Blacky Gold's Electric Football

Baltimore 31, Pittsburgh 7

2006-12-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is a pass rush. And consistent offensive line play.

Love,
Blacky

The Future is Now

2006-12-13T15:08:00.000-08:00

Pro Football Weekly offers the following insight this week on the Steelers' future:

"The Steelers’ running game was under close scrutiny after a tough three-game stretch in Weeks 11-13, but a 52-carry, 303-yard performance vs. Cleveland on Dec. 7 gives something the Steelers can build upon in the final weeks. The way we hear it, the play of the right side of the line had come under criticism of late, with neither ORT Max Starks nor ORG Kendall Simmons playing as well in the run game as the team would have liked. But the Steelers ran to the right with success vs. the Browns, with RB Willie Parker running often behind the blocking of Simmons and Starks. From what we’re told, it’s conceivable that both players could face competition for their jobs next season. Simmons could even be considered at center, where current starting C Jeff Hartings is getting up in age. But for now, Simmons and Starks will remain where they are."

My guess is that Hartings will retire after this season. He was man-handled at times this year, and Chukky Okobi is waiting to take his place. (PFW is totally wrong, in my estimation, about Simmons at center. He was a disaster there in the pre-season.) The right side of the O-line could face increased challenges in training camp in 2007. Starks, a restricted free agent after this season, is likely to be re-signed, but I expect the Steelers to bring in a player to push him, and perhaps ultimately replace him. Starks is actually listed among the top tackles in free agency, so it seems unlikely that Pittsburgh will find a viable challenger among free agents like Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo. With each Steeler win, the chances of drafting Michigan RT Jake Long (assuming, as many do, that he will declare for the draft) decline, perhaps leaving the Steelers with no easy answer at the position.

The guard position offers more in free agency, including accomplished run-blockers Vince Manuwai (Jags) and Kris Dielman (Chargers). Generally, the Steelers are good for one FA signing per off-season, and this may be it.

Or, the free agent signing may be a new backup to Willie Parker. Despite a few flashes of his talent, the Hamper Dumper has done little, and will likely be gone. Duce Staley has already been cut. A few big backs are out there, including TJ Duckett, whom the Steelers sought to acquire in trade on draft day this year, and Chargers backup Michael Turner. Turner, though, is a restricted free agent, and it seems unlikely that the Chargers will let him walk.

Mr. Sensitivity

2006-12-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

If Joey Porter played for any other team, I would hate him. He represents much of what I think is wrong with the NFL--he is, at least in part, a self-obsessed motormouth--but he also displays the passion that I so admire. I also admire the latest rhetorical flourish in his word-war with Browns' egomaniac Kellen Winslow, Jr. Porter called Winslow a word that journalists won't repeat (faggot?) after last Thursday's game, and yesterday he came out with the perfect apology: he's sorry if he offended anyone except Winslow. It's a beautiful move, because he lands the apology ("I didn't mean to offend nobody...") without blunting the point of his personal attack ("...except Winslow.")

Kellen Winslow declined to comment.

When a Rivalry is not a Rivalry: Steelers 27, Browns 7

2006-12-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

Oh, the joy of a late-season frigid Pittsburgh night and a game against the Browns, in which old stories are re-told: stories of Steeler dominance on the defensive and offensive lines, of violent hits and athletic brilliance, enough to make us forget, for a moment, our early season sorrows....

Who would have thought that the Steelers would play one of their best games without five starters? Perhaps we saw last night a glimpse of the Steeler future: a bright one. In the absence (due to injury) of both starting wide receivers, up stepped Nate Washington and Santonio Holmes. In the absence of both starting safeties (again due to injury), up stepped journeyman Tyrone Carter and future star Anthony Smith. In the absence (not due to injury) of Ike Taylor, up stepped Bryant McFadden, who appears to have solidified his position in the starting lineup for years to come. Oh, hope for the future.

Three who looked good:
Big Ben completed only 11 passes in 21 attempts, but threw for 225 yards and a beautiful long touchdown pass to Nate Washington. No passes were intercpeted, and none were nearly intercepted; a few drops, a few near-misses hurt his percentage, but I doubt Ben cares. He looked great.

The offensive line, perhaps suddenly aware that their jobs are now in jeopardy, played like last year's line, dominating the line of scrimmage and opening huge holes for Willie Parker (more below). Jeff Hartings' peel-back block on Kamerion Wimbley was a thing of beauty, and it seemed to stand for the whole of the game: the Browns, harmlessly minding their own business, were blindsided last night.

And Willie Parker. Despite a fumble, he had a game for the ages: 223 yards on 32 carries and a TD. (That's two yards fewer than Big Ben passed for, if you're scoring at home.) Willie was explosive, fast, and powerful, unafraid to squeeze through a tiny hole or challenge a tackler head-on. Pundits like to say that the Steelers need a Bettis-like runner, a hammerhead to get the tough yards inside, but who doesn't? 280-pound tailbacks aren't common, and Willie is finding his way.

Three more who looked good:

Anthony Smith hits like a train.

Santonio Holmes looked like the veteran he will soon be: he was effective in punt returns; he made a great leaping grab, and totaled 81 yards on 4 catches (that's over 20 yards per, if you're scoring at home); and, perhaps most impressively, he beat the rush to recover a fumble by Najeh Davenport. He looked quick, confident, and instinctive. Cedric Wilson was seen on the sideline updating his resume.

The Steelers run defense held the Browns to a total of 18 yards rushing. The leading rusher for Cleveland was Reuben Droughns, who gained six yards on five carries. The Steelers, by comparison, rushed for 303 yards (and that includes Charlie Batch's kneeldowns). Let's put it this way: Pittsburgh outrushed Cleveland by a factor of nearly 17. (If you're scoring at home.)

Three who looked bad:

I was surprised and disappointed to see the Steelers' defense record no sacks on first-time starter Derek Anderson (who, by the way, was Cleveland's "One who looked good"). The Browns worked hard to stop the blitz, and the Steelers missed Polamalu.

The secondary gave up only one big play--a 45-yard catch-and-run to Braylon Edwards in garbage time--but they couldn't stop Derek Anderson without the help of Dennis Northcutt and the rest of that stone-handed receiving corps.

Chris Gardocki stinks. Somewhere, Mike Barr doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

One more who looked bad:

The NFL Network coverage. Chris Collinsworth has his Madden-like moments of demented wisdom and humor, but his is more often an insipid gasbag. Bryant Gumbel called the game as though he were afraid to wake a sleeping infant. Steve Mariucci is a solid analyst, but Deion Sanders is a mo-ron.

What it all means:

The Steelers are one game below .500, heading into next Sunday's contest against the suddenly vulnerable Carolina Pantyliners. I'm sure the home team will be favored, but the Steelers should present a real threat. Hopefully, this two-game winning streak against the league's JV squads will build some confidence. An 8-8 finish is now a distinct possibility.

Don't bother with the playoff miracle talk, though. This team is playing for next year, which is reason enough to root for them to play hard.

Steelers 38, Saints 31

2006-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Well now. I had thought to write "that's more like it," but I don't think I will: it was a beautiful, glorious, hard-fought win, a win that showed heart and determination, but it wasn't all I'm looking for. This game wasn't won in the classic Steelers style; it was won, instead, in classic Cincinnati Bengals style. The Saints amassed 517 yards of offense, while the Steelers gained 467. The Steelers relinquished a 14-point lead in the first half, and actually fell behind just before halftime on a 5-play, 72-yard drive that took all of 60 seconds. It was an unnerving performance by the unit that has long been the strength of the team. Marques Colston, the rookie from Hofstra whom 31 teams in the league now kick themselves for not drafting, caught 10 balls for 169 yards. Terrance freaking Copper caught six for 92. Ike Taylor struggled again, and Bryant McFadden has yet to announce his arrival. That performance tempers my joy just a little bit.

To be fair, though:

1. Two defensive starters, DeShea Townsend and Troy Polamalu, missed most of the game with injuries.

2. No one has effectively stopped the Saints' offense this year, including everyone's favorite defense, the Baltimore Ravens.

3. The game was classic Steelers in at least one respect: the Steelers forced 3 fumbles and gave up none.

And the offense looked stellar. Willie Parker, as anyone reading this already knows, ran for 213 yards on 22 carries (for a college-like 9.7 yard average), and Big Ben settled in, throwing 3 TDs and no INTs (17/28, 264 yards). The line blocked well, and the receivers did their jobs. (Nate Washington dropped a couple of balls, but that will happen.) Against a less dynamic offense (see you soon, Cleveland Browns), the game would have been over after the first quarter.

So the Steelers have raised their record to 3-6, one game behind the Bengals, who appear to be folding like a deck chair. There was some talk Sunday night and Monday that the Steelers were "clinging to faint playoff hopes": pure stupidity. This season can't be measured by the playoffs; by that measure, failure is inevitable. Success this season will come in gritty, gutty play for the last seven weeks: winning games they should win (at Cleveland next week), and winning at least once as underdog (Baltimore in weeks 10 and 15). Leave the playoff talk for next summer.

Looking Ahead

2006-11-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

If the season ended today, the Steelers would have the 7th pick in the draft, a higher position even than the slot from which they selected Plaxico Burress in 2000 (#8). The question is: what would they do with the pick? Trading down seems like a distinct possibility; last year's maneuverings were further proof of the Steelers' propensity to wheel and deal on draft day.

If not, though, my money is on a DE/OLB "hybrid" player, the likes of which the Steelers and their 3-4 have made so popular. They used to be able to get such players--Clark Haggans, Joey Porter, Jason Gildon--cheap, but the surging popularity of the 3-4 has put a premium on such players in recent drafts: DeMarcus Ware, Shawne Merriman, and Kamerion Wimbley come to mind. Currently rated in the top ten in many preliminary draft boards are Clemson's Gaines Adams and Georgia's Quentin Moses, at least one of whom would likely be available at #7.

Why go in this direction? Because Joey Porter's contract is up in 2008. He'll be 31, and, after a monster end to the season in 2005, he has done little this year. The Steelers have a history of cutting players loose, particularly at this position, just before age takes its toll. Remember Jason Gildon? When the Steelers released him, he was their all-time sack leader; he signed with Jacksonville and had trouble getting on the field. He was last heard from in 2004.

If the Steelers take, say, Moses in the 2007 draft, he would have a year to learn behind Porter before sliding into his spot in '08. And then Porter would probably sign with the Patriots. And thus, the cycle of NFL life continues.

After Hope, Blessed Detachment: Steelers 20, Broncos 31

2006-11-07T06:38:00.000-08:00

These are strange times, indeed.

Sunday's loss to the Broncos featured the same baffling blend of the awful and the excellent that has marked virtually every Steeler loss this season: the stifling run defense, the dangerous passing game, Willie Parker running, Najeh Davenport running and dragging defenders, but also the fluke plays, the impossible plays, guys getting beat, heart-stopping turnovers, missed blocks, and so on....

The Steelers could easily have won on Sunday. Willie Parker was averaging 5 yards per carry. The passing offense was moving the ball with ease. The defense held Mike Bell, the Broncos' featured rusher, to 28 yards on 17 carries.

