BTSC Steelers Six Pack: Out-of-Conference Monday Night Showdown Edition

by Michael Bean on Dec 17, 2011 2:02 PM EST in BTSC Steelers Six Packs

IX - The Pittsburgh Steelers play the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 15, but there's a number of important games with playoff implications slated for Sunday. Here's your NFL Week 15 TV Distribution Map.

X - Unsurprisingly, the NFL denied James Harrison's appeal of the one-game suspension he received for his hit on Colt McCoy two Thursday nights ago. Former Steelers great, Jerome Bettis doesn't think Harrison has seen the last of being disciplined by the league for his brand of play. For better or worse, I don't disagree.

XIII - Still have some Christmas shopping to do? Consider buying what I believe is one of, if not the best history books about the Steelers written by one of our own, Tim Gleason, aka maryrose. The book, which was published in July of '10, has received rave reviews from many places, including the Post Gazette, Jim Wexell, myself, and Art Rooney Jr., who enjoyed the manuscript so much that he penned the foreword. For a more recent review of the book, check out Hombre de Acero's review on his site Steel Curtain Rising. I will say that the book's website is currently down, so to purchase a copy, email Gleason at fromblacktogold@gmail.com

XIV - Catch up on the 49ers practice and injury reports over at Niners Nation. As bad as the injury situation may appear for the Steelers, the 49ers potentially missing Patrick Willis and Joe Staley for Monday's game is an even bigger loss. David Fucillo, the founding editor of the site, does a great job with the site, so browse around the site while the 49ers are at the forefront of our mind this weekend.

XL - Those pesky Harbaughs. Sounds like Jim is leaning on John for any help he can get preparing his team for the Steelers. Smart move, obviously.

XLIII - I have been on the East Coast traveling for work all week, but on Monday, Bill Priatko and Dave Villiotti conducted a two-man version of Terrible Towel Talk without me. Sorry so late on the post, but I've just now had a chance to get to it.

Tweet Comment 26 comments | Add comment | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Regarding Harbaugh collusion...

All LeBeau has to do is pick up the phone, call Ray Horton, and find out exactly what sort of stunts the 49ers struggle with in blitz pickup.

Great photo of Willis- dude looks incredibly intimidating in it. Niners have the injury advantage for the most part when compared to the Steelers, but that dude is our best player, and he’s likely out.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Dec 17, 2011 2:33 PM EST reply actions

I was gonna say

James Harrison is the scariest, most badass LB in the league, its not even close. But Patrick Willis is a beast as well, good picture.

by blitzzburgh on Dec 17, 2011 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Willis knows how to tackle without getting suspended.

;)

by Mindless on Dec 19, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

Harbaughs...

Hey, maybe Gatorade boy will expend so much energy colluding with his little bro about how to attack the Steelers that he forgets to fully prepare for his own game? Sounds like a stretch, but we all know he has nightly dreams about the Black and Gold, and it would also benefit him to see us lose Monday night, so… could happen?

by WestCoastSteel on Dec 18, 2011 4:17 AM EST up reply actions

Pouncey is out

If Roethlisberger doesn’t play I will be amazed if you win this game. No Pouncey, Harrison or #7 would be ridiculous.

best tackling team in the NFL, most physical and just dominates people. When we walk out of the tunnel and out of that locker room, we expect to shut people out and play great defense - Ravens DC Chuck Pagano

by BALT21 on Dec 17, 2011 3:04 PM EST reply actions

so will I but we are not the Colts

3-1 without Ben last year, but with the addition of Pouncey and Harrison gone I will be amazed.

"Franco made that play because he never quit on the play. He kept running, he kept hustling. Good things happen to people who hustle."

by PCISteeler on Dec 17, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

we can win this game without pouncey and harrison

no question in my mind about that. Losing Big Ben obviously would be brutal.

Contact me at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com or michaelbean06@gmail.com with comments, suggestions, complaints, etc. Find BTSC on Twitter. Follow BTSC on Facebook for regularly updated content and commentary.

by Michael Bean on Dec 17, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Depends

If he’s not mobile at all, I’m not sure he would be anywhere near as effective as he is capable of, and I don’t know how much better he would be than one of his backups who are at 100%.

Plus, if he starts and then gets knocked out early-on, that’s a bad position for the team to be in.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Dec 17, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

Any news on Troy's hammy

"you will hardly know who I am or what I mean"-Walt Whitman

by Pittsblitz56 on Dec 17, 2011 3:47 PM EST reply actions

He's probable going to play so it's prob not that bad.

