The Fall of Troy

By Jeffrey Burton

This was not the season we hoped for our Steelers. There are some good things that happened. We ended on a three game win streak, but this was not been our season of steely resolve. 

Moving forward:

There are many reasons this happened:

Things that could have been avoided:

The Worst Offensive Line in the History of Football

Maybe an exaggeration, but not that much of one.  This line sucked last year and should have been shored up in the off-season. No major moves were made. Offensive Line Coach Larry Zierlien and special team’s coordinator Bob Ligashesky have lost their jobs. I wish I could say I was sorry to hear it.

The lousy Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians, I hear disturbing rumors will be retained, more on him in a second.

The Cleveland Browns one of the worst pass rush teams in the league, ignored our non o-line and delivered 8, count them, eight sacks on Ben. Eight sacks, 8 sacks! Ocho sackos!  Imagine people looking at someone in a bar jumping up and down yelling at the top of their lungs, making Hitler-like gestures, “EIGHT SACKS! 8 M-EFFING SACKS! HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN! Over and over again and them concurring, “Oh yes good sir, how could that M-EFFING happen?”

This has been shear insanity and would be criminal if it happened off the football field. The Coaches, the General Manager, the Rooney’s and the entire Steeler Organization would all be found guilty of criminal conspiracy to commit violent abuse in the real world.

I don’t care if Ben defends his linemen; plenty of abused people defend their abuser. It has affected his play and he has admitted it publicly now.  The Steeler Organization is supposed to help Ben be safe. They have failed beyond any failure I have ever seen in my long relationship with this team.

They actually out did there sack totals of last year with 50. Only Green Bay allowed more with 51. Oh and 77 hits on the QB. Maybe the Steelers accountant should take over the coaching duties; at least he\she would understand the meaning of protecting your investment.

I’m sick of writing about this. Please make it go away.

Non-existent Running Game:

I know that Rashard got to have a 1,000 plus yard season, but we never run when we should and we do not run enough. This terrible pass offensive line is average or a little above average in run blocking. They should have tried to make it work.

Rearranging Deck Chairs:

Arians should have been fired during the 5 game losing streak. He is so predictable it is ridiculous. If he brings in a sub the ball goes to that person on the first play. He has no concept of using someone as a decoy. If it wasn’t for Ben’s incredible play we wouldn’t have done anywhere near to as well as we did. Not that is was all that good.  Firing Zierlien without firing Arians is like returning your soup as the Hindenburgh docks because it’s too cold.

Things that Couldn’t be Avoided.

All of the Injuries on Defense:

I’m quite happy of our beloved Steelers ability to hang together with all the injuries they’ve had on defense. Arron Smith, Travis Kirschke, Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Clark, William Gay (I know Haters, hate away. He’s starting in his second season in an extremely difficult position), and the hugest of the huge, Troy Polamalu. There was no finger pointing for any loses. This is a testament to Defensive Team Captain James Farrior and more importantly Dick LeBeau. If we have all these guys on the field for the season we are most certainly in the playoffs and well seeded.

Jeff Reed is definitely on drugs, probably weed:

When you are all toked up in a game it must be like, “Dude why are these guys running so fast? Where are the HoHo’s? Why do they want me to hit this guy? He didn’t do anything to me other than run my lousy kick-off back for a touchdown. I wonder if RealTurf has RealGrass in it. Hey guys, anyone wanna’ try? What? You want me to kick this thing through those yellow sticks? I’m totally baked man.”

Or maybe he’s on Crack, or Crystal Meth, I don’t know.

We should be looking for another kicker in the off-season. Let him commit totally to the bender that he will wake up from someday and say “WTF?”

I don’t know maybe that one could have been avoided.

The Good Things!

Mike Wallace has made the conversion from incisive TV journalist and interviewer to a NFL Star on Rise. I can’t wait to see where he is at next season.

Rashard Spindenhall has emerged as an incredibly gifted featured back. He has skills on the outside and inside I didn’t know he had and can catch out of the backfield.

Ziggy Hood; His play stepped up as he got more time.

Aaron Smith and Troy will be back and boy do we need them.

Most of our Super Bowl team will be back. Yeah we are getting a little old on defense, but hopefully we get some new blood via free agency and the draft. Our guys still have plenty left in the tank.

Observations and Questions:

Daniel Sepulveda is the best player we have on defensive special teams. He is not only one of the best Punters in the league he is one of the best special team’s tacklers. One of the many differences between Reed and Sepulveda is that Daniel is a football player and not a stoner.

Casey Hampton and Willie Parker are all but gone. Hampton was never a favorite of Tomlin, who dislikes his work ethic. Wait, what work ethic? Willie has had a season to rest and wants to vie for a starting job somewhere. Hey Mister Tomlin, Chester Taylor is a free agent next year couldn’t we use another veteran back that can run between the tackles and catch out of the backfield?

Let’s bring up Isaac “Redzone” Redman. Couldn’t we have used some help in the Redzone this year?

Stefan Logan was responsible for the most yardage on the team for a ground player this year, 1746 total return yards. Could we get him on the field more, please?

I would rather have Big Ben and Heath than any other QB\TE combo. The Pro Bowl voters must be smoking whatever Jeff Reed is.  I voted for them.

2010 Draft Sneak Preview

I can’t spill all of my Little Big Board now; I need something to write about in the off-season. (Or a girlfriend, or both, maybe a Stillers Girl. Did you know the Steelers have the most female fans? Second is the Cowboys, there’s no accounting for taste, but Texas girls are hot. So are Steelers girls, but I now digress.)

Round One – LG Mike Lupati, Idaho, The Samoan American is a dominating LG that is great in pass protection and the pulling and trapping that has been the staple of the Steelers for years. Since Faneca left we haven’t been the same. It is time to return to Steelers Football with a great air game as well.

