Steelers Overcome Three Second Quarter Turnovers to Put Away Colts, 23-20
by Michael Bean on Sep 26, 2011 2:37 AM EDT
in Steelers Postgame Recap and Review
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PrintWhere to start with the Pittsburgh Steelers' 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night? The good or the bad? I am a glass is half full kind of guy, so let's go with the good. Also, the bad wasn't nearly as bad as the naysayers would like you to believe. What? Did you think the Steelers offensive line was going to be dominant, especially in domed road environments against All Pro pass rushers before the season started?
Let's get to it.
- 408 to 241 -- that was the total yards disparity in Pittsburgh's favor. Chris Collinsworth, who I like by the way, made it sound like the Colts' defense played an incredible game. Really? I was under the impression that allowing 400 yards of offense, 6 yards per play, 62 percent of third down conversions and five drives of over 50 yards are all an indication that you didn't play that well.
- Troy Polamalu for the second straight week played amazing. More on him later, but it sure looks like Polamalu has his explosiveness back.
- Good work by Shaun Suisham to redeem himself after missing from 39 yards out in the third quarter. Suisham connected from 44 yards out early in the 4th quarter, and then from 38 to win the game with less than 10 seconds in the game.
- Daniel Sepulveda punted just three times; only once in the first half from inside Colts territory. The Steelers offense was either marching the ball down the field at will, or, unfortunately, turning the football over.
- The three turnovers came in the form of two sack-fumbles by Ben Roethlisberger and an interception. All came in the second quarter and allowed Indianapolis to make things interesting when it appeared as if they might get run out of the building. The first of the three fumbles was forced by Robert Mathis on a sacks where he had been pushed outside by Marcus Gilbert but kept tracking Roethlisberger from the backside. Big Ben unsurprisingly was holding onto the ball for longer than he probably should have there. Gilbert perhaps could have stayed with the play a bit longer, but he did his job forcing him way outside. A relentless, fast, pass rusher like Mathis is going to track down QBs if the ball's not out by the 3.5-4.0 second mark. The second strip sack came compliments of Dwight Freeney on a play where Jonathan Scott just totally whiffed. He never even put a hand on Freeney, so something was off on the play. Scott had a hard time all night, but he didn't totally miss his assignments like he did on that one play. Costly mistake.
- For those of you who can't stand Scott, well, you may get your wish as the young man went down with what looked like a serious injury in the fourth quarter. Not clear yet what the injury was or how serious, but it looked to be his ankle.
- Each week, James Harrison regains a little bit more strength. His strip sack of Curtis Painter that Troy Polamalu scooped up and returned for a touchdown was vintage Deebo.
- Another week, another 100-plus yard game from Mike Wallace. That's now six straight in the regular season. The bulk of his 144 yards came on a gorgeous 81-yard bomb on the Steelers' second series. Who said Big Ben can't throw the deep ball by the way. Absolutely perfect throw.
- Awesome game from Antonio Brown. The second-year WR had four receptions for 75 yards. Three of his four catches came on third down and all went for at least 18 yards. People will say, 'oh where's the big splash plays from the Steelers offense outside of Wallace's one long TD?' I'd ask they remember those snags by Brown which don't go down as 'big plays' by some stupid standard, but very much were a big part of why the Steelers were able to move the ball all night without the benefit of much in the running game.
- We'll get to the struggles of the running game (28 carries, 67 yards) on Monday.
- Finally, a quick shout out to Mewelde Moore for his fine work on the game-winning drive. The cagey veteran had 31 yards on the series, highlighted by a 22-yard catch and run on a great call and play design from Bruce Arians.
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Great performances from Mewelde Moore, Ike Taylor and the entire group of wide receivers.
I think every facet of the Steelers’ performance was terrific … other than offensive line play.
Our defense played better than the score, and the offense looked great when the O-line gave Ben time to throw.
Mendenhall had a bad game, but it’s hard to disentangle that from the O-line’s performance.
grain of salt
wasnt too thrilled with Sanders' performance
The big drop on first series; then not touching the Colts DB who had that interception.
But I agree with your assessment. Taylor did have a great game outside of his one gamble that almost cost us in the fourth quarter.
Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)
by Michael Bean on Sep 26, 2011 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Wasn't thrilled with the performance of Aaron Smith
Casey wasn’t too much better.
Casey was at least demanding double teams. Aaron Smith was just getting pushed all around the field in 1v1. No clue why he is playing over Ziggy at this point.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Heyward isn't quite ready and Keisel is out?
I think, between the chop blocks on Casey and the lack lustre play of Smith, we can see the roots of the defence’s problem. I expect the defence to start to firm up a bit more once Heyward can earn a starting spot. Smith just doesn’t seem like he is ready to be playing yet.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
A. Smith is playing below the line. Time for Ziggy to start and A. Smith to sub.
by datruth4life2.0 on Sep 26, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I think that will happen when Keisel returns
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
You have a good point
I think that Ziggy should be starting and Heyward should also start if Keisel is hurt again next week. We also need to start giving McClendon more snaps. Especially on obvious passing downs. He is much quicker than Casey and a better pass rusher. Also his height can help against short passes over the middle. I see Casey giving a valiant effort to knock some of these down. McClendon’s added height would be more successful. Also it would give Casey a “blow” and enable him to go “full bore” the entire game. I know people don’t want to hear it, but we need to cut Hoke and use his spot to pick up a good veteran Offensive Lineman.
Great Points regarding 88
drops happen but you gotta put a hand on that Defender
I pledge allegiance to the Terrible Towel and the only team in America, and to the franchise for which it stands, one nation under Rooney, indivisible, with the ability to crush you all.
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
And will again in the film room this week.
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.
it was a scary game, chalk it up and get out of town to regroup
I thought they were going to find a way to blow it. it just seemed like they were having on eof those days where they were going to com eup short
1st quarter was great. needed to stop running Mendy to outside and let him run between the Tackles or get Redman the ball earlier.
Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all
by Rickfansince76 on Sep 26, 2011 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions
That is the same thing I was telling my wife
Stop trying to get outside so much, go inside more. I guess the only problem with that was it was hard to find any openings inside.
Things can always be worse....
I would agree, but Mendy dances too much between the tackles
he needs to learn how to hit a hole, not every run is going to be the home run, sometimes you just have to do what the design of the pay is and hit the damn hole.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree, but...
There were no holes to hit. It’s an age-old argument, should the RB run hard straight ahead, or should he try to make someone miss? The fact is NONE of them had any space to run the ball last night. Mendenhall made a few perhaps a little worse than they could have been had he just put his head down and ran, but he would still have been stopped for a minimal gain.
There isn’t one offensive lineman winning his battle up front on even an infrequent basis. Legursky was getting man-handled, Pouncey, Kemoeatu and Foster all got whipped.
I don’t even want to get into the horror that was our tackle play.
We’ll blame Scott first, then Arians, then Mendenhall, then the lack of drafting the next Anthony Munoz, then maybe the economy, and somewhere down the line, we’ll finally get to what it really is; they didn’t spend money on the offensive line because the offensive line is talented enough (except Legursky) to win, and they have in the past. They need a solid week of ass-whippings to get some fire back into them.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I understand where you are coming from
But he does it every “stuffed” play, I can’t remember ever having seen him just lower his shoulders and try and get the one yard available, which frequently results in no gain or a loss. Frequently on gut plays, the hole doesn’t develop, sometimes you just have to hit the hole. If he chooses not to hit it, he needs to be decisive and make a cut and go, stop dancing. Unless you are Barry Sanders, dancing rarely results in extra yards.
Make no mistake, I am not complaining about Mendy’s production, I think he has been very productive, I just think this is part of his game he needs to fix.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
that Moore looked much more capable of simply hitting the holes this week. Mendy does appear to be doing to much and second guessing some of his plays. Not a ton to work with, but still it seems that some of those plays should get 2-4 and they end up going for negative yardage .
by SteelerBuddha on Sep 26, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Sanders, Aaron Smith, Casey, O-Line
On Sanders: Its ok, at least the mistake didn’t cost us the win, after all he’s a young guy and he’ll learn from this(hopefully).
On Aaron Smith: Is it me or is Aaron Smith insignificant already? I know we love the guy but this better be his last year if we don’t see any improvement in play..
On Casey: Casey imo is still great, it just so happens that he was up against Jeff Saturday and they both should have a somewhat equal battle.
On O-Line: The multi-million dollar question now is What’s next? Do we put Gilbert on the left(providing he’s fine,he should be), or do we keep him on the right, bring in Flozell or play Essex let Scott recover? If we were to bring in Flozell, I hope he’s in shape.. At the rate we’re losing OLinemen, we really should try to get Flozell back..
after seeing A. Smith getting blown off the ball again last night
I’d say let Cam play some. Sure he’ll make some mistakes, but when the experience factor is getting pushed back into the LB’s it’s time to let him learn on the job. At least he might make some plays to offset his mistakes.
Before we start boiling tar...
…defensively, it shows the value of Brett Keisel. Smith was getting double and triple teammed all night. Keep in mind, the Colts didn’t run the ball effectively at all until the Steelers defense had been on the field pretty much the entire second half. It wasn’t about any one player, and last I checked, Peyton Manning didn’t play on defense anyway. They’ve still got one of the best combinations of pass rushers in the game. They whipped our tails, and we came out with a primetime road win. Those aren’t easy games, I’ve been saying that all week.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 7:29 AM EDT up reply actions
agreed
but it was the second bad game for the run d. Playing against the second and third string qbs – with Troy in the box much of the game we still gave up 4.6 a carry – and tended to lose more battles then they won. Aaron smith has made a career of standing up the double team – this game he got pushed around.
by SteelerBuddha on Sep 26, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
We must have been watching a different Smith. I saw him getting beat mostly on 1v1.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions
True
I disagree, in general, with some of the statements saying the entire DL is having troubles. Both Hood and Hampton, to me, seem to be holding up well on the double teams. I even noticed that Ziggy had two QB hits last night (two of our total six). Not bad for a 3-4 DE, and he held up in rush D as well.
Heyward is progressing slowly, but yes, sadly Smith seems to have fallen over the cliff. I noted after week one, and some have noted after yesterday as well, that Smith is playing too high. Best case scenario is that he still does not have his legs under him after missing so much time last year, the lockout, and the pangs of aging. If not, it might be the beginning of the end.
"It's football the way it's meant to be played. That's who Pittsburgh is, and that's who Pittsburgh has always been."
-- so says Rex Ryan.
Completely agree.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions
I'll admit
I wasn’t sober for a good portion of the game. The Colts ran stretches away from him, and I thought he held up ok. Maybe I just chose to remember those and not others.
I’ve got Play of the Day going up in about 45 minutes. Smith did very well on that particular play.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Re-watch
Alright, I just watched Smith’s plays. I’m gonna split the difference with you guys. He didn’t have as much focus on him as I initially thought, but he didn’t play nearly as bad as you guys are suggesting either.
