Who Can I Piss Off This Week?
by rjschaffer on Nov 14, 2011 5:57 PM EST
Email
PrintLast week I got a bit blasted for being "too cynical." (More than a fluke loss) Well I'm back for more! Some people pointed out that the team is made up of human beings and that they shouldn't be perfect for any reason. Alright fair enough but when you practice 365 days a week and football is your job you better be damn close to perfect. But this week I'll keep it short and sweet and some up what I think are the positive and negative aspects of this team this week. And oh, by the way, I'm no John Madden.
5 Positives of the Steelers
1. Ben - Sans maybe Aaron Rodgers or any other gunslinging NFC quarterback, Ben is the best quarterback in the NFL. I'm sure that will spark a 200 comment debate but honestly who is playing better at this point? No play is dead until Ben says it is dead. Now he may hold on to the ball too long and he may take stupid sacks, but it's worth it when he avoids three flying Bungles to make a ridiculous 20 yard pass. Props to Ben for holding this team together.
2. Antonio Brown - It'd be a stretch to say that he is the best receiver in the game but my god he is making his case as the most reliable. The man simply doesn't drop a pass and looks like a young Hines. The Steelers may be getting old at some positions but they have years to come out of this rising receiving corps.
3. Turnovers - Has a team ever needed a turnover worse than the depleted Steelers defense did this past weekend? The D needed a turnover worse than Joe Rogan needed another line of coke. And not only did they get two picks but they got them in critical situations in the 4th quarter. This team can win any game as long as they start getting in the right spot at the right time.
4. Big Play Gay - Willie Gay had a comeback reminscent of Paul Pierce in the Finals. The deflection was one of the better plays he's had all year and then the interception ranks number one in plays that he has ever made. Nobody needed a statement game more than Gay and he came up big. There just may be a future for him in the Burgh.
5. Kapinos going off - I'm not sure if anyone noticed or cared but it looks like we have a punter not numbered 17. It's the rebirth of Gardocki! Kapinos may look like an escaped felon but the man can kick like there's no tommorrow. Let Sepulveda rip his leg in half every year the team needs to stick with Kapinos because the man can simply kick the ball. Now on to the bad...
5 Things That Don't Look So Good
1. Calling All Safetys - Are you fast? Do you have long hair? Are you 30 pounds overweight? Come on down you can play safety for the Steelers! Alright that's a bit of a hyperbole but the safetys haven't totally stepped up the past two weeks. That play with Green should have never happened. Polamalu simply watched as if Green would drop it. That's the second week in a row that the safetys dissapeared on long touchdown passes. I'm not bashing Ryan Clark or Troy Polamalu because they're both outstanding players but one of them needs to stay back at all times.
2. Which line can out suck the other? The offensive line looks like they want Ben to break his ankle and the defensive line is hell bent on letting quarterbacks not have to go to the washers after. There is no reason that Ben should get knocked around all day especially when the Bengals best pass rusher isn't even in the game. The defensive line also hasn't touched a quarterback in weeks. Keisel is still solid, Ziggy is a force, and Casey is the same old Moonhead he always has been. So what's the problem? I can complete a pass with all the time they give them.
3. Coaching - Here's the one I'm going to get torn to shreds on. I love Mike and Lebeau and think they're great coaches but some of the decisions they make make me feel like I'm watching Andy Reid. Arians just sucks so I won't touch him. Every player in the NFL knows that the Steelers are running up the middle on first down. I like the reverses and the increased passing but some plays are just stupid. What happened to the zone defense and what happened to trick plays on offense? The team is still winning so not much to complain about but something needs to change.
4. Timmons - Again I don't like saying this but where has he been? For someone that was tagged as a future all pro he sure has looked more like Morty Ivy instead of Ray Lewis. It's not that he has made any extreme blunders but he hasn't shown any flashes either. He's still a good player but he hasn't shown any dominant games so far. Not to say that he won't be a force (he's probably being overshadowed by everyone else) but it would be nice to hear his name. Also playing out of position doesn't help.
5. Shard of Glass - Rashard Has looked anything but dominant this year and it might be the biggest enigma on the team. I have a hunch that the poor play of the O line is to blame but Rashard has always played with a bad line and has still gotten his yards. He shows signs of greatness on some of his runs but always seems to be taken down after 5 yards before he breaks one. I think everyone is waiting for him to break out and become the dominant back everyone thinks he is. It's just a matter of time before the line sures up and Shard looks great again but in the meantime we're all sending out an SOS for you Shard.
Well that's it. Feel free to let me know that I am in fact not John Madden but I will always find something wrong with this team. Do your worst.
47 comments
|
Add comment
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Don't go too hard on Troy,
he was about 50% of our run defense yesterday!
