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

The Good

The defense simply has not played a better game this season and, save for a turnover or two that they did not get, could not have reasonably been expected to do any better than they did. While the unit deserves praise there are a couple of members who stood out:

Keenan Lewis had 8 tackles (one for a loss), two assists, and two passes defended. The young man is having a terrific season.

Casey Hampton set the tone early (the second Baltimore possession, to be exact), tackling Ray Rice for a loss in the first series. He played an inspired game, and just looked like the Casey of a couple of years ago.

James Harrison: We have been amongst those throwing dirt on James Harrison's professional grave, but six tackles, two assists, a sack, and just some generally sound play has us feeling foolish about having ever doubted him.

Jonathan Dwyer is the right running back for this offense at this time. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry (coming into the game Baltimore was giving up an average of 4.0 yards per carry), a number that is all the more impressive considering that the Ravens were crowding the line of scrimmage, essentially daring Todd Haley and Byron Leftwich to throw the football.

The Bad

There is not much doubt that having a couple of time outs available late in the game would have been a nice thing. Thought not surprising that there would be some confusion between the offensive coordinator and the backup quarterback, "mistakes" of that kind absolutely will come back to haunt you -- and it did Sunday night.

The Steelers' punt return team has had two dreadful games back-to-back; and Sunday night the four-yard-per-return average helped ensure that the Steelers' offense had consistently poor starting field position (the Steelers' average starting field position was their OWN 17-yard line).

The Ugly

Special teams. In our "Matchups" column leading up to the game we mentioned that the stats favored Baltimore's special teams, and we hate being correct about that sort of thing.

Rashard Mendenhall is simply not the right running back for this offensive line at this time. His propensity for stopping and starting, twisting and turning, is better suited to a zone blocking, stretch kind of offensive line, not the power blocking, north-south approach that the Steelers employ. And before anyone mentions his pass catching ability let's keep in mind that Mr. Mendenahll had three receptions for 17 yards (i.e. 5.7 yards per catch) while the previously mentioned Mr. Dwyer had three catches for 26 yards (i.e. an 8.7 yards per catch average).

Mike Adams looked lost trying to pass block. There is nothing new about that, but against a team like Baltimore that kind of deficiency may get the quarterback killed.

Steelers @ Denver: Halftime quick hits

Mike Wallace's halftime line:  1 catch, 2 penalties; preseason means nothing.

Antonio Brown: He is earning his contract extension already, and the one Mike Wallace wanted.

Did Casey Hampton already retire and not tell anyone?  Any time Denver has wanted to go up the middle they have done so with one offensive lineman.

On 3rd-and13 at the end of the first half Denver doesn't blitz off of Mike Adams' side of the line?  Uh, no wonder Jack Del Rio got fired in Jacksonville.

Ron Winter and his crew officially suck

Ron Winter may be my least favorite NFL official; and now the league wants us all to know just how bad he and his crew are.

As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the league responded to an official complaint from the Steelers by letting Mike Tomlin know that in the recent game versus Cincinnati Casey Hampton didn't really commit a personal foul against Carson Palmer, and Ike Taylor didn't really interfere with Terrel Owens.

Thanks for confirming what everyone already knew.

Casey Hampton: Not So Different From You or I

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported online that Casey "Big Snack" Hampton was unable to run the required number of 100-yard dashes, quit the drill, and was promptly placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

We're the last ones to criticize someone for not being in shape, and 800 yards is a long way to run, but isn't being in some semblance of game shape year-round pretty much expected of today's NFL players?

With no time to waste in this year's training camp, saying that this is an inauspicious beginning for Mr. Hampton is an understatement.

More disturbing to us is the report that both Troy Polamalu (who made much of his SoCal training program) and Chris Kemoeatu also found themselves on the PUP list.

Precautionary perhaps, but not the start everyone had hoped for.

Top Two Picks Sign, How Does it Compare?

As predicted by Mike Tomlin, and reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed have signed contracts and will report on-time to Latrobe.

For your consideration here, as reported by Pro Football Weekly, are the terms of the Steelers' first-round picks from 2000-2008.

• 2000: Plaxico Burress, Michigan State, 8th pick, $14,398,000, $5,5000,000 signing bonus


• 2001: Casey Hampton, Texas, 19th pick, 5 years, $6,760,000, $3,090,000 signing bonus.


• 2002: Kendall Simmons, Auburn, 30th pick, 5 years, $6,214,000, $3,214,000 signing bonus.


• 2003: Troy Polamalu, USC, 16th pick, 5 years, $8,265,000, $4,400,000 "total bonuses."


