SB Nation User Blog: 5020

City Of Champions!

5020 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:04:18 -0000

I just returned from seeing the Familia in the City Of Champions. For those that no longer reside in the 'Burgh, Penguin Fever is still at an all time high. The Steelers are always on everyone's mind and at the end of the month they will all assemble in Latrobe in pursuit of Lombardi 7. I simply can't wait for that.

The Strip has been turned into one giant Penguin/Steelers store with tables and booths lining the streets with everything Penguin or Steelers up for purchase. The most popular item seemed to be the "On ice or grass Pittsburgh kicks ass!" tee shirt. Even my Cali cousins (along for the reunion trip home) had to purchase these for themselves and their kids.

I was sent the following video on You Tube and wanted to share it with everyone. It's a real tear jerker so have plenty of tissues handy. If it didn't link just copy and paste and you will get there. "Here We Go!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRG61OhMwqI&feature=player_embedded

Big Ben Tweaks Knee

5020 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:03:48 -0000

Stories out of Pittsburgh mini camp say Big Ben tweaked his knee pretty bad. Reports say he was limping pretty badly but trainer John Norwig reported there appears to be no damage.

Sure hope Big Ben is ok and didn't do anything to hinder his ability to get on the field for the Steelers in 2009. We need Big Ben as much or more than any other player on the roster. I personally can't think of anyone that would be more irreplaceable. Link to Post Gazette story below;

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09154/974722-100.stm

Who Is The Best NFL Team Of The Y2K Decade?

5020 — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:20:42 -0000

Bumped from the Fanposts. An excellent dog days of the NFL offseason article and conversation starter by one of BTSC's stalwart die hard football fanatics. Good stuff and nicely written as usual from 5020. Cheers. -Blitz-

***********

The Rams started out as the team to beat for “Team of the Decade” status in 2000. With an exciting Super Bowl win against the Titans featuring a late shoe string tackle by Mike Jones (who would go on to play (or not play) for the Steelers) The Rams featured Dick Vermeil as Head Coach and “The Greatest Show on Turf” offense led by Arena League refugee Kurt Warner. The Rams seemed poised to win half a dozen Lombardi’s but as so often happens in the NFL (except in Pittsburgh and New England) front office instability helped lead to their downfall. Vermeil retired. Offensive guru but decision and motivationally challenged Mike Martz took over. The Rams were upset by the New England Patriots* in 2002 after a Raven title in 2001. Warner was jettisoned.

The New England victory in 2002 at the Louisiana Super Dome marked the resurgence of the next challenger to “Team of the Decade” status. The Pats* stunning season led them to Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship game against Bill Cowher, Kordell Stewart and the Pittsburgh Steelers who had been looking for their one for the thumb throughout Cowher’s tenure in the 90’s. In the game, the Steelers D knocked Tom Brady out of the game and the Pats* were sparked by Drew Bledsoe and a clutch special teams squad which upended the Steelers 24-17 on route to their first Lombardi in club history and first championship of the Y2K decade. The Steelers had their chances late in the game but 2 interceptions by Slash Stewart in the last 3 minutes of the game sealed the Steelers fate. Were the Patriots* using film and stealing the Steelers signals? At times it sure seemed that way but thanks to Roger Goodell burning all the evidence we will probably never know.

The Patriots* turned dynasty, cheating or not over the next few years staking claim to “Team of the Decade” and making a push for “Team of the Ages.” Brady seemed unflappable and unstoppable. Belicheat* had a counter move for every move. An exciting last minute 32-29 win over Carolina in 2003 and another exciting and tight 24-21 win against Donovan McNabb’s Eagles in 2004 seemed to cement the Pats* status as the best of Y2K and conversation began about if they were as good or better than the 60’s Packers, the 70’s Steelers or the 80’s 49ers.

