Ben meets the press

The week leading up to the conference championship games must be designed as training sessions for the Super Bowl. Suddenly players and coaches are meeting with the assembled press every day!

Here, through the auspices of the National Football League, is the transcript for Ben Roethlisberger's conference call.

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

NATIONAL MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL

PITTSBURGH STEELERS QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER



January 20, 2011



Q: On benefits of postseason experience entering this weekend’s AFC Championship Game:


BR: It helps with being familiar with the atmosphere, the intensity of the game and knowing every play matters, every play counts and every mistake is magnified. Being here and having done this before, you don’t really get surprised with how big the game is.



Q: On his confidence in Steelers WRs Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Mike Wallace:


BR: Those guys have done such a great job – speaking of Mike (Wallace) first – of really growing from last year to this year. Obviously, everyone talks about how fast he is. (Steelers head) Coach (Mike) Tomlin teases him and calls him a one-trick pony, but he has done a great job of being able to do more than just run fast down the field. He kind of takes pride in putting the extra work in to being a better all-around wide receiver. He is still growing. The sky is the limit for him. As for Emmanuel (Sanders) and Antonio (Brown), those guys both put in a lot of work and time because they know they have got to live up to the expectations of Mike Wallace and (Steelers WR) Hines Ward who has been here forever. It is really an awesome thing to see those guys work and really just blossom and grow every week.



Q: On recent success of road playoff teams:


BR: When you’ve got a veteran team, I think that really helps – a team that kind of has been down the road. It is not their first playoff run or they just have a lot of experience. You’re seeing that now with the Jets. They’ve obviously got a really good team and a veteran group. You kind of lean on those guys to get you through it. You take this ‘it’s us against the world’ (mentality) but it’s really you against the other team and the other fans and the hostile environment you play in. That’s probably the approach that those guys take because I know it is one that we took.



Q: On Steelers WRs Ward and Antwaan Randle El influencing the position group:


BR: Especially Hines, he has been doing this at a really high level for a long time. He is one of the best receivers I have ever played with. He takes those guys under his wings and teaches them the little things that he can help them with. The thing about Hines is the football style and some of the things that he does you can’t teach. You are born with it. He has that ‘it’ factor. As much as he can, he helps those guys out. It has been huge for those guys to have him and now Antwaan back helping out.



Q: On the Jets defensive success in the playoffs:


BR: Literally everything from their coverages to their blitzes to rushing two guys and getting sacks, it is truly amazing. I’ve said that. They can go into Indianapolis and beat (QB) Peyton Manning and go to New England and beat (QB) Tom Brady, who are the two best quarterbacks in the game in my opinion, I don’t know how I have a chance. I’m just going to have to try and get lucky and play the best I can.



Q: On his attitude toward reaching the AFC Championship game after missing games to begin the season:


BR: The great thing is that was so long ago I forgot all about it. Right now it is not about living in the past for me; it is about here and now and this game. We can’t really afford to look back and focus on the past. We have to do what we’ve got to do now, and that’s trying to win this game against a really good team.



Q: On the Steelers’ defensive performance enhancing the offense:


BR: It’s great. As a quarterback, when you have a defense like we have, it gives you some confidence that if you make a mistake or don’t score every time your defense is going to be there to back you up most of the time. I enjoy watching those guys play. I’m glad they are on my side.



Q: On if his competitiveness drives him to challenge Jets CB Darrelle Revis:


BR: It’s tough. You’re right. As a competitor, you don’t want to ever say you are scared of anybody or you don’t want to go after someone but you’ve got to use your head. Being a competitor is being smart as well. Knowing how good he is and with all those other guys they have over there, you can’t just be like, ‘Forget that, I’m a competitor. I’m going after him. I don’t care what happens.’ You have got to be able to use your head and know when to attack and when not to.



Q: On knowledge acquired since playing in the 2005 postseason:


BR: How much the intensity and how much faster – I remember from people telling me from the preseason to the regular season the speed changes. It kind of picks up and intensifies a little bit, and it did. Then you talk about how much it changes once you get into the playoffs from the regular season. Every week in the playoffs, it picks up a little bit more. I don’t think I realized that at first. Even when people tried to tell me, it really didn’t hit me. Now I see that and that’s why I try and pass that on to the younger guys. Every week your mistakes are magnified. There is no more ‘my bad, I’ll get it next time’ because there is not going to be one.



Q: On interest in playing a postseason game in London:


BR: That’s a long flight, I’ve heard. I’ve talked to some of the guys who have played over there. They say it is one of the most awesome things that they have gotten to do. If you didn’t have to travel all that time with the long flight, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I think it would be fun to go play in Ireland where Ambassador (Art) Rooney is. That would be kind of fun.



Q: On his growth as a player and person since last season:


BR: When it comes to play, the more you play in this league the more you mature, the better you get and the more things slow down for you. I just try and go out every week and every day and get a little bit better and help my team win football games. When it comes to being a person, I just try to be the person my parents raised me to be.



Q: On a formula for postseason success:


BR: Try not to make mistakes and score more points than the other team does (laughter).



Q: On competing with other quarterbacks for Super Bowl victories:


BR: I’m not going for my third Super Bowl. I’m trying to get an AFC Championship win here. That’s what is first and foremost in my mind. In the offseason, of course, you think about those things – how many Super Bowls you have compared to other people. Right now, that’s not in my mentality and my mind frame to think about where I am on the Super Bowl list because I’m not playing in the Super Bowl this week. This week is about playing this Jets defense, which may be one of the best we have ever played.

