Denver v. Steelers: Instant First Half Analysis

Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic was created in the hopes of providing a more in-depth, thoughtful brand of football discourse. However, when a team plays horribly there isn't much you "analysis" possible, or even necessary.

Obviously the Broncos wanted to get off to a fast start, in the hopes of further discouraging a discouraged football team and creating unrest amongst the Steelers partisans. What the Broncos could have never counted on, though they may have hoped for it, is the way the Steelers are contributing to their game plan.

So, despite dominating the game in every statistical category except the score (e.g. First Downs: Denver 5, Steelers 13; Total Net Yards: Denver 106, Steelers 266; Total Offensive Plays: Denver 22, Steelers 40) the Steelers find themselves trailing 14-10 at halftime.

Fumbles, interceptions, and missed field goals will do that to a team.

And the fact that Cedric Wilson is returning punts would seem -- given that he has returned all of 13 punts in his previous five years in the NFL, and didn't return a single punt during the 2005 season -- an indication that Bill Cowher is no longer willing to tolerate what could charitably be described as the "growing pains" (i.e. fumbles).

On the defensive unit is performing reasonably well, however they continue to struggle mightily at stopping opponents after the Steelers offense turns the ball over. Given all the practice they are getting this season you would think that Dick LeBeau and his staff would have figured out this facet of the game.

Time for the second half kickoff!

Roster Moves Announced

Here is a portion of an article from Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette outlining the moves that the Steelers made to replace Verron Haynes and Arnold Harrison:

"The Steelers acquired two players yesterday to replace halfback Verron Haynes and linebacker Arnold Harrison, who were placed on injured reserve with torn anterior cruciate knee ligaments.

The team claimed veteran linebacker Marquis Cooper off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings and signed running back John Kuhn from their practice squad.

Cooper, drafted in the third round from the University of Washington by Tampa Bay in 2004, played 26 games in two seasons for the Buccaneers. He was active for one game with the Vikings this season.

Kuhn, who played at Shippensburg University, spent part of his rookie season last year on the Steelers' practice squad as well.

The Steelers also signed rookie running back Cedric Humes back to their practice squad."