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Steelers Redux–Game 14: Jacksonville SMACKS the Steelers in the MOUTH
It was your typical smashmouth, Pittsburgh Steelers’ football game. Those of you that know what it’s like in Pittsburgh in mid-December, know what I’m talking about. The winds are blowing at about 40 MPH, and they are blowing in 10 different directions all the time. The snow is coming at you sideways, and it’s miserable. Usually that misery is felt by the opposing team. Especially when that team is from south of the Mason/Dixon line.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, the opposing football team was the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they simply own the Steelers. The only mouths that got smashed were wearing Black and Gold, as the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-22.
The Steelers entered the second half in much the same position that they were in last week against the New England Patriots. They were down, but certainly not out of a game that they had led for much of the first half. That’s when things when incredibly south, no pun intended.
Jacksonville would score 2 TD’s in the third quarter. The first came on a 3-yard pass that culminated a 20-play, 75-yard drive that swallowed up 10 minutes of the quarter. It was Steelers’ football, just not the Steelers. Pittsburgh, in keeping with tradition of the past month or so, could do absolutely nothing with the ball. Ben would back up to pass, get pressure, usually from his blind side, and dump it off incomplete, or be forced to take a sack. Slick Willie could run the ball, but they couldn’t establish the run. Why? Well, you have to run it to actually establish the run.
Jacksonville’s second score came on a play eerily similar to last week’s deep ball to Randy Moss. Garrard rolled right, and found former Cleveland Browns’ receiver Dennis Northcutt for a 55-yard TD pass. Who did he beat? You got it, Anthony Smith. Thanks to a botched snap, and a slip, Jacksonville missed both extra points, and kept it a two possession game.
Still, Pittsburgh couldn’t move the ball. The game looked over.
That’s when Anthony Smith did the only thing good he’s done in a long time. He picked off a pass and returned it 50 yards, setting up the Steelers first score of the half. Roeth hit Hines Ward for a 12-yard TD pass, when it looked like THAT drive was going to stall.
Later in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh hit Nate Washington for a 30-yard TD pass. After Cedrick Wilson hit Santonio Holmes for a 2-point conversion, the game was tied, and the momentum was purely on the Steelers’ side. It was time for the Steelers’ defense to step up, then the Steelers’ offense to grind out the win. Of course, what followed was a 4-minute, 73-yard drive by the Jaguars that ended in a touchdown, giving them a huge road win, and giving the Steelers their first two game losing streak of the Mike Tomlin-era. The Steelers’ playoff possibilities have now entered into utter chaos.
The Steelers’ left and right tackles, Marvel Smith and Willie Colon, got handled today. I can think of at least ten occasions in which Roeth was sacked or pressured on a third or fourth down that either forced a punt, or put them in 3rd and 10+. At the end of the day, Roeth was sacked five times. THAT’S JUST TOO MANY. Pittsburgh better think long and hard about letting Alan Faneca go. Imagine that line WITHOUT him. I can’t tell you how many times Big Ben stepped up from a blindside rush, only to have a guy waiting for him. It’s terrible right now folks. If Ben keeps getting hit like this, we could end up losing him for the year. At what point do you make major renovations? It better be this coming year, or Roeth is going to get killed. As it stands right now, Marvel Smith is not very good.
On the flip side of that, how about Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth? I didn’t really focus on them off the ball consistently, but I will tell you that Slick Willie Parker can thank them on several big runs today, for leading the way. As Tony and I both noted last week, the Steelers and Willie Parker are moving the ball, seemingly at will, on off tackle plays. Thank the blocking scheme put in for the tight ends. Miller and Spaeth are the guys that lead the way…every time.
Help me out here folks, did we draft Heath Miller for his blocking? Oh, sure, it was a part of the package, but we also got the guy to make some catches. As I sit here and watch Jason Witten WITH CLOSE TO 10 CATCHES IN THE FIRST HALF, I can’t help but feel sick. Miller is a clone of Witten. Apparently, Arians just doesn’t know how to find him.
