5 Burning Questions for the Steelers Bye Week

1. I think Coach, like Hines, only cares about winning. However, if we get into Weeks 16-17 and we have a pretty good idea of where we’ll be in the playoffs….then I sure as heck hope they start giving Hines more targets. He’s been class, and deserves it.

2. Just wait…after bye week, Manny will be back, and things will spread out again. Also, with Cotchery getting another 2 weeks to get comfortable, he’ll take more targets as well.

3. I wish it meant more sacks…or TFLs…but unfortunately, it seems that all it means is we are tackling guys for a 3 yard gain instead of an 8 yard gain. Run D isn’t as stout as it was in the past.

4. Still too early to tell…but I was hoping to see at least a few glimpses that JW could be the next stalwart at LB. I’d say I’m less optimistic now than at the start of the year.

5. Great question. I feel like we’re due for a TD return, and that would change things around.

6. Bye Week Sunday = Date Sunday with the wife.

1. You play to win, putting the team ahead of individual milestones. However, Hines can still play that role well; he’s the best blocking receiver and probably one of the best slot receivers in the League, and can find the holes in zone defense. Put him in 3-man sets and he’ll get his receptions and yards.

2. There are just too many weapons on offense now, and Ben has shown week in week out that he will distribute the ball pretty evenly.

3. The need is to shore up the run defense, since we have been run on a lot this year. Our corners are playing pretty well, at one time leading the league in least amount of yards through the air. Of course, less flexibility with Troy means that there will be fewer splash plays.

4. Clark Haggans. Worilds is not a bust, but he’s not a phenomenal talent either. Then again, neither was James Harrison at first.

5. Haven’t been paying that close attention. All I know is we aren’t getting totally gashed on returns as in prior years.

6. Yes. One I could not get out of was going to Japan for my brother-in-law’s wedding during the 2002 playoffs. I watched that horrible AFCCG at 2:00 AM on NHK, with headphones out and holding back on screaming and yelling so as not to wake up the rest of the house. If you want to talk about horrible special teams, that was the worst game that I can remember, where the Patriots blocked a FG and returned it for a TD, and Troy Brown returned a punt for a TD.

1. I think we’re reading too much into Hines’ limited time on the field against the Bengals. There’s an element of this story, I’m willing to bet, that isn’t being made public. Recovering from concussion symptoms slowly is a likely culprit. Expect Hines to be back in the usual mix in 2-3 weeks, and for him to earn his numbers, not be given them.
2. Antonio Brown might be developing an unhealthy ego, but that’s another story. I trust Big Ben’s ability to spread the ball around. Once teams start compensating for #84, then Ben will start targeting Wallace more.
3. I like Troy on the line. I like Troy prowling the slot. I like Troy roaming deep. Doesn’t matter, as long as he’s not forced to constantly back up one unit because they’re not performing up to the standard. Run D hasn’t been as good as pass D, so he’s on the line. We’d see more production out of him if the necessity wasn’t there. The more predictably the Steelers play Troy, the less plays he’s going to make.
4. I’d hoped to see a splash play out of Worilds, considering the Harrison’s been getting all of the double teams. However, considering the Harrison didn’t get a sack against Cincinnati either, I’m not too inclined to dismiss Worild’s potential. He didn’t screw up in a horrible fashion, which is probably a better sign than anything.
5. I’m not concerned about special teams. We’re doing fine on returns, and will get a big payoff one or two of these games. Kapinos has impressed so far, but hasn’t actually done much yet. Long-term, the Steelers either need to see more out of Suisham or find someone else. (Still got Swayze Waters’ number? He’s got a cool name…)
6. Nope. Family > Steelers, and I think every player on the team would agree with me.

6. I got married on 10.10.10 last year, because my wife liked the symmetry of the date. When I checked the schedule, I found out that it was the Bye week! I should probably do something special with the wife this weekend, since it’s an anniversary of sorts.

1. I think Hines gets the receptions and yards this year. TDs will be tough but if we have locked up a 1st round bye going into week 17 and Hines is 1 to 2TDs away, I hope we target him often.
2. No. Ben knows what he is doing and will throw to whoever is open. It just so happens that it has been AB the past 4 weeks.
3. The INTs have gone down but it also confuses the Offense. We have basically been playing a 3-5-3 on defense and it has caused two things. Good run defense, but Clark has been exposed more. Once we get Woodley back and we can go back to a 3-4-3, I think our INTs will go up and Clark won’t be playing so bad.
4. I was impressed with Worilds second start. Despite not registering a sack, he had 3QB Pressures and 1 QB Hit. He looked good in limited pass coverage and I think he has a bright future. I say he ends up as about a 4 to 6 sack per season guy playing in a predominately pass rusher role. Two down player unless he gets better at run support.
5. No. We just faced two teams that are very good on ST. I believe the Bengals are 1st in the league in Punt Return coverage and both teams have dangerous kick returners.
6. I have skipped family trips to our house in Vermont to watch the Steelers but I don’t plan vacations (only 17) so I can’t say I have.