I saw two plays where he got beat. I saw a lot where he was pretty much neutral, and I saw him make two nice plays. He came out a lot more often than I thought he did, too.
The Colts ran 15 offensive plays in the first quarter, and I’d say Heyward was in 7 of them. They were in no-huddle, so he probably just got caught on the field.
Smith took himself out on the first field goal drive, and looked pretty tired to me. Ziggy moved to LE, Heyward to RE. Smith came back in after the Colts timeout. And yes, he did pick up double teams when Collins passed – twice that I saw in the red zone, Collins went to the right back pylon, Smith was double-teammed on both of them.
Six plays into the Colts first drive of the second half, Heyward was back in, again, Ziggy to LE, Cam to RE. Smith was in on the last drive.
He really just looks out of shape.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I must say...
He looked lost a few times, but there was one play, Colts first field goal drive when they were inside the 10. He saw the run, shed his block and moved a helluva lot faster than I thought he would toward the ball carrier. Perfect tackle, he hit him and the back just crumbled.
It’s early, but…it gave me chills =)
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
When he picked up double teams on passing downs was there a blitz? If it’s just a 3 man rush, that doesn’t surprise me. I’m going to rewatch this afternoon. I was going to write a quick report on it with some screen shots if I could.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
My biggest concern is that he was getting pushed around on 1v1 in run plays.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
My biggest concern is that he was getting pushed around on 1v1 in run plays.
Yeah, he lost a few, but I think he also won a few, and broke even on most.
The scheme the Colts were running didn’t really leave him hat-on-hat rushing up field. His responsibility against zone blocking runs away from him is to maintain the line, so he pursued the play down the LOS, and didn’t have just one guy trying to take him out.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes and no
Some definitely were just three man rushes. Not really fair of me to say he drew a double-team…more like the blockers needed something to do!
A lot of it was the Colts were zone blocking, and Smith’s assignment was just to occupy the offensive right side and contain the play when it got flushed his direction from the left side blitz. Smith would engage, roll to his left and they followed him. Pretty common for his position in this D.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
there was several times
where smith was single teamed and got pancaked. He is looking done.
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Sep 26, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
did happen
I watched Smith, there were several times he got blown off the ball and where he wasn’t getting blown off he sure enough wasn’t getting any push. either way its bad, the linemen need to command double teams.
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Sep 26, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I think they should all command triple teams! =)
They were zone-blocking, you don’t really double-team in that, you keep sliding forward and wait for a seam to open up. Plus, the plays were usually moving away from Smith and Woodley, and on stretch running plays, the backside end/LB’s job is to prevent cut-backs. Smith is supposed to pursue the play down the line, not get into the backfield. If he’s too deep or over-pursues, that’s when the back breaks and gains big yards.
Again, I don’t think he played an outstanding game, and he won’t grade out very well, but he didn’t get blown off the ball as often as you’re suggesting. I saw two plays where his opponent really beat him.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not denying that Keisel has value
but I think it showed more how A. Smith has lost it. Triple teamed my ass – I saw plenty of replays where he was blown up 1:1. Smith played horrible in the first game too, and it’s not like Keisel was out for that one. The harsh reality is that he doesn’t seem to be able to do the job anymore, and we are already starting to regret not keeping another D-lineman with his roster spot.
He was "blown up"
Maybe twice. I saw one pancake. He was sliding down the line most of the game, his job against that kind of a running game is to cut him off so the pursuing LB can make the play. He missed a tackle, and got taken out of a few plays, but not nearly as bad as you’re making it out to be.
Is he going to the Pro Bowl based on that game? No, definitely not. Not enough evidence to suggest he’s “lost it” though.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I could not agree more. The Steelers played much better than the scoreline would indicate. For better or worse, the final scoreline is all that matters, but a game where a game-winning field goal had to be kicked from 38 yds with 4 seconds left can always go both ways, and the Steelers could have lost it.
Pittsburgh will face a much, much more dificult test next week in Houston.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
i don't know
I’m running out of optimism for this team. I was thoroughly disappointed by this game. Yes, a win is a win…but this is now a team that is -9 in TO’S…10 turnovers, in 3 games..
uggh, i really hope they find themselves before next week..
another outing like this…instead of giving up 20 it’s going to be more like 50, and if they’d rather give the ball to the defense than the offense again, our side will be about 10..
Look at the bright side:
what other team would be 2-1 with -9 in TO differential? Relax, turnovers are the easier to be fixed aspect of the game, and they should be – and soon, too! But I focus on how the offense moves the ball and how the defense stops the drives before they reach our endzone.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
turnovers may be fixed
but having a line that can’t run or pass block doesn’t help one bit. Combine that with having a D-line that is showing its age and is allowing run lanes looks bad.
If you can run the ball and stop the run you will always be a contender, the opposite also holds true.
you are right
but i don’t really need to relax…i’m not pulling my hair out or anything, i just don’t really believe in this team.. i don’t know if that makes me a bad fan or not.
the offense moving the ball seems to include slicing up the d to get half way there, then making one stupid mistake and giving the other team the ball.
i was not unhappy with the defense though, they played amazing in my opinion, given the circumstances..
but you mentioned a “look on the bright side” so i’m going to add one.
with 125.7 ypg for Wallace, that officially puts him on pace to top 2000
That does not make you a bad fan in itself,
it is not as if you are giving up on the Steelers, right?
But I think it is too soon to lose faith in the team. It’s like 2008, when we lost to Philly in Week 3 – with leaky OL (Ben took 8 sacks and fumbled the ball away twice int he process!) couldn’t move the ball… Week before than we got away with a 10-6 win over the miserable Browns… It all ended with a Lombardi Number Six.
Wallace is a beast. I still think that 2,000 is a little too much realistically, but 1,500-1,600 could well be within reach, barring injuries, of course.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
you do make good points sir
and no, i haven’t given up on them (never gonna happen) i’m just not very optimistic about their chances of number 7 this year. but since the Ravens loss, i’ve been saying “we’ll see what we go week 4 vs Houston” i’m sticking to that as of now.
you are probably right, 2000 is unrealistic…but it’s still awesome that after 3 games, he’s been backing up his mouth isn’t it? i saw some concerned Steeler fans that have said something along the lines of “Wallace needs to shut up”
in my opinion it’s “Wallace needs to back his talking up”
You are right, 2k probably isn’t happening, but i’ll be rooting for it until it’s mathematically impossible
i would LOVE to have a Steeler steal a record from the greatest of all time, and i think Wallace is the best shot for that
should say
“we’ll see what we got in week 4” derp
I share your sentiment
The game, to me at least, simply confirmed that some, not all mind you, of the issues that reared their ugly head in week one are, in fact, elements that the Steelers are a ‘flawed’ football team. Of course, every team has its flaws; it is just I could not necessarily pick out ours during the preseason.
As it stands now:
we are susceptible to teams with strong edge rushers; );
-we seem to lack a tactical nous with our playcalling (Mechem covers this well in his post) and adjusting to the pressure of the defense;
-we have difficulty establishing ourselves in the running game when other teams are setting up to stop it (the predictability shown here only deepens this flaw
-it seems Farrior is no longer able to fill the gap on defense and Timmons is not quite dominant yet;
-and (for the moment) there is a lack of outside pass rush and playmaking.
On the last point, Troy is looking strong. I just wonder why, even though we registered solid pressure all night, we very rarely could get a hit on the QB. Collins is not Manning, and those two tackles are by no means all-pro.
"It's football the way it's meant to be played. That's who Pittsburgh is, and that's who Pittsburgh has always been."
-- so says Rex Ryan.
Oops, do not know why it lined it out
we are susceptible to teams with strong edge rushers;
we seem to lack a tactical nous with our playcalling (Mechem covers this well in his post) and adjusting to the pressure of the defense;
we have difficulty establishing ourselves in the running game when other teams are setting up to stop it (the predictability shown here only deepens this flaw
"It's football the way it's meant to be played. That's who Pittsburgh is, and that's who Pittsburgh has always been."
-- so says Rex Ryan.
Pressure/QB hits
The QBs didn’t get hit cuz they didn’t keep the ball in their hands long enough. That’s not a skill thing, that’s a survival thing. We may not have hit the QB much, but they were still 18-for-40 for a miserable 3.5 yards per pass attempt.
That being said, their QBs were, for the most part, pretty awful. Pressure definitely affected them but they missed a lot of open receivers until that last drive. It was a strong defensive performance by both teams.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Fair
It still seemed they were not getting rid of the ball as blindingly fast as say Brady would, and other than the two or three times Harrison forced an errant throw, we were not in the QBs face. Compounded by no sacks in week one and all our sacks coming in the 4th quarter last week, it leaves causes for concern.
"It's football the way it's meant to be played. That's who Pittsburgh is, and that's who Pittsburgh has always been."
-- so says Rex Ryan.
Sacks
Obviously you’d like to have sacks, but pressure is really what they’re going for. It’s true, they were playing the antithesis of Manning, but holding a team to less than 50 percent passing, they’re doing some things right.
The way I see it, if the offense is not making completions 20 yards down the field (only had one last night), pressure is either coming consistently, or the offense isn’t looking to make those throws. I think last night was a combination of both.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I have a feeling that in the past years
most of our sacks have come on 3 and 10 or more yards. How many of those have times have forced somebody into one of those situations this season? At least that is my theory on the lack of sacks.
I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
"It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you." Mike Tomlin
LB play
I think the front 3 are at least partially responsible for the drop off of the LB corps. If they can’t hold their points vs double teams then the LBs will have a long night.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 8:27 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
"I've been trying to justify you, in the end i will just defy you" Dream Theater
by OhioYinzer on Sep 26, 2011 9:26 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I still don’t understand why they think subing in Foote for Farrior is a reasonable replacement. Having an athletic ILB like Sylvester in would do Timmons wonders. As it is now Timmons is forced to play coverage more because of Farrior’s and Foote’s lack of coverage ability.
James Harrison~ "We are not trying to hit nobody hard. We don't want to get fined" *blank stare* /end sarcasm.
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 26, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Timmons is supposed to be the one playing coverage.
The Mike and the Buck have very different assignments. On running plays, the Buck takes on fullbacks and guards. This redirects the runner into the space where the Mike is waiting to make the tackle. The Mike is the athletic guy. The Buck is meathead. Foote happens to be a solid meathead. The guy can bang. In fact, he kept Timmons off the starting roster during his second year.
Sylvester may be a better option on passing downs. That’s isn’t Foote’s strength. But don’t assume that because Sylvester is “athletic” he can stonewall linemen or fullbacks coming with a full head of steam.
I haven’t been paying close attention this year, but I thought Timmons had taken over Potsie’s position at the Mike, while Potsie and Foote were splitting time at the Buck. I assume (no, I haven’t dissected the tape) Potsie is spelling Foote for the passing downs.
"They eat fish and are majestic" - Great Sergios Ghost
good point
but wouldn’t a team that likes to use two TEs and/or RB in the passing game force Farror to cover? In those situations I’d like to see more Sly.