Ravens v. Steelers:The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly

Surprisingly enough, home field can be an advantage, even in Pittsburgh (many thanks to my friend Joe Brugh for the included photograph ~ taken from section 524 of Heinz Field). In a postseason that witnessed an unprecedented strength amongst the road teams (i.e. in this postseason visiting, and home, teams were 5-5) the Pittsburgh Steelers overcame their franchise's history, and the angst that all Pittsburgh fans feel for no other reason than they are Pittsburgh fans, to earn a trip to Florida and Super Bowl XLIII. Here are some of our impressions from that game.

The Good

1. What does one say, what can one say when everything has been said? In the afterglow of the AFC Championship can anyone really question whether or not the Steelers have the NFL's most dominant defense? During the 2008 regular season the Baltimore Ravens' offense averaged 324.0 yards per game, and 248.5 yards per game in the postseason. But in the AFC Championship the Steelers held Baltimore's offense to 198 total net yards ~ their lowest single-game total of the season (their second lowest total was 202 yards ~ against the Steelers in the second meeting between these two teams).
   
   Obviously the most impressive part of that low yardage total is the job that the Steelers' run defense did ~ the 73 yards rushing for Baltimore was their second-lowest total of the season (the lowest total was 10/12/08 versus Indianapolis ~ 51 yards), and came against an offense that averaged 148.5 yards of rushing during the regular season and 91.3 yards per playoff game.
   
   In addition to the yardage allowed, the Steelers defense sacked Joe Flacco three times, making it an even 10 sacks by Pittsburgh against Mr. Flacco on the season. To put that into some kind of perspective, in the other 16 games the Ravens played this season Mr. Flacco was sacked a total of 25 times.
   
   During the previous 18 games Joe Flacco threw 12 interceptions. On Sunday the Steelers picked off three passes.
   
   Going into the game there were some who expected the Ravens to have an answer for the Steelers. Based upon this game we are not sure the Ravens' offense understood the question.


2. Every time Baltimore and Pittsburgh play we hear all about Ray Lewis, and what a great player he is. Fair enough ~ he is a great player; however if he is great then what about James Farrior? In the game Mr. Lewis had 6 tackles, 3 assists, defended 1 pass, and forced 1 fumble. Meanwhile, the less heralded James Farrior had 6 tackles, 3 assists, and defended 1 pass ~ and had the good fortune of having played on the winning team. Mr. Lewis talks more, but Mr. Farrior's impact on the field of play iis as least as significant.


3. Special teams were something of a mixed bag on Sunday, but the kick coverage team did a terrific job. During the regular season Baltimore averaged 20.1 yards per return, and averaged 22.8 yards per return in the December 14th meeting between these two teams. This past Sunday the Patrick Bailey, Keyaron Fox, Anthony Madison, et al limited the Ravens to a 14.3 yard average. As a result the Ravens' average starting point was the 24 yard line and, based upon the results (i.e. the turnovers) keeping them on a long field had a significant impact.


4. Troy Polamalu, we salute you. The interception and return for a touchdown ~ on a play which we predicted would be the most important play of the game (our exact words immediately before the snap were "this is the ballgame!") ~ is obviously a moment no Steelers fan will ever forget. But his leaping stop of Joe Flacco late in the first quarter on fourth-and-one at the Steelers 34-yard line kept Baltimore off the scoreboard (and there is no doubt as to how important that was), and certainly set the tone for the game ~ despite trailing by only six points at halftime, the Ravens ran the ball 10 times in the second half.
   
   However unorthodox Mr. Polamalu's offseason training regimen, here's hoping Casey Hampton gets on the same program.


5. Last but certainly not least is the matter of Ben Roethlisberger. The passing numbers are decent if not spectacular ~ one can only imagine how those numbers would have looked if Willie Parker had held on to the first quarter pass thrown in his direction, or if the first quarter pass thrown to Santonio Holmes had been ruled a touchdown rather than an incompletion when it was reviewed, or if Limas Sweed had held on to the second quarter touchdown pass thrown to him ~ but what pleased us most was that he threw no interceptions and did not fumble the football. He created opportunities by moving around in the pocket, but when it was time to get rid of the football he did so, and did so without falling victim to Ed Reed. It was a mature and seasoned performance.

The Bad

1. We understand that the Baltimore defense is very strong versus the run; however 52 yards of rushing, and a per rush average of 1.9 yards is putrid (by way of comparison, in the first meeting between these two teams the Steelers averaged 2.5 yards per rush, and in the second game they averaged 3.4 yards per rush). The offensive line did a very good job protecting Ben Roethlisberger on pass plays, but their inability to open holes for the running backs ~ in re-watching the game it was clear that there was little or no surge from the offensive line (i.e. Baltimore's defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage on running plays) ~ has been a problem all season long.


2. We do not have any major complaints about the offensive game plan; however Bruce Arians nearly cost the Steelers a chance at the Super Bowl with a single play call. Early in the fourth quarter, with third-and-one at their own 37 yard line, the Steelers went to an empty backfield, and Ben Roethlisberger threw a very poor pass. Creativity is a great thing, but we question the empty backfield ~ if a pass is to be thrown, why not make it a play action pass? It was a poor play call poorly executed, and (thanks to the Steelers special teams) nearly had disasterous consequences.

The Ugly

1. Mitch Berger's 21-yard kick in the fourth quarter appeared to be what one wag (i.e. Big Dan the 'Burgh Man) described as "an onside punt," and immediately followed the questionable third-and-one play call previously mentioned. The result of these two plays was to give Baltimore the football at their own 42 yard line, and the Ravens managed to score their second touchdown on a six play drive.
   
