Newsflash: Football is a dangerous game, it is violent, and it involves large men hitting each other as hard as they can. Sometimes they get hurt. Sometimes they hit each other in the head. Sometimes they get concussions. As someone who has played football, watched football, and coached football for his entire life this is not news. Apparently, it is news to Commissioner Goodell. James Harrison was fined an egregious amount of money because Commissioner Goodell apparently cares about the welfare and health of NFL players, despite the fact that he is the main proponent of expanding the NFL season to 18 games. The position that Goodell is taking in this matter is likely the most hypocritical position I have ever witnessed. He wants to "limit" injuries yet expand the season in the most brutal, physical professional sport in the world. Furthermore, if the owners lock the players out in March (as a result of no new CBA), the players will be without healthcare. As a result, all of those players with post-concussion syndrome (that Goodell apparently cares so much about) will have to pay for their own treatment. Goodell doesn't care about the players, he cares about his league making money. That's the bottom line. Now that I got that off my chest, here are my thoughts regarding this week's game...
THE GOOD
BEN ROETHLISBERGER: I, along with most of Steelers' nation, was anxious to see how Large Benjamin would fare in his first true road game since returning from his four (4) game suspension. Luckily for Ben, Steelers' nation travels very, very well. What should have been a hostile environment for the accused sexual predator turned out to be Pittsburgh South. Fortunately for Ben, most of the away crowds he faces will have a similar feel (minus Baltimore and Cincinnati). That being said, Large Benjamin, for the most part, was masterful yesterday. As we have grown accustomed to, he extended plays, improvised, and generally delivered the ball on queue to his receivers. Ben finished with an impressive 19-32, 302 yards, 2 TDs and a passer rating of 132.0. In the four (4) games in which Ben was suspended, the Steelers threw for a league low 544 yards. In the two (2) games since Ben's return the Steelers have thrown for 547 yards. On top of those statistics, Roethlisberger threw one of the nicest deep balls I've ever seen, delivering a perfect strike (while being hurried) on the 53 yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace.
JASON WORILDS: The rookie was thrust into action Sunday after the hamstring injury to Pro-Bowl linebacker Lamar Woodley. He did not disappoint. While Worilds was unable to record his first sack as a Steelers' linebacker, he did bring constant pressure to Chad Henne. Most importantly, Worilds was able to bring the heat in the Dolphin's final offensive play, forcing Henne into an errant throw. If anything, we learned that Worilds will be a viable substitute for Woodley should his injury keep him out of the lineup for the forseeable future.
IKE TAYLOR: The Steelers' cornerback limited All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall to a rather meaningless 5 receptions and 57 yards. This effort is especially significant considering that Marshall accumulated 11 receptions for 121 yards last year in the Steelers' victory over the Broncos. Taylor's performance is especially comforting in that that the Steelers will face very fluent passing offenses in each of the next three (3) weeks. The Steelers will need Taylor to play at the All Pro caliber he exhibited on Sunday.
HINES WARD: The ageless wonder accounted for seven (7) receptions, 131 yards and 1 TD this week. The constant "is Hines Ward a Hall of Famer" debate is growing quite tiresome. He IS a hall of fame player. He SHOULD be a first ballot Hall of Famer. If you disagree, well, you're an idiot.
THE BAD
EMMANUEL SANDERS: I struggled on where to place Sanders in this post. Clearly, Sanders was a positive factor with two (2) key kickoff returns, especially the 48 yard return which ultimately set up the Steelers' winning field goal drive. HOWEVER, the worst possible way to start a game is to fumble an opening kickoff. To do so is unacceptable. If the Steelers weren't fielding the greatest defense in the world at the time, we would have been looking at a 7-0 hole within the first :30 seconds of the game. As the Steelers begin to suffer the inevitable injury bug which comes with an NFL season, special teams gaffes will become more and more fatal. I expect that Sanders will be deep again this coming week in New Orleans, and I also expect that he will be holding the rock high and tight.
DUMBO BEN: As noted above, Large Benjamin was mostly brilliant in yesterday's 23-22 win. HOWEVER, Ben did display his bad side on at least two (2) (and arguably 3) occasions yesterday. In the first quarter, on 3rd and 9 from his own 22 yard line, the Steelers' offensive line had an epic breakdown, allowing three (3) Dolphins' defenders to maul Large Benjamin. Instead of taking an inconsequential sack, Ben felt it necessary to attempt a chest pass with defenders hanging from each extremity. The result = Steelers turnover and potentially a 10-0 start. Once again, the GREATEST DEFENSE IN THE WORLD bailed the Steelers out and held the Dolphins to a field goal. Again, in the 4th quarter, and clinging to a two (2) point lead, Ben again attempted to prolong a play which was blown up by the Dolphins' defensive line. The result = another DUMB fumble. Luckily for the Steelers, Maurkice Pouncey was in prime position to recover the fumble. If there is one constant criticism of Ben, it is his inability to cut his losses. That being said, there have been countless times when I thought Ben was sacked in which he has prolonged the play and led us to big plays, first downs, and touchdowns. He is arguably the greatest "sandlot" quarterback in NFL history. Sometimes this style of play leads to unfortunate turnovers and mistakes. I wish there was a way for Ben to reel it in sometimes but I just don't see that happening. I guess, as Steelers' fans, we live by the sword and die by the sword.
