Finally!

It's about time! All it took was for Big Ben to throw for 503 yards, every last second of the game, and a Mike Wallace falling, tip-toe catch in the endzone. All after Tomlin makes what is questioned as a bonehead call, the attempted onside kick, that turns out to be brilliant.

Why brilliant you ask? Think back to that kickoff and ask yourself if you didn't have a sinking feeling about the Steelers defense and its inability to stop a good quarterback in the final minutes of the game? I did. Swear to God, I was thinking onside kick. I didn't want the game to be in the hands of the defense. What do you know, onside kick. Tomlin didn't want the game to be in the hands of the defense either. Beyond that though was the thinking: If the onside kick fails and the defense gives up a quick touchdown, the Steelers still have time to win the game. And, they did. Brilliant... This time.

Think back to the loses this year. How many ended with the game in the defenses hands? Is that the diference between last years tight wins and this years tight loses, who had the ball on offense last? Hmmm...

That isn't the only thing. I have to lay alot of the defenses late game troubles firmly at the feet of William Gay. William Gay = automatic five to seven yards on a quick pass. With Gay on the corner and Carter in the middle, there is a flat and the shallow center left vulnerable. I don't fault Carter as much, he is second string. A team can't have two hall-of-fame strong safetys. Sure, you can talk about the level of performance not dropping off, but seriously, no drop from a hall-of-famer? That is just not realistic. That leaves us with William Gay. Sorry dude, you're under the bus.

Finally, the comentators, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman (Duh...Why did Tomlin try the onside kick?), talked about coaching changes for the Steelers. That was a welcome topic and I was glad that the discussion may have started in the media. Does it mean that Arians, Zerlin, the receivers coach (Whoever that is), the defensive secondary coach and both of the special teams coaches will definately be canned? Who knows? But, the subject has been broached and that means that more people than a few of us bloggers have been thinking about it.

Five-hundred and three yards! Ben is giving Santa ulcers. Hold the ball for six seconds and take a sack - Coal. Throw a touchdown with no time left - something good. Some guy at Pharmacy.com is looking at his boss and asking, "Are you sure this address for the North Pole is good for this case of Maloxx?" Seriously though, does Ben's performance save Arian's job? Or did we see a hall-of-fame quarterback put a team on his back and win the game in spite of Arains?

Let me ask you this: How good is Ben Rothlisberger behind a great line with a great O.C.? Wouldn't you like to know the answer to that question? Next question: How good is Rashard Mendenhall running behind a great line? See what I'm saying?


In weight training there is something called weak point training. It is when an athlete has a weak point and trains it extra hard to make it a strength. The Steelers need to do some weak point training on catching the ball. The whole team! I just love when the commentators mention every game that the Steelers corners have no ( 0 ) interceptions. If zero weren't already a number, someone would have had to invent it for the Steelers cornerback's interception statistics. Don't even get me started on all the critical drops the wide receivers have had (no need for the number zero there - not even close). The Steelers need a coach with some talent teaching people to catch a ball thrown to them, and more talent teaching defensive backs how to hold on to the ball. At some point, you would think that someone would point out that those things at the end of their wrists are hands. Everyone on the Steelers needs to make catching the ball a priority.

I can only describe the feeling that I get every time the Steelers get called for holding as rage. Not because the Steelers commited holding, but because there is so much BLATENT holding against the Steelers defense that is never called. I can't go to zoos because I don't know what I might do to the zebras. It's not good. I have to stop talking about this now.

What can you say about Mike Wallace? What a delightful surprise! Limas who? How much more confident will he be after making that Super Bowl type catch yesterday? How good is he going to be in his second year? I'm telling you, if the Steelers get a quality O.C. next year with three great recievers and a great runnig back, their offense could be unstopable. Chalk this year up to a bad year for the defense (Only fourth), get them back on track, and get rolling. Of course, this is if nothing goes wrong, which it never does in the NFL.

I found myself much more calm yesterday facing another Steelers loss. I had visions of draft picks dancing in my head (Little Christmas reference there). What, you didn't know I was an optimist?

This year, Scout.com rates a whopping fifty-two players as five star NFL prospects. If the Steelers pick before twenty, they could get two of them. And, with some shrewd trading (Here comes the fantasy), they could get three. Watching the Steelers this year, I think they need to address corner, defensive line and safety, in that order. You may disagree with the specifics, but you can't disagree with the fact that the defense is the critical area this year for the draft.

Cornerback went from being an area that was wait-and-see to, "we've seen enough", and William Gay isn't the answer. He may bounce back and perform next year, but let's not bet the defense on it. What about the two third rounders drafted this year you ask? I'm asking the same thing. I've seen burnett on the field but have seen neither hide nor hair of Lewis. Drafting a cornerback is something only the coaching staff can decide. But, for arguments sake, let's assume that they hang tight with what they have, then the Steelers should draft a defensive lineman first...again.

