The Steelers went through another round of shock and drama on the offensive line in the Colts game as multiple offensive lineman went down with injuries. Rookie starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert, was the first to go down with an injury to his shoulder, he was replaced by veteran Trai Essex. Shortly after that starting right guard Doug Legursky was taken out of the game with a shoulder injury, he was replaced with veteran Ramon Foster. All seemed well until starting left tackle Jonathan Scott went down with an ankle injury.
The Steelers at this point had no reserve lineman left on the bench since they only carried seven lineman on the roster, five starters and two reserves. Their reserves, Ramon Foster and Trai Essex were already on the field. Fortunately, Marcus Gilbert was able enough to return to the game and bailed the Steelers out of using a tight end to cover Dwight Freeney, but then again Health Miller could have done a better job than Jonathan Scott.
Tomlin has made it known that even with the Steelers circumstances, any lineman that would be signed would not contribute. That is not really a shock to me though because if you sign someone new, he is coming in to be the back up in the worse case scenario that one of your starters go down. The Steelers are extremely thin on the offensive line and need a lot of help, even if the starters return.
Jonathan Scott looked like a fool against All-Pro Dwight Freeney. He was so bad that the Steelers constantly had to put support on the left side in the form of Health Miller. It is sad when Dwight Freeney was a none factor in the second half because Health Miller and Marcus Gilbert were able to keep him in check, mostly one on one.
I think that the Steelers really need to rethink their offensive line, not the back up plan but the starters. Jonathan Scott did not really win a job, he was handed a job when Max Starks and Flozell Adams were released. Scott proved that he is a terrible lineman and looked awful. Freeney who much smaller than Scott was throwing him around and running him over all game. We can only wait and see how the line shapes up this week against the Texans.
As of Thursday night, the Steelers had not yet signed any new lineman and Scott and Legursky are doubtful for the game at Houston. The Steelers do have Trevis Turner and John Malecki on practice squad and on the active roster they have Jamon Meredith, who was signed after Colon went on IR; Meredith was inactive last week versus the Colts.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Steelers squeak by the Colts
Wow. I don't know what else to say after the Steelers (2-1) questionable outing against the less than stellar Colts (0-3). The Steelers have a history of playing down to people and this game seemed like a trap game from the start. The Steelers didn't give up a lot of yards but still seemed to struggle with the Colts running game and don't appear in the form that fans are used too.
The defense allowed a lot of rushing yards from one of the NFL's worst rushing teams and it appeared to look like they were struggling with the Colts sub par offense. The Colts gained 241 yard of offense, 144 through the air and 97 on the ground. For the most part they were solid, forcing the Colts to punt seven times although it seemed like they were just beaten around in the second half.
The biggest thing that I noticed about the defense is the lack of pressure. The Steelers seemed to be dropping back James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley more then they blitzed them. The Steelers didn't seem to utilize LeBeau's famous stunts and gap blitzes at all. The pressure is not there and every one of us is scratching our head wondering why. There seems to be something missing, personally I think it is the contracts. The most dynamic players all got paid this offseason and now we are not calling their names. Woodley, Polamalu and Timmons have combined for 2.5 sacks and no turnovers, although Troy is seeming to get back to form returning a fumble for a touchdown.
The Steelers offense did a lot of things right, but the things they did wrong were really big. The Steelers amassed 408 yards of total offense, throwing for 364 and rushing for 67. The turnovers continue to kill the Steelers as Ben was responsible for another three turnovers, pushing his season total to eight.
The line had a lot of injuries as well; Marcus Gilbert was replaced by Trai Essex, then Doug Legursky was replaced by Ramon Foster, then left tackle Jonathan Scott went out and was replaced by the injured Marcus Gilbert. I am curious to see if any of the injuries are serious and if the Steelers resign someone like Flozell Adams or promote a newbie like Jamon Meredith.
I will not however blame the turnovers and poor performance on the offensive line. Ben was holding onto the ball too long and was again over throwing his receivers. The Steelers need to run to throw the ball. They came out throwing all over the place in the first quarter and then went to the well too many times and fumbled; then they went to the well again, and fumbled again; how about going to the well one more time? interception. The Steelers have 10 turnovers, eight of them are a result of passing plays.
I know this keeps getting old as well, but what the hell is Bruce Arians doing? The Steelers took advantage of the injured Colts secondary passing for 171 yards and a score in the first quarter. Mike Wallace caught the bulk of those grabbing three balls for 129 yards and a score, which was an 81 grab and run. Tony Dungy himself said that if the Steelers wanted to keep the Colts in the game, they should drop back and throw and boy was he right. The Colts caught onto the game plan and pulled their ears back. Freeney and Mathis sacked Ben three times and forced a fumble for a touchdown. Ben held onto the ball too long and the Steelers seemed too reluctant to run the ball, even if it isn't working right.
Speaking of running the ball, is the Super Bowl fumble still haunting Rashard Mendenhall? He cannot seem to run north and south and is costing himself and this team so much when he stops and shimmies. The Colts were not fooled by the movement because Rashard isn't going anywhere without his feet and they just focused on his feet. Mendenhall is an average running back and the Steelers might need to start considering a new one.
The Steelers can't seem to tie everything together and that won't get any easier this week as they travel to Houston to battle the high scoring Texans. Some how the Steelers need to push the run game more and limit Ben and his turnovers.
The defense allowed a lot of rushing yards from one of the NFL's worst rushing teams and it appeared to look like they were struggling with the Colts sub par offense. The Colts gained 241 yard of offense, 144 through the air and 97 on the ground. For the most part they were solid, forcing the Colts to punt seven times although it seemed like they were just beaten around in the second half.
The biggest thing that I noticed about the defense is the lack of pressure. The Steelers seemed to be dropping back James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley more then they blitzed them. The Steelers didn't seem to utilize LeBeau's famous stunts and gap blitzes at all. The pressure is not there and every one of us is scratching our head wondering why. There seems to be something missing, personally I think it is the contracts. The most dynamic players all got paid this offseason and now we are not calling their names. Woodley, Polamalu and Timmons have combined for 2.5 sacks and no turnovers, although Troy is seeming to get back to form returning a fumble for a touchdown.
The Steelers offense did a lot of things right, but the things they did wrong were really big. The Steelers amassed 408 yards of total offense, throwing for 364 and rushing for 67. The turnovers continue to kill the Steelers as Ben was responsible for another three turnovers, pushing his season total to eight.
The line had a lot of injuries as well; Marcus Gilbert was replaced by Trai Essex, then Doug Legursky was replaced by Ramon Foster, then left tackle Jonathan Scott went out and was replaced by the injured Marcus Gilbert. I am curious to see if any of the injuries are serious and if the Steelers resign someone like Flozell Adams or promote a newbie like Jamon Meredith.
I will not however blame the turnovers and poor performance on the offensive line. Ben was holding onto the ball too long and was again over throwing his receivers. The Steelers need to run to throw the ball. They came out throwing all over the place in the first quarter and then went to the well too many times and fumbled; then they went to the well again, and fumbled again; how about going to the well one more time? interception. The Steelers have 10 turnovers, eight of them are a result of passing plays.
I know this keeps getting old as well, but what the hell is Bruce Arians doing? The Steelers took advantage of the injured Colts secondary passing for 171 yards and a score in the first quarter. Mike Wallace caught the bulk of those grabbing three balls for 129 yards and a score, which was an 81 grab and run. Tony Dungy himself said that if the Steelers wanted to keep the Colts in the game, they should drop back and throw and boy was he right. The Colts caught onto the game plan and pulled their ears back. Freeney and Mathis sacked Ben three times and forced a fumble for a touchdown. Ben held onto the ball too long and the Steelers seemed too reluctant to run the ball, even if it isn't working right.
Speaking of running the ball, is the Super Bowl fumble still haunting Rashard Mendenhall? He cannot seem to run north and south and is costing himself and this team so much when he stops and shimmies. The Colts were not fooled by the movement because Rashard isn't going anywhere without his feet and they just focused on his feet. Mendenhall is an average running back and the Steelers might need to start considering a new one.