OFFICIATING: Let's get one thing straight...the officials made the CORRECT call AFTER reviewing the Steelers' "touchdown" with 2:27 left in the game. There is no possible way the officials could have determined who recovered the football after Roethlisberger's fumble. For those of you that have never played football, the officials in that situation were likely SCREAMING at the players in the scrum to "LET GO" because their was a "TOUCHDOWN." As such, the fact that the Dolphins came up with the football is completely irrelevant. Large Benjamin indicated in his post game press conference that he had possession of the ball at the bottom of the pile (Obviously, he is the most honest and trustworthy player in the NFL...he would never lie about anything, and he would never, ever, ever do anything illicit or deceptive!!!). Despite the above, the officials should have clearly seen that Ben fumbled. The ball came out a full yard before the goalline. There is no reason that the play should have been called a touchdown initially, and there is no reason that the referees shouldn't have been on top of that scrum to determine who recovered the fumble. On top of that, the referees missed a BLATANT and OUTRIGHT DISGUSTING holding call when Polamalu blitzed up the middle on Devone Bess' 22 yard touchdown run with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter. Also, the refs missed an obvious defensive holding call against the Dolphins early in the 3rd quarter when Channing Crowder more or less undressed Hines Ward in the endzone. All in all, it was a horrible game for the zebras.
THE UGLY
DOLPHINS POST GAME QUOTES: "The refs called a wonderful game -- for the Steelers." -- Channing Crowder
"Y'all ain't never seen anybody handle Pittsburgh like we did today. They took that game from us. They took it from us, bottom line." -- Karlos Dansby
"There should be a board that fines refs for making decisions like that." -- Tony McDaniel
Interestingly enough, the Dolphins started their first two (2) drives at the Steelers' 20 and 13 yard lines, respectively. Guess what, they got six (6) freaking points out of those two drives. Also, even AFTER the "fix" when the refs "gave" the Steelers the game, the Dolphins had 2:26 to try to mount a game winning drive against the Steelers depleted defense. I'm sorry, but the Dolphins LOST that game. Despite the questionable call by the referees, they should not be blaming anyone but themselves for the loss. In all honesty, good teams win games like that and bad teams lose them. The Steelers won and the Dolphins lost.
AARON SMITH: The heart and soul of the Steelers' defense was lost to a season ending injury this Sunday. Words cannot express how big of a loss this is for the Steelers. Ziggy Hood better grow up fast. If not, don't expect much from this team in January. In all honesty, I believe this injury SIGNIFICANTLY decreases the odds of a 7th Lombardi trophy. Unless Hood becomes a superstar very quickly, this team is likely one and done in the playoffs.
Other random thoughts:
- I almost picked up Kenny Britt on my fantasy team this week. Instead I opted for a kicker. Good move on my part!
- I love seeing commercials for the T.OCHO SHOW for many reasons. #1: the Bengals suck; #2: those dudes are idiots and the Bengals suck; #3: they are actually somewhat amusing.
- The Raiders scored 59 points. The Broncos defense should consider mass suicide.
- I really like both the teams in the World Series. Going with the Giants in 6.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Steelers vs. Browns: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
After watching the Steelers play their first four (4) games without a real NFL quarterback, it was refreshing to wake up this morning knowing that I would be watching a real, live NFL QB under center for Pittsburgh. As most of the free world knows, the Steelers' two (2) time Superbowl champion quarterback was suspended for the first four (4) games of the 2010 NFL season. Large Benjamin was suspended for being ACCUSED of committing a crime. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation conducted a two (2) month investigation regarding the accusations surrounding the Steelers' QB. After interviewing countless witnesses, and reviewing the evidence, it was determined that it could not be proven that the quarterback committed any crime or legal wrongdoing. Despite NO criminal charges being brought against the quarterback, Roger Goodell (the NFL commissioner) determined that a four (4) game suspension was warranted. After handing down the suspension, most football fans, and the vast majority of ESPN "experts," wrote the Steelers off for dead. HOWEVER, the Steelers clearly had other plans. Now, coming into today's game at 3-1 (and one Joe Flacco TD pass away from 4-0) the Steelers were considered Superbowl contenders, if not Superbowl favorites. Once again, the Steelers played like Superbowl contenders today (this time with a capable quarterback). My thoughts on today's game are below.
THE GOOD
Large Benjamin: Obviously, the Steelers' QB was the story of the day. Steelers' nation was anxious, excited, and somewhat nervous for the return of their franchise quarterback. Would he be ready? Would he be in shape? Would he be on the same page as his receivers? Would he be rusty? Well, yes, yes, yes, and yes. After shaking off the aforementioned "rust," and throwing an UGLY first quarter redzone INT, Ben played mostly solid and consistent all day. He exhibited his usual awkward elusiveness, his ability to prolong plays and find the open receiver, and his strange talent for under-throwing streaking wide open receivers so badly that the defensive backs overrun the ball, allowing the receivers to come back and make the completion (needless to say, this is not how Peyton Manning does it). Ben's final statistics for the day were what we have come to expect from him (16-27, 257 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT). Obviously, barring injury, the last thing Steelers' nation needs to worry about is the quarterback position (this is also assuming that Ben will be staying away from 20 year old Duquesne sorority sisters in Southside bar bathrooms (perhaps this is a rather bold assumption)). In any event, I am glad to see #7 back under center.
