SB Nation - Deshea Townsend

Injuries and the NFL

Emmett Smith — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:34:36 -0000

More photos » by Jack Dempsey - AP

22 days ago: Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) makes a catch while being defended by New York Giants cornerback Corey Webster (23) during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. Denver won 26-6. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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Hidden Injuries and Concussions: The Direction of Healthcare for Players

"A man's own observation, what he finds good of and what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health." Sir Francis Bacon

It isn't news that football is a rough, hard-hitting sport. Our modern combination of the stratagems of chess and the violence of unarmed territorial warfare has a bare-knuckle history, in which simply being willing to use the forward pass was once considered a sign of weakness; in which playing hurt was and is a mark of excellence rather than a failing and which sometimes pits the health of the players against the financial and strategic considerations of the teams and the league itself. Football is still constantly finding and reinventing itself, just as it has over the past 100 years. One thing that has changed over those scores of years is the perspective of players and fans alike: We are discovering that while we will cheer on anything that brings victory a step closer, fans and the league increasingly also want the best for the health of the players. It's leading to a sea-change in the way that we observe and handle the issues of injury in the NFL.

The owners and players alike are also embroiled in a burgeoning snare on the subject of healthcare practices by the teams. The NFL has been guilty of fighting a rear-guard action against the rights of the players to obtain a fair and unbiased diagnosis when problems don't respond to the normal or entrenched processes of diagnosis and treatment. This has long been a serious concern within the league, but both the owners and the players' sides have generally avoided any actions that could threaten their own situations. While I'd prefer to see an even higher level of leadership on the issues of player healthcare, certain steps are being taken, and I don't minimize that fact. It's a welcome change, and it is getting more central to the situation each day.

In the past year, the AFC has brought forth a couple of prime examples of the difficulties and the contradictions that are created by this problem. Denver fans were treated to this up close as Brandon Marshall, last summer, chose to vent in the media about his issues regarding his hip injury. In San Diego, Antonio Cromartie also dealt with the subject of a hip injury that tainted his last season. The two cases, while similar on the surface, seem somewhat different as we dig deeper.

Marshall's case tells us something that is often hard for fans to understand. In medicine, even if everything is done properly there is no assurance that the league's doctors (or any others) will ever be able to spot and treat every problem, every time. Marshall complained of pain in his hip during the 2008 season, but despite two series of MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging, one of the most advanced diagnostic tests currently available) nothing appeared on the films. Marshall felt betrayed by this turn of events. While Brandon's disquietude about last year's injury is understandable, he was also ignoring something that people may misunderstand: Our current levels of diagnostic testing simply don't show all injuries. The magnetic resonance imaging process is a remarkable and valuable tool most of the time, but there are many kinds of joint injuries that simply don't show up on that scan. He received two such scans, and both came back 'clean', making it impossible for the team doctors to make a further diagnosis at that time. Marshall is expecting all tests to show accurately and fully the problems that he experienced, and that just isn't reasonable. But there is a precedent here that entitles him to wonder and to need reassurance on this subject: The NFL has been complicit in the past regarding poor diagnosis and care of injuries.

As is sometimes the case, Marshall should also reflect on the fact that he has a history of being less than fully concerned with his practicing and playing time. Ironically, this time he was actually injured. In 2007, Mike Shanahan had to threaten him to get him back to practice during training camp. It seems likely that his previous incident influenced the coaches inappropriately but understandably. Moving forward, it's worth noting that neither side was at fault when he had physical issues last summer, and that's exactly what both sides want.

It was a very different case regarding Cromartie's hip-injury situation. As Michael Silver noted in his June 2, 2009 column, Cromartie suffered a broken hip in the second quarter of SD's Week 2, 2008 game against Carolina, yet he played out the season on that fracture. Cromartie's performance suffered greatly that season, and he's been on record as feeling that the hip injury was at the heart of that drop-off. The team, in degree, countered that it was up to him to make it clear how bad his situation was becoming. While it's fair to say that he needed to step up and be more proactive regarding his health, there are at least four reasons why that wasn't done:

Because the owners and management don't want to hear it. Right now, the team's physicians are paid for by the individual teams. As long as that's true, the diagnosis can always be suspect if it later appears that everything necessary wasn't done. Since every team has to have a medical staff, those same dollars could be provided by an independent medical house operating within, but not as a part of the league. That would go a long way to creating at least an appearance of propriety. There isn't going to be a perfect solution to this one, but we can at least make an effort.
Because the fans don't want to hear it. Spend a little extra time this season paying attention to the waves of accusations on the internet that this player or that one is 'soft'. People are people, and the willingness to believe that others should live up to a standard that none of us would want to is just an aberrant part of human tendencies.
Because the coaches don't want to hear it. Coaches famously believe that letting another team know what your weaknesses are will mean more losses, and in a league where the coaches keep their jobs by winning, anything that smacks of a lost edge is going to be ignored whenever possible.
Because the players themselves don't want to hear it. Players don't get points or paychecks for sitting on the bench or in the whirlpool. They lose their jobs. Just as difficult, the players who feel themselves to macho to admit how much pain they're in will often later argue that their pains should have received greater credence. They also are in a Catch-22 - if they don't say something, later that can come back on them. If they do, they run the risk of incurring the team and/or the coaches discomfort, as well as it influencing their own professional self-image. There is no perfect solution for human nature, but improvement should be possible with a better dialogue among the parties involved here.

Concussions and the Players

The most most important coverage that the players have been receiving of late has centered on the issue of head injuries. Long misunderstood, traumatic brain injuries have been a thorn in the side of healthcare because we have tended to take a particular position regarding them. In medicine, we have often been guilty of trying to apply 'scientific' standards that are contrary to common sense and personal respect. We have often claimed that if our testing doesn't clearly show a particular symptom or disease state, the problem doesn't exist. Because our testing abilities have lagged behind the severity of the problem in the past, we lacked a definitive test for head injuries. Doctors have too often used this as a crutch to claim that we can't observe the symptoms and believe the patient regarding them. Problems with pain have presented us the opportunity to avoid the problem, rather than a chance to improve our diagnostic abilities. That has led to problems, since we like to claim that the players are 'faking' their problems. It's been a neat way to avoid accepting responsibility to the damage that the game has done to thousands of retired players. Finally, testing and research have improved, and the problem is being approached more directly. We are beginning to see that change.

Dr. Ira Casson has become a lightning rod for anger on the part of the players and the public. He was formerly the co-chair of the concussion committee. Casson has consistently taken the perspective that we can't diagnose mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injuries, that the major concussions are not the problem that many now feel that they present and that the NFL has done everything possible and reasonable under the circumstances. The only problem with his position is that he reached it before sufficient research was done and he has maintained that position despite mounting evidence that he's wrong. He's the problem in miniature, a perfect example of why not enough has been done, but things are happening that show people like him for the paid shills that some of them are. As a result of public opinion and even congressional distaste for their position, the owners are accepting of the fact that the status quo won't stand. On Tuesday, Casson and another doctor, Dr. David Viano, both offered their resignations. Goodell has promised to replace them with individuals whose agendas are based in medicine, rather than politics.