Round Two – NT Dan Williams, Tennessee, Hampton is gone, Chris Hoke can step in and give time to Williams so he can develop into a starter for his second season.

Round Three – RT Kyle Calloway, Iowa, and this guy could be tremendously athletic at RT and allow Willie Colon to move inside to his natural RG position where his lack of vision would not be so much of a detriment. So this is a two for one pick. Oh, Kyle was pulled over for driving a moped intoxicated. I’m sure this is only against the law in Iowa, along with cow tipping.

Round Four – S Nate Allen, South Florida, I don’t know if he’ll still be available so I have T.J. Ward of Oregon as a back-up pick. I think the Steelers are crazy if they let Ryan Clark walk, but I’ve seen it time after time.

Round Five – DE Alex Carrington, Arkansas State, we need to build on our great but aging line. Alex could be a very good fit for the 3-4.

Round Six – S Kyle McCarthy, Notre Dame or LB Joe Pawelek, Baylor, two classic overachievers that could be good late round finds for the Steelers.

Round Seven – WR\QB\P\H-B\PKH Kerry Meier, Kansas, most of the Mocks have him as undrafted. I say use the last pick on the Jayhawk Slash. We could be adding a guy that would actually know that you shouldn’t throw a long pass across field into double coverage even though the Genius Bruce Arians designed the play for you (Santonio). This guy has a great attitude and hands of Velcro.  And he’s from Pitsburgh. Yeah, I spelled that right, Pitsburgh, Kansas. I think we should give him the opportunity to get the extra ‘T’.

Go Stillers!

Steelers back up Safety, Tyrone Carter, Joins Mile High Club

By Scott Brown, TRIBUNE-REVIEW

DENVER — Not much has come easy for the Steelers during their tour as reigning Super Bowl champions.

They nonetheless arrived at the midway point of the season with a five-game winning streak in tow.

Ben Roethlisberger threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns and the Steelers’ defense scored more TDs than it gave up Monday night in front of an announced crowd of 76,108 at Invesco Field.

As a result, the Steelers won a regular-season game in Denver for the first time since 1990. Their resounding 28-10 victory also set up a showdown with the Bengals on Sunday at Heinz Field with sole possession of first place in the AFC North on the line.

The Steelers (6-2) got to this point in large part because the defense scored the first touchdown of the game and shut down the Broncos in the second half when the outcome still hung in the balance.

Free safety Tyrone Carter returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter to get the Steelers on the scoreboard. Strong safety Troy Polamalu helped put the Broncos (6-2) away by intercepting Kyle Orton deep in Steelers’ territory in the fourth quarter.

That set up Roethlisberger’s 25-yard touchdown pass to rookie wideout Mike Wallace on a third-and-10 play with just over seven minutes left in the game. It allowed the Steelers to open up an 11-point lead.

That touchdown pass proved to be one of the biggest plays in the second half. The Steelers also got several big runs by Rashard Mendenhall, who rushed for 130 of his game-high 155 yards after halftime.

“I think everybody helped contribute, it wasn’t just one guy” said Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who caught a pair of touchdown passes. “Right now, we’re just playing with a lot of confidence.”

The Broncos outgained the Steelers by more than 100 yards in the first half. Denver, however, trailed at halftime because of Carter’s big play.

Down by four points at the start of the third quarter, the Broncos wasted little time in stopping a promising Steelers drive — and answering Carter’s big defensive play.

Kenny Peterson forced a fumble when he sacked Roethlisberger from the blind side. Robert Ayers scooped up the loose ball and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown.

The Broncos didn’t hold the lead for long, as Roethlisberger needed a little more than two minutes to drive the Steelers 80 yards for a touchdown.

The Steelers were driving for another score near the end of the quarter, but Andre Goodman intercepted Roethlisberger in the end zone.

It was Roethlisberger’s only incompletion in the third quarter.

The Broncos never seriously threatened following the turnover because of the stifling Steelers’ defense, which allowed only one first down in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a good win for us, but I’m not satisfied,” said Roethlisberger, who threw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. “I think, offensively, we’ve got a long way to go. We have to keep searching for the ceiling.”

Fantasy Focus: Stillers and Stains

Pittsburgh Blitz is proud to present ‘Fantasy Focus’ a brand new weekly addition to the blog. The focus will be on Steelers players and those they play each week as we give our expert (lol) opinions on what to look for by way of Fantasy factors in the game.

The first question is do the Stains have cheerleaders? Oh wait wrong fantasy. On to the good stuff before I lose my self control….

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers will host those friendly neighborhood losers from the shores of lake Erie week 6, the Cleveland Browns, who are coming off a monumental 6-3 victory over the Buff Billies, and an offensive explosion between two great teams. (I told you this was about fantasies).

The Stains best player, Braylon Edwards, is in New York after getting his way and being traded to the Jets just a few days ago while Troy Polamalu returns for the Stillers after a four week vacation.

This could be a big game with respect to the fantasy football geeks (like me) from around the world but should be very one sided as the Steelers could blow this game open early and never look back until the final whistle sounds.

Rashard Mendenhall / Willie Parker – Fast Willie could be back after two games off nursing  a turf toe injury but Mendenhall may have shown enough in his absense to continue as the feature back for the Steelers. Mendy has gained 230+ yards and three touchdowns during that time.

Look for Mendenhall to carry the load as Parker is eased back into things. With that said, Mendy could be in for a huge game verse a weak defense. Another 100+ yard, multiple touchdown game for him will not be out of the question. If the Steelers commit to the run, Parker might even give his owners some worth as well but don’t count on it.

Ben Roethlisberger – The Stains pass defense has been a joke most of the season, they have a pair of young CB’s who still make mistakes on a consistant basis and safeties that make one ask “Who the blue hell are they?”