The defensive lineman we are most concerned about replacing is Big Snack. Now remember, he was a first year starter and a four time pro-bowler, so drafting someone to replace him will be very hard. Big_Jay71 does a mock every week (If you don't read it, I highly recomend it) and he likes Dan Williams out of Tennesee better than Cody out of Alabama. I think he is right, but I'm still intrigued by Cody. I think he would be freakishly athletic for that big of a man if he lost a few more pounds and slimed down to, oh say, three hundred and forty pounds. Anyway, I think that the Steelers have a legitimate shot at a pretty good defensive lineman. One as good as Big Snack? It would be hard to do. You're optimistic? Look at last years first round draft pick.

Which leaves us with the safety position. Yes, I like Ryan Clark too. I think Clark is very good as long as he has Troy on the field with him, but without him, clark is not as good as I'd like. I think that with added responsibility he is not up to the task and is only good when those around him are really good. Unfortunately, this year, those around him were merely okay. And, I like the big hits, but a big hit after the guy has caught the ball is still one in the fail column. Safetys are as hard as any position to draft for though. There have been several safetys over the past few years that I've liked in the draft who have only turned out to be okay.  The last part of the Steelers safety equation is Mundy. Will he be the future safety for the Steelers? The Steelers coaches would know best, and so far, they aren't talking. So, I think at this point, safety should be addressed in the draft.

I don't take myself too seriously about this stuff. If I knew what I was talking about, I might have a job in football. All the same, I would like to hear the opinions of the rest of you arm chair coaches.

I think the biggest question in football, for me, not concerning the Steelers, is whether or not the Colts should try for the undefeted season by playing their starters the rest of the year? I say "Yes". Historically, the Colts have not played well after taking time off during the season after wrapping up the home field advantage. I just don't think a team keeps its edge if they are not battling for every win late in the season. I'll make a prediction here (my predictions are usually wrong), the Colts don't go to the Super Bowl if they yank their starters early in the next two games.

Another comment on the Colts: There is something to be learned from how they get corners to perform. You can't tell me that they are constantly finding late round corner talent any better than the Steelers are drafting or signing. This is just a guess here, but I bet it has something to do with coaching. Oh, I've addressed this already?

Holmgren to the Browns? Is he going to cry every time the Steelers beat the Browns? I hope so. Seriously, if you want a man who can get you to the Super Bowl, but not necessarily win it, then he is your man. Maybe it would be enough for the Browns to get to the big one. Anything is better than what they are doing now (Yeah I know).

Jamarcus Russel's paper weight status seems to be in jepardy. Oh, no the Raiders are still starting Frye. That sure is a big, fat, lazy hole he dug for himself.

Jay Cutler, after seeing your performance this season, you just look like a cry-baby last off season.

Don't look now, but the Cowboys are back. Romo is the greatest, Wade's job is not in jepardy, and a Super Bowl is on the horizen. Again, too bad they have to win all those games.

I never thought I would hear it, but the media is saying (Are you ready), the Hated patriots aren't that good. Gasp! How, in the name of all that is holy, can they say that? I mean isn't Belichich the greeeeaaaatest coach to ever grace football? I mean, doesn't he have a trophy named after him? No? A stadium? No? Four Super Bowls in six years? What do you mean he doesn't have four Super Bowls? Chuck has four. In six years. I guess Billy's day in the sun is almost over and we can move on to remembering him as (Here it comes) a cheater. Just makes me feel good to say.

I haven't watched Tony Dungy for the last couple of weeks and I can tell you, he is much more entertaining that way.

Now that the Panthers whooped the Vikings, do you think they fire John fox at the end of this year? Will Bill Cower set a trend in coaching? Pick the area you want to live, move there, and wait for a head coaching job to open up in your area. Anyone else want to try it? If he gets the job, he gets into the hall of fame just for that. Conversly, if you're a head coach, should you be nervous if Bill moves into your area?

The more I read Peter King, the less inclined I am to keep reading. I used to love his column until I learned more about football. The more I learn the less I think he actually knows. He is like the tomato you buy in the grocery store. It is not bread for good taste, but rather, to be produced in mass quantity. Like Peter King, no real substance, lots of words. He always has to mention in his Monday morning column how late he stayed up the night before writing mediocrity. We get it dude, you work hard one day a week.

You ask why I keep reading him? Habit. But one I'm breaking. I just skim his articles now to see if he has anything unique. God knows his well thought-out late-night insights aren't worth s**t. Not like mine.

Okay, you've been patient, it is almost over.

I'd like to say thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the early Christmas present.

Merry Christmas to all of you who have written so much and helped me get through another Steelers season with most of my sanity intact.

Go Steelers.