The Steelers can't seem to tie everything together and that won't get any easier this week as they travel to Houston to battle the high scoring Texans. Some how the Steelers need to push the run game more and limit Ben and his turnovers.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Week 3 Breakdown
Collins
With the Colts (0-2) on the schedule this week, this could have been a statement game for the Steelers (1-1) 2011 season. That all changed when it was announced that Peyton Manning would not start the season opener for the Colts and his return was unknown. The Colts signed retired quarterback Kerry Collins to lead their team when it became apparent that backup quarterback Curtis Painter could not.
Collins has been less than stellar for the Colts. Going in to week three, Kerry Collins has fumbled four times losing three of them. Add those fumbles to his one interception and his lack of offensive production, and you have a great situation for the Steelers who are still reeling from their week one loss to Baltimore.
The Steelers looked great in week two, a 24-0 demolishing of the Seattle Seahawks, but that has not removed the taste from their beating a week earlier. The only thing that will ease that loss is to beat the Ravens but that rematch is not until November, so in the mean time the Steelers need to rebuild their confidence. Both sides of the ball looked flat at times against the Seahawks, but that did not change the shear dominance they had over the Seahawks.
The Steelers have dominated the Colts since their days in Baltimore, starting in 1950. The Steelers hold a large advantage winning in 19 of 25 meetings. The last meeting in Indianapolis was in 2008, a 24-20 defeat at the hands of Peyton Manning. As a side note the Steelers have only lost back to back games to the Colts once. That happened when the Colts beat the Steelers in 1968 and 1971, remember the Steelers and Colts only meet every three years, with the exception of the playoffs. Since the Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1983 the Steelers are 11-3 against them and have even kept Manning in relative check winning two of four from the future Hall of Famer.
COLTS SEASON STATS:
Kerry Collins- 35 of 69 388 yards 2 touchdowns 1 interception
*Collins is only averaging 50.7% completion and has turned the ball over 5 times.
Joseph Addai- 22 carries for 103 yards
*Addai will share time with Delone Carter who has carried 18 times for 71 yards.
Reggie Wayne- 11 catches for 172 yards and 1 touchdown
*The Colts line has not allowed Collins time to throw deep to Wayne.
Defense- The Colts are allowing 343.5 yards and 30.5 points per game and allowing teams to convert 48% of third down attempts.
INJURY REPORT
Brett Keisel- out; Bryant McFadden- out; Chris Kemoeatu will return to the starting left guard spot after missing last weeks game.
FINAL TAKE
The Steelers defense is the key to this game. After being destroyed by Baltimore in week one the team was talked about all week as being over the hill, on the down turn and old news. The win last win didn't change many peoples minds and this game won't as well. If they can pitch another shut out though, it builds confidence and would help the team work out thier kinks before playing the high flying Texans. The Steelers need to make sure they are not looking past the Colts towards those Texans and I don't think they will.
STEELERS WIN: 27-3
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Diesel in the Shop
The PCL, Posterior Cruciate Ligament is located in the knee joint and is a very common injury in sports. A grade one sprain simply means that the ligament has been over-strectched, usually due to an outside force. The ligament does not require surgury because the ligament is still strong enough to keep the knee joint stable. Basically the Steelers could be without Keisel for as little as a week all the way up to four or more, although it does not appear that severe.
Heyward is very similar to Hood. He was drafted in the first round, 31st overall the year after a Steeler Super Bowl appearance. Heyward had an impressive camp and played great during the preseason. He has played very little so far this season, in two career games he has recorded one tackle.
I don't expect the injury to be much more than the result of no competitive off season. People will bring up the age and bicker about cleaning house but I will stand by the veteran. The Steelers have a history of filling amazing talent with great young talent and we all know that Ziggy can play. The Steelers will be fine, besides the Colts are not the Colts we are used too.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Steelers Blank the Seahawks
The Steelers (1-1) rebounded from their blowout in week one by blanking the visiting Seahawks (0-2). The Steelers came out like a completely different team, really showing that the loss was just a fluke. The Steelers controlled the game possessing the ball nearly 39 minutes to the Seahawks 21.
The Steelers offense played well in the game although there were times that they appeared rather flat. The offense put up 421 net yards and did not commit a single turnover. The line also held up surprisingly well only allowing two sacks and with the exception of one scary hit to Ben's knee, they kept him upright all day. The Steelers also consistently used the run game to find the end zone, something that they couldn't do last week.
Rashard Mendenhall started the Steelers off in the first quarter with a one yard run to put the Steelers up 7-0. Back up runningback Issac Redman did his part the following quarter running in a score from 20 yards out. The Steeler would add a field goal before half and finish their scoring off with a two yard touchdown pass from Big Ben to Mike Wallace in the third quarter.
The biggest difference between week one and two was the Steelers getting back to what they know. In the first half the Steelers controlled the tempo of the game doubling the plays and time of possession of the Seahawks. The Steelers also tripled the Seahawks in total yards. The run game worked extremely well and with the exception of the low hit on Ben the offensive line played extremely well.
The defense destroyed Tarvaris Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. Jackson ended with only 159 yards passing, the bulk of that taking place during garbage time in the fourth quarter. Lynch didn't fare any better as he totaled just 11 yards on six carries. The Seahawk offense did not run a single play in Steeler territory until 10 minutes left in the game.
The defense looked like the Steelers of old only allowing 164 net yards, 159 through the air and 31 on the ground. Polamalu, Farrior, Harrison, Foote, Woodley and McLendon all had a part in the Steelers five sacks, which totaled negative 26 yards. This was a huge improvement over the one sack that they mustered against the Ravens. With Bryant McFadden out with an injury William Gay stepped in at corner and played rather well. Keenan Lewis struggled late and Curtis Brown made a couple really nice special team plays as well.
The one issue I am still having with the defense is the lack of excitement. The greatest thing about the Steel Curtain is how the team feeds off each other, and that was rather non-existent today. A prime example was a three yard tackle for loss by LaMarr Woodley. After the hit and loss on second and two he just stood up and everyone walked back to the huddle, no excitement. Larry Foote did show us the "stomp" after a sack, so we will just hope that the energy returns as they put some wins together.
I don't know who had the biggest hand in the play calling, whether it was Ben, Arians or a suggestion from Tomlin and the front office, but the Steelers really did some great things. The team ran the ball 35 times and passed 31 times, including Emmanuel Sanders first ever NFL pass. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and opened up some really good lanes for Steeler runningbacks. Tight end Health Miller was so valuable as well as he secured the edge all afternoon for Rashard Mendenhall.
The team improved so much from the first week to the second week and I expect the improvement to just keep going. The Steelers will travel to Indianapolis next week and the Colts just can't seem to beat anyone. Kerry Collins is struggling with the offense and the defense is dealing with a large amount of injuries.
The Steelers offense played well in the game although there were times that they appeared rather flat. The offense put up 421 net yards and did not commit a single turnover. The line also held up surprisingly well only allowing two sacks and with the exception of one scary hit to Ben's knee, they kept him upright all day. The Steelers also consistently used the run game to find the end zone, something that they couldn't do last week.
Rashard Mendenhall started the Steelers off in the first quarter with a one yard run to put the Steelers up 7-0. Back up runningback Issac Redman did his part the following quarter running in a score from 20 yards out. The Steeler would add a field goal before half and finish their scoring off with a two yard touchdown pass from Big Ben to Mike Wallace in the third quarter.
The biggest difference between week one and two was the Steelers getting back to what they know. In the first half the Steelers controlled the tempo of the game doubling the plays and time of possession of the Seahawks. The Steelers also tripled the Seahawks in total yards. The run game worked extremely well and with the exception of the low hit on Ben the offensive line played extremely well.
The defense destroyed Tarvaris Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. Jackson ended with only 159 yards passing, the bulk of that taking place during garbage time in the fourth quarter. Lynch didn't fare any better as he totaled just 11 yards on six carries. The Seahawk offense did not run a single play in Steeler territory until 10 minutes left in the game.
The defense looked like the Steelers of old only allowing 164 net yards, 159 through the air and 31 on the ground. Polamalu, Farrior, Harrison, Foote, Woodley and McLendon all had a part in the Steelers five sacks, which totaled negative 26 yards. This was a huge improvement over the one sack that they mustered against the Ravens. With Bryant McFadden out with an injury William Gay stepped in at corner and played rather well. Keenan Lewis struggled late and Curtis Brown made a couple really nice special team plays as well.