Then from the ashes of the 2004 AFC Championship game came a new challenger from the city of Steel. Bill Cowher’s Steelers made an improbable ride on the road and on the emotion of getting Jerome Bettis home to Detroit for his last Bus ride. When Belicheat*s Pats* fell to Denver in a flurry of turnovers the stage was set for Pittsburgh to get the elusive one for the thumb. After pummeling Carson Palmer and the Bungles and then upsetting the heavily favored and once 13-0 Colts the Steelers beat Denver handily at Mile High and behind 3 big plays beat the Seattle Seahawks on February 5, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit 21-10 for the last Bus stop.

Rather than buckle down like the 70’s Steelers this band of Black & Gold road warriors partied like there was no tomorrow. After QB and leader Ben Roethlisberger almost killed himself in a helmet-less motorcycle crash it was downhill. Peyton Manning won his elusive title in February 2007 and New England reestablished themselves in the 2007 regular season with an unmatched 17-0 record plus 2 playoff victories. Dynasty status and Y2K laurels seemed destiny. Then a crazy thing happened to the Pats* on the way to the coronation. Swirling controversy over the Belicheat* tapes met the charged up New York Giants. The Giants came out swinging and staggered the Patriots* with a 17-14 Super Bowl win (the Pats* 3rd Lombardi loss in franchise history) to stop the dynasty talk.

In 2008 regular season the Pittsburgh Steelers were retooled under the direction of young Mike Tomlin. Led by Elway like QB Ben Roethlisberger and one of the greatest defenses the league had ever seen the Pittsburgh Steelers charged to Super Bowl XLIII on February 1st 2008. They beat the Arizona Cardinals and their comeback QB Kurt Warner (see the 2000 Rams) 27-23 in one of the most exciting Super Bowl’s of all time. The Steelers now have 2 Lombardi titles in the last 4 years and are poised to challenge for a 3rd in 2009. Another Super Bowl title in XLIV will create a huge argument for “Team of the Y2K Decade” with Steel City fans pitted against chowder heads. One simple way to stamp the Steelers ticket would be to beat New England in the AFC Championship game this season on route to the “Stairway to Seven.” In my opinion, a Pittsburgh Super Bowl title over the bodies of the Patriots* this season gives Pittsburgh the title of “Team of the Decade.” It’s a long road. There are games to play. Injuries to avoid. Unforeseen challenges to conquer. But in the dog days of summer with Latrobe still in the distance now is the time to hope and dream. Hopefully for the Steelers now is the time to train. Here We Go Steelers!

Flyin' Hawaiian?

5020 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:11:41 -0000

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune the Steelers are looking at free agent wide reciever Ashley Lelie and talking to his agent about a contract. Lelie from down the freeway in Bellflower CA attended Hawaii. Steeler fans might remember him as a Denver Bronco who caught a long TD pass in the AFC Championship in 2005 drawing Denver closer.

With the Steelers drafting Wallace, and Sweed and Baker and Nance on the roster I wonder if the Steelers are just talking to Lelie or they are really interested. It's possible the Steelers FO isn't as enamored with Nance and Baker as some on this thread. If they sign him (I don't see how with little cap room) that would be the case. Link below. Thoughts?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_622571.html

Steelers Sign LB

5020 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:27:31 -0000

Interestingly enough, the Steelers came to terms with back up LB and special teams ace Andre Frazier today. Details of the contract below.

I did not see this happening thinking they would concentrate on getting 92 signed and saw they were talking to Fox again. Obviously the Steelers like to go into the draft covered with no real needs. This helps them not have to draft a LB. I also think this means Fox may not be back.

Regarding 92, I believe he will play for his current salary in 09 and then play with a franchise tag in 10, In 2011 he will be a 33 year old FA LB and will probably get a payday with some other 3/4 team looking to make a splash. By then the Steelers will need all their money and cap space to get Timmons and Woodley signed.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_615763.html

Chamionship Caliber TEAM

5020 — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:59:33 -0000

A team for the ages played a game for the ages. It featured a comeback for the ages. Joe Montana, Bill Mazeroski, Rocky Balboa, John Wayne…Ben Roethlisberger.