• 2004: Ben Roethlisberger, 11th pick, Miami of Ohio, 6 years, $40,000,000 maximum, $9,000,000 signing bonus.


• 2005: Heath Miller, 30th pick, Virginia, 5 years, $6,890,000, $3,950,000 guaranteed.


• 2006: Santonio Holmes, 25th pick, The Ohio State State University, 5 years, $8,100,000, $5,700,000 guaranteed.


• 2007: Lawrence Timmons, 15th pick, Florida State, 5 years, $11,900,000, $8,300,000 guaranteed.


• 2008: Rashard Mendenhall, 23rd pick, Illinois, 5 years, $12,550,000, $6,830,000 guaranteed.

Steelers @ Patriots: Odds & Ends

There's no denying it: The New England Patriots are hateable
But why is it so? Is it really about The Hoody and his cheating, boorish behavior; or the fact that Tom Brady seemingly has a contract with GQ that requires that he be on its cover every two or three months (when he's not impregnating attractive women, then immediately begins dating another)? Or perhaps its because Scott Pioli has a text message alert on his phone whenever the Steelers cut a player. Sure, it could be all of that -- but why don't fans of the Steelers hate Tom Coughlin (the original Steelers' roster raider)?

No, it seems clear that the source of the enmity is something off the field. The view from here that the reason the Patriots are hated has to do with the ridiculous fawning of the media. It's Tony Kornheiser announcing in the fourth quarter that "if the Patriots hand on to win this [game] they're going undefeated!" Sure -- struggling to beat a 4-7 team is just the hurdle the Patriots needed to clear.

Or perhaps its just the "Patriots" item on the ESPN crawler with its "Pursuit of Perfection" subtitle that keeps pushing me a little closer to the edge.

It's all about scoring
In the first twelve games of this season the New England Patriots have scored in 44 of the 48 quarters they have played. Meanwhile their opponents have been shutout in 20 of those quarters; and only the Baltimore Ravens (the 26th rated scoring offense in the league) scored in all four quarters of their contest against the Patriots.

Here's a look at the Patriots' per quarter scoring averages for the season:

• 1st Quarter: 9.17
• Second Quarter: 12.08
• Third Quarter: 6.92
• Fourth Quarter: 10.92

Here are the Patriots' opponents' scoring averages:

• 1st Quarter: 2.58
• 2nd Quarter: 5.42
• Third Quarter: 3.67
• Fourth Quarter: 5.75

Meanwhile, the Steelers have scored in 36 of the 48 quarters they have played (included in that is having been shutout for the first three quarters of the game against Miami), while limiting their opponents to scores in 25 quarters -- including two shutouts (versus Seattle and Miami).

Here's a look at the Steelers' per quarter scoring averages for the season:

• 1st Quarter: 5.42
• 2nd Quarter: 7.33
• 3rd Quarter: 5.08
• Fourth Quarter: 6.83

And here are the Steelers' opponents' scoring averages by quarter:

• 1st Quarter: 3.33
• 2nd Quarter: 3.42
• 3rd Quarter: 2.50
• Fourth Quarter: 3.42

The real keys to the game
Experts -- people who actually earn a living paying attention to professional football -- have offered their insights into exactly what will make the difference in Sunday's game. And while we all enjoy reading about how Tom Brady has to do this, or James Harrison has to do that, the real keys are the same each week, irrespective of the opponent. Here are a few to look for today:

1. The battles in the trenches: Controlling the line of scrimmage the single biggest key to the game. If the Steelers are able to run the football, and Ben Roethlisberger has time to throw the ball they will score. Conversely, if the Steelers defensive front controls play the Patriots will struggle. It doesn't get much simpler than this.


2. Pressure on the quarterback: Related to point one, all of this talk of a "blueprint for beating the Patriots" is nonsense -- the Ravens and Eagles were the first teams this season able to get sustained pressure on Tom Brady, and anyone who saw either of those games saw what can happen to even the best quarterback when the defense comes crashing in. However, not all pressure is crated equal -- a pass rush that comes from the middle of the line is far more effective than pressure off the corner, especially when the quarterback is not sacked.
   
   Related to this is what to do with Casey Hampton. Mr. Hampton is routinely pulled when the opponent's offense is in a passing situation. However, New England's willingness to throw on any down makes for a matchup challenge for Dick LeBeau.


3. Special Teams: All fans of the Black & Gold who have seen Troy Brown kill the Steelers on kick returns won't soon forget it, and while the return specialist is different the challenge is not. Mile Tomlin said it earlier in the season: "As a kick coverage team we stink," and if they stink this week it's going to result in a loss.