Large Benjamin has been nothing less then awsome this year. He leads the league in pass completion percentage and has a canon for an arm that he is not afraid to use. With weapons like Hines Ward, Heath Miller, Santonio Holmes and Mike Wallace on hand, look for Ben to have a big day, about 300+ passing yards and three TD’s sound about right.

Mike Wallace – This rookie is quickly becoming a favorite target for Big Ben, even on the crutial downs. He also is a leading candidate for offensive rookie of the year. he has speed and soft hands and catches almost everything thrown his way. Even a drop of a sure TD last week has not slowed him down.

The one thing lacking in Wallace’s game though is the points to go with the clutch play. Ben has miss fired on more then one bomb aimed his way thus far on the season but sooner or later though, the air assult is going to explode. Why not week 6 verse the Browns?

Look for Wallace to shine with about 75-100 yards receiving and a touchdown via an air strike from Big Ben.

Steelers Defense – Ok so they have not been as dominate thus far on the season as the fans would like but with the return of Troy Polamalu and the Browns crappy offense this could be the game the Steelers finally stick it to a team like we all know they can.

The defense racking up 5-6 sacks, an interception or two and a forced fumble that leads to a touchdown is not out of the question. Look for Ziggy Hood to get one of those sacks in extended playing time with A. Smith on IR.

Well thats how the cookie crumbles, check back next week for another edition of Fantasy Focus and don’t blame us if your team loses because of this post, just throw money our way if they win…..

Is Mike Wallace the Next Pittsburgh Steelers Star?

by Ryan Cho

Going into the draft this year, I thought the Steelers would likely draft a wide receiver in the first round. There were two reasons for this. 

One, it was an area of need assuming that Hines Ward is unable to play until he is 86 years old. I also didn’t think there would be any offensive linemen left worthy of a first round pick when the Steelers would be on the clock. 

The player I thought they would likely grab was North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, but he was off the board when the Steelers drafted, pegged to become one of Eli Manning’s new best friends. 

So, the Steelers addressed their aging defensive line in the first round and waited until the third round to grab their wide receiver, snagging Ole Miss speedster Mike Wallace with the 84th pick to go along with the offensive linemen (Kraig Urbik) and cornerback (Keenan Lewis) that shared the spotlight in that round.  

What a grab it has been.

Mike Wallace has been one of the biggest surprises of this early season, supplanting Limas Sweed and becoming one of Ben Roethlisberger’s go-to guys. 

Way back in 1998, the best wide receiver in Steelers’ history, Hines Ward, was also drafted in the third round. So, it would be fitting if his eventual replacement also came out of that round. Even their draft position was close. Ward was drafted No. 92 overall.

The normal expectation is that third round picks should eventually develop into solid starters by perhaps their third season. This is especially true of the wide receiver position where rookies are not supposed to make the kind of impact that Wallace is making—especially receivers drafted outside of the first two rounds. 

It is one of the hardest positions to play and many pro receivers take time to make the
adjustment, to learn how to find the holes in the defense and adjust their routes. 

Some highly drafted pass catchers can never make that adjustment, so if Sweed ultimately fails to make that adjustment, which seems like a good bet, he’ll be in good company, joining a long list of receivers drafted in the first couple rounds that never amounted to anything, including plenty of former Steelers. 

Wallace has shown a knack for getting open and making the tough catches. He has blistering speed, enabling him to run away from defenders, as he did when he burned Jonathan Joseph during the Bengals game for a 51 yard play that should have gone for a touchdown.

In a game that featured three highly regarded wide receivers (two Super Bowl MVPs and he-of-the-changed-name), the rookie was the best receiver on the field. 

He has also shown good field awareness and strong nerves, coming across the middle to make a huge catch that helped the Steelers secure the win against the Titans. It is rare that a quarterback will look to a rookie receiver, especially with a game on the line, but Big Ben has looked his way early and often and has been rewarded for it. 

Wallace is a legitimate offensive rookie of the year candidate. He has been the primary beneficiary of the extra attention demanded by Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, and Heath Miller. It is hard to see that changing.

I thought Sweed was due for a bust out year for the same reason, but his Ike Taylor-esque hands have landed him in the doghouse and perhaps a permanent spot on the bench.

As teams take more notice of Wallace, Holmes and Ward will also become beneficiaries as teams have to pick their poison on how they will defend the receiving trio.

The disappointment that Sweed has become is easily being offset by the surprising development of Wallace. 

Even the most optimistic of us rose-colored glasses wearing Steelers fans thought the most we’d see out of Wallace this year was the ability to contribute on special teams and perhaps get a couple looks in four and five receiver sets.

He has already destroyed those modest expectations.

While he isn’t a tall receiver in the mold of Plaxico Burress that Big Ben used to dream about, his off-the-charts speed can lead him to becoming a Steve Smith type of receiver, a guy that is almost impossible to cover, who can turn even small plays into big ones. 

Plenty of coaches, general managers, and owners have boldly proclaimed, “You can’t teach speed,” before drafting a guy whose only fault is that they were born without hands, a problem that plagues that species known as the speed receiver.  Al Davis makes a yearly ritual out of it.

Alas, Limas Sweed appears to have that incurable disease.

Wallace does not appear to share that problem, catching anything that comes near him. So, let’s see, he brings a combination of blazing speed, good hands, steady nerves, and solid route running.

Remind me why he was still there late into the third round?

I wrote a parody piece after the draft suggesting that Al Davis made a mistake and accidentally drafted Darrius-Heyward Bey, not realizing that Wallace is faster. In the parody, he was demanding a straight up trade. In retrospect, I think the Steelers clearly got the better receiver. 

If the Steelers catch fire and make another deep playoff push with Wallace continuing to be an integral part of their offense, he will continue to gain prominence. 