The one issue I am still having with the defense is the lack of excitement. The greatest thing about the Steel Curtain is how the team feeds off each other, and that was rather non-existent today. A prime example was a three yard tackle for loss by LaMarr Woodley. After the hit and loss on second and two he just stood up and everyone walked back to the huddle, no excitement. Larry Foote did show us the "stomp" after a sack, so we will just hope that the energy returns as they put some wins together.
I don't know who had the biggest hand in the play calling, whether it was Ben, Arians or a suggestion from Tomlin and the front office, but the Steelers really did some great things. The team ran the ball 35 times and passed 31 times, including Emmanuel Sanders first ever NFL pass. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and opened up some really good lanes for Steeler runningbacks. Tight end Health Miller was so valuable as well as he secured the edge all afternoon for Rashard Mendenhall.
The team improved so much from the first week to the second week and I expect the improvement to just keep going. The Steelers will travel to Indianapolis next week and the Colts just can't seem to beat anyone. Kerry Collins is struggling with the offense and the defense is dealing with a large amount of injuries.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Week 2 Breakdown
Super Bowl XL 2011
The Steelers (0-1) look to rebound from their week one meltdown against Baltimore when they host the Seattle Seahawks (0-1). The Steelers and Seahawks have met 16 times in their history, splitting the series at 8-8. The Steelers host this match-up which really plays in their favor. Of the 16 meetings, eight of them have taken place in Pittsburgh with the Steelers holding a sizable advantage going 6-2. The last match-up between the Seahawks and Steelers took place in 2007 with the Steelers winning decisively 21-0.
Pete Carroll begun his second year as the Seahawks head man by getting beat up by their division rival San Francisco, 33-17. The Steelers may not have fared much better but the Seahawks offensive weapons don't even compare to the Ravens. Tavaris Jackson will be under center for the second straight game while Marshawn Lynch will carry the load for the Seahawks.
SEAHAWKS WEEK ONE STATS:
Tavaris Jackson- 21 of 37 197 yards 2 touchdowns 1 interception
*Jackson also fumbled three times, losing two of them
Marshawn Lynch- 13 carries for 33 yards
*Only averaged 2.5 yards per carry
Doug Baldwin- 4 catches for 83 yards and 1 touchdown
*Rookie scored on a 55 yard catch
Defense- In week one they held SF to 209 yards of total offense and only allowed them to convert 1 of 12 third downs; but did not record a sack or turnover.
INJURY REPORT
Curtis Brown- probable; Chris Kemoeatu and Bryant McFadden- questionable; Jerricho Cotchery- out
FINAL TAKE
I don't expect the Steelers to be the same team that they were last week. Ben Roethlisberger will not have five turnovers and the defense should be back to their old self. The biggest thing to remember about the Ravens game that it will most likely be remembered as a wake up call, not an ass whipping. The Steelers have been so dominate for so long that they have become used to it and it was time someone smacked them in the mouth. The Steelers should take out their frustration on the Seahawks.
Steelers Win: 34-13
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Ravens Illegal Blocking
It should be no surprise to anyone that after an absolute beat down that teams will find things to complain about. That was my thoughts exactly when Steelers players and reporters started making a big deal about illegal chop blocks during the Ravens game. My initial thoughts were who really cares? and then went to that the team was trying to find excuses for the lack of a defense. So, after some digging around I found screen shots of some of the questionable plays, and wow.
For those not fully familiar with chop blocks its a pretty simple type of block. A chop block is when a lineman, in this case an offensive lineman, goes low to the legs of the defensive lineman, to slow him down or remove him from the play. That is if he is not engaged. If the defensive lineman is engaged with another offensive lineman, then you cannot have another lineman chop at his legs. This is extremely illegal and dangerous for the defensive lineman.
The screen shots we will refer to were from the first quarter of the week one blowout and both of these plays being shown resulted in big runs. The first screen shot is six seconds into the game. You can clearly see that Casey Hampton is engaged with Raven center Matt Birk. Casey is moving down the line to left side of the field as Marshal Yanda dives clearly and directly at his knees. There is no Steeler near Yanda, so it cannot be argued that he was pushed or forced into Hampton's knees.
This second screen shot is still in the first quarter, four minutes after our first example. This image really shows what the players were suggesting. Casey Hampton is engaged with both center Matt Birk and even right tackle Micheal Oher came over, so wheres the right guard Yanda? Look at Hampton's knees. Again, Marshal Yanda goes straight for the knees of the engaged Hampton. There again is no Steeler around him for the argument of being blocked or forced into the player. Hampton was out of this play with the double block, Yanda just went for the knees. This is an extremely dirty play.
Now, the game is over and is a loss either way. But this kind of blocking is extremely dirty and very dangerous to the health and career of the defensive player that is the target. The NFL has not ruled on this and I don't really expect them to jump in on the debate but the Steelers really need to keep and eye on this for future games.
For those not fully familiar with chop blocks its a pretty simple type of block. A chop block is when a lineman, in this case an offensive lineman, goes low to the legs of the defensive lineman, to slow him down or remove him from the play. That is if he is not engaged. If the defensive lineman is engaged with another offensive lineman, then you cannot have another lineman chop at his legs. This is extremely illegal and dangerous for the defensive lineman.
The screen shots we will refer to were from the first quarter of the week one blowout and both of these plays being shown resulted in big runs. The first screen shot is six seconds into the game. You can clearly see that Casey Hampton is engaged with Raven center Matt Birk. Casey is moving down the line to left side of the field as Marshal Yanda dives clearly and directly at his knees. There is no Steeler near Yanda, so it cannot be argued that he was pushed or forced into Hampton's knees.
This second screen shot is still in the first quarter, four minutes after our first example. This image really shows what the players were suggesting. Casey Hampton is engaged with both center Matt Birk and even right tackle Micheal Oher came over, so wheres the right guard Yanda? Look at Hampton's knees. Again, Marshal Yanda goes straight for the knees of the engaged Hampton. There again is no Steeler around him for the argument of being blocked or forced into the player. Hampton was out of this play with the double block, Yanda just went for the knees. This is an extremely dirty play.
Now, the game is over and is a loss either way. But this kind of blocking is extremely dirty and very dangerous to the health and career of the defensive player that is the target. The NFL has not ruled on this and I don't really expect them to jump in on the debate but the Steelers really need to keep and eye on this for future games.
Dorin Dickerson
On September 12th, the Steelers officially released practice squad tight end Jamie McCoy, replacing him with former Pitt tight end Dorin Dickerson. Dickerson proclaimed that he was excited to be home in the burgh and was issued number 80.
Today Post Gazette writer Ed Bouchette tweeted that Dorin Dickerson had quit the Steelers practice squad after one day. This angered Dorin Dickerson who tweeted back that he did not quit but could not explain more.
A spokesman for the Steelers released a statement shortly thereafter Dickerson was hurt but he would not elaborate more on the situation. As of today the Steelers website had removed Dorin Dickerson from the roster and replaced him with Jamie McCoy, he will wear #45.
Not really big news when it is a practice squad player but as a Pitt fan I loved the signing. We may never really know what happened, but I am down a bit that it didn't work out.
A spokesman for the Steelers released a statement shortly thereafter Dickerson was hurt but he would not elaborate more on the situation. As of today the Steelers website had removed Dorin Dickerson from the roster and replaced him with Jamie McCoy, he will wear #45.
Not really big news when it is a practice squad player but as a Pitt fan I loved the signing. We may never really know what happened, but I am down a bit that it didn't work out.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Offensive Line Shuffle
The NFL has been home to some of the most famous shuffles in history. In 1985 it was the Super Bowl Shuffle performed by the Chicago Bears. In 1989 it was the Icky Shuffle, performed by Bengals fullback Icky Woods after every touchdown. 2011 is no different as the Steelers will continue their tradition of the Offensive Line Shuffle.
So, lets recap the "shuffle" thus far. The Steelers released long time tackle Max Starks and NFL veteran Flozell Adams before camp. They tried almost every player at every position on the line during the short camp and preseason. With the offensive line looking rather suspect, the Steelers resigned former Steeler Trai Essex. The Steelers also signed second year pro John Malecki who spent time with the Titans, Browns and Buccaneers during his rookie year in 2010.