Silverback: James Harrison went "bison hunting" during the Steelers' bye week. Apparently, he was excited at the proposition of killing an animal which would yield him 600 lbs of meat. Maybe James was unsuccessful on his bison hunting trip. Maybe he failed to realize that his hunting trip was over and he simply felt like continuing to try and kill things today. Regardless, Mr. Harrison almost took the lives of the two best Browns' offensive players(the term "best" is to be loosely used when discussing anyone on the Browns' offense). Both Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi were momentarily knocked unconscious and forced to leave the game due to vicious, legal hits by Mr. Harrison.
Emmanuel Sanders: After being inactive for the previous three (3) games, the rookie speedster from Southern Methodist University contributed two (2) key first down receptions for the Steelers today. If anything, we have now seen flashes of brilliance from both Sanders and rookie Antonio Brown. Wide receiver depth is another area that Steelers' fans need not worry about for a long time.
The fans: Another topic of the day was how the Steelers' fans would react to the return of Large Benjamin. Honestly, the best possible scenario occurred for Ben. His team went 3-1 in his absence, the team's backup QBs played pretty poorly, and his first game back was against the Browns, at home. Despite the above, there was some question as to whether the Steelers' QB would receive a favorable ovation at home, in light of the accusations brought against him. Speaking as someone who was at the game, I can attest that the ovation Ben Roethlisberger received was likely the loudest ovation I've ever heard for a Steelers' player, outside of Bettis' last home game against the Detroit Lions in 2005. Also, I amazingly did not hear ONE fan clamoring for Charlie Batch when Ben threw his untimely first quarter interception. Amazing.
THE BAD
The faux rivalry: Cleveland fans like to consider this a rivalry game. They even refer to the week of the Browns/Steelers game as "Steelers week." That's really cute, but the reality is that, at this point, the Browns and Steelers are pretty much the opposite of a rivalry. Dictionary.com defines a rival as "a person or thing that is in a position to dispute another's preeminence or superiority." Given that definition, lets do a little fact checking... In the past ten (10) years the Steelers own a 19-3 record against the hapless Browns. During that same time frame, the Browns have one (1) postseason appearance wherein they lost to the STEELERS 36-33. Also during that time frame, the Steelers have qualified for the playoffs six (6) times, winning two (2) Lombardi trophies. In those twenty-two (22) meetings, the Steelers have outscored the Browns 537-306 (that's a 33 TD difference, but who's counting). My apologies to Cleveland fans (some of whom are actually friends and family), but we are no longer rivals. Get a half decent team and then we will have this discussion. In the meantime, keep having your "Steelers weeks" and enjoy the losses. The Steelers are VASTLY superior to the Browns.
Fourth Quarter Defense: Once again, the Steelers' defense left much to be desired in the fourth quarter. After dominating much of the game, the Steelers' defense once again allowed a sustained fourth quarter touchdown drive. Only this time, the quarterback was not a budding superstar like Joe Flacco, or an old pro like Kerry Collins. Rather, rookie third (3rd) round draft pick Colt McCoy led the Browns to a six (6) play, seventy (70) yard TD drive in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. I realize I am splitting hairs in continually mentioning the shortcomings of the best defense in the NFL. However, quite honestly, I have almost no faith in this defense in a late game situation against an elite QB like Brees or Brady (both of whom we will see in the coming weeks).
UGLY
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10290/1096050-100.stm I'm sorry, but if you are planning a protest, and you are going to spend your entire Sunday morning holding signs and yelling stupid chants, at least get more than twenty (20) people to support your ridiculous cause. This has to go down as the worst protest effort of all time.
The upcoming schedule: The always fickle and over-emotional majority of Steelers' nation has likely taken out second mortgages on their homes in order to purchase plane tickets and hotel rooms for Dallas. Unfortunately, the Steelers' schedule gets much more difficult from this point forward. After a tough three (3) game road stretch which consists of a good Miami team, last year's Superbowl champion New Orleans Saints, and the Bungles (who bested the Steelers twice last year), the Steelers still have tough home games against the New York Jets and the hated Patriots (not to mention a Sunday night game at Baltimore). I'm not saying that the Steelers are not a Superbowl caliber team, HOWEVER, I would recommend that you wait a few more weeks before you purchase those plane tickets.
Other random thoughts:
-I made it to the local bar after the game today just in time to catch the end of the Patriots/Ravens game. Obviously, I hate both of these teams. However, it was easy to root for the Patriots in this game as we are currently in a battle for AFC North supremacy with the Ravens. HOWEVER, as soon as the Patriots kicked the game winning field goal in overtime, I was reminded why I hate Patriots fans (for the most part), as I was greeted by a group of heavily intoxicated Pats fans who reminded me that the Steelers lost to the Ravens which clearly proves that the Patriots are better than the Steelers. November 14th cannot get here soon enough.
-Playoff baseball is awesome. Could you imagine PNC Park sold out in October? For what it's worth, I am rooting for the Giants and Rangers although I fully expect another Yankees/Phillies World Series.