What a play by Troy Polamalu. David Garrard couldn’t find a receiver on a 3rd and 10, and he broke for the first down markers. There was nobody in front of him…until Troy Polamalu broke from about 20 yards away and made the play, stopping Garrard inches from the first down marker. Jacksonville punted, and on a bad snap and under pressure, the Jags punter shanked a 13-yard punt. A few plays later, Big Ben Roethlisberger nailed Heath Miller for an 18-yard TD pass. Thanks Troy…that was all you.
Speaking of Troy Polamalu, those of you that mention him losing a step, watch the replays today. Unfortunately, once they started putting two guys on blocking Troy, the rest of the defense couldn’t do anything. I have never seen the entirety of the Steelers defense look so decrepit. At least last week, it was just the secondary. Today, Jax made them all look like little kids trying to sneak into an NFL game.
Yeah, you didn’t realize how important Aaron Smith was to this defense, did you? If you didn’t, look at the numbers today. Jacksonville OWNED the line today. I made a comment over at the Jacksonville MVN site that the Jags runners (Drew-Jones) couldn’t gain 150 yards against this defense. Well, I was right that is wasn’t D-J, but Taylor ended with 147 yards. Combine that with D-J’s 70, and you have over 200 yards rushing against the #1 rushing team in the league. Smith or no Smith, that is embarassing. Give credit to Jacksonville for believing in the run, and sticking to it. Pittsburgh doesn’t have ANY rhythm offensively.
Pittsburgh ran the ball all of 17 times, to the tune of 111 yards. Willie Parker was gaining yards. They averaged over what, 6 yards a carry? Yeah, good day to pass the ball then eh? Apparently that means you throw idiotic passes all day, when it’s windy, swirling and horrid. I know I wasn’t the only one scratching his head about the play calling. Coach Tomlin, Bruce Arians isn’t the right guy. Either that, or maybe we shouldn’t have let Ben rework some of the playbook.
At the end of this day, it wasn’t even close. Look at the numbers. Jacksonville had 25 first downs, to Pittsburgh’s 13. Jacksonville had the ball 37 1/2 minutes, compared to the Steelers 22 1/2 minutes. Jacksonville had nearly double the amount of yards at 421 to 217 yards. Jacksonville ran 20 more plays than Pittsburgh. Jacksonville had double the amount of rushing yards than Pittsburgh at 224 to 111. Pittsburgh didn’t sack David Garrard. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 5 times for 40 yards. He was rushed at least twice that many times. It was an ugly, ugly ballgame.
I’m glad it’s over.
So where do we stand now? We are currently tied with Cleveland atop the AFC North, with two road games left. We head to St. Louis on Thursday Night, in what will be a tough game with short rest. Then we roll to Baltimore, with a team that has a chip on it’s shoulder. Any combination of a Steelers’ win with a Browns’ loss gives us the division. Still, nothing seems safe at this point. Pittsburgh, right now, HAS NO CHANCE to win the Super Bowl. Thankfully, we have a couple of weeks left to figure things out.
Coach Cowher, are you busy?
This entry was posted
on Sunday, December 16th, 2007 at 5:23 pm and is filed under Jacksonville Jaguars, Heath Miller, Marvel Smith, David Garrard, Dennis Northcutt, Matt Spaeth, Alan Faneca, Willie Colon, Troy Polamalu, Bill Cowher, Willie Parker, Maurice Jones-Drew, offensive line, Baltimore Ravens, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, Bruce Arians, St. Louis Rams.
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46 Responses to “Steelers Redux–Game 14: Jacksonville SMACKS the Steelers in the MOUTH”
December 16th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
You’re obviously not a fan Jim… You can’t be a fan and doubt your team, or so some people have said this week….
December 16th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
THE STEELERS ARE IN A HECK OF A JAM NOW. WITH THE BROWNS WINNERS OF THIER GAME NOW IN A TIE W/THE STEELERS AT 9-5, THE STEELERS MUST WIN ONE GAME TO ASSURE THEM OF THE NORTH TITLE. RAMS AND OR THE RAVENS, ONE OF THOSE GAMES ARE A MUST WIN. LIKE I SAID, THE BROWNS COULD POSSIBLY WIN THE NORTH WITH THE STEELERS COMING IN AS A SIXTH SEEDED TEAM NOW.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
What the steelers need to do is make a splash in free agency linemen and pass rushers,cause the ones on the team suck.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
You thought they had a chance to win the Super Bowl at all? I’m happy to see them rebound from an 8-8 no playoff team to a team that should make the playoffs. Heck they might even get a win if they play round one at home. There are only five or six teams, at most, in the NFL better than the Steelers but there are five or six teams.
