SB Nation - Darnell Stapleton

Titans vs. Steelers: Five Questions with Behind the Steel Curtain

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:47:38 -0000

1. In the match-up between these two teams last season the Titans were able to sack Big Ben 5 times and force him to throw 2 picks. Is the Steelers offensive line better this season than it was last season?

It's not clear if the Steelers offensive line will be any better than they were in 2008 when they allowed Big Ben to take a beating all year round. The personnel is largely the same, with only rookie guard Kraig Urbik replacing incumbent right guard starter Darnell Stapleton amongst the top 5. On the one hand, that has to concern Steelers fans. On the other, we all know how important continuity and experience playing together is, particularly at that position. So we'll just have to see if this group of mostly the same guys is better with a year of rough-and-tumble experience under their belts. Titans fans might want to keep an eye on right tackle Willie Colon, the whipping boy of the offensive line for Steelers fans last year. He reportedly had a great camp and has undeniably looked better in limited action this preseason. If he can take a step - and preferably two or three...big ones - forward this year, the line could be substantially better than it was a year ago.

2. Obviously a lot has been made of the incident with the terrible towels at the end of last season's game. I know that is a big deal to the fans, but do you think it adds any motivation for the team?

Well, Coach Mike Tomlin apparently spent all of five seconds talking about it. My guess is he said something along the lines of 'the team that wins gets to do the talking.'

3. Do you think the Steelers can repeat in 2009?

Absolutely I think they can repeat. It begins and ends with their defense, which should again be at worst one of the league's five or ten best defenses. If you can keep Ben Roethlisberger in close ball games, we all know he can take over from there.

4. Talk to us about Nate Washington. He was the Titans biggest offseason acquisition. Do you think he can be a #1 receiver in this league? Why did the Steelers not make more of an effort to keep him?

No, he can not be a #1 receiver in this league. He's too frail and lacks confidence and guts catching the ball over the middle with a looming safety. He improved in that department during his time in Pittsburgh, but he's more or less a one-trick pony, and that's stretching the field. I will say though that he'd be a bigger asset if Vince Young were quarterback than if Kerry Collins is behind center. Why? Because Washington's also good when plays break down and the quarterback moves outside of the pocket trying to make something out of nothing. Obviously that's something Roethlisberger did/does a lot. And he often looked to Nate in those situations. I obviously don't see Collins breaking contain too often and trying to make a play outside of the pocket.

5. Write the headline in Friday morning's Tennessean.

Steelers avenge desecration of Towel, mop up Titans 24-14

Hope Nate reads this before the game tonight.

Click here to see BTSC's questions for me and my answers.

Pittsburgh Steelers Top Ten Irreplaceable Players

drinkyourmilkshake — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:38:28 -0000

I ripped this idea straight from our friends over at Hogs Haven, the Washington Redskins SBNation Blog. They decided to list in order the players that they felt would have the biggest effect on the team if they were injured or unable to play for multiple games during the season. Similar to how they did the list on their blog I am factoring in depth at the position along with the actual performance and productivity of the player being lost. Just a little fun as we ramp up for next Thursday's season opener. (DYM)

10-Justin Hartwig- Even though statistically Hartwig gave up the most sacks on the Steelers offensive line last year, he was a major improvement over the Sean Mahan experiment from 2007. Hartwig had much more success in blocking the bigger Nose Tackles in the AFC North and seems to be a quality locker room guy as well. Losing Hartwig for any significant amount of time would create a major headache for the Steelers, especially with previous back-up center Darnell Stapleton being lost for the season.

9-Ike Taylor- Ike Taylor will likely never reach a pro-bowl unless he finds a batch of that stick-um that Fred Bilentnikoff used back in the day; but he certainly is a valuable piece in Pittsburgh,. Taylor shut down just about every #1 wide receiver he faced last season and while big things are expected of William Gay, it would be somewhat unreasonable to expect him to step in the shoes of "Face-me-Ike" without a significant drop off in play.

8-Heath Miller- The Steelers signed Heath to a long term extension and made him one of the highest paid players at his position for a good reason. When Heath Miller is in the line-up not only does our passing game improve due to Miller's sure hands but the Steelers run game improves as Heath is the best blocking Tight End on the team.

7-James Farrior- Similar to Hines Ward; James Farrior may have lost a step or two but his leadership, football smarts, and experience can't be valued enough on the grid-iron. The Steelers pre-season game against Buffalo last week shows what Farrior brings to the table and now with injury concerns to Lawrence Timmons, Farrior's health is another key to winning.