But they didn't win. And likely anyone reading this knows why. After a long and exhaustive study, I have come to the conclusion that you don't win games in the NFL by turning the ball over six times. The three fumbles hurt worst: Santonio Holmes fumbling his way out of the kick return job; Cedric Wilson fumbling five yards from the end zon; and--most heartbreaking of all, for many reasons--Hines Ward's fumble at the one as the Steelers were looking to mount a comeback. Say what you will about Ben's performance this season, his interceptions on Sunday hurt less (even though two happened inside the 10): on the first, Cedric Wilson appeared to miss the hot read, and thus was not where he needed to be; the second, thrown on 3rd and long, was as good as a coffin-corner kick (Bailey would have been smart to drop it and force a punt); and the third was a desparation throw in the game's final moments. Bad plays? Sure. But not as bad as others.

The secondary played poorly, too, with both DeShea Townsend and Ike Taylor getting beat for touchdowns in the first quarter. Taylor had one of his worst days as a Steeler, failing to do what he has done so often before: shut down a team's top receiver. But some credit needs to go the the Broncos: Rod Smith's catch over Townsend was one of the best I've seen, and Javon Walker is a dominant receiver. Ike Taylor is on his way to being a dominant corner, and such bad days will happen.

Javon Walker, incidentally, was the game's leading rusher, scoring on his only run, a 72-yard reverse. Townsend was in position to bring him down, but couldn't, and behind him two defenders collided. Touchdown.

I could go on: the continued poor play of Max Starks; the penalties; the awful punting and special teams; and so on. But you know what? I won't. I wrote after last week's loss to the Raiders that my hope had died; this week, that dead hope was replaced by something much more pleasant: detachment. I watched the game, yes, but I did so sitting down. I didn't pace. I didn't yell at the TV (okay, once or twice), nor did Hines Ward's fumble ruin my day. If Santonio Holmes' fumble in the first quarter showed me anything, it showed me that this team has been cursed. No team with this much talent and heart should perform this badly week after week. No team should be able to do so much right and still lose in such unfathomable ways. A larger force must be at work.

And so I'll sit back and enjoy the games from here on out. I'm predicting that the Steelers will finish 7-9, and that they will play their hearts out through week 16. And I will watch, and cheer, secure in the knowledge that it won't always be this bad.

(Remember how the Patriots won 3 Super Bowls in 4 years? The year they didn't win, they didn't make the playoffs.)

Oakland 20, Pittsburgh 13

2006-10-30T11:52:00.000-08:00

Oh, the horror.

For a lesson on the death of hope, please review my writings on the first seven games of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2006 season. Game one, against Miami, promised a season of great things: the Steelers won, after all, without the quarterback who had led them to the Super Bowl with such passion and bravery only months before. Game two seemed a blip, a grinding effort against an impenetrable defense, and a much-needed refresher course in the demands of the NFL for the returning QB. Game three, against the Bengals, was disappointing, but, to feel all right, Steelers fans had only to look to a similarly disappointing loss to Cinci in 2005. Game four, a loss to San Diego, was another disappointment, but again we could point to a few key plays, and to a Charger defense that seemed unsolvable.

Game five, though, seemed to validate all of our faith: an absolute stomping of a team that, while not elite, is also certainly no bottom-feeder. Hurrah, we said. Big Ben is back. And he was back in game six, too, until he was knocked out of the game with a concussion. Still, only an astonishing performance by an astonishing player kept the Steelers from winning. We were tempted to call it an almost-win.

But hope died yesterday when Big Ben's fourth-down pass to Santonio Holmes was tipped away in the end zone by some no-name Raider. Or maybe it died with the second Roethlisberger interception, or the third, or the touchdown scored on the fourth. Or maybe it died when Nate Washington vainly and weakly tossed the ball over his head as he was being tackled on the 4 as time expired. But it died, and it is dead, and it will not be resurrected until August 2007.

The Raiders managed 98 total yards of offense. 98! Andrew Walter completed a total of five passes. (As ESPN's Len Pasquarelli points out, Raiders players caught only one fewer pass thrown by Big Ben.) Since 1978, only one other team has won a game despite gaining fewer than 100 yards. That team? The Houston Texans. Their opponent? The Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rather than run down of what went wrong, let me look forward to that time when hope will rise again. Here are three positions that the Steelers must fill next year:

1. Right tackle. Max Starks would make a good Houston Texan. He's decent, and he's huge, but he got abused by Derek Burgess yesterday. It's unlikely that the Steelers will fill this position via the draft; a rookie RT would be no upgrade. And, unfortunately, the free agency pool is awfully shallow at the position. Paging Mr. Trai Essex?

2. Outside Linebacker: Certainly, this is no knock on Joey Porter and Clark Haggans, who had between them 7 tackles, 4 sacks, and an interception. But Porter is approaching free agency, and his productivity isn't consistent. Further, the depth chart at the position is filled primarily with undrafted free agents; it's time to draft the player tht Alonzo Jackson never became.

3. Power Running Back: Willie Parker is proving that he can carry the load, but the Steelers have yet to find a hammer to replace Bettis. Davenport is a great back-up, but he runs too tall to get much push at the goal line. Verron Haynes has provided no evidence that he's ready for the role, and Staley will be gone after this year. Many are predicting that the Steelers will draft Michael Bush, the massive-yet-fleet back from Louisville who, if not for a broken leg, would almost surely be in the Heisman conversation. It seems unlikely, though, because Bush wouldn't be the featured back in Pittsburgh. But it does seem likely that the Steelers will target a power back in the middle rounds of the draft.

OT in the NFL

2006-10-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

This may sound like sour grapes, but I swear I believed this before Sunday:

The NFL overtime system is crap.

Here's the problem: when teams only have to play for a field goal, it changes the way the game works. The game is essentially won 0n the coin flip; the first team with the ball wins most overtime games. Because teams only need a field goal, they play differently, and defenses must play differently, too. Worst, though, is the anticlimax of a hard-fought game ending on a 32-yard field goal kicked on third down. It's an injustice to the sport.

The college system, in which teams take turns from the opponent's 25, is better but not good enough. Kick offs and kick returns are too important (as the Steelers loss shows).

Here's my suggestion: if the team that wins the coinflip scores a touchdown, the game is over. If, though, the first team kicks a field goal, the other team gets the ball and the opportunity to score a game-winning touchdown. So a team with the ball on the edge of the red zone has a choice to make: 3 points and play defense? Or go for the TD? Much more exciting.

I know the arguments in favor of the current system: "Don't the defense get paid, too?" said Shannon Sharpe after the Steelers' loss Sunday. And, certainly, a timely stop would have put Pittsburgh in a position to win. But the problem is that, in the current system, the overtime ends just as it's beginning. Overtime isn't treated by teams like an extra quarter of play; it's treated like a one-minute drill without the time-outs.

Think if baseball did the equivalent: if a team scores in the top of the 10th, the game is over. The home team is out of luck. Bad idea, isn't it?

Then why do the same thing in football?

Steelers 38, Atlanta 41 (OT)

2006-10-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

So. If I told you that Steelers quarterbacks combined to throw for over 430 yards and five touchdowns, that Big Ben had a perfect passer rating, that Hines Ward caught 8 passes for 171 yards and 3 TDs, would you smile? If I told you that Mike Vick started off 1-6, would you say, "that's my defense"?If I told you that Pittsburgh didn't punt in the first half and that, at one point in the first half, the Steelers had outgained the Falcons 205-63, would you say, "they're back"?

But the Steeler team that's back isn't the one that rumbled through the playoffs last year; the team that's back is the team that lost a shootout last year to the Bengals, the team that shot its own foot off against the Bengals this year. This team flopped and fumbled its way to an improbable loss at Atlanta a team by all measures inferior to the one that gasped on the floor of the Georgia Dome as Morten Anderson kicked a game-winning field goal over their heads.

At one minute in, the game looked in hand. The Steelers D dominated the Falcons and forced a quick punt. But Santonio Holmes continued an auspicious trend by fumbling that punt (why are his hands so greasy? is he eating croissants on the sidelines?) back to Atlanta. The Falcons struck quickly to take a 7-0 lead.

Still, it was hard to doubt the Steelers as they marched unimpeded downfield to a field goal, followed by two touchdown drives. Polamalu intercepted Vick. Atlanta amassed measly offense. But another fumble (this one by another repeat offender, Willie Parker) led to another Vick TD pass, and the game was closer at halftime than it had any reason to be.

And then these things happened: Big Ben got knocked out (literally); the running game stopped; the defense stopped; and the Falcons gained confidence. Suddenly, a team that had no business competing with the Steelers looked like the Bill Walsh 49ers. And the Steelers defense looked like poopoo.

End result? On a day that once promised the leveling of the Steelers and the Bengals at 3-3, the Bengals pulled out a late victory against a superior opponent, while the Steelers gagged against an inferior one. It's getting harder and harder to be optimistic; five losses will still get you in the playoffs, but.....

Steelers 45, Chiefs 7

2006-10-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

Well, we all knew it would happen sooner or later, didn't we?

The Steelers put a mauling on the KC Chiefs unlike anything Dan Dierdorf and I have seen for a long, long time. I was reminded of the time my Intra-City Little League team, Chamber of Commerce, beat Rotary Club 51-7. They called the game early. Mercy Rule.

The Mercy Rule would not have been inappropriate on Sunday. The Steelers led 31-0 at the half, having scored on every possession and rolled up more yards than the Chiefs defense had allowed, on average, each of their first four games. The rest of the game got a little sloppy--four fumbles by the Steelers, though they lost only one--but it was also in hand. Kansas City managed 213 yards of offense, most of it in garbage time (by which I mean the second half), while the Steelers ended with 457. Larry Johnson ran 15 times for a total of 26 yards.

I'll say it again: you don't run on the Steelers.

Three who looked good:

Let's start with the most heartening statistics of the day: Big Ben was 16-19 for 238 yards and 2TDs. He looked like his old self, making sharp, strong throws and stepping assertively in the pocket. And the numbers bear it out.

The running game. Willie Parker went over 100 yards again, with 2 TDs, and Najeh Davenport (The Hamper Dumper!) chipped in for 78 and a TD. Willie is showing great toughness (testament to his time working with the Bus), and the Hamper Dumper showed impressive speed. He's a great complement.

Santonio Holmes. Ben wasn't the only one gaining confidence out there today. Holmes flashed his big-play ability all over the place, beginning with the third play from scrimmage.

Honorable mentions go to pretty much everyone else: the entire defense, the O-Line, Nate Washington, Hines Ward, Joey Porter on the sidelines, Cowher's serious face, etc.

Three who looked bad:

Two sets of hands: Santonio Holmes' and Willie Parkers'. Both fumbled twice. Let's hope it was a lack of concentration due to the lopsided score.

Ummm.... Only one sack for the defense? And that was Chad Brown (Chad Brown!) sacking Brody Croyle. But really: the Chiefs didn't give the Steelers a chance to sack; Damon Huard got rid of the ball fast every time. Not a strategy for success, though.