The key problem with the Steelers this year and late last year is their offensive line. The first part of last year it was their inability to hold onto the football. But for whatever reason the Steelers can’t haven’t been able to block properly in the last season and a half. Indianapolis can plug undrafted players in and block fine. The Steelers not so much.
The Steelers will finish 10-6 or so, lose to Indy in January and build for next year. That is about what I was hoping for this year. The team is still very young, they should content for years to come.
They have the skill players now they just need to draft some linemen and a DE. I also wouldn’t be opposed to a big corner. Nice thing is that linemen can be found late and the Steelers type ends can also be found late.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
David the Caps Lock is the key to the left of the A key. Yours seems to be stuck on.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
dave they need to win out ,if they win one and cleveland wins two who wins the division,sorry but your math don’t add up.everyone talks about faneca he can’t pass block to save his life either.hire ne oline coach for starters maybe he can show them what aline looks like.get rid of the OC&DC THEY BOTH SUCK.LEBEAU CAN’T BEAT THE PATS HE STILL RUNS THE SAME GAMEPLAN ON THEM EVENTHOUGH THEY KICK THE SHIT OUT OF THEM EVERY TIME.HIS PHILOSIPHY IS GETTING OLD.THE OC DON’T HAVE A CLUE,THELINE CAN’T BLOCK YET HE DON’T GO TO 3 STEP DROPS OR SCREENS,WHAT A MORON.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
We lost..it sucks. Not our year. We got bullied by the Jags today. Sean Mahan must go. Marvel Smith got his butt kicked. Aaron Smith being out was a killer. We need a MONSTER Middle Linebacker to plug up the middle and put the fear of god in some of these teams.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Given how the Steelers are with paying players I do not want them to change their D. The 3-4 run blitz/zone blitz scheme they run rare, very few teams run it. The scheme also uses unique players, physical corners that need to blitz/run stop, oversized ends and LB, etc. That gives the Steelers the luxury of drafting players that most teams can’t use.
For every can’t miss player like Polamalu or Hampton that would fit into any scheme the Steelers have a Haggins or Foote or even Aaron Smith. Those players wouldn’t fit into hardly any other team.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
SEAN MAHAN has been the worst free agent i don’t know how he beat out the other center,I guess tomlin has to much pride,can’t admit he made a mistake bringing mahan here the guy sucks period.TMAC foote aint done shit haggins is no where to be found time to put SIMMONS in the olb spot and put woodley in the middle he’s big enough to disrupt shit.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
WOW look how jason witten is tearing shit up wish we had a te like that,oh wait a minute we do but arians can’t figure it out what a loser.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I admit, James, I have been bashing Troy, but he played well today except for that one run where he got annihilated.
December 16th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
The line is piteful, Cleveland did the right thing getting that monster from Wisconsin. We can’t protect Big Ben. The mighty defensive line was pourous giving up huge running plays to Taylor. Both lines were manhandled by the Jags, they were more physical, quicker and wanted the victory more. Sad
December 16th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
wow Bruce Airians is horribleeee. TE screen on 4th and 7?….run the ball 17 times, on a day were willie could have got 200. Reverse pass for a 2 point ocnversion? yea it worked, but if it hadnt, everyone woudl be bashing him. I dont understand, sure Big Ben might b best friends with Airians, but boy was Wisenhutt better. I also think tomlin is trying to play a part in the defense. They say we have the number one D, but we don’t. We need to let Lebeau do what he does, and get rid of Airians hes horrible
December 16th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I am living in cleveland and have to listen to this crap, about how we arent good and the clowns are. The browns have had luck, weve had none. We need cowher back this guy shows no intensity, no fire and a team takes on the atttiude of their coach. We started 3-0 since were 6-5 not very good. We need to put max starks back in and give him a chance. On defense we need to sign a real lineman someone other that nick eason. Not a lot of teams run a 3-4 so their must be someone available. If things dont improve I say arians must go also. We can still win it all the league is not that good, we just need a few things to go our way and get back to steeler football.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
OK guys/gals; I took a lot of heat for my comments yesterday regarding our team. It seems to me that many of you fans either don’t pay attention to the rest of the league or just have blinders on. You can’t loose to teams like Arizona, NY Jets, Denver and beat teams like Miami by 3 and be serious contenders. The Jags came to town with an identical record only in a much tougher division………hello! We were lucky that the weather was so bad today, otherwise the Jags would surely have had 600+ yards of offense. Be honest, we suck on both sides of the line, and the more I see of Tomlin’s laid-back approach makes me want to puke. This team right now is dominated by under achievers and needs some serious ass kickin, a good draft, a few good free agents and at least one or two new coordinators. Cleveland wins the division and the terrible towel turns into a cryin’ towel!
