What do the Steelers Need?

Obviously the loss to Cinci' has eliminated Pittsburgh from the "dance".  However, it was really disheartening to see probably the most consistent and reliable offensive player on the team go down on Sunday: Heath Miller.  I want to say that Miller should be the MVP of the team this year and if some other player wins it, I "demand" an explanation as to "why"!

Again, this offense turns the ball over and is just plain ineffective in running the ball.  Ben likes to carry the load but is really "NOT" the type of quarterback whom can do the same as a Brady or Manning.  However, you can win Super Bowls with Rothlisberger; there's a difference and "Ben" needs to realize this as well.  

It is imperative this coaching staff get a "real pair" of running backs.  Yes, you need two.  Mendenhall has the most talent out of the present group, but that ain't sayin' a lot!  He can stay as a back up or seek greener pastures.  Redman needs to go back on special teams.  

Tomlin really needs to stop thinking reserve players can play as well as starters and make corresponding adjustments sooner.  Our player screening process also seems to be failing!  I hope all the players have a great off season and get healthy for next year.  I really hope we can draft Monte Ball out of Wisconsin.  Jonathan Frankly at UCLA is the most talented RB in college but seems to have this problem with hanging on to the ball!  Do we dare take a risk?

Steelers - Giants: Reflections of Each Other

I am still a Steeler fan but the Giants would be the NFC "mirror image" of Pittsburgh if you ask me.  Both teams, and franchises emphasize defense and a gritty style of play. The Steelers are typically a top rated NFL defense year after year and the Giants have a formidable defensive line that is unmatched in talent as well as depth.  I would classify the Giants defense as more "streaky" while the Steelers are pretty consistent week to week. 

The persona of these teams are also similar.  The Steelers are quick to diffuse distractions and disruptive players like Santonio Holmes from a few seasons ago just like the Giants excused "Plexico" after his gun-carrying debacle.  Additionally, neither the Steelers or the Giants seem to grab a lot of media attention, even when the teams are winning and their players seem to have a strong grasp of sticking together by not pointing  fingers during interviews.  The players on both teams seem to only vocalize how their own play can be better versus pointing blame on teammates.

I also realized that both of these teams have quarterbacks drafted in the 2004 draft with the Giants actually overlooking Ben in that draft for Eli who was them highly regarded pro prospect entering into the draft.  Of course with both of these quarterbacks now have two Super Bowls under their belt, it is likely their legacy will be measured by titles versus statistics.  Both quarterbacks are "always" deemed as "questionable" when the class of elite NFL quarterbacks are mentioned.

Another similarity with these two teams is they both would preference running the ball but neither have had a lot of sustained success in doing so over the last couple of seasons as is the trend throughout the NFL.  

Right now, the Giants seem to be a bit more healthy than the Steelers regarding key players so you have to give them the edge.  However, in the NFL advantages on paper mean nothing if your teams plays lousy.  That's why I'm picking Pittsburgh to win this one as it is just the right timing for the "G-Men" to start their typical mid-season losing streak at home!

Bengals Good For Steelers

The Steelers have owned the Bengals for a long time so this was the one road game I felt the "team" believed they could win.  I emphasize "team" because this is a "new" group of players; some playing because of injuries to others while others are just "fresh" to the Steeler Nation.   

Mike Wallace had a bad game and must begin to be more reilable in terms of catching the ball(...even on deflections) if he wants anything close to a franchise contract.  Right now Wallace is just "fast" and no one is going to pay a receiver top dollar if can run fast and can't be reliabe - remember Limas Sweed!

Jonathan Dwyer looked like a young Jerome Bettis for a minute in this game.  He ran through arm tackles and generally "pounded" the Bengals second layer defensive players.  The question now is whether the offensive line will "fire out" against the next team as they did against the Bengals and whether Dwyer will run this hard again.  

I think Pittsburgh will always throw the ball earlier in games and then try to "melt" the clock in the fourth quarter with more runs.  I am also glad to see that Haley is a big advocate of the 10 plus play drive which somewhat explains these "dink and donk" short passes that Ben eluded to in a condescending manner.  These short passes are designed to save the QB's health, and also compensate for the lack of a reliable running game thus far this season

Ike Taylor had a much better game but you could also attribute this to deep safety that lined up behind him all night to help shut down the dangerous Greene on the Bengals team.  The strategy worked and to his credit Ike "squatted and jammed" the best offensive threat for the Bengals the entire game.  I'm still just not that confident in Taylor as the teams's "shut down corner"!

