5 Greatest achievements in this win over the Ravens
by franz on Dec 7, 2010 1:41 PM EST
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5) Patches over patches on the O Line. They played poorly most of the game, sometimes they were downright awful. It can't get much worse - can it? The Steelers won the game anyway.
4) Redman shows resolve and effectiveness. Redman hurt. Redman back in. Redman wins the game on a great run after the catch. Hopefully sign of much more to come.
3) Steelers defense survives and then thrives. Polamalu made the play of the game but the defense kept the Steelers in the game until the bitter end. Big plays early and a few later on did not cause a disaster. The game was razor close the whole way and the defense won the game (almost) at the very end. Only thing better for the D would have been if they punched it in themselves.
2) Suisham comes through - again. The guy has been clutch and looks primed for a run into the playoffs.
1) Roethlisberger's performance in spite of everything. The other negative factors all affected Big Ben and how the game played out. We all know what the offense was playing with and the injuries before and during the game to Ben and others. The escape from Suggs, the key pass plays at the end, the foot, the nose, the falling down ramparts of the offensive line.... none of it could keep Roethlisberger from being on the field at the pivotal final moment to win the game. The guy has just elevated himself, especially in the eyes of his teammates.
I'm not one to gush and glow about professionals doing their job. The Steelers really had no business winning the game as things went from bad to worse. They won anyway. It was a great win because it was Baltimore, it was for first place, and it has big AFC implications. But the best thing about it was overcoming all of the things thrown in front of them. A lot of heart and determination on display. That is what makes good teams great.
Can they fight through this week and win again this weekend? That's going to be tough as well.
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This team looks like they can win or lose any game.
Buffalo shows that they could lose to an inferior team. It’s possible at any time.
The only caveat is the Patriots. I sure hope that they drop a game in the playoffs before reaching us. Cause i don’t know if they can win that match up.
Agreed
Many of us have said the same thing re: their ability to win or lose any given game. You have to give them credit this Sunday night regardless. They showed professionalism and guts.
"Franz" in NoCal
The O line
looked overmatched early on. Then after the dirty hits to Ben and especially to Heath, they seemed to tighten up, probably massively POd. They never managed to establish the run consistently, though. Very few teams do against the Ravens, even with O lines intact.
My heros have always been Steelers...
They never managed to establish the run consistently
I agree, but to me Mendy danced way to much, especially against the Ravens. He had holes to run in, might not of been 6-8 yard gains, but I will take the 2-3 yarders. Mendy did not look like he was all that enthused to be out there. This would of been the perfect test for Redman. My bet he would of out gained Mendy. Who knows?
"you will hardly know who I am or what I mean"-Walt Whitman
I agree that Mendy was dancing too much
That crap works fine against the Bills but against the Ravens you hit the hole as best you can and move forward. Take you 2-3 yard gains and be happy with them.
by Chicago Steeler on Dec 7, 2010 5:40 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly
The most noticeable difference in Mendy and Redman: Redman hits the hole fast with his head down and his shoulder pads lowered. He rarely gives a side-step and is a downhill determined runner. Mendy will look for his lane and if it’s not there he’ll try a side-step and then a spin to get to another lane. Against many defenses Mendy’s technique produces modest to good gains. But against a defense like Baltimore, I’d like to see Redman get some more touches.
by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 9, 2010 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
Question for anyone who keeps up with injuries...
Ok, I know Aaron Smith was put on IR so that if he recovers in time for the playoffs they can still use him…but what about Colon and Starks? Is there any chance for them to come back for the playoffs?
Some people think football is a matter of life and death...I assure you, it's much more serious than that."
-Bill Shanky
Ok, I know Aaron Smith was put on IR
You mean “not” right?
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
yea
i wish we would get one of the two tackles back
"Did you really expect Joe to have it as easy as you think it would be against James "I want to stomp of your children’s testicles" Harrison and Lamar "I’ll kick your grandmother" Woodley? I sure as hell didn’t." - Malor
by tannofsteel84 on Dec 7, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
I would be happy with one of the 3 tackles
hopefully Adams will be ok.
"I don't mind being a symbol but I don't want to become a monument. There are monuments all over the Parliament Buildings and I've seen what the pigeons do to them."
"Canada is like an old cow. The West feeds it. Ontario and Quebec milk it. And you can well imagine what it's doing in the Maritimes."
Tommy Douglas
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Dec 8, 2010 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
Yep, my bad….they kept him off so he has a shot at coming back like Woodson did in 95.
Anyway, I’d love to know if Colon or Starks was able to come back for the playoffs….even a slightly gimpy Starks is better than anything we have on the left side.
Some people think football is a matter of life and death...I assure you, it's much more serious than that."
-Bill Shanky
for sure
but alas….