The development of Wallace is easily on track to become one of the most interesting side stories for the Steelers this year.

I can’t wait to tune in over the next few weeks to see how he does against the Browns and Vikings.

Even if the Steelers had lost to the Chargers and the season looked all but lost, I still would have tuned in faithfully week after week, and a big reason for that is to see the development of this exciting rookie playmaker.

Mike Tomlin and the Fear of the Lord

 By Jeffrey Burton

Last week my blog was a mystery entitled “Who stole Hines Ward’s Smile?” That mystery may never be solved, but Hines Ward’s galaxy class smile is back and looks like it could be here to stay. All of the things that seemed to be mysteriously stolen from the Steelers were back Sunday night.

Santonio Holmes hands; check. He had only one forgivable drop. That was it. Otherwise he was the same Santonio we know and love. The star receiver tonight though was Hines, blowing people up on blocks, running as Chris Collinsworth said, like a Fullback, and making every key catch as Ben’s prime receiver. Heath Miller, the Best Tightend in the NFL (we saw a great one tonight in Antonio Gates, but sorry you give me the choice, it is nothing but “Heeeaaatttthhh!”, say it at home, say it loud and say it proud,) was spectacular.

Mewelde Moore, was in the game for a receiving touchdown AND a passing touchdown. The Un-Dirty-Word, Believable, Big Check.

This game felt like Christmas to me given all the things I had on my wish list last Sunday.

I’d like to welcome some people back to the Steelers:

Bruce Arians – There has obviously been some imposter using Bruce Arians name, masquerading as the Steelers Offensive Coordinator. Double reverses, running backs throwing passes? Then Santonio Holmes almost throwing a pass as Doug Legursky played some Full Back/H-Back? Incredible trap blocking and pulling block plays? I thought his only trick was the Bunch Formation called by some the Banana Bunch and I wish that when he uses it at home they should play the theme from the Banana Splits. Check Youtube or Goggle you’ll see what I mean.

Rashard Mendenhall – This is where the fear of the Lord comes in. Tomlin seems to be able to summon that at will. He put in Santonio last season. He put it in Rashard last week and he has no doubt put in Limas Sweed this week. We can only hope that Limas responds like Mendenhall. This was the first round draft pick we had been missing, slashing, spinning, powering through, popping outside, exploding through the line and protecting the ball. His blow up block got a collective “Oh yeah!” out of the home crowd. As a long time resident I would like to welcome you to Steeler Country Mr. Mendenhall.

Isaac Redman – I thought you should have been on the roster from the beginning. I hope you will get some touches next week. Go Red zone!

The Offensive Line – They were a bit skittish in the beginning and a lot of plays seemed to be getting done in spite of them, not because of them. Then they settled in. Yeah, it’s a Charger Defense that is missing some starters, but we are missing Troy, which is like missing two to three starters. They were blowing big holes on run blocking and doing a good job on pass blocking Chris Kemeotou had a great game, minus the one holding call.

Mr. James Harrison and Mr. Lamar Woodley – They got consistent pressure on the extremely cagey Phillip Rivers, though they did not sack him much they consistently broke up his rhythm. Harrison’s strip at the end was classic Harrison.

Some things that need work:

Ben, please no longer one inch above the turf passes to Mike Wallace.

Get Stefan Logan on the field more please. Despite of the stand-up fumble that Collinsworth dwelled on, Stefan is an explosive offensive presence. Get him on the field, get him the ball and let him run.

My plea from last season is the same as it’s been from the beginning of my 36 year affair with the Steelers. Could you just play one regular un-dramatic game?

How do you let a team that was in the bag, score 21 points in one quarter?

I think that Mike Tomlin will hit the entire Defense with that this week. One thing I believe now is that when Tomlin summons the Fear of the Lord the players feel it. You get that into our defense and even without Troy next week the opposition will feel it as well.

Go Stillers!

Chargers @ Steelers – Week 3 Match Ups.

After opening the season with a hard fought 13-10 overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans the Pittsburgh Steelers have given up back to back early leads to the Bears and Bengals and at 1-2 are at an impasse and possibly facing a must win game verse the San Diego Chargers this week.

The offense has had fast starts turn into duds while the defense has given up last minute game winning drives in back to back games. Up next are the high powered Chargers and the red hot Phillip Rivers who finally has a few decent receivers to toss the rock too. The problem for the Bolts is they have about as much balance as the Steelers do with their run game being missing in action the last few games.

Games are won and lost on the outcome of situational football as Mike Tomlin likes to call it. How teams handle the situations and match ups the face on every drive in every game is usually the difference between a win and a loss and this week’s match ups to watch are as follows:

1. Steelers run game verse Chargers rush defense.

With Fast Willy Parker slowed by a turf toe and a possible scratch from the roster by the start of the game, Rashard Mendenhall could see his first extended action since being drafted by the Steelers. Also in the mix, if Parker can’t go, will be Mewelde Moore who could get a handful of touches as well.

This group is a talented group but has not shown much thus far on the season. They have improved each game though and with Mendenhall back from his excel to the bench just a week ago, he might finally get to show what the future has to hold. The Dolphins racked up 149 yards on the ground just last week verse the Chargers and the Steelers should try to copy that effort and take some pressure of Big Ben and the defense.

2. Steelers DB’s verse Bolts high powered air attack.

This matchup is one of the most important of the game. How the Steelers handle Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates and the emerging Vincent Jackson could be the difference between a win and a loss. The good news is Rivers traditionally has less than stellar games verse Pittsburgh’s pressure based defense.

To win this match up the Steelers will need to kick James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley in the ass and get them to create some pressure and pull down a couple of sacks. Rivers usually falls flat when pressured and the best way to slow him down is to knock him down, then do it again and again until he taps out.