It was also nice to see the defense really take control of the game in the middle of the third quarter.  I saw Ziggy Hood finally dominate the middle of the defensive line particularly after the starting center got hurt.  I just feel our defensive line is just not physical enough to be "consistently" successful in the 3-4 front unles Harrison can match the intensity of Woodley on the other side and I just don't see that happening right now.

Overall, this was much needed road victory that showed some improvements in different facets of our team.  I hope to see the special teams improve in reducing their penalties next week so we can keep some of those yards Rainey and Brown can afford us.

GO STEELERS!!!

Ben "Passes" Bradshaw 

Ben has become our all-time leading passer eclipsing Terry Bradshaw of the great Steeler's era of the 70's.  To me it's uncanny how similar the two are on the field but a a bit different off the field.

Ben is a fan favorite and most would say is the "heart" of the team.  Now that he has settled his personal life off the field, Ben is poised to lead this team for as long as his body and talent will allow.  I am a big fan of Ben.  He is much better this season at getting that ball out instead of holding it taking sacks as he previously did.  Ben also seems to have a "six sense" about the pass rush and there is no one better at stepping out of the way of onslaught and making a play with his legs or getting the ball down the field.

Bradshaw was NOT considered to be a fan favorite in his era even though he was a big part of why the Steelers won 4 Super Bowls during the 70's.  However, Bradshaw had a hall of fame talent running back in Franco Harris and two hall of fame talented receivers to throw to as well.  I feel Bradshaw had a much stronger arm than Ben and could easily put the ball 60 plus yards down the field almost effortlessly.  Bradshaw was not a bad "scrambler" but wisely chose to throw the ball more when under pressure than take off running.  I think some concussions early in his career kinda' remedy that process for him.


Anyway, Ben is much better runner than Bradshaw and is bit more physical in stature as well.  However,  no matter how many passing yards Ben accumulates he still will need to get the 4 Super Bowl wins as Bradshaw to enter the ring of honor.  Unfortunately for Ben, the deck is now stacked against that feat.  Let's face it, Bradshaw played with 4 Hall of Famer's on offense(...in addition to himself) and at least 5 Hall of Famer's on defense.  I still don't know why Greenwood and Shell are not in the Hall Of Fame yet!


Currently, I think Woodley and Polamalu are possible Hall Of Fame talent and  Pouncey if he can stay healthy more consistently.  But Ben has never had a true "go to running back" except for the "BUS"(...Jerome Bettis) when he was really at the end of his prime.  I also think Hines Ward is possibly a Hall of Fame nominee but his services are no longer available, to Ben and the Steelers.  I really miss his reliability and toughness. The Steelers really need to get Ben two reliable running backs to alleviate the burden he now carries offensively every game.  Simply put, Ben is the best player on the team right now.

10/11/2012_Fed Up!

Anybody remember what it "used" to be like to see the Steelers play a dominate game on both sides of the ball?  The Steelers have got to start winning on the road and particularly beat "struggling" teams such as the Titans and the Raiders whom they fell to earlier this season.

I am really starting to doubt the game preparation by these coaches as evident in just obvious issues such as special teams inconsistency and just the overall attitude of these players.  I saw Steeler players "joking" on the sidelines while the team was either trailing and/or tied.  I am particularly perturbed by Tomlin's player like  accolades when the team makes a good play.

The offensive linemen are getting injured due to poor technique, lack of conditioning and lack of discipline

We have to begin to look at why year after year the Steelers O-Linemen stay injured so much.  

Without Polamalu in the secondary, the Steelers have no corner backs whom have adequate ball speed.  It does not matter the amount of desire and hustle you have if you just simply cannot make plays when you are "IN" position to make plays as was Ike Taylor shown above in the end zone when the Titans scored their last touch down.  

Well, the end result is the Steelers were missing some key players but had ample opportunity to win this game.  I am very disappointed.

Raiders Blasts Steelers on 9/23/12

I say the Steelers did get blasted even though they only lost by 3 points because it was a game they should have never been close and that we should have never lost.  When the Raiders get that good all of a sudden?

In the first half of this game the Raiders did NOT convert a single third down but yet were only behind by a touchdown at half.  The Steelers had the ball about 21 minutes compared to 8 minutes for the Raiders in the first half, yet only lead by a touchdown at intermission.  The Steelers special teams allowed the Raiders great field position after every score essentially giving this team hope versus "slamming" the door.  The special teams also caused our own touchdown on a punt return to get called back at a point in the first half where the Raiders would have been behind by two touchdowns and may have very well folded camp as they did in their first two games.

I eluded to the defense's poor pursuit angles before the game but of course they did the same thing all day allowing big play after big play.  Darren McFadden had only 54 yards total in the first two games but breaks a 64 yard touchdown run against us because one linebacker elects to go around the blockers versus meeting a pulling guard in the hole(...was he scared) then the other linebacker simply misses him.