Even with the improvement offered by the replacement of these two men, it's important to note just how it was that they came to be heading this committee. They were brought in to replace Dr. Elliot Pellman, who resigned in 2007 after strong criticism of his work and indications that he had exaggerated several aspects of his medical education and professional status in official biographical sketches and a résumé prepared for Congress. Since the NFL let him go to bring in two more doctors whose professional ethics seem less than optimal, you can understand if the players don't embrace the new hires with open arms..

The Concussion Dilemma

When treating a problem, the first thing that you have to do is to be able to diagnose it. One of the problems in doing so is the crying lack of understanding of the concussion problem on the part of the coaches and players. Consider these quotes from AP, posted on nfl.com:

"You know how a bell vibrates? That's how my brain was going at that time," Cartwright said. "I think five minutes later, I came back to myself. I went back out there and played football."

"You get back up, and things are spinning," Giants backup quarterback David Carr said, "but you don't tell anyone."

Now the NFL wants players to keep tabs on each other and tell their teams if they believe someone else has a head injury.

"Part of the game," Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend said.

"We're obviously concerned by the data and by the information," NFLPA assistant executive director George Atallah said. "We believe that there's more relevant data and information that the league has on these issues that we'd like for them to share with us in confidence."

During the AP interviews, some players quickly replied that they never had a concussion, then realized they weren't sure, such as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Chris Hovan a 10-year veteran, who said: "I probably was just too young and too dumb to realize it."

Not that it's necessarily easy to miss -- or mask -- the symptoms.

"Everyone can clearly see that you have a concussion: You are walking around like you are drunk," Seattle Seahawks' defensive back Roy Lewis said.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Bobby Wade told the AP he has never tried to hide a concussion but is sure it happens frequently in the NFL.

"You see guys with their eyes rolling in the back of their heads," he said. "You see guys shaking their head trying to get it together. If there was a doctor evaluating them, I'm sure they would say, 'Your brain has taken trauma.'"

In addition to these quotes, Vonnie Holliday, defensive end for the Denver Broncos stated, "(It's like) being in a car crash 20, 30 times a game. I do often think about the damage I'm doing to my brain and my nervous system. When does it catch up with you?"

What these quotes show concerns me deeply: There is still a great deal of misinformation out there. Contrary to what Roy Lewis and others believe, everyone cannot see that you have a concussion. Quite the contrary - one of the great problems with concussion is that many of them have hidden perils. People who know you may not understand why you've begun to become less focused or more irritable, but the symptoms may be hard to separate out from day to day life. Players believe that if they had a concussion they'd know it, but the reality is that most concussed individuals really can't tell at all. As the number of concussions - and this includes the so-called 'minor' concussions, which can easily become cumulative - the player himself may not have a clear way to tell if he's not improving or is getting worse.

One part of the solution has been identifying cutting-edge clinical environments like the University of Pittsburgh, where first Michael Westbrook and then Clinton Portis went to have their concussions checked and their future play considered. There is no lack of good facilities that can help the NFL with this problem. The problem has been getting the NFL to make use of the independent programs that are already in existence. By adding their expertise to the formula, the players can be assured of getting high-quality, independent healthcare advice. That provides a precedent that should be widely applied.

A Word from The Dude: Gambling, Fantasy Football, and Injury Reports

The NFL is no stranger to gambling. Even its founders had links to legal gambling with the likes of bookmaker Tim Mara (grandfather of Giants owner John Mara) and Art Rooney, who, in part used his winnings from gambling to buy the Pittsburgh Steelers (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124511421029417367.html). The recent NFL, however, has tried to distance itself from the gambling industry, while at the same time benefiting outrageously from the NFL's popularity with gamblers. In any given year, there can be in upwards of $100 million wagered on the Super Bowl alone. And there are hundreds of millions more being wagered during the season.

The somewhat recent popularity of fantasy football has also provided a boon to the NFL. It's estimated that almost 20 million people play fantasy football and it's annual revenues are somewhere in the range of $3 billion (http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201804513). Fantasy football encourages fans to watch more games until the final whistle, and follow more teams and players--all in turn benefit the NFL's lucrative TV deals.

Which brings us to the weekly injury reports each team puts out during the season. Have you ever asked yourself why they exist at all? Sure, on one level, they exists to make sure each team has a "level playing field" as they prepare for each other. But that's hardly the real reason. The real reason injury reports exist is for fantasy football and for gambling, not for player safety.

Before we assume nefarious behavior on the part of the NFL, there's a legitimate reason for this. As Mike Sliver points out in his excellent column from Yahoo Sports from June 2nd, 2009, "...the NFL's [injury] policy isn't a principled stand for truth and transparency. Rather, the league is looking out for the interests of gamblers - not altruistically, but in an effort to keep them at bay. If injuries are reported in a uniform and reasonably accurate manner by all teams, there is a far lesser chance that high-stakes gambling interests might be empowered to purchase inside information from, say, an assistant equipment manager in the know."

In other words, the NFL is the ultimate want-your-cake-and-eat-it-too league. On one hand, they are happy to gorge themselves on the TV deals, advertising revenues, and merchandise sales that are driven by a gambling and fantasy football crazed populace, but at the same time, they don't want to be influenced directly by these powerful concerns. Unfortunately, player safety hasn't been included with the cake. That is slowly starting to change. - TJ

NFL Spine Centers

There are good steps being taken that I want to support and publicize. In one, the NFL has opened a series of what are being called Spine Centers. Spinal impacts also can have extended neurological effects. Given the nature of the sport, that is going to happen in some cases, but such problems have to be expertly diagnosed and extensively monitored. I wanted to take this opportunity to extend my thanks and appreciation to the new NFL Spine Centers. These centers may end up providing a partial template for addressing concerns like the one's listed here.

The NFL Spine Centers are a response to the adage that an ounce of prevention will save a ton of greenbacks, not to mention a life of pain. Early diagnosis and treatment is the cornerstone to an effective approach to minimizing the difficulties of living with long-term spinal damage by the retired NFL players. Each medical center provides an orthopedic spine surgeon who serves as a program director and coordinates the services of a team of healthcare professionals in the evaluation and treatment of the former players. The team includes a neurosurgeon and a physiatrist as well as a wide spectrum of other professionals. While the next step can and should be the formation of similar centers for current players, I want to applaud all sides for putting together and funding this project.

It's a good first step and it may provide a template for a way to improve the situation. Each team currently maintains its own staff of paid doctors who are responsible for decisions regarding the players' health. Since those physicians are paid by the teams, questions of conflict of interest are inevitable. Anytime you see a situation like Marshall's or Cromartie's, you have to question whether or not the doctors involved let their loyalty to their source of income overcome their oath to the profession. Since you cannot fully discern where such a line gets drawn, it becomes necessary to consider the possibility of having a neutral party in on the decisions. In this case, the Spine Centers provide that party. Congratulations, folks. Well done!

Solutions

There has been considerable movement on this group of subjects, those that involve the health and healthcare of the players. Rodger Goodell has been making an attempt to be fair in his handling of this circumstance. A committee of current and former coaches, led by legendary former coach John Madden, a master of malapropisms, speaks by phone with Goodell every three weeks about safety issues and reports to the league's competition committee. Madden's group will make formal recommendations in February.

Tony Dungy has also stepped in -- The league selected the former player and coach to coordinate the Player Advisory Forum. Dungy, who brings an instant air of respectability, will select players to attend meetings in various cities around the league to receive input, comments and criticism about various league matters, including the NFL's player conduct policy and player safety issues. Among those whose knowledge he is drawing on are Broncos safety Brian Dawkins, linebacker Ray Lewis and quarterback Kurt Warner.