In 2004 at Dallas Texas Stadium I witnessed a rookie named Ben Roethlisberger lead the Steelers on an improbable comeback with 2 minutes left to beat the Cowboys. At that moment we all knew. The Steelers had a special Quarterback. For the first time since Terry Bradshaw retired, we knew that the guy with the keys to the car could drive it all the way home. All the way to the Promised Land. The entire Steelers Nation knew it. Now, the talking network heads that berated Benny for holding the ball and taking too many sacks know it too. Last night in XLIII was just another in a long line of chapters (19 to be exact) of Benny riding to the rescue in the forth quarter. Kudos to the front office for getting Ben in the 04 draft. He was the best QB available. More kudos to the front office for getting the best WR in the 06 draft in Holmes. They also got the best TE in the 05 draft in Miller. Then when Bill Cowher retired, the front office got the best coach available. Not Ken Whisenhunt and not Russ Grimm. That man is a motivator and communicator named Mike Tomlin. That was a very impressive hire and another in a long line of great moves by the front office.

All season long if it wasn’t DeShea Townsend with the pick 6 to beat Dallas it was Troy Polamalu burying Baltimore with a Championship ending INT TD. When the “Championship Caliber” defense let the team down for the first time all year with 2 and a half minutes to go the beleaguered offense stepped up to the challenge. Santonio Holmes reportedly told Ben in the huddle “Get me the ball. I want to make a play for you.” Ben did and Santonio made several, all the way down the field. He saved his best for last. A spectacular “John Taylor” like tip toe catch in triple coverage off a frozen rope from Benny the gunslinger. TD. Super Bowl. 6 time Champions. Not just a championship caliber defense, a championship caliber team. Resilient. Whichever phase needed to step up did. Holmes HUGE punt return TD against SD. Polamalu and the D against Baltimore in the AFCCG. Ben and the offense driving 80 plus yards with 2 minutes left for the ring clinching score. Resilient. Working On A Dream.

The offense was led by Big Ben; Godsend. While the Offense struggled (as it has all year) with play calling inside the 10 and Hines Ward injury, they got it done at crunch time. Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger came up big when the chips were down. Great players make great plays to win big games. As stated previously, with this O line, there is no other QB in the NFL I would want leading our team other than Big Ben. Not Brady, not Manning, not Warner. Santonio Holmes made up for indiscretions earlier in this year and has solidified himself in Steelers lore and as the top WR and playmaker on this Steelers team. Hines Ward trained him well. Like Bettis trained FWP. This is why the Steelers are always competitive. The older leaders teach the “Steeler Way” to the young guys.

The defense was immovable for 3 quarters holding the explosive AZ offense to one TD. James Harrison played like a man possessed bringing back memories of 58, Jack Lambert. While in today’s game, punching an opponent usually gets one ejected Deebo intimidated, tackled, hit and punched his way to a title. His 100-yard INT TD return was simply one of the most spectacular plays in Super Bowl history. Rumbling, bumbling, stumbling and finally tumbling into the end zone at the end of the half Harrison took away an almost guaranteed AZ lead and turned it into a 17-7 Steelers lead. It was a fitting prologue to the Boss version of Born To Run at halftime. Lamar Woodley is an animal. He is averaging 2 sacks a game in 4 career playoff games. Great players make great plays to win big games. Woodley’s sack of Warner and forced fumble ended any shot at a Hail Mary from Warner to the fantastic Fitzgerald. The WR from Pitt gave fits to the Steelers secondary all during the forth quarter. Ike Taylor was burned from one side of the field to the other and became so frustrated he took a 15-yard personal foul on the AZ sideline swinging at the Cards. As hapless as Bruce Arians play calling was all night (the Steelers biggest plays were again when Ben improvised) the Cards could be second guessed for not lining up in the shot gun from the first quarter on and throwing every down. It worked in the forth quarter pretty well.