-We are one step closer to a TCU-Boise State National Championship game. I'm sure the ratings will be great for that game (or not). Just another example as to why a playoff is severely needed in college football. Can you imagine the following bowl games, with none of the participants eligible for the national championship: Oregon/tOSU (rose bowl), Auburn/Oklahoma (Fiesta Bowl) and Alabama/Nebraska (Sugar Bowl). It could happen.
THE GOOD
Large Benjamin: Obviously, the Steelers' QB was the story of the day. Steelers' nation was anxious, excited, and somewhat nervous for the return of their franchise quarterback. Would he be ready? Would he be in shape? Would he be on the same page as his receivers? Would he be rusty? Well, yes, yes, yes, and yes. After shaking off the aforementioned "rust," and throwing an UGLY first quarter redzone INT, Ben played mostly solid and consistent all day. He exhibited his usual awkward elusiveness, his ability to prolong plays and find the open receiver, and his strange talent for under-throwing streaking wide open receivers so badly that the defensive backs overrun the ball, allowing the receivers to come back and make the completion (needless to say, this is not how Peyton Manning does it). Ben's final statistics for the day were what we have come to expect from him (16-27, 257 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT). Obviously, barring injury, the last thing Steelers' nation needs to worry about is the quarterback position (this is also assuming that Ben will be staying away from 20 year old Duquesne sorority sisters in Southside bar bathrooms (perhaps this is a rather bold assumption)). In any event, I am glad to see #7 back under center.
Silverback: James Harrison went "bison hunting" during the Steelers' bye week. Apparently, he was excited at the proposition of killing an animal which would yield him 600 lbs of meat. Maybe James was unsuccessful on his bison hunting trip. Maybe he failed to realize that his hunting trip was over and he simply felt like continuing to try and kill things today. Regardless, Mr. Harrison almost took the lives of the two best Browns' offensive players(the term "best" is to be loosely used when discussing anyone on the Browns' offense). Both Joshua Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi were momentarily knocked unconscious and forced to leave the game due to vicious, legal hits by Mr. Harrison.
Emmanuel Sanders: After being inactive for the previous three (3) games, the rookie speedster from Southern Methodist University contributed two (2) key first down receptions for the Steelers today. If anything, we have now seen flashes of brilliance from both Sanders and rookie Antonio Brown. Wide receiver depth is another area that Steelers' fans need not worry about for a long time.
The fans: Another topic of the day was how the Steelers' fans would react to the return of Large Benjamin. Honestly, the best possible scenario occurred for Ben. His team went 3-1 in his absence, the team's backup QBs played pretty poorly, and his first game back was against the Browns, at home. Despite the above, there was some question as to whether the Steelers' QB would receive a favorable ovation at home, in light of the accusations brought against him. Speaking as someone who was at the game, I can attest that the ovation Ben Roethlisberger received was likely the loudest ovation I've ever heard for a Steelers' player, outside of Bettis' last home game against the Detroit Lions in 2005. Also, I amazingly did not hear ONE fan clamoring for Charlie Batch when Ben threw his untimely first quarter interception. Amazing.
THE BAD
The faux rivalry: Cleveland fans like to consider this a rivalry game. They even refer to the week of the Browns/Steelers game as "Steelers week." That's really cute, but the reality is that, at this point, the Browns and Steelers are pretty much the opposite of a rivalry. Dictionary.com defines a rival as "a person or thing that is in a position to dispute another's preeminence or superiority." Given that definition, lets do a little fact checking... In the past ten (10) years the Steelers own a 19-3 record against the hapless Browns. During that same time frame, the Browns have one (1) postseason appearance wherein they lost to the STEELERS 36-33. Also during that time frame, the Steelers have qualified for the playoffs six (6) times, winning two (2) Lombardi trophies. In those twenty-two (22) meetings, the Steelers have outscored the Browns 537-306 (that's a 33 TD difference, but who's counting). My apologies to Cleveland fans (some of whom are actually friends and family), but we are no longer rivals. Get a half decent team and then we will have this discussion. In the meantime, keep having your "Steelers weeks" and enjoy the losses. The Steelers are VASTLY superior to the Browns.
Fourth Quarter Defense: Once again, the Steelers' defense left much to be desired in the fourth quarter. After dominating much of the game, the Steelers' defense once again allowed a sustained fourth quarter touchdown drive. Only this time, the quarterback was not a budding superstar like Joe Flacco, or an old pro like Kerry Collins. Rather, rookie third (3rd) round draft pick Colt McCoy led the Browns to a six (6) play, seventy (70) yard TD drive in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. I realize I am splitting hairs in continually mentioning the shortcomings of the best defense in the NFL. However, quite honestly, I have almost no faith in this defense in a late game situation against an elite QB like Brees or Brady (both of whom we will see in the coming weeks).
UGLY
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10290/1096050-100.stm I'm sorry, but if you are planning a protest, and you are going to spend your entire Sunday morning holding signs and yelling stupid chants, at least get more than twenty (20) people to support your ridiculous cause. This has to go down as the worst protest effort of all time.
