SB Nation - Justin Hartwig

The Top Ten Best Tennessee Titans Draft Picks of the Decade

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:00:21 -0000

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

Cortland Finnegan celebrates being named by MCM as the Titans top draft pick of the decade. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

With the decade coming to an end in a few weeks, we here at MCM decided it would be a good time to do a top 10 list or two- because who doesn't love a top 10 list?

Today we start with the top 10 draft picks of the decade. Here is how this list was compiled- August, gramsey and I all came up with our own list. They sent their lists to me, actually shared it with me via google docs (which are awesome), and I averaged the three lists together to come up with what I am posting here. After the jump I have added a link that lists all of the picks the Titans made in the decade.

So without further adieu I present the top 10 draft picks of the decade:

1. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Samford (2006, Round 7, pick #215 overall)

Obviously this pick came down to Finny and Chris Johnson, but when you look at the fact that the Titans were able to draft and franchise corner, or as gramsey puts it "The best corner to ever wear Titan blue, and that includes Samari Rolle," in the seventh round, Finnegan gets the nod.

2. Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina (2008, Round 1, pick #24 overall)

He is the best running back in the league. ‘Nuff said.

3. Keith Bulluck, LB, Syracuse (2000, Round 1, pick #30 overall)

You obviously expect big things out of every first round pick, and KBull has provided those big things and so much more. He has been the heart and soul of this defense for a long time. Interesting story on this pick is that the Titans had planned on taking Deon Grant here because they never dreamed Bulluck would fall to them. Looks like they ended up on the better side of that one.

T-4. Robaire Smith, DE/DT, Michigan State (2000, Round 6, pick #197 overall)

August thinks Robaire is overrated. That may be the case, but the Titans got waaay more than they ever could have expected out of a guy they took at #197. This was another testament to pretty much the only thing Floyd Reese was good at besides backloading contracts and early round busts (more on that tomorrow), finding diamonds in the rough.

T-4. David Stewart, OT, Mississippi State (2005, Round 4, pick #113 overall)

The credit here goes to Mike Munchak as much as anyone, but that doesn't change the fact that the Titans got book-end offensive tackles in the same draft. The only thing that gets Big Country the nod over the next guy on the list is that he was selected two rounds and 72 picks later.

6. Michael Roos, OT, Eastern Washigton (2005, Round 2, pick #41 overall)

Roos is a Pro Bowl left tackle. That is a win no matter where they are selected, but it is even more impressive to get one in the second round.

7. Bo Scaife, TE, Texas (2005, Round 6, pick #179 overall)

2005 was a good draft for the Titans. I have been critical of Scaife in the past, but that by no means takes away the successes he has had in this league after waiting until the 6^th round to come off the board. I wonder how many sixth round picks have ever been given the franchise tag..

8. Stephen Tulloch, LB, NC State (2006 Round 4, pick #116 overall)

The Titans drafted three linebackers in the 2006 draft, and Tulloch has been the only one to stick. Tulloch has proved to be a vital member of this defense as he is currently the starting middle linebacker but has also played both outside linebacker positions in his tenure with the Titans.

9. Eugene Amano, C, SE Missouri State (2004, Round 7, pick #239 overall)

We had a little trouble forgiving Pinoy's boy for his transgression on Sunday to add him to this list, but it is impossible to ignore a guy that is a starting offensive lineman selected in the seventh round. Amano highlights two things about the draft strengths of the Titans- 1. they are good at picking offensive lineman and 2. they are good at finding good players from small schools.

10. Vincent Fuller, DB, Virginia Tech (2005, Round 4, pick #108 overall)

Vinny is yet another gem from the 2005 class. Fuller has held down the nickel back job for a couple of years now, and we all saw how valuable he was when he missed a few weeks earlier this year with a broken forearm.

Others receiving votes: William Hayes (2008, round 4, #103), Albert Haynesworth (2002, round 1, #15), and Justin Hartwig (2002, round 6, #187).