And, ummm, Jeff Reid missed a field goal.

To make a great day even better, this Steeler win came after losses by both the Ravens and the Bengals. Bruce Gradkowski, the rookie QB from Toledo whose hurt was public when the Steelers didn't draft him, earned his first win ever, against the Bengals.

Next week, the Steelers visit Atlanta. While Pittsburgh has never been a great dome team, Atlanta never really enjoys much of a home-field advantage. The Falcons lead the league in rushing, by a ton. But ask Larry Johnson, and he'll tell you: you don't run on the Steelers. Looks like a matchup that favors the good guys.

Something I've Been Thinking, Too.

2006-10-11T06:37:00.000-07:00

In this week's ESPN NFL Power Rankings, the Steelers have dropped into the lower-half of the league, to #18 (a dispiritingly low ranking, to be sure, but the highest among teams with losing records). Beside the ranking, ESPN offers this commentary: "Maybe the Steelers miss Jerome Bettis more than they thought they would. The Bus not only got the tough yards, but he was the heart and soul of the team." Bettis was, indeed, the emotional glue that held last year's Steelers together. His calm focus, his passion, was an example to the rest. And no one--not Big Ben, not Hines Ward, not Joey Porter--has been able to take that role. Ben will probably be the one to do it, but he's obviously pretty freaked out right now. In the past, Ben may have benefited most from Bettis' presence in the locker room: Bettis was obviously Ben's mentor (see their tearful embrace after the Super Bowl). Ben may feel a little lost without him.

Thanks a Lot, Marty, part 2: Chargers 23, Steelers 13

2006-10-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Marty Schottenheimer learned the same lesson everyone else learned after the Chargers' loss to the Ravens last week: "Martyball" doesn't work. Just when the Steelers had the Chargers where they wanted them--Pittsburgh was losing by four--Marty shocked the world by allowing his young quarterback to throw. And throw he did, with great success. As a result, the Chargers did the unthinkable: they held their lead.

Big Ben threw, too, and with more success, but not enough. He still has not thrown a touchdown pass this season, and he added two to his interception total. It was the first time this season, though, that Ben has looked comfortable; in the second quarter, I began to believe that the season was turning around.

And it may still--good on the Broncos for shutting down the Ravens last night--but it hasn't yet. Ben looks nervous in the pocket; he shuffles his feet, he flushes too quickly, he doesn't run with the same sort of reckless authority. He isn't mentally back. What will it take? Hopefully not much more.

The Steelers' D looked dominant in the first half of the game, until the Chargers figured out how to stop the blitz. Once they were able to give Philip Rivers (whom the Steelers prefered over Big Ben on draft day, the story goes) time to throw, he found his receivers. And they caught the ball.

Willie Reid looked good in his first action of the season, returning a punt 11 yards to set up the Steelers' only touchdown drive, but he suffered a foot injury that, according to Cowher, is potentially "significant."

The team still looks "close," though. They only need a few good things to happen--a long touchdown pass, maybe, or a score on defense--to regain confidence and momentum. Let's hope that happens soon.

Pats 38, Bengals 13

2006-10-02T07:36:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure whether or not to be happy about this. A Bengals loss is always a reason to celebrate, but a Pats win (especially on the heels of the Bengals' win over the Steelers) guarantees that the sports un-intelligentsia will continue to worship at the crotch of Tom Brady and Bill Bellichek for at least another week. Blech.

Here's what I do know, though: the Pats won how? By running the ball, and by capitalizing on Carson Palmer's mistakes. Take the Bengals-Steelers game and subtract two red-zone INTs, and you have the Pats-Bengals game. Moral of the story? The Bengals aren't as good as everyone says.

But this is a strange league: the Rams beat the Broncos, who throttled the Pats, who crushed the Bengals, who stole one from the Steelers. Looks like the Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

Thanks a lot, Marty.

2006-10-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Well: the Ravens drove the field against the Chargers in the final two minutes this afternoon to take their first lead of the day with 30 seconds left. The idiot announcing the game kept praising Steve McNair (17/30, 158 yds) for his "poise" and "confidence." Whatever. You know who won it for the Ravens? Marty Schottenheimer, whose offense is so conservative it makes Bill Cowher look like Mike Martz. Case in point: after a penalty gave the Chargers first 1st and 25, Marty ran the ball on first down and second, setting up a third and 18 that, predictably, the Chargers didn't make. Had Marty any sack at all, or any killer instinct, the Ravens would have been out of their misery half-way through the 4th. The Raven offense continues to blow, a fact that Marty made sure will be overlooked for at least one more week.

The bright side, of course, is that the Steelers get the Chargers next week.

The Problem With Statistics

2006-10-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm watching what is probably the week's most interesting game: Chargers at Ravens. The Chargers, at 2-0, have the league's best defense (statistically), while the Ravens, at 3-0, have the second-best. During the pre-game hype, some talking hairdo dismissed San Diego's ranking, pointing out that the Chargers have beaten two lousy teams, the Raiders and the Titans: hus, the argument went, the Chargers' status atop the league's defenses. The implication was that the Ravens' defense is much more legitimate.

But guess what? The Ravens' three opponents--Tampa, Cleveland, and Oakland--have yet to win a game among them. The combined record of the opponents in today's "epic struggle"? 0-11. So, by what standard are we judging these defenses "for real"?

Of course, the argument can easily be made that that 0-11 record has more to do with the defensive strengths of the Chargers and Ravens than the offensive ineptitude of their opponents. It's an argument that has at least some merit (though I doubt that any of those teams will emerge as an offensive powerhouse). But, at the very least, we need to reserve judgement.

(Something similar happens with rankings of run and pass defenses: the team with the best pass defense is often the team against which teams run successfully. Likewise, much of the Steelers' recent success against the run comes from two things: their relative struggles against the pass, and the leads that the offense has built early in games, which force teams to the air. But, also, you don't run on the Steelers.)

Cincinnati 28, Pittsburgh 20

2006-09-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

Before, during, and after last Monday night's 9-0 loss to the Jaguars, commentators couldn't say enough about the similarities between the Jags and the Steelers. Both play tough defense, both love to run the ball, both play the role of bully on the field.

Well, add one more similarity to the list: today, both failed in late attempts to tie the game against a major divisional rival. The Jags lost 21-14 to the Colts, at the same time that the Steelers were gagging one up to the Bengals at home. The Jags dominated in the first half, racking up a time-of-possession advantage of roughly 20 minutes. They were, however, able only to manage a 7-7 tie. The Steelers blunted the sharp edge of the Bengals' offense early and pounded the ball down the defense's throat to take an early lead.

Everything changed for the Steelers when Big Ben threw the first of his three interceptions, the first of two that occurred in the end zone. (The other end zone interception, as you probably know if you are reading this, sealed the Steelers' fate in the fourth quarter.) You don't need to be Ron Jawarski to do the analysis on this game: you won't win games when you turn the ball over five times. Despite Ben's sub-par day (18-39, 208 yds), two fumbles killed Pittsburgh: one on a punt return by Rico Colclough and one, less than a minute later, by Verron Haynes. The Bengals turned those two plays immediately into 14 points. I think I may be done defending Rico Colclough.

We can draw comparisons between the Steelers and other teams, as well:

They share a score with the Buffalo Bills, who lost 28-20 to the NY Jets. The Bills, like the Steelers, are 1-2. Their one win? Against the Dolphins. The Dolphins, after beating the Titans today in a 13-10 yawner, are also 1-2. (The lowly Jets, by the way, are 2-1.) Carolina, another team often compared in attitude and style to the Steelers, joined the 1-2 club today by beating Tampa. Two other teams in the 1-2 club feature former Steelers WRs: the NY Giants and the Redskin Potatoes. Maybe it's viral.

What have we learned today? That Ben is not himself. That the Bengals are susceptible to the run (and that Willie P. is the man for the job). And that a win against Cincinnati in Cincinnati is absolutely essential.

Jaguars 9, Steelers 0

2006-09-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

Well, no one thought they'd go undefeated, right? The Steelers looked anemic Monday night (and Ben may well have been), and they were beaten by the Jags in impressive fashion. Jacksonville was more physical, more determined, and more intense. In some ways, the 9-0 score wasn't indicative of the Jags' dominance. It's a testament to the defense (who had their problems, to be sure) that the game stayed so close for so long.

Big Ben needed this game. He needed to shake the rust off and get the offense all shiny for next week against the Bengals. To those who would criticize Cowher for playing his big QB I say: better to have the rust-game week 2 in Jacksonville than week 3 at home against Cinci. And here's hoping that the humiliation at the hands of their former division rivals inspires the opposite performance on Sunday.

Three who looked good:

Ryan Clark (did you see that third-quarter arm tackle of Maurice Drew to prevent a first down? Farrior came in late, but was all Clark.)
James Farrior (Mr. Steady, even in the face of adversity.)
Najeh Davenport (I know, he never got on the field. But he kept his mistakes to a minimum.)

Three who looked bad:
Troy Polamalu (That shoulder is seriously bothering him. He isn't tackling well.)
Big Ben (He was flinching in the face of the Jags' onslaught.)
O-Line (See Big Ben comment above. Even without Reggie Hayward, the Jags dominated the line of scrimmage.)

Santonio Holmes deserves special bad-play mention: Ben's first interception looked eerily familiar; remember the pre-season INT in which Holmes never turned around for the ball? Willie Reid isn't dressing, even though he's the superior returner, because Holmes is a more polished receiver. A relative measure, obviously.

And doesn't Rashean Mathis--who showed up on the Steelers' radar the year he was drafted--have this team's number?

Bottom line: Jacksonville is an impressive team; they may have set the bar for the sort of football the Steelers aim to play.

Steelers 28, Miami 17

2006-09-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

I like the Dolphins. I have two reasons: because they have the potential to bring down the mighty Patriots, and because they aren't afraid to wear a helmet featuring a dolphin wearing a helmet with an orange M on it. That's pretty cool.

But I like the Steelers quite a bit more, obviously, so I was a happy man last night as the Steelers dominated the Dolphins in Pittsburgh on the NFL's opening showcase. Despite the fact that the Steelers trailed 17-14 in the fourth quarter, and despite the fact that Daunte Culpepper threw for 262 yards, the Steelers dominated: they had a ten minute advantage in time of possession and a 100+ yard advantage on the ground. And we were reminded of something we learned long ago: you don't run on the Steelers. The Dolphins' Ronnie Brown ran for 30 yards on 15 carries; his longest gain was 8 yards.

Other aspects of the game were equally recognizable: Ike Taylor dropped an interception; Joey Porter had two sacks and an INT (and kissed Cowher); Hines Ward caught a touchdown in the back of the end zone. But there were surprises: Nate Washington catching a TD on a jump ball; Jeff Reed's ugly miss; Heath Miller's breakaway speed.

(By the way: I don't want to hear any crap about the challenge flag. Any head coach worth his blood pressure medication sets fire to that flag if that's what it takes to get the ref's attention. Cowher would have knocked someone's hat off with it. Saban, however, threw it like he was afraid he might cause offense. Even worse, he sought to lay blame elsewhere for his mistake.)

