BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Breaking Down The Line Edition

by drinkyourmilkshake on Jul 10, 2009 11:41 AM EDT Comment 23 comments

IX-A while back Bruce Arians stated that he attributed only 19 of the 49 sacks allowed by the Steelers last year to the offensive line. He attributed the other 30 to running backs, wide receievers missing assignments, poor play calling, or the quarterback holding onto the ball. In a free article from Steel City Insiders, Frank Tursic, has an amazing article that breaks down the sacks by player and his results may surprise you, but it will surley give you some perspective on the state of our line versus the other dominant teams in recent years.

X-I saw this video about a month after Super Bowl XLIII, but Mondesi's house brought it back to my attention, and since I was looking for a video to show, this will work. Pretty amusing stuff, although I doubt Ben or Santonio would be any match for Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl.

XIII-Nice Pick Cowher had a great find, by pointing out this excellent debate between proclaimed member of Steeler Nation, Curt Schilling and journalist Michael Felger. Curt and Felger spew written venom at each other with Schilling defending the Steelers and Steeler Nation with all he has, and Felger acting like a whinny little girl that lost her barbie doll.

XIV-One of the most watched and enjoyed Pittsburgh Sports programs looks like it will be coming to an end on Monday. The television show that started in 1991 originally called "Sportsbeat" and later renamed "Savaran on Sportsbeat", is being canceled by Fox Sports Net. This show and its host Stan Savaran are quite possibly the most respect original sports show in the Pittsburgh Market. While the show could be picked up by another network, in today's economy original programming is not exactly what television stations are looking to invest in.

XL-Former West Virginia University tailback and Current Houston Texan, Steve Slaton, picked the Pittsburgh Steelers as the best defense in the league when interviewed by ESPN AFC South blogger, Paul Kuharsky. Slaton said of his proffesional debut against the Steelers:

"They are one of the best teams to fly to the ball. It seemed like everywhere the ball was, they were. Any little move, any wasted motion, they were all over it. It's frustrating. With all the stats I had in college, making people miss and having big runs, at least one every game, in my first game I expected so much. To not be able to accomplish anything was definitely hard."

XLIII-Here is some additional Friday reading for homework for all you super fans who want to try and create your own prediction of the 53 man roster. In order to do so accurately you need to get a feeling now only for how the player plays during training camp (which we haven't seen yet), but also their attitude and smarts. Here are links to all of the interviews posted so far from Steelers.com.

0 recs | Comment 23 comments | Add comment | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I think the premium pick table shown in the OL SCI article is a little bit misleading. The Steelers did draft Marvel Smtih with a 2nd round pick and Kendall Simmons with a 1st round pick. That they were injured or sucking doesn’t mean they didn’t spend the picks.

I agree that the OL needs to get more talented and I think that drafting Urbick and signing Starks to a longer term deal will help that cause. Now if we could just figure out a way to make Kemo smarter and find a replacement for Colon.

by Cols714 on Jul 10, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Savran is being canceled?!?!

Holy crap, I didn’t know about that. Anyone know if we will still be able to watch the Tomlin weekly press conference during the season?

When I say who dey, you say we dey.
Follow me @Sn0w13allz

by sn0wballz on Jul 10, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i had to pitch in with some comments about the Stupid Ass, Felgy…..on the WEEI site…..THIS is my penance for some past unknown misdeed, having to live among, and listen to, such dunderheads

by swissvale72 on Jul 10, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen, brother

Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.

by BostonWahoo on Jul 10, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Savran et al

Savran is a class act. When I was a young kid I used to be a regular caller into Savran on Sports on 3WS. I was known as the “Pirate” and Stan was always respectful to me and made me feel an important part of his show when I called in with statistics.
Later when I began writing for the Allderdice FOREWORD Savran granted this 16 year old an interview which was published and brought me some stature at my HS and with the paper. I parlayed this success into doing Rock N Roll concert and record reviews for the FOREWORD.
I agree that Stan is filled with great information and treats everyone with kindness and respect. I am sorry that his Fox show is being canceled. I regularly watch on Directv from So Cal. I am sure he will hook up somewhere. As U2 sings; “I will follow.”

Arians and his porn seeking protege Zierlein are boobs and in over their heads. It figures he would chart sacks and blame them on Ben. What is surprising and another reason to not respect his play calling prowess and professionalism is that he goes public with the results. As you all know I have almost never been enamored with a Steeler OC and this guy ranks near the bottom for me.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Jul 10, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In Alejandro Shipley’s first interview the picture makes him look like an overweight shortie with tiny arms.

In the second interview the picture makes him look like a guy I would never, ever cross…and I suspect this is the more accurate vantage point.

The only managing Ben does is that he manages to win games. - chewiesteeler

by steelguy99 on Jul 10, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

On the sack article

he mentions that we need at least 2 “premium” players on the line, and that Urbik is a good start. In my humble opinion, most likely not this year, but next I would consider shipley as a premium player. 5th or 6th round is decieving for him. You dont get the best center in college football award for sucking, short arms or not. Judging by hiesman trophy busts in the NFL I know that college performance doesn’t always compute into the pro’s. But I just have a feeling about him.

by Steelde#1 on Jul 10, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No, 7th round picks are not considered premium players. They rarely even make the team and are mostly there for the practice sqaud.