4. Turnovers: The Cincinnati game not withstanding, the Steelers have to be perfect with the football all day long. Stated another way, if the Steelers are -3 in takeaways against New England they're going to lose by at least 21 points. The Patriots are more than capable of driving a long field, give them a short field and New England will put 50+ points on the board.

Conclusion
Not to state the obvious but the Steelers face their toughest test this season and they will have to play flawlessly in order to have an opportunity to win.

Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic will be online at half time with a look at the numbers from the first two quarters, and a look ahead to the second half.

Getting Draft Ready - Assessing the Defensive Line

As Steelers fans wait breathlessly for the conversion of the defense from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3 scheme there is this breaking news -- it's not going to happen any time soon. Yes, Mike Tomlin has indicated that the Steelers may show some 4-3 as a "wrinkle" every now and again, but the players on Pittsburgh's roster are built for the 3-4 scheme -- both literally and figuratively -- and nowhere is this more true than along the defensive line.

According to information available through at NFL.com there are 26 teams that employ the 4-3 defensive scheme as their primary, defensive formation. In looking at the depth charts of those teams, more specifically the weight of the starting defensive linemen on those teams, it seems obvious that the Steelers do not have the types of players that would allow them to change formations on an on-going basis.

Of the teams using the 4-3 the average left defensive end weighs 274.54 pounds. The average left defensive tackle weighs 312.69 pounds. The average right defensive tackle weighs 302.35 pounds, and the average right defensive end weighs in at 272.5 pounds. Conversely, the Steelers left defensive end -- Aaron Smith -- has a listed weight of 298 (the same weight, or more, than seventeen starting defensive tackles), and the right defensive end -- Brett Keisel -- is listed at 285 pounds.

But beyond the weight, or perhaps because of the weight, there is the speed factor. In a comparison/contrast of the two defensive schemes the folks at Football Outsiders say this about those playing defensive end in the 4-3: "Ends are lighter and quicker. Right ends . . . are usually the best athletes on the line . . . with incredible quickness and agility." Both of the Steelers defensive ends are terrific, indeed the opinion here is that Aaron Smith has still not peaked despite having a career year in 2006, but it is difficult to envision a scenario in which either of them could be described as "lighter and quicker." So unless the Steelers plan on making a major play in free agency (sure Dwight Freeney is an unrestricted free agent, but that isn't going to happen) then it would seem that the team is several seasons away from any major transition in defensive schemes (of course if they DID sign Mr. Freeney they could move Aaron Smith into one of the defensive tackle spots . . . hmmm).

Of course at the nose tackle spot is the all-world Casey Hampton. There is no doubt that he could play, and play exceptionally well, in any formation that his coach could choose to employ. His 25 tackes and 15 assists represented the second highest total in his career, and he even defended on a pass play (granted, it was a screen) for the second time in his career. Additionally, his backup, Chris Hoke, played well -- getting nine tackles, the second highest total of his career.

Whatever Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau decide to do with the defensive unit there is little doubt that one of its strengths are the excellent players in the trenches. Of course, both Mr. Smith and Mr. Kirschke are currently on-track to be free agents at the end of the 2007 season -- and Mr. Smith's cap figure for the upcoming season is $6,860,000 -- so there are opportunties for young players who can perform.

Faneca Disappointed in Hiring of Tomlin

It is indicative of the man and his honesty that Alan Faneca adnitted to being disappointed that Mike Tomlin, and not Russ Grimm, was hired as the Steelers head coach.

In this item found at the website for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Tribune the Steelers participating in the Pro Bowl weigh-in on the newly hired coach:

"Willie Parker can't wait to play for new Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Alan Faneca and Troy Polamalu are reserving judgment.

The Steelers' four Pro Bowl participants had divergent reactions to Pittsburgh's decision last month to hire Tomlin, the former Vikings defensive coordinator. The Steelers passed over veteran assistants Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt.

'I wanted Russ to get the job,' said Faneca, a six-time Pro Bowl guard. 'It's a guy we know, and a guy I'm experienced with.'

Defensive tackle Casey Hampton is looking forward to next season after speaking with Vikings defensive stars Kevin Williams and Pat Williams.

'I heard he's a real smart guy, very cool,' Hampton said.

Parker, the Steelers' star running back, needed only one meeting with Tomlin to be sold.

'He made a hell of a first impression,' Parker said. '... It's going to be really exciting to play for him.'

Polamalu, Pittsburgh's three-time Pro Bowl safety, is waiting to see what that intensity means.