The second half was like "The Tale of Two Cities".  The Raiders converted 7 out of 8 third down conversions!  Our defense only musters on sack again by Woodley which again emphasizes the lack of an overall pass rush.  Harrison and Polamalu are key players but the rest of the defense must step up.  I was also appalled by the defensive scheme of just lining up against the Raiders massive O-line and getting pushed around again.  LaBeau may be past his prime and can't change.


At this point in our season, the Steelers already have 28 penalties and I believe 7 in this games.  Ball security is another issue that is hurting this team a key points.  If Brown does no lose that ball in the fourth quarter, the Steelers may close the deal at that point.  He was fortunate to get his first fumble back in the first half.

Finally the running game amassed a grand total of 37 yards?  I know Ben was hot but a running game possibly could have further "deflated" the Raiders on their own field and kept our defense off the field longer to give them more rest. Tomlin has some work to do.  The Steelers essesntially have given the Raiders' season hope

Where's The "RUSH"!

Two games into the season thus far and the Steelers are lacking a "rush" in two different areas.  The team has only two sacks thus far into the season.   I don't know if we can be a defensive "force" with one sack a game unless we are creating a lot of "hurries".  The sacks in recent years were obtained  mainly from dominate players like Harrison and Woodley.

Woodley is now in his prime and a true "stud" of a player with great size, strength, and tenacity to the ball. Woodley is getting "chipped" a lot by backs coming out of the backfield which kinda' neutralizes his initial surge; but the guy does keep coming.

Woodley is massive!

 Woodley in his "grill"

James Harrison is "Mr. Nasty!" and my personal favorite player.  Harrison likes to bring the "pain" reminiscent of the great Steeler defenses in the 70's.  However, Harrison is now is a few years beyond his prime and thus gets "nicked up" a bit now because of the tenacious type of player he is but when he is on the field you know it.

Let me at 'em!

Ready for the attack

The other "rush" we need is a reliable running game.  The Steelers are a victim of their own fortune here I think.  Because we "always" are contenders we are never high in the draft selection where a premier back can get selected.  However, Mendenhall had the promise to be the featured back but injuries in the previous season have kept him out thus far.  So in two games we have less than 200 hundred yards rushing.

Some teams use screen packages and design flat passes to compensate for their lack of rushing, but at the end of the game who wants to throw the ball.  Last week against the Jets, the running game gritted out enough yards to prolong a 10 minute plus scoring drive that really secured the game.  I look forward to see what Tomlin will implement to boost this part of the Steeler game against the Raiders.

Pregame Notes For Raiders on 09/23/2012

First of all we need to make sure we have the right shoes for that "baseball" field they play on out there - what a piece of work for an NFL team.  I believe the Raiders have talent but still lack discipline.  They still like to throw the ball deep so the defense should employ the "two deep" technique. The Raiders have two of the FASTEST receivers in the league and the they still likes to "force" the ball down the field.

One linebacker should be given the McFadden "blanket" for runs and more importantly "screen passes"!  The Raiders do have a great "screen package" and they love to run it on third and long!  They could use our defenses's aggressive nature against us with screen passes.

Again, give the bad shape of that field the defense will need to take good pursuit angles because "slipping" will be an issue and will NOT allow for even our team speed to recover. The Raiders Offensive line is enormous but use poor technique so our D-line should not try to overpower them but use "slants" and stunts, instead.


On offense, Haley must not become predicatable in the first quarter as he has the first two games where we run the ball on first and second down and put the burden on Ben on third down to convert.  I still believe Chris Rainey can be an 'X' factor if he can just stay on his feet and stop tripping(...the guy does slip alot!) Rainey would be great on screen plays if he can just catch the ball first this week but I do not think he will last as a "featured" back but could do well as a slot back getting the ball that way.  Again, Haley has got to make him a part of the game plan.

Overall, the Steelers must do the following to win this week:
1. Do not give up the big play on offense, defense, or special teams
2. Do not give yards to the Raiders via excessive penalties
3. Get the proper footing: sounds simple but that field is "atrocious"
4. Get an early lead; the Raiders play poorly from behind
5. Take care of the ball; avoid turnovers at all costs!

09/16/2012 Jets Game

The Steelers returned to Heinz field for their home opener against the New York Jets.  I was okay with the Jets jumping out to an early lead because our team rarely comes out of the gate fast.  I was really glad to see Haley become less predictable in his play calling particularly as the game moved into the second half.  However, too much of the offense is still driven by big Ben's ability to make plays after eluding the rush.  I would really like for the Steelers to get consistent "screen game" going to offset some of the pass rush Ben faces.  It still never ceases to amaze me that Ben is "never" mentioned in the circles of discussions of elite QB's in the NFL.