1) Yes, in certain situations. Such as if were up a lot (not if getting blown out, that’s tacky)
As a coach I’d want to do anything I could to guarantee him a spot in the HOF, and while I think he’s surefire HOF, some don’t. Mostly because of people’s personal feelings about how he plays the game.

2) I don’t understand the question. You got to whoever gets the job done. Defenses focus on Wallace so much, it makes it important to go Brown’s way.

3) I think you do whatever it takes. He’s great in run support. It’s not like he’s been able to catch a football this year anyway.

4) I don’t have enough information to answer this one.

5) No, I don’t believe we are at all. These things happen.

6) Waited for a bye week to kick my girlfriend out once. Sundays were the only day we were both home for extended periods., and I didn’t want to deal with during a game. I know, i know..I’m horrible, but that was a long time coming. She was a very stressful person to be around at that time. I also needed another check to by a new Tv, we used hers when mine broke.

1. yes plan to get him 19 catches but not worry about TD’s
2. no, it’s a good thing
3. he has to because he protects from getting run on. What it means i sless TO’s for teh D and that the interior needs to play better and be upgraded
4. Clark Haggans
5. yes
6. many

1. I take Tomlin at his word. I don’t think he was talking in code. The situation is fluid at WR. Jerrico, HInes and Manny have all been down at one point. If Brown continues to play at a high level teams may have to reconsider their decisions to double team Wallace. This offense hasn’t peaked yet and the challenge will be to give everyone a chance to eat. With four of the remaining games against relatively weak opposition, hopefully the opportunity will be present to get Hines his numbers without compromising competitive integrity.

2. Brown has earned the attention that he is receiving. Quiet as its kept, he may very well be the best of the bunch. He’s nowhere near peaking yet. But I remember at training camp he was just head and shoulders above everyone. If you think about what is possible with this group considering the three tight ends and the wideouts it is incredible. Battle, whom I think is not a bad receiver, can’t even get to be part of the discussion at this point. If this group continues to improve over the remainder of the season and if by chance we could have a rematch with the Packers it could be an incredible shoot out.

3. Not sure if its because the run defense has declined or the pass defense has improved. Still waiting for him to get his timing back.

4. Size wise he’s more reminiscent of Porter, I think it remains to be seen who he will most resemble performance wise. I like what I saw on Sunday. I think the light is beginning to come on for him.

5. We forget what the impact of injuries may be on special teams. A number of guys are doing double duty as they have increased responsibilities in the other two phases of the game. It probably impacts the compositions of those units as well.

the way Tomlin addressed Hines benching was arrogant and callous;
 And what? All of you asking for a give away to Hines from Tomlin…..let him get the record/ That’s not Hines style. He either makes it or not. He is not a charity case for the Steelers. He is the Steelers.

Steelers, unfortunately, won’t even make the playoffs. The coaching has been confusing; the coaching has been bad and I don’t see them doing anything different than the play changing roulette game they continue to do weekly.

1. Hines never was a speedster and it does not appear he has slowed. What has happened is the others around him have ungodly speed and he looks slow now. He is still the best blocker although Brown seems to be trying to emulate him. I think just play Hines as usual and the numbers will come that get him the records. Doing so will not come at the expense of a win because in a pinch he will be the guy open and the one to make the crucial catch.
2. If Brown is open consistently it would be poor play to ignore him. He may very well become a fast Hines Ward in the not so distant future.
3. I watch all the games after the fact as they are uploaded so I have not been concentrating on Troy all that much and just don’t have any opinion as to why the defensive schemes have changed.
4. Still waiting to see either of the Ratbird games uploaded for viewing and the Bungles are the same so I have not seen enough of Worlids to make a judgement. That is a hint for someone to upload the games to piratebay or isohunt for us who live elsewhere and have no Steeler TV access. (I’m temporarily in Saudi Arabia and going through Steeler [and beer] withdrawal).
5. Sometimes everything comes together (“I love it when a plan comes together” [Hannibal Smith]) and other days they don’t quite mesh. Hopefully that is an aberration and not a trend.
6. Yes I have planned major events around a bye week. In 2005 I was in Korea and traded vacations with a guy from Australia so I could be back to watch the game the following week. Of course I was watching games on Slingbox at the time and missed no games on the way to Super Bowl XL against the Sea Chickens.

Wallace and Brown will be the top pair of WRs on one team going into 2012 – Steelers blessed by good drafting and great development by those 2 players. Hines should be the #3 today, competing with Sanders for 3/4 going into next year. He’ll reach those milestones, but personal records don’t matter … just W’s and L’s. We gotta move forward.

1. I don’t think Tomlin will have to game plan for it, if anything, Roethlisberger will look his way a few more times. He knows Ward is close, I just hope it doesn’t hurt the teams ability to win games.

2. No. This is not a problem. Has anybody ever said that Tom Brady should target Wes Welker less often? Of course not, good recievers catch lots of balls. Period. Brown is currently the hottest playmaker on offense, so naturally you get him the ball.

3. The line is not stopping the run. This also takes away for Troy to ballhawk….although maybe the intention was to increase fumbles as well.

4. As of right now Clark Haggans. You want him to be rated as the 9th or 10th best defender or so out of the starting 11.

5. Not worried. A 2 game slip is not a big enough time to measure.