Troy has been phenomenal in stopping the run
as usual. It does appear that his coverage skills are lacking a little bit this year tho. Maybe its age, maybe its something else. But either way moving forward with this team they should draft a really fast, good in coverage, ball hawk type free safety to replace Clark eventually. That way they could play Troy up closer to the line more where he excels, and as he ages and loses a step in coverage, he will still be a massive force in run support, and covering slower recievers like TEs or slots. He needs an Ed Reed type FS back there with him to pick up the slack and let Troy continue to be a aggressive.
The loss of Aaron Smith and injuries have depleted the defense....
…and the Steelers were unable to control the line of scrimmage in any of the pre-season games and first couple of regular season games. Coach Dad had to change things around to stop the run, and he moved Troy up to the line of scrimmage. Perhaps that’s one reason why he hasn’t been a turnover machine. You don’t make as many plays in the defensive backfield when you’re on the line of scrimmage.
Another reason Troy hasn’t made that many interceptions is that he has dropped a couple that they should have had.
So if you don’t get as many chances as you usually do, and if you drop the chances you do get, it’s pretty likely that your number of interceptions will go down.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
re
timmons is the type of player you don’t notice until at the end of the season you look at his stats and realize “holy crap, he had 100 tackles?”…mendenhall reminds me of shaun alexander, he’s great behind a great line, but poor behind a poor one…I’m not gonna bash on Arians or Lebeau because Arians designed a perfect game plan for beating New England which we did and a pretty good one against Baltimore (can’t blame that loss on the offense) and against cincinatti (how many TDs got called back or were dropped? not the OCs fault)…on the safeties, it seems like we have two strong safeties playing 2 different positions. I love that clark and polamalu can hit and stuff the run and what not, but we don’t have an actual coverage guy to help our corners on the deep routes which puts them on an island…as for the D Line? dude, your just wrong, that is NOT a problem area for the D, having Woodley injured and the other team manhandling Harrison all game (can I buy a holding call?) is responsible for the poor pass rush, although I do say this: PUT HEYWARD IN MORE OFTEN!!!
Well
That was true last year, he sorta jumped out after the year.
But you always heard his name in the broadcast. He blew up running lanes and rarely got beat in coverage.
I’ve seen him whiff a few TEs and RBs this year, have RARELY seen him in the backfield, and hardly ever hear his name. I was amazed when he got the first tackle in the game.
I hope it’s just because he’s being shuffled around and that when Woodley Harrison and Timmons are all on the field we can tear it up.
When did Mendenhall run behind a great line?
"Never said I'm first to put the 'Burgh up on the map, I'm more like Mike Tomlin here to bring da 'Burgh back... Khalifa man."
by RoethlisCrosby on Nov 15, 2011 2:34 AM EST up reply actions
never
the overall point was that rashard runs as well as his line blocks…he doesn’t have the power to shrug off tackles like, say, steven jackson and he doesn’t have game breaking speed like chris johnson to run away from tacklers (i know CJ might not be the best example THIS year)…he’s a decent back, and his run against cincy looked real good, but those runs are still far and few between. Personally I think his problem is not being able to pick his hole early and run HARD through the hole not just to the hole, but that’s just my own amateur observation
Mostly agree
1. I know it’s sacrilege to jump on Troy here, but he’s been disappointing this year. He’s paid the big bucks to be a disruptor/takeaway machine. He has been to some extent been disruptive, but the lack of takeaways are alarming to me. I don’t know if he has lost a step or what, but his lack of production in this area is a bad sign
2. Lawrence Timmons: I’m afraid we are going to be disappointed by him in the long run. He’s a good player, but for whatever reason the last half of last year seems to be his peak. Does he lack great instinct? I know he’s got the physical tools to be dominant, and certainly we have at times seen flashes. This is year 5. If he’s not All-Pro now, he probably won’t be in the future.
3. I’ve never been a big Rashard fan. The fact that he is being DE-emphasised in the offense to some extent is no surprise to me. Not a bad running back, but not someone you build your offense around.
4. You’re short changing the offensive line. That’s a vastly improved bunch compared to the start of the season. It’s their improvement that makes me think we have a legit chance to go back to the SB. Ben is going to take sacks…that is the nature of his game. Sometimes you have to just acknowledge that you went up against a very good D-line, which is what Cincy has.
" Just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and then I think you'll finally understand"
" In America" Charlie Daniels Band
Lawrence Timmons
Is not an outside linebacker. He was groomed his first few years to be an inside linebacker and he was pretty damn good last year at that position. After Wood returns and Timmons can slide back inside then it will be fair to judge him. Right now he gets a pass from me.