Three who looked good:
Joey Porter (the star of the game)
Willie Parker (ran hard inside; is learning to be a patient runner)
Charlie Batch (the dream performance for a Steeler QB: 200+ yards and no INTs; the 3 TD passes are gravy)

Three who looked bad, or at least just okay:
Steelers special teams (Jeff Reed's miss; Wes Welker's returns; James Harrison's hold; and so on)
O-Line (strong, but not dominant; the Phins' front seven is tough!)
Duce Staley (no need to wash that jersey, Duce, just put it back on the hanger)

Speaking of running backs: the Patrick Cobbs era in Pittsburgh is over. The Steelers waived him today after signing former Packer RB and Miami U hamper-dumper Najeh Davenport. Davenport is 6'1" and 247#--just the sort of back the Steelers love. It will be interesting to see who--Staley or Davenport--suits up on Sunday in the weeks to come.

Big Ben Out for Thursday

2006-09-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

KFFL.com is reporting that Ben Roethlisberger has undergone an emergency appendectomy and will not play Thursday against the Dolphins. Charlie Batch, obviously, will start in his place; another Steeler will be added to the roster forthwith.

Big Ben will be week-to-week thereafter.

Cripes.

Business as Usual

2006-09-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

What are the Steelers known for? Consistency and building through the draft. So it should come as no surprise that Ike Taylor signed a five-year extension today . Of course, the Steelers are also known for their refusal to over-pay for a player (I'm looking at you, Joey Porter); the hype surrounding Taylor's ascendancy made overpayment a possibility. The Steelers did a good thing, then, by locking him down before the open market inflated the price. And good on Taylor, too, for signing now, rather than waiting for the Redskin Potatoes to drive up with a dump truck of cash in the spring.

Maybe Taylor can take some of his new cash and buy a pair of sticky gloves, so that he can perhaps hang on to a few of those interceptions.

Mike Lorello, We Hardly Knew Ye

2006-09-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

The practice squad is set, and conspicuous by his absence among those names is BGEF fave Mike Lorello, who lacks NFL skills but not NFL mentality. Several of the Steelers' draft choices--Orien Harris, Cedric Humes, and Omar Jacobs--made the squad, as did rookie free agents Jon Dekker and Anthony Madison. This means that TE Charles Davis is the lone draft choice out of work; he was bumped by Jon Dekker, whom I wrote off after the first pre-season game. Shows what I know.

John Kuhn and Shaun Nua are back for their second year on the p-squad, and the roster is filled out by OT Brandon Torrey and British WR Marvin Allen.

Since my last post, I have watched the tape-delayed airing of the Steelers-Panthers "game," and I must say that I was impressed with Omar Jacobs' performance. It wasn't just the long throw to Walter Young; OJ was consistently quick and accurate with his throws, and he showed something he had yet to show: poise in the pocket. It will be interesting to see if he spends all year on the p-squad, or if he ascends to the 53-man roster at some point (perhaps when concerns over Chukky Okobi's health are abated and Marvin Philip is demoted).

Next stop: football season!

The Final Two

2006-09-02T17:17:00.000-07:00

The names of the final two cuts have been posted on the Steelers' team site: OLB Andre Frazier and WR Quincy Morgan. Either or both seem likely to appear soon on the Patriots' roster.

And then there were 53. Duce Staley is the third back behind Willie Parker and Verron Haynes, and may not dress; Marvin Philip has been retained, probably as insurance against complications with Chukky Okobi's neck; and Arnold Harrison used a strong final pre-season game to unseat Frazier at the bottom of the OLB depth chart. I wonder, though, if the Steelers are through making moves: a quick glance at the waiver wire shows that among the cuts at QB is Stefan LeFors, the talented prospect lately of the Carolina Panthers. Mike McMahon was cut by the Vikings; granted, McMahon sucks, but he might be better in a pinch than Cedric Wilson, the current emergency QB. Another interesting cut is Packers RB Najeh Davenport, a bruiser who has performed well at times. Character may be an issue for Davenport, though: apparently, when at Miami U, he once took a dump in a woman's laundry hamper.

So we'll see.

Cut Creator Cut It

2006-09-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

(The title, by the way, is from an old LL Cool J song....)

The Steelers trimmed their roster to within two of the final 53 this morning; the final two cuts will happen by 6PM today. Shane Boyd and Omar Jacobs are both gone, as are second-day picks Orien Harris, Charles Davis, and Cedric Humes. The only second-day draft picks remaining on the roster are OT Willie Colon and C Marvin Philip. Colon's roster spot is probably more secure than Philip's. Richard Seigler, who impressed with his tackling ability in the preseason, was also cut, as was Shaun Nua, whose stock dropped precipitously in the past month. (Remember, the Steelers thought enough of Nua to promote him from the practice squad last year when the Panthers threatened to sign him.)

Those most likely to be among the final two cuts include: C Marvin Philip, either OLB Andre Frazier OR OLB Arnold Harrison, RB Duce Staley, WR Quincy Morgan. My guess? Philip and Harrison will spend the year on the practice squad. Others on my practice squad include TE Jon Dekker, RB John Kuhn, S Mike Lorello, DE Shaun Nua, LB Richard Seigler, and QB Omar Jacobs. There may be some concern that another team will claim Jacobs off waivers; however, if Jacobs proved one thing this pre-season, it's that he has difficulty learning an offense quickly. I predict that he will be available when the Steelers call.

Carolina 15, Steelers....ah, who cares

2006-09-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm still waiting for the NFL Network to re-play the Steelers' final preseason game, but I'm not doing so with any enthusiasm. For obvious reasons, I hope: the Steelers were a part of the growing trend of holding important veterans out of the final preseason game. The result? The verb in today's Post-Gazette is "slapsticked," as in, "The Steelers and Panthers slapsticked their way...." Sounds like a real thriller.

From what I've seen so far, a few things stand out:

1. Duce got his shot. He carried the ball 19 times for 46 yards, a 2.4-ypc average. Of course, most of that came behind the second-team line; reports are that Staley looked livelier, as though the threat to his career was beginning to seem real to him. But the question remains: Has Duce put the "stale" in Staley?

2. QB3? Omar Jacobs and Shane Boyd made their final pitches for the third QB spot. The tale of the tape? Shane Boyd went 1-3 for 12 yards; Omar Jacobs ended up 13-19 for 179, including a pretty 46-yarder to soon-to-be-former Steeler Walter Young. The Jacobs era seemed to come to an abrupt end when, against the Eagles, he fumbled on his first play and was promptly yanked. His ability to rebound the next week is certainly encouraging; it seems clear that Jacobs has the skills but needs confidence. And maybe a tutor to help him learn the offense.

3. Rico Colclough is suave. Colclough put himself around the ball last night, and consistently made plays. While some have questioned his status on the roster, Colclough should battle Bryant McFadden for the third CB spot. If either plays well enough, Ike Taylor will be elsewhere next year.

4. The Steelers are well-centered. Remarkably, Chukky Okobi played last night, less than a month after having surgery on his neck. I can't fathom this. But there he is. Okobi's return takes pressure off of Kendall Simmons (who stunk as a center in a short-lived experiment), and likely relegates 7th-round draft pick Marvin Philip to the practice squad.

In the coming days, the Steelers will cut their roster down to 53. Here's my best guess:

QB: Big Ben, Charlie Batch
RB: Willie Parker, Duce Staley, Verron Haynes
FB: Dan Kreider
TE: Heath Miller, Jerame Tuman, Tim Euhus
WR: Hines Ward, Cedric Wilson, Santonio Holmes, Willie Reid, Nate Washington, Sean Morey
OT: Marvel Smith, Trai Essex, Max Starks, Willie Colon
OG: Kendall Simmons, Alan Faneca, Chris Kemoeatu
C: Jeff Hartings, Chukky Okobi

DE: Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel, Travis Kirschke, Rodney Bailey
NT: Casey Hampton, Chris Hoke
OLB: Clark Haggans, Joey Porter, James Harrison, Andre Frazier
ILB: James Farrior, Larry Foote, Clint Kreidwaldt, Rian Wallace
CB: DeShea Townsend, Ike Taylor, Rico Colclough, Bryant McFadden, Chidi Iwuoma
S: Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ty Carter, Anthony Smith, Mike Logan

Special Teams: Greg Warren, Chris Gardocki, Jeff Reed

Plus two of the following: OLB Arnold Harrison, ILB Richard Seigler, RB John Kuhn, WR Quincy Morgan, QB Omar Jacobs, DE Shaun Nua.

The practice squad will be comprised of the five listed above who don't make the squad (minus Morgan, who is too old), plus: Marvin Philip, Mike Lorello, and Jon Dekker. If Morgan gets cut, add Cedric Humes.

Note the absence of second-day picks Charles Davis (TE) and Orien Harris (DE), neither of whom are likely to make the cut. Humes may not, either. It is likely that the only second-day pick to make the final roster will be OT Willie Colon. This speaks to the Steelers' depth, I think--there isn't much room for the new kids--but it may also say something about the quality of this year's draft class. Davis, Humes and Harris have been surpassed by undrafted free agents (though John Kuhn was on the practice squad last year), and Jacobs hasn't been able to lock down the job he was drafted to take. Of the UDFAs, Mike Lorello is perhaps my favorite. He seems like the perfect Steeler, reminiscient of players like Jerry Olsavsky: not terribly skilled, but aggressive, courageous, and proud. I hope Pittsburgh keeps him around.

Update: ESPN has just announced that the Steelers have traded a draft pick to the Pats for Patrick Cobbs, the 5'9", 210# rookie from North Texas. I most recently saw Patrick Cobbs in an ESPN highlight when he fumbled after taking the handoff from Troy Brown. So I guess the Steelers weren't too comfortable with their depth at running back. To me, this means that John Kuhn is headed for his second season on the practice squad, and that Cedric Humes is headed to an Arena League stadium near you.

Another Reason to Shut Up

2006-08-29T09:09:00.002-07:00

I flipped on the TV this morning, hoping to catch up on the sports world while I ate my cereal. The first thing I saw on ESPN was Bill Parcells' fat face as he answered questions about "the player." I changed the channel quickly, hoping to avoid what has easily become the sports world's most-beaten dead horse this off-season. ESPN is relentless in its coverage of the non-story; it is, I suppose, something that could be called CNN Syndrome: the pressure of having 24 hours to fill with 2 hours worth of stories.

So I switched to the NFL Network (god bless the Dish!), hoping to catch something, anything else: maybe a rerun of the fourth quarter of the Denver-Houston pre-season game. Whose face did I see? TO's, animated as usual, talking about his relationship with Bill Parcells as though they were in marriage counseling: it's a growing process for both of us, blah blah blah.

Are people really this interested in this particular drama? Can't we please, please talk about something else?

Duce to be Loosed?

