BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Cardinals vs. Steelers Rematch Edition

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 30, 2009 2:30 PM EDT

IX- A rematch of Super Bowl XLIII is coming much quicker than you probably realize. The NFL released the preseason schedule for the 2009 season, and the Steelers will match up against the Cardinals at Heinz field on August 13^th on ESPN. The full schedule can be viewed here, the Steelers will also be playing at Washington (I'll be there, let me know if you want to tailgate), vs. Buffalo, and finish the preseason at Carolina.

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X- Limas Sweed started his off-season preparation approximately three days after the Steelers Victory in Super Bowl XLIII. The Steelers official website has some tidbits on where Sweed feels he can step in and succeed in his second NFL season. From this article and the previous posting from NYSteelersFan4 it appears that Sweed is saying and doing all the right things to have a breakout season in 09, hopefully the results of his preparation will show up this season on Sundays.

XIII- The votes were calculated and the 48% of BTSC'ers believe the Steelers will take Alex Mack, the center from California University with their first round pick. The only problem is the Steelers have only taken two centers in the first round in the entire history of the draft and both of those picks were over 65 years ago. The Beaver County Times thinks the Steelers' past trends could mean that A.Q. Shipley will be the center that the Steelers choose in this year's draft.

XIV- The 2009 Dapper Dan awards ceremony is being held this week and Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau will both be recipients of awards at the regional celebration. Tomlin said he considers himself a "Western PA" guy at this point in his life, and LeBeau will be honored with a lifetime achievement award that celebrates his contributions on and off the field in the Pittsburgh area. If you are worried that the 72 year old LeBeau will burn out soon do to old age, look no further than his mother, Buelah, who is alive and well at age 95.

XL- A bizarre piece from USA Today regarding death rates and the effect winning and losing Super Bowls has on the cities that are involved. From my understanding of the research, the Steelers have killed more people than any other franchise in the NFL. Add it to the mantle.

XLIII- This article is not Steeler related but that's good news since it's a list of the top 10 draft busts in the last twenty years. The only team in the AFC North to show up is the Bengals. They show up not once, or twice, but a whopping three times. Who would you say are the top ten draft busts in recent NFL history? And who do you think is the biggest Steeler first round bust in the last 20 years?

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I'll be there

for the Washington Preseason game, actually like less then an hour from there so would love to meet up and tailgate man.

by LayinTheWoodley on Mar 30, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions

not 100% sure I will be there, but the assumption is I will

People can’t give their pre-season tickets away for redskins though, so I will try to get some on the cheap.

What part of the area are you at?

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

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 30, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I am in Northern,VA

West of Dulles Airport, MD is 15min north and WV is 15min west so up in the tip of VA kinda NE of DC, yourself?

by LayinTheWoodley on Mar 30, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I used to live in Sterling for about three years so I know that area well.

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

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 30, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm 25 miles south now...

Woodbridge, VA area

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

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 30, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea I am 20min from Sterling

Just west of Leesburg in a little town called Hamilton. So yea man you know where to find me on here obviously, would be up for sharin a beer or two at the game.

by LayinTheWoodley on Mar 30, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Hook a brutha up

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Mar 30, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

This decade...

I’d say the candidates are:
2000: Courtney Brown, Peter Warrick
2001: David Terrell
2002: David Carr, Joey Harrington, Mike Williams (Bills Tackle)
2003: Charles Rogers, Johnathan Sullivan (???)
2005: Alex Smith, Ced Benson, PacMan, Mike Williams (Detroit WR)
2006: VY
2008: Vernon Gholston (projected)

IMO, I think a bust at QB or WR isn’t necessarily as bad as a bust at another position. At least drafting a QB early gives the organization hope of a new era…even if those hopes are dashed when the guy’s Wonderlic test becomes public. Also, both positions are hard to evaluate and develop, which is shown by how often they don’t pan out. So an organization that makes a QB or WR mistake isn’t per se incompetent. That said, an organization that drafts anything but a sure thing QB or WR in the top ten is taking a huge risk. And an organization that does so repeated is, by definition, insane (see Detroit).

by HoustonPA on Mar 30, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

Agree with most

But Benson isnt quite a bust yet, he at least is still in a spot to start for the Bengals

BLITZBURGH IS BACK

by Michael Hewitt on Mar 30, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Tim Worley

It was only 19 years ago the Steelers drafted Tim Worley. He was taken SEVENTH overall and barely gained 1100 yards in his career. I’m sure he barely missed this list of biggest busts.

by CarlWeathersMustache on Mar 30, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

Even if it only is preseason, I can't wait to see this face again :)

by tdp992 on Mar 30, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Let's call that one...