December 16th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
You appear to be right doni, but i dont agree about the miami game that was all field. We arent taking advantage of opportunities when we have them especially dropped interceptions. Dont worry about the browns this is a one year wonder for them. We miss that good slot receiver we need one of those also. We shouldve signed jamal lewis to that one year deal. But weve won 5 bowls cant win them every year. No one has. This is all probably a waste of time, the pats will more than likely win it all anyhow.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
This is the third or fourth time the offense has tied it up in the last quarter only to see the “Big Bad Number One Rated D” let a team march down for the winning score.
The O has no sense of urgency until the last quarter - c’mon Arians! and the D can’t stop an old lady running to McDonald’s for her free coffee.
It’s sad folks. We’ll sneak into the playoffs but that’s about it. I think we need new offensive and defensive coordinators - to start…terrible and predictable schemes. Put the rookies in there to mix it up a bit.
Did you see Anthony Smith try and tackle Fred Taylor - what a joke. That interception only saved his ass for the game, get rid of him.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
A few thoughts:
1. Troy P showed up today and played well so did Ben.
2. As mentioned our O-line is just horrible and will prevent the team from having success in the playoffs. Smith and Mahan are really playing terrible right now. We need a new center.
3. Willie P ran well but I thinks it’s somewhat of an illusion. We no longer can dominate via the run and I think the coaches know it. We need a big back to go along with Willie P.
4. Here is the most painful truth. Our linebackers have slowed the last 6 games. They simpy are not a good unit. They are a step slow in coverage, they provide little pass rush and really aren’t great in run support recently.
Timmons and Woodley should replace Haggans and Foote soon. I know next year for certain but Haggans does next to nothing. Foote as well. Farrior, Harrison, Woodley, and Simmons is a faster more talented group.
There is no excuse for not having their speed on the field more often. It’s not as if Woodley hasn’t shown he belongs.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Realize that the Steelers are 2-3 the last five games and should be 1-4 if Cleveland wins that game. That’s a serious situation! Good teams get better as the year goes on, the Steelers have gotten worse. If they had to start the season over, they would be 6-8.
This is not a contender folks - they are pretenders who got off to a good start and created false hopes.
Even Hines wasn’t smiling today so you know they are in disarray.
I’m not disappointed - like the previous poster, I realized weeks ago that this team is not that good. This kind of feels like the Bubby Brister era all over again…rebuilding time….
December 16th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
A lot of good points made above. After overusing Parker in some of the previous games Arians waited until Willie was in rhythm and then totally goes away from him? The play calling was once again horrendous. The fact that we’ve rarely gone deep despite the decent success we’ve had in the few balls Ben has thrown deep says that defenses aren’t worried about the deep threat. You have to take shots deep early regardless of the results to keep defenses honest. Ben was under pressure, like usual, but a deep ball that’s intercepted at worse is better than taking a sack. Arians obviously has Ben wary of making mistakes and he holds on to the ball 4,5, even 6 seconds most of the time. Steelers definetly need a big run stopping LB and the O-Line definetly needs serious revamping. ‘Swagger’ or whatever Ike Taylor calls himself is one of the worst playmaking CB’s I’ve ever seen. As much as I despised Chad Scott at least he would break on a ball. We need a couple of ballhawkers back there. I’ll always love and root for the Steelers, but Im not going to abstain from criticizing the coaches and players because we won one Super Bowl in the last 28 years.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
I have to laugh !!! ” coach Cowher are you busy” stop it you guys are nuts , the steelers are going through a tough spot , they just played Jax,s who is very good and last week the patriots, who are very good. keep your focus on the steelers O- line their is the huge problem , and the absents of Ryan Clark is big and getting bigger every week , Steelers do not have the depth this yr.