"Never said I'm first to put the 'Burgh up on the map, I'm more like Mike Tomlin here to bring da 'Burgh back... Khalifa man."
by RoethlisCrosby on Nov 15, 2011 2:38 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hell yeah you pissed me off!!!
Who the hell do you think you are???
Oh wait its the bye week. I will give you a pass for now, but you better come back with a better attitude or else……..
bye the way.....
A lot of teams would be happy to have the things that look not so good to you……….
But I understand than some people……….need to have perfection in the things they idolize. Some of the rest of us……..understand perfection is never attained.
All of us have a critical eye, but are you seeing the whole picture?
by steeler fever on Nov 14, 2011 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
Timmons?
Wasn’t he the big dude wearing #94 making an INT?
HERE WE GO STEELERS!
"Our Father, who art in Pittsburgh, Football be thy game. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, at Heinz Field as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, a stellar D and forgive us our bogus fines, as we (sorta) forgive Goodell who trespasses against us. And lead us not into defeat, but deliver us a Victory. For thine is The Steelers, the power and glory of climbing the STAIRWAY TO 7."
and a winning smile.
HERE WE GO STEELERS!
"Our Father, who art in Pittsburgh, Football be thy game. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, at Heinz Field as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, a stellar D and forgive us our bogus fines, as we (sorta) forgive Goodell who trespasses against us. And lead us not into defeat, but deliver us a Victory. For thine is The Steelers, the power and glory of climbing the STAIRWAY TO 7."
That I could see for a country mile!
by Steelchamps !! on Nov 15, 2011 1:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
You must focus and find your inner zen.
Inhale positive energy-exhale non productive feelings.
by Steelchamps !! on Nov 14, 2011 8:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions
wow champs
that was very blissful of you. Did you just get out of yoga class?
by steeler fever on Nov 15, 2011 1:52 AM EST up reply actions
Or the pub?
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Nov 15, 2011 7:17 AM EST up reply actions
I have found the way and it is good!
by Steelchamps !! on Nov 15, 2011 1:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I have, too...and I can't get enough...
…of that wonderful Duff.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
Timmons has been hindered by his counterpart ILBs
He had only 3 pass rushes on Sunday. That’s because he has to drop into coverage almost every snap. But, he’s been pretty darn good in coverage, so I’m not worried about it.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter
how would one go about practicing
365 days in one week? Sounds very unlikely
This message will self destruct
GIMME FOOD GIMME FRIES GIMME SAMMICH ON THE SIDE - James Hetfield
He can also get stuffed every time he touches the ball
like last week….
This message will self destruct
GIMME FOOD GIMME FRIES GIMME SAMMICH ON THE SIDE - James Hetfield
ok not every time...but come on...he's not that good
This message will self destruct
GIMME FOOD GIMME FRIES GIMME SAMMICH ON THE SIDE - James Hetfield
Or move the entire O & D line 5 yards on his shoulders.
Yes he is that good.
HERE WE GO STEELERS!
"Our Father, who art in Pittsburgh, Football be thy game. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, at Heinz Field as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, a stellar D and forgive us our bogus fines, as we (sorta) forgive Goodell who trespasses against us. And lead us not into defeat, but deliver us a Victory. For thine is The Steelers, the power and glory of climbing the STAIRWAY TO 7."
3.8 ypc
1 td
This message will self destruct
GIMME FOOD GIMME FRIES GIMME SAMMICH ON THE SIDE - James Hetfield
3.8 ypc for a short yardage back?
Yeah, that’s disgusting…
"They timed it perfectly, they just went too soon." - Darrell Waltrip commenting on an illegal restart.
Actually, the people you're trashing played pretty well in Cincy.
The OL got off to an excellent start, but then BA started calling bonehead plays again and took them completely out of their groove. As for Mendy and Timmons, I have no problem with either guy’s performance. Also, you have to be careful in condemning the coaching in general. MT had nothing to do with the fact that we handed the Bengals 10 easy points in the first half. Mike can’t catch balls cleanly for his receivers or help them jump to bat away a Hail Mary pass. I do wish, though, that MT would clamp down a bit more on BA’s outrageous mid-game strategy shifts. I sometimes wonder why the coach doesn’t walk over to Arians during the game and ask, “WTF are you doing?”
Good points
Dude can you at least spell safety correctly in plural though? I mean when I was like 8 I learned the y → ies thing. My Peruvian English students know that.
I agree 100% on the coaching. Tomlin has poor two minute clock management. He could have used a TO earlier in the 1H to get us 30-40 seconds to try a deep pass or two and a FG. Considering where we would have gotten the ball, at least give your guy a chance to run a punt back.
And other things dumbfound me. Arians goes deep ball happy in a gusty stadium after the short passing game was working so well. LeBeau turns off the blitz in the 3rd quarter and lets the Bengals right back in.