6- Casey Hampton- Forget all the talk about Hampton possibly getting cut; it's not going to happen. Even though Hampton may be past his prime he is still one of the top Nose Tackles in the NFL. Chris Hoke has always filled in well in spurts for Hampton, but Hoke is no spring chicken himself and regardless of what you read or hear Ziggy Hood isn't big enough or experienced enough at this point in his career to take over for Hampton. The Steelers need Hampton this year, and they quite possibly could be forced to franchise him next year if they are not able to find a suitable replacement.

5- Hines Ward- Although many fans and media pundits feel that this is the year that Santonio Holmes becomes the Steelers true "number one" wide receiver, it is undeniable the positive effect that Hines Ward has on the Steelers offense. Hines is Big Ben's safety valve on third down and his blocking and leadership make the Steelers offense a more complete unit. Ward has looked good throughout the preseason and I expect Hines to have another solid year as long as he can stay healthy.

4- James Harrison- It would be foolish to not put the reigning defensive MVP of the league on a list of the most valuable players in black and gold. If Harrison misses time it allows offenses to game plan on shutting down our other stud outside linebacker Lamar Woodley. Harrison and Woodley combined for a steelers sack record for a linebacking duo in 2008 with 27.5 sacks and frankly if either one goes down I would expect a major drop-off in our pass rushing capabilities. If injury strikes Harrison my preference would be to see Lawrence Timmons move outside and have Keyaron Fox sliding into a role at Inside linebacker which would minimize the loss.

3- Troy Polamalu- Since Troy became a starter in 2004 he has made the pro-bowl every season and in 2006 and 2007 when Troy did miss time due to injury the team struggled in his absence. Factor in that the depth at Safety is also very thin right now and Troy's health may very well be the most important factor for Pittsburgh's chances of winning Super Bowl XLIV.

2- Max Starks and Willie Colon- If either or our starting tackles go down for a long stretch you could actually see Big Ben absorb more sacks than the 47 he received in 2007 . The Steelers depth at tackle is young and inexperienced and besides Trai Essex none of the back-up tackles currently on the roster have regular season experience. A loss of one of our starting tackles for a significant period of time could force the Steelers to dig deep on the waiver wire to bring in a tackle with game experience.

1- Ben Roethlisberger- I personally think this is a no-brainer. Whether it would be Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon replacing Ben, either one will have an extremely hard time being productive if they are forced to fill in for a long period of time. Batch has always played admirably when forced to step in for Ben but he has never had to assume the position for long periods of time since he came to Pittsburgh. Coupling a lesser quarterback with an offensive line that is still trying to gel and the Steelers could be in for a long, long season if Ben goes down.

Well that's it folks. Feel Free to comment, yell, scream, or tell me why I am an idiot.

Arizona Cardinals Weekly Flock: Preseason Opener Versus the Steelers Edition

Hawkwind — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:32:32 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jerheme Urban (85) makes a catch as teammate Michael Adams (27) defends during training camp. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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Not much news came out of yesterdays one practice other than Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt updating the injury situation and informing the media which guys were being ruled out for tomorrow's preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those who were ruled out of action included Early Doucet (shoulder), Anthony Becht (hamstring), Elliot Vallejo (dislocated kneecap) and Keilen Dykes (quad strain). Whiz didn't rule out Beanie Wells (ankle sprain) but it would be a major surprise if he suits up. Wells did run sprints with the team on Monday but still had a noticeable limp and didn't practice yesterday. As for the Steelers injury report, head coach Mike Tomlin hasn't officially ruled anyone out of the game but two starters, center Justin Hartwig and guard Darnell Stapleton are not expected to play.

Here are some other stories leading up to this week's opener:

McFadden brings Steelers mentality - They say when you start your NFL career with a team such as the Pittsburgh Steelers , you are born into a fraternity that expects nothing but strength, accountability and an iron-fisted will to win. Ken Whisenhunt and the staff he brought with him have tried to instill that same feeling here. And in Whisenhunt's relatively brief time in the Valley, he has brought several players from the Steelers. One of the latest is cornerback Bryant McFadden, who helped Pittsburgh beat Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII in February. A starter for a good portion of the 2008 season for the Steelers, including the entire postseason, McFadden joined the Cardinals as a free agent, signing a two-year, $10 million deal in March.
Urban's game, role expand for Cards - On occasions when defensive backs find a way to glue themselves to Cardinals receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, Kurt Warner isn't afraid to still thread a pass in either player's direction because he knows they will fight for their space - and the ball - and make plays. But this year, Warner is confident he and the Cardinals will be able to double that trust issue because he's seeing the same playmaking ability in training camp from Steve Breaston and perhaps more surprisingly, Jerheme Urban. "Jerheme has had an outstanding camp," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. " . . . He's really stood up and has had as good a camp as anybody.