USA Today's Jarrett Bell has reported that the NFLPA has formed its first committee on head injuries just in the past few weeks. While long overdue, I applaud the steps that are being taken. Their committee is being headed by Arizona Cardinals special teams ace Sean Morey. The NFLPA has identified head injuries as a priority that they will continue to address during the new CBA negotiations. The recent congressional hearings also have shown a public spotlight on the problem and that makes it less likely that the owners and management group will be able to sweep this under the mat any longer.

The plight of retired NFL players has drawn increased scrutiny as well. Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka has been instrumental in getting this problem into the public spotlight. Punch-drunk ex-players, many (most) of whom are also suffering rheumatic and degenerative physical conditions are a substantial and growing problem and that has now been accepted as fact by all but the most recalcitrant doctors and authorities. Funding the solutions will be a constant fight, but the simple agreement that a problem exists is a step in the right direction.

All parties will now agree, at least in principle, something needs to be done to address this. The NFL has drawn a lot of well-deserved flack for the fact that they battled against admitting this problem to exist, but they have been exposed recently. House committee hearings served to remind the owners that they have an anti-trust exemption at the whim of Congress and that violations of the public trust can lead to changes in that exemption.

Where Do We Go from Here?

As the Collective Bargaining Agreement lapses, this is a good time for the NFLPA to bring the subjects to the bargaining table. Otherwise, fully funding insurance, health care costs and retirement for players whose bodies have been decimated by the game of football could eventually bankrupt the sport. Look at the situation with General Motors for a down-the-pike, real-world example of the issues that the NFL may end up facing. It is essential to the long-term health of the sport as well as its players that the situation be looked at objectively and that steps must be taken to solve this growing problem.

Making sure that players have access to outside, neutral second opinions is a minor step in this process. Establishing protections for players who admit to the severity of their injuries will at times be difficult, but initial steps in that direction should be considered. The game is tainted when players are forced to play when dangerously injured. Giving them a chance to deal appropriately with their injuries when they occur (rather than after the site of injury has been increasingly damaged by playing through them) would save big dollars down the road. It would also permit those athletes the recognition of a measure of decency and humanity.

Since the dollars are going to be spent on doctors and equipment which have the responsibility for giving unbiased diagnosis and rational treatment to players when the players are injured, it behooves the sport to lock into the next agreement a provision that will establish a system that is independent of the owners purse strings. We know from history that such system are flawed from their inception: healthcare has to be independent of financial rewarding of the doctors by one side or the other if it is to be accurate and fair. Whose pockets this comes from is an important question: the players will benefit the most from such a change and they should look at their own responsibility in funding part of the costs. The owners now cover such costs and they should not be permitted to foot-drag in donating a similar percentage to the solution. Again, the Spine Centers have provided a basis to discuss this further. We also have the growing influence of Sean Morey's group, Dungy's group and John Madden's committee. Ditka and other have brought the problems of retired players into the public eye. There is a growing sense of optimism regarding the direction the circumstances are going it.

Whatever the final solution or solutions may be, it should live up to the following standards: It must be financially independent of either side. It should take advantage of facilities, clinics and programs that already exist and which are considered at or near the top in their fields. There must be a high level of transparency, with the results available to all appropriate parties. Last, all new research must be openly explored and embraced in an attempt to continue to improve the quality of care for the players, past, present and future.

You can see the change beginning. The NY Times had this to say:

"George Atallah, the players union's assistant executive director for external affairs, said in an e-mail message that his organization had been speaking with N.F.L. officials for two weeks about implementing some sort of independent scrutiny for players who receive concussions - perhaps including an outside doctor present at every game. He said that the union's medical director, Dr. Thom Mayer, "has personally approved and reviewed doctors for roughly one-third of the teams," suggesting that the union would cooperate on the program."

In addition, Commissioner Roger Goodell has agreed that bringing in more outside specialists is in everyone's best interest. These are decisions that are going in the right direction for the players and for the sport.

On Monday, November 23, 2009 Thom Mayer announced that 1/2 the NFL teams, plus the players union have agreed upon independent specialists (up from 1/3) to evaluate head injuries. While the other half of the teams need to get on with their obligations, this is a wonderful step in an important direction. Using this same approach to redesigning the medical system in the NFL is an ongoing challenge, but moving in the direction of independent examination and treatment is a huge step.

Whatever decisions are made will influence the lives, health and happiness of generations of NFL players. For their sakes, the sake of their families and for our own moral responsibilities, we have an obligation to get this one right. The enjoyment that we receive from watching this dynamic and remarkable sport should not be diminished by a realization that we are skimping on the quality of care that the players receive.

Finally, we have to see this as an opportunity as well as an imperative. Individual opinions will vary in different situations, but the overall road map to the future should not be drawn, as it often has been, in the blood of the players themselves. Our willingness to demand, as fans, a quality system for caring for the players will influence Congress, balance the preferences of the ownership and management groups and provide an impetus for the improvement of the current system to improve and to emphasize an openness to future changes as well. The field of healthcare is moving rapidly and many changes are being made that will provide a higher level of care for everyone in the future. We must demand that such advances be implemented whenever they are discovered.

Finally, the players themselves must see that they are a great resource for further research into the problems created by trauma and impact. They should make themselves available for such testing as may provide clues to better methods of diagnosis and treatment as time unfolds. This hasn't been employed sufficiently to date, but the demise of the Collective Bargaining agreement will inevitably create an opportunity for improving the lives and care of the players and for the rest of society, which may benefit from what we learn by studying the problems that players experience.

Fans, doctors, owners, management and players all bear a responsibility in this circumstance. Each group needs to step up and to provide the best effort they can, so that the game can be enjoyed for generations yet to come. I salute their efforts.

Many thanks to The Dude for his contributions to this article

Poll

Is the NFL doing enough to protect its players' health?

Yes

42 votes

It's hard to achieve, but they're trying

176 votes

They're dragging their feet, but they're starting to move forward

140 votes

No, they're not doing enough

76 votes

434 votes | Poll has closed

Final Injury/Practice Report: Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

Kirkendall — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:04:38 -0000

CINCINNATI BENGALS

DOUBTFUL	PROBABLE
G Evan Mathis (ankle)	WR Andre Caldwell (illness)
LB Keith Rivers (calf)	DE Robert Geathers (hip)
	DT Tank Johnson (illness)
QUESTIONABLE	C Jonathan Luigs (illness)
RB Jeremi Johnson (chest)
DE Frostee Rucker (neck)

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

OUT
RB Carey Davis (hamstring)
DE Travis Kirschke (calf)

Practice

BENGALS	WED	THUR	FRI
RB Jeremi Johnson (chest)	DNP	LP	FP
G Evan Mathis (ankle)	DNP	DNP	DNP
LB Keith Rivers (calf)	DNP	DNP	DNP
RB Cedric Benson (not injury related)	LP	FP	FP
DE Robert Geathers (hip)	LP	LP	LP
DE Frostee Rucker (neck)	LP	LP	FP
S Roy Williams (forearm)	FP	DNP	IR
WR Andre Caldwell (illness)	--	--	DNP
DT Tank Johnson (illness)	--	--	DNP
C Jonathan Luigs (illness)	--	--	DNP

STEELERS	WED	THUR	FRI
RB Carey Davis (hamstring)	DNP	DNP	DNP
G Trai Essex (illness)	DNP	--	--
LB James Farrior (not injury related)	DNP	--	--
DE Travis Kirschke (calf)	DNP	DNP	DNP
CB Deshea Townsend (not injury related)	DNP	--	--
WR Hines Ward (not injury related)	DNP	--	--
S Tyrone Carter (illness)	--	DNP	--

Practice Report: Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

Kirkendall — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:54:19 -0000

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening, we'll (TRY TO) update the practice/injury chart leading up to Sunday's game. The chart is pretty self-explanatory. If the player is listed as out, they're out for the game. If they did not participate, they didn't practice. If they were limited, then they only participated during a portion of practice (typically means missing 11-on-11 drills). If the player is listed as full participation, it simply means that they practiced fully and that the only reason they're listed is because injury was an issue the week before.