James Harrison~ "We are not trying to hit nobody hard. We don't want to get fined" *blank stare* /end sarcasm.
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 27, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Wallace
is right on pace for 2000 – at 125.7 a game he would finish with 2011. But Welker looks like he’s on pace for 2500
by SteelerBuddha on Sep 26, 2011 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Eh, he only broke out against Buffalo because the Bills smothered Branch all day(not even one target)
He will come back to earth soon enough.
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever
-Napoleon Bonaparte
The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.
-Thomas Szasz
Cornell University Class of 2014
by LV Steelers Fan on Sep 26, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I know most Steeler fans swear by the run
But watching this team, i think they should do exactly what the Patriots, and now the Lions are doing…
play to your strengths, F the run…if it’s not getting it done.
then when teams get so used to you passing all over them, THEN you run, with a more than capable running back.
Passing is what got us to, and won us that 08-09 Super Bowl you were talking about, and passing took us there again last year…it’s a passing league…
Things happen
and there will be games this season when they will not be able to run (like last night), when Ben will have like 150 yds passing, when D will score more points than the offense… I’m sure we will all take it as long as it results in wins.
But my point is that it usually depends on playcalling. Whether you run or throw it, you will succeed if you do it right. So far this has not been the strength.
But your overall point is extremely correct – use your strengths, and don’t pound the football just for the sake of it. If the Steelers are winning while being a finesse team – so be it!
Life's a journey, not a destination.
much appreciated
you accepting my word and not jumping down my throat like some do
but yeah..things certainly do happen, and at the end of the day, the W is all that matters
but i’m stupid, and i watch the Steelers like a parent/coach…i’m always thinking ahead.
“oh this isn’t going to fly against so and so” or “you can’t do that when it matters”
as sad as it sounds, i actually get more enjoyment out of watching a game with two teams i don’t care about…i think that means i have an empty life lol
30 years in football
i’ve never seen something, stinks like this
today out there, you embarrassed yourself
today, i’m ashamed to be your coach
EXACTLY
see…in my last post, i said i watch their games like a coach, then i thought it would be funny to use a famous “coach” quote from a movie…
obviously this failed on multiple levels, i apologize
The only level at which this may have failed
is the lack of my background of classic sports movies – which is directly attributable to my non-american background as such :)
But funny that I should think that it could be Tomlin yelling at Ike Taylor after he was totally fooled by Garcon’s double move… :)
Life's a journey, not a destination.
the movie is
Any Given Sunday, starring Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx (who was AMAZING in “Ray”), L.L Cool J, the REAL L.T, and some other famous names…
i HIGHLY recommend that you familiarize yourself with this film
(if you like films)
and LO frickin L at your comment about my comment being from Tomlin to Taylor, you’re good man.
Where are you from?
Anyway yes, if you like American football, and movies, i would say you gotta at least give “Any Given Sunday” a shot….i enjoyed it
I actually watched it
but it was a while ago, and I just didn’t make the connection. One thing that turned me off was the fake football teams (and their colors). Otherwise a good movie indeed!
Life's a journey, not a destination.
yeah
the NFL is a dictatorship…i don’t believe you’ll ever see a real football team represented in a movie (except Little Giants, but that was different because it was pop warner)
much like the own the rights to all NFL footage, so that means for every classic highlight you watch, it’s ALWAYS in slow motion…making it “more dramatic”
nevermind
i found where you are from…but i’d still like to know…born there? or got there some other way? if from there, are you really that fluent in multiple languages?
Kliuch
IIRC, Kliuch is from the Ukraine and if that is the case then I am not surprised he is multilingual. My father-in-law from my first marriage was born in the Ukraine and had emigrated to Canada. He was basically a peasant but he spoke four languages (Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and English). Many people from Europe are multilingual.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions
The joke over there according to one of my professors is
“If you know many languages you are multi-lingual. If you know two you are bilingual. And if you know one you are american
I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
"It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you." Mike Tomlin
There are a lot of monoglot English speakers in Canada as well
which is very unfortunate on more than one level.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 27, 2011 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Ukraine
Born and raised here. Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan is right – a lot of people speak a number of languages here at least on a decent level. Mine are Ukrainian, Russian and English, I can do a little Polish and German too.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
well at any rate.
i haven’t heard you speak or seen you type in your native…
but…wow…..very impressive
it was in line with my original
Negative Nancy reaction to tonight’s game….ugggh…
yes i know the rule, if you have to explain a joke, it’s not funny.
sometimes you gotta go for it though, lol
See my comment above
Rule applies only when joker and jokee are from the same cultural background :)
Life's a journey, not a destination.
On Collinsworth
I didn’t take away that Collinsworth meant the entire Colts defense had become the 2001 Ravens.
His only effusive praise was reserved for Freeney and Mathis, and that was obviously well-deserved, as tends to be the case for those two guys.
Aside from the DEs, he gave Mathea some credit, which is fair. And I think a few times he singled out Angerer, who of the guys he praised was probably the least deserving.
I’d also offer up that these days, 400 yards total defense is not viewed as a nightmarish performance. Especially not when Mike Wallace is on the field.
Plus, the Steelers were forced into the game the Colts wanted. The Colts sold-out against the run, brought pressure from the ends and made turnovers. It was, on balance, the best-case scenario for the Colts without Manning around.
And of course how do you account for Curtis Painter constantly getting astonishingly lucky on that last Colts drive? A string of near-misses like that never occurs in the NFL. And who knows, maybe the kid’s got something. But, if you told me the Polamalu was in the vicinity of the QB three times on a drive, I’d never believe that drive ended well for the other team.
Polamalu on that drive was spectacular!
Part of it was the understanding that Painter would not throw too deep to need the SS help, btu you cannot take away the athleticism and hunch for the play Polamalu showed settling down in the Colts’ backfield. They were really really lucky to get a TD (not a return TD) on that drive.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
That was one of the best games he's ever played
Too bad most will only remember the play of Jonathan Scott, but Troy Polamalu played at his highest level tonight. As fans, we should again be proud that such a man wears our uniform.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 7:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought that his fumble recovery
should be right next to his leap over the Tennessee’s offensive line in Week 2 last year to sack Collins – I was shocked by how he jumped over his blocker who was not even going that low.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
It was almost as if...
…after he landed, he saw Harrison, and knew the ball was gonna come loose, so he went to the spot where the ball would be. Like Gretzky always said, “I don’t go to where the puck is, I go to where it’s going to be.”
That was a great defensive football game, and as soon as we realize this isn’t college, and margin and opponent mean nothing, only Ws and Ls do, the better we’ll be.
2-1 ain’t bad. Got some work to do but winning AFC road games is key. The Pats, Jets and Houston all lost yesterday, while Buffalo, Oakland and Tennessee all won. The AFC’s 6 seed may have 12 wins this year, we’re gonna need every win we can get.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Good Gretzky quote!
AFC is extremely deep this year, and it will take an excellent record to get into postseason. But you have to think the wildcards will be from AFCN and AFCE (as usual), and I expect teams like Oakland and Tennessee (see: Hasselbeck) shoot themselves in the foot and out of the postseason contention some time in October.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
he was so close
to having a play exactly like the Tennessee one…just inches
Troy has had soooo many plays this year that were just an inch off….but he’s still playing very well…when that “inch off” becomes “dead on” people are in trouble.
His jump made Painter hold the ball just that split second more and Harrison got to him.
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.
On point
Troy was spectacular, but just like manning – he can’t do it alone.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly
The Colts knew we would try to establish the run, so they sold out to stop that and set up the best situation for them to take advantage if their best players: third and long. It was the perfect setup for them, which explains why they were able to keep the game close.
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever
-Napoleon Bonaparte
The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.
-Thomas Szasz
Cornell University Class of 2014
by LV Steelers Fan on Sep 26, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
^This
We can brag all day about how well Ben did on 3rd and long. I won’t deny that we did well. However, the fact that we had so many third and longs is a problem.
They made us one-dimensional. Then they turned loose their pass rush. That aught to sound familiar.
"They eat fish and are majestic" - Great Sergios Ghost
They didn't sell out on the run, the pass rush was coming all night.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
They sold out on the run
Take a look at where the safeties were all night.
DE’s in a 4-3 do not determine the nature of selling out to stop the run. A top-shelf DE can come in a pass rush and then crack down inside when the play turns into a run.
One of the big advantages of 4-3 is that it’s easy to pull safeties up in run and drop LBs back in coverage. It’s a bit vanilla, but it tends to work if the other team isn’t outplaying you.
On a lot of first and second down plays, the Colts were bringing the SS up into the LBs space. In a 4-3, that’s selling out against the run.
by theobserver on Sep 26, 2011 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Does anyone think he blew the chance to stop the TD run?
Yes he was inches from getting the ball, but if Troy adjusts his angle he could have taken down Addai and still would have had a decent chance of tackling Painter if it wasn’t a handoff. Troy had a great game, but I just wonder if he felt bad he didn’t get the tackle instead.
I suspect he felt bad
but I think had he made the logical choice even if it didn’t work out.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 27, 2011 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
Some great analysis in there, thank you for not claiming the sky is falling like many will be today.
Collinsworth was praising Freeney and Mathis because they were straight kicking ass on an elite level. You can claim it’s our offensive line, that’s fair, but they deserved the praise they got. I will forever point to that game upon reading anyone questioning the value of pass rush or pass protection. Those two nearly won that game by themselves.
The Colts played great team defense after the first quarter. They tackled very well and didn’t melt in the secondary.
I think that’s a great call on Painter in the last drive. I wouldn’t say he was “lucky,” but Polamalu was THISCLOSE three different times. I texted my brother, “when does a QB escape that THREE times? It’s just not our night.”
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Better to be lucky than good, I guess
Curtis Painter, once he settled down, intrigued me. It;s funny, because Collinsworth had commented about the Colts locker room not being fond of the move to bring in Kerry Collins.
More proof that the generals would do well to listen to the sergeants a little more often.
by theobserver on Sep 26, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Freeny and Mathis and...
Drake Nevis (hope I remembered the name correctly) who seemed to be doing a number on the interior of our o-line.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions
The DT did well, but . . .
It’s hard to judge a DT’s value when the DEs are pulling the guards out in support.
Could the Colts have a 4-3 line as good as the Giants Super Bowl team had? Sure. But, it’s hard to judge based on one performance where outmanned Ts needed a lot of interior support.
by theobserver on Sep 26, 2011 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
At least the Bears OLine is worse than ours
that’s the only nice thing I can say about them, and Pouncey is still learning how to be more awesome than he already is
We went into a hostile domed environment where noise has always been an issue – those Colts fans were starving for a win and they were rallying – Ravens felt that firsthand in Tennessee – we were lucky to come out with the W, but we came out with the W – now we focus on a HUGE game in Texas
I pledge allegiance to the Terrible Towel and the only team in America, and to the franchise for which it stands, one nation under Rooney, indivisible, with the ability to crush you all.
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
I'll drink to that...