Defenses fear him outside the pocket

Overall, all DB's in the NFL will grab and hold beyond the guidelines.  However, once you get "flagged" one time, (..."Ike Taylor"), it would seem you would learn from your mistakes.  I know Ike has the physical talents to be a quote on quote "shut-down corner" but I'm just not convinced the title is appropriate.  To his credit, Ike Taylor did play the Jets Santonio Holmes much better in the second half.  I also feel Ike's tackling (...as with other Steeler defenders) leaves a lot to be desired.  Another thing that rubs me about our DB's is when they actuall make play and break up a pass, they immediately go into a celebration taunt with their arms flailing as if to indicate, "Not on my watch".  I think really good DB's don't display such "flauntings" and a fine example is you never see Polamalu go into such a display when he makes a play causing an incomplete pass.

The Steelers defense played with great effort but we are still taking some poor pursuit angles which lead to missed tackles and additional yards gained.  I'm not sure if Dick Labeau is seeing this, but fortunately the overall talent can make up for some of these poor pursuit angles by compensating with their recovery speed.   However, when the Steelers play better teams, these poor pursuit angles will cost us points and possible loses.

I am still waiting for Chris Rainey to begin to play like a pro.  Yesterday, he almost broke clear on a put return and almost caught a pass on a screen play that would likely have him still running had he caught the ball.  He is a rookie so I know he is still adjusting to the speed of the game.  I think once he gets his feet(...the guy slips "alot"!), and understands his role, Chris Rainey could bring a speed factor out of the backfield in Pittsburgh we have not experienced in a long time.

Redman effect!

It was really nice to see this Dwyer come in and get some positive run yards for the Steelers offense.  However, the most reliable and productive running back I saw yesterday was Redman!  Redman ran extremely hard even to the fault of making the ball vulnerable to take-a-ways like when the Jets defender was a "knee-touch" away from taking the ball away from him on one of those extended effort attempts.  However, it was great to see Redman "seal the deal" in the fourth quarter when he ripped through those arm tackles down there at the goal line to end that extended 10 minute drive.  You know a 10 minute drive is just about an entire quarter!

Well next week we play the Raiders in Oakland and I hope we don't give their season the spark they need by playing poorly and giving up turnovers.  I also hope the team has the right shoes to play on that "baseball" field. I am very proud of the Steelers play today, but am always looking for areas of improvement.

The Legend of Donnie Shell

There are many Steeler legends but most SC Steeler fans have heard the upstart story of Donnie Shell whom played on the great Steeler teams of the 70's.  Now I will share a bit of the rumored "story behind the story" about this player who was the other reason a South Carolina native became a Steeler fan. 

I first heard about Donnie Shell from the strangest resource - my father.  My Dad cared nothing about football back in those days in the early middle 70's since he was extremely fond of baseball.  However, as the family was watch football one Sunday, he mentioned, "Oh Shell from Whitmire 'sposed to be on that team, you know".  I thought he knew absolutely nothing about the game but a NFL player from SC was rare and this one lived only about 17 miles from our house!

Subsequently, I begin to hear about "Shell" as he was referenced.  The stories of his beginnings seemed like a story from another era and there is some truth to that.

See, Donnie Shell played for my school's then cross-county rival in a town call Whitmire, SC during the late 60's!  If you were not there you cannot imagine what life in SC was like in a "small" town during the post "Jim Crow" and late "Civil Rights" era.  I was only about eight or nine years of age at the time but can tell you most African-Americans were extremely poor and had limited opportunities to become an NFL star!  "Shell" was poor and the legend has it he did farm chores and ran miles all before going to school at that time.  "I told you it sounded like something out of a movie script!  It was also rumored that in his Senior of football at Whitmire High School, no team scored a single touchdown the entire season. 

"Shell" was awarded a football scholarship to SC State College where he played from 1971-1974.  Here's another enigma!  HBCU's(...look it up) were flooded with NFL talent throughout the 60's and early 70's.  The one's in the South were extremely loaded because of the culture of the time as mentioned earlier; however some BCS schools were beginning to "skim the cream of the crop" at that time so to speak but there were still many highly talented HBCU players during this era.

I'm not sure why "Shell", being an AP All-American selection at SC State College was not high on most NFL scout team list of potential draftees.  However, "Shell" persisted through adversity, got himself to Pittsburgh, PA, got signed as a free agent then "clawed" his way on the Steelers special teams in 1974 before gaining a starting position as strong safety, eventually.