The possible return of Troy Polamalu to the mix could go a long way in determine how this match up turns out.

3. Darren Sproles verse Stefan Logan

We already know just how dangerous Darren Sproles is on special teams but how the Steelers handle the return game and how their own Stefan Logan performs could go a long way in determining the outcome.

It has been a while since the Steelers could boast about a return specialist, but after proving himself in pre-season and earning a roster spot by doing so, it is time for Logan to return on that investment. His returns have been better then what was offered last season but he has yet to break a big one that counts.

If the Steelers can win this match up then they will also win the field position battle. Shorter distances and quality field position can help an offense get out of a late game funk. While pinning the opposing team deep in their own territory can go a long way in helping a defense stop a late game charge.

4. LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison verse the Chargers offensive line.

Two of the best linebackers in the league just a year ago, neither Woodley nor Harrison have found their groove thus far on the current season. What better way to get the motors running then verses a team that lives and dies by the pass? The return of a healthy Lawrence Timmons should help take pressure and some of the double teams away from Harrison as well.

If the Steelers can do what they do best and stop the Chargers run game, then San Diego will be forced to become one dimensional and help the Steelers pass rush specialist finally get after the QB. Three games into the season and only one sack from this due is not going to cut it. This is the game these two stars need to shine bright and return to last season’s form.

5. Mike Wallace verses the nickel corner.

When the season started it was all but decided that Limas Sweed would be the slot receiver in the Steelers offense but after another big drop, that should have resulted in a touchdown, Sweed may be on is way back to the bench. Top that with the rookie wide out Mike Wallace having his NFL coming out party in the same game and the speedster could be the next big thing in Pittsburgh.

Wallace has the speed the Steelers have lacked for years and has caught every ball thrown his way. In the loss to the Bengals he had 7 catches and went over a 100 yards receiving. He has shown he can be trusted when it matters most and has become somewhat of a security blanket for Ben Roethlisberger when it counts. It was his big catch that saved the day verse the Titans after the veteran Hines Ward almost fumbled it away.

No it is not time to hand Wallace the keys to the city, we are not Buffalo, but it may be time to give him more reps and let him grow into the role and see what happens. His speed and clutch catches are match up nightmares for most nickel backs in the league and the ability to exploit the mismatches could add a whole new dimension to the Steelers offense.

How the Steelers respond to the late game melt downs and how they fair in the match ups they will be faced with verse the Chargers will be the difference in this week’s game. I fully expect them to bounce back and if they play 60 minutes of football I expect them to win as well. Everything comes down to this, the entire season could be on the line and how they respond, will tell allot about how the rest of the season will go.

“Who Stole Hines Ward’s Smile?”

By Jeffrey Burton

There are a number of things missing from the Steelers this season. The first one I noticed from game one was Hines Ward’s smile. He was on the field before the game, no smile. He made a catch, no smile. All game, all the time, no smile. The next game, no smile. All game, all the time no smile.

Yesterday in a losing effort against the Bengals, a slight smile when he passed the 10,000 yard mark. A small ordinary human smile, not a Hines Ward, light up the world, endorphin releasing smile that you can’t help but smile in return when you see it. If I was Mike Tomlin I would hire a hundred Private Investigators, the FBI and the National Guard to find Hines’ smile. We will not be able to win without it.

Also missing is Santonio Holmes’ hands. The most sure-handed widereceiver in the league for my money is looking like Limas Sweed, who after today, I’m ready to give up on. I hope he hasn’t returned to Ricky Williamsland. I don’t think the Steelers would give even him a second chance.

Also MIA is Harrison and Woodley’s domination on the edge. Harrison had a good rush today and Woodley had a good one against the Bears, but by and large they are not factors in the games we’ve played so far.

Rashard Mendenhall, MIA, is he already perceived as a bust by the Steelers?

This is a bigger problem because the Steelers seem stuck on only using the same 13 or 14 people on offense. They are not shifting personnel in and out to give different options and skill sets to Big Ben. Why do they insist on trying to use Willie Parker as an every down back? He is not built for it and though he had a good day against the Bengals, he will break down like he always does. He is a feature back, use him like that, please.

Mewelde Moore, mostly MIA. I don’t understand why he doesn’t get more touches. All he ever does is make positive yardage and plays when he is in.

That is a good thing, isn’t it?

Why don’t we ever see Shaun McDonald? He was very good possession receiver in preseason and for the Lions. Shouldn’t we be getting these types of guys in for a couple downs a game, if not to see what they can do at least to give them a little playing time if they’re needed later in the season?

One of the biggest mysteries to me is why Issac “Redzone” Redman isn’t on the roster. I can’t believe he cleared waivers. If I was a NFL Head Coach I would have had his number on speed dial. Has Frank Summer’s lack of blocking ability and obviously being in way over his head, become such a source of amusement to the Coaching Staff that they can’t demote him to the Practice Squad and bring Redman up? I liked what I saw in Frank in college and had him in my Mock Draft. I think he will eventually develop, but he is not there yet. I think that keeping him on the Roster is actually hurting him at this point.

Please, let him develop at his own pace Steelers Staff.

In spite of a good effort today, the Non-Offensive Line is missing as usual. They are not a starting NFL O-line. I would welcome them as the second string with the exception of Justin Hartwig, who I think has been a great upgrade at Center and Willie Colon who would be a fine Right Guard, but is a bad Right Tackle. I don’t know why the Staff can’t see it. And as I said in my previous Blog “Steelers Offensive Line is the New Kordell?” enabling is bad.

Of course the biggest MIA is the easiest to understand, after burning it up for his entire effort in the season opener, Troy Polamalu went down with a knee injury.

Tyrone Carter’s hard and gutsy play is about as good a replacement you could get, but Troy’s Super-Human presence is badly missed.