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
nope
Both Colon and Starks were IR’d so they can not dress for any games this season.
by Chicago Steeler on Dec 7, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
I tried not to say that. :(
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
Sux, but thanks for the reply
Some people think football is a matter of life and death...I assure you, it's much more serious than that."
-Bill Shanky
Redman, accidental hero
Redman wins the game on a great run after the catch. Hopefully sign of much more to come.
The best part is that I read on pg.com that he wasn’t supposed to be on the field; Memo was supposed to be in there to pass block. I like the guy, but I don’t know if Memo has near the chance of breaking that many tackles and scoring.
I will flat out say Memo does not score on that play
"We didn't worry about the calls," Harrison said. "When you're getting a lot of penalties against you, it brings you together."
by kick him in the head on Dec 7, 2010 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
Some teams like the Jets are all mouth. Steelers this year are all heart.
They keep their mouths shut, keep their focus, and absorb all the setbacks and unfairness that life, fortune, and Roger Goodell throw in their way. And then they do “whatever it takes” to win.
I’m loving the character of this team.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
by Homer J. on Dec 7, 2010 2:52 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
I'm lovin this comment!
Some people think football is a matter of life and death...I assure you, it's much more serious than that."
-Bill Shanky
You mean Rex Ryan, right?
Does he ever shut up? LOL!
One of the great disappointments of a football game is that the cheerleaders never seem to get injured.
Agree with a lot of your comments
Especially the part about “heart and determination.” By the way, I heard on the local news at noon that Aaron Smith has been working out to rehab his torn muscle. Don’t know what that means exactly, but it seems like a positive sign.
Danka...
If Smith comes back that would be great… was a torn pec muscle wasn’t it? Not easy to come back anytime soon but the guy is a stud amongst studs.
Need help on O Line more than any one thing. Not sure what they can do if anything other than get more healthy. Flozell scares me in that regard because of his age and massive size. The guy can literally get hurt just falling down. Kid that played for me in HS is on the Browns practice squad last time I checked – Pauli Fanaika. He plays right guard and is about 6’5" 320 lbs. Sure would love to see him on the Steelers. His pass blocking is a little weak but he is a good run blocker.
Anyone else on the O Line possibly out for 1 or more weeks?
"Franz" in NoCal
I think it was a partially torn bicep
by Chicago Steeler on Dec 7, 2010 5:41 PM EST up reply actions
I thought
it was a partially torn tricep – but I’m sure it is an arm muscle, and that it wasn’t completely torn, which is why there is any chance of him coming back this season.
"You learn more in failure than you do in success." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Dec 7, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
bi-tri
Who’s to say? You may be right Momma. Actually I think it was a bicep last time he was out and a tricep this time.
by Chicago Steeler on Dec 7, 2010 5:45 PM EST up reply actions
Torn Tricep...
I’m not really sure how far along Smith is along in the rehab process but rest assured that if he is only now starting to lift weights (as was reported), he is nowhere ready to being able to withstand the rigors of an NFL football game.
The Steelers may be holding their cards very close to their body at this time in regards to A. Smith also.
I think the best case scenario could be that Aaron makes it back to the AFC Championship Game……(given we make it that far)
Having him or even the possibility of him on the field this yr is still enough for the Steelers to hold a roster spot for him.
Sounds like 2005 to me.
5) The OL may not be very good (except one Rook.), but they seem to be giving every effort. Coach?
1) Tho only one who could have stopped Ben from leading the O to victory, was Woodley. If he’d have scored on Troy FF.
If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made product that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.
1) The not Tho.
If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made product that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.
by SNW on Dec 7, 2010 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
The 2005 OL was good (Faneca, Hartings), do you mean the 2008 line?
Assuming you meant the 08 line, I think they have some similarities but one glaring difference.
2008 they gave up sack after sack and were considered to not be a very good line. They did have one thing though…..consistency. That 2008 line was virtually injury free compared to this 2010 line. They had a chance to mold into a cohesive unit (albeit still giving up sacks) and there is something to be said about being able to develop a season-long chemistry without much injury.
This 2010 line is not giving up much as far as sacks as compared to 2008 but the constant injuries have prevented them from having consecutive weeks to bond into a cohesive unit with identity. The fact that they are doing as well as they are doing speaks highly of our new OL Coach, Kugler.
Yes my bad. 08
If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made product that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.
by SNW on Dec 8, 2010 3:44 PM EST up reply actions
For me?
Not sure who you were referencing. If it was me, I would say effort is what we all want and in fact demand. It is not a variable or a bonus. It is a prerequisite. Effort and ability are far from the same thing. Albert Haynesworth(less) has lots of ability but chooses not to use it consistently. Other guys may give consistent effort and be really dedicated but just aren’t good enough to warrant playing time- this happens at all levels.
If the Steelers O Line had more ability, their offense would be unstoppable.
"Franz" in NoCal
Lol... consistency 2008
Yea they gave up sack after sack after sack, and yea they couldn’t run block a lick… but at least they made up for it with plenty of false starts, and holds. The 2008 offensive line may very well be the worst O-line in modern history for a playoff team..let alone a SB winning team. As bad as this Mash unit is, I’ll take it any day over that slop we had in 08.
" Just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and then I think you'll finally understand"
" In America" Charlie Daniels Band
you do realize
that there is only one or two guy difference from the starting line we had in that SB than from what our starting line would have been this year without any injuries… we swapped darnel Stapleton for Trai Essex/Ramon Foster and I don’t know if that was an upgrade or not, of course pouncey is an upgrade
"Did you really expect Joe to have it as easy as you think it would be against James "I want to stomp of your children’s testicles" Harrison and Lamar "I’ll kick your grandmother" Woodley? I sure as hell didn’t." - Malor
by tannofsteel84 on Dec 8, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
Huge differences from 2008
Pouncey vs Hartwig is a HUGE difference.
Foster (or anybody but Essex) vs Stapleton – can’t help but be an upgrade
Adams vs Colon – I’m calling it an upgrade. Colon can’t pass block a lick and Adams is better in run blocking.
Starks vs ??? – that’s a problem at LT. I miss Starks who is average at best, but we still don’t have the answer yet. I wonder if C. Scott or Hillis will get a shot.
Currently the only starter from 2008 still on the line is Kemo. I count that as a 4 out of 5 difference with 2 being an obvious upgrade, one a minor upgrade, and the other still a work in progress. I’d take this line + this line coach over 2008 every time.
Colon was our best o-linemen before we drafted Pouncey
I don’t think you really watched him play last season. He was pretty good, much better than Adams.
"Don't Call It A Comeback"
by StoneColdSteel on Dec 8, 2010 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
Colon was very good last year.
In 08 he was probably our worst starting lineman( maybe Stapler?). However you shape it, the 08 line was lousy.
" Just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and then I think you'll finally understand"
" In America" Charlie Daniels Band
by idiscgolftexas on Dec 8, 2010 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
+1
Colon improved drastically in 09. 08 was terrible.
by Chicago Steeler on Dec 10, 2010 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
Sorry
just disagree there, of course you call it an upgrade because it helps your case, I’d like to look at a more objective variable to determine, I think Adams and colon are a wash and I really can’t tell the difference between darnell and foster/essex, there is a reason why we still need a RG in the draft this year
"Did you really expect Joe to have it as easy as you think it would be against James "I want to stomp of your children’s testicles" Harrison and Lamar "I’ll kick your grandmother" Woodley? I sure as hell didn’t." - Malor
by tannofsteel84 on Dec 8, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
Foster is already better than Stapler
I really want to see how he plays for the rest of the season before I go into “we need to draft a stud RG” mode.
Aside from the Buffalo game he’s played well in spurts.
"Don't Call It A Comeback"
by StoneColdSteel on Dec 8, 2010 10:29 PM EST up reply actions
Guts Performance All Around
I love how the Steelers have the ability to play gutsy no matter what the circumstances. It’s one thing to play in spite of injuries, but it’s quite another to play winning football and have a coach that will not lower the expectations no matter what the circumstances. I believe the spirit of the coach and the spirit of the players combined is what has our team where they are now.
That said; I am impressed with our patchwork offensive line and amazed that they continue to be productive in every circumstance that comes their way and their coach will not back down. He is a welcome addition to this staff! We are blessed to have him.
Rothlisberger playing on with a broken nose and a broken foot is very impressive. I get sick of the people from other teams who can’t get over his non-convictions on the rape charges. Whatever dumb things he may have done, the way he as responded to the charges and humbled himself to the team and fans deserves respect from anyone with any sense. I have had a broken nose being hit by a baseball bat while playing catcher, and I can tell you it is a very painful experience. I have also had a broken foot as well. I have never had both at the same time but I admire what Ben has done. I can’t think of any other quarterback in the league who is that tough! As a pro quarterback considering his character, ability, all-around game, winning record, and bouceback from unproven accusations and injuries; I believe he is the best quarterback in the NFL. He may not hold the records and hype of a Brady or Manning or Brees or the stats, but he certainly knows how to win games.
Rashard, M. Wallace, Shuisham, Redman, E. Sanders, A. Brown, Dwyer, Pouncey, Hood and our other young studs on defense are the future of this franchise, and they are looking good. Along with the veterans that teach them and our great draft picks we should remain an elite power for a long time to come. Go Steelers!
Rick Shaffer aka C. R. Lord
by redeemed1 on Dec 8, 2010 11:32 AM EST reply actions
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