The upcoming schedule: The always fickle and over-emotional majority of Steelers' nation has likely taken out second mortgages on their homes in order to purchase plane tickets and hotel rooms for Dallas. Unfortunately, the Steelers' schedule gets much more difficult from this point forward. After a tough three (3) game road stretch which consists of a good Miami team, last year's Superbowl champion New Orleans Saints, and the Bungles (who bested the Steelers twice last year), the Steelers still have tough home games against the New York Jets and the hated Patriots (not to mention a Sunday night game at Baltimore). I'm not saying that the Steelers are not a Superbowl caliber team, HOWEVER, I would recommend that you wait a few more weeks before you purchase those plane tickets.
Other random thoughts:
-I made it to the local bar after the game today just in time to catch the end of the Patriots/Ravens game. Obviously, I hate both of these teams. However, it was easy to root for the Patriots in this game as we are currently in a battle for AFC North supremacy with the Ravens. HOWEVER, as soon as the Patriots kicked the game winning field goal in overtime, I was reminded why I hate Patriots fans (for the most part), as I was greeted by a group of heavily intoxicated Pats fans who reminded me that the Steelers lost to the Ravens which clearly proves that the Patriots are better than the Steelers. November 14th cannot get here soon enough.
-Playoff baseball is awesome. Could you imagine PNC Park sold out in October? For what it's worth, I am rooting for the Giants and Rangers although I fully expect another Yankees/Phillies World Series.
-We are one step closer to a TCU-Boise State National Championship game. I'm sure the ratings will be great for that game (or not). Just another example as to why a playoff is severely needed in college football. Can you imagine the following bowl games, with none of the participants eligible for the national championship: Oregon/tOSU (rose bowl), Auburn/Oklahoma (Fiesta Bowl) and Alabama/Nebraska (Sugar Bowl). It could happen.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Steelers vs. Ravens: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
I don't hate many things. I hate Al Quaeda. I hate Satan. I hate racism. I hate pedophiles. I hate when my steak is overcooked. I hate when my beer is skunked. But the thing I hate the most, without question, is the professional football team from Baltimore. I honestly get in a bad mood, a horrible mood actually (ask my wife), every time we play them. I hate the city, I hate their coach, I hate their ex-coach, I hate their fans, I hate their quarterback, but mostly I hate their linebacker or, as Coach Tomlin would refer to him, "#52." I hate thinking about them. I hate their stupid purple uniforms. I really, really hate them. Now that I got that off my chest, below are my thoughts on this week's loss to the Ravens.
THE GOOD
3-1: Most people anticipated a 1-3 or, at best case, 2-2 start for the Steelers without Large Benjamin (as you may recall, I predicted that the Steelers would begin the season with a 3-1 record. Unlike the national media, and most of yinzer nation, I recognized the fact that, when healthy, the Steelers defense is awesome). The Steelers weathered the storm the past four (4) weeks and did what they needed to do to put themselves in a good position to contend for the AFC North crown and a top seed in the AFC playoffs. Mike Tomlin certainly had his team prepared to face the fire without their signal caller. If one thing has been proven time and time again with this team it's that, when disrespected and/or underrated, they are at their best.
The rivalry: As noted above, I really hate the Ravens. However, there is no denying the fact that the Steelers/Ravens has become the ultimate rivalry in the NFL today. In the past ten (10) years the teams have met twenty-three (23) times with the Steelers owning a 13-10 record in those games (including a 23-14 victory in the 2008 AFC Championship game which ultimately led to the Steelers' sixth (6th) Superbowl win, which is five (5) more Superbowl championships than the Ravens, just for the record). In those twenty-three (23) games the Steelers have outscored the Ravens 426-407. In addition to the amazing competitiveness of the rivalry, these teams truly hate each other. There was the Joey Porter/Ray Lewis incident; the Joey Porter/Todd Heap incident; the Tommy Maddox (thank you dear Ravens for injuring Tommy Maddox and commencing our 15-1 season) incident; the Bart Scott/Ben Roethlisberger incident; the Hines Ward/Ed Reed incident; the Hines Ward/Bart Scott incident; the Ravens' bounty on Hines Ward incident; the Mendenhall/Ray Rice/text message/broken shoulder incident; and FINALLY, the time where I called the sweet, innocent, cute blond girl in a Ravens jersey a "fat whore" incident (I'm sorry). Once again yesterday, despite the outcome for Steelers' fans, this game did not disappoint. There were several times during the game when I simply leaned over to my dad and said "this is awesome." The atmosphere at a Steelers/Ravens game is just different. It's personal. It's amazing. I love it.
Rashard Mendenhall: Had you told me before the game that Rashard was going to have 80 yards rushing and two (2) TDs, I would have bet you $500 that the Steelers win the game. Unfortunately for you, and fortunately for my checkbook, we did not make that bet. Mendenhall is currently fourth (4th) in the NFL in rushing which is a testament to both his maturity as an elite NFL running back and the offensive line's renewed commitment to the running game. I truly hope that this hard-nosed mentality continues when Large Benjamin and his rocket arm returns to our offense.
Antwaan Randle-El: I momentarily forgot this gentleman was on the team. At one point in the second quarter I saw a Steelers receiver make an amazing diving catch near the goalline and commented, "who the hell was that?" Catch of the year thus far for the Steelers.