It appeared going into the third preseason game that the Steelers had decided Jonathan Scott, Chris Kemoeatu, Maurkice Pouncey, Tony Hills and Willie Colon were their best bet. That was until the Steelers released Tony Hills, who they felt wasn't up to par and replaced him with Doug Legursky.
After the whipping in week one at the hands of Baltimore, Colon was lost for the season and the Steelers signed Jamon Meredith to take his spot on the roster. Marcus Gilbert was then moved up the depth chart to the starting right tackle, where he will most likely play the rest of the season barring an absolute collapse or injury.
I know that most people are critical of the offensive line issues in Pittsburgh, but I am not one of them. The shaky Steeler lines have held up on the way to two Super Bowls and the first week of the season gave me more hope. That seems like a shocking statement after the seven turnover performance but really only two of the turnovers could be considered the line's fault.
The first Roethlisberger interception was a deflection on the defensive line, the second was a horrible under throw and the third was a terrible over throw. Mewelde Moore's fumble was his fault alone and the second Roethlisberger fumble was a prime example of him holding onto the ball too long and not protecting it. The Rashard Mendenhall and first Roethlisberger fumbles were the only turnovers that I felt were on the line. The offensive line was not heavily penalized neither, except Willie Colon who is now gone for the season.
The optimism comes from the effective running game in the first half. The Steelers started the game off with two runs for 12 yards but only ran seven more times over the rest of the half. Mendenhall ended the first half with eight carries for 44 yards, an average of five and a half yards per carry. The issue was that he had only four carries for three yards in the second half mostly because of the his fumble early in the third quarter. The forced fumbled resulted in a touchdown for the Ravens and that forced the Steeler to go more pass heavy.
For the game, Issac Redman carried three times for 12 yards, averaging four yards per carry. Ben had a scramble for nine yards and Rashard had twelve carries for 45 yards, an average of just under four yards. A more consistent rushing presence in the second half could have limited the turnovers and kept the Steelers in the game. The problem with that is Bruce Arians does not like to run and doesn't give the line a chance to control the game via the run.
Since Arians has taken over as offensive coordinator the Steelers have steadily moved away from the run game and move farther towards a pass first team. Now, the Steelers have the receivers for that but the line is built for short term blocking. The line can hold up for the run and they proved that in the first half of the Baltimore game.
The only real question is how far does the Steelers "shuffle" go before its too much. The line needs to gel together and hopefully that starts in week two when the Steelers host the Seattle Seahawks.
It appeared going into the third preseason game that the Steelers had decided Jonathan Scott, Chris Kemoeatu, Maurkice Pouncey, Tony Hills and Willie Colon were their best bet. That was until the Steelers released Tony Hills, who they felt wasn't up to par and replaced him with Doug Legursky.
After the whipping in week one at the hands of Baltimore, Colon was lost for the season and the Steelers signed Jamon Meredith to take his spot on the roster. Marcus Gilbert was then moved up the depth chart to the starting right tackle, where he will most likely play the rest of the season barring an absolute collapse or injury.
The first Roethlisberger interception was a deflection on the defensive line, the second was a horrible under throw and the third was a terrible over throw. Mewelde Moore's fumble was his fault alone and the second Roethlisberger fumble was a prime example of him holding onto the ball too long and not protecting it. The Rashard Mendenhall and first Roethlisberger fumbles were the only turnovers that I felt were on the line. The offensive line was not heavily penalized neither, except Willie Colon who is now gone for the season.
The optimism comes from the effective running game in the first half. The Steelers started the game off with two runs for 12 yards but only ran seven more times over the rest of the half. Mendenhall ended the first half with eight carries for 44 yards, an average of five and a half yards per carry. The issue was that he had only four carries for three yards in the second half mostly because of the his fumble early in the third quarter. The forced fumbled resulted in a touchdown for the Ravens and that forced the Steeler to go more pass heavy.
Since Arians has taken over as offensive coordinator the Steelers have steadily moved away from the run game and move farther towards a pass first team. Now, the Steelers have the receivers for that but the line is built for short term blocking. The line can hold up for the run and they proved that in the first half of the Baltimore game.
The only real question is how far does the Steelers "shuffle" go before its too much. The line needs to gel together and hopefully that starts in week two when the Steelers host the Seattle Seahawks.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Jamon Meredith?
Willie Colon was put on IR today, I will wait for the applause to end before continuing...
With Colon out for the season with a tricep injury, the Steelers had an open spot on the roster and were in desperate need to add another tackle to our depleted line. The Steelers have rookie guard John Malecki and rookie tackle Trevis Turner on their practice squad. These two were in the camp with the Steelers and got valuable playing time this preseason. So, why did the Steelers go out a grab Jamon Meredith?
Meredith was drafted in 2010 in the fifth round, 162nd overall to the Green Bay Packers. He started the season on the practice squad before being signed to the Bills active roster. He played in five games during his rookie season as a member of the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and New York Giants. Meredith spent the 2011 training camp with the New York Giants before being cut.
If you are in need of a lineman, why not bring up one of the guys you have on your practice squad? Trevis Turner is 6'7 330 versus Jamon's 6'5 304, so it can't be the size. Obviously he is not overly talented or he would have made the roster on one of the four teams he spent time with in 2010.
The Steelers also could have brought back one of their former players such as Max Starks, Flozell Adams or Tony Hills. The biggest issue with that would be their health and shape of Starks and Adams, and the Steelers didn't seem to have much faith in Hills. I don't understand bringing in a new face, except if you don't expect him to play at all. The Steelers would have been better off just bringing up Trevis Turner and signing someone like Kyle Jolly back to the practice squad.
This move doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but if there is one thing I know, its that you don't question the Steelers front office. The Steelers have a history of seeing something that other teams may not see. Look at Willie Parker, Tommy Maddox and the list goes on.
This is one of those wait and see moves, if he even sticks around for more than a week or two.
With Colon out for the season with a tricep injury, the Steelers had an open spot on the roster and were in desperate need to add another tackle to our depleted line. The Steelers have rookie guard John Malecki and rookie tackle Trevis Turner on their practice squad. These two were in the camp with the Steelers and got valuable playing time this preseason. So, why did the Steelers go out a grab Jamon Meredith?
If you are in need of a lineman, why not bring up one of the guys you have on your practice squad? Trevis Turner is 6'7 330 versus Jamon's 6'5 304, so it can't be the size. Obviously he is not overly talented or he would have made the roster on one of the four teams he spent time with in 2010.
The Steelers also could have brought back one of their former players such as Max Starks, Flozell Adams or Tony Hills. The biggest issue with that would be their health and shape of Starks and Adams, and the Steelers didn't seem to have much faith in Hills. I don't understand bringing in a new face, except if you don't expect him to play at all. The Steelers would have been better off just bringing up Trevis Turner and signing someone like Kyle Jolly back to the practice squad.
This move doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but if there is one thing I know, its that you don't question the Steelers front office. The Steelers have a history of seeing something that other teams may not see. Look at Willie Parker, Tommy Maddox and the list goes on.
This is one of those wait and see moves, if he even sticks around for more than a week or two.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Farrior, Foote....Sly?
Steeler fans might have noticed a time or two on Sunday that James Farrior was replaced in the lineup by Larry Foote. This was not due to injury but was by design. Mike Tomlin sighted a great camp and preseason of Larry Foote for the playing time, I must have been watching a different set of preseason games.
With the substitutions that took place, it opened up a whole new debate about the middle linebacker spot. The Steelers looked slow and rather old in their Sunday beat down from the Baltimore Ravens. The defense did not pick up releasing tight ends or running backs coming out of the back field, why? Maybe the reaction time is not there.
Stevenson Sylvester, aka Sly, has been a highly touted player since signing as an undrafted free agent before last season. Sly is a hard hitter, smart player and very quick to the ball. Sly finished his four year career at Utah with 262 tackles, 142 assisted and 120 solo with 9 sacks, two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns and four forced fumbles.
During Sly's rookie campaign he played sparingly on defense but made a huge impact on special teams. Sly had 14 tackles and a forced fumble, but it was the intangibles that really made him stood out. Sylvester has a knack for the ball and is extremely physical.