   More generally, poor punt coverage ~ a problem that cropped up versus San Diego ~ reared its ugly head again, with Jim Leonhard averaging 10.8 yards per return, and had a long of 45 yards. Though it must certainly be obvious we feel compelled to point something out: Making mistakes in special teams play, especially at this time of the season is a formula for losing, and nobody knows that better than fans of the Steelers.


2. Chris Kemoeatu, feel free not to get any more ill-advised personal foul calls for the remainder of your career with the Steelers (he is a free agent this offseason). His transgression turned what should have been third-and-five into third-and-nineteen, effectively killing the drive. Playing with composure is always important, but is especially so in big games.

Looking forward to Super Bowl XLIII, as big as the challenges will be for the Steelers the team (and their fans) can take some comfort in knowing that they got to the big game without playing their best football. However, no one should doubt that it will take their very best effort to win their sixth Lombardi trophy.

Steelers Interviews ~ James Farrior

Several members of the Steelers were available to the media on Friday. Here is what James Farrior had to say (as a side note, in Sporting News Today on Saturday Clinton Portis described Mr. Farrior as "a high-energy guy who probably has slowed down a step or two compared to his wonder years in the NFL"):

Are the Ravens your top rival and why?

I believe so. I believe that the games that we’ve played throughout the years have been such great games and great contests that both teams have grown to dislike each other to a level where they’re our biggest rival. We face those guys twice a year and it’s definitely a game we circle on our schedule every year.

Could you explain what that’s like and how it manifests itself?

It was here before I got here. It was something that was instilled in the Steelers long before I got here and it didn’t change when I got here. I kind of grew into it real fast when I first got here and it has just been growing over the years. I think the main thing is just competition, the level of competition, that we both go through it what makes it a good rivalry.

Do you get the sense that people are glad for another shot at the Ravens?

This is our third time. We thought we’d put dirt on them a couple of times. The first couple games we thought we had them out of there, but they’re a great team and they fought back hard to get themselves in this position. It’s going to be fun facing them for the third time. The ultimate prize in on the line to go to the Super Bowl. It’s going to be a good one this time.

Le’Ron McClain was compared to Jerome Bettis. Do you agree and what are you thoughts on the challenges he poses to you guys?

I would agree to a certain extent. I wouldn’t put him up there in Jerome’s (Bettis) category just yet. He’s got a long way to go. Jerome, he’s a Hall of Fame player. Everybody knows what he is around here. He’s (Le’Ron McClain) a good running back. He’s a tough runner and he’s tough to tackle. For a guy his size he has very good speed and very good vision. We are going to have our hands full with him. He had some success against us the last time. We are going to look to do some things a little differently to try to keep him from getting those yards.

How do you think you might be able to exploit Joe Flacco’s inexperience in general and the fact that he’s never played in a game like this?

I don’t know. We tried it the first two games and it didn’t really work. I don’t know what we are going to do this time. We are going to have to come up with something new. We all have a lot of confidence in Coach LeBeau and what he brings to the defense. We know he’s going to have something good for him. We probably won’t be able to rouse him, but we’re going to make something happen and force him to do some things that he might not want to do.

Earlier this week Derek Mason said “the Ravens are coming so prepare yourself.” Do you have any reaction to that?

Yeah. We’ll be ready. We’ll be waiting when he gets here. We don’t really look at those type of things. Coach Tomlin has done a great job all week of trying to keep us down. We don’t want to give those guys anything to put on the bulletin board. They’ve been talking and we saw the sound bytes and all that that stuff. It doesn’t matter. It’s going to come down to who plays the best. All the words that are being said right now won’t mean a bit when that game starts.

Does that mean if the cameras weren’t here you’d have a different answer?

Yeah, we’ll see at game time.

What is it about the Ravens that you don’t like?

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that they are so similar to our team. They are sort of a mirror image of us. They do the same things that we try to do as a football team and that’s control the ball on offense and play great defense. That’s how we’ve been winning football games around here and that’s how they’ve been winning. I mean when you get two bullies going up against each other. It’s about who is the strongest bully.

How do you find the closeness in generations between the coach and players to be an advantage?

I actually played against the guy, but you guys don’t know that. I played against him I think one year. I told him a long time ago if I would have known that he would be the coach that I would have really been going after him. I feel like it’s a good thing that he’s so young in age and that he’s so close to our generation. He can relate to his players better on that level. He’s a couple years older than me. I’m sure we have some things similar that we like to do and things of that nature. I feel like he can talk to the players on the level that we are on. He’s able to get his points across to us and that’s probably the main thing. He’s just able to relate to our generation a lot better than older coaches.

Steelers Interviews ~ Hines Ward

A number of Pittsburgh Steelers were made available to the media on Friday ~ here is what Hines Ward had to say.

What is it about the Ravens that can bring out the best and worst in the Steelers?

I love purple and black, I love the colors. Any time we get a chance to play them you really want to go out and perform well. Just because of the rivalry its self there is a genuine dislike, but there is a lot of respect. They have great players. Each and every year we play Baltimore, it’s one of those games you circle. Cleveland and Pittsburgh is a rivalry itself, but Baltimore and Pittsburgh rivalry is really heated.

Baltimore fans voted you the most hated Steeler, how does that make you feel?

I guess that’s a big honor. I don’t know why Baltimore dislikes me so much. I love the crab cakes there; I love the view in Baltimore. I don’t know, I’m a likable guy. I don’t know what there is not to like about me. I smile all the time. I give 110% every time I step on the field. I could care less if they dislike me. As long as my teammates and the city of Pittsburgh know what I give each and every Sunday that I step on that field, that’s all that really matters to me.

Do the Ravens pay too much attention to you instead of doing their jobs?