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 6:50 AM EDT up reply actions
on the Bears Oline
I’m not betting on whether Cutler will make it through a whole season healthy
i’m betting on whether or not he finishes this season alive…
i know i’m not supposed to feel bad for “over paid athletes” but, i really feel bad for this guy…
he’s going to get killed…Mike Martz is a notorious qb killer, it took Warner 4 years to shake off the Martz system, and Bulger never did….
i sincerely fear for Cutler’s safety…
but are they?
I think we’d need to do some serious scientific research to determine which one is worse… Eff it, it really doesn’t matter because they both are at the bottom of the league as of now. When you really really suck, does it matter if someone else really really really sucks? In the end neither squad is performing like a professional unit.
I won’t make any excuses because of the injuries either. Seriously, did anyone say “oh no” when Legursky went down after being man handled out there? How about when J. Scott went down – nope. I hated seeing Gilbert go down because I knew that meant Essux would enter, but Legs and J. Scott being injured didn’t concern me one bit about there being any drop off. When your starters are playing that poorly, it’s hard to fathom that the next guy up will be much worse.
I said oh no to Scott going down, because at that time there were no other offensive linemen on the bench. Fortunately Gilbert came back in and played with the hurt shoulder.
I didn't
mainly because Gilbert was still on the sidelines in uniform. Then again, we could have gone without a LT and it would have only reduced Ben’s time in the pocket by .02 seconds. We could have had Ward playing LT and it wouldn’t have been noticeable.
O-Line was terrible
and got much thinner on top of the bad play, D-line was porous and couldn’t seem to get comfortable. But Troy was lights out. BTW – Anyone else not to happy to see Ben put the ball on the ground and the lineman just standing there looking at it again? That nearly sent me through the rood – That needs to be a drill in practice – ball on the ground you get your fat ass on that ball.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
reminded me of Baltimore game last year
dive on the f*cking ball like it were a hand grenade fer chrissakes!
I pledge allegiance to the Terrible Towel and the only team in America, and to the franchise for which it stands, one nation under Rooney, indivisible, with the ability to crush you all.
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
Exactly what I was screaming at the TV - "Get on that F'n ball you bastard!!!! What are you doing?????"
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 6:52 AM EDT up reply actions
stupid mistakes
that and 88s gaffe – rookie errors
I pledge allegiance to the Terrible Towel and the only team in America, and to the franchise for which it stands, one nation under Rooney, indivisible, with the ability to crush you all.
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
absolutely
I also really believe Tomlin should have reviewed that 3rd down play, they got a very healthy spot and tht drive was a killer.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 6:57 AM EDT up reply actions
word
I realize the line we see on the TV is from the broadcast but it still looked close
I pledge allegiance to the Terrible Towel and the only team in America, and to the franchise for which it stands, one nation under Rooney, indivisible, with the ability to crush you all.
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
Yes, of course
it isn’t the “true” line, but the spot was quite generous. However, had they gained the 1st after that on a run as Kliuch pointed out they were likely to do, we may have had a hard time closing out the game.
I was also happy to see MeMo picking up yards late, too bad Rashard couldn’t find those yards. I really hope Batch turns into what we hope in the future…
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Touchback...
starts the ball exactly at the 20, the first down mark is exactly at the 30… don’t need the chains or the yellow line. Tomlin sux at challenges.
by steelerwheeler on Sep 26, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
another good point
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Imagine this:
They review the play and rule it 4th and inches. The way Indy had been running all night, they would have probably got a single yard with an Addai dive. But that is 40-50 seconds off the clock. And it means that they score a TD not with 2:06 (or whatever) left, but with 1:20. Much, much less time for us to kick a winning FG.
Same thing happened yesterday in Pats-Bills. Had the Jackson dive into the endzone counted, Brady and Pats would have had 1:40 to try to score their own tying TD – nothing extraordinary, right? But nah, the play os overruled, Bills get 1st and 10 at the one, take three kneels and kick a game-winning FG with no time left (the ridiculous Belichick penalty/whatever it was that cost them a time out also contributed, but you get my point).
All is well that ends well.
Life's a journey, not a destination.
Very good points
but I doubt they would have gone for it on 4th that deep in their own territory (I could be very wrong on that account though).
That Bills v Patriots game was very good, I was pulling hard for them to make the comeback!
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Other than Patriots fans
who wouldn’t have been pulling for the Bills?
I find their ability to turn their team around so much in the second half fascinating. Is it the coaching staff or does having a Harvard grad as a QB make that much of a difference.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Not sure, but he looked damn good against us last year too...
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
It was on their 30 yd line
With roughly 5 minutes to go (maybe less), down by 7, at home, 0-2 on the season, 4th & inches… yeah, they would have gone for it!
Life's a journey, not a destination.
Sanders isn't a rookie anymore
He is a good player but he did not look good last night. I suspect he will be sharper next week.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions
The non-touch on the defender and the not jumping on the ball were football basics though, both, unforgivable.
Of course only one of those was Sanders.
While talking about young money, I love me some A Brown on kicks…
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
rood = roof. LOL
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 6:51 AM EDT up reply actions
That's the first thing
you learn in practice. When the ball is on the ground, cover it up. This team sometimes seems to forget fundamentals.
I hate to see BB lose the ball as much as he has dating back to the Super Bowl but I think if he wasn’t running for his life constantly he might be the best QB in the game. He might be anyway, who else could do what he does?
with the
exception of the interception the turnovers were not really Ben’s fault, Gilbert gave up a little early (I think he will learn from this) and Scott whiffed big time allowing Freeny to hit Bens arm before he could come forward on a (relatively) fast pass.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 26, 2011 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly
All I could think was – THAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU LEARN!!!!
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions
he used to be a lot worse
he cooled his Bungle-based opinions when he got the National gig with Michaels
I pledge allegiance to the Terrible Towel and the only team in America, and to the franchise for which it stands, one nation under Rooney, indivisible, with the ability to crush you all.
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
Agreed
He has been a lot more complimentary of the Steelers in the last few years. Much easier to listen to him, now.
~Tommy~
First of all i wanna say waddup steeler nation
first time back since the superbowl loss, thought i’d add my two cents;
Definitely worried about this team, I watched every game last year and what i saw was steelers penetrating almost every run play and the opposition would be lucky to get a yard or two , this year im seeing our D line get bullied around and our o line looks like what oppositions o lines looked like last year when they faced us. we have no push at all on the ground, i think we need to draft a top tier guard this draft. Troy played awesome thank god for that but overall we are going to have a lot of trouble if our lines dont improve.
" I dont put anybody above my law, that is if I hit you your gonna fall" - Greg Lloyd
Agreed
OLine is worse than last year – probably the worst in recent years
Gilbert will be good in time but the others are serviceable at best
you have skillsets that are average coupled with a revolving door due to injury so there is no cohesion
I pledge allegiance to the Terrible Towel and the only team in America, and to the franchise for which it stands, one nation under Rooney, indivisible, with the ability to crush you all.
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
by TVsCHACHI on Sep 26, 2011 7:05 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Overall, not a good performance.
The fact that we generated a lot of offensive yards doesn’t mean much because we couldn’t convert it to points. Our defense scored 7 of our 23 points. We couldn’t run the ball because the Colts’ DL tossed our OL around like rag dolls all night. Our D was mostly solid but allowed a 3rd-string QB to drive the Colts 80 yards to tie the score late in the game. If Painter hadn’t overthrown a wide-open receiver when Ike Taylor bit on a stop-and-go route, the Steelers might very well have lost the game. If we don’t get our OL situation straightened out quickly, we’re in big trouble next week against a team much better than Indy. You won’t do much in the NFL if you can’t block the other team. We didn’t.
looking at the tape from last night
i felt heath’s game left a great deal to be desired. he made some nice catches, but also dropped at least one and appeared to whiff on some blocks that hurt the steelers. there were more than a few occasions that he looked slow compared to the defender. hopefully it was just an off night.
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
Collinsworth
Our OL got pushed back a lot and could not create many holes for Mendy making Collinsworth comment credible. There was some good pass protection at times.
How did MM snake those yards he got and Mendy could not?
Was BB’s arm going forward at all on that fumble? It looked like his shoulder was going forward. There was not much of replay on that turnover.
I think BB was sharp. The first drive was some great calls and play. I am not a big fan of running on first down late in the game when it has not worked all game, especially when you are behind or its close.
How long before BB gets blindsided?
Surprised the announcers did not mention this
But the ball went backwards. Unless I completely misunderstand the rules, were it ruled a fumble or a pass, it would not matter, because a pass would make it a lateral.
"It's football the way it's meant to be played. That's who Pittsburgh is, and that's who Pittsburgh has always been."
-- so says Rex Ryan.
Both were fumbles
The 2nd fumble his shoulder was going forward, but with an empty hand.
How did MM snake those yards he got and Mendy could not?
it’s called making a decision and hitting the line fast to make something positive instead of dancing around waiting for the chance to break a long run. Mendy was looking worse last night then your average undrafted free agent. He’s been around for too long to not realize that a 2 yard gain is much better than a 4 yard loss.
Same point I was trying to make above
Stop dancing and commit.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Wallace is the BOMB
the O line is worriesome in that the injuries are a serious problem. Hopefully none of the injuries are too serious. Scott pissed me off when he did his impression of a lump after he wiffed and allowed the strip sack, chase the ball ya big dummy! I still hope he is not seriously injured. Adai was running like a man possesed, he was making cuts like he was a young back again, the Colts vets stepped up in this game and fought with spirit and passion.
Deebo looked really good, he was shaking off double teams to stop the run early in the game and was giving their line fits when he rushed, there was a lot of dropping back in coverage for both OLB. Troy looking good, but seemed to be second guessing himself a lot of the time, and then when he went with his gut he was an inch short of causing the fumble to ruin their TD chance.
Many on here spoke of the Colts O gelling with time, the O line sure looked like it last night, the QB and recievers not so much. The Steelers O line can’t gel with the constant rotation of injuries, here’s to hoping things get time to gel.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 26, 2011 8:25 AM EDT reply actions
Scott...
also was good for 3 more penalties before being drug off the field and carted out like the trash. As well as making BB an endangered species.
He can’t be the best body to have in that position.
The scary thing...
is that he IS the best body at left tackle…unless he has compromising photos of Sean Kugler from their Buffalo days or something, that’s the guy they were/are going with to protect their 100 million dollar QB’s ass…
by pistil_stamen on Sep 26, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
using Scott to protect a 100M QB
is like ordering “the general” auto insurance to cover your Ferrari.
Did anyone else notice this?
I was not happy at all with our run game. I know it was probably a mix of bad O-line play (TE’s included), great run defense, but it seemed like mendenhall kept stopping at the line and was very indecisive about where to run. I just kept screaming at the tv for him to just duck his head and bull forward. I kind of wish they would have given redman a bit more of a chance when recognizing that mendy was ineffective.
nope, you're the only one
now don’t you feel special?
in all seriousness…i agree.
the run game was weak, and Redman/Moore should have touched the ball more
i believe that the Steelers coaches are stubborn as hell, and are not into making changes (read: conceding, in their prideful eyes) Belicheat adjusts, he’s not so arrogant that he insists that it’s"my way or we lose"
I also agree on how Mendy was trying to audition for dancing with the stars because he felt envious of Hines’ domination of that field.