Sly seems to have an extremely great attitude as well. I have met the man multiple times, both as an undrafted rookie and as a second year pro. He loves the game of football and really respects the tradition of being a Steelers linebacker.
You don't just make the Steelers roster as a linebacker, you earn that spot. If the Steelers are going to experiment with linebackers maybe its time to give the young guy a shot.
With the substitutions that took place, it opened up a whole new debate about the middle linebacker spot. The Steelers looked slow and rather old in their Sunday beat down from the Baltimore Ravens. The defense did not pick up releasing tight ends or running backs coming out of the back field, why? Maybe the reaction time is not there.
During Sly's rookie campaign he played sparingly on defense but made a huge impact on special teams. Sly had 14 tackles and a forced fumble, but it was the intangibles that really made him stood out. Sylvester has a knack for the ball and is extremely physical.
Sly seems to have an extremely great attitude as well. I have met the man multiple times, both as an undrafted rookie and as a second year pro. He loves the game of football and really respects the tradition of being a Steelers linebacker.
You don't just make the Steelers roster as a linebacker, you earn that spot. If the Steelers are going to experiment with linebackers maybe its time to give the young guy a shot.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Still Much Love
I wrote a pretty blasting article about my Steelers. I was very critical of their performance in the huge loss to the Ravens in week one. That does not mean that I feel any different about the Steelers, or any less of them.
I have been a Steelers fan through thick and thin and that will never change. I figured the Steelers would lose to Baltimore at least once, I just didn't think it would be this game. Either way, the Steelers will bounce back quickly.
Towards the end of the game you could tell Tomlin was getting furious with his team. He mouthed some very stern words after Big Ben turned the ball over for the third time and then yelled at his players to stop fighting after the big Ike Taylor led brawl.
Dick Lebeau and Mike Tomlin will not allow a repeat performance of week one. Heres to the coming weeks, HERE WE GO STEELERS.
I have been a Steelers fan through thick and thin and that will never change. I figured the Steelers would lose to Baltimore at least once, I just didn't think it would be this game. Either way, the Steelers will bounce back quickly.
Towards the end of the game you could tell Tomlin was getting furious with his team. He mouthed some very stern words after Big Ben turned the ball over for the third time and then yelled at his players to stop fighting after the big Ike Taylor led brawl.
Dick Lebeau and Mike Tomlin will not allow a repeat performance of week one. Heres to the coming weeks, HERE WE GO STEELERS.
Steelers Destroyed by Baltimore
Ravens 35 Steelers 7
This game was an absolute joke. The Steelers defense looked old and over matched in this one. The Steelers offense went away from the run too fast and the defense couldn't cover a single Raven coming out of the back field or releasing from the line.
Bryant McFadden proved to me that he should even be a back up cornerback on our roster and Larry Foote was terribly bad in his time in the game for starter James Farrior. Steelers recievers had some huge drops and Ben Roethlisberger picked up where he left of in Super Bowl XLV by throwing three more interceptions.
The Ravens got off to a fast start on a Joe Flacco touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin and they followed that up with a one yard Ray Rice touchdown run. The Steelers responded with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Big Ben to Emmanuel Sanders. Ray Rice added a second touchdown from 11 yards out to end the half up 21-7.
The Steelers started the second half off like an expansion team. They fumbled the first possession that resulted in an 18 yard touchdown from Flacco to Dickson. The very next possession Big Ben threw his first interception of the game to Ray Lewis.
The next two drives for the Steelers resulted in interceptions inside the red zone and a near bench clearing brawl. Both picks were caught by Ed Reed and ended the Steelers comeback hopes. The brawl started when Ike Taylor head butted Micheal Oher, who hit him back. Steeler players then subdued Oher before Ray Rice hit Troy Polamalu. Troy then took him to the ground. Only Ike Taylor was flagged.
The Steelers defense was atrocious in this game. They looked so old and slow and seemed to forget everything they were taught. They did not pick up releasing tight ends or running backs coming out of the back field. The defense couldn't get any pressure on Joe Flacco, getting their only sack in the middle of the fourth quarter.
I don't want this to become a bitch fest at Bruce Arians, but really? His play calling is the worst piece of crap that I have ever seen. The team completely abandoned the run and began to throw constantly, resulting in five of six turnovers. At the end of the first half the Steelers had thrown the ball 15 times and ran only nine times, the team had 60 yards passing and 53 yards rushing.
The offense finished with seven turnovers, four of the turnovers were inside the twenty yard line. Ben Roethlisberger threw three interceptions and a fumbled twice, while Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore each had a fumble. The Steelers also welcomed back Willie Colon who picked up where he left off by getting called for two penalties in the game.
I sincerely felt that the Ravens were very classless in this game. They went for a two point conversion when they were already up by three scores. They attempted a fourth down inside the twenty up by 25 and in the fourth quarter they tried to throw another touchdown while still being up 25.
Don't let this game fool any of you. Just because the Ravens won this game, even in the fashion they did, it does not mean that they own the division. The Steelers have split the series with the Ravens seven times in the last ten years, and still won the division six times.
The Steelers had better fix their seven turnover performance and you better believe the Steelers will have the re-match on November 6th circled.
This game was an absolute joke. The Steelers defense looked old and over matched in this one. The Steelers offense went away from the run too fast and the defense couldn't cover a single Raven coming out of the back field or releasing from the line.
Bryant McFadden proved to me that he should even be a back up cornerback on our roster and Larry Foote was terribly bad in his time in the game for starter James Farrior. Steelers recievers had some huge drops and Ben Roethlisberger picked up where he left of in Super Bowl XLV by throwing three more interceptions.
The Ravens got off to a fast start on a Joe Flacco touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin and they followed that up with a one yard Ray Rice touchdown run. The Steelers responded with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Big Ben to Emmanuel Sanders. Ray Rice added a second touchdown from 11 yards out to end the half up 21-7.
The Steelers started the second half off like an expansion team. They fumbled the first possession that resulted in an 18 yard touchdown from Flacco to Dickson. The very next possession Big Ben threw his first interception of the game to Ray Lewis.
The next two drives for the Steelers resulted in interceptions inside the red zone and a near bench clearing brawl. Both picks were caught by Ed Reed and ended the Steelers comeback hopes. The brawl started when Ike Taylor head butted Micheal Oher, who hit him back. Steeler players then subdued Oher before Ray Rice hit Troy Polamalu. Troy then took him to the ground. Only Ike Taylor was flagged.
The Steelers defense was atrocious in this game. They looked so old and slow and seemed to forget everything they were taught. They did not pick up releasing tight ends or running backs coming out of the back field. The defense couldn't get any pressure on Joe Flacco, getting their only sack in the middle of the fourth quarter.
I don't want this to become a bitch fest at Bruce Arians, but really? His play calling is the worst piece of crap that I have ever seen. The team completely abandoned the run and began to throw constantly, resulting in five of six turnovers. At the end of the first half the Steelers had thrown the ball 15 times and ran only nine times, the team had 60 yards passing and 53 yards rushing.
The offense finished with seven turnovers, four of the turnovers were inside the twenty yard line. Ben Roethlisberger threw three interceptions and a fumbled twice, while Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore each had a fumble. The Steelers also welcomed back Willie Colon who picked up where he left off by getting called for two penalties in the game.
I sincerely felt that the Ravens were very classless in this game. They went for a two point conversion when they were already up by three scores. They attempted a fourth down inside the twenty up by 25 and in the fourth quarter they tried to throw another touchdown while still being up 25.
Don't let this game fool any of you. Just because the Ravens won this game, even in the fashion they did, it does not mean that they own the division. The Steelers have split the series with the Ravens seven times in the last ten years, and still won the division six times.
The Steelers had better fix their seven turnover performance and you better believe the Steelers will have the re-match on November 6th circled.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Week One Breakdown
"The Rivalry"
It is no secret that the Steelers and the Ravens have no love for each other. Charm City versus the Iron City. It's a rivalry that goes beyond football and invades life. If you have ever been to Baltimore you know that no matter what time of year it is, one thing is always clear, they hate anyone who likes Pittsburgh.
At one o'clock Sunday afternoon, the Steelers and the Ravens will meet for the 34th time. It may be week one, but everyone is expecting an absolute slug fest. The Steelers knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs last season and the Ravens are hoping to end the Steelers rain of dominance in the division.