They played a hell of a game except for the last defensive stand , give a good Jax,s team credit.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
jc-
I’m a huge Steelers fan as is everyone here. I thin Tomlin has done a fine job. I don’t think it can be said they played a ‘good’ game, not terrible but any team that gets slammed for that much rushing yardage, gives up 20 play drives, all while getting sacked and pressued all day didn’t play that well.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
JC- all we’re saying is that this is not a top tier team - of course give credit to Pats and Jags (top tier teams). Actually, top two tiers…
We’re a third tier team. Along with Cleveland, Tennessee, etc.
No problem being among them - it’s disappointing, but it is what it is. We’re just not a tier 1 or tier 2 team.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Just a middle tier team along with Tennessee and Cleveland. Tier 1 A is New England. Tier II is Indy and Jacksonville, maybe San Diego.
Tier III is Pitts., cleveland, Ten, and couple others.
It is what it is.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Trust me, you can doubt your team and still be a fan. I’ve spent countless dollars to get NFL Sunday Ticket to be a fan of my team, AND I’ve been doubting the team for a couple of weeks.
The offensive line has been disappointing all year. I don’t know if Marvel Smith is still hurt or if he’s just this bad. I see him standing alone quite a bit. You Ben haters need to recognize that what little he got done today was ALL him — he could’ve been on his ASS a lot more. Could say the same thing most of the season. Ben is way under-rated for the stuff he has to pull off every week.
I agree about the Haggans comment. Don’t think I’ve heard the TV crews call his name all year. LBs are looking old and slow. They just got worn down the last two weeks after the opponents got big leads. What the hell happened? Where are all the Blitzburgh sacks?
I like Tomlin, but he can’t seem to make second half adjustments. The last two weeks, despite the poor line play, they’ve been close after the first half against really good opponents, but we failed to make halftime adjustments and got drubbed in the second half.
I’ve had that sick feeling the last couple of games, and I’m not feeling better today. If they don’t snap out of this now, it’ll be one and out in the playoffs. Oh, and don’t write off losing to the Ravens looking for revenge in two weeks. The Steelers have been known to lose to bad teams before on the road. Living in Cleveland, I am quite aware that the Browns aren’t going to lose again in the regular season this year.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:37 am
Everyone needs to focus on the defense. This 3-4 attack used to be formidable but now is old hat. When the conditions are sloppy, we tend to over pursue the run, only to have a patient runner like Taylor wait, then have breakaway shots at our backers. This overpursuit means 5 yard gains at best (for us), 10 -15 yard gains at worst. We can’t have 5 yard gains at best, so we start sending 8 and 9 people after the run, only to have play action burn us on safety play that is anemic. What the he## ever happened to the 4-3 that we were working on in training camp with Woodley in there? We could surely stop obvious running plays a lot better! And as far as the offense, we played okay, but maybe enough to win today (even with 5 sacks, more pressures, etc I know). Holmes needs to be running wild to keep any sense of a deep threat. Hines seemed off today. Huge drop in the beginning of the second half led to a big momentum charge by JAX. The defense, our bread and butter, needs a change by Thursday. Is it possible?
December 17th, 2007 at 6:49 am
How is it that the Patriots can restock their team with all these playmakers and we did almost NOTHING last off-season? Front office better get to work.
December 17th, 2007 at 7:06 am
Doni, go away.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:31 am
I think it’s time to go back to the 4-3 defense. All of the teams we play have figured out how to stop our blitzes! We never get pressure on a quarterback anymore. Give any pro quarterback the time we give them, and they will pick you apart!