2006-08-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

According to today's Post-Dispatch, Cowher has named (for now, anyway) Willie Parker the Steelers' goal-line back. Neither Duce nor Verron Haynes showed himself to be tough enough to take over the role that Bettis made famous last season. Cowher also took pains to say that the Steelers have had no contact with the Eagles regarding Staley.

But, according to Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, Staley is being "dangled." Only days ago, the Steelers offered the Falcons a 4th round draft choice for TJ Duckett, who was subsequently traded to the Redskin Potatoes. The Steelers obviously aren't satisfied with the situation at running back. Word is that Duce may end up getting cut, which would leave the Steelers to choose between Jon Kuhn and Cedric Humes as a third back behind Parker and the very capable Haynes. Neither, I think, would inspire much confidence. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers make any moves in the coming weeks.

Among those things which should not be your focus during a football game

2006-08-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

1. the yellow paint on goalposts
2. the choreography of the coin toss
3. the quality of the end-zone paint
4. that tool with the John 3:16 sign
5. the referees' uniforms

In the past weeks, I have heard countless commentators expressing their displeasure with the new uniforms for NFL referees. I'd list the complaints, but it's difficult to encapsulate them; they seem geared more toward filling time than making any real point. (Much like the endless coverage of TO's leg.)

To all of this I say: shut up. Do not speak about the new uniforms. Do not speak about what anyone is wearing, unless it is a fan wearing a G-string to a December game in Green Bay, or unless it is a particularly wicked-cool throwback uni. Everyone is hereby banned from speaking about the ref's outfits, on penalty of suffocation beneath Tony Siragusa's belly.

Vikings 17, Steelers 10

2006-08-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

So: the Steelers have started the pre-season 0-2. Preseason records are historically irrelevant, but it's hard not to want to see a better performance from the defending Super Bowl champions as they ramp up for the regular season. Once again, Big Ben looked like the star he is becoming; it was also good to see the rapport he is apparently building with Cedric Wilson. Nate Washington was, arguably, the offensive star of the game: he, Willie Reid, and Santonio Holmes should battle for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th WR slots.

The defense looked poor against the pass again, and the O-line performance was, for the second week, spotty. The optimist will say that these problems will be addressed with game planning and game experience, but the pessimist will lament the continued struggles of the pass D and sound alarm at the poor performance of the O-line, one of the team's perennial strengths. Time will tell.

Four who looked good:

Aaron Smith (played on the opening series like Brett Keisel played last week)
Nate Washington (a tribute to the Steelers' scouting program, he looks nothing like a second-year player from a tiny school)
Cedric Wilson (finally, finally starting to look like a part of the offense)
Ike Taylor (pay this man! he is, behind Polamalu, the best tackler in the secondary)

Four who looked bad:

Troy Polamalu (consistently a step slow in pass coverage; made to look bad on the Vikes' first touchdown, though it wasn't entirely his fault)
Omar Jacobs (come on, man! learn the offense!)
Duce Staley (missed holes, missed blocks)
Santonio Holmes (made a couple very visible rookie mistakes)

I'm not concerned about Polamalu, obviously. He'll be fine, and so will Santonio Holmes. There is some talk now of the Steelers keeping two QBs on the final roster, and hiding both Jacobs and Shane Boyd on the practice squad; both have exciting talent, but neither has distinguished hismelf. Jacobs is thinking way too much (and way too slowly?), and Boyd seems to have only one gun in his arsenal. Duce, as Joseph Aubele argues in his blog, may be reaching the end of the line. Verron Haynes simply looks better in every aspect of the game.

Should make the squad:
Quincy Morgan, WR (a little inconsistent, but, as a sixth WR, makes the Steelers very deep at the position)

Rising:
Richard Seigler, LB (big tackler; might make the final squad)
Rian Wallace, LB (utility player in the mode of James Harrison, plays inside and outside; looked great on the INT return)
Mike Lorello, S (exciting player; had a sack; would be great asset on special teams)
John Kuhn, RB (Making Duce more expendable?)

No room at the inn:
Lee Mays, WR
Anthony Madison, CB (skilled but inconsistent; possible practice squad player?)
Sean Morey, WR/ST (a valuable player, but, given the skill at WR, expendable)

And one note about the Vikings: Tarvaris Jackson, the rookie QB from South Alabama, is the real deal. If Brad Johnson gets hurt, we could be looking at a Ben Roethlisberger situation. Once Jackson gets into the starting QB role, it might be hard to get him out.

Don't panic yet, friends. Friday's game against the Eagles will be give insight.

Why Football's Better, and Why the Steelers are Best

2006-08-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

Football is unique among major American sports for the importance of its draft. A team that doesn't draft well will lose; one need look no further than the Green Bay Packers or the Detroit Lions for examples. In basketball and baseball, the impact of poor drafts can be mitigated with cash in free agency: look no further than the Yankees and Red Sox, or the free agents used to surround a single drafted star in the NBA (see: Lakers, Heat, Mavs). The Redskin Potatoes have tried a Yankee-ish approach, throwing money around like grass seed. It hasn't worked yet, and I hope it doesn't.

The Steelers may best illustrate the importance of the draft in pro football. Of the 22 starters on last year's championship team, only three--Kimo von Oelhoffen, James Farrior, and Jeff Hartings--played for another team before the Steelers. And look at the first round draft picks from the five years before Super Bowl XL:

2001: Casey Hampton
2002: Kendall Simmons
2003: Troy Polomalu
2004: Big Ben
2005: Heath Miller.

And a Super Bowl win followed. No coincidence, I think.

Arizona 21, Pittsburgh 13

2006-08-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that, despite the furor that surrounds them, pre-season games mean nothing. Rather, the outcome of pre-season games means nothing: the final score still makes the first paragraph, but it isn't the focus of the coaches, players, and the intelligent fans.

The focus here is on the quality of play. And the Steelers' first report card is significantly variable. Big Ben looked like his old self, which is to say gutty, fearless, and frighteningly skilled. He spun out of tackles, he scrambled, he the threw the ball well. Despite the fact that his only drive ended in a missed field goal, everyone should feel good about Big Ben.

The line's performance was decent, if not spectacular. Cowher expressed concern about the performance of the second-team line, which featured two rookies. The running game was also decent; no one did anything spectacular, but we saw little cause for concern. I got the sense that the backs, Duce Staley in particular, were warming up.

The Steelers' first-day draft picks acquitted themselves well. WRs Santonio Holmes and Willie Reid showed signs of nerves at first, but obviously got more comfortable as the game progressed; each ended up with four catches. Neither did anything impressive in the return game, which isn't a surprise. The rookie who made the biggest impression, though, was Syracuse (whoo!) free safety Anthony Smith, who ended up with two interceptions and two impressive tackles. He was consistently around the ball, and he looked fast, instinctive, and powerful. Ryan Clark may not want to sink his roots too deep in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers' offense was piloted for most of the game by two young quarterbacks: Shane Boyd, who played in the most recent NFL Europe season, and fifth-round draft pick Omar Jacobs. Boyd showed a powerful arm and a quick mind, but his passes lack touch. Jacobs, currently behind Boyd on the depth chart because he's having trouble picking up the offense, looked overwhelmed early. He gained confidence as he played, though. Something seemed to shift in him when he was forced out of the pocket by the Cardinals' rush; he had to stop thinking and start relying on his abilities. Jacobs threw for the Steelers' only touchdown, a one-yard lob to rookie free agent TE Isaac Smolko, who helped his chances of getting on the practice squad by showing great body control in the back corner of the end zone.

The defense was strangely consistent: the Cardinals could get nothing going on the ground (Edgerrin James: 2 carries, -2 yards), but they were sterling through the air (Kurt Warner: 9-13, 118 yds, 2 TDs), especially on 3rd down. On Arizona's first drive, which ended in a touchdown, the Cardinals converted 4 consecutive third downs: 3rd and 7, 10, 13, and 5. The Steelers' secondary seemed to have no answer for the formidable Cardinals receiving corps. Such answers will come with time, though. In a regular-season game, the Steelers' blitz package would, I'm confident, make Warner miserable, and present a serious challenge to the Cards' passing game.

Three who looked good:
Rico Colclough, CB (looked strong in coverage)
Brett Keisel, DE (see: first two defensive plays)
Casey Hampton, DT (did you see him read that screen pass in the first quarter?)

Three who looked bad:
Jonathan Dekker, TE (when the sixth tight end drops multiple passes, it makes the coaches' job easy)
Cedric Humes, RB (fumbled at the goal line; just like Bettis?)
Anthony Madison, CB (multiple penalties offset some good work in the secondary)

The Truest Compliment

2006-08-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Chad Brown
Chad Scott
Hank Poteat
Josh Miller
Mike Vrabel

What do these men have in common? They are all former Steelers who now play for the Patriots. The real secret to Bill Bellicheck's success? Trying to be the Steelers.

With God on our Side

2006-08-11T10:04:00.000-07:00

Yet another reason to side with the Steelers: the will of God.

Ho Ho Horrible

2006-07-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

In the spring, some buzz rippled around the internet linking the Steelers to then-Saints' C LeCharles Bentley, undoubtedly the best free agent lineman available. Bentley was snapped up by the Browns early in the free-agency period; he was the first of many bold moves by Cleveland management. Shortly thereafter, the Browns traded away Jeff Faine, the incumbent center, a former first-round draft pick. Now, in an event which must make fans wonder whether Art Modell cast an evil spell as he left town, Bentley is gone for the season, having snapped a ligament in his knee in the opening hours of training camp. ESPN showed footage of Bentley being carted from the field, a towel over his face. As a Steelers' fan, I have to grin a little as I imagine the matchup possibilities for Casey Hampton. But damn. I hate to see such a terrible, unfair injury happen to anyone. (At least anyone who isn't a Raven.) You've got to feel sorry for the guy, if not for the team.

Futbol Yak

2006-07-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

So: for the past month, I have been religious about the World Cup. The opening round was the best: I would get up in the morning, turn on the 9AM game, and get comfy. Despite all the American sneering about soccer, it is as its advocates say: a beautiful game. Commentators talk about the players' creativity and imagination. The drama builds slowly, fluidly, shifting back and forth across the pitch. Always the anticipation, always the sense that something magical is only seconds away. Not so with many American sports. Take baseball, for instance. In baseball, two or three things have to happen before anything magical can happen. In soccer, one touch can do it. Americans would like soccer better if goals were worth seven points and saved shots worth two. Americans like points.

But, in the past few weeks, I saw some gorgeous, thrilling games in which the score was 1-0 or even 0-0. And today's game, a 1-1 tie that Italy won on goal kicks (5-4), was just as good. Sure, players from both sides flopped like bass in a boat the entire game, whenever an opponent got near; one of those flops led to France's goal. And sure, the game's greatest player with the game's greatest name, Zinedine Zidane, got the boot in OT for headbutting an Italian player in his skinny chest. It seemed somehow fair, then, that France lost because one of their subs missed his try. The game was hard-fought, exuberant, and even--excuse me here--rather lyrical.