All i can say is…it’s one game…Mendy can come back, the OLine might be able to stop looking like a nightmare…all could still be well
Redman
I was very surprised at how little we saw of Redman this week. Maybe there is a story behind it.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Where's Redman?
Totally agree. I thought he was supposed to get the call every third possession but he wasn’t out there very much at all. Very curious.
Troy just chose the wrong person when he was in the backfield. He had a 5050 chance of picking the right person and he missed both times. Nailed the running back on the first one, but the quarterback had the ball. Saw the exchange at the last moment on the second one and swatted at the ball, but hit the quarterback while the running back had the ball. He won’t miss on those very often. Fun to watch.
I thought the Dline did a pretty good job overall. The hating on Smith is a bit much.
I am soooo tired of bitching about the Oline. How many years now? Since Faneca’s departure, it has been a theme for us.
How much of Mendy’s lack of success was poor play design by BA. The man is vanilla.
Next week we get to find out what we really are. Go Stillers!!!
Oh, and we aught to see Flozell and Starks this week.
Troy
I thought Troy made the smart choice. There were people behind him who could/should have tackled the back. If he had hit the back and it was play action then the QB has free rein. It is unfortunate that no one managed to stop the back (I hope that made sense) but given the choice between the two, not knowing what the play was going to be, I think he made the right choice.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Redman
Did get a few shots last night and he was stuffed at the line just like Mendenhall. Indy was doing a fantastic job against the run…it’s a simple as that.
by pistil_stamen on Sep 26, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
They were flying to the ball carrier last night,
they have a lot of speed on D, Angerer seemed to be in on every play.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Have you
ever tried running through a wall? The holes weren’t there. Mendenhall wants to make a play, not bury his head for a two yard gain. Indy did a great job plugging the holes and then stringing him out with the DB’s. That #94 was a beast. Even the indestructible Issac Redman wasn’t able to break through it on the several chances he had.
by pistil_stamen on Sep 26, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah but
You’re right. But then if there’s a wall, and the overall D is pretty fast, quit dancing and just go forward.
Bettis used to run into walls and still gain 3. Send Redman in and let him plow ahead for a couple yards. Instead we couldnt gain jack the whole second half on the ground. It was pathetic.
And Moore did well and never had any major holes to run through. He just saw a small seam and milked it for 4 and 5 yards. Thats how youre supposed to run. Mendy is not Barry Sanders.
On one of those plays up the middle Kemo actually showed up. Something he hasn’t been doing… ever. I can’t stand him and hate him way more than anyone hates willie gay.
not a fan of either Kemo or Gay
but I have to admit that those two were not the problem last night. Just about everyone else in blocking including Miller and Pouncey looked bad at times, but I didn’t see Kemo stinking it up… which probably tells me I need to watch a replay because I probably missed something when going for another beer. The secondary looked good for the most part, but it was against Collins and Painter.
I agree completely that Mendy needed to stop dancing and be more physical to avoid the negative plays. Yes the blocking stunk, but you can break zero tackles when your constantly standing still or going sideways when the defenders arrive (albeit .02 seconds after the snap). At the very least he needs to dish out some of the punishment instead of constantly being on the receiving end.
Send Redman in and let him plow ahead for a couple yards.
All the Redzone hype aside, I’ve never really seen him to that. Redman runs like a pinball. He gets hit, keeps his feet, bounces off another body, get’s hit again, keeps his feet, wanders toward the goal line going backwards, gets clipped again, and so forth. I don’t even know how to describe that as a skill.
However, all that happens with space around him. He needs room to bounce from body to body. When there’s no room, he goes down just like anybody else.
"They eat fish and are majestic" - Great Sergios Ghost
It is a passing league, and the FO needs to let BA turn BB loose...
…When will the powers that be admit that the OLine just isnt there. Without an OL, you can’t control the line of scrimmage and dictate the game by running. Face facts, and keep the backs in to protect Big Ben, thus allowing him to use the speed and skills of our receivers. THEY are our new driving force, not the running game. You can’t play to your strengths if you ignore your weaknesses (and you know the Patsies, Ratbirds, Stains and Bungles WILL NOT ignore our Offensive OL.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
no one
will agree with that more than me… F tradition…the game has changed…adapt.
i am extremely confident that Ben can do anything Brady can do, and more (you know, like take a hit, or at least ATTEMPT to not let the guy who just intercepted the pass score)
turn him lose man…
It is a passing league
and with the Steelers O-line and sack-happy turnover prone QB we can expect to lose most shootouts. BB makes too many mistakes (Super Bowl). Need to run, pass, play D and at least play even on special teams.
by steelerwheeler on Sep 26, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
If the O-line doesn't improve DRAMATICALLY
then going pass happy will ensure that we will not finish the season with BB at QB. You have to at least run enough to make play action work behind that line. Now the fact we can’t run is what is really disturbing. The line is supposed to be maulers who are better in run blocking than pass protection (or at least that’s the common excuse for why we suck at pass pro). Now they are better at pass pro then run blocking, and they suck at both.
Love the optimism...
After reading some sour / negative posts on other forums reading this post was refreshing. I agree there’s more to like than not like from this game. My mission right now is to either create or find an animated gif of Ben’s head nod to Wallace before the 81 yard bomb.
of course i don't have
video evidence, but my room mate can attest, as soon as i saw him go in motion toward the slot receiver i said “Wallace is about to break one”
unfortunately that works both ways, because that same thing happened on one of the fumbles..
has anyone seen lamar woodley?
i’m curious about why we haven’t seen more from him in these first three games. are my expectations too high?
...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com
Woodley always starts out slow...
…but he has been especially quiet this year. Timmons too seems too vague in the highlight reels. And I do also worry about Farrior.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
Yep
Wood looks like he’s counting his money, Timmons is wondering how to invest his, and I think the team would be better off playing 10 on defense rather than having the Farrior/Foorte combination not make any plays? Someone commented up top that it’s the lack of excellent D-line play. Makes sense, the interior guys always have someone in front hopefully eating blockers, Woodley has had Smith busting up plays in the past. Smith looks old and Casey had Saturday to deal with and at least one more dude diving at his knees? It’s a team effort, they’ll gel some and be fine on D.
by steelerwheeler on Sep 26, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Casey
If Casey is keeping two guys busy then he is doing his job.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
If Meechem's HATE is read in the locker room...
…let’s turn his attention to our running game and the FO’s obstinate retention of same. I know you can’t give it up entirely, or teams will stack 8 in the box to blitz, or (even better) drop everyone back to blanket the receivers. If they do that, you can release Mendy, or (even better) Moore, and BB can hit them on a slant underneath. In any event, we the STEELER NATION too must adapt, and stop dreaming of yesteryear where we ran, and ran, and ran. We too must let go of the past and start calling out for the NOW, which is passing.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
I think most of steeler nation, at least on BTSC, has come to terms with adapting to our strengths
most of the talk at this point is on running it more effectively. I also think our offense and Arians have already taken that step. Steelers have definitely become more of a passing team. We just need to be more effective than 2 yards per rush when we do rush the ball.
We are a 2-1 team having played the worst start to a season I’ve seen from us in a while.
No complaints. We will improve.
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 Sep 26, 2011 8:53 AM EDT reply actions
Agreed
they can only improve.
On a bright note that will piss many of the other poachers off Gay played a very solid game. Was in position and made the stops when the pass came his way.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 26, 2011 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Agree on Gay
Not a fan of the guy, but he did a really nice job last night.
We can survive this year with our DBs, with hope that the two young-uns will develop into good corners. I suspect Cortez Allen may be on track; as he came into sub for Ike when he went down.
But I’m not understanding why one would have confidence that the O-Line will improve without additional personnel.
Steelers Good and the Not So Good
I’ll offer my take from a Colts fan perspective.
The Good:
- Mike Wallace. Holy balls that guy can fly. Better still he isn’t JUST a speed guy. He looked like he is becoming a complete WR. Scary part is I think he still has more upside.
-Troy Polomalu. DPOY, obviously. But when talking about the best defensive players to EVER play the game; I think your list has to include Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, and Troy in some order.
- Guts. This was easily the type of game that could have slipped away. Playing a motivated veteran team at home with their back against the wall. Colts had no business being in the game, but had a shot. Takes some gumption to pull this one out of the fire.
The Not So Good:
- The OL. Going to be very tough to get back to the Super Bowl unless the OL makes a big turn around. They got abused last night by an undersized front. The fortunate break might be that none of the prospective AFC playoff teams have a great pass rush except maybe Houston (who has their own problems.)
- Big Ben being Elite. Not to say that he played poorly, he played pretty well actually. This is more in response to the “Is Ben elite” talk that seems to pick up periodically. I have seen a lot of Ben at this point. I have seen plenty of Manning and Brady too. The answer is no, Ben isn’t even close to their level.
Joining those who hope for a change at Stampedeblue, so that the vibrant online Colts community can put its best foot forward.
Ben Nevis
I think Nevis Drake is going to be a very good player for the Colts. The ends get the glory but the DTs killed the inside running game. The LBs and DBs got the stops but those tackles were destroying the interior of our o-line on the line play I saw.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Angerer as well
Nevis and Angerer really changed the run D. All due respect to Brackett, but Angerer could become a star at MLB. I would not be surprised to see the Colts part ways with Gary’s giant contract at the end of the season.
Joining those who hope for a change at Stampedeblue, so that the vibrant online Colts community can put its best foot forward.
by invisibulman on Sep 26, 2011 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Angerer
Seemed to be in on EVERY play.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
it is a great name for a LB
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Great name for Mechem's first born ;-)
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
So utterly appropriate
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree on almost everything
The last point there is one thing to take into consideration – W’s v L’s, he has an amazing ability to win (the most important statistic) especially with his back against the wall.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Big Ben not elite?
That’s baloney. Ben has 2 Super Bowl wins, Manning has one. And Ben overcome 3 2nd half TO’s and drove the team down the field to put the Steelers in position to kick the winning field goal. That’s what elite QB’s do in the NFL. That’s what Ben did yesterday. Most NFL teams would have been dead in the water after 3 2nd half TO’s. The Steelers have been in Super Bowls more and been in contention to play in the Super Bowl more than the Patriots have been in the last 5 years. Getting it done is the mark of an elite NFL QB. Ben has gotten it done. It may not be as pretty as Brady or sensational as Manning, but Ben’s level of achievement has been better overall than both Brady and Manning the past five years. Did you see the Bills beat the Patriots yesterday, by the way?
I missed the Pats-Bills game unfortunately. I always love a good Brady FAIL.