"I’ll consider myself a dirty player when my mom calls me a dirty player." - Ndamukong Suh

by Riddlah. on Dec 17, 2011 4:08 PM EST up reply actions

Anything up with his shoulder

Can’t remember who but it looked like someone was pulling on his arm last week.

"you will hardly know who I am or what I mean"-Walt Whitman

by Pittsblitz56 on Dec 17, 2011 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

He asked Ryan Clark to pull it -

I don’t know whether he jammed it or whether this was Troy’s version of “pull my finger…”

"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 Dec 17, 2011 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

LOL

"It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wear'in milkbone underwear" - Norm

by Tx_STEELER on Dec 17, 2011 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

I heard he had Punxy massaging it with his little fists all week

Should be good to play

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter

by John Stephens on Dec 18, 2011 8:38 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

nice

Punxy sighting

People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee

by stillergorillar on Dec 18, 2011 9:47 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

49ers injury situation

I’d disagree they are worse off because of Willis and Staley. We’re likely without our best defensive player (or at least one of the best), our pro bowl center, and our franchise QB.

If Ben can’t play then we’re worse off regardless of who else is missing from either team.

by lkwdsteel on Dec 17, 2011 3:58 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Yeah

QB is far more important

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter

by John Stephens on Dec 18, 2011 8:39 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

QB is far more important

Unless you are talking about the 49ers.

Boy, I'm three generations deep, in gangstadom

by FrankWyt on Dec 18, 2011 8:52 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

give me a break!

dont compare losing willis to BB!

A man is innocent untill proven guilty...Even if it's Ben Roethlisberger!
'I rather have a German division in front of me than a French division behind me'..General George Patton
" I don't care if he has two horns and a tail, as long as he is anti-communist"..General Douglas MacArthur..
"The way to end our dependence on foreign oil is to keep our tires properly inflated"....B. Hussein Obama
"Government is not the solution to our problems, it is the cause of them" Ronald Wilson Reagan..40th President of the United States

by nycsteelerfan on Dec 17, 2011 4:14 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

We can and should win this game

Even without a few stars. It will be a defensive slugfest, but Alex Smith honestly does not frighten me. If we don’t make stupid mistakes like turnovers and penalties I believe our defense can stop them better than theirs can stop ours. Look for Antonio Brown to have a big game returning punts and kicks!

"I've been trying to justify you, in the end i will just defy you" Dream Theater

by OhioYinzer on Dec 17, 2011 5:09 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

No.

Look for Antonio Brown to have a big game returning punts and kicks!

"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh

If you order a "Cowboys kicker" at the bar, you get a shot of iced Bailey's.

Follow @michaelsp310

by mikeinsp on Dec 17, 2011 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

lookout for navarro bowman, good linebacker

Where is the meatloaf?

by Habana on Dec 18, 2011 2:17 AM EST reply actions

On a side topic...

Do you guys feel, like me, that we should be thankful nobody picked up Max Starks during free agency? I know he was overweight and all, and he even worked out for some other team…but without him…
I’m not sure whether we would’ve been where we are now…

by stoco40 on Dec 18, 2011 2:32 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

it doesn't bear thinking about!

I am indeed thankful.

by Rebecca Rollett on Dec 18, 2011 8:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Here We Go!

I knew Harrison would be suspended. Agree with Bettis and think that the next big hit will cost Harrison 2 games. Funny how other players repeated infractions get fines but Harrison loses games? I better see suspensions the next H2H hit on a Steelers player. I better see flags next time some defender rolls over on Bens ankle or hits him low or hard out of the pocket. This league run by Goodell is ludicrous.

What is it with sports commissioners ruining my teams? David Stern nixes the Lakers trade for CP3 causing great friction in the Lakers locker room (and a trade of Odom for nothing) then the next week the lowly Clips offer a similar package and Stern says OK. Not only do the Lakers lose CP3, they lose Odom and now get to deal with a cross town potential heavyweight. BS!

50 & Crew are hitting the 5 FWY north to the Bay area today. Steeler flags are flying off the Hemi powered drone as we motor north out of the 818 through Bakersdump, Fresneck and San Jose to the Bay. Terrible towels twirling! We may be coming to San Fran without Harrison, Pouncey, Sanders and possibly Ben & Troy but we’re coming to San Fran for the 11th “W” of 2011. Michael Bean…the Crew is going to miss you in North Beach tonight (see you all at the Stinking Rose) and at the all day tailgate tomorrow. I will bring you a “W” back from the Bay. As long as Barry Foster isn’t returning kicks…Steelers 3 49ers 2.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Dec 18, 2011 10:14 AM EST reply actions 1 recs