The game will take place at M&T Bank Stadium in downtown Baltimore, Maryland where the Steelers are 8-7 all time versus the Ravens. The Steelers have also been lights out versus Joe Flacco. Since Flacco was drafted in 2008, the Steelers are 6-2 against him and the Ravens, including two post season wins and a series sweep in 2008.
This rivalry really hasn't been as close as people have assumed. Since the Ravens were formed in 1996, how do they compare to the Steelers?
Record: 21-12 (Steelers)
Regular Season Record: 18-12 (Steelers)
Post Season Record: 3-0 (Steelers)
Divisional Championships
Steelers: 8 Ravens: 2 (1996-2001 AFC Central; 2002-present AFC North)
Conference Championships
Steelers: 3 Ravens: 1
Super Bowl Championships
Steelers: 2 Ravens: 1
INJURY REPORT
Marcus Gilbert- probable; Jerricho Cotchery- doubtful; Chris Carter- out
FINAL TAKE
The Ravens have a new look receiving corp and offensive line and hope that it is for the better. The Steelers are 4-6 in Baltimore over the last ten years but have won two of the last three meetings there. The Steelers still have a shaky line, which is a bad thing versus the angry Baltimore defense. The key to this game is that our receivers are better than their defensive backs and with time Big Ben will pick them apart.
Steelers WIN: 20-13
Friday, September 9, 2011
Number One
Here it is, the best game in the short but brutal Steeler/Raven rivalry. This one is not only important because of how it was won but because of the magnitude of the game. Our number one game takes us to the AFC Championship at the end of the 2008 season.
Jeff Reed added his third field goal of the game (46) with 3:38 left in the third quarter. The game got really good in the fourth quarter after Willis McGahee scored his second rushing touchdown, putting the Ravens down 16-14. The Ravens got the ball back, getting their chance to knock off the Steelers for a trip to the Super Bowl. With 4:24 left, Troy Polamalu picked off Joe Flacco and returned it 40 yards to the endzone. The Steelers went up for good 23-14, earning their seventh trip to the Super Bowl.
AFC Championship
Steelers 23 Ravens 14
There is something special about a rivalry game that takes place in such an important game. The Steeler/Raven games have been hard fought, old school style games, and this game proved to be much of the same.
The Steelers jumped out to an early lead off of two Jeff Reed field goals (34,42) in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter the Steelers extended their lead, 13-0 on a 65 yard touchdown pass from Big Ben to Santonio Holmes. The Ravens answered back at the end of the half with a Willis McGahee touchdown run. The Steelers went into the half up 13-7.
Jeff Reed added his third field goal of the game (46) with 3:38 left in the third quarter. The game got really good in the fourth quarter after Willis McGahee scored his second rushing touchdown, putting the Ravens down 16-14. The Ravens got the ball back, getting their chance to knock off the Steelers for a trip to the Super Bowl. With 4:24 left, Troy Polamalu picked off Joe Flacco and returned it 40 yards to the endzone. The Steelers went up for good 23-14, earning their seventh trip to the Super Bowl.Beating the Ravens is good on any day, but in the AFC Championship, that's price less. Every Steeler fan will remember where they were and what they were doing when they watched this game play out.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Number Two
Here is the second game of the day. With three down we take a look at a game from this past season, as we dive into our number two greatest game in the Steelers, Ravens rivalry.
With less than two minutes remaining in the game, Antonio Brown on third and 19 caught a 58 yard pass on his helmet, behind the Ravens secondary. His amazing catch set up a two yard Rashard Mendenhall touchdown and the Steelers held off the Ravens to take their post season record versus the Ravens to 3-0.
AFC Divisional Championship
Steelers 31 Ravens 24
The Steelers came into the game having split the regular season series. With a trip to the AFC Championship on the line, the Steelers had to comeback in the second half to win this heart stopping game.
The Steelers scored on a one yard Rashard Mendenhall touchdown in the opening quarter, the Steelers wouldn't score again in the first half. Ray Rice scored on a thirteen yard run and the Ravens defense scored on a Ben Roethlisberger fumble in the first quarter, giving the Ravens a 14-7 lead. The only score in the second quarter came on a Todd Heap four yard touchdown, taking the Ravens into the locker room at halftime up 21-7.
The second half was all Pittsburgh. The Steelers knotted the game up at 21 after Health Miller and Hines Ward caught touchdowns from Big Ben. The Steelers then took the lead 24-21 after Shaun Suisham kicked a 35 yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Ravens quickly tied the game 24-24, on a 24 yard Billy Cundiff field goal on the next drive.
With less than two minutes remaining in the game, Antonio Brown on third and 19 caught a 58 yard pass on his helmet, behind the Ravens secondary. His amazing catch set up a two yard Rashard Mendenhall touchdown and the Steelers held off the Ravens to take their post season record versus the Ravens to 3-0.The Steelers defense forced had a forced fumble and picked off Joe Flacco twice, while sacking him five times. Ben Roethlisberger finished 19 of 32 for 226 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Rashard Mendenhall wasn't amazing only amassing 46 yards on 20 carries, but he scored two touchdowns including the game winner..
Number Three
Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday. I will make it up by posting numbers two and three today. The first
December 14th, 2008
Steelers 13 Ravens 9
I was nearly having a heart attack almost the entire game. This was another low scoring affair for these two rivals that came down to one of the greatest catches I have ever seen.
Neither offense seemed to have an answer for the opposing teams defenses, as only one touchdown was scored at the end of the game. The Steelers picked off Flacco twice as the Ravens picked off Big Ben twice and forced two Steeler fumbles.
The Raven's Matt Stover kicked three field goals (28, 26 , 28) and helped the Ravens to hold a slim 9-6 lead in the fourth quarter. Ben Roethlisberger then orchestrated a drive in the final few minutes of the game before hitting Santonio Holmes for a touchdown as he fell from the endzone. After review the catch was upheld and the Steelers swept the Ravens for the first time since 2002.
December 14th, 2008
Steelers 13 Ravens 9
I was nearly having a heart attack almost the entire game. This was another low scoring affair for these two rivals that came down to one of the greatest catches I have ever seen.
Neither offense seemed to have an answer for the opposing teams defenses, as only one touchdown was scored at the end of the game. The Steelers picked off Flacco twice as the Ravens picked off Big Ben twice and forced two Steeler fumbles.
The Raven's Matt Stover kicked three field goals (28, 26 , 28) and helped the Ravens to hold a slim 9-6 lead in the fourth quarter. Ben Roethlisberger then orchestrated a drive in the final few minutes of the game before hitting Santonio Holmes for a touchdown as he fell from the endzone. After review the catch was upheld and the Steelers swept the Ravens for the first time since 2002.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Number Four
One down and four to go in our "Top 5" of Steelers/Ravens rivalry games. We are moving just a bit in the future to the Raven's championship season in 2000.
October 29th, 2000
Steelers 9 Ravens 6
This low scoring affair really offers very little in the form of a football game. It was a 690 minute showdown that for the most part bored the mind out of football fans. As a rivalry game this game offered the simple idea that no matter how bad you are, you can lose to your rivals.
Matt Stover put up two field goals in the second quarter, giving the Ravens a 6-0 lead until the third quarter. In the third quarter Hines Ward pulled in 45 yard touchdown pass from Kordell Stewart. The extra point was no good so the Steelers only tied the Ravens 6-6.
Four minutes later the Steelers put Kris Brown in range to kick a 24 yard field goal, giving the Steelers the lead 9-6. The defense held Trent Dilfer in check, sacking him three times, picking him off once and forcing the Ravens to fumble twice (Steelers recovered both) on their way to the win.
This game was huge for the Steelers to remind the Ravens, that no matter how much they win, they still have to deal with the Steelers. The Steelers would go on to finish third in the AFC Central with a 9-7 record. The Ravens would not lose another game all year as they went on to win their only Super Bowl.
October 29th, 2000
Steelers 9 Ravens 6
This low scoring affair really offers very little in the form of a football game. It was a 690 minute showdown that for the most part bored the mind out of football fans. As a rivalry game this game offered the simple idea that no matter how bad you are, you can lose to your rivals.