Every now and then you hear the guys (Ravens) say you’re not going to break my jaw. You run around and they look at you. I get a big smile on my face when I hear guys talking about that because they are more worried about me than trying to stop Willie Parker or Heath Miller and those guys. I take pride in trying to get under their skin because I guess they are trying to knock the smile off of my face. To have that impact on the field, they were trying to fight me, literally rather than trying to stop our offense run plays. I just want to do anything to win games.

Have both offenses gotten lost the week because of both defenses?

You have to respect that. To be one and two in the league defensively, you have to respect that aspect of it. Offensively, you look at the playoffs and it really comes down to turnovers. Whatever offense executes their game plan and not turn the ball over usually has a great chance to win ball games. That’s been the case with Baltimore; they are very conscientious of not turning the ball over and letting their defense go out there and forcing their opponents to make mistakes. For us the same way, there isn’t much we have to do offensively because we have a great defense. Not too many teams in this league can take an 80 or 90-yard drive down the field and score touchdowns against our defense and vice versa. This game really comes down to execution of the game plan and not turning the ball over. When you get down to the red zone you have to put up touchdowns and not field goals. That’s usually the winner of the game.

How do you stay hungry when you’ve made it to this point so many times?

I’m always out there to play with a chip on my shoulder. I was one of those guys that wasn’t supposed to play in this league very long. This is my fourth AFC Championship game and unfortunately I am 0-2 at home. That is something in the past that’s all you can remember is the guys celebrating on your home field. That’s something you have to live with, throughout the whole offseason. There is nothing you can really do about that. There would be nothing worse than seeing Baltimore’s players celebrating on our field. For me, I want to make sure that doesn’t happen at all. That’s all the motivation I need to go out there and give it all I’ve got

How do you socialize at Pro Bowls with Ravens players if they don’t like you so much?

Ed Reed and Chris McAllister, I’ve been to Pro Bowls with those guys and they say, ‘Thank God you’re on our side, because we’re not trying to have that out here in Hawaii.’ They know, because when I go across the middle, those guys are going to just play hard. If you hate me for playing hard, I’m sorry. This is a physical sport as it is. When I cross the middle, those guys are itching at the bit to get a good shot on me. But that’s my motto; I’m going to hit you before you hot me. I just have a different approach about it. Each and every time I step on the field, I don’t have the intent to hurt anyone, but at the same time if I have a shot, I’m going to take it.

What’s it like playing for a coach as young as Mike Tomlin?

He understands his players. Last year he had to come in and really come in and set the laws down. A lot of guys were in coach Cower ways. He was very strict on his rules, if he started an 8:00 meeting, he wants you there at 7:58. He doesn’t want you there after 8:00. If you were (late) you were going to get put in his so called “news board” and you would get fined. He had a year under his belt to let guys know this is his team and this is how he wants things run around here. Going into his second year, he understands what players need to be pushed, what players need to take time off to be fresh. He’s done a great job of mixing that in with veteran guys. Veteran guys, we don’t practice on Wednesday. We’ve been in this league long enough and we know we’re not going to win ball games on Wednesday. He wants guys to be as fresh as possible on Sunday. He did a great job of doing that for veteran guys. He’s a true players coach. He’s played the game and he understands. By playing wide receiver not practicing on Wednesday is not going to affect the way I play on Sunday. He’s done a lot for me because I feel a lot fresher on Sundays and been able to go out to do it week in and week out.

Do you want snow and cold Sunday?

It’s not like I want it, but this is Pittsburgh you never know what you’re going to get. For all I know it might turn around and be 60 degrees on Sunday. Whatever the conditions are, we’re the type of team that will be ready for it. Playing in Heinz Field with the field conditions and the weather, we’ve played in every field condition there possibly is. We’re used to it. We worked inside today, but we opened up the garage, because it’s still going to be cold. We tried to get used to it and get acclimated to the weather. Rain, sleet or snow, we’re going to show up and see if we can go to the Super Bowl.”

Have you thought about your legacy and how another Super Bowl would enhance that?

A Super Bowl would be great. When you look at the previous teams here in this organization, the teams in the 70s winning four Super Bowls, when you win Super Bowls you leave your legacy as a winner. That’s what a lot of people like in this league, winners. For me, when I leave this game, all I really want from people is to say Hines is one hell of a football player. I don’t compare myself to anybody, to Randy Moss, (Larry) Fitzgerald, none of those guys. I play the game I want to play. My legacy, I want people to say he played the game the way it’s supposed to be played. If they do that, I am happy. I did my job.

Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason said, ‘They are going to realize what’s coming quickly, the Ravens are coming, so prepare yourself.’ What do you make of that? Are you prepared?

We are very prepared. That doesn’t scare anybody. That doesn’t scare me. Whatever it takes to motivate yourself to go out. Talk is cheap to me. We line up Sunday, we’re going to go out and play, and the better team is going to win. For what Derrick said, I don’t know if I am supposed to be scared or laugh at that. I really can’t comment on that.

Does any of that bulletin board material even matter?

No. if you need bulletin board material to motivate you in this game you don’t even need to show up. Playing a team for the third time in our division, knowing it’s going to be a physical ball game, there is nothing more Ray Lewis or any of those guys can say. We’ve heard it all. I’ve heard it for 11 years now. You still have to go out there and line up and play. All of the bounty talk was just talk. It was something to write about, stories to create. It was something for the media to talk about. You still have to line up and play football. Two great defenses, it’s going to come down to whatever team executes. Hopefully it will be us on the receiving end to go to the Super Bowl

Would the worst nightmare for both of these teams be watching the other team celebrate getting to go to the Super Bowl?