Practice

BENGALS	WED	THUR	FRI
RB Jeremi Johnson (chest)	DNP	LP
G Evan Mathis (ankle)	DNP	DNP
LB Keith Rivers (calf)	DNP	DNP
RB Cedric Benson (not injury related)	LP	FP
DE Robert Geathers (hip)	LP	LP
DE Frostee Rucker (neck)	LP	LP
S Roy Williams (forearm)	FP	DNP

STEELERS	WED	THUR	FRI
RB Carey Davis (hamstring)	DNP	DNP
G Trai Essex (illness)	DNP	--
LB James Farrior (not injury related)	DNP	--
DE Travis Kirschke (calf)	DNP	DNP
CB Deshea Townsend (not injury related)	DNP	--
WR Hines Ward (not injury related)	DNP	--
S Tyrone Carter (illness)	--	DNP

Pittsburgh Still Finding Their Way Defensively - Anatomy Of An Overmatched Secondary

Blitzburgh — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:47:53 -0000

Okay, one more breakdown of a poor defensive play by the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. This time the culprit was journeyman cornerback Keiwan Ratliff, the former Colts defensive back that was acquired this past summer during free agency. Let's take a look at just how badly he got beaten during the 4th quarter of Pittsburgh's 28-20 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Pretty straight forward stuff here. Ratliff is responsible for Dennis Northcut in the slot.

More after the jump.

There's not much to show really other than that he's not even close to being in position to make a play on the ball. It helped Detroit that their pass protection held up nicely and Culpepper was able to look over the middle of the field without feeling too much heat.

But again, here's an example of how the Steelers defense is really getting exposed over the middle of the football field. That's usually Polamalu's territory of course, so perhaps he'd have been more involved in the play than Ryan Clark was. The bottom line though is that this kind of play is far more troubling than the last play I broke down. Why? Because this was simply a matter of a guy getting eaten up individually rather than the defense getting beaten to the punch by a perfectly designed and executed play.

I can't necessarily confirm this without watching much more film than I have time for, but I am beginning to wonder if the Steelers aren't shading Ryan Clark too heavily in the direction of where William Gay's man is. I've noticed multiple occasions where this is the case. If Deshea Townsend - who by the way is not doing anything this year - is being shaded more towards Ike Taylor's man, this could be problematic. The best defenses are those that are confident in leaving their cornerbacks out on an island with opposing receivers. I haven't seen that as much recently, and consequently, I feel like the middle of the field is being left too open. NFL offenses feast on big plays over the middle, and without Polamalu in there to help our dime and nickel packages, we're seeing uncharacteristically big chunks of yardage take place in that part of the football field.

To conclude, this is why I was concerned about the departure of Bryant McFadden. William Gay proved he was great in zone coverage last year and a good ball-hawk when allowed to roam free in zone looks. As a 1-on-1 corner, he understandably has work to do. He's getting better though each week, which is encouraging. Finally, I heard many fans argue that Deshea Townsend was basically as good as McFadden and that him and Gay combined would more than offset the loss of B-Mac. Well, Townsend's playing terrible football. Has anybody seen him this year? I haven't, and consequently, we're seeing this secondary struggle collectively.

Game Preview: San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

John (obviousman) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:00:25 -0000

Time for the weekly enlightenment breakdown. In reality, this is one of those games where San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers fans alike should throw the stats out the window. These teams played two evenly-matched games last year that Pittsburgh won because they had that extra oomph. Their offensive line and running game gave them the advantage, and Roethlisberger made enough of those "Nobody can sack this guy!" plays to kill any Chargers comebacks.

With that in mind.....I like stats. The most important one to start with is weather. Sunday night's forecast is looking like it'll be around 45-50 degrees with clear skies. Exactly what the Bolts and their fans were hoping for. Now, lets take a look at the teams and see who will have the advantages for this game.

When the Steelers Have the Ball

If you were to ask me to rate the Chargers' defense thus far on a scale from Poor to Great, I'd probably say it was average. I'd be right. Out of 32 NFL teams, the boys in blue rank 14th in yards allowed and 19th in points allowed per game. In a rare twist from years past, it's actually the pass defense (8th) and now the run defense (26th) that is keeping the team competitive without the football. While this seems to play right into the Steelers' philosophy, Willie Parker will be slowed by a turf toe injury that could certainly benefit the Bolts this week.

Last season, with a healthy Jamal Williams at DT, Willie Parker ran for 261 on 52 carries (5.0 YPC) in two games against the Chargers. This season, without JW in the center of the line it could've been worse. However, after watching LT in 2008 we're all very familiar with the effects of turf toe on a running back. I'm not saying it'll be a piece of cake, but the chances of the Chargers forcing Pittsburgh to throw the ball to win the game are greatly increased by that injured toe.

Through the first three weeks of the season, Pittsburgh has the league's 12th best offense. Their rushing game, with Willie Parker, ranks 27th (it was ranked 23rd in 2008) and their passing game has had to try to carry the load (8th). Although Ben Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl victories under his belt, this is not a team that wants to get into an shootout through the air with anybody. Especially not against the Chargers. However, with teams stopping the run and being able to score on their defense late, the Steelers have fallen to 1-2. Their only victory came against the 0-3 Tennessee Titans, who are so anemic offensively that they only scored 10 points even after Roethlisberger threw 2 interceptions.

The game plan is simple. Stop the run, force Ben to pass. Whether he's throwing into a zone or throwing against man-defense with a decent pass-rush doesn't matter at this point. What matters is step one. Start at step one: Stop the Run. With an rushing offense ranked 27th and missing their best RB, that should seem easy. However, Pittsburgh's running game wasn't much better last year when Willie Parker turned into Walter Payton against the Bolts. It's important that they keep their focus, and it's important for Ogemdi Nwagbuo to not get pushed backwards.

Advantage: Chargers. I came close to saying tie, but I just can't see Parker being effective on Sunday night. Although Pittsburgh ranks 8th in terms of offensive yardage, they rank 25th in terms of offensive points scored per game. Nobody on the team not named Ben Roethlisberger has a rushing TD yet. Santonio Holmes has disappeared since his big game against the Tennessee Titans on opening night. This is a sputtering offense that seems to be heading backwards while the Chargers defense looks to me to be improving. Most importantly, the Chargers' weakness (rush defense) is also the Steelers' weakness (they can't run). Roethlisberger will be forced to throw against Quentin Jammer, Antonio Cromartie, Antoine Cason and Eric Weddle, which presents lots of opportunities for turnovers and puts the Chargers biggest strength in charge of determining the game's outcome. I can live with that.