Cards' injuries not concerning yet - Ken Whisenhunt isn't overly concerned about the injuries, and neither are Wells, Boldin or Warner.

LaRod Stephens-Howling getting a chance - LaRod Stephens-Howling deflected talk about getting more reps because fellow rookie Beanie Wells was injured, or what kind of camp he has had. "I am looking for a job just like everyone out here," Stephens-Howling said. The Cards’ first seventh-round draft pick is one of the forgotten men of the offseason. A lingering hamstring injury kept him off the field a good portion of the voluntary workouts, and the smaller (5-foot-7, 185 pounds) running back hadn’t really shown much until camp. But he has caught the eye of camp observers and coach Ken Whisenhunt, who said he has been impressed with the man who up until now was best known in Cards’ circles for his emotional draft day conference call.

Tim Hightower is satisfied - Pro Bowls aren’t a lofty enough goal, nor is 1,000 yards rushing. Winning the Cardinals’ starting running back job over Beanie Wells, in Tim Hightower’s mind, has to be a given. Hightower’s ambition forces him to seek more.

NFC West talk with Sando, Miklasz - Mike Sando addresses the turnover in the Cardinals coaching staff and Whiz felt moved to make such drastic changes after the franchise's most successful season.

'DRC' looks to become consistent at cornerback - Arizona corner back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie made plenty of big plays during his rookie year. As he prepares for his second NFL season, the Cardinals want Rodgers-Cromartie to pay more attention to the small ones. That means relying less on his dazzling speed and mastering techniques in practice. When it comes to pure exhilaration, learning proper footwork doesn't compare to the 99-yard interception return for a touchdown that Rodgers-Cromartie turned in last season. But the coaches say an improved practice regimen will help the 23-year-old Floridian turn his potential into consistent production at one of the game's most demanding positions

Current players who should and could be in Canton someday - Kurt Warner - Warner's case for enshrinement got considerably stronger last year, when he vaulted from the second spot on the depth chart to his third career Super Bowl. But even with two league MVP awards and a Super Bowl MVP trophy on the mantle, Warner's numbers need a little beefing up. Two more seasons with Larry Fitzgerald (and, for now, Anquan Boldin) should do the trick.

Handicapping wide-open NFC race - 7. Arizona Cardinals - I've got the 2008 NFC champions at the seventh spot on this list — one place too low to make it to the playoffs — for a reason. For starters, they were only 9-7 last year. Also, they've had plenty of turnover in the coaching staff. Perhaps most importantly, for the first time since Harry S. Truman was drinking beers in the back yard of the White House, every opponent will be gunning for the Cardinals. They'll be good, and they possibly could piece together a playoff run. But it's a stretch to assume based on what we know right now that they'll get back.

BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Hartwig Broke A Toe Edition

drinkyourmilkshake — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:00:24 -0000

IX-Starting center Justin Hartwig has broken one of his toes according to Dale Lolley after dropping an object on it recently. Although the injury shouldn't affect his ability to play during the regular season, he may miss some of the early parts of Steelers' training camp. I guess this will set up a little more competition between backups Darnell Stapleton and A.Q. Shipley. My biggest concern is with the Steelers line trying to build more continuity, having the starting center miss significant practice time could slow down the progress.

X-Peter King is using some guest NFL writers to fill in for his Monday Morning Quarterback column while he is taking a vacation during the heart of the offseason. This weeks guest writer is Washington Redskins Tight End, Chris Cooley, and his version is much more interesting that those written in previous weeks by Trent Green, and Matt Birk. In fact, Cooley knows it and takes some humorous shots at those two. Cooley advocates for the NFL to use technology to avoid controversial calls like Santonio Holmes controversial touchdown against the Ravens. How does the BTSC Nation feel about "smart football" as he calls it?

XIII-If you sign up for text message alerts on your mobile phone through the Pittsburgh Steelers you will be entered in a contest to win an autographed Hines Ward jersey. To sign up for the alerts send a text message saying "HINES" to 94253 (WHALE). For additional details and complete contest rules be sure to check out the Steelers' Official Website.

XIV-Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning careers' will inevitably be compared forever by pundits, bloggers, and fans due to both of them being drafted in the 1st round of the 2004 NFL draft, if Phillip Rivers wins a title his name will surely be brought into the conversation. ESPN's AFC North blogger, James Walker debates that there is absolutely no comparison between Manning and Big Ben considering Ben has better statistics in touchdowns, interceptions, wins, and quarterback rating, all while having a weaker offensive line and a less productive running game. Matt Mosley of EPSN's NFC East blog puts together a decent counter-argument exposing some of the holes in Walkers' piece.