A couple of guys joked around that the winner of this game, right here, it doesn’t matter what you do in the series after this you are always going to remember this. If we win this game, Baltimore can beat us 10 straight times but they will remember this game and visa-versa. That’s what is at stake. Regardless of what you did in the regular season, the winner of this game is going to stick with you for a very, very long time.

How much easier was this week for preparing with the familiarity of this team?

It really wasn’t that hard. You look back at the past two games, Baltimore gives a lot of different schemes to try and confuse the offensive line, the offense, so they can get a guy come wide open and sack the quarterback. All week the preparation is just trying to give all of the different looks so everybody can see the different styles of blitzes that they run and hopefully we can get them picked up and protected so we can make plays down the field. If we can do that and have all 11 guys on the same page I think we will be fine. Baltimore gives so many different looks that they like to confuse you. That’s why you see one guy coming wide open and getting a sack. For us it’s about getting all 11 guys on one page and really just going out there and executing our plays.

Steelers Interviews ~ Ben Roethlisberger

Mike Tomlin, Hines Ward, James Farrior and Ben Roethlisberger were available to the media on Friday. Here is a transcript of Mr. Roethlisberger's sessions.

This is your third AFC Championship game. Do you have an appreciation for how hard it is to get here?

It’s a great honor. It’s a tough thing to do. All of the hard work you put in during the offseason, you have to be a special team. I have been blessed enough to do this, it’s my third time in five years. It’s a great thing.

Both you and Joe (Flacco) will be facing the two best defenses in football right now. What advantage do you have based on the experience of playing in games of this magnitude?

I remember my first championship game, throwing six or seven picks it seemed and losing the game. It’s not easy. I kind of know what to expect and what not to expect. I am not saying it will benefit me, but I hope it does. I hope our defense gets after him.

With the way your defense plays, do you feel like no matter what the offense does it gets overlooked by those on the outside?

That’s fine. That’s what the Steelers have always been about, even in the 70s. It’s been about the defense. It’s about our defense right now. We just make plays and do things when we have to on offense. That’s why we are the Pittsburgh Steelers and we are a complete football team. The offense compliments the defense; the defense compliments the offense and the same thing with special teams.

Are the Ravens your top rival right now and why?

Yes because we are playing them this week. It’s going to be a tough battle and it always is when we play. That’s why it’s the big rival this week.

Overall though are they the team that is your biggest rival?

Yes, right now.

Baltimore has some injuries. Are you preparing for Terrell Suggs and Samari Rolle to play and if they don’t or aren’t at full strength, what are your thoughts?

We are preparing for their defense to be at full-strength as I think you should do. We will go at it and approach it that way. If for some reason they are not out there, which we expect them to be out there, if they are not we will keep playing the way we planned on playing with the game plan and go from there.

In what ways does the Ravens defense challenge your intestinal fortitude?

The Baltimore Ravens defense is a spectacular defense. They do a lot of crazy things, show you a lot of different looks and it really challenges you mentally as well as physically. They will get to you regardless. They will get to you and hit you. You have to get yourself up and get ready for the next play because the next play might be a different blitz you have never seen.

How aware are you right now that there is such a spotlight on what you are saying and the comments you make can get right back to the Ravens?

We know that. But when I talk about how good their defense is, I am speaking the truth, speaking about how complicated they are. They are ranked where they are for a reason. They have given us fits for a reason. I am not just blowing smoke. I am talking the truth.

The last time you saw the Ravens on the field was the 12-play, 92-yard yard drive that ended with the Santonio Holmes touchdown. What did you learn from that, being it was the greatest success you had against them this season?

That was a gut-check for us, an opportunity that we knew we had to make. We had to make plays, everybody from the linemen, to myself, to the running backs, tight ends to the receivers. We know at crunch time we had to do it and we got it done. It tested and challenged our will and our desire to win.

Coach (Mike) Tomlin just mentioned that both teams like to impose their will. What’s the best way to do that?

They are going to be coming after us with heat. We know that. For us it’s not turning the ball over, winning the time of possession battle and scoring more points than them.

Will you roll out more this week to give yourself more time?

The key to getting out of the pocket, and nakeds and boots and sprint-outs, is moving the pocket. If you have an athletic defense that throws a lot of different looks at you, if you move the pocket and get outside, it helps buy some time. It gives you an option to run the ball as well as a quarterback. I’m sure will see some of it if necessary.

You won a Super Bowl with Bill Cowher and you are going for another one with Mike Tomlin. Can you talk about the similarities between the two coaches?

Well, we are not going for a Super Bowl yet. We have a big game this week that is more important right now. It’s the most important game this week. They are both great coaches. I feel honored to have played for Coach Cowher. I really learned a lot from him, a guy that has been in the league for a long time, very well-respected around the league. Now Coach Tomlin, as a new guy coming in kind of brings a new energy and excitement to this team and it’s really been fun.

When you played at Miami of Ohio, who was your big rival, your Baltimore Ravens and how different is it on this level?

It was probably Cincinnati just because they were so close and we always played them. It was always a battle. We always went toe-to-toe and it was always a slug-fest. When you get to this level it’s completely different because guys are bigger, faster, stronger and hit a lot harder. It’s a little different in the rivalry, but very similar.

You have been through a lot, from the motorcycle accident to a coach change, How satisfied are you to get to this level?

I am just proud of the way our whole group has played. You won’t hear me talk about myself. I am more proud of the way our offensive line has performed. Everybody talked about how bad they are - kind of pieced together, giving up sacks. But they found a way to get it done when they had to. I am just really proud of them right now.