Joining those who hope for a change at Stampedeblue, so that the vibrant online Colts community can put its best foot forward.
by invisibulman on Sep 26, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Very good game
The Bills were on it yesterday.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Lions-Bills Super Bowl!!!!
lol
Joining those who hope for a change at Stampedeblue, so that the vibrant online Colts community can put its best foot forward.
by invisibulman on Sep 26, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
If the Steelers couldn't be there
that would be a fun combo.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't mind watching that game
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's see Tom Brady
Be an elite QB having to run for his life week in and week out. His greatness is, in large part, a function of their stellar OL play. There is no doubt he is a fantastic QB, but if you can get to him, there are holes in the armor.
by pistil_stamen on Sep 26, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Then maybe the Pats FO should be considered Elite, and ours, less so?...
…since the Pats, and Colts, have managed to give their QB a quality line from behind which they can shine. Ours hasn’t. This is not a new weakness of the Steelers, and hasn’t been since 2005.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
by PaVaSteeler on Sep 26, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
there defense hasn't been elite either
under the salary cap, there will be a part of your team that will be weak thats just how it goes
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Sep 26, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
ehh i don’t know, the o-line and some what the secondary is the only thing holding back the Steelers. The Patriots defense is pathetic and the Colts before this season the only thing keeping the team moving was Manning, his receivers, and the DEs. Have to admit they found some good pieces in their front 7 now.
James Harrison~ "We are not trying to hit nobody hard. We don't want to get fined" *blank stare* /end sarcasm.
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 26, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree but re: Big Ben
I have no problem being critical of Roethlisberger but I will say this – Neither Brady nor Manning could play as well as Ben in the Steelers’ offense. Said again – they could not lead this team to scoring as often because they would be taking sacks and getting hurt. They are slower, smaller and not as strong. BB is a huge guy with good feet. The Steelers are fortunate that he is what he is given their O Line.
True – Ben probably wouldn’t play as well as they do in either of those offenses, at least not yet. As he gets older his style of play will change and actually it already has to some degree.
If you look at the Colts and Pats over the last 5 years, their O Lines have been better than the Steelers – more consistent personnel and more predictable performance play after play.
"Franz" in NoCal
Man, the O-line is just miserable
"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."
- Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).
+4
In years past, the bad o-line had some silver lining…maybe the rookie could improve, maybe they could gel a little more, maybe they could replace the dead wood and improve. This group of 4 (minus Pouncey) is terrible. Kemo has some skills but the only thing consistent about his play is his inconsistency. Gilbert obviously gets a pass but he is just a rookie being bounced around from spot to spot. Essex is just a low-end backup who’s only up-sise is position flexibility. J. Scott gets a lot of love because he improved dramatically from the worst tackle in the history of football to the worst starting tackle in football. Love Legs, but he’s a backup center and a good lead blocker out of the backfield, not a starting RG. Foster is a backup..next time he gets his name called for excellent play might be the first. Injuries and the lack of any good picks or signings other than Pouncey have left this unit in shambles.
by steelerwheeler on Sep 26, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
It's a game like this
That I’d like to keep in my back pocket and use when arguments of Ben not being elite come up. Ben was phenomenal last night. The O line was absolutely dominated by Mathis and Freeney and the fact that they only had 3 sacks is because Ben is so damn good at manipulating the pocket, eluding pressure, and tough to bring down. If you put 95-98% of the rest of the QBs in the league in that same situation you would have seen a lot more interceptions, more sacks, and a comp% well under 67%.
Look, I could sit here all day and harp on all the negative shit all day, but I’m taking the game Ben played and putting a smile on my face. The first two games of the year I thought he looked a bit off and high in his throws, but yesterday he was on point with his throw (sans the pick). We are probably going to be in a lot of close games this year and with nitty-gritty Ben behind center, you better believe we always have a chance to win.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter
elite come up?
I meant elite QB…didn’t get much sleep last night
"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 Sep 26, 2011 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
i think you were right
the first time…you said you’ll keep this in your pocket and use it when arguments that Ben is not elite come up
of course if that’s not what you meant, you’re mistake still didn’t make you look bad
Told you
didn’t sleep much, lol
"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 Sep 26, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
BB last night
Did look sharp when he threw…but lets not forget a good play call and good protection led to the Wallace score. Most NFL QB’s can make that throw and certainly all the elite’s would. Basically, mighty Ben led the Steelers to 4 FG attempts other than that, a couple set up by good punt returns. BB also gave up 7 points directly (not his fault) and the first sack/fumble was terrible. also took a sack out of FG range. BB is great and bad, most definitely the best fit for a team with no o-line, but not elite IMO. If either QB on the other side of the field last night was adequate, Steelers lose this game. Painter/Collins missed a lot of throws, badly.
by steelerwheeler on Sep 26, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Did you not watch who made that play call? Ben saw single coverage on Wallace and audibled at the line. That was all him. Also, why even mention the 7 points when you say it’s not his fault? Relevance?
And I enjoy that you cleverly dismiss one of those “FG attempts” as nothing more than that, when it was actually the drive to win the game. Ben was balling on that drive. He went 3/4 and had a big 1st down scramble. Top that off with an injured LT, substitute RT, and substitute RG.
Also, your last argument is really faulty. If it had been a different QB, the Steelers probably call a completely different game on offense and defense. Just sayin’.
"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 Sep 26, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
He also could not rely on a running game to do anything more than keep the defense honest.
"They eat fish and are majestic" - Great Sergios Ghost
all the running game did
was set Ben up with multiple 3rd and longs—— which he did an outstanding job converting.
I didn’t understand the futile efforts to keep running on first and second downs.
by Dr. Spaceman on Sep 26, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I think they wanted to limit the opportunities
Of Mathis and Freeney teeing off on Ben
"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 Sep 26, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it also wears down the defence
I have to think that some (not all) of Moore’s success was due to him being fresh and the defence being tired. I also think that running the ball in necessary for the play action.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
A QB with a running game (no matter how effective), is a QB with options.
A QB with no running game, is a sitting duck.
"They eat fish and are majestic" - Great Sergios Ghost
Elite QB's
Don’t need no stinkin’ running game. I think the top gun slingers are better throwing more often. Manning, Brady, Rodgers all have performed very well without a running game. BB is great at what he does…getiing beaten and battered and still coming out with a victory…but he’s had plenty of help from pro bowl backs and one of, if not the best defense in the league year in year out.
by steelerwheeler on Sep 27, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m sorry, but what have any of those other quarterbacks you mention ever won without a running game or a strong defense
Manning, Brady and Rogers
have 5 SB wins and 3 or four losses and I can think of maybe just one year that a team had a strong running game and a strong defense (maybe one of the Pat teams with Dillon…not sure if that team went to SB or not).
Steelers have had strong running game often, and not just a strong but an elite defense just about every year in BB’s career.
by steelerwheeler on Sep 29, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Ben
is quite possibly the only QB in the league who could win games with our current OL.
How many clutch 3rd down conversions has he completed in the past 3 years?
BB’s status as an elite QB is not even debatable
Not debatable?
I wouldn’t switch BB for any of the elite QB’s in the league (healthy Manning, Brady, Brees, Rodgers) because Any of the four wouldn’t make it to October in Pittsburgh. However, If I’m running one of those teams there’s no way I switch one of those guys for BB. BB is a tough, solid winner….he’s just down a notch from those four. Face facts fans, he’s really shit the bed in several playoff games including the SB but the Steelers usually win despite him. An elite QB gets the ball late in the 4th quarter last February and drives his team for winning score (yes he did against Arizona, shit the bed vs. Seattle and GB). One for three isn’t elite…best of the rest, yes. Elite? NO.
by steelerwheeler on Sep 27, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
as i typed "you're mistake"
but…i drank about the usual amount for a Steeler night game..(kind of a lot)
+1 - Good Game for Ben
I agree. Although the interception was ugly, I can only imagine that Sanders was not where he was supposed to be.
But Ben really looked sharp for most of the game.
by Hombre de Acero on Sep 26, 2011 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions
He played extremely well considering the fact that he had no running game and was facing third and longs against Freeney and Mathis all night
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever
-Napoleon Bonaparte
The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.
-Thomas Szasz
Cornell University Class of 2014
by LV Steelers Fan on Sep 26, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
There
Aren’t many QB’s in the league who would survive the impact of an unimpeded 10 yard sprint from Dwight Freeney.
Kluger: “Scott get in front of the guy, don’t give me this ole’ bullshit”
by pistil_stamen on Sep 26, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
While that play was bad
I submit that the most embarrassing move put on Scott the whole night was that one spin move. Freeney did his patent fake outside and spin inside and completely turned Scott around. Why in the world Scott thought it would be a good idea to turn his back to the pass rusher is beyond me, but the force of Freeney coming in pushed Scott into Ben who was lucky to have open space to the right to escape too. That was one of the least athletic things I’ve seen a professional OL do in a long time.
"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 Sep 26, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, the one where Scott tried to block him with his ass
Just picture-perfect form, J-Scott.
by Neal Coolong on Sep 26, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions
agree
it’s not just Mendy with the spin moves, now our O line is doing it.
by stylepoints on Sep 26, 2011 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
No-one
picked up the Roger Dorn “Major League” reference?
by pistil_stamen on Sep 27, 2011 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions
at times he was great, at times he was David Carr
ok that’s being too harsh, but come on Ben keep two hands on the ball back there. It’s not like you didn’t KNOW that you would get hit almost every play, plan on it so that a sack doesn’t become a strip. That’s 4 fumbles in 3 games. Some of it can’t be helped, but some of it is being careless with the football.
I think on 3 of those 4 fumbles the defender was completely untouched and there in 2-3 seconds after the snap. I’m not sure we should be asking Ben to be smarter about that as much as we should be asking our OL not to suck hard.
"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 Sep 26, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
oh I agree - the blame for that crap falls squarely on the o-line
and I know we’d have never won except for Ben’s play making. I just would think that a little practice at keeping 2 hands on the ball behind that non-existent line could do nothing but help reduce the fumbles. So far he’s been sacked 9 times in 3 games and has lost 4 fumbles. One would hope he wouldn’t fumble nearly 50% of the time he’s hit or this is gonna be a long season.
The pick
I was wondering if that was Ben or miscommunication between Ben and Sanders.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Yea unlike Brady
Ben isn’t going to cuss the kid out in front of national television
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Sep 26, 2011 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
You have to like that
Ben may not be perfect but he does have some endearing qualities.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
yes I like that
but I wouldn’t mind seeing him kick his O-line in the crotch once in a while a la Marino. Sometimes playing that poorly is just unacceptable, especially when it’s shortening Ben’s career and possibly his life. He’s done nothing but stick up for them for years and it hasn’t seemed to elevate their play. Maybe a touch of negative reinforcement could help.
I Admire Your Optimism
Ah, I knew you’d give us something to smile about Michael.
While I think your points are valid, a couple of things concerned me in my 1:00 am post-game raving.
- The Colts certainly didn’t dominate in the running game, but they did run with a little more regularity than we’re accustomed to
- What gave on that last drive by the Colts?