When the Chargers Have the Ball

Pittsburgh's 2009 team is not too different from their 2008 team. The roster and coaching staff is generally left in tact. The difference is that the defense, without Troy Polamalu or much of a pass rush (14th in sacks), has not been able to carry them to victory. Currently they rank 8th in total defensive yards given up (25th in points allowed per game), 15th against the pass and 6th at stopping the run. Weakness (inability to stop the pass), meet strength (Philip Rivers).

The Chargers' offense is ranked 8th overall after the first 3 weeks of the season, ranked 2nd in throwing the ball and 31st in running it. Yes, Bolts fans, the Chargers running game is only slightly better than the 32nd ranked Arizona Cardinals. However, those Cardinals are the NFC Champions and did come one amazing Santonio Holmes TD catch away from winning the Super Bowl in 2008. So that's promising I suppose.

Advantage: Chargers. First, the bad news. This is still drawing parallels to the 2008 Steelers team that went 2-0 against the Chargers in Pittsburgh. Those Steelers ranked 17th against the pass and 20th in points allowed per game. The good news is that they will be missing the big playmaker that always seemed to end the comeback drive (Polamalu). Since Troy has gone down, the Steelers have lost to Jay Cutler and Carson Palmer. You know Philip Rivers wants to be on that list of QBs to have recently knocked off the Super Bowl Champions.

I don't think William Gay and Deshea Townsend (both 5'10") are going to be able to cover Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee. I don't think the Steelers have one guy who can cover Antonio Gates and another guy to cover LaDainian Tomlinson and/or Darren Sproles. If the offensive line can keep the Pittsburgh pass-rush in check, this should be another great day for Rivers.

Final Analysis

Here's where things are going to get gloomy again. The Pittsburgh Steelers went 8-2 at home in 2008. Their stadium sells out years in advance and their fanbase is one of the most dedicated in football. They have a supreme home field advantage. Although their 2009 record is 1-2, they're still undefeated (1-0) at home. Even more shocking is that the Chargers have played against the Steelers in Pittsburgh 16 times in the last 40 years or so, and have never won a regular season game there. The Bolts are 0-13 when playing in the Steel City during the season, 2-14 all time (HT: Derwood13). Not only will the Chargers have to overcome the Steelers' team (which looks entirely possible), they have to overcome the crowd (not as easy).

For me, this game rests on the shoulders of Marcus McNeill. Although I criticized him last week, I was told his flu was quite severe and that he lost a lot of weight during the week leading up to the game. If he's healthy again, and can handle James Harrison, I feel like the Chargers cannot lose. If Harrison is causing all sorts of problems for Rivers, it's going to be hard to move the ball downfield and Norv will have to rely on the big passing plays again (always a risky gameplan).

Steelers Drop Another Tight Game Late In 4th Quarter, Drop To 1-2

Blitzburgh — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:54:24 -0000

I told my girlfriend last night that I didn't think the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to win this afternoon in Cincinnati. Through the first quarter and a half of Sunday's game, I thought I was going to be proven wrong. Unfortunately, I wasn't. Give credit to the Bengals for keeping the ship afloat during a very rocky first half, then ratcheting up their game and executing tremendously in the 2nd half to catch up to the Steelers in the game's final seconds. My five quick thoughts about the game. First though, there's lots of people who will say the team needs to 'wake up' or 'get motivated' or 'forget about last season' or other phantom things that don't really address why the Steeler are losing close football games. Just remember how razor thin a line it is between winning and losing in this league. We're one or two plays short in consecutive weeks from winning. We could easily be 3-0. We could also be 0-3. Just trying to 'play Steelers football' isn't going to cut it. We're playing Steelers football - hard and competitive games each week. We need a little extra something to get us over the top in this hyper-competitive league - a few breaks, the return of our best player, better execution in the red zone, etc etc.

To my initial five reflections...

I always like to start with something positive, or at least try to, so I'll begin by saying I was mostly impressed again by the offense of the Steelers. They were balanced, good on 3rd down, protected Big Ben pretty well and eclipsed 350 yards of total offense (373) for the 2nd time in three weeks. The 2008 Steelers only accomplished that six times last season. It was also outstanding to see Willie Parker play much better football this week. Outside of his performance against San Diego in last year's playoffs, I thought he looked better than he had since Week 1 of the 2008 season when Pittsburgh whooped Houston to start the year. Parker finished with a shade under 100 yards (93 yards) on 25 carries. He looked like his burst to get to the outside was back and he also showed an uncharacteristically solid set of hands in the passing game. If he can play like this moving forward, our offense really has a good shot at gelling and playing at a high enough level to make another run at the playoffs and beyond. This offense still needs to do a better job not leaving points out there on the field, but it's only a matter of time if you ask me until the scoreboard reflects how solidly they've been playing for most of this young season.
Okay, one more positive note before getting to the bad - CONGRATULATIONS to Hines Ward for surpassing the 10,000 yard mark in his Hall of Fame worthy career. Did you see some of those names on the graphic of wide receivers to accumulate 10,000 receiving yards with one single team: Rod Smith, Marvin Harrison, Steve Largent - impressive stuff for Hines. Individual milestones probably mean very little to him during the course of the intense season - he'll look back on the accomplishment at some point, just not now I doubt. Anyway...his contributions are still very meaningful to this football team. He's not being paraded out there just to surpass milestones. He's averaging 6 catches and just about 80 receiving yards per game so far. What a gamer.
Okay, on to the bad. It all begins and ends really with the defense at this point in the season for Pittsburgh. Remember what Tunch Ilkin said to us on Behind The Steel Curtain - the NFL changes dramatically every 4 weeks. That's because teams can individually change every four weeks. This defense is largely the same personnel as last season, so it may seem hard to comprehend why they're not nearly as dominant through three games as they were most all of last season. Obviously the loss of Troy Polamalu is huge. We'll be an entirely different defense when he returns from injury. What is troubling though is the lack of pressure being generated by the Steelers pass rushers and the blitz packages being implemented. And the lack of turnovers is also disconcerting. There's individuals who could play better, for sure. Has there been a Deshea Townsend sighting this year? William Gay continues to be just decent as he gets more experience - there's some good, but plenty of room for improvement too. Anyway, this is the storyline for the 2009 Steelers moving forward: can the defense be better than they've been while Troy is out as the offense continues to work at manufacturing more points out of the success they're having on offense.
Remember guys and gals that this is just Week 3. Last year on this date we were throttled by Philadelphia and looked bad enough that there was no conceivable way to think about advancing to the Super Bowl. The team improved and persevered through the downs. This 2009 team will have every opportunity to get itself back on track moving forward. They stand 2 games behind the Ravens in the AFC North through just two weeks, but remember that Baltimore has played two early cupcakes whereas the Steelers have yet to see the Browns (who look just awful) or teams like Kansas City or Detroit. Let's see where things stand in three weeks after Baltimore (who looks simply outstanding thus far) travels to New England and Minnesota. Pittsburgh meanwhile has three of its next four at Heinz Field, beginning next weekend against San Diego at Heinz Field. They then travel to Detroit (huzzah to them for winning for the first time since December of 2007), then host Cleveland and Minnesota before their BYE Week. The NFL changes every four weeks - let's see where things stand after that slate of games, then look forward to that BYE Week to get rested up for the stretch run in the season's second half. Something tells me the attitude of the fanbase will be a lot different after this next month, and certainly I think a 4-3 or 5-2 record is well within the realm of possibility.
Stats of the game: 23 of the final 30 plays were run by Cincinnati's offense. The defense just couldn't make a play late in the game for the second week in a row. Give LOTS of credit to Carson Palmer and the Bengals offense though. Like the Bears did last week, the Bengals executed exquisitely when it really counted in crunch time. Second stat of the game: 3 of 3 on 4th down by the Bengals. All of them in the 2nd half and two of them in the game's final drive. That's one way to mask being just 3 of 12 on 3rd downs and not managing a single positive play really for the entire 1st quarter.