The other thing to love about World Cup soccer is the emergence of national pride. I live in a country in which shows of national pride seem in poor taste, but I loved seeing contingents of fans from around the world dressed in national colors, cheering as though national pride could never turn ugly. Even the staid Germans got to shed a little of Hitler's burden as they cheered as one for their national team, the colors of the flag painted on their ruddy faces. For that month, anyway, German national pride didn't mean doom for the rest of Europe.

And speaking of national identity: could anyone be a better fit for his team and nation than the French coach, with his dark suit, salt-and-pepper hair, and black horn-rimmed glasses? He looked like he should be sitting in a cafe, cursing God between bites of croissant.

A Blooming Romance?

2006-04-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

ESPN reported this afternoon that the Steelers are interested in Jeremy Bloom, the shrimpy Colorado WR/KR who lost his NCAA eligibility by skiing while endorsed. Mel Kiper suggested that the Steelers might find themselves maneuvering with the Broncos to draft Bloom in--get this--the third round. Earlier projections had Bloom landing in the second half of the second day.

If indeed the Steelers move on Bloom in round 3 (perhaps even trading ahead of the Broncos?), it wouldn't be unprecedented. Last year, the Steelers used their third-round pick on Trai Essex, who most assumed would be around for them on the second day. The team has often been less interested in getting great value than it has in picking a particular player.

Listed Numbers

2006-04-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

Stillers.com is perhaps the best fan-run Steelers site on the net. They have what no one else could provide: a list of the Steelers' pre-draft invitees. Notable: many DBs, no DEs. The list is incomplete (24 of the 30 allowed), but still. Among those on the list who are potential picks at #32: Bobby Carpenter, Donte Whitner, Jason Allen, Nick Mangold, Chad Jackson, LenDale White, and Joseph Addai. Many of these (Whitner, Jackson, White, and Allen) will likely be gone by the time the Steelers pick. But it's obvious that the Steelers are willing to trade up (no way they make 10 draft picks), and so perhaps they are measuring the field for a possible jump.

For more, much more, see stillers.com.

Addendum

2006-04-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

Two reports surfaced today about other prospects visiting the Steelers: Jeremy Bloom, the tiny, speedy WR/KR/mogul skier, and Ko Simpson. Simpson, a young safety from South Carolina, is someone the Steelers might target in the early rounds. Bloom is a late-round pick, at best.

The Silent Treatment

2006-04-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Recently, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran a couple articles about the draft prospects visiting Rams Park this month. While the team didn't release the information, the paper was able to uncover roughly two-thirds of the visitors' names through back channels. (Of course, who knows how much of that information was strategically released by the team in a bit of pre-draft subterfuge?)

No such reporting has been done about the Steelers. The Post-Gazette reported recently that the Steelers are in the process of entertaining 30 or so prospects, but only one name was included: LenDale White. White's PR tour has been well-publicized, and his presence in Pittsburgh could be no surprise, really. Two other names have been linked to the Steelers: UCLA RB Maurice Drew (who wrote of visiting the Steelers in his ESPN diary), and Penn State WR/Special teamer Ethan Kilmer. Kilmer is 6' 205#; he caught 15 passes in 2005, including 6 in the Orange Bowl win over FSU.

So: a fat back, a scat back, and a Sean Morey clone? Oh, the anticipation!

Fat Boy

2006-04-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

LenDale White's subpar (pathetic?) demonstration in the off-season has people talking about a potential (and precipitous) drop in his draft status. While White was once a sexy pick to go to Arizona at #10 (this was before the James signing--remember "LenDale to Glendale"?), many pundits see him dropping to the bottom of the first round.

And who sits at the bottom of the first round? The Steelers, of course. A quick browse of several recent online mock drafts revealed that many feel that White will be the Steelers' pick at #32. But it won't happen. Let me explain why.

1. The Steelers already have three running backs. Parker and Staley will compete to start, while Haynes will continue to play on 3rd downs. Remember that Staley was deactivated for most games after he got healthy last year. Four running backs are one too many. The Steelers will be looking for someone to develop; RB isn't a first day pick, let alone a first round pick.

2. LenDale is fat and lazy. Reports from USC's pro day indicate that White's fattitude (that's right, I said "fattitude") has lessened his appeal to many teams, despite his talent. And how do the Steelers feel about selfish, immature players? Ask Plaxico Burress.

3. Other needs: wide receiver, safety, a backup OLB. Any one of these would be preferable to the Fat Boy.

So there.

In Your Eye

2006-03-24T20:29:00.000-08:00

See if you can follow this:

Recently, the Vikings signed Seattle restricted free agent guard Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet that was designed to make it nearly impossible for the Seahawks to match it.
The "poison pill," as it has been called, stipulated that, if Hutchinson is not the highest-paid offensive lineman on the team, his entire contract ($49 million) would be guaranteed. The Seahawks contested the contract, but their appeal was denied.

Now, the Seahawks have signed Minnesota restricted free agent wide receiver Nate Burleson to a prohibitive offer sheet: 7 years, $49 million. But the truly ingenious (and vindictive) part of the contract is the poison pill (according to KFFL): "The deal also includes two poison pills guaranteeing the entire [contract] if he plays a certain number of games in the state of Minnesota, or if his average-per-year exceeds the average of the highest-paid running back on the team."

It's a stunning move, and one that does major damage to the way that restricted free agency works. Any team could mimic that move that Seattle made: write into the contract that some prohibitive clause (i.e. guaranteeing the contract) is activated if (essentially) the player stays with his original team. A Steelers-centric example: Washington has expressed some interest in Steelers CB Ike Taylor. Say that Taylor signs an offer sheet that guarantees his contract if, say, he plays four games in Pennsylvania, or if he wears a black helmet. It's a sneaky move, and brilliant. Of course, the team that loses a player will be compensated with a draft pick. But still.

Free Agency Miscellany

2006-03-17T07:50:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things about free agency that I haven't gotten to yet:

=> Chris Hope. Hope spurned the Steelers' attempts to sign him and chose instead to cast his lot with the Tennessee Titans, who languish now in football's poorhouse and essentially have since their Super Bowl run a few years ago. Hope is good, solid, but not a difference maker. He was a cog in the Steelers' machine; on an inferior team, he will quickly prove himself to be overpaid.

=> QBs on the move. I wrote a few words on Joey Harrington, but I have not yet written on the two big off-season acquisitions, Drew Brees to the Saints and Daunte Culpepper to the Dolphins. Any clear-eyed observer could see that the Dolphins, the better team to begin with, got the better quarterback. When healthy, Culpepper is a force. While he is mobile, he is not a running quarterback in the vein of Mike Vick or even Donovan McNabb; the knee injury should therefore be less of an issue. He has some receivers (Randy McMichael, Chris Chambers) and a tough young back (Ronnie Brown) to support him. The Dolphins are officially a dangerous team.

The Brees signing, on the other hand, raises more questions. While no one should doubt Brees' ability (remember how much better he got after Philip Rivers was drafted? It wasn't a case of others making him look good), one can certainly doubt the talent on the Saints' roster. Deuce Mcallister is a solid back, but he gets hurt a lot. They have some receivers--Donte Stallworth, Joe Horn--but no one seems to live up to his potential. The problem is that the Saints organizational culture is a culture of losing. On good teams, many of the Saints players could be solid performers, or even stars. But they play down to the level of the organization's expectations. In that way, the Brees signing is a good thing--it seems to suggest a desire to lift the expectations--but the concern must be that the culture will change Brees before he can change it. Nick Saban already has the Dolphins believing, and, now, in steps Daunte Culpepper. The Saints, perhaps more than any other team in the NFL, still need to believe.

=> The Colts. In this space I have been praising the Steelers' attitude toward free agency. The Colts have what I deem to be an equally healthy attitude. Despite the loss of Edgerrin James and David Thornton, the Colts have stood pat, waiting for the bonanza of panicky overpayment (Washington, Cleveland) to die down. Yesterday, reports surfaced that the Colts had interest in Michael Bennett, the former Pro-Bowler who never really found his rhythm as a Viking. Joining the Colts, though, would raise his talent level by a factor of five, at least. The point is, though, that the Colts aren't treating free agency the way a fat kid treats a pie-eating contest. They are moving carefully, mindfully, with a minimum of effort. Whether they get Bennett, or another back (Maurice Morris of the Seahawks?), or whether they acquire one through the draft: look out for the Colts.

=> The Draft. For freaks like me, the Brees signing was particularly exciting because it augured a shake-up in way that the draft would play out. No longer would the Saints be targeting Matt Leinart; now, they would either trade with the Jets (so that the Jets could take Leinart ahead of Tennessee) or draft Mario Williams, a DE who draws comparisons to Julius Peppers. But the Jets are working hard to get Matt Schaub from Atlanta, a move which would put them out of the Leinart hunt. So: Vince Young to whom? The Raiders? Jay Cutler to Arizona? Baltimore? Oh, baby.

Will Throw for Food

2006-03-16T20:22:00.000-08:00

When Mike Martz became the offensive co-ordinator for the Detroit Lions, he expressed his admiration for Joey Harrington, the team's embattled quarterback and the third overall selection in the 2002 draft. If anyone can salvage Joey Harrington's career, observers said, it is Mike Martz, who has been able to make the likes of Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger look good.

Apparently now he won't have the chance. The Lions currently have five quarterbacks on the roster: Harrington, Dan Orlovsky, Shaun King, John Kitna, and now Josh McCown. Each new arrival pushes Harrington a litle closer to the exit. Rumors have circulated that Harrington asked to be released; ESPN.com reports that the team was less enamoured of Harrington than they led us to believe. Regardless of who said what to whom, Harrington is done.

And who could help Harrington to revive his career? Who could work such magic?

Umm... Mike Martz? Oh, wait. Maybe Harrington can crash on Akili Smith's couch.

Deep Thoughts

2006-03-16T07:49:00.000-08:00

I just read a report that said that the Steelers will soon be visited by Tim Dwight. Dwight is a short (5'8") speedster who has played for Atlanta, San Diego, and, last year, New England. He's 30 years old.

That the Steelers are entertaining the likes of Tim Dwight says one thing: the 2006 starting lineup is set. The addition of Ryan Clark, and the re-addition of Brett Keisel, filled out the dance card. Barrett Brooks has been re-signed, as has Jerame Tuman. (It took only one visit from Aaron Shea to convince Tuman that he had no bargaining power.) The team apparently feels comfortable with the centers on the roster. Now, and in the draft, the Steelers will turn their attention to depth: depth on the offensive and defensive lines, depth in the defensive backfield (what will happen to DeShea Townsend?), depth at OLB. Barring the signing of Dwight or another scrub, we can expect the Steelers to draft a WR (maybe someone tall enough to ride the adult rides at Six Flags?). But things seem to be shaping up for the Steelers to truly take the best available player at #32, to draft on talent rather than need: perhaps Bobby Carpenter or Manny Lawson? Such a pick would be like Christmas for Dick LeBeau. We can also expect the Steelers to package picks (they will likely have ten) to trade up at an appropriate moment.

It's a good position for the Steelers to be in, and emblematic of the way the franchise is run.

