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.
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