Needs to improve big time or we won’t win down the stretch.
You pist me off
This team is a week to week sub here, injury there, playing outta osotion there, carrying their brothers everywhere! This is the most bad ass team in the NFL! Every single week they see the best that opposing team has to offer! We play their superbowls every week! We dont blow teams out…we drag them through the mud in a slobber knocker. We might not be as media pretty as the packers. But we are the dark force that the media doesnt like to cover. We are the Pittsburgh Steelers and we’ll kick some ass!
by SixBurghRoethlamalu on Nov 14, 2011 11:54 PM EST via mobile reply actions 3 recs
Im not sure about Ben
I mean i like him but he keeps making mistakes, agaisnt the bengals he throw a sure INT thank god the guy didnt catch it, it was a game changing INT if that happens, he needs to understand better that his mistakes are likely to become game changing situations.
Many of the sacks were to blame him and not the OL, i just say Ben has a lot of improvement to make before i will say he is our MVP.
"Everytime NE Patriots lose, Football wins", myself
I remember that play.
But I wouldn’t worry about it too much considering how he’s improved his midseason turnover problem and how those “almost interceptions” just happen sometimes. Even when Brady and Manning are playing lights out they have miscues and mistakes.
That being said the best thing he could do would be to learn how to throw the damn ball away. His way of extending the play is exciting but learning when to give the play up would add consistency and an offense that can play 4 full quarters. My blood pressure doesn’t appreciate them letting teams hang around till the final seconds.
-You're welcome.
Yes, but...
…BB and BA do seem to revert to problematic norm when faced with teams that stack the box and come at Ben hard, like the Bengals did. Frankly, I would describe what happens to Ben as he gets “flustered”. Now, I KNOW that will piss many off, but look at it. Why else would we see so many 3 and outs (first drive of 2nd half Bengals game as most recent example).
I think Ben is an elite QB, but do have to question sometimes his choices, and/or BA’s playcalling. In a way, the two enable each other, not always to the benefit of the team.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
Agree, some of Ben errors are because of poor playcalling from BA
"Everytime NE Patriots lose, Football wins", myself
He isn't perfect
Nor can we expect him to be. I don’t think it’s so much his decision making (although I see the argument for BA’s weird play calling) but that he plays a superman role. His line has gone through the ringer of injury and put out extremely inconsistent performances in both run and pass protection. So he ends up being Mr. Gunslinger and always looking to put everything on his back. Do you think he plays through injury because he likes it or because he knows without him this offense would be bottom shelf?
So again, if he can learn to give up on plays (especially ones that aren’t do or die) he will make it easier on him and his line and give everyone more time to focus. I love that he is a gunslinger, but when we are up by two scores 2nd and 10 isn’t worth breaking a thumb, throwing a pick, or taking a sack.
-You're welcome.
practicing 365 days a week seems excessive
by indianasteelers on Nov 15, 2011 9:51 AM EST reply actions
And against new CBA rules...should only be 180 days a week, no pads or underwear.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
by PaVaSteeler on Nov 15, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
Every player in the NFL knows that the Steelers are running up the middle on first down.
On 31 first-down plays, the Steelers ran middle, guard, or tackle on 18 of them, threw on 11, and ran an end-around on 2. Of those 18, 9 were successful (gaining at least 40% of needed yardage for a first-down), including two touchdowns and an 11-yard first-down pickup; only three gained one yard or less.
So if everyone knows the Steelers are running up the middle on first down, (a) they’re wrong 40% of the time, and (b), they’re not taking advantage of that information 50% of the time.
by DG Lewis on Nov 15, 2011 11:08 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
rec'd
for an awesome summation
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Nov 16, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
Ben playing really good Rodger is play out of this world good. Just saying.
Huge fan of the Steelers. (that includes "Steelers West")
"If I could start my life over again, I would be a professional football player and you better damn well believe a Pittsburgh Steeler!"- Jack Lambert
Well, at least you got it right about Ben and TwoTone.
Why is the "football" not round and thrown around?
Follow me on Twitter for updates on when I poop.
Xbox Live Gamertag - IMIeursault
by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on Nov 20, 2011 6:06 AM EST reply actions
Something to say? Choose one of these options to log in.
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
"Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history."
Art Rooney Jr.
"Level-headed thinking." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Related FanPosts on Behind the Steel Curtain
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Former high-school star Brian Banks does serious time on trumped-up charge, now hopes for an NFL shot
- Former ‘idiot kicker’ Mike Vanderjagt in trouble after accosting junior-high heckler
- Adrian Peterson blows teammates away in footraces; appears to be on the mend
- UPDATE: Charlie Sheen didn’t buy Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring
- Alex Smith gets blown up by Jon Beason over Cam Newton comments