Hope/No Hope

2006-03-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers got into the free agency game today, signing Ryan Clark from the Redskin Potatoes to replace Chris Hope. Clark started as strong safety last year alongside Sean Taylor. Though he has little in the way of name recognition, he comes from a team that put a premium on defense, which I think bodes well.

The Steelers also re-signed Brett Keisel to replace KVO, who signed with the Jets (a team planning a move to the 3-4) today. Keisel was a 7th round draft choice, hailed as the Steelers' best bargain that year. And now he gets his chance. This patience, this emphasis on developing players, makes the Steelers special. (For the opposite approach, see the Washington Racists: the New York Yankees of the NFL.) I bid Kimo a fond farewell.

The Clark signing comes after Hope rejected offers from the Steelers; he has visits planned to Miami and Houston. I admire that the Steelers don't beg; we saw the same attitude with Plex Burress last year. "If you think you're worth more," the franchise says, "go get more." I hope you enjoy playing for the Texans, Chris. My farewell to you is less fond.

Another Steeler has been insisting on his own value: Jerame Tuman is apparently also rejecting the Steelers' offers. As a result, Aaron Shea visited today. Whatever.

More later on the big QB signings today.

Bargain Shopping

2006-03-14T08:33:00.000-08:00

Reports out of Pittsburgh indicate that the Steelers are talking to Redskin Potatoes' safety Ryan Clark. Who? Exactly. Clark spent the first two years of his career with the Giants before moving on to Washington, where he appeared in 28 games over two years. In that time, Clark registered 107 tackles, one half of a sack, 3 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. He is listed as Washington's starting strong safety, though, obviously, that is now Adam Archuleta. Would the Steelers move him to free safety, or are they looking to depth behind Troy? Hmm.

In other news, KVO will reportedly meet with two of the Steelers' nemeses: the Seahawks and (gag) the Ravens. There is always a certain pride that comes with seeing other teams flock to Steelers' free agents. But don't you think that former Steelers should refuse to play for the Ravens?

A Batch of Goodness

2006-03-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

Charlie Batch is about to re-sign with the Steelers, to take Touchdown Tommy's place as the backup QB. The Post-Gazette offers some useful insight on goings-on with other Steelers free agents:

"Defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen was in New York discussing a deal with the Jets, who will switch to the 3-4 defense next season and likely will trade defensive end John Abraham.

The Steelers and agent Eric Metz continue to trade proposals for defensive end Brett Keisel, who could replace von Oelhoffen at right end.

Safety Chris Hope yesterday visited the Tennessee Titans and will visit the San Francisco 49ers this week. The New England Patriots want to take a look at halfback Verron Haynes."

Notable here is that KVO appears to be on his way out: he's not just visiting the Jets; he is "discussing a deal." Again, a shame. Kimo, by all accounts, has been an asset in the locker room, and his play has not dropped as he has aged. But onward and upward: Keisel certainly has the skills to take his place.

Center of Attention

2006-03-13T05:23:00.000-08:00

Here is a good article from today's Post-Gazette about the work that the Steelers are doing in free agency. Of particular note is that deals are imminent to restructure the contracts of both centers on the team, Jeff Hartings and Chukky Okobi. The question that this fact raises is this one: are the Steelers not treating center as a need position right now? Do they have faith in Chukky?

Big Moves

2006-03-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

For the Steelers-centric observer, Sunday's biggest free agent move saw Antwaan Randle El signing a six-year deal worth $31 million (including $10 million in bonuses) to join the Washington Racists. Excuse me: Redskins.

Frequenters of this site know that I have been holding my breath, hoping against hope that ARE would find his way back to Pittsburgh. But the Racists are a desparate team, one willing to overpay for good (not great) talent at a position of need. (Reportedly, the offer from the Bears that ARE rejected was for $18 million over six years, with $8 million in bonuses.) Still, I'm sad to see him go: he is a quality guy and a good teammate. El's quick signing makes it all the more likely that Quincy Morgan will re-sign with the Steelers and compete with Cedric Wilson for the #2 spot.

Of course, the biggest news of the day was actually Edgerrin James signing with the Cardinals. In this space yesterday, I speculated that the Cards' aggressiveness toward James might be a ploy to wake up JJ Arrington, who underachieved mightily last year. I guess it wasn't. James changes the whole makeup of that team--provided, of course, that the line can block for him. Last year, teams were able to sit back and wait for mistakes in the passing game, because the run game offered no threat at all. Maybe Arizona really is serious about being a decent team.

Other signings of note: the Browns continued to streak, signing big, fat Ted Washington to anchor the defensive line. The Rams continued the defensive upgrade by signing LB Will Witherspoon. The Ravens signed Mike Anderson, late of the Broncos, presumably to replace Jamal Lewis (who, incidentally, has been linked in reports to the Broncos). Signing a back whose success has come in Denver is risky business: remember Olandis Gary? Me neither. Don't be surprised if the Ravens also draft a back, perhaps USC's LenDale White, to hedge against the likely decline in Anderson's productivity.

First Signing

2006-03-12T05:48:00.000-08:00

Overnight, the Steelers got their first deal of this free agency period done: they re-signed backup LB Clint Kriedwaldt. This is typical Steelers behavior, working hardest to sign in-house free-agents, particularly the backups and no-names. Kriedwaldt is a capable backup and solid special-teamer, but I imagine that the Steelers faced no real competition for his services.

Speaking of competition: the 49ers have declared themselves in the ARE hunt. While the Steelers had reportedly expressed interest in WR Andre' Davis, Davis has signed with the Bills. The Browns (Davis' old team, before he landed with the Pats) are interested in Chris Hope, though no report has been made of any negotiations or even a visit.

And a correction: the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting today that new acquisition Corey Chavous will be playing strong safety, not, as had been reported elsewhere, free safety. OJ Atogwe, a third-round draft choice last year from Stanford, will have the opportunity to win the starting FS role. In other words, Chavous' signing means that the Rams are waving goodbye to Adam Archuleta. Is Washington waving hello? The move seems like a good one for the Rams: Archuleta has been an asset to the Rams, but his coverage skills are questionable and his tackling isn't good enough.

A Steelers-centric Review of Free Agency, Day 1

2006-03-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

As noted already in this space, the Browns have been the big movers of the first day of free agency. In addition to signing LeCharles Bentley and Kevin Shaffer, Cleveland also signed wideout Joe Jurevicius, who will give the young Browns receivers a mature, hardworking player to emulate. Also notable was that DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu, whom the Browns were apparently targeting to play the nose in their 3-4, signed with the Panthers.

The Ravens lost Anthony Weaver, but replaced him with Trevor Pryce. Chester Taylor, Jamal Lewis' backup in Baltimore, signed with Minnesota; Lewis reportedly has received no calls. (Hard not to smile as I type that.) Former Steeler Kendrick Clancy signed with the Cardinals, who are reportedly also making a hard run at Edge James. I must say that I would be stunned if James ended up in Arizona. I'm sure JJ Arrington is getting the message loud and clear, though.

Speaking of D-line: KVO visited the Jets today. I have a feeling that the Steelers are waiting to see what the market is before they make a move to re-sign him. The other Steeler free agent in the news today was ARE, who received more attention from the Redskin Potatoes. After rejecting an offer from the Bears, El went to Washington, where he attended a Wizards' game on Snyder's dime. Washington also executed a trade with the 49ers for Brandon Lloyd today; just how greedy is this team?

The St. Louis Rams continued to upgrade their D by signing Cory Chavous from the Vikings. The Rams are in hot competition with the Dolphins for the services of LB Will Witherspoon; so far Scott Linehan and his staff are making good on their promise to bring defense to St. Louis. Chavous will reportedly play free safety, so the signing doesn't mean Adam Archuleta is gone. But let's face it: he is.

There were other signings, but none that really interested me. I was interested, though, to see that Chris Hope's name came up in no reports; nor did Brett Keisel's. What does it mean? It may mean nothing. We can only wait and see.

The Brown Streak

2006-03-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

Cleveland has taken an early lead in the free-agency race, signing two offensive linemen already today: Falcons OT Kevin Shaffer and Saints C LeCharles Bentley. Bentley is the bigger signing, obviously: he is one of the best centers in the league. The acquisition comes after numerous reports linked Bentley to the Eagles; one even claimed that the the deal to bring Bentley to Philadelphia had been done for a week. Not so.

Like many biased observers, I had hoped to see LeCharles Bentley join the Steelers. No one expected Pittsburgh to be active in free agency, but Bentley seemed like a perfect fit. (For what team would an excellent center NOT be a perfect fit?) This outcome raises a few questions: what's happening with the centers currently on the Steelers' roster? Before the CBA agreement was reached, both Hartings and Okobi were in negotiations to re-do their contracts. Will it still happen? Will either be cut? And: will the Steelers target a center in the draft? It seems inevitable that they will.

Potatoes

2006-03-10T15:32:00.000-08:00

That the Washington, DC football team still calls itself the Redskins is a disgrace. You have heard the arguments: no team could get away with a nickname that portrays any other race in such a derogatory way. It is reprehensible. At the very least, the team needs to lose the grotesque portrait on the side of the helmet. Tony Kornheiser, perhaps the funniest (and certainly the smartest) of ESPN's talking heads, has suggested that the team keep the name but redesign the helmet to feature a picture of a redskin potato. Now that's a team I can root for. (Get it?)

But their racism is only part of the reason that I can't imagine Antwaan Randle El playing for DC's squad. Word is out now that the Potatoes are after ARE. But seriously: if he isn't going to be a Steeler, he needs to be a Bear.

Past, Present and Future

2006-03-09T22:05:00.000-08:00

KFFL reports that Bill Cowher attended Ohio State's Pro Day, where he got to watch potential Steelers like safety Donte Whitner and OLB Bobby Carpenter strut their stuff. Ashton Youboty also worked out, for those among you who expect the Steelers to go for a CB in the first round.

Another report indicates that Tampa Bay has expressed an interest in Kimo. I'd love to see KVO return, particularly because Brett Keisel may be a hot free-agent commodity.

Bam!

2006-03-08T20:54:00.000-08:00

Here's something I didn't expect to see: a Bam Morris sighting. Morris was briefly a stud for the Steelers in the '90s, playing in Superbowl XXX before being cut after pleading guilty to felony possession of marijuana. After a couple years with he Ravens and the Chiefs, Morris landed in jail for probation violations.

But now Bam has resurfaced with the Katy Copperheads of the National Indoor Football League. God bless America!

Done Deal

2006-03-08T18:53:00.000-08:00

Both sides got what they wanted today in the NFL CBA negotiations: a deal. After a tough fight, the new agreement passed by a vote of 30-2. The Bills and the Bengals voted against. I would have been happier if two high-revenue teams voted against it, rather than two low-revenue teams, but the deal is done. The shared revenue pool is larger now, as is the players' share. The new cap is set at $102 million. Free agency officially begins 12:01 Friday morning, though reports are surfacing now that the owners would like an extra day to get their affairs in order.

Let the games begin.