Daniel SEPULVEDA: I continually praise the punter, which is kind of weird, but this dude is really awesome. Seriously, he's awesome. 5 punts for a 49.7 yard average yesterday. Not to mention that the hang time on said punts was good enough to limit the Ravens to less than 5 yards per return.
THE BAD
Charlie Batch: I, once again, debated on where to place Chaz Batch in this article. On one hand, he was our FOURTH string QB about eight (8) months ago. He's 36, going on 56. He's brittle. I'm not sure that he would start for most college teams. So, I really can't pick on the guy, it's just not fair. HOWEVER, he is a 13 year NFL veteran and he looked like a fish out of water for most of the game on Sunday. He continually had plenty of time to throw and simply failed to find the open receivers. For the MOST part, when he did throw to open receivers, he missed them. But, like I said, not much was expected of Chaz and, quite honestly, he did enough not to LOSE the game for the Steelers. Unfortunately, he did not do enough to win the game. Regardless, I appreciate Charlie Batch. He is a true Pittsburgh Steeler (thank God I will not have to see him play again, EVER).
Late game play-calling: After the impressive goal-line stand by the defense late in the 4th quarter, the offensive took over at the 3 yard line with 2:40 left. They proceeded to rack up two (2) false start penalties, zero (0) yards and only use 1:32 on the clock. I understand the conservative mentality that Ariens and Tomlin had going into this series. Obviously, we are blessed with a world class defense. Obviously, they should be trusted with the game on the line. HOWEVER, this is the NFL and the Ravens also have VERY talented players on the offensive side of the ball. Had the Steelers gained one first down on that final drive the game would have effectively been over. The Steelers have two (2) of the most reliable possession, first down making, receivers in the NFL (Ward and Miller). You have to give those guys a chance in that type of situation.
Bryant McFadden: For the laymen, when you are playing cornerback in a cover-3 defense in a late game situation, you have one responsibility... DON'T LET ANYONE GET BEHIND YOU.
THE UGLY
Skippy: Once again, it's tough to be too hard on a kicker for missing 49 and 45 yard field goals in Heinz Field on a windy day. HOWEVER, this is the same guy who was publicly bitching to the media for not being offered a new contract in the offseason. Chances are that Skippy WILL be offered a new contract this offseason. It just won't be the Steelers doing the offering. God help the towel dispensers in whatever city he signs.
Late game defensive collapses: It's very difficult to criticize this year's Steelers defense. HOWEVER, the Ravens did make it look very easy in going 40 yards in :40 for the game-winning TD. Normally, I would say this was an aberration. But, lets not forget that the Steelers were a dropped Nate Washington TD catch, and potential 2-point conversion, from blowing an 16-point lead against the Titans less than 3 weeks ago. Furthermore, the Steelers allowed late game-winnings TDs last year against the Raiders and the Chiefs which prevented the reigning Superbowl champions from reaching the playoffs. I am very hesitant to criticize Professor LeBeau. But, if there is any criticism that can be made about his defenses over the past twenty (20) years, it's that they become somewhat soft in late game situations with a lead.
The Ravens do not support breast cancer awareness: This is really no surprise considering that the Ravens are composed of murderers and terrorists. As you may know, yesterday was "Breast Cancer Awareness Day" in the NFL. Most of the players in the NFL wore something pink yesterday to support the cause for breast cancer cure and research. None of the Ravens took part in this day. Not surprising. I hate them.
Other random thoughts:
- Obviously it's early in the season, but at this point there are only 12 teams I can consider Superbowl contenders: Saints, Steelers, Ravens, Jets, Colts, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, Vikings, Packers, Patriots. Am I missing anyone?
- Calvin Johnson is making his case as the best receiver in the NFL.
- How does a guy like Arian Foster go undrafted? He played well for a big school (Tennessee), he's big, strong and fast. I understand that he had some character issues but Maurice Clarett and LeGarrette Blount both got drafted. How was this guy missed?
- The Chiefs are the worst 3-0 team in NFL history.
- The Colts are in THIRD place in the AFC South.
- Alabama and Oregon are clearly the two best teams in college football at this point. HOWEVER, if Pryor comes back healthy tOSU will run the table which will cause a complete cluster in the BCS. I expect there to be at least 4 undefeated teams this year.
THE GOOD
3-1: Most people anticipated a 1-3 or, at best case, 2-2 start for the Steelers without Large Benjamin (as you may recall, I predicted that the Steelers would begin the season with a 3-1 record. Unlike the national media, and most of yinzer nation, I recognized the fact that, when healthy, the Steelers defense is awesome). The Steelers weathered the storm the past four (4) weeks and did what they needed to do to put themselves in a good position to contend for the AFC North crown and a top seed in the AFC playoffs. Mike Tomlin certainly had his team prepared to face the fire without their signal caller. If one thing has been proven time and time again with this team it's that, when disrespected and/or underrated, they are at their best.
