My favorite walk in the world is the walk from the downtown Pittsburgh parking garage where my dad and I park, all the way to Section 515, row KK, seats 11&12 for a Steelers home game. And that walk is never better than it is on opening day. The weather's still great, the team is normally 100% healthy and hope is always in the air. The only difference in the walk this year is that the number of #7 jerseys on display were significantly less than I've seen in past seven (7) years. I swear I did not see a large Benjamin jersey until I completed the walk through Point State Park and across the Duquesne Bridge. It was almost surreal.
We arrived at our seats not really sure what to expect. What we saw was a STEELERS football game. My thoughts, as fresh as they can be after watching the game live without replaying it on my DVR, are below:
THE GOOD
-DEEEEEFENSE: Watching the D briefly in the preseason I was impressed with how fast and explosive they looked. They did not disappoint today. While the Steelers only recorded two (2) official sacks, they brought constant pressure on Matthew Ryan. Michael Turner, circa 2008 ALL-PRO running back, was held to forty-two (42) yards on nineteen (19) carries. Professor LeBeau called a great game, as he usually does. He took away the deep ball, which was the achilles heel of the Steelers' D last year, and he forced Matthew Ryan to make the TOUGH 15 yard out throw over and over (and he did make that throw several times, he's a great F'in QB). Most importantly, however, the defense was able to come up with the HUGE play when it was needed most. From BIG PLAY Willie Gay's pass deflection (aka, dropped INT) on 3rd down in the 2Q, to Lawrence Timmons consistent tackling in big situations, to TP's HUGE INT, to the D's stop in OT. On and on and on. I can't say enough about the Defense. They will need to continue with this type of effort in the coming weeks to hand this team to Ben with a 3-1, or shall I say BETTER??, record. And they will need to be able to give this type of effort in January if we have any hope of another Lombardi. For now, I am very please with this unit.
-DANIEL SEPULVEDA: Averaged FIFTY POINT 8 (50.8) yards on five (5) punts. I believe the entire Steeler nation has been impressed with Daniel to this point in his career. However, today's game was, without question, his defining game as a punter to this point in his career. In a low-scoring, field position game a punter can make or break a game. Today, Daniel MADE the game for the Steelers. His fifty-five (55) yard BOOM SHACKALAKA punt with 1:30 left in the 4th quarter was a beautiful sight to behold. I honestly feel that saved the game for the Steelers. A normal punt and the Falcons have the ball at the forty (40) yard line and likely dink and dunk down the field into field goal range. Not only was that punt fifty-five (55) yards, but it had enough hang time to warrant NO return. Game changer.
-HINES WARD: Recorded his twenty-sixth (26) one-hundred (100) yard receiving game as a Steeler. Also, he surpassed ELEVEN (11) THOUSAND (1000) yards receiving today. I've said it before, and I am sure I will say it again...anyone who argues that this guy is not a SUREFIRE HOF is simply an idiot. HINES is not the greatest athlete, not the most talented receiver, not the fastest, strongest or tallest. But, I can say without question that he is one of the BEST football players I have ever seen. I enjoy watching him play every week.
-JASON WORILDS: Welcome to the NFL. Made three (3) critical special teams tackles that most people won't remember.
-RASHARD MENDENHALL: Twenty-two (22) carries for one-hundred twenty-two (122) yards. The touchdown run in the OT was his defining moment thus far as a Steeler. He ran hard as hell all day long. I am concerned that if he continues to attempt his spin move fifteen (15) times a game that he may end up getting killed, like literally killed.
The Bad
DENNIS DIXON: I struggled as to whether to place Dennis in the good or the bad category. I mean, his numbers and passer rating would lead one to believe that he had a good game. However, I was AT the game. I saw Dennis miss open receivers consistently in the first half. He looked scared and tentative. The only truly impressive throw he made all day was the fifty (50) yard pass to Wallace. This guy scares me. And he's not a rookie. I'm sorry but he's been here for three (3) years now. He should know the offense and have some confidence. He got better as the game went on, other than taking the two (2) HUUUUUGGGGGEEEEE sacks with two (2) minutes left in the 4Q. I'm not giving up on Dixon. He did enough to win the game today (although he is very fortunate that the Falcons defensive players don't have hands, apparently). He will have to be better against Tennessee...no doubt.
JEFF REED: Hit a fifty-one (51) yarder. Missed a stupid fifty-five (55) yarder (more on that later) and completely shit himself on the potential game winner with forty (40) seconds left in the 4Q. Skippy cost us two (2) games last year and almost cost us this game as well.
INJURIES: Anytime you lose your starting LT and nose guard in the same game it's a bad day. I hope these guys get healthy soon. They will be needed to win a Superbowl.
Ugly
TOMLIN'S GAME MANAGEMENT: There were three (3) decisions that Tomlin/Ariens made today that very, very easily could have cost the Steelers this game.
First, his decision to attempt a fifty-five (55) yard field goal, into the wind, with thirty (30) seconds left in the first half was beyond asinine. The longest field goal in Heinz Field HISTORY is fifty-one (51) yards (granted, it had just been accomplished by Reed a quarter earlier). The odds of Reed making that kick was probably less than the Steelers completing the 4th and 4 they were facing. Seriously, Reed making a fifty-five yarder at Heinz Field is a 10:1 deal. Beyond all that, Matthew Ryan is one of the best QB's in the NFL. If you give that gentleman the ball with :25 left at midfield he will likely lead his team to points (He did, obviously). DUMB DUMB DUMB, six (6) point swing. ps. Sepulveda is probably the best pooch punter in the NFL.
Second, the timeout Tomlin took with 2:05 left in the 4Q at the fifty (50) yard line is COMPLETELY inexcusable. There is no justifying that move in a tie game. The point of that drive was to try and score with as little time as possible left. DUMB DUMB DUMB.
Third, the playing call on 2nd and 5 on the ensuing play (after the timeout) was incomprehensible. Dixon had not taken a seven (7) step drop the entire game to my recollection. This, coupled with the fact that our starting LT was not in the game, would lead one to believe that the proper play call in that situation would have been a run OR a quick pass to Hines or Heath. Instead, Tomlin/Ariens thought a seven (7) step drop passing play was the right call. RESULT=ELEVEN (11) yard loss on sack. DUMB DUMB DUMB.
Other random thoughts
-Welcome back BMAC, Foote and EL.
-Pouncey is a beast and looks like a veteran.
-Where were Sanders and Battle? Did they see the field?
-BMAC is going to jump one of those out patterns soon enough.
-Troy is probably the best athlete in the NFL.
-What a game. Next week will be a much tougher test.
Great review! I happen to agree with you on all points.
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