Steelers Interviews

On Friday Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, and James Farrior answered questions from the media. The transcripts are lengthy so we will present them individually throughout the day Saturday. First up, head coach Mike Tomlin:

Coach Mike Tomlin: Good afternoon. I would say that it is a normal Friday, but obviously it is not. From a preparation standpoint it is; we put the finishing touches on our game plan and we worked on some specific situational football today; short-yardage, goal-line and so forth. I thought that it was a very sharp practice, which is what we needed considering what we face here in two days. We will continue to move forward with that.

What was your thought process on opening the doors during practice?

Generally at the end of the week, particularly once we got hit with the winter elements, we like to put the finishing touches on our work week with a game-like atmosphere. Last Friday we had a productive day throwing and catching in the weather. I wanted to provide the same kind of climate today. We elected to go inside because I, personally, didn’t feel that the fields were very safe; it was a sheet of ice. We also didn’t want to get anybody injured in the process. We worked on a safe environment from a footing standpoint, but we did want them to work in the elements, so we opened the doors to our indoor facility.

Can you talk about the health of the team in general, and Troy (Polamalu) and Justin (Hartwig) in particular?

Thankfully, we are a team on the mend. This is as healthy as we have been all year. I am not overly concerned with either guy. Both of those guys sustained injuries last Sunday; Troy being pre-game and Justin in the second quarter. Both guys finished the game and played above the line from an expectation standpoint. We exercised a little bit of caution at the beginning of the week. We are into the (point of) the season where physical reps aren’t as big of an issue as they are at the beginning of the year, especially considering they are both veteran players. We got them the critical work that they needed at the latter part of the week, particularly today in some of the specialty areas. Moving forward, injuries will not be an excuse for those guys in terms of their performance; and they definitely won’t be for us.

What constitutes a good rivalry and what makes this rivalry with Baltimore so special?

I think that in order to have a legitimate rivalry, it has to be competitive. I think that is what makes this rivalry special; among other things. The games are extremely close; the teams are close in personality; geographically; we are in the same division; (they) are the former Cleveland Browns. I think that there are a lot of things that make it special, but more than anything, no doubt it is the players. It is the passion with which they play the game; it is the personalities; whether it’s Ray Lewis or Jerome Bettis or Joey Porter or James Farrior or Hines Ward; Bart Scott. You just continue to add names to the list; all of them play the game the same. They put everything they have into it; every once of their fiber into it. That is what makes it special.

What changes your preparation because of what is on the line?

Nothing; we made a conscious effort to do what has gotten us here from a preparation standpoint. As an idealist, from a coaches’ standpoint, you would like to think that we have the same urgency from a week-to-week basis; that we understand that the week’s work in September creates this week’s work in January. That is some of the things or approaches that we have taken with our football team all year – it is about the journey and not the destination. If we are able to feel the urgency of the destiny, and what each day brings us, it brings us to that point. I think that our team understands that. I say that because it really has been business as usual for us this week.

Have you been able to force some mistakes from Joe Flacco?

The reality is that he is the quarterback of a 13-5 football team. To me, that is all that needs to be said. He is a winner; he finds ways to make the critical plays for them. Yes, we have created some plays against him, but I will also say that he has come back and answered. He is a competitor; we all fall short of perfection in this game and in this business. Like I said in the beginning of the week, I knew that we would have to deal with this guy for a long time when we got up on those guys here, and he made the necessary plays to drive them down the field in the fourth quarter to tie the game up and send it into overtime. It is nothing new for us in terms of respecting what this guy is capable of as a quarterback.

Max Starks says this game is about execution. Do you agree and will you change some things that didn’t work against Baltimore the first two times?

It is always about execution for me; I agree with him whole-heartedly. It is a good call when it works; it is a good call when it is executed. It is a bad call when it doesn’t; it is that simple. I am in agreement with Max. It is always about execution; particularly in this rivalry. We both play football in a similar manner; we are a fundamentalist outfit, as are they. We win by attrition; we forced our will on our opponent; as do they. That is very much the case.

What do you think is your particular coaching style?

Personally, I am a pretty cerebral guy when it comes to work. When I am emotional, it is emotional by choice. I don’t want to miss anything. I try to be what my team needs me to be at that particular moment. I have learned that from the great coaches that I have been fortunate to be around.

Do you think that the offenses have been overlooked in this game?

We don’t worry about the focus; that is what is being played out in the media leading up to the game; that is what is being talked about. What we focus on is our preparation and our readiness to play. What is being said about the matchup, and the critical points of the matchup, is less of an issue for us.

Ben is in his third AFC Championship Game. What does that say about your quarterback?

It speaks to what kind of competitor he is. He would be the first one to tell you that no man does it alone. He has been on some good football teams. He is not on the cutting edge in regards to that in this final four because (Donovan) McNabb has been in five. There is something about the guys that have the ability to deliver and take their teams to this point once they have shown the capability of doing that; then they can do it again. Ben falls into that category, and I would say that Joe Flacco will probably fall into that category. I won’t be surprised as he continues to lead his team. It takes special people to pursue special things. Ben is one of those guys, but I would say the same thing about every one of the quarterbacks that are still standing. Kurt Warner’s resume speaks for itself, as does Donovan McNabb’s. Everybody is quickly developing a respect for Joe Flacco.

How important is Ben’s experience in this game?

It is, but it won’t be the deciding factor, quite honestly. It is going to be about performance. Chad Pennington is an experienced quarterback; Kerry Collins is an experienced quarterback; Joe Flacco sent them home. We won’t get overly comfortable with that fact. We will understand that we need to execute as a football team; particularly in crunch time.

Can you talk about retaining the defensive staff that you inherited?

