Finally Out Of The Psych Ward...

after my mandatory 24 hour observation period after the Steelers loss. I'm  wondering if I'm letting the Steelers wins and losses affect my life a little too much? Maybe they are just an entertainment to be enjoyed only for what they can give me? Maybe I spend too much time on reading this blog and every other thing written about the Steelers on the net? Maybe I should learn to keep a football game in perspective with the rest of life?

Naa.

Steelers-oh-Steelers, wherefore art thou? I didn't get to see the game, but my buddy who is from the Burgh (He played his high school ball under Fran Rogell (SP?)) was quite adament that Bruce Ariens should be traded to the Browns for two cups of sugar and a potted plant. Maybe Bruce reads the blogs and his head swelled from all the posative things we have been saying about him? Well, no more. With the improvement of the offensive line (except blitz pick-up in this game, apparantly), Bruc Arians is a close second for weakest link in the Steelers organization.

What to do with the kick coverage team? I see that Arnold Harrison was fired today. Is that enough? I thought for sure that Anthony Madison would be re-signed, but not yet. Donovan Woods was promoted from the practice squad and no other player was signed so far. Something has to be done about Skippy. With him out there, the Steelers only have ten men on coverage and that wont do. Thank God the Steelers have TWO special teams coaches. When is one of them going to get fired?


From what I can gather about this game, the Steelers really only need a little tweeking to get over the hump. It seems that while our defense is well coached to not give up the big play, the other units seem to have missed that section of the job description. The Steelers are frequently giving up big plays on the special teams, and sometimes a pick-six on offense. One big play there can erase a lot of hard work in other areas of the game. As we saw with the Bengals game. Without that big play, the game is tied at thirteen apiece and maybe is extended into overtime.

I like the fact that action was taken. While I don't wish losing a job on anyone, I do believe in negative reinforcement in some instances. This is one of them. This message should serve as powerful motivation for the remaining players. If it doesn't, bring in another player and see if he can perform better than someone who is not cutting it. I think it might be time for the Steelers to take a play out of Vermiel's (SP?) play book and invite the men of Pittsburgh to try out for the special teams.

One of the tings I think I see, is that Big Ben doesn't trust Wallace to get to the deep ball. He constantly underthrows the rookie receiver. Ben needs to heave that sucker as far as he can and trust Wallace to run under it. It's just my uneducated opinion, but I believe that Wallace can get to Ben's farthest thrown ball. As I looked at the replay of one of the plays on the final series, I felt that Wallace was about to break away from the coverage and that Ben under-threw the ball. Had Ben thrown the ball five yards deeper, Wallace had a touchdown. I know, I know - Tuesday morning quarterback.

Probably the most painful part about this whole experience is how the commentators are slathering the praise on the Bengals. I don't think that the Steelers got as much praise or coverage after they won the Super Bowl. It is downrite discusting that when the Steelers win (Except after a Monday night victory) ESPN will not show much more than one or two plays, but when the Bengals beat the Steelers, break out the band, bring in the dancing girls, and drinks all around. Just makes me crazy...er.

Was it just me, or did Mike Tomlin look visibly angry after the game in his press conference? I wonder how things shake out when he gets angry about performance? What wil practice be like for the Steelers this week. Does he call BS BA into his office this week and give him a performance evaluation? I would so like to be a fly on the wall in the Steelers facility this week.

This loss presents another oppurtunity for the Steelers to maybe go to the Bengals house and knock them out of the playoffs again. Tell me, any of you, that wouldn't make these two losses worth it.

While this loss was painful, I am still really optimistic about the Steelers future this year. I like the remaining schedule. If you watched the Ravens and the Browns last night, you have to think those three games will have favorable outcomes for the Steelers. The Ravens have seriously digressed. Look at the schedule, the Steelers hardest games are at the Ravens and Dolphins. The Bengals still have to go to the Vikings, Chargers and Jets.

And in other news...

What can you say about Peyton Manning? He struck fear into the heart of Bill Belichick...Bill freakin Belichick. I dearly love to see th Hated Patriots lose. Thank you, Peyton Manning.

Did anyone catch John Gruden sticking up for Belichick last night on Monday Night Football. Gruden refered to the time his Bucs had the Colts 35 to 14 with five minutes left, a few years back, and Manning and the Colts came back to win the game. I never thought Manning could do it to the Hated Patriots.

It sure was interesting to watch the talking heads turn on their coaching god after just one mistake. I mean, it made me think that they secretly hated the man.

At least I'm not a Browns fan. Holy smokes is that team f****d up. And, I don't think Randy Learner can afford to fire another coach. Watching them this year, I'm convinced that Mangini is solely at fault for his quarterbacks poor play. Mangini has sysematically destroyed any confidence either of his quarterbacks might have had. Now, the NFLPA is looking into some of his coaching practices.

If Mangini is fired, will he ever coach in the NFL again?

Did anyone see the Redskins' field goal kicker throw the touchdown pass against the Broncos? One of the comentators said he couldn't believe that the Redskins tried the play after showing that they were going to try it before taking a timeout. I think that showing the trick play and then taking the timeout was planned. You have to think that the Broncos were sure there was no way the Redskins would try that again after showing their hand. Brilliant!

Josh McDanials is looking decidedly more uncomfortable in his post game press conferences. And, Brandon Marshall is looking a lot more discontent. This week, neither the Broncos or the Bears want to talk about their quarterback trade. Seems, everyone lost.

Of course, the Broncos do get the Bears first round pick in the draft, and it looks like it may be a high one after all. Can you say quarterback?

Right now, I think the two most dangerous teams that look like they will not make the playoffs are the Panthers and the Titans. They are going to change the landscape of the playoffs in the weeks to come.

I think the Hated Patriots and the Bengals both benefited from the same thing this week: The opposing quarterbacks were off their games.

As any of you that have read my ramblings know, I really don't like what has become of ESPN (Except for James Walker, the AFC North blogger). There is hope though. Have any of you watched Sports Nation? While I would never say it is what you might call, essential. It is entertaining. If you haven't watched it, give it a try. Last time I watched, Michelle Beatle was still trying to push "The Akron Hammer".

Okay, thanks for reading.

Go Steelers!