- The Line isn’t giving him much to work with, but Mendenhall does bear some of the responsibility for the lack-luster run game.
by Hombre de Acero on Sep 26, 2011 9:55 AM EDT reply actions
Where is the Hotel?
Please replace Scott, Kugler’s Bills guy, move Gilbert to LT & sign the Hotel to RT.
J. Scott left the game on crutches
Don’t rule out bringing back Flo and moving Gilbert to LT if it’s serious.
Cap space
I doubt we have the cap space for Flozell.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
no problem then
We’ll just play Hillis – he looked good in the preseason… oh wait, they decided to keep Essux instead because he can suck at multiple positions. Nice call there.
Hills wasn't cutting it any position
so where is the advantage in keeping him? Essex could at least play center if needed.
Do we need better players on the O-line? You bet, but if there isn’t anyone worth taking when it gets to our choice to draft and if we don’t have enough cap space to sign a FA vet it is pretty hard to do much about it.
Next year we will likely be losing several high priced vets and will have some cap space to work with so maybe a decent FA maybe available or maybe a good O-lineman will fall to us in the draft. Until then the team has to do the best it can with what it has.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
pfft
I’m not buying that he wasn’t cutting it at all. The times I saw him play during the games this preseason he looked pretty good. At the very least he looked better than Essux.
As for next year – we’ll lose A. Smith. Who else is done with their contracts? I don’t see where we’ll have that much space to address the O-line after the contracts we signed Timmons, Woodley, etc to.
I suspect Farrior will be retire
After that it will depend on how the season goes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hines retire. Gay and Battle are two more who may be gone as well.
I don’t expect us to free us that much space but I don’t see us needing to spend a huge amount to bring the line up to snuff. I don’t expect we will be signing big name FAs. I do suspect we may get a solid vet and another decent rookie draft choice.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I could
see the possibility of McFadden being released, Kiesel retiring (iffy), Hoke could be let go, Ward could call it quits (iffy). Agree that Farrior and Smith will hang it up, that is around 5 mm for those two alone I believe, more than enough to sign a solid FA. Of course they also have to resign Wallace.
I also think that if Colon can stay healthy, Gilbert may be ready to go at LT, and they pick up an early round Guard. That could make a huge difference in how this line operates.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 26, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I forgot about McFadden
He is more likely to go than Gay if the young CBs develop.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 27, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions
my thoghts on another bad performance
I guess the title says most of it…
- A. Smith looked horrible again. He was getting washed clear back into the LB’s most of the night. It’s looking to me like he’s been around for at least 1 year too long.
- Mendenhall – for the love of all that’s holy just stop dancing and put your nose in there to get something positive! Your O-line sucks, don’t make their job infinitely harder by spending 2 seconds in the backfield every freaking run play trying to decide what you want to do!
- Ike – I LOVE the fact we resigned you. You’re playing great.
- BB – I know your line is horrible, but at some point you have to take responsibility for ball security. That’s 7 turnovers in 3 games bubba – time to stop attempting to give games away.
- Wallace – nothing but good things to say about you. Ditto for Brown.
- OL – not sure if J. Scott is gone for a while and frankly I don’t care. Hopefully Gilbert is ok to play LT and he never lets the position go. Flozell, we have you on speed dial. Both tackle spots are a mess. LG is as mediocre as ever, and RG is non-existent. Throw in a (gulp) sub-par performance by Pouncey and it was really really ugly.
- good seeing Troy and Harrison being themselves again. Where are Woodley and Timmons?
in all honesty
Ike got lucky a couple of times. I can remember a few occasion in which his receiver had him beat badly, and a terrible throw prevented a big play. Obviously, the play where he was fooled by Wayne’s double move only for Painter to horribly overthrow the possible TV comes to mind.
I thought that was Garcon, but either way I agree he was lucky
but I’ll take a CB who competes every play and once in a while gets burned over one that sits back and pads the QB stats buy giving them a 10-15 yard cushion every play. That seriously ticks me off when every offensive snap I see Ike playing within 5 yards to at least bump a receiver off a timing route, and the other side there isn’t a CB on the freaking screen! If you don’t at least attempt to disrupt the timing, then any decent QB (not even the case last night) will take at least a 5 yard gain every play. That’s almost as safe a bet as any running play.
if you don't
like where the other CB is then you have a problem with coach Dad’s D. He designs it that way, every CB but the one tends to play that way regardless of who it is. Prime example is when Lewis came in for Ike and was in press, in any other possition it doesn’t happen
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 26, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
then I'll admit the blasphemy - I don't like coach Dad's D vs the short pass then
I will go further with my blasphemy by saying that nobody shy of a fifth of tequila could be a fan of that method after a typical quarter against Brady, Breese, or Rodgers. Granted during most circumstances it works great by capitalizing on the mistakes of lesser QB’s, but against the elite ones it is exposed big time. I’m not denying that he’s great, but I do get a sick feeling whenever we play one of those teams. It’s usually almost unwatchable by halftime. Any frustration I feel about them not attempting a different method comes from knowing that the same game plan that has failed against that attack for years will almost certainly be run the next time. Call me a poor sport, but I just HATE seeing Brady smile and trash talk whenever he plays the Steelers.
by lkwdsteel on Sep 26, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ben was in the process
of throwing on the second fumble, not his fault. The first was on him trying to pump fake everyone out.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 26, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
no argument there
but we have to admit that at least a couple of these fumbles could have been avoided by better ball security. Not all, but the ones where he’s still running around I’d like to see two hands on the ball.
agreed
The first fumble should have been secured and Ben should have been running IMO
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 27, 2011 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions
I am not sure why yall want two guys that no other team wants...
There is a reason why Flo is at home on the couch and why Max is unemployed…There are 32 teams in the NFL and only WE want them…there is a problem with that. Neither of them are Gods.
the fact we want Flozell tells 2 stories
- first, if we don’t have the worst O-line in the league then we’re in the running.
- second – Flozell knows our system and could be serviceable right away.
I don’t want Starks back because if he were in any shape to play we would have never let him go. With a line like ours you don’t have to be great to be an upgrade from what happened last night.
heard he is back in shape now
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Sep 26, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
If starks can play then please sign him.
I’d take Starks (who I always thought was average) at 60% over J. Scott about now.
Actually, IIRC
they tried to resign Flo for less money, but he would not accept.
Things can always be worse....
Adams is looking like a grade A businessman about now
I’m sure the next call will have more $$$ on the table.
I don’t know about that. Right now his options sound like either resign with the Steelers or retire, if he was going to go to a team he would have did it by now.
James Harrison~ "We are not trying to hit nobody hard. We don't want to get fined" *blank stare* /end sarcasm.
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 26, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I felt a game like this called for more REDMAN. I started him because I thought it’d have a chance at a blowout and Redman could get a late TD. Instead they kept Mendenhall in all night :(.
Well Mendy was averaging a stellar 2.1 YPC
take away his 15 yard carry and his night drops to 17 carries for 22 yards or a 1.29 YPC…
Not exactly the kind of performance that you expect from a #1 draft pick. Hell that isn’t the kind of performance you’d expect from anybody who survived the first cut of training camp.
I’m a big fan of Redmans, but I honestly feel more runs up the center from him would have been tons more effective.
Jim Brown
wouldn’t have done much better behind our O-Line. There were no holes to speak of and it didn’t help that we consistently ran on 1st downs. I kept waiting for them to set up play action on 1st, but I think it only happened once the entire game.
by Dr. Spaceman on Sep 26, 2011 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not talking about running for 100+ yards
but negative run plays kill drives, and Mendy was having a run for a loss on 50% of his carries – largely due to his dancing 4 yards in the backfield instead of just saying screw it and lowering his head to get what he could. Yes Jim Brown would have done much better, but I would have settled for how Memo ran last night, and I’m not a huge Memo fan. He just was more effective then Mendy last night. At least when he got the ball he immediately went back to the line instead of allowing another negative play.
disagree
there was nothing there for mendy
but negative run plays kill drives, and Mendy was having a run for a loss on 50% of his carries – largely due to his dancing 4 yards in the backfield instead of just saying screw it and lowering his head to get what he could.
I’m not sure we saw the same game, its not like there was a hole and mendy was dancing then it closed, there was never a hole, no matter what mendy was doing he wasn’t going to gain much more yards.
Memo was more effective because they started playing the pass instead of the run. It was the end of the game come on man.
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Sep 26, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
ok - I concede that Memo had success because the colts played pass defense
But I’d certainly be thrilled to see Mendy run with attitude and break more tackles. You have to admit that when it went bad he was looking a lot like a deer in the headlights. Stick your foot in the ground and at least try to punish somebody. One play he was tackled by the smallest CB in the league – I don’t think it’s asking too much to at least use a stiff arm to make someone that size look foolish.
That is hard to do
when the defense is in your backfield and you can’t get your shoulders squared
Things can always be worse....
last night I wasn't even calling for more Redman
just more of ANYBODY else. Memo looked the best of the 3 last night, which generally isn’t a good sign for our running game.
More Redman, more Memo, hell more Dwyer (although I doubt he suited up), just less of the dancing spin-o-rama in the freaking backfield. The coaches need to light a fire under Mendy’s arse.
Not hating on the guy...
And I’m glad he was able to redeem himself, but this game validated my nervousness each time I see Sean Suisham step onto the field. For each time he shows a flash of brilliance, he shows a flash of inconsistency.
But, props where they’re due — any field goal from 40+ is no gimme, and he made two of those. And it was nice to see him booting some touchbacks.
Those who can...do.
Those who can't... post on message boards using a screen name that uses the name of those who can.
by Craig Sager's Wardrobe on Sep 26, 2011 12:24 PM EDT reply actions
Touchbacks
I was pleasantly surprised to see them. I wonder if he has been working on them.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 26, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
After last week
we were #10 in the league on touchbacks…
"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 Sep 26, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s been an area many have been griping about since the Jeff Reed days. And, I remember during the preseason, people on here were saying how even with the new rule, we still couldn’t muster many touchbacks. So, my point is, it’s good to see Shaun’s consistently getting some leg under his kickoffs. Still not a fan of the new kickoff rule, but it does seem to benefit us to some extent.
Those who can...do.
Those who can't... post on message boards using a screen name boasting the name of those who can.
by Craig Sager's Wardrobe on Sep 26, 2011 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
And, good. We will probably be even higher than #10 after this week.
Those who can...do.
Those who can't... post on message boards using a screen name boasting the name of those who can.
by Craig Sager's Wardrobe on Sep 26, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Scott
Scott’s effort on the sack of Ben was beyond pathetic. I mean, I can understand that a guy can get beat by good opposition, but his effort after Freeney ran around him was laughable.
watch #72 turn around, jog toward the ball, watch Anderson pick it upl, take a couple half-hearted steps, then get boxed out and fall down…link
The worst part
Watch him literally face his own endzone on the spin move. I mean how do you get turned around like a freakin merry go round? Then yeah he just watches the ball like a little bitch.