As an avid SC Steeler fan in the 70's, I remember hearing "Donnie Shell" being recognized on defense but he was often overshadowed by "Steel Curtain", an elite group of linebackers and the first real "shut-down" corner back in the game.  However, "Shell" became legendary in my eyes in the NFL on the big stage against probably the most feared runner in the game at that time, Earl Campbell who had been terrorizing defenses because of his size, strength, and brutality.  

Donnie Shell ended that Campbell "mystique" on Monday night football game with vicious shot to the spinning Earl Campbell that silenced the announcers, the stadium, and those of us whom saw the hit.  It put the big back out of the game with a rib injury.  From that moment forward, "Shell" always seemed to be a continuous Nemesis to the Houston Oilers and also seemed to erode that "fearless" charge from Earle Campbell. 

  

"Shell" went on to total 51 interceptions as well as FOUR super bowl rings!   I still don't know why this SC Steeler legend is NOT in the Pro-Football Hall of Fame.  

 

SC Steeler is based on my alliance to the “Pittsburgh Steelers”.  My first blog post is about how I even became a Steelers fan while living in South Carolina.  When people from other states (….particularly northerners) inquire about my fondness for the Steelers, I immediately point to two events.  One is the “Immaculate Reception” and the other is the story of Donnie Shell which I will blog about in detail in a subsequent post.

I used to be a big AFL fan back in the day.  I know I am somewhat “dating” myself but this who I am.  Growing up in South Carolina in the late 60’s and 70’s limited the available local NFL teams to the “Falcons”.  “Come on man”, you gotta’ be kidding me!  What kid back then wanted to go around claiming a team no one could even could name one player on the entire team.  Furthermore, the Falcons at that time perennial losers.  However, there were a few teams in the AFL at that time that had promise and at that time the Kansas City Chiefs were my NFL team of choice.  At that time frame they had some real star power with names like Len Dawson (QB), Willie Lanier(MLB), Bobby Bell(OLB), Emmitt Thomas(CB), Buck Buchanan(DL), Jan Stenerud(Kicker)and even the most flamboyant coach at the time Hank Stram.  Did I mention all these guys are in the Hall Of Fame.       


 
Hank Stram                   Len Dawson     


   
Bobby Bell                       Willie Lanier   

Unfortunately, the Kansas City Chiefs became a victim of their own success.  After the early 70’s some of their draft picks were simply just “inadequate” to help the team further their prior success.  Coupled with some of their aging talent, you simply had a recipe for a team that just never could recapture their past glory days.

About around this time, the Pittsburgh Steelers were drafting future hall of fame talent.  Of course no one knew it then but starting with Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, and then Franco Harris they were putting together the nucleus of the team that would become known as the “greatest” of all time!  Additionally, when Franco came into the league and played the Chiefs that year in ’72, he “steamrolled” the Chiefs vaulted defense for 134 yards which got my attention.  So the Steelers finished the 1972 season with a record  11-3 while the Chiefs were 8-6 and out of the playoffs.

          

Joe Greene                                   Terry Bradshaw

In the ’72 playoffs the Steelers drew the Oakland Raiders as their first playoff game at Three Rivers Stadium and the game was brutal.  I remember watching this game with my older brothers whom seemed to like the fact that the Raiders were taking it to the Steelers whom I had declared was my “new” NFL team that year!  Of course the game was close but it just seemed throughout the game that even though the Raiders were older they were very established and always had an advantage over the Steelers in every facet of the game.  The Raiders also has a slew of Hall of Fame talent on their team at the time and were generally feared in the NFL at that time (…and rightfully so) as the “smash-mouth” football team, offensively and defensively.

Anyway the Raiders took the lead over the Steelers in this 1972 playoff game near the end of the game when Kenny “the Snake” Stabler seemingly hobbled into the end zone on a quarterback scramble from about 30 yards with just over left to play in the game.  My brothers were ecstatic and were really talking trash.  I had to step outside it was so bad and get some air.  By the time I came back in the house, Pittsburgh was on their 40 yard line with only about a few seconds left to play.  I can’t even remember if we even had a color TV at that time (…most persons I knew didn’t), however, I do remember I how dejected I felt while my brother were still “ragging” me about my new choice of my NFL team.

Well the last play of the game started and I can even remember that Curt Cowdy was the play-by-play announcer for NBC was giving both teams “props” for well-played defensive game.  Click here for a moment of history!   Well you know what happened next!  My older brothers looked like they had been shamed and stain immensely; a feeling they would get use to because of the Steelers dynasty that had just begun!