Tommy Boy

2006-03-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

According to reports out of Miami, the Dolphins may make a play for ex-Steeler Tommy Maddox. Certainly, Miami will likely make a play for any quarterback with two arms and no contract, but consider this: Mike Mularkey, boy genius, is now co-ordinating the Dolphins' offense. Remember when Tommy was the pride of Steeltown? That was Mike, standing in the background.

What's that Mel?

2006-03-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

On Sportscenter tonight, Mel Kiper laid out his mock draft, from the bottom up. He started with a surprise: the Steelers taking Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter. Kiper called linebacker a "need" for the Steelers, but he didn't elaborate. Certainly, the Steelers could use linebacker depth--the fourth OLB last year was Andre Frazier, a rookie free agent--but the starting positions are set. I've liked Carpenter for a long time, and feel as though he would make an excellent Steeler, but the pick surprised me--in part because, for Carpenter to be available, he would have to drop past the Patriots.

Other surprises in Mel's world: Tamba Hali to the Browns (in a 3-4??); Tye Hill picked after Jonathan Joseph; Chad Jackson picked (by the Cowboys) over Santonio Holmes; Vernon Davis to the Rams. Actually, the Davis pick is one I like a lot, though it seems difficult to justify the Rams drafting for offense. (Incidentally, the Rams began the climb to respectability on defense recently by cutting Chris Claiborne and signing La'Roi Glover.)

The top picks, however, were not surprising. Unlike last year's draft, this year's seems set at the top. Repeat after me: Bush, Leinart, Young, Ferguson, Williams, Hawk....

The Good Fight

2006-03-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

I have been trying my best to follow the ongoing battle between the NFL owners' group and the players' union, though I have to admit that the attention is not always easily paid. My interest, like most fans', is in seeing the impasse resolved, so that free agency cash can begin to flow and questions like those mused upon in this space--what happens to ARE, Chris Hope, etc.--can begin to be answered. From what I can tell, though, NFLPA head Gene Upshaw has left the negotiating table like it's a dysfunctional relationship: that is, often, but not for long. He's a firm believer in the power of the storm-out. I imagine he does the same thing when he buys a car.

But Upshaw's antics are only amusing. It's hard to fault the union for wanting a bigger--or, according to Upshaw, consistent--slice of the revenue. The real problem appears to be in the owners' group: essentially, the only thing holding up a deal at this point is accord among high- and low-revenue team owners. Not surprisingly, high-revenue teams (Washington, New England) aren't interested in broadening the revenue-sharing plan that will help teams like Arizona and New Orleans stay competitive. They would rather keep their teams' individual revenue (money made locally by teams, separate from money made when you buy that Randall Gay jersey from NFL.com) and give it to players in bonuses, thereby circumventing the salary cap and undermining the league's push for parity. Remember, parity is what sets the NFL apart from other leagues: without it, stories like that of the Carolina Panthers or the St. Louis Rams never happen. Without parity, stories like that of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals do happen.

Patriots' owner Bob Kraft has emerged as a leader of the high-revenue group. Shame on him. The NFL has created a system, through judicious incorporation of socialist economic strategies ("sharing the wealth"), in which opportunity really is possible for all. (There's always hope, Cardinals.) A return to a more capitalist system will split the league into haves and have-nots and ruin that which makes the league so special. Stop being greedy, Bob. As Jerome Bettis said, everyone has enough to eat.

The Safety Dance

2006-03-03T12:52:00.000-08:00

The lack of action in the free agent market leaves me playing GM, narrating a series of fantastical scenarios for my own amusement. Here is one:

If Chris Hope leaves, the Steelers will need a free safety. One place they will certainly look is the draft: Ko Simpson, from South Carolina, if available at #32, would make sense, as would Jason Allen of Tennessee in the second round (a possible trade-up), or FSU's Pat Watkins later on the first day. But Simpson and Allen are inexperienced: the former is a sophomore, and the latter sat out his senior season with a dislocated hip after playing corner for some of his college career. Watkins is skinny, and would likely need some time to bulk up.

All of which means this: if Hope doesn't stay, the draft won't offer an immediate replacement. Free agency will be a necessity. Possibilities include Marcus Coleman of the Texans, Lance Schulters of the Dolphins, and Dexter Jackson of the Bucs. But here's the name that stands out to me: Will Demps. Why? To see a hated Raven defect, that's why. I can't help but fantasize about Demps, as a Steeler, wanting to stick it in his old teams' eye each time he plays them.

PS: What are the chances that the newly-released Tommy Maddox dons a Ravens uni this fall?

Fits and/or Starts

2006-03-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

According to the Philadelphia Enquirer, LeCharles Bentley, the free-agent center from the Saints, is waiting for free agency to begin so that he can sign with the Eagles. Bentley would displace, I presume, Hank Fraley, who has served the Eagles well after being cut by the Steelers.

Bentley was on the Steelers' wish list, and his acquisition would have made many things possible for the Steelers. But the Steelers are cash-strapped right now and staring down the barrel of last year's cap number. So cash-strapped are the Steelers that they cut Russell Stuvaints, back-up safety and special teamer, to save a couple hundred grand. Stuvaints is hurt, which means that he can file a grievance against the team if he isn't re-signed.

Reports are out now that the Duce Staley has avoided becoming a cap casualty by restructuring his contract. The Steelers are shooting for similar agreements with Chukky Okobi and Jeff Hartings.

It should be in interesting weekend.

The Green Way?

2006-02-26T17:06:00.000-08:00

KFFL reports that the Steelers had conversations with Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway at the Combine today. Greenway will likely be long ago drafted by the time the Steelers pick (to the Raiders? Browns? Rams?), so what gives? Is it a just-in-case? A smokescreen? Signs of a possible trade-up? I'm tempted to say it's the first one. But it's not like I know.

Speaking of smokescreens, reports are now surfacing that the Texans are shopping the #1 pick. Not a bad move; the Texans have a ton of needs and RB isn't really among them. It will be interesting to see if someone gets so enamored of Bush, Leinart, or Vince Young that the giveaway seems worth it. Some traditionally aggressive teams, including the Raiders and the Ravens, are in shouting distance.

Memories of Orpheus Roye

2006-02-25T21:40:00.000-08:00

A second post for the night: Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette predicts in Sunday's paper that the Steelers will lose not just Randle El (the Eagles and Bears are targeting him) and Chris Hope, but Brett Keisel as well. If they do lose Keisel, it may be to the Browns, who are hungry for defensive linemen. And Keisel is a good one.

If it happens, the team's priorities in the draft could change. Perhaps this is why the Steelers are talking to Babatunde Oshinowo?

A Combine-d Effort

2006-02-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

The Steelers, like the rest of the league, are sniffing about at the NFL Combine. According to KFFL, the Steelers have talked to Stanford DT Babatunde Oshinowo, who, at 6' 304 lbs, would make a great nose tackle in the 3-4. The Steelers, obviously, don't need another of those. They also talked with Monmouth WR Miles Austin (6'2", 215 lbs), and have shown interest in Auburn WR Anthony Mix (6'4", 235). See a trend? Mix even took pains to compare himself to Plaxico Burress. Cowher has also expressed an interest in QB/WR/RB/S/whatever Michael Robinson, the QB from Penn State. Robinson apparently still hopes to have a shot at playing QB. Miami (OH) WR Martin Nance (another big guy, at 6'4", 213) made sure during his interview to mention his existing chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger, his one-time college quarterback. Big Ben is apparently also working out in California with Jeremy Bloom, who is much smaller than the other receivers listed here.

Obviously, a lot of teams will interview a lot of guys. But isn't it fun to scrutinize?

There's Still Hope (Maybe)

2006-02-21T05:36:00.000-08:00

Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com's best football writer, is reporting that the Steelers have begun the process of negotiating to keep Chris Hope off of the free agent market. Nothing has passed the initial, verbal stage, but the Steelers are showing their interest.

Interestingly, today's Post-Gazette reports that NBC's newest football analyst, Jerome Bettis, said that the Steelers think they can "stand to lose" Hope because of the bargaining power he has.

Which wouldn't rule out the sort of feel-out that Pasquarelli is reporting. The problem, as both analysists point out, is that the Steelers have no viable replacement for Hope. Free agency offers few options, perhaps the best being Lance Shulters. But come on: Lance Shulters?

Venues like this are good for antsy speculation, but only time will tell.

The Falling Mighty

2006-02-18T17:31:00.000-08:00

This from KFFL (a great clearinghouse for football news): "The Sports Xchange reports the Kansas City Chiefs are likely to do something with LB Kendrell Bell, who will count more than $7.2 million against the team's 2006 salary cap after experiencing an unproductive first season in Kansas City last year. Bell could well end up being a cap casualty."

Not long ago, Kendrell Bell looked like the next in a line of Steeler linebacking greats. He was fast, agile, and he hit like a musk ox. (Seriously. Have you ever seen a musk ox hit?) Now he's in danger of getting cut from one of the crappiest defenses in the AFC.

Thanks for the memories, Kendrell.

KFFL also reports that Steelers' OT Trai Essex has been arrested in South Beach and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence. First Duce, now this? Come back, Jerome, come back!

Steelers Draft Thoughts

2006-02-14T16:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, listen: I know that the NFL draft is still over two months away, and that free agency hasn't even begun, but I'm already obsessed. I've been scouring draft sites and pondering mock draft possibilities, and here are my thoughts:

Steelers' first-round pick? Nick Mangold, the center from Ohio State. Certainly, free safety and wide receiver are bigger needs, but here is my rationale. The best players at both positions, and the only first-round locks at this point, will be gone by the mid-point of the first round, well before the Steelers pick. Those among next bunch of players at both positions will be available at the end of the second (even the third) round: wideouts like Hank Baskett and Mike Hass, safeties like Greg Blue, Darnell Bing, and Pat Watkins. Of course, not all of those players will be available, but some will. Jeff Hartings made the Pro Bowl this year, but his age and his salary threaten his place with the team. In the best scenario, Hartings plays one year with Mangold as his apprentice, then decorously steps aside.
Antwaan Randle El may return. He wants to be a Steeler, and, while his free agent stock certainly rose in the Super Bowl, it rose in the Steeelers' eyes, too. My uninformed opinion is that the WR least likely to return is Cedric Wilson. And that includes Quincy Morgan, who could provide a complement to Ward and allow ARE to move back into the slot. If so, the pressure to draft a WR in the early rounds decreases.
Many are predicting that the Steelers will draft a QB on the second day, who will be the team's emergency quarterback behind Charlie Batch. It seems likely. It also seems likely that the team will spend a draft pick on a tight end: Kranchik was claimed off of the practice squad by the Panthers, and Tuman is going to be a decent TE in another uniform next year.
What about a running back? Not long ago, people were linking the Steelers to LenDale White. White will be gone long before the Steelers pick, but folks yakking on the web seem convinced that the Steelers desparately need a RB. They forget, apparently, that the team deactivated Duce Staley for half the year because they couldn't find a place for him on the active roster. They had too many good running backs. Now they have lost one, which gives them just the right number. Staley's durability is a concern, but a big investment in a back would be foolhardy. A running back is a second-day pick.

Cheers.