Click here to see the complete list of draft picks.

And there you have it. We would love to hear your comments on our list, or even your own list in the comments.

Pregame Zone Blitz: Steelers at Chiefs

ncoolong — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:38:49 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

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Considering the Steelers' opponent this week, the hapless Kansas City Chiefs, it almost feels like a lose-lose situation. It's got letdown game written all over it. Even if the Steelers win, it will no doubt bring back the pain of a tough and rare AFC North loss to Cincinnati. PZB is going to demonstrate why this isn't a trap game and why a win is a win is a win.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

Arrowhead Pride points out an interesting discussion Steelers C Justin Hartwig had with 610 Sports Today in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Star's blog makes a good point about Larry Johnson ending up the winner of the feud between himself and the Chiefs.

A fan post brings up some solid analysis, but responders to it aren't optimistic about the Chiefs' chances.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley isn't at a loss for respectful words when it comes to the Steelers.

How hard can it be to simply not use a diuretic?

Last Game

After the Denver game, PZB called out the Broncos for not making enough splash plays throughout the game. It marks the last time PZB will ever do that, considering Pittsburgh's lack of explosive plays in its 18-12 loss vs. Cincinnati in Week 10.

That sounds like an excuse, though, and we don't make those.

We do know now how the Other Half lives; the other half of the league that does not have a productive quarterback under center. Clearly, Ben Roethlisberger is one of the better passers in the game, but for whatever reason, he played a substandard game against the division-leading Bengals. While he protected the ball well enough considering a pretty intense Cincinnati pass rush and excellent secondary, his accuracy was a negative factor for the first time this season.

Let's make a positive out of a negative though. We had the ball with two minutes remaining, down six, and that was after five sacks (four of them caused by outstanding coverage), a slew of tipped passes and Pittsburgh's seventh returned touchdown against this season. The Bengals even managed to botch the extra point.

PZB's hat is off to a vastly improved and legitimate Bengals team. We now focus on Kansas City.

Opponent Spotlight: QB Matt Cassel

Is there anyone else? No.

It took the Chiefs a little over 33 quarters to score a rushing touchdown in 2009. Jamaal Charles broke a 44 yard run in the second quarter of Kansas City's 16-10 win over Oakland in Week 9. Oakland has allowed the most rushing touchdowns (14) in the NFL. Kansas City is the only team to fail to score a rushing touchdown against the hapless Raiders, which they accomplished in their Week 2 loss at the hands of Oakland.

Now, with the defending Super Bowl champs and league's top-ranked rush defense coming to Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City's beleaguered rushing attack is safely considered to be non-existent this week.

Making matters worse for the Chiefs, top receiver Dwayne Bowe was suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic, and will not play in this game.

Cassel knows what it's like to be on the losing end of an ears-pinned-back pass rush from Pittsburgh. OLB James Harrison in particular ravaged Cassel in New England last season, forcing two second-half fumbles en route to a huge Steelers road win. In many ways, that victory propelled Pittsburgh to an eventual Super Bowl championship. Cassel remembers that thrashing, and also is aware Pittsburgh is in the rare spot of trailing another team in the AFC North. It'll be surprising to see Cassel hang onto the ball for longer than three seconds. He is an accurate passer when provided with adequate receiving support, and the match-ups in this game present a very simple and familiar game plan for Cassel; pass on the edge, get out of the pocket and try to protect the ball at all costs.

Steelers Spotlight: NT Casey Hampton

I wrote about this in Blitzburgh's Steelers Annual.

The key moment to last season was a holding call on Steelers Hampton in Week 13 at New England. Big Snack flipped his lid over the call (truthfully, it was valid), and we witnessed a rare display of animalistic emotion from one of the better nose tackles of his generation. Hampton blew up Patriots C Dan Koppen, sacking then-Patriots QB Matt Cassel.

It opened floodgates that didn't stop spilling until early February.