Much more from me on this one and about how the Steelers 2009 season is trending through three exciting and largely disappointing weeks.

Pregame Zone Blitz: Cardinals at Steelers

ncoolong — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:53:44 -0000

I find myself swamped so let's turn it over to Neal to give us a little preview of tonight's preseason game between the Steelers and the Cardinals. Can you believe it? Football's back! - Blitz - (Michael B.)

Do preseason games matter? No. Are fans not anxiously awaiting kickoff for the Super Bowl XLIII Rematch Lite Thursday night in Pittsburgh? You bet.

Lots of storylines going into the game for both teams. Here's but a few for the Cardinals:

Darnell Dockett wanted an extension this off-season and didn't get it.
He's also becoming one of the league's most renowned Tweeters.
Coach Whisenhunt sounds off on the addition of former Steelers CB Bryant McFadden and how seldom-mentioned WR Jerheme Urban is doing.
Fans rave about rookie Beanie Wells, and though it's hard to fathom, how another former Steeler, Brian St. Pierre is pushing former Golden Boy Matt Leinart to the brink for the #2 gig behind Kurt Warner.

Here's the other news surrounding the Steelers and Cardinals heading in to Preseason Week No, 1:

Opponent Spotlight: DT Darnell Dockett

"I set my goal. I said wanted to be the best defensive lineman on Super Bowl day and I was." – Darnell Dockett

We last saw Dockett taking RG Darnell Stapleton and C Justin Hartwig to school in Super Bowl XLIII. The fact his off-season request for a contract extension was denied after playing the game of his career in the game of the franchise’s history can be translated into a quiet shot at the generally perceived weak links of the Steelers offensive line.

Either way, Dockett’s two sacks and general disruption led to a dangerous lack of production in the second half of the Super Bowl. It really was only until the Steelers went out of the shotgun and the Cardinals played out of the nickel. Both will be on display in the preseason opener Thursday evening in Pittsburgh.

Speaking of that…Dockett’s responsibilities out of the nickel aren’t the same as what he has out of their base 4-3, and the team flat-out does not perform with the extra defensive back on the field. The reason Tarvaris Jackson is still in the running to be a starting quarterback in the NFL is because of Arizona’s nickel defense (11-for-17, 163 yards, four touchdowns). Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was the team’s nickel back, and one of the most under-reported aspects of the Super Bowl was his responsibility behind much of Santonio Holmes’ 131 yards and Super Bowl MVP.

Don’t take the touchdown catch away from him. That’s all about ‘Tone and the most beautiful pass Ben Roethlisberger has ever thrown.

The Cardinals are at their best out of their base, and Dockett is a big reason for that. While he Tweets away despite the absence of a long-term contract, and even though this is a pre-season game, it’s a good early test (at least for a couple of plays) for the interior of the Steelers line. Focus on Dockett, and how much attention he receives.

Key Match-Up: WR Mike Wallace vs. CB Bryant McFadden

Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "I just feel very good that we have a lot more depth at (the cornerback) position in general, not just because of 'B-Mac’ (Bryant McFadden) and Dominique (Rodgers-Cromartie), but the other guys, too. That's not something we've had in the past."

Wallace, the team’s third-round draft pick out of Mississippi, has drawn rave reviews during training camp thus far. It’s said that he’s competing for the No. 4 WR spot with veteran Shaun McDonald and second-year man Limas Sweed (with one taking the No. 3). Wallace is a compelling speed demon on the outside, and while he doesn’t possess the veteran savvy of McDonald or the fantastic size/speed combination of Sweed, he is a playmaker in every sense of the term.

McFadden signed a 2-year, $10 million contract to leave Pittsburgh for Arizona. Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt praises McFadden for his leadership ability and mental toughness. He will provide some depth on a pass defense that finished 22nd last season against the pass.

It will be interesting to see if Wallace gets any snaps with the first-team offense. But considering it’s preseason, perhaps it will be more interesting to see how the Heinz Field crowd reacts to hearing McFadden’s name again.

Last Game

"It's just another game. The Super Bowl's gone. We won it. We don't care about the rematch."
-CB Deshea Townsend

Not through any efforts to suck the marrow out of the re-match story, clearly, the pre-season opener is not the same as a Super Bowl.

It is a good opportunity to watch the game again, though.

Putting a more objective hat on during the re-watching of one of the best Super Bowls of all-time, what struck me is how razor-sharp Cardinals QB Kurt Warner really was. Yes, Larry Fitzgerald had a profound impact on the result, but Warner was the engine driving their comeback machine in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers were utterly dominant on their first possession of the game, and despite a very close overturn of a touchdown, they looked to be very much in charge early.

Even more credit to Warner, it almost seemed as if he was forced to drag his team, kicking and screaming, back into contention.

No one will ever forget the last time these two played, and no one should. It was truly a classic, and even if Thursday’s game means very little to two veteran-laden teams who prepare in the pre-season to establish depth more than anything, it envokes great memories for fans of both teams.

I See You

I see you, Ziggy Hood, for the excellent start to your career. Drafted in the first round out of Missouri, Evander-Ziggy has been noted for his work ethic after practice, in particular, working with veteran super-stud Aaron Smith after practice.

Four-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton, as outspoken as he is, mentioned how much talent Hood has, and could be playing himself into a situational role his rookie year – not something particularly common for a Steelers rookie.

Unnamed sources breathed their praise of Hood to Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell early in camp, and plenty of eyes will be on him as he takes on a second-team defensive end position in the first preseason game.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

The East Valley Tribune is holding a forum for Cardinals fans to express their memories of Super Bowl XLIII – they’re classy and gracious, unlike certain fans of another NFC West Super Bowl Runner-up.

The Cardinals official forum voted on the battle between Matt Leinart and former Steelers QB Brian St. Pierre as the match-up they’re most excited to watch Thursday.

Coach Whisenhunt says WR Jerheme Urban is having as good a camp as anyone.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic blogs about the impact rookie Beanie Wells may have in comparison to incumbent running back Tim Hightower.

Revenge of the Birds couldn't decide on just Ten Things To Watch For Tonight so they did another ten.

Key Stats

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 7-2 in the preseason, and 2-0 in openers.

Quick Hitters

EA Sports’ John Madden Football comes out Thursday, and probably not coincidentally, Steelers SS Troy Polamalu and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald become the first two-player cover the game has had in its legendary existence.