It was quite simple for me; I had been a part of that process before. I was on a defensive staff that had quite a bit of success when Jon Gruden got the job in Tampa Bay. He didn’t blink; he didn’t hesitate; he retained us and we went on to win the Super Bowl in year one. I came into a situation where it wasn’t broken. Dick LeBeau’s reputation and resume speaks for itself. It would have been foolish for me to fix something that wasn’t broken; it would have been ego driven; my ego doesn’t drive me; seeking victory does.

Interviews with Ravens

A number of Baltimore's players and coaches were made available on Thursday to the media. Many of the comments were of the "Pittsburgh is a great team" variety, so instead of those we are sharing the more interesting portions of the official transcripts provided by the NFL. Highlights include Rex Ryan telling Tennessee to quit whining, Cam Cameron calling Ben Roethlisberger old, the importance of home field advantage, the loss of Samari Rolle and Ed Reed compares Ben Roethlisberger to Michael Vick ~ seriously.

Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan
On Steelers RB Willie Parker not getting a lot of yards against the Ravens in the regular season: “I guess he got a lot of yards against San Diego and stuff like that, and I read all the experts say we would have given up 150 yards to the running back [Chris Johnson] from Tennessee. But remember, he never finished the game for some reason. Whatever that reason is, they can cry all they want. Who cares? We’re here. We’re still playing, and they can watch us.”

On how much he trusts the defensive players to make calls at the line of scrimmage:“That very rarely happens. We have a system that’s flexible in our calls and things like that. We trust them to make the audibles and correct things like that. But there is flexibility in who blitzes and who doesn’t blitz. We’ll change things up and all that stuff, but as far as changing the call and all that, they occasionally will do that once a game or something like that, and that generally gets me to the middle of the field. But for the most part, with our guys, we’re all on the same accord. They know when they change a call that, No. 1, it better work, and then I’ll say, ‘Give me the credit for it.’ But realistically, it’s a partnership that we’ve had for a long time now. When we put a game plan together, we explain our calls and explain why we are doing them. Our guys pick up on why we are making those calls and what they can expect as well.”

Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron
On whether he feels Ravens QB Joe Flacco and Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger are more similar or different: “It’s a good question. Obviously, there’s some size similarities, some arm strength similarities. They are both competitive guys. Obviously, one’s a lot younger, but one has a similar opportunity that another guy had. [They are] two outstanding quarterbacks. Obviously, one’s a little further along than the other.” Note: Joe Flacco turns 24 years old on Friday, Ben Roethlisberger will be 27 in March.

On if the improved ball security in the playoffs is due to a heightened focus or concentration: “It really isn’t. We don’t try to have any levels that we teach and coach ball security. It’s always going to be our No. 1 priority. I just think it’s another case of some guys that are growing in our offense. You can see it. I know you guys see it. We’ve got a lot of players that are still growing as players. You could see the growth last week. You could see the growth throughout the course of that game, and it will always be our No. 1 priority.”

On what the team is doing to prepare for the cold weather in Pittsburgh: “That started way back in the spring when we practiced outside in the rain. We go outside when it’s cold. We come in here when John [Harbaugh] feels like we need to. We try to simulate certain things, even when we’re indoors. We’re trying – it doesn’t always work – but we’re trying to build an offense that is weatherproof and condition-proof.”

On the way the Ravens were able to box LB James Harrison in the second game against Pittsburgh and if that was a result of adjustments in the game plan or the team playing better than the first game: “I don’t know that we did anything earth shattering. Obviously, we’ve got to play better than we played last time. That’s our focus. You have to focus on their defense as a whole. There is no way you can go focus on him and ignore all these other guys. It’s a collective effort. Scheme-wise, everything you have to do against these guys is collective, and we’ll have to do a better job in this game than we did before. Period.”

Special Teams Coordinator Jerry Rosburg
On how difficult it is for kickers and punters at Heinz Field: “I think over the years, the toughest part of the field has been the playing surface itself. I’m not sure the winds are that unusual this time of the year in any of the northern stadiums. My understanding is that they’ve re-soded the field, and we are expecting a good surface. It looked like it held up well last week.”

On if he thinks Heinz Field is one of the NFL’s top-three toughest stadiums to kick in: “The playing surface has been the biggest issue. I was in Cleveland for a long time, and I thought that the winds were tougher in Cleveland than they are in Pittsburgh. It just depends on when you play there [in Pittsburgh] during the year and how much use it [Heinz Field] has had.”

C Jason Brown
On the advantages and disadvantages of an unstable playing surface like Heinz Field in the trenches: “You definitely have to make sure you have great footing underneath yourself, making sure you get your second step down. It’s not going to be one of those crazy, out-of-control games because you do have that field surface. It will just have to come down to good, fundamentally sound football.”

On if Pittsburgh is a tough place to play compared to other stadiums around the league: “When it’s loud, it’s loud. Really, that’s all you can chalk it up to. After that, everything else is white noise. You just drain everything else out.”

On if he feels that home field advantage really means anything in the playoffs: “It definitely does. Coming this far, we definitely feel as though we owe it to our home town fans. I’m sure they would love for us to play another game at M&T Bank Stadium. But, I’m sure they don’t mind traveling as well. I’m sure they won’t mind traveling down to Tampa.”

FB/RB Le’Ron McClain
On how his ankle is feeling: “The ankle is doing good. I got a little bit more work today, so I’ll see how it feels in the morning. I’ll see how many reps I get tomorrow.”

S Ed Reed
On if QB Ben Roethlisberger is the type of quarterback who can be forced into turnovers: “No, no. Ben is a quarterback who is very cautious with what he [does] out there. He’s always aware of the situation, where guys are at and easy-to-read coverages. So, it’s going to be a challenge. It always is against these guys.”