God I hate em and he stanks.
Is the horse dead yet?
A few more kicks comeing from me…
1. I don’t think Freeney was 100%. In any event, JScott looked hopelessly lost against him. He doesn’t move his feet well, and doesn’t seem to overpower anyone. I believe he stood idly by when Ben put the ball on the ground and the Colts returned for 6, so his “awareness” doesn’t seem to be particularly high either. (other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?)
2. Harrison looked good, but he was being “blocked” by none other than Dallas Clark. It was great to see him explode and I believe he’s working his way back into shape.
3. Aaron Smith. I’m hoping that he too will remain healthy and will be a significant contributor as the season progresses. That’s what my heart says. My head is telling me it might be over for the man.
4. TROY – There’s not many guys that are more fun to watch.
5. Ben – Man was he sharp in the preseason, he seemed to have discipline, rythm and accuracy. He was focussed. With the state of the O-Line, he’s often running for his life, so he does get some grace. But man he needs to dial it back. Then again, at least once a game he breaks a tackle and creates something magical.
6. Running Backs – For 50 minutes, I was lamenting the running game and assigning blame to the line. And it’s true, Rashard often is dodging tacklers 2 and 3 yards deep in the backfield. Then Memo got in the game and made positive yardage by picking a hole and hitting it hard. Maybe Rashard needs some time in the hole… “You got to get your mind right…”
7. Ike – almost cost us the game trying to jump the rookie in the 4th quarter… Looks like Tomlin gave him a talking to. He’s had a fantastic start to the season.
8. Go TRIBE, William and Mary’s football program was well represented at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday night. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, Colts secondary coach Alan Williams and Indy S David Caldwell all played at the school. Super smart, driven, well rounded… all trademarks of THE College of William and Mary.
As the game was progressing, I was thinking this is the kind of game that gets away from you. And late in the 4th quarter we were one tipped pass or botched snap away from an upset loss. I had posted that the Colts are one of the three worst teams in the NFL and I stand by that assessment. However on any given Sunday anything can happen. The Steelers controlled the game except for the last TD drive by the Colts, which was troubling. A quarter of sloppiness almost cost them the game.
The bottom line is the Steelers left with a W, and a bunch of questions to answer.
This team sucks
We barely beat a terrible colts team with curtis painter and old man wolf as their qb. We got our a**es handed to us in baltimore. we beat a team that couldnt beat stanford and think we have turned the corner. look around you tomlin, we are old and slow and you need to get this turned around. we keep talking about nov.6 against baltimore, did you see what they did yesterday.good luck keeping up with their speed.
by Randall Carroll on Sep 26, 2011 12:46 PM EDT reply actions
thanks for sharing
"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 Sep 26, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
that was
just a satellite!
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 26, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Fans like you are the reason I stopped watching games at a Steelers bar and now watch it at a sports bar that has fans of all the teams.
Is this the same worldtrip......
that doesn’t like to hear negative spew?
I happen to agree with you on this one though.
Ya know it isn’t that I don’t like to hear negative comments. I like to hear them be somewhat constructive, and not just emotional garbage driven by being spoiled by success. Comments like “this team sucks” is just beyond ridiculous.
The team is not going to be the best team every game, every month, every year, and getting all overly dramatic about is just silly. Sometimes they won’t play well, sometimes they will lose, even to teams you think they should beat, and sometimes they won’t make it to the super bowl, or even the playoffs. Learn to accept that and you won’t get so upset when things don’t go their way. And by “you” I don’t mean you, I mean a very general all people kind of you.
WT
I understand completely. My wife and I have been together 14 years; she was indoctrinated into the Steeler family and started learning about football about 10years ago. She is a huge fan now and has been to the last few years of “Ladies Night Out” which is pretty awesome for those who aren’t aware of it. The ladies get to have dinner with some of the guys on the team, they get to participate in Q&A, taping of one of the local shows (like the Hines Ward show), they get a locker room tour, some free schwag, opportunity to purchase tickets at face value to a game later in the season, and of course, pictures and signatures with the teammates that are there for the dinner.
What’s that? Oh yeah, the point – she has only ever known success as a football fan, in the 10 years she has been a Steelers fan, her team has been in the Superbowl 3 times – she does not deal with losing well at all, she takes it very hard. With the amount of success the Steelers have had since she has been a fan has her completely and utterly spoiled.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
My fiance
and I had to have a long talk last night so I could explain to her the pain and suffering of being a long time fan of any team. We have been together for almost seven years and she has known only the feel of winning seasons, and cried when they lost the SB last year. I am slightly worried about this season, but not in the “OMFG its the end for the franchise” sense, but more of the “wow, there are some serious questions that need to be answered.”
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 26, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey guys
Its all the way you look at it…..
We overcame a lot last night to pull out a win in a tough place to play against a perennial playoff team with a lot of pride that new they had to have the win. Indy played really hard and gave it their all and we still beat em. we were -3 in turnovers and we still beat em. This is one of those games that you lose unless you are a Championship team. We didn’t lose it we pulled it out and I was very impressed with Suisham making the winning kick.
Yeah we got question marks but we will answer the questions as the season progresses. The win was an ugly one for the Steelers but sometimes that is just how we play and we can win that way.
I know the play feeds the naysayers in Steeler Nation, but things are looking up for the Steelers. We often play up or down to our competition, its just a Steeler thing. We played down to our competition last night and still won, next week we will play up to our competition and win again. Can anyone with half a brain not watch the game last night and not know that even though the score was close we were clearly the better and more talented team?
by steeler fever on Sep 26, 2011 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions
correction
we were -2 in turnovers, the Harrison strip sack removed one.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Sep 27, 2011 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Your optimisim is amazing Fever
I still feel we are a good team, but I am seeing question marks all over the place, hopefully things will settle down a bit soon. Damn tough game this week though.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 27, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm with you, and my wife is with your Fiance!
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 27, 2011 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t worry. BTSC is giving up on this season. We all had a group huddle and determined, despite being 2-1 and tied for first place in the AFC North, that this season is clearly over for us. From here on out we will be going into full draft coverage. No more worrying about this horrible team and this season. Lose out and get a better draft spot, I say!
"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 Sep 26, 2011 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
as long as he can at least touch the rusher off the snap he is already better than Scott
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I know you are being sarcastic Mr. Stephen
but Freeney is probably the best edge rusher in the league, all LT are gonna struggle against him. Our O-line may be our weakness this year, but we are blessed to have a QB that can make up for that deficit and still pull out a win. Not every rusher on the left side is going to be the caliber of Freeney!
by steeler fever on Sep 26, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d put Ware and Harrison above Freeney.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions
More to the point,
is Andrew Luck good-looking?
"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 Sep 26, 2011 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions
The team doesn't suck...
but the O Line does unfortunately. That fact can not be ignored and it will limit their success.
I blame the coaching staff for a portion of last night’s results. Leaving Scott 1 on 1 with Freeney that many times was just ridiculous. Quick passes on 1st down, quicker hiiting run plays, running at Freeney more often and rolling BB out of the pocket could help but I saw none of that. They are hanging a tremendous burden on Roethlisberger to overcome 3rd and 8 way too often. Help the guy out – better game plans and tactical decision making when things are not going well up front.
"Franz" in NoCal
It may limit our success to only winning #7 this year!
No team is perfect and all teams have weaknesses!
by steeler fever on Sep 26, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Is losing J. Scott that terrible? ...
I gave him the benefit of the doubt to begin the season, but he is what he is – a journeyman OL that will get exposed against elite pass rushers. I’m all for resigning Max if he is healthy. He’s not All-Pro caliber, but he could pull a proverbial good performance against an elite pass rusher every now and then.
A. Smith has played below the line all during preseason and the first 3 games of the season. He’s getting handled one on one. Even C. Collinsworth said the obvious, “It’s hard for James Farrior to make a tackle when the OL has blown A. Smith 5 yards off the ball and is in his lap.”
I will give Mendy a break because there weren’t a lot of holes. I still think what Tomlin really thinks of Mendy was shown at the end of the game on that final drive. Moore and Redman got the ball while Mendy was on the bench. Mendy came close to fumbling a couple of times last night.
Our skill positions are ready to break out. Just got to block’em upfront and get the ball to them.
Some people are talking about the Colts cut-blocking just like they did about the Ravens cut-blocking. I agree with what Chuck Knoll would say, “Don’t let’em cut you.” End of story.
Paging Mr. Woodley and Mr. Timmons … Paging Mr. Woodley and Mr. Timmons …
by datruth4life2.0 on Sep 26, 2011 1:34 PM EDT reply actions
I flogged him as hard as anyone yesterday, but...
Yes, losing him to injury would be a very bad thing because there is a drop-off after him. HIs loss brings Trai Essex into the line-up.
I want to believe that Marcus Gilbert will be our new LT. Maybe we pick up Stinchcomb, who has the reputation of being a helluva leader, to play RT. Or Max is brought back in.
I flogged him as hard as anyone yesterday,
TMI bro…
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree with pretty much everything you said. I’m really fed up with Woodley’s lackluster start to the season. He should have absolutely dominated yesterday playing against a UDFA rookie. Yet, he barely even sniffed the quarterback.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Okay, so it's not just me not seeing results from Woodley
I’m not imagining things, it’s real.
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, and BTW - I can eat crow
Your boy Taylor is looking phenomenal so far this year (excluding the one hard bite last night).
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Glad Tomlin got in his ear about that. I’ve always been concerned that Tomlin just lets vets do as they do, because he knows what to expect from them. If you screw up big time like that though, you should hear it from a coach.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Sep 26, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
that pisses me off too
the guy has so much physical talent, he should be dominating these one on one match ups… Let’s just hope that he soon rounds into his usual late season and playoff form.
Ohh boy.
That was like every Steelers/Ravens game ever. We were just waiting on our one bullshit play that wins it for us and Deebo and Troy came through, per usual. Win’s a win.
"You might as well appeal against the thunderstorm."
-William T. Sherman, the Battle of Atlanta
At least we came out with a win!
We escaped Indy. I had no doubt that we would come out ontop, simply because the colts were horrid offensively. I am worried about alot of things, but il leave Homer J to post about that. Execution must be better though. Whats wrong with Ben too?
Everything is better with Bacon
"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Sep 26, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I blame Arians
To me, with the high level of skill at QB and WR, the Steelers need to be a “pass first” team, which in turn will open up the run (and not the other way around).
by seasontixholder on Sep 26, 2011 6:19 PM EDT reply actions
I think
that if a play fails, they should have done whatever they didn’t do instead. It’s so simple!
"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 Sep 26, 2011 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey lighten up WT!
We tried to run the ball but didn’t execute it well. We will get better. This is a game that Indy really needed to win to keep playoff hopes alive and they played like it. We were clearly the better team and had to play ugly to get the win. But we did get the win!
Can’t beleive I am having to tell Mr. reasonable to be more reasonable!
by steeler fever on Sep 26, 2011 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
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