XL-Troy Polamalu will be trying to avoid the Madden curse after gracing the cover of Madden 2010 alongside Larry Fitzgerald. James Walker of the AFC North ESPN blog goes over the rankings of each team in the AFC North in the upcoming release of Madden 2010. In terms of the rankings EA Sports has assigned to the four teams, Pittsburgh is clearly the class of the division according to Walker. In fact the Steelers have five defensive players with an overall ranking of 91 or above and Troy Polamalu has an astonishing overall ranking of 99.

XLIII-The Penguins got some love here during their season and the Pirates should be no different. A lot of Pittsburgh area sports fans lose track of the Pirates losing, including me. Mondesi's House is here to provide a recap of the first half of the Pirates season, and what to expect during the second half. The All-Star game is on Tuesday, and the most interesting part of the baseball season, the Home Run Derby, is tonight on ESPN at 8PM. Here are some odds on each participant for the event.

Vying For A Seat On The Bus, Six Players That Will Surprise At Latrobe This Year

datruth4life — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:21:11 -0000

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

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Now that the rings have been put away and old stories from this past year have been re-told and put on the backburner, Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin now officially has his team where he wants it -- with all eyes forward on training camp and the 2009 season. Each year at Latrobe, there are at least 2 or 3 unsuspecting players who were afterthoughts when signed in the offseason but end up beating the odds to make the team and contribute.

We all know the Willie Parker and James Harrison stories, but other players who impressed this past year at training camp and contributed to the team's Super Bowl run included rookie free agent LBs Patrick Bailey & Donovan Woods, C/G Darnell Stapleton and RB Gary Russell (who has since been released). Two other players who impressed in last year's camp that didn't make the team but did make the practice squad were S Ryan Mundy and CB/S Roy Lewis. The saving grace for Kevin Colbert during his tenure as the Steelers' Director of Football Operations is that he has usually hit homeruns with his first round picks in the draft and that the Steelers scouting department has helped make up for his less than stellar second-day draft picks through rookie and street free agent signings.

Here are six players that people aren't talking about right now but I think they very well could be by the end of Training Camp:

6. Jordan Reffett, DE, 6'5, 295 -- The Steelers signed Reffett as a rookie free agent after the 2008 draft but released him before the final cut this past year. He was signed to the practice squad for a few weeks during the season but was later released. He was resigned to the squad in the offseason.

What's working in his favor: Reffett has the size the Steelers like in their 3-4 ends, is athletic and comes with a good motor. He flashed during a couple of preseason games, but didn't show enough ultimately to beat out Travis Kirschke or Nick Eason as a backup. With this being his second lap around the track, sort to speak, Reffett should better know what is expected of him in LeBeau's D as well as what he needs to show to make this team. In other words, he should be able to not think too much and just go out and play.

What's working against him: To make this squad, Reffett will have to beat out Nick Eason and 6^th round pick R. Harris, and that would only happen if the Steelers keep 7 DL (which I believe that they will). There has been a lot of talk about Big Snack and B. Keisel being in the last year of their deals, but so are Eason and Kirschke. If you are the Steelers, do you begin to prepare for the future by putting Ziggy Hood and Reffett in the rotation now?

Outcome: Reffett has his work cut out him, but he only has to show more than Nick Eason to stick. I also believe that he would be a little more ready to play this year than R. Harris, who I believe will be put on the practice squad.

*****

5. Martin Nance, WR, 6'3'', 215 lbs -- Nance is most known for being Big Ben's big play man at Miami of Ohio during Ben's junior year. After being injured most of his junior year, Nance came back as a senior to put up good numbers but went undrafted and signed as a rookie free agent with the Buffalo Bills in 2006. After being cut in August of that year, he was picked up by the Vikings. He had 4 receptions for 33 yards during his rookie season and was released at the end of training camp by the Vikings in 2008. He was signed to the Steelers practice squad in September 2008 and stayed there the rest of the year. He was signed to the regular squad in the offseason.

What's working in his favor: The Steelers have an open competition for its 3, 4, & 5 WR spots and those spots won't be settled until after training camp and the preseason. Nance is a big WR that has good hands, can run the route tree and sneaky speed deep. He can also highpoint the ball, meaning he can go up and get it when in traffic. If he can show that he can play in the slot, get deep on occasion, and play special teams like a young Hines Ward, he has a chance. Also, Bruce Arians has been high on Nance since last season.