I’m not saying that Shipley isn’t any good, but it doesn’t count as far as premium players go. There’s a reason every team in the league passed on him 7 times.

by Cols714 on Jul 10, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would say that for a premium player you are looking at a dominant lineman, a Faneca type who can physically anchor the line. Few centers can do that, and Ship doesn’t have that, he has smarts and tenacity which I think give him the upside of a Jeff Saturday type center. But we still need someone who can anchor the line, dominate a defensive line and counter the defensive line creating mismatches and openings.

The SuperBowl against the Seahawks Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson both did that to the Steelers, and our pass rush died. No matter what we threw we couldn’t get consistent pressure on the QB, and they had room to run. We need one player like that to turn the tide adn allow the other Lineman to get a match up they can handle.

by Phantaskippy on Jul 10, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good to see some respect by Slaton. I remember a couple of times where he caught a pass in the flat against our defense with some room to run, but got cut down Timmons-style without getting a whole lot out of it.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jul 10, 2009 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Holy Crap

Did you see the arms they gave Ben in that Tecmo reenactment?

There is no spoon

by chewiesteeler on Jul 10, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Terrible tecmo reenactment. Only 1.5 guys on Holmes.

I’m surprised we haven’t seen a tecmo video clearly proving that the feet of Holmes were not down.

The only managing Ben does is that he manages to win games. - chewiesteeler

by steelguy99 on Jul 10, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

I look for more in my ’80’s sports video game re-enactments. Not a single Mario Bros. style fireworks display? I need more flare (thus opening the floodgates of all Office Space and Ric Flair jokes).

On deck for tomorrow’s 6 pack, a “Blades of Steel” re-enactment of the Pens’ cup run.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Jul 10, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man, that game was great.

The only managing Ben does is that he manages to win games. - chewiesteeler

by steelguy99 on Jul 13, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And to top it all off...

They cut out PixburghArn’s Tecmo Bowl nephew and his son.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Jul 10, 2009 4:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No one

stops the curl on Techmo!!!

Upon moving to AL, I let my wife decide who she would root for. After one day at a new job full of Bama fans, she met me at the door with a hearty cry of "WAR EAGLE"

by SandMountainTiger on Jul 10, 2009 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

On the original Tecmo Bowl, that’s true. But it does take some skill to avoid the sack when the play is picked.

by Cols714 on Jul 10, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still. Just take the Giants and yer golden. You get the curl and you get LT on D.

by betelgeuse on Jul 10, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Walter Peyton up the middle, mash the button. Rinse wash repeat.

Then Dent takes care of everything on the flip side.

by Phantaskippy on Jul 11, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lol in tecmo...

I think every big play gets recreated in tecmo style although I find it hilarious…

They also couldnt properly show Holmes getting his ginormous wang inbounds also in 8-bit glory.

by Mechem on Jul 10, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

GLad To hear slaton's respect

He was a fun player to watch this year.

Formely 2005steelers4life, Here We Go Steelers Here We Go

by xRideTheBus36xx on Jul 11, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Frank Tursic's piece

Good article, Mr. Tursic, but please….find another descriptor besides “Fuzzy,” name of my first dog.

Anyway, agree with the premise that it matters little if the OL’s error is physical or mental. Thank you for the news on Kemo’s wunderlic. Anyone else think it odd that the Steelers Media Guide feels the need to note that Kemo made the Honor Roll in HIGH SCHOOL. No one else has a similar designation throughout the Guide.

I’ll give it to Arians on the sacks that are placed on Ben. To me, that’s the “Cost of Doing Business” as Ben so often and so deftly makes the proveriblal chicken salad out of chicken S***. Brady, for instance, is often credited with getting rid of the ball, avoiding the sack, but he doesn’t make the play to Heath on 3rd & 10 in the SB, leading to our first touchdown.

As far as the pedigree of this line, I"m concerned about it as well, and prior to last season, compared it to the Browns lines of a few years ago which suffred from a lack of investment of high draft picks. Ben plays these guys right though (“who’s laughing now, O-line?”), and they stand up for him when they have to, final drive of SB being the best example. They were freakin’ magnficent.

I’m one of those that’s hopeful, admittedly optimstically so, that they “gel.” What other choice do we have. The notiont that this is the worst line ever to win a SB is very well true, but win it they did, and came up BIG with the game on the line.

Kudos, Mr. Tursic, on a well-written piece.

by swissvale72 on Jul 11, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tursic - Mr. Bogus Stats

1) Let’s look at the chart regarding the pedigrees of our line vs the other quality teams. Unfortunately not only does Tursic “stack the deck” but one might argue that he is deceitful. He cites the team’s performance over three years, but, only references the players from year three. For the majority of those three years we played with a high draft pick on the line in Simmons and Smith and for the first year of the three Faneca. This completely undercuts his argument – to highlight it the year with least wins ‘06 we had the most high draft picks starting. Go figure Mr. Tursic.
2) To judge the line he only considers QB protection – What about run blocking. In a very detailed study by Scientific Football which consider the run blocking success of every O lineman from the AFC North and East and the NFC East and West, collectively the Steelers ranked third only behind NE (partially explains Cassel’s success) and the NYJ (Faneca paid some dividends) in ‘08. The Steelers performed better in run blocking (in front of Mewelde an injured Parker) than the Giants, Skins, Eagles, Cowboys, Ravens, Browns, Cardinals and Seahawks. Not to shabby.
3) Tunch Ilkin’s articles have been glowing regarding the O Line’s trends – dramatically up over the course of last season – I believe Tunch knows a thing or two about lines which may be a way off in the education of Mr. Tursic.
4) Bronx cheers to Mr. Tursic

by bigmaq on Jul 12, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs