BTSC Daily Six Pack - Are You Ready for Some Football Edition
by John Stephens on Sep 9, 2010 12:08 PM EDT
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IX- ESPN does the best set of power rankings around the NFL, at least by the layout. They just posted their week 1 rankings and the Steelers came in 18th (one up from their preseason ranking of 19th). The note on us is that it is "time to see if this team can win without Ben Roethlisberger." That is not the most insightful comment, but it rings true for the first four weeks of the year. Better yet, I would rephrase that to "Can Dennis Dixon command this offense and lead them to victory?" That sounds much better.
X- Adam at Steelers Lounge thinks that Mike Tomlin is really good at saying things without saying things. I must admit I was a bit annoyed when the comment was first posted here. However, the story on ESPN had only the second part of the comment and left out the preceding sentence, "I’m going to dodge that one and not artfully." Anyway, I believe that user smashtheguitar had the perfect take on the comment:
This is meant as motivation for (1) Big Ben to continue to work to pull it together, (2) Dixon to say "Hey, we’ve got some confidence in you and we’re not just counting the days until you get back to riding the bench," and (3) PR for the media to solidify the front office’s stance on player conduct.
XIII- FC, a writer for Steelfury, wrote a nice article on Tuesday breaking down all of the positional match-ups along the offensive and defensive lines against the Atlanta Falcons. Additionally, he gave a bit of insight on his views of the skill position match-ups. He believes that the Falcons will load the box and force the Dixon to beat them in the air. He believes that we have advantages in Heath Miller versus their LBs in coverage, Mike Wallace deep on Dunta Robinson, and Hines Ward being more physical than Chris Owens. I have to agree with him that if we are going to win we need big games from these three guys.
XIV- Do you want to feel a little bit more confident about Dennis Dixon starting? Ed Bouchette gave me a good burst of confidence with his article from this morning on DD. Dixon had the 4th best completion percentage of any QB in the preseason and still holds the career completion percentage at Oregon. I believe that if Bruce Arians can orchestrate an offensive plan that can utilize his feet and his accuracy we could have a dangerous offense.
XL- If you joined the BTSC fantasy pick-em league make sure you make your picks by tonight. I am not sure if you have to submit them all 5 minutes before the first game or submit them individually 5 minutes before that respective game. I would just do them all tonight and you will be fine.
XLIII- Enjoy (via Steelers Lounge):
Steelers At Falcons 96' Primetime (via jeromefromse)
Sort of unrelated to the Steelers. I just bought PS3 and Madden '11; that is the first time since Madden 2000 I have owned the game. Anyway, I started a franchise, but my roster does not match the Steelers current roster. Does anyone know how I can download every team's current roster? I had to sign Brian Westbrook because I did not have Isaac Redman. Thanks in advance.
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There will be a roster update for Madden...
That should be out soon. If you haven’t already, try and get in an online game. Once you try that, it will prompt you to get the updated roster then, if one is available.
I have not yet begun to procrastinate.
I will try that
TY
"I'm from Maryland, and no one can beat me!"
by John Stephens on Sep 9, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
No prob...
If you’re online, let me know. I’m a PS3 guy myself.
I have not yet begun to procrastinate.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Sep 9, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I am really bad
I’m only playing Pro skill right now
"I'm from Maryland, and no one can beat me!"
by John Stephens on Sep 9, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
i was upset redman wasnt on the roster. but wallace is a beast. if sunday is anything like my last game, Dixon will throw for 790 yards and 9 tds, while wallace will have 375 yrs and 5 tds receiving.
Yeah he is
Any time I see Dixon in single coverage with the safety cheating I throw it deep. He out runs the guy every time.
Problems I’ve seen, I cannot get a sack with an OLB, but Smith has 6 in 4 games already. Also, I injure 1 LB every game. It’s annoying.
"I'm from Maryland, and no one can beat me!"
by John Stephens on Sep 9, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
he has a fair amount of drops though, or sometimes doesn’t recognize the ball being thrown to him. its almost like its ea’s way of keeping wallace form being unstoppable.
wait until you try all madden. run defense is impossible.
I'm far away from All Madden
I’ve gotten really good at user picks though. McFadden is a beast 4 picks in 4 games. I even got one with Ike.
"I'm from Maryland, and no one can beat me!"
by John Stephens on Sep 9, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
madden and other football games are terrible at simulating the 3-4. what i do is run 4-3 with a line of harrison smith hampton diesel. then woodley on harrison’s side and timmons at middle. also switch harrison and smith and sub harrison for ziggy sometimes.
I've managed to get sacks from the OLB's
But I always do fantasy drafts on franchise.That way I can get fast OLB’s that in real life wouldn’t be 3-4 OLB. like my current LOLB is Cushing. The trick is to to run out of base 3-4 and on blitz plays always make it 2 blitzer coming from the same side. Like pinch. Another thing I do is call like Cover 3 and take which ever OLB doesn’t have the TE in front of him and switch him to a blitz.
Outside of base 3-4 it’s hard to get sacks from the LB’s period. Base Nickle the OLB’s are matched up on Tackles, 3-3-5 nickle either you call a blitz and the LB runs right into the guard or you take him and try to go around fast enough that the QB can’t throw it away, but slow enough that the DE doesn’t switch over to the Guard leaving you the Tackle. That’s happen to me so many times when CB blitzing out of quarter.
I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
I haven't tried all Madden
Normally I’ve been pro but now I’m moving to all pro, my fantasy draft team offense right now is just sick with big play potential. D Williams, D Jackson a 6-4 draft chois with 95 speed and a 5-9 98 slot WR with the 5th overall pick. Throw in the rockt arm of Eli and you can’t stop me.
I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
call like Cover 3 and take which ever OLB doesn’t have the TE in front of him and switch him to a blitz.
Yeah, I tend to play a lot of cover-3, mainly because I don’t usually have the best man CB’s and cover-2 is absolutely useless (in 2007, anyway). Blitzing the LOLB works pretty well because I can run down a lot of running plays in the backfield, get some shots on the QB and, if I can tell I’m not going to get there, I can just back out and cover the flats.
You’ll almost never get a sack if you engage a lineman, but if you avoid the TE on the edge, a lot of time you get a shot at juking or running over the RB for a sack. The comp will catch on and try to move a TE to your side, but if you switch it up, drop some, blitz different guys, it can be pretty effective.
I play mostly on All-Pro, mainly because I can’t stand the Wii’s QB vision controls.
charity standing orders
Same with a TE
You’ll almost never get a sack if you engage a lineman
If you get blocked it’s over, your not going to get to the QB. Even if you do get off free to the QB it’s not guaranteed you’ll get a sack what with QB avoidance. I had Demarcus Ware miss two sacks on the same QB because of QB avoidance
I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
RINGO! awesome poast...
I am not worried by the dirty birds, I think we can handle their offense and defense. Matt Ryan is going to have to beat us by air, b/c our front 4 will smother Turner, if we put just enough pressure into causing Ryan making mistakes, we might have some picks in the process, on top of some sacks and possibly some fumbles. “The Master” will do what he does best and throw multiple blitz packages at the Falcons, I have faith in the D! Now on the offensive side, we must control the clock, B.A. better devise a plan to get Mendy to have mad touches, to help set up the passing attack. I also feel if the Falcons stack the box, that will mean they will force DD into running, or running while passing, either way I don’t think they want to see DD burn them with his feet, let alone give up a big pass play in which they will most likely do. I have confidence in the recievers and there blazing speed. what it comes down to is good clock management and pressure from the D to rub out the dirty birds in the home opener. All in all we will prevail…STEELERS DRIVE BABY!
"In Hoc Signo Vinces!" (With this as your standard, you shall have victory!) -Constantine I
Jerome's Legs
Wow! Look at how spritely Jerome Bettis was in 1996! That takes me back.
I’d take Bettis in his prime over any runner in the league right now.
grain of salt
by PaulMorel on Sep 9, 2010 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah
The way he accelerated to the line was amazing in that goal line carry.
"I'm from Maryland, and no one can beat me!"
by John Stephens on Sep 9, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I miss me some Bus
"'Shady I don't understand your flow,' understand my flow?
Bitch I flow like Troy Polamalu's hair boy
don't you dare try to follow or compare boy"
by SoCalSteelerFan on Sep 9, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Hope the Falcons...
…got a penalty on that 15 yarder out of bounds hit on the Bus around the 2:00 mark of the video. But then again, I’m watching this with a 2010 pair of eyes, trained by numerous such infractions flagged by umpires nowadays.
"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness, but [Thank God] I am not a government official" Francis Wolcott in "Deadwood", Season 2
by Flying Polamalus on Sep 9, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
lol. It’s hilarious that you’re looking for penalties on a 14 year old highlight reel.
O Steeler Nation!
Pennsylvania men are we,
From the rolling hills, from the great Alleghenies and the three river valley,
From the mine and from the office, from the Appalachian Trail we come,
Steeler Nation! O Steeler Nation!
… that’s right, Walt Whitman up in here!
grain of salt
by PaulMorel on Sep 9, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If Dixon plays well these 4 games ....
Then he’s going to be a rich man before the beginning of next offseason. Some team will trade for him and pay him starting QB money because there aren’t that many good QB’s in the NFL right now. If you are going to pay somebody like Kyle Orton $9M next season, then how much would Dixon be worth as a starter to a team?
After seeing his play in that Denver game, I just don’t know what to expect from this kid. He’s a talent, but can he read defenses? Will he move around to throw the ball or will he be quick to run with the ball? Can he make those stick throws in zone coverage that he will have to make to be successful? I guess we are all about to find out. And lastly, can he NOT underthrow Mike Wallace like every other QB on our roster seems to do?
by datruth4life2.0 on Sep 9, 2010 12:55 PM EDT reply actions
I’m of the opinion that there are more starting quality QBs in the league than ever before. You’re looking at Ben, Brees, Peyton, Brady, Rodgers, Eli, Rivers, and even Shaub, all of whom I’d take as a franchise starter on my team. Serviceable but still good quality starting QBs include Orton, McNabb, Palmer (eh, stretch mayhaps but I give no craps), Romo, Favre, Flacco, Ryan, Cutler. Then the young guns with raw talent in Bradford, Stafford, Freeman. I think all of them eventually become legit starters, if not stars in the first two.
Kyle Orton will always be a more valuable as a starter than DD. Put your money on it. Kyle Orton is paid 9 mil a year because in his first season where he got a legit chance, he put up respectable numbers while injured. If he builds upon that he will be a 4000 yard passer and well worth the 9 mil.
Agreed
The number of competent QB’s that have come into the league in the last 5-6 years is pretty astonishing.
charity standing orders
especially with the advet of the spread the last few years
I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
Im going to print out BA pic and play darts with his round face
Franco made that play because he never quit on the play. He kept running, he kept hustling. Good things happen to people who hustle."
I believe the biggest factor as to how DD plays will be..
BAs play calling. if he stays stubborn and tries to make DD a pocket passer and does not throw in some runs and screens, it maybe along day for DD and his confidence coudl take a major hit. However, if he will listen to all of “us experts” at BTSC, and game plan to his strengths, our offense has the potential to be able to put some points on the board. This will help his confidence and hoepfully give him something positive to build on for the next game instead of feeling pressure to “make up” for a bad game.
Things can always be worse....
Re Denver PS game -
Absolutely vanilla; BA didn’t show anything much in any of the games (for which I applaud the MT and his staff). I was a bit more disappointed in the running/O line play. If BA tries to force DD into a pocket passing game, I’ll call for his head. But I can’t imagine that happening; Dixon’s skill set is far more varied and useful.
My heros have always been Steelers...
Surely in a preseason game
it makes more sense to have Dixon work on his weaknesses than play to his strengths. Plus it keeps the other teams guessing a bit – instead of assuming he’s going to run, they have to factor in the fact that he might just stay in the pocket. I think we’ll see a lot of different things from him on Sunday.
"You learn more in failure than you do in success." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Sep 9, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I am serious...and don't call me Shirley
"I'm from Maryland, and no one can beat me!"
by John Stephens on Sep 9, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
btw, swmt40, is a t40 like a t30 where it was a timed 30 minute swim? or is it nothing to do with swimming.
Not a thing to do with swimming.
had to with a job i had we had to come up with a login, so it was my job title, social worker(sw) and my initials(MT) and my number when i played freshman football(40)
Things can always be worse....
btw, a much more clever way of choosing a name. Sparco is the brand of stapler thats on my desk at work.
Mike Tomlin?
Franco made that play because he never quit on the play. He kept running, he kept hustling. Good things happen to people who hustle."
What kind of SW do you do?
I wasn’t pleased because we didn’t win - Mike Tomlin (after the 2009 week 2 loss to Chicago).
I was a social worker at DSS from 2000 to 2006
currently I work as a counselor at a university in NC
Things can always be worse....
it makes more sense to have Dixon work on his weaknesses than play to his strengths
True if he’s a backup and you’re trying to develop him. Not true if he’s our starter for 4 games and needs confidence and the ability to do a couple things really well. The Denver game should be a learning experience for him, but I highly doubt his performance was due to a specialized game plan.
charity standing orders
Maybe he was
until, leftwich got hurt…
Steelers football is supposed to be 60 mins, recently it's been 45. The additional 15 are currently under construction.
by tannofsteel84 on Sep 9, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Steel Fury preview
I always leave there feeling a lot more optimistic about our chances. It’s definitely homer-ish, but it’s pretty grounded in reality. I agree with FC that we need to run between the tackles and that our guards vs their DT’s could go either way and that it will have a huge impact on the game. I think we’re going to lose that matchup, but I’m glad FC is optimistic.
One plus over previous years is that, even if our OG’s struggle against their DT’s, we now have a center that can actually get to the second level and help keep the LB’s from making the play.
charity standing orders
God, I wish our season was starting today.
Getting tired of watching baseball.
Chris Andersen could be in a porno with his 'stache. Too bad he still wouldn't know how to box out.
"I don't want to be like Brett Favre. I don't want to be like Old Yeller, when they take you behind the barn and shoot you." -Hines Ward-
Quitter's Proud United Member #11
Sad
I started watching it. Even worse, I was getting into it!
Chris Andersen could be in a porno with his 'stache. Too bad he still wouldn't know how to box out.
"I don't want to be like Brett Favre. I don't want to be like Old Yeller, when they take you behind the barn and shoot you." -Hines Ward-
Quitter's Proud United Member #11
I know
Say what you want about Tiger’s sex life … golf was more interesting when he was sinking impossible chip shots.
grain of salt
+1
Personally, I didn’t care what he was doing. I never looked up to him. It’s his life, not mine. I wasn’t going to judge him because he’s a man-whore.
All I cared about was him dominating the game of golf.
Chris Andersen could be in a porno with his 'stache. Too bad he still wouldn't know how to box out.
"I don't want to be like Brett Favre. I don't want to be like Old Yeller, when they take you behind the barn and shoot you." -Hines Ward-
Quitter's Proud United Member #11
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