What's working against him: Nance will have to either beat out Sweed or McDonald to make this team and be active on game days. I believe that Mike Wallace will be active on game days because he is the team's top KR and could be in Nate Washington's designated role of stretching the field. Sweed is the 2^nd round pick that everyone wants to see win the job and McDonald is the vet who has started in an NFL game that the coaches might feel more comfortable with if Ward or Holmes goes down.

Outcome: It's not looking good for Nance but no one has been hit yet. When the pads go on, he will have a chance to impress. Having played with Ben before shouldn't hurt his chances. If he can prove that he can do more for the Steelers on game day than Sweed or McDonald, he'll have a chance. However, he appears to be a long-shot at best.

*****

4. Roy Lewis, Safety, 5'10'', 190 lbs -- Lewis was signed as a rookie free agent by the Steelers this past year and made a favorable impression on Coach Tomlin & LeBeau with his hitting and his ability to play corner and safety. However it wasn't enough to make the regular squad. He spent most of the season on the practice squad.

What's working in his favor: The Steelers are in need of younger blood on the roster at safety. Tyrone Carter is hanging on and needs to be replaced on the roster. With Ryan Clark's injury history and the way that Troy P. plays football, the troops need to be ready to fill in at a moment's notice. The ability to play both safety positions as well as CB in a pinch will help his cause.

What's working against him: Ryan Mundy seems to be the first young safety in line to claim that 3^rd safety spot behind Troy and Ryan Clark, and Carter hasn't been put out to pasture yet. Also, this could be the year that Deshea's ability to play safety be put to use. Free agent CB Keiwan Ratliff can also play safety in a pinch.

Outcome: The Steelers have a deep secondary and Ryan Mundy seems ready to take that next step as the Steelers young safety in training. The fact that the Steelers have more experienced CBs such as Ratliff and Deshea, whom can both play safety, doesn't help his cause either. Unless Lewis is the star of the camp in the secondary, he will probably begin next season on the practice squad.

*****

3. Donovan Woods, LB, 6'2'', 230 -- Woods was the surprise rookie free agent to make the team coming out of training camp this past year. Though he played OLB at the start of camp, the coaching staff had him play ILB in its nickel and dime defenses late in preseason games and Woods flashed potential at that ILB spot. However, it is the potential that he showed on special teams that allowed him to surprisingly capture one of the last available roster spot. When he pulled his hamstring early in the season, P. Bailey was promoted from the practice squad in the preseason and never let the spot go. Bailey returned to the practice squad and was resigned in the offseason.

What's working in his favor: Woods' versatility along with his special teams ability gives him a great chance to land a spot as a backup ILB on this team. With Larry Foote leaving and Timmons moving up to man that spot, K. Fox now becomes the Steelers 3^rd LB in that rotation with a roster spot for a second backup at ILB. Woods and Timmons fit the mold of player that Tomlin wants in his ILBs, fast, physical and versatile. However, Woods main ticket to win that roster spot and see the field again this year will be special teams.

What's working against him: The coaching staff might still decide to sign another veteran ILB before or during training camp like Napoleon Harris. Tomlin has a history with Harris and he has already been brought in for a physical. Another competitor for the ILB spot could be Arnold Harrison, who can play both OLB and ILB as Woods can.

Outcome: Woods has a good opportunity to make this team and contribute as a backup ILB and special teams player. Even if the team signs Harris or another veteran backup ILB, they will be hardpressed to be a better special teams player than Woods or show the upside that he has. I expect Woods to not only win a roster spot and be one of the top special teams tacklers this year, but to also continue to grow as an ILB in this D.

*****

2. Jason Capizzi, 6'9'', 315 lbs -- Jason Capizzi has the type of story that most loyal fans to their ballclubs love to hear: a local boy that makes good by signing with the hometown professional sports team. After originally signing with the Steelers as a rookie free agent two years ago, Capizzi was cut before the season begin and has seen stints on the practice squads of the Chiefs and Buccaneers. When the Steelers needed an extra OT when M. Smith was placed on injured reserve this past year in the midst of their Super Bowl run, the Steelers signed Capizzi. Although he didn't dress for games or the Super Bowl, the team resigned him in the offseason.

What's working in his favor: The Steelers have a need for young OL with versatility. The team's decision to pick him up while in the midst of a Super Bowl run tells you a little about the comfort that they have in the player. Capizzi has good feet for such a large man, and has now added the ability to play RT as well as LT. If Trai Essex proves to be the Steelers best bet at RG over D. Stapleton and K. Urbik to start the season, then the Steelers will need a swing tackle to take Essex's spot. Capizzi might be the answer to that role.