Matt Stover put up two field goals in the second quarter, giving the Ravens a 6-0 lead until the third quarter. In the third quarter Hines Ward pulled in 45 yard touchdown pass from Kordell Stewart. The extra point was no good so the Steelers only tied the Ravens 6-6.
Four minutes later the Steelers put Kris Brown in range to kick a 24 yard field goal, giving the Steelers the lead 9-6. The defense held Trent Dilfer in check, sacking him three times, picking him off once and forcing the Ravens to fumble twice (Steelers recovered both) on their way to the win.
This game was huge for the Steelers to remind the Ravens, that no matter how much they win, they still have to deal with the Steelers. The Steelers would go on to finish third in the AFC Central with a 9-7 record. The Ravens would not lose another game all year as they went on to win their only Super Bowl.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Number Five
With the days leading up to the best new rivalry in football, I decided to give you my five favorite Steeler/Raven games of all time. These "Top 5" are games that have always stuck in my mind and to me tell the story of this fierce rivalry.
October 5th, 1997
Steelers 42 Ravens 34
Kordell Stewart threw three first half interceptions, while former Steelers Eric Green (1990 1st Round pick) and Bam Morris (1994 3rd Round pick) scored the Ravens first two touchdowns of the game. Brian Kinchen then caught a Vinny Testeverde pass for the Ravens third touchdown, giving them a 21-0 lead. Kordell Stewart ran in the Steelers first touchdown and Matt Stover added a field goal to end the first half, as the Ravens to a 24-7 lead into the locker room.
The Steelers started their comeback right off the bat as Will Blackwell took the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Charles Johnson caught an eight yard touchdown pass to end the third quarter, the Steelers still trailing 24-21. The Steelers started the fourth quarters with back to back touchdowns from Mark Bruener and Charles Johnson, his second on the day.
Derrick Alexander got the Ravens back in the game with a ten yard touchdown pass and Ernest Byner grabbed the two point conversion, putting the Ravens down 35-32. Kordell Stewart ended any hope of a comeback when just after the two minute warning he scrambled 74 yards to pay dirt.
The Steelers intercepted the Ravens quarterback Vinny Testeverde twice, sacked him four times and forced four Raven fumbles, recovering three. Kordell Stewart finished 18 of 28 for 246 yards, throwing for 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He also had six carries for 78 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Jerome Bettis controled the ground rushing 28 times for 137 yards.
The Steelers went on the finish 11-5 winning their fourth straight AFC Central Crown. Unfortunately the Steelers were beat in OT by the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game.
October 5th, 1997
Steelers 42 Ravens 34
Kordell Stewart threw three first half interceptions, while former Steelers Eric Green (1990 1st Round pick) and Bam Morris (1994 3rd Round pick) scored the Ravens first two touchdowns of the game. Brian Kinchen then caught a Vinny Testeverde pass for the Ravens third touchdown, giving them a 21-0 lead. Kordell Stewart ran in the Steelers first touchdown and Matt Stover added a field goal to end the first half, as the Ravens to a 24-7 lead into the locker room.
The Steelers started their comeback right off the bat as Will Blackwell took the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Charles Johnson caught an eight yard touchdown pass to end the third quarter, the Steelers still trailing 24-21. The Steelers started the fourth quarters with back to back touchdowns from Mark Bruener and Charles Johnson, his second on the day.
Derrick Alexander got the Ravens back in the game with a ten yard touchdown pass and Ernest Byner grabbed the two point conversion, putting the Ravens down 35-32. Kordell Stewart ended any hope of a comeback when just after the two minute warning he scrambled 74 yards to pay dirt.
The Steelers intercepted the Ravens quarterback Vinny Testeverde twice, sacked him four times and forced four Raven fumbles, recovering three. Kordell Stewart finished 18 of 28 for 246 yards, throwing for 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He also had six carries for 78 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Jerome Bettis controled the ground rushing 28 times for 137 yards.
The Steelers went on the finish 11-5 winning their fourth straight AFC Central Crown. Unfortunately the Steelers were beat in OT by the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Practice Squad
The Steelers announced eight players had been signed to the practice squad this morning. Runningback John Clay, tight end Jamie McCoy, wide receiver Tyler Grisham, offensive lineman Trevis Turner and John Malecki, defensive lineman Corbin Bryant, linebacker Mortty Ivy and defenisive back Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith were the lucky players.
With the 53 man roster and eight player practice squad set, I wanted to look back at my predictions and see how I fared. My initial predictions yielded 49 of 53 correct, missing the cut of Tony Hills, Crezdon Butler, Mortty Ivy and Donovan Warren (even though I noted that Ivy and Warren were stretches to make the team)
I fared much worse with the practice squad picking four of the eight correct. Ivy didn't make the active roster but was signed to the practice squad, and trust me, he will be on the active roster at some point this year.
With the 53 man roster and eight player practice squad set, I wanted to look back at my predictions and see how I fared. My initial predictions yielded 49 of 53 correct, missing the cut of Tony Hills, Crezdon Butler, Mortty Ivy and Donovan Warren (even though I noted that Ivy and Warren were stretches to make the team)
I fared much worse with the practice squad picking four of the eight correct. Ivy didn't make the active roster but was signed to the practice squad, and trust me, he will be on the active roster at some point this year.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Final Roster Set
I am rather surprised by Butler and Hills being let go of the five. The Steelers are already thin at the offensive line spot and have a huge lack of talent at cornerback. Hills lost his starting job to Doug Legursky in the final preseason game citing the lack of understanding at the position; I figured they would just bench him instead of releasing him though.
These final cuts bring the Steelers totals to three quarterbacks, four running backs, three tight ends, six wide receivers, nine offensive linemen, seven defensive linemen, eight linebackers, 10 defensive backs, one kicker, one punter and one long snapper.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Week 1 Offensive Line
The starting left tackle will most likely be 5th year veteran Jonathan Scott, with seasoned road grater Chris Kemoeatu to start at left guard. Anchoring the center of the line will be the former rookie sensation and Pro Bowler Maurkice Pouncey with his former backup, Doug Legursky getting his chance to start at right guard. That means that penalty prone Willie Colon will return to start at right tackle, this should be interesting.
So, what about second round pick Marcus Gilbert?
With the lack of an offseason, Marcus Gilbert didn't have time to learn the ins and outs of a pro style offense and really didn't have much of a chance to start as a rookie. Gilbert will most likely be the left tackle of the future, but right now he needs to sit and learn while getting some valuable playing time here and there.
The biggest shocker is 3rd year Marshall center/guard, Doug Legursky, will get the start over the expected starter Tony Hills. The coaches felt that Legursky understands the position better than the other lineman competing for the job, so decided to let him have a shot. Legursky has started four games, all of them last season, including the Super Bowl against the Packers. He has a smaller frame than typical lineman standing only 6'1 weighing it at 315 lbs but has an excellent skill set to be an NFL lineman.
With all the new faces we can only hope that the growing pains are short and painless, but with our schedule that is not likely. The line will be tested early against three straight playoff teams, at Baltimore, home against Seattle and at Indianapolis.
Well, heres to week one hopes for the line.
Five More to Go
The Steelers cut their roster down to 58 today but there is still five more players to be cut. So, who are they?
Here are a few people that really stick out to me that are left on the roster.
Jarrett Crittenton DE Middle Tennessee State
The Steelers picked him up in August from the Seattle Seahawks. The rookie stands 6'6 and weighs in at 290 lbs. His size along gets him a look on the roster but I just don't see him beating out Steve McLendon or first rounder Cameron Heyward.
Jeremy Kapinos P Penn State
It has been an amazing battle between Kapinos and the often injured Daniel Sepulveda, but Sepulveda is just too good. I love Kapinos and the Steelers would be good with either one, but I think Sepulveda will edge him out.
John Gilmore TE Penn State
It will come down to Gilmore and the rookie Wesyle Saunders for the third TE and why would you go with the more expensive veteran? Saunders has huge upside and is a beast of a player. Gilmore was brought in for competition and he brought that while he was here.
Cortez Allen CB Citadel
I love this kid but he has just not been able to stay healthy. Allen received limited practice time and just as little playing time. If he had stayed healthy then we might be having a different argument at this time. Love the kid but I think he is gone.
