 4th (right), our pursuit and stretching the play is as good as it ever was, also welcome back Troy.
Off Tackle on either side we are 10th (on average 1/2 yard more than up the middle), so while that is still a great number for Ziggy and Eason, they still aren’t Aaron Smith. It’s good to see that teams can’t exploit them with much greater success though.

As for Ben, what a job he is doing. I’ll take that completion percentage and sack numbers over smartly throwing the ball away. It makes the O-line and receivers work harder through the play knowing Ben will hold that ball till they get open or he gets hit. I love it.

These numbers are simply outstanding!!

Do ou guys know if any team has ever had 3 receivers over the 1000 yrd mark before?

read that we’re winning on a wing and a prayer. It’s amazing the different perspectives of reading cold hard statistics and emotionally watching the plays unfold.

His numbers are fantastic (especially the completion %!), and yet still we listen to national commentators wonder if he’s among the NFL’s elite QBs. Just this week, prior to the Sunday night game, NBC had a discussion about whether he’s an “elite” quarterback, with more than one of the commentators (can’t remember which ones now) excluding him for the same usual b.s. — he holds the ball too long, he throws too many picks, blah blah blah. Then, on Tuesday on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” in the morning, there was a discussion about whether Drew Brees should “join the big two of Brady and Manning” as the league’s elite QBs. When Roethlisberger was brought up, the comment was “he’s great, he’s just not that type of quarterback.”

So what type of quarterback is he? Well, this season, he’s 1st in the league in completion %, 4th in passer rating and 4th in yards passing. Not too bad. Beyond that, he’s the youngest QB to ever win a Super Bowl; he’s 8-2 in the playoffs for his career; he’s the winningest QB in his first five (and soon to be six) years in league history; he’s the architect of more comeback wins in the NFL over that time than any other QB, including the greatest Super Bowl winning drive of all-time; and he’s the cornerstone of the premier franchise in the NFL. That’s f**cking elite.

I try not to get too caught up in media pundits. I’ll take Lombardis over their hollow accolades any day. As Steeler fans, we know what Ben Roethlisberger is and where he ranks among NFL QB’s. Sometimes I just wish others could see it, too…

Ben tried to stretch the middle of the field with Heath on Monday, and the ball was high, went through the tips of his fingers…I couldn’t believe it. I certainly won’t credit Heath with a “drop”, but the ball hit his hands and he didn’t catch it. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that before.

What is Limas Sweed’s drop rate, I mean catch rate? Could you figure that out however you did the others?