…the “There’s a Video of My Mom Doing What on the Internet” Face

by HoustonPA on Mar 30, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Man I am as big of a Steeler fan as anyone here, and even found your " title" to the post funny, but also a little messed up when you realize his mom died of cancer back in 2003. Not tryin to be a dick or stir the pot, just wanted to bring that to light.

by LayinTheWoodley on Mar 30, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Oopsie...

I had no idea and didn’t even think to check that out.

Let’s change it to…the “I Just Got Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals” Face.

by HoustonPA on Mar 31, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

hehehe

by tdp992 on Mar 31, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s a beautiful thing.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Mar 30, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

No no no no no no

Sorry Fitz :)

BLITZBURGH IS BACK

by Michael Hewitt on Mar 30, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's not forget 1983!

I thought for sure the Steelers would draft Dan Marino with our 21st selection in 1983. Instead, we passed on Dan for Gabe Rivera, a DL from Texas Tech.

Unfortunately for Gabe and his family, he was paralyzed (in a car accident by a drunk driver) a few games into his rookie season.

Unfortunately for us, Dan Marino went on to become the games most prolific passer.

I also had issues with us trading our 1st round pick to Dallas in 1990. We dropped down to take Eric Green, Dallas took at #17 Emmitt Smith, who is now the most profilic rusher in NFL history.

And Huey Richardson in 1991! What was that!

Rivera might have been a good player, and Green was, but to pass on Marino and Smith….. I would classify those 2 choices (in hindsight) as huge busts!

by imike29 on Mar 30, 2009 3:33 PM EDT reply actions

Jamaine Stephens.

by Cols714 on Mar 30, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

Top 10 Steeler busts

This is the 10 year anniversary of the Steelers last first-round bust, WR Troy Edwards. As well as they’ve drafted lately, here’s a list that reminds us the draft is still a crapshoot.

1. LB Huey Richardson (1991, No. 15 overall, Florida). Great DE at Florida but a total bust as a conversion to OLB. Played five games, cut after one season. Out of football in three years.
2..OT Jamain Stephens (1996, No. 29 overall, North Carolina AT & T): A huge, overweight, fat project who had trouble surviving practice, let alone games. Cut after three seasons
3. DE Darryl Sims (1985, No. 20 overall, Wisconsin): Two seasons with Steelers, four in the NFL, total three sacks.
4. G Tom Ricketts (1989, No. 24 overall, Pittsburgh): Three seasons, eight starts. The second of two first-round busts that year.
5. RB Tim Worley (1989, No. 7 overall, Georgia): Best season was his first, 770 yards. Very strong runner who never figured out how to hang onto the football.
6. G John Rienstra (1986, No. 9 overall, Temple): Five seasons and 42 GP with Steelers.
7. DE Aaron Jones (1988, No. 18 overall, Eastern Kentucky): Five seasons and 9.5 sacks with the Steelers.
8. RB Greg Hawthorne (1979, No. 28 overall, Baylor): Five seasons overall, drafted to replace Franco Harris. Great athlete with size, speed but went down at the drop of a hat. Best season, 226 rushing yards, later converted to wide receiver and caught a few passes, finishing his career as a backup receiver with the Patriots.
9. WR Troy Edwards (1999, No. 13 overall, Louisiana Tech): Great rookie season with 61 catches, 714 yards. Bad hands. Cut after three seasons.
10. QB Mark Malone (1980, No. 28 overall, Arizona State): Eight seasons with Steelers, drafted to eventually replace Bradshaw and unfortunately he did. Great athlete (top decathlete) who could run well (before injuries) and throw the ball a mile … and often did throw it a mile too far to receivers 20 yards away. A good guy who worked hard and my wife loved him because he looked like Tom Selleck, but just couldn’t hit receivers. Caught a Steeler record 90-yard TD pass from Bradshaw in his second year, his only career reception.
Special Mention: RB Dick Leftridge (1966, No. 3 overall, West Virginia|): The original Javorskie Lane, ate his way out of the league in one year, ballooning to 280 pounds in his rookie season. Played four games, eight carries for 17 yards.Later served time in federal prison for drug dealing.

by steeler.lifer on Mar 31, 2009 3:00 AM EDT reply actions