There have been some good things. I almost like Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians’ play calling. He’s not yet the Three Rivers River Boat Gambler that Whisenhunt and Gailey embodied, but he’s now calling to win the game rather than to not lose his job. Hey, Chan Gailey is no longer employed as an Offensive Coordinator, maybe that is motivating Bruce.

Mike Wallace rocks, but another mystery is here. Ben, why do you always throw your passes to Wallace one inch above the turf? Isn’t the whole point of having a guy with blazing speed to let him run and hit him in stride? You know, like the ones you hit Limas Sweed with that he drops? We got a glimpse of that today and I hope we see it more. To Wallace’s credit he has shown exceptional hands and very good route running, things that most of the scouts thought he would have to develop.

Stefan Logan looks like the Brother from Another Mother to Darren Sprolles. Get him in the game! Get him the ball in space let him run! Line him up as a running back in play action! Screw with Defensive Coordinator’s heads! Let Stefan run! Run Stefan Run!

And finally, one thing that is very much not missing is Casey Hampton’s gut. It is so huge he actually waddles. He has gotten to the Quarterback twice this year and would have got to them more if they couldn’t walk away while he was running after them. This super-sized Casey’s gut is so big it looks like he’s ready to give birth to a normal sized Casey Hampton and maybe that would be a good thing. I’m pretty sure that the NFL has no rules about having one guy giving birth to another version of himself and having both play on the field at the same time. Maybe that is what we need until Troy gets back.

Well as you can tell, these mysteries are beyond me and since Barack Obama came out that he was pulling for the Steelers in the Super Bowl and has appointed Mr. Rooney as Ambassador to Ireland, the FBI and National Guard involvement in the ‘Hines Ward Missing Smile Case’ seems a very reasonable thing to ask. The Steelers Coaching staff needs to foot the hundred Private Eyes bills.

Go Stillers!

Ward approaches 10,000 yards

Ben Roethlisberger, trying to shoot a fist-sized basketball into a garbage can in the Steelers’ locker room yesterday, stopped and popped at the top of the key, which happened to be within earshot of Hines Ward’s locker.

“One seventeen is the magic number!” Ward said, his tone slightly higher.

“For what?” Roethlisberger replied as he dropped another into the bucket. “I don’t need that many yards.”

Ward shook his head and laughed, “Don’t worry about it, you’ll find out.”

Soon enough, perhaps Sunday, Ward will catch passes worth another 117 yards, and that will put him in yet another exclusive club, where the required membership fee is 10,000 yards receiving. here are 31 receivers in NFL history who have reached that number, and Ward relishes becoming No. 32.

“That’s a big deal,” Ward said, almost to himself. “Ten thousand yards? That speaks volumes. When I first came into the league, there was no way 10,000 yards, 800 catches was a goal. I just wanted to play.”

He has 808 receptions after the most productive opener of his career when he caught eight passes for 103 yards, the only time he has hit 100 in an opener in his 12 seasons.

“Ten thousand yards! Not too many people in this league can say they caught 10,000 yards,” Ward said. “Catching 10,000 yards here is like catching 12,000 somewhere else.”

He has caught them from seven starting quarterbacks — Kordell Stewart, Mike Tomczak, Kent Graham, Tommy Maddox, Charlie Batch, Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich — plus two others, Jerome Bettis and Antwaan Randle El.

“Jerome threw me a touchdown pass in Three Rivers on a halfback pass and, of course, Randle El threw me a touchdown in the Super Bowl.”

That last one did not wind up in the hands of a fan wearing a Steelers No. 86 jersey, as so many other of his touchdown receptions have. Ward kept that one, and it holds a prized spot in his trophy case. The ball that he uses to cover his 10,000th yard will have a similar spot.

His climb up the wide-receiver charts while playing in mostly a run-oriented offense is remarkable, and while No. 32 on the NFL all-time list might not seem impressive, he can shoot up quickly.

If he gets another 1,000 yards this season, he can approach the top 20 all time, and if he gets another 1,000 in 2010 he can approach the top 15 — although there are active players ahead of him such as Joey Galloway, Tony Gonzalez and Torry Holt.

But Ward has so much more than those players — two Super Bowl rings and a Super Bowl MVP. Not bad on a franchise that celebrates Super Bowls and traditionally gets there on the ground.

The Steelers keep evolving with the no-huddle offense, and the more successful they become at it, the more tempting it is to use it.

After seeing it work when it counted in their past two games, their overtime victory against Tennessee and the Super Bowl, why not use it more?

“Well, we’re not Buffalo, we’re not the K-Gun of Jim Kelly,” coordinator Bruce Arians said. “But we could be; we could be very easily.”

Arians said Roethlisberger and the rest of his offense are so comfortable in the no-huddle that most of the offense now can be used with it.

“That package has tripled in size now, and it’s damn near the whole offense,” Arians said. “It’s evolved to where he can almost use 80 percent of the playbook in it, and he’s gotten very proficient at it.”

The Steelers have laid out plans for their running backs Sunday in Chicago, and they are similar to the one they used against Tennessee.

Willie Parker will start and play two series, Rashard Mendenhall will play the third series, and they will rotate that way. Mewelde Moore will continue to play in passing downs.

“Anytime Willie gets tired, he can come out,” Arians said. “If we get into a very long no-huddle mode, Mewelde is the no-huddle guy and we’ll rotate from there. In short yardage, goal line, whoever’s in the game.”

Lawrence Timmons went through a full practice yesterday, even though he “tweaked” his sprained left ankle in practice Wednesday. It remains unknown whether he will play and how much if he does.

Limas Sweed did not practice at all yesterday, and it’s likely he will not play. He left practice Wednesday with a mid-foot sprain. Veteran receiver Shaun McDonald should dress in his place Sunday against the Bears.