Chris Scott OL Tennessee
I think it will come down to him and Trai Essex and he can't compete with Essex versatility. Unlike Chris Scott, Trai Essex can play every position from left tackle to right tackle, he even started the final preseason game at Center. This is my odd man out because I think the Steelers will keep 6 receivers and 6 corners, the final cut will need to come from somewhere.
Here are a few people that really stick out to me that are left on the roster.
Jarrett Crittenton DE Middle Tennessee State
The Steelers picked him up in August from the Seattle Seahawks. The rookie stands 6'6 and weighs in at 290 lbs. His size along gets him a look on the roster but I just don't see him beating out Steve McLendon or first rounder Cameron Heyward.
Jeremy Kapinos P Penn State
It has been an amazing battle between Kapinos and the often injured Daniel Sepulveda, but Sepulveda is just too good. I love Kapinos and the Steelers would be good with either one, but I think Sepulveda will edge him out.
John Gilmore TE Penn State
It will come down to Gilmore and the rookie Wesyle Saunders for the third TE and why would you go with the more expensive veteran? Saunders has huge upside and is a beast of a player. Gilmore was brought in for competition and he brought that while he was here.
Cortez Allen CB Citadel
I love this kid but he has just not been able to stay healthy. Allen received limited practice time and just as little playing time. If he had stayed healthy then we might be having a different argument at this time. Love the kid but I think he is gone.
Chris Scott OL Tennessee
I think it will come down to him and Trai Essex and he can't compete with Essex versatility. Unlike Chris Scott, Trai Essex can play every position from left tackle to right tackle, he even started the final preseason game at Center. This is my odd man out because I think the Steelers will keep 6 receivers and 6 corners, the final cut will need to come from somewhere.
Steelers Cut to 58
The Steelers cut 21 players and placed Byron Leftwich on the IR.
There are a few shocking cuts but he bulk of the cuts are not surprising. The Steelers released linebackers Baraka Atkins, Mario Harvey, Chris McCoy and Mortty Ivy, defensive lineman Corbin Bryant, defensive backs Brett Greenwood, Macho Harris, Donovan Warren and Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, running backs James Johnson and John Clay, offensive linemen Colin Miller, Kyle Jolly, John Malecki, Trevis Turner and Keith Williams, wide receivers Armand Robinson, Wes Lyons and Tyler Grisham, tight end Jamie McCoy and kicker Swayze Waters.
The only real shocking cut is that of Mortty Ivy. He was solid all preseason with two sacks, a forced fumble and led the Steelers in tackles twice. The Steelers need to cut five more players by 6pm tomorrow.
There are a few shocking cuts but he bulk of the cuts are not surprising. The Steelers released linebackers Baraka Atkins, Mario Harvey, Chris McCoy and Mortty Ivy, defensive lineman Corbin Bryant, defensive backs Brett Greenwood, Macho Harris, Donovan Warren and Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, running backs James Johnson and John Clay, offensive linemen Colin Miller, Kyle Jolly, John Malecki, Trevis Turner and Keith Williams, wide receivers Armand Robinson, Wes Lyons and Tyler Grisham, tight end Jamie McCoy and kicker Swayze Waters.
The only real shocking cut is that of Mortty Ivy. He was solid all preseason with two sacks, a forced fumble and led the Steelers in tackles twice. The Steelers need to cut five more players by 6pm tomorrow.
53 Man Predictions
QB (3)
Ben Roethlisberger, Charile Batch, Dennis Dixon
RB (4)
Rashard Mendenhall, Issac Redman, Mewelde Moore, Jonathan Dwyer
WR (5)**
Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, Jerricho Cotchery
TE (3)
Heath Miller, David Johnson, Weslye Saunders
OT (4)
Jonathan Scott, Marcus Gilbert, Willie Colon, Trai Essex*
OG (3)
Chris Kemoeatu, Ramon Foster, Tony Hills
C (2)
Maurkice Pouncey, Doug Legursky
DE (4)
Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith, Ziggy Hood, Cameron Heyward
DT (3)
Casey Hampton, Chris Hoke, Steve McLendon*
OLB (4)
James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Jason Worilds, Chris Carter*
ILB (4)
James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons, Stevenson Sylvester, Mortty Ivy*
CB (7)
Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, William Gay, Keenan Lewis, Crezdon Butler, Curtis Brown, Donovan Warren*
S (4)
Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ryan Mundy, Will Allen*
ST (3)
Shaun Suisham, Daniel Sepulveda, Greg Warren
*Trai Essex
I don't see him getting cut after being signed in what I consider to be desperation time. He is experienced and knows the offense, unlike rookie Keith Williams. He can play both tackle and guard spots and even started at center in the final preseason contest. He has also started 25 games in a Steeler uniform over his career.
*Steve McLendon
Has been really impressive but I don't think he has been impressive enough to unseat Chris Hoke, yet. He should sneak into the roster because the Steelers will most likely put Byron Leftwich on IR.
*Chris Carter
He has not been a factor in the preseason at all. The pass rush the Steelers had hoped for has really been missing and it is possible that the Steelers will keep him on the roster because of the lack of an off-season.
*Mortty Ivy
This is my "reach". With the Steelers fretting about the salary cap I think that Larry Foote could be gone along with his 3 million dollar contract. Foote has not made a huge case to stay around and Ivy has done some really good things. He was a tackle machine against the Redskins and forced a turnover late against the Falcons. He is cheaper than Foote and could be a good backup and special teamer.
*Donovan Warren
He has played well when given the opportunity and with Cortez Allen being injured the entire off-season, I don't see them taking the risk. Allen will get on the practice squad as he is edged out for the final corner spot.
*Will Allen
This is a toss up for me. Allen has not been impressive in the preseason and is much more expensive than the rookie Brent Greenwood, but with no off-season I don't see the Steelers taking a risk here.
**Arnaz Battle
Biggest question becomes do you get a sixth receiver or a seventh cornerback? I am guessing they will go with the corner because we won't use our fifth receiver anyway. If they do go the other way, Battle will make the roster for his special teams skills.
Practice Squad
Kyle Jolly, John Malecki, Keith Williams, Corbin Bryant, Jamie McCoy, Brent Greenwood, Mario Harvey, Tyler Grisham
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Panthers Preview
This game has become a tradition, as this will be the thirteenth meeting between the Steelers and Panthers in the preseason. That is pretty amazing when you factor in the Panthers have only been a team for seventeen years. In the previous twelve meetings the Steelers have the edge 8-4 including four straight victories.
The starters will play very sparingly, if at all. Ben Roethlisberger will not play and Doug Legursky will get the start at right guard instead of Tony Hills. The Steelers are looking to fill in their last five or so roster spots, so expect the young guys to get a lot of quality playing time. There are still some spots that the Steelers are looking to fill with quality backups and I expect a few upsets.
Inactives:
Ben Roethlisberger, Ike Taylor, Chris Carter, Jerricho Cotchery
Questionable:
James Farrior, Troy Polamalu, Casey Hampton, Bryant McFadden, Maurkice Pouncey
So, what should we all be watching or tonight? Here are my focuses for this final preseason match-up.
Secondary:
Donovan Warren needs to make a final impressive push for a roster spot, and this is his chance. With Cortez Allen out almost the entire preseason Donovan has a chance to sneak onto the Steelers roster after going undrafted in 2010. Donovan took advantage of the playing time he received last week against the Falcons and he needs to do that same tonight against the suspect Panthers offense.
Defensive Line:
The defensive line is set but I could easily see Steve McLendon making the roster with Byron Letwich possibly being put on IR. McLendon has played really well this preseason, not enough to unseat the 10 year veteran Chris Hoke, but enough to possibly make the roster. This is Steve's make or break time and he needs to turn up the heat to get a spot on the touted Steelers defense.
Linebackers:
Mortty Ivy has a chance to grab a roster spot after a good showing against the Redskins and Falcons. Ivy can contribute on special teams as well as being a solid backup. Ivy is also cheaper than the other linebackers gunning for a position so that makes this the most intriguing battle in this final preseason match-up.
Kicker:
Shaun Suisham is most likely going to start the season as the Steelers kicker because incumbent Swayze Waters couldn't kick his way to a roster spot. Waters has a stronger leg than Suisham but he has been inaccurate and this is his last chance to try and steal a spot away.
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