December 17th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Can someone tell me what the Rooney’s have done with all their money? I look around the field and we’ve only got Troy P to show for it. This unit simply cannot compete talent for talent with the elite teams in the NFL. And if that was not bad enough they are not given the opportunity to raise their game because of bad coaching and uninspirational leaders.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:29 am
jas-
They are 9-5. They are more than competitive with the league and won the SB 2 years ago. They have had top tier talent for about the last decade. All NFL teams go through a talent cycle.
The Pats will do it also. Having a good QB helps prevent the lows some teams experience but 8-8 last year is hopefully as low as it gets.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Mike Tomlin said “the answer to our problem is right here in the locker room.” I say “thats right as long as your name isn’t Russell, Gay, Reid, Timmons , or Woodley.” because they AINT” PLAYIN!! I suppose if they were on a bad team llike the 12-2 COWBOYS (Anthony Spencer) then they may get a shot. Lets keep the great Nick Eason and Travis Kirshke out there. I am sure that the St Louis running back will appreciate it.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
They BETTER sign Alan Faneca
December 17th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
James are you serious …. Bill Cowher? In the first place Bill stepped down because of the money not for his family as he spoke about during the media interview. Besides, paying him double would not change Cowher’s play calling. Now, regarding the dissappointing game Sunday. I drove 500 miles and sit through the entire game. Loved the weather. You guys obviously aren’t doing your home work. I always (as some of you) keep up with the team during the week prior to game day. Charlie Batch has been the starting quarterback in practice all week, because of a sore (Right shoulder) of Big Ben. First a little history on Batch. In the past, every game that Batch has stepped in for Ben, was a WIN! 3-0. Charlie Batch is rated the best back up QB in the league this year. My point is why would you still start Ben in this important game on Sunday? I was suprised to see # 7 walk out on the field Sunday. The highlights on Sports Center only shows the “few” good plays. It is honest and safe to say that Ben was terrible. He single handedly blew this one. You would think Ben was playing basketball with all the bounce passes he threw, and several, I mean several passes weren’t even close. Ben is still holding the ball too long, which accounts for all the sacks. Ben’s game Sunday was so bad, he would have been benched by any other coach in the league, which brings me to my next point. When Cowher was coach it seemed as if Bill let Ben make the decisions to whether Ben starts when he was hurt. Cowher would always let Ben start, knowing he was hurt. You know the rest of the story. Now for Coach Tomlin. After the Rooney’s hired Mike Tomlin I thought that now we have a coach that would make the correct decisions. Wrong! Tomlin is running the same patterns / plays same as Cowher. And also let Ben make his own decision to start on Sunday. Apparently that was the wrong decision. Tomlin you are the head coach, make the smart decisions. Stop letting Ben make them. Ben seems like that he wants to be the hero in big games. Ben, you along with coach Tomlin killed us on Sunday. Let Batch play until you are 100% ready. The sad thing is coach Tomlin allowed you to continue to destroy us the entire game. The highlights doesn’t do justice. They only show the good things. The pass that Miller caught for a touchdown was first tipped by a Jaguar player. I was sitting right there, only nine rows back from the field adjacent to the end zone. I am confident that the players that we have right now are Superbowl contenders. We just need our coach to step it up and make his decisions as the head, not Ben. And quit standing on the sidelines like a statue. Tomlin, you know that you can throw that red flag on the field if you would like, don’t you? That’s called…. challenge, ok.
December 17th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Dave B., Ed Bouchette said last night on the FSN post game show that he believes the Steelers are gonna make another attempt to resign Faneca….
December 17th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Russ you really must be suffering from frostbite.
Ben played as well as a QB can under those conditions and saying Batch should be playing and any other coach would bench him is, well, silly.
Ben is supposed to be the hero and nearly was the same.