What's working against him: With this being Capizzi's third year, it is clearly time for him to show that he belongs or the team will likely turn the page and look for other young lineman to develop. Tony Hills, a natural LT, has also been playing some RT in OTAs. Another rookie free agent this year that has seemed to garner some interest from the coaching staff and Steelers beat writers is Ramon Foster from Tennessee. Also, will the Steelers keep 9 OL this year or 10? That could impact his status as well.

Outcome: I believe this is the best opportunity for Capizzi to make the Steelers and that he will take hold of this opportunity. I further believe that if he gets time in the starting lineup at RT that he could be there for awhile. He has the tools, he knows the offense, can play more than one position and realizes it is now or never. If Capizzi can hold his own against Deebo and Woodley in training camp, then that could be a sign he's ready for bigger and better things.

*****

1. Patrick Bailey, LB, 6'4, 235 lbs -- Bailey first began to draw the attention of Steelers Nation on kick off returns. In a preseason game this past year against the Panthers, Bailey made 3 special teams tackles and was even talked about highly by the Panthers team announcers. However, it took an injury to Donovan Woods for Bailey to make the regular roster. When he did, he made the most of it and never looked back, becoming one of the team's best special teams' players.

What's working in his favor: The ability to run down the field with speed and angrily introduce himself to returners? Other than Deebo, he might be the best LB on the roster at doing so. He's definitely on this team. The only question is if Bailey is just a good special teams LB or does he have the potential for more?

What's not working in his favor: Bailey will be active on game days, but if he wants to see anytime in the rush packages, he has to prove that he can rush the QB and play the run. In other words, he has to prove that he is a complete OLB. With Woodley and Deebo ahead of him, there is no rush for him to play this year. He will be competing against A. Frazier, A. Harrison and Bruce Davis for time on the outside.

Outcome: Bailey will win a roster spot and his arrow is pointing up with this team. He doesn't have to win a starting spot in the D to win a spot in the hearts of Steelers coaches and fans everywhere. He just has to continue busting heads on special teams. While Cowher never seemed to get this young, hungry type of player for special teams during his tenure, Tomlin made it a priority for improving his coverage units this past year. This year's special teams, coverage and returns, could be the best the Steelers have had in a decade.

*****

I know you guys have several players that you believe can make this list, but I only stuck to those who I have seen play and were either rookie free agents this past year or street free agents. I would love to hear your feedback as well as some of your choices. It's shaping up to be a very entertaining and competitive training camp in Latrobe. Holla back and Be Blessed.

"The line allows the linebackers to rush, the rush makes the coverage better. Together we all eat," Mike Tomlin.

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.

A Look At The Fine Line Between Success And Disaster

Blitzburgh — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:20:32 -0000

Behind the Steel Curtain AFC Championship Game Content

AFC Champs - Time To Celebrate
Troy Polamalu Delivers In Biggest Game Of Year
Game Notes Part 1
Game Notes Part 2
Fun Stats & Facts
Film Review: Special Teams
Film Review: Fine Line Between Success and Failure

*********************

Let's take a look at a 1st down play in the 3rd quarter of Sunday's 23-14 AFCCG victory by the Steelers this past Sunday. I go through the effort of capturing the stills of this play to highlight how small a margin of error there is in the National Football League between a successful play and an unmitigated disaster.

In the opening frame, we see Ben setting up play action. Darnell Stapleton is highlighted, and we see him pulling to his left from his Guard position to help sell the run but to also pick up a pass rushing Ravens defender. As you can see, so far so good for the offensive line across the board.

Let's see what happens next

Oh no. Darnell has overstepped where he needed to be, lunging too far too his left and not forcing the Ravens defender (Terrell Suggs) to beat him on the outside, which obviously would have been the desired way to direct him so as to lengthen the amount of time it took to get to QB Ben Roethlisberger. We can already tell that by over running by just a half a step, Stape is off balance and easy to push out of the way by the pass rusher who has ducked inside.

Ben is now toast. Obviously it's too late for Ben to circle back the other way in such short notice - particularly because the play was designed fro Ben to float to his right slightly. With his shoulders not even close to square to begin with, there's just no time to change paths and avoid the sack. Ben might have been better off sprinting to his right (opposite direction then way he's facing) and throwing it away once outside the pocket, but that's not really his fault. Or the point of this.

Instead, I show this to illustrate just how close the Steelers were to maybe making a huge day down the field. See how the rest of the linemen have more than created a suitable pocket for Ben to throw from? And notice how Stape had plenty of help from his buddies on the left side had he not been off balance and gotten tossed out of the way? So close...