And while the defense almost blew a 13-point forth quarter lead, the Steelers were lucky to have had the eleventh pick in the 2004 draft where they picked big number 7 at QB. Riding to the rescue with the cavalry was Big Ben in the biggest moment of the biggest game in front of the biggest audience. The guy is not Brady. He is not Manning. He is just a winner. As long as the Steelers suit up with Ben at QB they will always be in the hunt for the Lombardi. Hope Ben stays of his motorcycle this off-season and comes to Latrobe in July healthy. If he does, the Steelers have a great shot at a repeat. One for the other thumb is now a reality. Need to get the other fingers started next year. Glory Days Steeler Nation!

"A" Game

5020 — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:12:05 -0000

Watching XL on NFLN as we speak. Steelers are down 3-0 in the second quarter. Seahawks have had the best of the Steelers through the air early but several penalties hurt them (End zone push and hold on a big PR) and Stevens dropped a 20 yard gain on 3rd and 2. Steelers come out nervous and get 2 false start penalties on the first drive.

This 08 defense has been better than that 05 one. At XLIII in Tampa, AZ will come through the air if they are smart. I have watched virtually every snap of Steelers football since 73. The teams that beat this particular derivative of Steelers football (02 thru present) were those Gannon, Brady teams that spread them out and passed on them 50 times. Warner, Fitz, AB & the kid from Woodland Hills High in Pittsburgh (Breaston) are better than the Cry Hawks WR at XL. Our current D is better than 05. It has been called Championship Caliber by a very intelligent Steelers blogger. This D needs to prove that true on Sunday. Prove It All Night. This D needs to bring it’s A game or we will be in trouble.

The DB are some of the best I have seen since the 70’s. With Troy, Clarke, Ike, 26, 20 and even Gay they are deep. When the catch is made they have to punish AZ WR. Speaking of punishing, the LB corps will need to punish. We have said the LB are the strength of the team since Latrobe. They need to be a strength on Sunday. They will need contributions from Deebo, Wood, Potsy, Foote and Timmons. These 5 need to get in Warner’s face and knock him down…repeatedly. LBs Bailey, Fox and Frazier must also dominate on ST. Up front they will need solid play and hopefully a couple splash plays. I’m counting on Snack and Mr. Aaron Smith but they could come from anywhere. They all need to watch for the flea. Prove It All Night.

The offense needs to bring it’s A game on Sunday. The 05 Steelers I am watching down to the Cry Hawks 3-0 with 7 minutes to play in the half at XL have shown to be a better O unit than the one we’ve seen this year. Hines was healthy in 05 and the MVP of this game. We had an RB that was a Bus. FWP would break a big 75 yard run. These 05 Steelers were Born To Run. Whiz ran wild.

I can’t see how Ben can’t be better this year in XLIII. He made big plays at XL but was inconsistent. He will need to be HUGE and lead us to victory at XLIII. No turnovers on O increases the probability that we get to 6. Ben will be harassed and going against coaches that know/knew him. He needs to be smart. His O line needs to protect him. His O line needs to open some holes for FWP & MM and Russell will need to pick up a big first down. Heath will need to be a key in the run game and a key in the pass game. 10 & 85 will need to pick it up in case The 86 Marine Division is only a decoy. Sweed needs to catch the freaking ball. Pick up third downs and control the clock and you increase the chances to get 6. Arians will need to use every bit of wisdom he has gathered in his 50 plus years to outwit Whiz, Grimm and Haley and get the Steelers to The Promised Land.

Well, Big Ben has just hit a HUGE third and twenty seven to The Marine and then rumbled in a yard for the TD. Steelers up 7-3 at halftime of their “One For The Thumb” at XL. Can’t wait for FWP going 75 in half 2. Can’t wait for the Steelers to bring their A game and get “One For The Other Thumb” the Big Number 6 for Sixburgh this Sunday at XLIII. It’s time to be able to add another DVD to the collection. Starring the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers. Forever in the lore of NFL History as the kings of 08 and the Champions of XLIII. Glory Days! As Chick Hearn would say “It’s Nervous Time At The Forum.”