Hampton has that rare higher gear which can't be achieved by everyone. He has the ability to destroy an opponent's entire offensive game plan, because, frankly, you cannot plan around penetration. You can't run around it, you can't pass around it.

And you mostly can't do anything about it if you have an offensive line as inconsistent as Kansas City's.

OLB James Harrison had two sacks and two forced fumbles after Hampton roared. Lawrence Timmons had an interception return back to the Patriots' 1-yard-line after Hampton exploded.

The Steelers had one of the better defenses the league has ever seen in 2008. They realized it not long after they lost two of three to quality teams - the Giants and the Colts.

Hampton can lead by example, and he can dominate his opponent physically. This isn't a call-out to him because he's been off his game (he hasn't at all). It's a plea for him to reach for that upper gear and again become the unifier this team needs right now. Maybe this game can be the catalyst to push the Steelers over the top.

I See You

I see you, Donovan Woods. I may be getting a bit off the topic in this section, because usually, I see players from the previous game. The theme of this column this week is "moving ahead." Because of that, Donovan, you become the most important player in this game. You filled in admirably last season, jumping to and from the practice squad, the waiver wire and the active roster. That can't be easy and Steelers fans respect it.

We need you badly, Donovan. We need you to give us a sense of excitement to see the return man buried inside the 20, instead of the feeling of dread we currently have any time the ball is kicked. We need a spark, and we've all seen you provide that spark before.

I see you added to the roster and inserted immediately with the Herculean task of helping a stout defense not have to defend a short field, or stave off points allowed by other units. I see you making a few tackles, standing up, smacking some helmets and giving the Steelers defense a reason to pin their ears back and kick the tar out of Matt Cassel and the Chiefs.

Key Stats

Pittsburgh is 6^th in the NFL in scoring defense at 17.4 points per game (157 points).
Removing kick/punt returns and interception returns, Pittsburgh is allowing 12.9 points per game (116 points).
Kansas City scored its first rushing touchdown this season in a 16-10 win over Oakland in Week 10.

Quick Hitters

I am the only person who doesn't mind Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on 4^th-and-2 from inside their own territory. I've heard every reason why he shouldn't. Every one of those reasons is valid. But if I'm Belichick, I've got Tom Brady. Indy's got Peyton Manning. If I'm Belichick, I'm aware of the fact it's either going to be Peyton's day, or Tom's. I'm gonna give Tom the ball, and prepare to accept the consequences. Either way, wherever we are on the field, if No. 18 comes under center with time on the clock, this game isn't ending in my favor. Perhaps the most instructive part of this is seeing how close the Pats came to converting. Except for the fact the Colts showed how tough of a team they are by getting the season's biggest defensive play for the stop.
I am not gushing praise for Maurce Jones-Drew's "selflessness." But I'm not dogging him for not taking the points while they're there. The fact of the matter is the game of football is decided by the clock just as much as by points. A 1-point lead with no time on the clock is more important than a 6-point lead with 12 seconds left. The critics pontificate about the possibility of a field goal getting blocked, or a snap getting botched. All true. Are you going to suggest it's less likely to simply execute a 19-yard field goal as time expires than it is to stop a speed-burning kick returner with a gadget play at his disposal from breaking it for a touchdown? Sorry, I'm not buying the bravado. Let that clock run all day, MJD, and please, Mr. Mendenhall, Mr. Parker and Mr. Moore, keep your knee on the ground should you encounter this situation in the future. You shouldn't have any more faith in our kickoff coverage either.

Steelers C Hartwig Talks About Nearly Signing With the Chiefs

Joel Thorman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:04:30 -0000

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

Steelers C Justin Hartwig talked about nearly signing with the Chiefs. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line has been perhaps the biggest disappointment this season. From the running game to the passing game much of the blame is being heaped on the guys up front. For most of us, an offensive line upgrade usually includes the center, right guard and right tackle, in varying order of important.