And Tomlin has challenged quite a few with limited success this year.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
lets keep beating a dead horse… the O-line is aweful, the defense is slowing and not stopping anyone, and I for one am not riding the “Tomlin will be a great one” way of thinking either. Right now I feel Tomlin is in over his head, and the team is playing scared. I am not alone in thinking that the Steelers wont win another game this year. If this is true, many will be saying”what happened”?Well coach Tomlin, whats happening? please put our top draft picks out there! Haggans is doing next to nothing on the field,Foote is very quiet, and the d-line is moving nobody! If not for Ben, this team would be 6-8 right now. Hey, I hope they find a way in the playoffs but right now I doubt they will. This could be a monumental collapse after being 9-3! No Cowher team was ever 9-3 and missed the playoffs. If this team fails to reach the playoffs, Mike Tomlin should be on a short leash!
December 17th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
It will be a long time before the Steelers win another Super Bowl. It won’t be under The present coaching staff. Sorry to hurt any ones feelings. I love the Steelers for 40 yrs. But I also love the truth.
December 17th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Steeler Fan in New England you are right about Mahan and Faneca. Faneca is a run blocker only. And Mahan can’t handle the nose guard. I don;t know what Tomlin sees in him. He is the worst center we ever had but I realize thats not saying much.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
I think the rooneys need to sell the team to someone who isn’t afraid to spend money,the rooneys are fucking cheap,they let plex go in his prime for who holmes,it would have been nice to have plex,hines and holmes thats just as good as the pats trio.they are fucking cheap assess sell the team the old ways of doing business is over,step up in the new milllinium.Alan faneca sucks ,he’s milking it ,he can’t pass block either,if you ask me starks has played the best the last couple of weeks,start him at LT put simmons at center,colon at guard and faneca at RT and the samowan GUY AT LT
December 17th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
THE SAMOWAN GUY AT LG ,{MY BAG}
December 17th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I mean LG [my bag}
December 17th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I MEAN LG
December 17th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
WHAT’S UP WITH THE ROOKIES NOT PLAYING.FOOTE &HAGGANS NEED TO BE REPLACED,PUT SIMMONS OUTSIDE WOODLEY IN THE MIDDLE THAT SIZE AND SPEED WOULD BE DANGEROUS IN THE MIDDLE
December 17th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I agree with with you Original Tmac and DC, frostbite of the brain. Russ’s comments regarding Ben and Coach Tomlin are laughable. I think the Steelers are clearly going through some growing pains, and are a showing themselves to be exactly what they are, a team in transition.
Remember there are young players out there on O-line(and older ones as well), at QB, TE and in the defensive backfield, along with new coaches and a young Head Coach. Whether or not the Steelers have any O- lineman who can pass block remains to be seen. Tomlin is a first year coach and I happen to think he is going to be a good, perhaps great NFL head coach, in due time. We shall see.
On offense, the Steelers have a franchise quaterback, a good running back, #10 and one of the best slot recievers in the NFL in #86, who is still playing at a high level, though he isnt getting any younger. I have come to realization that the offense is changing a bit to reflect the personnel. There was some talk of this in the preseason. For example, take run Willie off tackle (2TE), five wide etc. and take advantage of the playmaking skills of #7 and #39. Tomlin knows this. He also knows you have to protect him, which the players they have right now aren’t doing very well. Tomlin knows this.
On defense, they have two young linebackers they are developing, and I think we will see Tomlin tweak the defense a little bit as he settles in, and replaces older players. They’ll need to draft WR, OL, DL but I dont need to tell Tomlin that.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
im tired of the tomlin haters, looks its his first year, and is getting the hang of it. Hes going to have a winning season, which to tell you the truth is more than i expected this year. Our offensive line is horrible, and Ben holds on to the ball to long. None of these things are Tomlin’s fault. Airians needs to see that we can’t take 7 step drops all the time, because by the 5th step people are in the backfield. Now that i think of it, what is one thing that has changed from the begining of the season and now. WERE is Santonio Holmes. We had him deep atleast once a game in the earlier games. Not once have we even tried in last game and this year. Maybe he is still recovering, but still if hes out there, we have ot use him. I also never thought id c the day were the Pittsburgh Steelers would have ran only 17 times in a game. Wasnt that 100 yard in 14 by Willie?..So yea lets not give it to him. Come on. And why are the corners plays 20 yards off. i mean seriously, 3rd and 5 and you play off 15 yards, uhm 5 yard hook and its a first down, its a stupid way to play.
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