On how important it is for the secondary to stay with their guys given Roethlisberger’s ability to make plays out of the pocket: “Huge, man. It’s like Michael Vick. It’s no different. When he breaks the pocket, he’s also a threat when he’s throwing the ball – as well as running it. You’ve just got to contain him and see your guys before he does make a throw or something.”

On how big of a loss it would be if Ravens CB Samari Rolle is unable to play Sunday: “Huge. From experience to knowing the game plan, to making plays, we definitely will miss Samari. That’s also one thing that’s been huge this year, that guys step up. We expect them to attack guys that haven’t been in there. I would if I was playing against it. It happens, but that’s why other guys get paid.”

LB Terrell Suggs
On if he will play in Sunday’s game against the Steelers: “I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see Sunday. I’m being optimistic about it, I hope so. But, as of right now, I really can’t honestly answer the question for you. We’ll just have to wait and see. All I can do is work hard to try to get it back healthy. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Baltimore v. Steelers: The Weekly Matchups, AFC Championship Edition

With the playoff season well under way we now provide you with the numbers generated during the postseason; and in parentheses we have also included the regular season number for selected statistics.

Interestingly enough, it seems that neither the Baltimore offense or the Baltimore defense is ~ thus far ~ performing at the same level as they did during the regular season except where it matters the very most ~ wins!

Baltimore Offense v. Steelers Defense
Average total yards per game: Baltimore offense 248.5 (324.0) v. Steelers defense, 290.0 (237.2)

Average net rushing yards per game: Baltimore offense, 100.5 (148.5) v. Steelers defense, 15.0 (80.3)

Average net passing yards per game: Baltimore offense, 148.0 (175.5) v. Steelers defense, 275.0 (156.9)

Average points per game: Baltimore offense, 20.0 (24.06) v. Steelers defense, 24.0 (13.94)

Steelers Offense v. Baltimore Defense
Average total yards per game: Steelers offense, 342.0 (311.9) v. Baltimore defense 333.5 (261.1)

Average net rushing yards per game: Steelers offense, 165.0 (105.6) v. Baltimore defense, 84.0 (81.4)

Average net passing yards per game: Steelers offense, 177.0 (206.3) v. Baltimore defense, 249.5 (179.7)

Average points per game: Steelers offense, 35.0 (21.69) v. Baltimore defense, 9.5 (15.25)

Special Teams
Average yards per punt return: Baltimore, 16.7 (8.6) v. Steelers, 36.5 (6.0)

Average yards allowed per punt return: Baltimore, 3.6 (6.4) v. Steelers, 1.3 (6.2)

Average yards per kick return: Baltimore, 23.0 (20.1) v. Steelers, 15.8 (20.3)

Average yards allowed per kick return: Baltimore, 24.7 (22.6) v. Steelers, 28.5 (19.1)

Net yardage punting average: Baltimore, 38.5 (39.9) v. Steelers, 38.6 (35.6)

Opponent net yardage punting average: Baltimore, 36.4 (37.0) v. Steelers, 35.0 (38.5)

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: Baltimore, +7 (+13) v. Steelers, +2 (+4)

Time of possession: Baltimore, 26:14 (33:10) v. Steelers, 36:30 (31:29)

Red Zone touchdown efficiency (touchdowns): Baltimore, 40.0% (47.06%) (v. Steelers, 80.0% (55.1%)

Red Zone defense (touchdowns): Baltimore, 33.3% (35.9%) v. Steelers, 0.00% (33.3%)

Sacks allowed: Baltimore, 0 (33) v. Steelers, 1 (49)

Some Individual Numbers
Passer rating: Joe Flacco, 73.9 (80.2) v. Ben Roethlisberger, 98.4 (80.1)

Leading rushers: Willis McGahee, 94 yards (671 yards) v. Willie Parker, 146 yards (791 yards)

Leading receivers: Derrick Mason, 9 catches, 149 yards, 16.6 per catch, 1 touchdowns v. Hines Ward, 4 catches, 70 yards, 17.5 yards per catch, 0touchdowns

Sack Leaders: Terrell Suggs, 2.0 (8.0) v. LaMarr Woodley, 2.0 (11.5)

Interceptions: Ed Reed, 2 (9) v. Larry Foote, 1 (0)

More love from SI

The great folks at Sports Illustrated sent along a digital image of their upcoming cover again ~ and once again I pass it along to the dozens of you who check in on what we think.

There is an article in the issue, and we are also glad to pass along what we consider the money quote:

Pittsburgh was the only home team to defend its turf in the divisional round, a quirk that former running back Jerome Bettis explained thusly: "The weather here is bad, the field is bad, and the defense is bad-ass." On Sunday at Heinz, the Steelers will face a Ravens defense almost as bone-chilling as theirs. "We don't like them," Colon says. "It's the history, but it's also the arrogance and the disrespect they show us."

The Third Time is the Charm

I just returned to SoCal after having attended the AFC Divisional contest between the Steelers and Chargers ~ I attempted to do some live blogging at the game, however a less than ideal cellphone battery and the imminent threat of frostbite kept from delivering on that idea.

The fact that I am headed back to Pittsburgh to attend the AFC Championship game will probably impact my postings, however I want to list a few random facts that I found of interest.

1. This will be the third Steelers game I have attended in person this season.


2. This Sunday's game is the the third meeting this season between Baltimore and the Steelers.


3. This Sunday will be Ben Roethlisberger's third AFC Championship game (he is 1-1 in the first two).


4. This Sunday will by my third AFC Championship game (I am 0-2).


5. This Sunday will be the third AFC Championship game in the history of Heinz Field (the Steelers are 0-2 in the previous two games).