Chiefs C Rudy Niswanger is one of the tougher players on the team but he has repeatedly been referred to by pundits as a player who could potentially be upgraded via the draft or free agency.

It almost wasn't like that though. Last year, veteran center Justin Hartwig entered free agency and narrowed his list down to two teams: Chiefs and Steelers.

"When I hit the free agent market," Hartwig told 610 Sports today, "it pretty much came down to the Chiefs and the Steelers. The Steelers persuaded me to come to Pittsburgh."

Hartwig is a KU grad so he had local connections.

"It would have been nice to be in my backyard in Kansas City but, obviously, things really worked out for me last year," he said.

Hartwig played all 16 games last season for the Steelers Super Bowl season. Prior to that, he had been on four consecutive losing teams.

He also said he's hoping the Steelers run the ball more against the Chiefs. The Pittsburgh offense has gone 82 rushing attempts, dating back to week six, without a rushing touchdown.

That's currently the longest streak in the NFL....now that the Chiefs finally scored a rushing touchdown last week.

Father Son Duos Highlight Chiefs and Steelers Connections

Chris Thorman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:48:42 -0000

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

"I love Oklahoma Joe's BBQ!" (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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It's that time of the week, wake up, wake up....

Yes, that time of the week for checking out the connections to the opposing team. This week, it's the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chiefs have a solid Pittsburgh pedigree.

Haley, Perles and Colquitt all have dad's that played/coached for the Steelers at some points.

And this week, we have an opposing player who was actually born in KC.

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley attended Upper St. Clair HS in Pittsburgh. His father, Dick Haley, served as Steelers Director of Player Personnel (’71- 90) and played DB (’61-64). He was a RB at the University of Pittsburgh.
KC def. quality control coach Pat Perles attended Upper St. Clair HS. His father, George Perles, coached with Pittsburgh (’72-81).
Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt's father, Crag Colquitt, played seven seasons with Pittsburgh (’78-84), winning Super Bowl XIII and XIV rings.
Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel spent four seasons with Pittsburgh (’97-00).
Pittsburgh off. coord. Bruce Arians coached RBs for KC (’89-92).
Steelers LB Keyaron Fox played four seasons with KC (2004-07).
Kansas City COO Mark Donovan, OL coach Bill Muir and CB Maurice Leggett were all born in Pittsburgh, PA.
Chiefs asst. OL coach Joe D’Alessandris is a native of Aliquippa, PA and coached at the University of Pittsburgh (’96).
Kansas City LB Tamba Hali played collegiately at Penn State.
KC asst. coach Nick Sirianni coached at Indiana (PA) from 2006-08.
Chiefs C/G Andy Alleman played collegiately at Pittsburgh.
PIT OL coach Larry Zierlein coached at Ft. Hayes State (’70-71).
Steelers C Justin Hartwig played at Kansas, while DE Ziggy Hood played at Missouri.
Pittsburgh K Jeff Reed was born in Kansas City, MO.

And with that, I am seriously considering going to bed now. I woke up at 2 AM this morning and for the life of me could not go back to sleep. That has to be one of the worst feelings in the world.

Vikings (6-0) @ Steelers (4-2) - Key Matchup #2 - Kevin Williams vs. Steelers Interior O-Line

Blitzburgh — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:42:30 -0000

What an exciting weekend of football ahead of fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings. Two of the NFL's most historic and storied franchises squaring off in an October showdown of teams with Super Bowl aspirations. I'm going to leave much of my analysis of the game for a bit later in the week, but I wanted to begin by laying out what some of the key matchups will be on both sides of the ball. From there, you all (and hopefully Vikings fans as well) jump in and lend your take(s). There's plenty of top shelf matchups in this one - both one-on-one as well as unit-against-unit.

We first looked at Jared Allen vs. Max Starks.