The rivalry: As noted above, I really hate the Ravens. However, there is no denying the fact that the Steelers/Ravens has become the ultimate rivalry in the NFL today. In the past ten (10) years the teams have met twenty-three (23) times with the Steelers owning a 13-10 record in those games (including a 23-14 victory in the 2008 AFC Championship game which ultimately led to the Steelers' sixth (6th) Superbowl win, which is five (5) more Superbowl championships than the Ravens, just for the record). In those twenty-three (23) games the Steelers have outscored the Ravens 426-407. In addition to the amazing competitiveness of the rivalry, these teams truly hate each other. There was the Joey Porter/Ray Lewis incident; the Joey Porter/Todd Heap incident; the Tommy Maddox (thank you dear Ravens for injuring Tommy Maddox and commencing our 15-1 season) incident; the Bart Scott/Ben Roethlisberger incident; the Hines Ward/Ed Reed incident; the Hines Ward/Bart Scott incident; the Ravens' bounty on Hines Ward incident; the Mendenhall/Ray Rice/text message/broken shoulder incident; and FINALLY, the time where I called the sweet, innocent, cute blond girl in a Ravens jersey a "fat whore" incident (I'm sorry). Once again yesterday, despite the outcome for Steelers' fans, this game did not disappoint. There were several times during the game when I simply leaned over to my dad and said "this is awesome." The atmosphere at a Steelers/Ravens game is just different. It's personal. It's amazing. I love it.
Rashard Mendenhall: Had you told me before the game that Rashard was going to have 80 yards rushing and two (2) TDs, I would have bet you $500 that the Steelers win the game. Unfortunately for you, and fortunately for my checkbook, we did not make that bet. Mendenhall is currently fourth (4th) in the NFL in rushing which is a testament to both his maturity as an elite NFL running back and the offensive line's renewed commitment to the running game. I truly hope that this hard-nosed mentality continues when Large Benjamin and his rocket arm returns to our offense.
Antwaan Randle-El: I momentarily forgot this gentleman was on the team. At one point in the second quarter I saw a Steelers receiver make an amazing diving catch near the goalline and commented, "who the hell was that?" Catch of the year thus far for the Steelers.
Daniel SEPULVEDA: I continually praise the punter, which is kind of weird, but this dude is really awesome. Seriously, he's awesome. 5 punts for a 49.7 yard average yesterday. Not to mention that the hang time on said punts was good enough to limit the Ravens to less than 5 yards per return.
THE BAD
Charlie Batch: I, once again, debated on where to place Chaz Batch in this article. On one hand, he was our FOURTH string QB about eight (8) months ago. He's 36, going on 56. He's brittle. I'm not sure that he would start for most college teams. So, I really can't pick on the guy, it's just not fair. HOWEVER, he is a 13 year NFL veteran and he looked like a fish out of water for most of the game on Sunday. He continually had plenty of time to throw and simply failed to find the open receivers. For the MOST part, when he did throw to open receivers, he missed them. But, like I said, not much was expected of Chaz and, quite honestly, he did enough not to LOSE the game for the Steelers. Unfortunately, he did not do enough to win the game. Regardless, I appreciate Charlie Batch. He is a true Pittsburgh Steeler (thank God I will not have to see him play again, EVER).
Late game play-calling: After the impressive goal-line stand by the defense late in the 4th quarter, the offensive took over at the 3 yard line with 2:40 left. They proceeded to rack up two (2) false start penalties, zero (0) yards and only use 1:32 on the clock. I understand the conservative mentality that Ariens and Tomlin had going into this series. Obviously, we are blessed with a world class defense. Obviously, they should be trusted with the game on the line. HOWEVER, this is the NFL and the Ravens also have VERY talented players on the offensive side of the ball. Had the Steelers gained one first down on that final drive the game would have effectively been over. The Steelers have two (2) of the most reliable possession, first down making, receivers in the NFL (Ward and Miller). You have to give those guys a chance in that type of situation.
Bryant McFadden: For the laymen, when you are playing cornerback in a cover-3 defense in a late game situation, you have one responsibility... DON'T LET ANYONE GET BEHIND YOU.
THE UGLY
Skippy: Once again, it's tough to be too hard on a kicker for missing 49 and 45 yard field goals in Heinz Field on a windy day. HOWEVER, this is the same guy who was publicly bitching to the media for not being offered a new contract in the offseason. Chances are that Skippy WILL be offered a new contract this offseason. It just won't be the Steelers doing the offering. God help the towel dispensers in whatever city he signs.
Late game defensive collapses: It's very difficult to criticize this year's Steelers defense. HOWEVER, the Ravens did make it look very easy in going 40 yards in :40 for the game-winning TD. Normally, I would say this was an aberration. But, lets not forget that the Steelers were a dropped Nate Washington TD catch, and potential 2-point conversion, from blowing an 16-point lead against the Titans less than 3 weeks ago. Furthermore, the Steelers allowed late game-winnings TDs last year against the Raiders and the Chiefs which prevented the reigning Superbowl champions from reaching the playoffs. I am very hesitant to criticize Professor LeBeau. But, if there is any criticism that can be made about his defenses over the past twenty (20) years, it's that they become somewhat soft in late game situations with a lead.
The Ravens do not support breast cancer awareness: This is really no surprise considering that the Ravens are composed of murderers and terrorists. As you may know, yesterday was "Breast Cancer Awareness Day" in the NFL. Most of the players in the NFL wore something pink yesterday to support the cause for breast cancer cure and research. None of the Ravens took part in this day. Not surprising. I hate them.