Preseason week 2 observations

Week 2 of the NFL preseason has come and gone for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they traveled to Washington to play the Redskins. Just one week ago the Skins got dominated by the Ravens and many thought the Steelers would do the same. That was not the case though as the Skins would win a close one 17-13.

As equally as I was impressed by the Steelers and guys like Redman and Burnett in the opener I was unimpressed with the team as a whole in this game. If I was to guess my opinion would be the Steelers just plain had no passion for this game. A few players stood out, such as S. Logan and K. Fox, but for the most part the entire team seemed flat.

The offensiveline got manhandled and the run game was abandoned. As if that was not enough, the defense seemed to be on vacation. I realize it is only preseason and these games mean nothing, but I would like to see some passion from the defending champs even when it does not count.

This game reminded me of last years second preseason flop verse the Packers. No passion, no urgency not a care in the world. I expect that from the vets, they just want the season to start and the games to have meaning already. The back ups and the guys on the cusp of a meeting with “the Turk” those are the guys I wanted to see more from.

So far I have been unimpressed with both the offensiveline and our running game. Other then Redmen in the opener and Willy showing he still has some speed left in those wheels, the run game has been a joke. Mendenhall has looked weak and unsure of his role, Moore has not seen much of any action and Frank “the Tank” Summers is looking more and more like a dud then the short yardage savior us fans hoped he would be.

The passing game has been ok at best but lacks time to set much up as the OL is still looking down right crappy. The brite spots have been the receivers. Wallace, Sweed and McDonald all have looked like quality slot guys and have made the battle interesting. Wallace’s speed is amazing, to bad the QB’s have not been able to find him deep yet. Sweed has made some great grabs but also has dropped a few easy ones. McDonald has played mostly verse the scrubs but has been consistant and looks to be able to contribute from any position on the field.

As for the QB’s, Ben did not play this week but looked fine in the opener. He needs more time in a game though to develope the timing with his receivers though. Batch looks old and frail. He has made a few decent plays but seems a bit rusty and reluctant. Denis Dixon has had some flashes as well but also looks like he could use some more seasoning. He has shown me enough to warrent him winning the #2 job. I say let him be the #2 on game days and if Ben gets hurt and needs to miss a few games then let Batch start.

The defense has been just ok. Granted Dickie never shows much in the preseason and things are very simple, so I am not too worried. The glowing spot would have to be the play of Ziggy Hood, two sacks in two games not bad for a rookie. The question is can he do it verse the starters? Sunny Harris has looked good as well. So has some of our new DB’s, Ratliff, Burnett and K. Lewis. I have to say I am disapointed in the play at safety though. Not in our starters but theose fighting to be the back ups. R. Mundy nor Roy Lewis has shown much if anything to warrent the aging vet, T. Carter, a visit from the turk.

Overall an unimpressive performance in a meaningless game. Just like every team in the league at this point of the season, the Steelers need to improve. The good news is we know they can do it. They are the defending Champs and I have full faith Mike Tomlin will get them motivated for when the games count. Next up for the Steelers TO and the Buffalo Bills. Untill then let us know what you think of the Steelers thus far in the preseason and beyond.

Position Breakdown the Receivers

It is well known that Bruce Arians and the Pittsburgh Steelers like to utilize 3 and 4 wide receiver sets to create mismatches with the defense.  To be successful doing so, the WR units will need to be deep with talent. The starters are Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes behind them though; the 3-5 spots are unsettled as of now.  Leading one to speculate concern, being the reason they have so many currently on the roster?  Typically, you would expect 5 WR’s to make the 53-man roster, but this year 6 may not be of the question.

The Steelers regime is also fond of the two and sometimes three TE sets as well. Normally a team would retain three on the roster but with so many multiple TE sets, it is possible they hold four this season.

Steelers Position Breakdown of the Receivers

The Starters:

Santonio Holmes – After a great play-off performance last season, Holmes gave the team an encore in the Super Bowl with his heroics on the final drive that earned him MVP honors, after scoring the game winning touchdown for the Steelers in their victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

While statistically he didn’t have the breakout season many expected in his 3rd year, he came on strong down the stretch making big plays in every play-off contest that included a punt return for a touchdown and his game clinching catch in the Super Bowl. 

This being Holmes’ fourth year, more will be expected of him as he should become the go-to guy and playmaker for the offense.  He has the tools and talent to do it, just as long as he doesn’t ‘toke’ his way to a league suspension and into the Steelers dog house again.  To his credit, despite some off-field problems, he has been nothing but a pro once the cleats are tied and we do not see that changing anytime soon.

Hines Ward – What more needs to be said about Hines that hasn’t already been said.  He is the heart and soul of the offense and plays the position the way it should be, with a ton of passion and a touch of a mean streak. The best way to describe Ward would be to call him the linebacker of the WR corps.

Ward holds most of the all time Steelers records for a WR yet some insiders have whispered that he has lost a step. Don’t let the rumors fool you though, as his numbers may not be the best of his career, he is still the leader of this group and Big Bens safety blanket. His off field contributions are just as important as the ones on the field and he is a great mentor to the young guys and a leader, who does so by example.

With a new contract in toe and the knowledge he will be able to retire as in Pittsburgh, Ward should return to form and have another solid year for the Steelers. Even with the newly dubbed “Hines Ward’ rule in effect, look for Ward to continue catching everything that comes his way and welcoming rookies to the league with broken jaws, while blocking for his teammates.

Key Role Players:

Limas Sweed – Plaxico Sweed, Limas Burress, the comparisons tell the tale of his rookie season. Both where big targets with tons of promise but struggled to make much of an impact for the team. To his credit, the average young wide receiver usually takes 2-3 years to develop but much more will be expected of him in his second season.