Let's now move on to another pivotal matchup - defensive tackle Kevin Williams vs. the interior offensive linemen of the Steelers (Chris Kemoeatu, Justin Hartwig, Trai Essex). Defensive end Jared Allen gets all the publicity for his sacks and entertaining personality, but it's really Kevin Williams (and to a lesser extent Pat these days) that do much of the heavy lifting for Minnesota's defense clogging up running lanes and collapsing the pocket up the middle so that Allen can do his thing on the perimeter. Collectively, they make one heckuva front-four.

There's more.

Kevin Williams vs. The Steelers Interior O-Line

Why highlight both guards and the center when talking about Kevin Williams? Well, as one of the two DTs in Minnesota's 4-3 defense, he might find himself lined up over all of them by game's end. Justin Hartwig will have to have an outstanding game helping both Essex and Kemoeatu at various stages in the game. And when he does help out on whichever side K. Williams is shaded to, the guard on the other side will have to rise up to the challenge against Pat Williams, the other imposing tackle for Minnesota.

The Willaims beasts in the middle (630 pounds between the two) are as good a run-stopping duo in all of football. Since 2005 when Pat left the Buffalo Bills via free agency to sign an incredibly lucrative free agent deal with the Vikings in 2005, Vikings have consistently been next to impossible to run the ball against. After finishing 2005 with the 19th ranked rush defense, the Vikings have led the league in fewest rushing yards allowed each of the past three years.

At 29 years of age, I don't think there's any debating that Kevin is the better of the two at this point. Pat is 36 on and on the downhill side of an extremely durable, productive and long career. But he's still good enough to give an offensive line like Pittsburgh's problems potentially. It certainly helps that this one will be at Heinz Field rather than in the deafening indoor Metro Dome. I also think that Pittsburgh's big eaters up front are playing with a lot of confidence right now. I try not to quantify phantom things like momentum and confidence too often, but I will here because I think it's imperative for an offensive line to be confident - at least mentally confident that they know the assignments of each and every position along the line. It's a lot easier to hold your own down there I'd imagine if you're at least not wasting precious time and focus thinking about your assignments.

Will the Steelers be able to get the run game going against the formidable duo in the middle? It's possible, if only because the Vikings might game plan predominantly for the Steelers passing attack while hoping/assuming that the Williamses will be able to clog running lanes well enough on their own. Perhaps more importantly, the interior of the Steelers offensive line must hold up in the passing game. The Steelers have struggled the most when the pocket has collapsed up the middle (think Tennessee and Philly games last year). And they've not generally been great against 4-3 defenses featuring two forces at defensive tackle. Will they be up to the challenge on Sunday of taking on one of the game's very best defensive duos in the trenches? We will see. Can't wait!

Go Steelers!

Poll

Pittsburgh will have ____ 100 yards of rushing on Sunday (Roethlisberger's total included).

Less than

1106 votes

More than

1175 votes

2281 votes | Poll has closed

Injury Report: Chargers @ Steelers

John (obviousman) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:57:21 -0000

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

2 months ago: Former New England Patriot and San Diego Charger linebacker Junior Seau, left, rides the Zamboni between periods of the Boston Bruins NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Boston, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

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San Diego Chargers

Out

Nick Hardwick, C (ankle)

Antwan Applewhite, OLB (hamstring)

Travis Johnson, DE (groin)

Questionable

Shawne Merriman, OLB (groin)

Probable

Antoine Cason, CB (groin)

Mike Scifres, P (groin)

LaDainian Tomlinson, HB (ankle)

Louis Vasquez, G (knee)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Out

David Johnson, TE (ankle)

Troy Polamalu, S (knee)

Doubtful

Willie Parker, RB (toe)

Probable

Justin Hartwig, C (ankle)

Matt Spaeth, TE (hip)

Keiwan Ratliff, CB (illness)

It's such a shame to see Travis Johnson and Antwan Applewhite not able to get on the field. These are role players that could've made a splash this season, as they were both due to get at least some time on the field, but instead are becoming an afterthought for the team.

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.

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.

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.