C Justin Hartwig is injured, and Doug Legursky will get the nod at the first-team center job. That will give more reps to local favorite A.Q. Shipley, and perhaps a chance for newly signed Alex Stepanovich to prove his worth.

Chuck Finder of the Post-Gazette reported that actor Ving Rhames was on hand to watch some of the Steelers practices Tuesday. Nice…ya think they referred to him as Diamond Dog from Con Air? There’s a great Awful Movie – Nicholas Cage as an action hero with a southern accent.

BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Tony Hills Edition

drinkyourmilkshake — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:36:33 -0000

IX- Tony Hills is ready to compete this year after struggling to make an impact in his rookie season. He says he has added between five and ten pounds of muscle and is eager to learn how to play four positions on the line to become as valuable as Trai Essex. Make sure to check out the quote about Bruce Davis and Tony Hills from Mike Tomlin, it's another great one that could be entered in next years version of the Tomlinism tournament.

X-The Steelers will be going bowling this afternoon instead of participating in some of the last sessions of this O.T.A. This evening they will also be presented with their 2008 Super Bowl Championship rings, you can check out the rings before and get a description of all the elements before anyone else over at the Steelers Official Website. On a somewhat un-related not, did you know that Jerome Bettis is one hell of a bowler? He has an average over 200 and has posted a perfect game in his past, so perhaps with his recent unemployment he can go on tour with the P.B.A.

XIII- Debra Miller and her three grandsons will have a Champions House built by Habitat for Humanity. But on Monday afternoon a group of Steeler players attempted to help out. From some of the quotes from the WTAE report, I'm not sure her house will be standing long enough for her to pay off the 30 year mortgage. Here's a few of my favorites from their report:

"We got Deshea Townsend in there using a nail gun like he's in a western or something,"

"Somebody needs to get Willie P [Parker]. He's just painting too fast. He wants to do everything fast. He's not on the football field -- somebody needs to tell him,"

XIV- Mondessi's House has two good posts, one about Steelers fan and rock-star Brett Michael's near decapitation at the Tony Awards on Sunday, and they other is about the Hines Wards' all star softball event. They event raised over $7000 dollars for the fallen heroes foundation. Besides Rush Limbaugh, and Brett Michael's can anyone else think of famous celebrities that also happen to be Steeler fans?

XL- It's now or never for the Pittsburgh Penguins who are playing elimination game tonight in Pittsburgh. For some motivation to root for them during this make or break game check out D.C. Steeler nation's thoughts. Also check out Pensburgh for the live blog tonight at 8pm.

XLIII- Former Steelers Coach Bill Cowher along with current Raven's head coach John Harbaugh will be visiting troops for several days in the inaugural NFL-USO Coaches Tour. The event which will send the two coaches along with Tom Coughlin, John Gruden, and Jeff Fisher in a tour around the Persian Gulf Region to meet and greet with soldiers to boost moral.

Overtime-: Thanks to the BTSC Twitter Feed for pointing this one out. Quite possibly the best headline in the history of time; " Tom Brady Fell Out of a Boat." Perhaps he was too busy jamming along to the video below to stay in the boat. Sing it T-Pain!

BTSC Checks In With Jim Wexell

Blitzburgh — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:41:58 -0000

If you've been around the site long enough, you know how much I like Jim Wexell's reporting and writing. I honestly don't get to as much as his stuff as I'd like to. As the publisher of SSteelCityInsider.com, there's always good stuff from either him or his well-respected and regarded roster. He's also, as you know since I've mentioned it at least 6 times, the author of Steeler Nation: A Pittsburgh Team, An American Phenomenon. I know we all love Dick LeBeau, so it's worth mentioning that the paperback re-release will have new material in it, including a lengthy candid talk with Coach Dad. If you've waited this long to read it, don't wait any longer once the paperback comes out. Anyway, Mr. Wexell was kind enough to take a few minutes to answer some questions I had as we enter the doldrums of the offseason leading up to the draft.

BTSC: So the latest news of course is the signing of CB Bryant McFadden out in Arizona. Could the Steelers really not afford to match a 2-year deal with just a paltry $5 million in guarantees? I have a hard time figuring out the logic of drafting a guy like McFadden in the 2nd round, letting him get some seasoning on two Super Bowl runs, then letting him walk at age 27. Seems like chasing one's tail, but as we usually say around the site, 'hard to second guess the organization's track record in this regard.'

Wexell: Let me just give you two quick reasons:

1.) Cap number. That may only have been a $10M contract, but at 2 years that's an immediate cap hit of $5M per. The Cardinals knew what they were doing. It acted as a poison pill for the Steelers, who are having cash flow problems and who want to get a deal done with James Harrison Superstar. And, 2.) We in the media have been expecting Bryant McFadden to ascend to the starting role ever since he was drafted, and just haven't been able to understand what's holding him back. Any time we go fishing (is it phishing?) with an assistant coach, and mention McFadden, we never hear what we expect: "Oh, he's on the verge. He just needs to ..." or "The guy in front of him does x better."

Someone mentioned to Mike Tomlin in a quiet moment that he liked the way McFadden plays the ball when it's in the air. Tomlin replied, "You'd rather have a cornerback who doesn't have to play the ball at all," meaning QBs throw on him. Sure, you'd rather have that, but that was a funny answer, and really one of the only telling ones to a media that's been phishing and never really getting any inside info. Hope that kind of helps answer your question.

BTSC: On a related note, any thoughts about whether or not the organization will be looking at a CB in either Round 1 or 2 in this year's draft? Or might they look for another William Gay type of talent in the 4th or 5th round to play some special teams, perhaps return kicks and eventually get phased in as Deshea Townsend winds down his career in the coming years?

Wexell: Kevin Colbert likes the depth at the position and has scheduled a visit with Joe Burnett and had a formal interview with Sherrod Martin. It looks like they're aiming for the middle rounds, but then again, if a guy like Darius Butler (UConn) falls to them in the first, I'd be stunned if they pass.

BTSC: I wrote quite a bit about Tony Hills just a few weeks ago, and how his development, or lack there of, might be one of the more important yet ignored topics of this offseason. I'll spare the gist of my argument, though it wasn't much of an argument for Hills so much as an attempt to argue that maybe the organization has some sort of plan/perspective on Hills and his development that we as fans are not at all privy to. We did all agree on this though - there's no way to know until we see him in pads going up against Deebo and Woodley this summer. Anything else you maybe have on him?

Wexell: I just see him down there working out. At the end of the season you could tell he had much more muscle definition in his body. Right now, no one wants to say anything about him, and they shouldn't. He's just another cog in the competition machine. You won't see much preseason probing of Jason Capizzi for that matter either. It's time to just let these guys compete.

BTSC: Do you think the Steelers flirtation with Joey Galloway was more a luxury they'd enjoy at the right price, or do they feel Limas Sweed isn't ready yet to be the team's No. 3 WR?Is getting a veteran WR still a priority?

Wexell: How can they feel Limas Sweed is ready? I mean, the Steelers are a bottom-line organization and they saw what we all saw. Yeah, we're all happy he gets off the line and can run and is big and strong, but the one drop, the one with the eyes wide open, left me feeling that he's scared and might never make it. Again, as with Hills, the guy has to prove it first. The Steelers will say all the right things if they don't come out of this draft with a WR, but it's a prove-it-to-me organization. Look how long it took Nate Washington to secure faith, and he showed a lot more as a rookie than Sweed did. Oh, to answer your question, they'll try to get a veteran No. 3 WR, but, again, with Mike Thomas coming in March 30-31, it appears they're targeting a WR for the upper middle rounds.