'The first impression doesn't go too far in this world,' Polamalu said. 'It's about how you execute, and what you do with it.' "

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

Breaking News: The Steelers go to 2-0 on Thursdays!

On a day when two bad teams played for nothing but pride one team exhibited plenty of that while the other played as if the cold weather was just too much to bear.

While many fans can no doubt identify with Cleveland's pain (the weather at kickoff included a temperature of 18 degrees, 10 mile-an-hour winds, and a wind chill factor of 6 degrees), their pathetic performance enabled the Steelers to appear to be world-beaters despite not playing their best -- though they were pretty darn close.

What am I talking about? Let's explore the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good
Ben Roethlisberger, nice job! The numbers aren't particularly impressive (11/21, 225 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions, a 106.2 passer rating), but for one off the few times this miserable season he looked like the Ben Roethlisberger of old. Specifically, he moved around in the pocket to create time to throw the football. He looked confident and in control, and his 49-yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington was beautiful.

In his post-game comments Bill Cowher discussed his belief that Willie Parker is one of the premier running backs in the NFL, and after an absolutely amazing performance Thursday evening it's hard to argue the point. His numbers from this game have been widely reported (32 carries, 223 yards, 1 touchdown), and for those fortunate enough to see his performance you know that on more than a few occasions he managed to turn nothing into something. It was an amazing individual performance.

However, the real credit -- both for the success of the running game, and to a lesser extent the passing game -- has to go to the Steelers' beleagured offensive line. The Browns clearly missed Orpheus Roye, and the Steelers' offensive line punished the left side of the Browns' defensive line mercilessly. Indeed the Steelers' net rushing yards for the third quarter (109) exceeded their total net rushing in seven of their previous games. And to prove that Willie Parker's performance was no fluke, Najeh Davenport added 62 yards of rushing and Ben Roethlisberger was never sacked.

Also earning plaudits is Santonio Holmes, both for his receiving (4 catches -- one of which was just spectacular -- for 81 yards) and his punt returns (3 for 31 yards -- only the second time this season Pittsburgh punt returners have averaged 10 or more yards per return). Indeed, given the goodwill that a win generates, here's to all the receivers! Nate Washignton, who according to some reports is playing for a spot on the 2007 Steelers, had the play of the night (not the best double-move route one will ever see, but not bad), and there were Sean Morey and Walter Young sightings!

Defensively the team hit hard and often, and a suddenly young secondary (i.e. Anthony Smith, Tyrone Carter, and Bryant McFadden -- along side Deashea Townsend and Ike Taylor) performed capably.

Most impressive on the defensive side of the ball for the Steelers was their defensive line -- Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith are Pro Bowl-caliber, and Brett Keisel has proven a talented replacement for Kimo von Oelhoffen. Last night these three were the main reason that Cleveland never had more than 8 yards rushing in any single quarter. To describe their collective performance as "dominating" is an understatement.

The Bad
Despite how well the defensive front played the overall defensive effort was pretty poor, and if it hadn't been for an absolutely disgraceful performance by the Cleveland receivers (except for Joe Jurevicius -- and if you don't believe me read this piece from the Akron Beacon) -- I counted six dropped passes, many at key moments -- the Browns might well have been able to make more of a game of this contest.

Most frustrating of all was the Steelers' inability to generate any significant pass rush against the Browns' patchwork offensive line -- a line against whom the Steelers managed five sacks in their previous meeting last month. Yes, the Browns went to a "max protect" approach, but the lack of pressure allowed Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson to look like a seasoned veteran -- and a good one at that.

Of course, no game analysis is complete without calling-out Chris Gardocki. His net average Thursday night? 29.5 yards, and his longest kick was 35 yards. "Pathetic" doesn't even begin to describe that performance. Because of his role as place holder for Jeff Reed it is unlikely that he will be dropped during the season, but there is no reason that Mr. Gardocki should be the Steelers' punter in 2007.

The Ugly
I don't usually spend space discussing opponents, but Kellen Winslow Jr. is a punk, and his cheap shot/late hit on James Farrior should have resulted in an ejection. Of course, it is a measure of the player that he is seemingly incapable of such hits when play is actually underway.

Also ugly was the blocked field goal. The left side of the Steelers' offensive line -- at least on that single play -- caved in like a West Virginia coal mine.

Epilogue
It may not seem like much but the Steelers are 2-0 in December, and are 4-2 in their last six games. Given how far down the playoff ladder they are, it is still highly unlikely that the playoffs are in the team's future (the website Cool Standings calculates that there is a 0.2% chance of a Wild Card berth). However, no one should discount the value of a strong finish this season carrying over into the next. Barring a miracle, that's all we have left to hope for.