Other random thoughts:
- Obviously it's early in the season, but at this point there are only 12 teams I can consider Superbowl contenders: Saints, Steelers, Ravens, Jets, Colts, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, Vikings, Packers, Patriots. Am I missing anyone?
- Calvin Johnson is making his case as the best receiver in the NFL.
- How does a guy like Arian Foster go undrafted? He played well for a big school (Tennessee), he's big, strong and fast. I understand that he had some character issues but Maurice Clarett and LeGarrette Blount both got drafted. How was this guy missed?
- The Chiefs are the worst 3-0 team in NFL history.
- The Colts are in THIRD place in the AFC South.
- Alabama and Oregon are clearly the two best teams in college football at this point. HOWEVER, if Pryor comes back healthy tOSU will run the table which will cause a complete cluster in the BCS. I expect there to be at least 4 undefeated teams this year.
Friday, October 1, 2010
College Football Pick'em (Winners in bold)
Obviously all good things come to an end. ER, Hootie and the Blowfish, Guns and Roses, Chi-Chi's and my unbelievable hot streak in picking against the spread in this college football season. After starting the year at an unfathomable 8-2-2 clip against the spread, I came back to earth last week with an unfortunate 2-6 showing. Obviously, last week I undervalued the two (2) top teams in the Big East (Cincinnati and WVU) and I overvalued a mediocre SEC team (LSU) and a underwhelming Oklahoma team. I also went against my better judgment and tried to out-think myself by picking Notre Dame to beat a hot team with a great QB (Stanford). I also foolishly picked a very bad Georgia team to win a SEC game on the road. Hopefully, I have learned some lessons. This week's picks are below.
#21 Texas vs. #8 Oklahoma (-3.5)
Mack Brown was very vocal in the media this week with how "embarrassed" he was with his team's effort in their loss to UCLA last week. Oklahoma certainly showed some chinks in their armor in their narrow escape at Cincinnati last week. This game is being played in a "neutral" site in TEXAS. I have seen too many Georgia/Florida matchups to know how that story unfolds. Texas has too many athletes to lose two (2) in a row.
Texas 27-Oklahoma 21
#11 Wisconsin (-2) @ #21 Michigan State
This game will feature a boatload of slow white dudes and a great many off-tackle runs. I WILL NOT WATCH.
Wisconsin 24-Michigan State 14
Florida International @ Pitt (17.5)
At this point I don't think I would expect Pitt to beat most high school teams by 17 points. At some point Wannstadt needs to be held accountable as a coach. No one disagrees that he is a great recruiter and from all accounts, a great guy. However, the embarrassing losses (both of the national televised variety and the Bowling Green variety) are becoming a trend.
Pitt 38-FIU 28
#9 Stanford @ #4 Oregon (-7)
I was really looking forward to watching this game. I really was. However, NBC thinks that since Western Pennsylvania is full of dem Catholics that we would rather watch Notre Dame @ Boston College. I digress. Andrew Luck is a great QB. However, the Oregon team may be the most explosive in the country. This game should be full of fireworks but I expect Oregon to have just a bit more ammunition.
Oregon 45-Stanford 32
#6 Florida @ #1 Alabama (-8)
Alabama's gotta lose eventually. Regardless of the outcome I am sure that Urban Meyer and Nick Saban will share a heartfelt hug after the game.
Florida 23-Alabama 21
Picks to date:
Straight up 15-5
Against the spread 10-8-2
#21 Texas vs. #8 Oklahoma (-3.5)
Mack Brown was very vocal in the media this week with how "embarrassed" he was with his team's effort in their loss to UCLA last week. Oklahoma certainly showed some chinks in their armor in their narrow escape at Cincinnati last week. This game is being played in a "neutral" site in TEXAS. I have seen too many Georgia/Florida matchups to know how that story unfolds. Texas has too many athletes to lose two (2) in a row.
Texas 27-Oklahoma 21
#11 Wisconsin (-2) @ #21 Michigan State
This game will feature a boatload of slow white dudes and a great many off-tackle runs. I WILL NOT WATCH.
Wisconsin 24-Michigan State 14
Florida International @ Pitt (17.5)
At this point I don't think I would expect Pitt to beat most high school teams by 17 points. At some point Wannstadt needs to be held accountable as a coach. No one disagrees that he is a great recruiter and from all accounts, a great guy. However, the embarrassing losses (both of the national televised variety and the Bowling Green variety) are becoming a trend.
Pitt 38-FIU 28
#9 Stanford @ #4 Oregon (-7)
I was really looking forward to watching this game. I really was. However, NBC thinks that since Western Pennsylvania is full of dem Catholics that we would rather watch Notre Dame @ Boston College. I digress. Andrew Luck is a great QB. However, the Oregon team may be the most explosive in the country. This game should be full of fireworks but I expect Oregon to have just a bit more ammunition.
Oregon 45-Stanford 32
#6 Florida @ #1 Alabama (-8)
Alabama's gotta lose eventually. Regardless of the outcome I am sure that Urban Meyer and Nick Saban will share a heartfelt hug after the game.
Florida 23-Alabama 21
Picks to date:
Straight up 15-5
Against the spread 10-8-2
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