BTSC: Do you like WR Hakeem Nicks, and is he an option for Pittsburgh at No. 32?

Wexell: I would love to think so. He's my favorite. He's a guy who explains why later-round draftors have so much success. They don't have to answer to themselves about combine times and that nonsense. Sometimes they just get stuck with really good players, and Nicks is one of them. The problem will be -- and the reason I like guys like Thomas and Mike Wallace -- is that Nicks isn't a kick returner. But I'd be willing to take the chance. Make it real funny and use Darnell Stapleton to return kicks this year. What would be the difference at this point?

BTSC: Have you had much contact or at least seen much of Coach Tomlin in action since the beginning of the offseason? If so, any impressions about how he's handling things.

Wexell: Yes, I've said hello to him. I really enjoy running into him. He lifts your spirits just by remembering your name and asking about your kids. I loved his interview today (March 24) with Ed Bouchette in which he said he understands the need to make himself known to the public, but that after a certain point they don't need to know any more and that he'll begin withdrawing from the public eye. It made me remember Chuck Noll and how much I admired his lack of commercialism and need to be loved. I always thought Noll was a genius and see the same qualities in Tomlin. Before the combine, he was overheard telling his PR guy "But I don't want to get to know the national guys," meaning the national media. Local guys love hearing that stuff after a Super Bowl.

BTSC: So rumor has it James Harrison was back in the weight room just a few days after the SB win. To me, this tells me this guy needs football (physically and mentally) to be 'right'. I couldn't ever see him holding out for a few extra dollars if it meant not getting to scratch that necessary itch. I'm of course projecting bigtime from afar here, but how much does a player's personality and what the organization knows about how and what makes them tick - how much of that stuff might you say factors in to these negotiation processes?

Wexell: Yes, I reported that. He was actually in the weight room complaining that the rest of the team wasn't in there with him. I spoke with Lawrence Timmons during Super Bowl week and asked him about James's legendary regimen. Timmons, who's in great shape himself, said he tried to keep up with James but couldn't, said the guy just keeps coming back to the room all day long, said he puts in 10 hours a day. Yes, that's all James wants to do: Football and preparing for football. He will watch cartoons with his son the other couple of hours during the day. To answer your question, that means a lot to the Steelers, whose biggest draft-day measurement is a prospect's passion for the game. That work ethic got James Farrior a nice contract for his old age last year. It means a lot to them in their negotiations with Harrison this year.

BTSC: Willie Parker will be in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform past the expiration of his current contract in 2010. True or False.

Wexell: I have to say false, just based on last year. RBs have a short shelf life and Parker's body has been breaking down. Then again, FWP has a superior work ethic as well. Prove me wrong, Fast One, prove me wrong.

BTSC: If you filled out an NCAA bracket, who you got cutting down the nets?

Wexell: I don't watch basketball at all anymore, only my daughter's games. I used to watch everything that moved, but only football now, and during the spring only college tape. In fact, I watched Brian Orakpo get killed at the point against Ohio State last night. The Browns would be making a big mistake in drafting him. I'd compare him, as a prospect, to Harrison, who wasn't even drafted, but surprised with his startling strength at the point. It would be foolish to perceive that kind of strength in Orakpo and draft him sixth. Nice pass rusher, but he didn't show he could drop and showed he won't be able to play the run in the league for a couple of years, if ever. Back to your question, I filled out Louisville just to steer clear of the mob picking Pitt. I'm in the middle of a 60-person soccer-fundraiser NCAA pool, which is led by my wife. She always wins this stuff.

Needing One More Big Year From Deshea Townsend

Blitzburgh — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:15:02 -0000

Well, not only are the top tier free agent cornerbacks gone in this year's free agent crop. So too are the second level guys - free agents like Chris Carr that Steelers fans thought might land in Pittsburgh after incumbent CB Bryant McFadden headed west to Phoenix to join the Cardinals. In my mind, that just about settles any debate about whether or not the Steelers will draft a CB in either Round 1 or Round 2 of this April's NFL Draft. But that's a conversation for another day, and quite frankly not tremendously important in terms of what defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and the 2009 Steelers defense will look like.

By that I mean, even if we do draft a CB on day one of this year's draft, the 2009 version of the Steel Curtain won't be leaning too heavily on him unless injuries force our hand. It's just not the way things work in Pittsburgh. Rookies are more likely to have a red-shirt year of sorts in year one than they are to be thrust into significant action. Even studs like LaMarr Woodley were forced to patiently wait their turn and learn the ropes of LeBeau's complex defensive schemes as rookies. Instead, LeBeau's defense will largely be relying on Ike Taylor, Deshea Townsend and William Gay. We have discussed William Gay and his impressive, albeit limited, showing thus far in his career. I am still a bit nervous on that front, but only time will tell I suppose.

Deshea Townsend on the other hand, has been around long enough that we have a better idea of what to expect out of the wily veteran out of Alabama. Townsend, who will turn 34 at about the start of the 2009 season, has had some very interesting statistical years in recent memory. Now granted, measuring the performance of defensive backs is a tricky endeavor for a myriad reasons that I don't feel I need to elaborate on. But still, let's use what's at our disposal - yards per attempt - to see what we can learn about Deshea the past five years.

2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Average
7.1	5.1	7.8	5.2	6.0	6.24

I don't have every last number in front of me, but I do know that Deshea was tied for 4th in the NFL over the course of 2004-2007, and that his 2008 total only lowered his 5 year average. So the bottom line is he's quietly been one of the more under appreciated and effective CBs in the league for the better part of this decade. This is all the more remarkable when you consider he's done his best work since turning 29 years of age, which by just about everybody's rationale is past his prime physical years in his mid to late 20s.

That said, Deshea has been a little bit of a feast or famine type cornerback in that same time frame. Those 2005 and 2007 numbers are exquisite. But those 2004 and 2006 numbers leave plenty to be desired. Again, there are too many variables that go into whether or not an NFL passing play is successful outside of simply how well the CB played his assignment in either man or zone coverage.

Nevertheless, when I've thought back on Townsend's career this offseason as I attempted to get a complete understanding of what our secondary may look like next year, I've thought to myself - 'can Deshea really drink from the fountain of youth once more in 2009 and play like he has in 2007 and 2008? Or will he miss multiple games again in 2009 like he did in 2008 after going the first decade of his career essentially injury free? When he has a full compliment of healthy defensive helpers around him, I'm more than confident rolling the dice with our savvy 34 year old corner for one more year.

But make no mistake about it - the 2009 Steelers will need Deshea Townsend to play somewhere closer to his 2005, 2007 and 2008 performances than his less impressive years if the defense is going to again sport a top ranked pass defense. Even if William Gay does step up and play soundly in Bryant McFadden's place, 2 CBs isn't nearly enough to get the job done in today's pass happy National Football League. And with nobody besides a special teams stalwart (A. Madison) behind Gay and Townsend on the depth chart, and no free agent help seemingly in sight, the Steelers' fortunes in 2009 on the defensive side of the ball will be closely tied to the play of our 34 year old veteran CB, Deshea Townsend.