Yet so far away. As you can see, Stapleton knew he was the guilty party and more than likely, he knows exactly why things fell apart in a hurry. You rarely see a player clap his hands in frustration after getting beat physically. On a small mental miscue that is easily correctable, more likely for 300+ pound men to 'fess up and show some frustration. In his defense, it wasn't a matter of effort - he was too fast and zealous getting to his spot. That's a correctable mistake moving forward for our young guard who's done such an admirable job learning and competing on the fly this year.

Steelers Advance To 7th Super Bowl In Franchise History: Notes From Championship Sunday Part 1

Blitzburgh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:51:43 -0000

Some thoughts about the Pittsburgh Steelers' 23-14 victory over the rival Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on Sunday. The W completed the three-game sweep of the Ravens for Pittsburgh this year, which is a beautiful thing in and of itself. But more importantly, the win puts the Steelers just 60 minutes away from what would be an NFL record 6th Super Bowl triumph. After soaking in the thrilling victory with Steelers fans from across the globe immediately following the game, I began my recap coverage of the victory with a short shout out to Troy Polamalu, who I felt was the difference maker in the game above all others. Onward:

* Let's start with franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger. This exact moment is not the right time to look at Ben Roethlisberger's 2008 season as a whole - this week or next, and certainly this off season will be when we get there. But let's take a look at how Ben has performed since the 2 INT and 4 Fumble day against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15.

(FL = Fumbles Lost)

vs CLE / 12.28.08	Passing					Rushing
	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD/INT/FL	Rush	Yds	Avg	TD
Ben Roethlisberger	9	14	64.3	110	0/1/0

vs SDC / 1.11.09	Passing					Rushing
	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD/INT/FL	Rush	Yds	Avg	TD
Ben Roethlisberger	17	26	65.4	181	1/0/0

vs BAL / 1.18.09	Passing					Rushing
	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	TD/INT/FL	Rush	Yds	Avg	TD
Ben Roethlisberger	16	33	48.5	255	1/0/0	2	-2	-1.0	0

Of the charts numbers? No, no. Good numbers, but nothing outstanding. Except in the most critical department - turnovers. Ben's making fantastic decisions with the ball right now and he seems to be as confident as ever sniffing out where to slide to in and out of the pocket to avoid would be pass rushers. More on Ben in a bit.

* Let's move on to the Offensive Line, a unit I thought played up to their ability for the most part. The reality of course is that the Ravens defense, particularly up front, outclasses our offensive line in terms of sheer physical ability. That means it's going to be tough sledding running the football just about every time these two bitter rivals (as currently constructed that is) lace it up. It also means that there's going to be some sacks - 4 of them in total in fact.

To me though, this unit played hard and close to up to their ability. They maybe would disagree with that, and the numbers surely aren't that impressive: less than 2 yards per carry and 3 sacks. But there were key moments when Ben had the time he needed to make the reads and throws he made. Let me put it this way - while the line has had many games in 2008 where they've had good moments at the least critical times and melted down when it mattered most, tonight they largely did the opposite. Againt Baltimore they had struggles matching up with the Ravens tenacious defense and unrelenting blitzing for much of the game, but didn't once stand in the way of the team's success by having a letdown in critical moments of the game.

There were very few momentum changing gaffes from them for example. In the wake of one of them, a 14 yard sack of Big Ben where he had next to no time to react, the line responded on the very next play by giving Ben Roethlisberger more time to throw than he had all day. Ben found Heath Miller for a 30 yard gain and the Steelers were in business again. The drive started at their own 20 yard line but ended with a huge FG from Jeff Reed that put the team back up by two scores, 16-7, early in the 3rd quarter.

* Speaking of Jeff Reed, we haven't had the opportunity to call his name recently.
Spikey was critical though Sunday in the Steelers victory. He was 3/3 on FG attempts and 1/1 on XPAs and make no mistake about it, the game could have had a totally different dynamic if he were not to have made any 1 of those 3 kicks. The most impressive one of course was the 3rd quarter FG I previously alluded to, a 46 yarder that had plenty of distance to spare. That FG capped an 11 play drive that ate up 5:29 seconds of game time. Big time game for our loveable FG kicker, who of course had to be 'that' guy and dye his hair blonde for the playoffs. No visual confirmation yet, but it's probably a safe bet to assume we're talking about just the tips of his spiked hair that get highlighted. Bro dog to the end :)

* Real quickly here but man oh man, this game was tight deep into the 4th quarter partly due to Limas Sweed's head scratchingly frustrating drop of a sure TD in the 2nd quarter, his second such gaffe on huge plays down the field in as many weeks.