With Nate Washington now a turn-coat and defecting to the powder puff, towel stomping, Tennessee Tits via free agency, Sweed may not have the luxury of another down year as he will be leaned on to fill the 3rd wide out spot for the team. With all that talent and promise coming out of college and his rookie jitters behind him, only Sweed can hold himself back.

Look for Limas to put up solid, if not impressive numbers and give the Steelers another option spreading the field and a big red-zone target for Ben to play pitch and catch with. Sweed should only get better as the season goes on though and could be one to watch down the stretch. If he can remain as focused as he was during mini-camps, we should see some good things from Sweed this season.

Shaun McDonald – As a member of the Detroit Lions 0-16 team in 2008, McDonald had some decent numbers and showed allot of promise. He signed with Pittsburgh right before mini-camp and could be the veteran insurance policy they were looking for via free agency.

McDonald has also played for the St. Louis Rams and could be a wild card for the Steelers this season. Though he is not very big he reminds many fans of Cedric Wilson or Courtney Hawkins. If Sweed stumbles, McDonald could be the answer to the #3 wide out position for the team.

McDonald could also be a viable starting option as well if the injury-bug where to bite Ward or Holmes in the ass. He should also get some looks at the punt returner position but is not well known for that aspect of his game. A nice depth chart addition but we see his role as the #4 and insurance WR on the team, nothing more.

Mike Wallace – We like Mike, just this Mike was not the one many Steelers fans expected to be drafted by the team. Expectations are not always for the better though as this kid has mad skills and should bring some excitement to the team via his return and run after catch abilities.

Wallace was clocked in the 4.3 range at the NFL combine and was the second fastest WR to run in the time honored hazing of potential NFL draftees. With his blazing speed, he could be called on to fill Washington’s role as a deep threat, during his rookie year.

As of now Wallace is the favorite to earn the kick return job and he could be their first true home run threat at the position since Randle El was deported to Washington a few years back. Wallace is full of promise but we don’t anticipate him making a huge splash in the passing game as a rookie. His progression will be interesting to watch over the summer and as the season progress’ though.

Practice Dummies:

Dallas Baker – A former 7th round pick who has made his living as a Steelers practice dummy. Baker has all the physical tools to be a solid NFL wide out, but has yet to show it on game day. He is said to have had a solid mini-camp though and the coaching staff seems very high on him.

Thus far, Baker’s NFL career has only reinforced the stereotype that Florida WRs don’t translate to the NFL very well. He has the tools, but he is not a KR/PR type, which will work against his odds of making the team this year.  Thus this will likely be the make-or-break year for him.

With the addition of Shaun McDonald and Mike Wallace to the group, Barker will not have an easy road to finding a niche on the team and could be a casualty once the team is forced to cut down to the 53 man roster. Look for him to be waived altogether this time though as a third season as a practice dummy won’t be in his tarot card reading this time around.

Martin Nance – Another practice dummy with a catch as he has a connection to Big Ben from his Miami (OH) days.  He has size an advantage over the rookies in that he is familiar with Ben, but the key to him making the team will be his play on the special teams unit. Like Baker, he is not a return guy, so he will have to impress on coverage teams as well as his route running and catching.

Nance has all the tangibles to be a solid NFL wide out but he is probably to low on the totem pole to find his way to the active roster. Look for him to spend another season on the Steelers practice squad then fade into obscurity in a year or two.

Hope you got a day job list:

Jayson Foster – The practice dummy theme continues with Foster, as he has an on and off love affair with the Steelers practice squad, being resigned to a second stint this year, in time for mini-camp.  He is a versatile player who can do a few different slash-like things, and can return punts / kicks.

Foster is kind of a smurf though and will have to find his niche on the team as a returner. Which won’t be as easy as it sounds with Mike Wallace and Joe Burnett recently drafted with those skills as well. Look for Foster to be let loose too ride off into the sunset, during the early rounds of roster cut downs.

Brandon Williams – He was signed in offseason to compete for KR/PR job, and would likely need to win one of those to make the roster.  Williams is a former 3rd rd pick of the 49ers but doesn’t have an NFL catch and didn’t make a team last year. He is the odds on favorite to be the first cut from the team on this list though.

Cedric Goodman – A track star from Georgia who didn’t make a lot of catches in his collegiate career.  It will be interesting to see if the team gives him a try at returner or just strictly as a WR.  More than likely Goodman is nothing more than training camp fodder but he might be a nice ‘project player’ on the practice squad.

Steven Black - A big target who started at Memphis.  Didn’t put up impressive numbers but he does have good size for an NFL wide receiver. Black will have to earn his way on STs to make the squad but the odds and numbers are stacked against him. Don’t bother adding Black to your MySpace friends list though as he won’t be in a Steelers uniform very long.

Tyler Grisham – Isn’t very big, not a return guy, and does not have the best hands but is an interesting prospect because he is known for his downfield blocking. Great he will get flagged 10 times for violating the new ‘Hines Ward’ rule, just what the Steelers need. Can you say “Mr. Grisham please step into coaches office, he has something pink to give ya”.

Training Camp Battles:

Limas Sweed verse Shaun McDonald – The only significant training camp battles for the wide receivers we anticipate will be for the 3rd down wide out duties. Due to Sweed being a high draft pick, he should already be penciled into this spot on the roster card. McDonald was signed as insurance though and will get a chance to impress the coaching staff.

Look for it to be a close battle but in the end, Sweed’s size, speed, potential and red zone abilities should win out. McDonald won’t collect a ton of fairy bench dust though as he has too much talent for the team not to utilize his abilities. He should see plenty of action spelling the top three and in the Steelers 4-5 receiver sets.

Well that’s the lowdown on the wide receivers, thanks for reading and your comments are always welcome. Let us know what you think.

*Check back soon for the 4th edition of this 9 part series. Next up will be the Tight Ends.

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