I wish I had a shot of Mike Tomlin's reaction on the sideline. What was it? Nothing of note, the way it should be. I immediately think of Tom Coughlin when I think of emotional sideline outbursts. Coughlin can coach, there's no denying that. But there's also a certain way to handle fragile psyches - which Limas clearly has been dealing with - and then there's this:

Let's feel blessed we have the proper coach to make sure that guys like Limas Sweed, Lawrence Timmons, Rashard Mendenhall, Darnell Stapleton, and even guys like Santonio Holmes and Willie Colon, are keeping their head up and continually focused on process and competing rather than single play results. Tomlin's unique instincts in how to interact with his players and coach them up has already yielded tremendous results for a number of the team's younger players. It's ust a matter of time before Limas comes around as well. No doubt in my mind.

I'm glad we see little of this:

And instead lots of this:

* Another series of thoughts coming soon enough.

Steelers Offensive Line Had Solid Outing Last Time Out Against Baltimore

Blitzburgh — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:48:38 -0000

The last time these two hated rivals met - in Week 14 at Baltimore - the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line had a much better day than people gave them credit for. The Ravens had three sacks on the day, sure, but Ben Roethlisberger also threw it 40 times for 246 yards. Because the Steelers mustered only 13 points and gave up 3 sacks for the day, the offensive line was again criticized as being the weak link behind the offense. There's some truth to that, but it doesn't tell the whole story.

The first two Ravens sacks came on stunts drawn up by Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. The first sent Ray Lewis free up the middle; the second sent both Lewis and Ed Reed up the middle. Let's take a look at both of them and see who the guilty party was on each play.

Sack #1

In the frame above, I have highlighted three Ravens defenders. The LB is Ray Lewis who is blitzing on the play, and ultimately the one who got to Big Ben. The bottom Raven will be picked up by Willie Colon, who I show picking him up with the gold arrow. Next to him is Darnell Stapleton, who unnecessarily chases the third boxed Raven. He didn't need to though - his buddies to the left - Justin Hartwig and Chris K had that under control. The result as you'll see was..

Stapleton just makes a bad read here. He thinks that he needs to help out Hartwig but as we can see...

Not the case. Stapleton's attention was needed on Ray Lewis, who was coming right towards him. Stapleton's left blocking nobody as Lewis runs by him.

Good work by Rex Ryan designing a blitz that exploited the relative inexperience of G Darnell Stapleton. It's a good thing that the Steelers offensive lineman have been spending extra time in the film room together because you can bet on Ryan trying to confuse the Steelers offensive line with new blitz looks.

SACK #2

On this play, the Ravens sent 7 guys at Big Ben.

As you can see though, there are 7 Steelers in there to block (#5 for Pitt is Starks, not Holmes; #7 for Baltimore is Ed Reed not yet pictured). This means there should be enough Steelers to pick up the 7 guys Baltimore is sending.

As you can see, I've highlighted both Ed Reed and Mewelde Moore, who needs to be the last line of defense for Ben Roethlisberger. Is he?

He is not. Moore is doing nothing on the play. As you can see as well, the Steelers offensive line had done its job otherwise. This was a simple blown assignment by Moore.

Here's hoping everybody asked to block this coming Sunday is on the ball both mentally and physically. As I've shown, two of the three Ravens sacks the last time we met came on mental miscues by Darnell Stapleton and Mewelde Moore. Neither were the result of being overmatched physically.

We can do this! Go Steelers!

Visual Confirmation That The Steelers Offensive Line Came To Play: Part 1

Blitzburgh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:11:47 -0000

Because the posts have been and will continue to come fast and furious, I'm going to include links to previous ones in each post, so that one can jump around between them at ease.

Previous Breakdowns:

Fake Punt Attempt
Santonio Holmes' Punt Return
Woodley's Thunderous Sack
1st Half Review
2nd Half Review
Celebration Thread

**********

I want to include a few images that highlight the excellent job turned in by the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line on Sunday. I wrote just a few days ago that the Steelers offensive line had shown they were capable of having a break out game or even run of games this playoffs throughout various moments of the regular season. Not really entire games mind you, at least not against a team better than Cleveland or not in Week 1 against Houston. But moments.

So far so good on elevating their game to a new level this playoffs.

Two plays to start that show the nasty streak and determination that the offensive line played with Sunday. Forthcoming is a post all about the Steelers opening drive of the 2nd half which was all predicated on excellent pass protection.

But first..and you never thought you'd read the words: a Willie Colon highlight.It happened to come on the same play that Ben Roethlisberger threw a key block to spring a first down run by Santonio Holmes:

Just wait. He's not done. More after the poll and break.

That's more like. Heading in the right direction now.

If Colon doesn't get there. The Chargers defender under the red arrow maybe makes that tackle short of the sticks. Colon hustled though and made sure that Ben Roethlisberger's excellent block earlier in the play was not wasted.