Kicking & Screaming

5020 — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:25:34 -0000

Excuse me if I don’t use phrases like “this team is special” and “Championship Caliber Defense” just yet. Oh, I’m coming along for the ride to Tampa fellow Steeler Nation. I’m on the bandwagon. I’m just coming along kicking and screaming.

My fellow blogger Blitz texted me last night “time to start believing” about the same time Troy Polamalu intercepted the BrownRavens hopes and dreams and put the game in the fridge. Yes, the Jell-O was jiggling, the light was out and the butter was getting hard. The Steelers had earned a trip to Super Bowl 43 after playing the toughest schedule the NFL schedule makers could possibly dole out. They earned a trip to Tampa with an Offensive Coordinator whose game planning and scheming can be down right offensive. As can the play of their offensive line. As can the kicking of their 3rd punter of the year, a 40 plus couch potato with brittle hamstrings but a long NFL career behind him. They earned the trip to Super Bowl 43 and are favored against the Cinderella Cardinals from AZ with a big play QB named Ben and a ferocious defense and I am coming along…kicking and screaming.

You see fellow Nation, I am a child of the 70’s. I was a 9 year old huddled around a transistor radio listening to the famous first Steelers playoff game in Pittsburgh in 1972 that ended in an Immaculate Reception. I was 11 when Franco rumbled for 158 and the Steel Curtain came crashing down on Scrambling Fran and the Purple People Eaters. Through the 70’s I thought it was my birthright that the Steelers would go to the Super Bowl and win. Noll’s boys had that effect on a young boy’s psyche growing up in Pittsburgh in the mid 70’s. Then it ended. As Noll would say to the old vets, they all got on with their life’s work. That’s where today’s psyche was formed.

Like Moses, I wandered through the desert for the next 26 years. I saw Jack Splat forced out by a toe. Bradshaw eliminated by a botched surgery on his elbow. Then after a brief glimpse of the next Mean Joe Greene I was awakened to find 270 pound Senior Sack Gabe Rivera ejected out the back window of a 280Z never to walk again. Hard times filled with heartbreak those 26 years in the desert were as I searched for the Promised Land. Cliff the Stiff Stoudt, Mark Malone, Scott Campbell, David Woodley…A young upstart named Bubby Brister said “Yes We Can” years before Obama. This brash boy from Louisiana (see Bradshaw) actually got a team that started the season losing 92-10 to the playoffs where a future hall of famer Rod Woodson torpedoed the Oilers in Houston with a “Heavenly Hit” sending the young Steelers to Denver in search of one for the thumb. I believed again! In Denver Worley and Hoge punished the Orange Crush and the Steelers led late into the night. John Elway ended that dream which died when an exhausted rookie Dermontti Dawson took himself out of the last drive to catch some air and a backup Center hiked the pigskin into Brister’s feet for a fumble. Heartbreak in Denver.

More heartbreak and broken promises followed in the 90’s. Noll was gone but young and fiery Pittsburgh boy Bill Cowher returned the Steelers to prominence. With a ferocious defense led by names like Lloyd, Green, Kirkland, Lake and Woodson the team seemed destined to get the Nation one for the thumb. Alas a QB named O’Donnell would have none of that. He lost to the Bills in 92 at home. He put up only 13 points in an AFC Championship game against SD in 94. He single handedly tried to squash our hopes again in 95 putting up another 13 points in the AFC Title game (at home again) against the Colts. Ernie “Money” Mills bailed him out with a circus catch along the sideline at the 3-yard marker late in the 4th and Bam Morris plowed in to punch our long awaited ticket to Paradise. First we had to wait out a heart stopping “Hail Mary” from Harbaugh. In AZ O’Donnell crushed our hearts with 3 INT and a loss to the hated Cowboys. The ghosts of Swann and Stallworth must have been turning over in their graves even though they weren’t dead. More heartbreak. Kordell Stewart led similar scenarios later in the 90’s and into the new millennium with flameouts at home against Denver and New England in games the Steelers were favored. Still can’t believe we didn’t ride a young Bus named Bettis in the 97 title game instead of scatter armed Stewart and his 3 INT. Cowher finally got us our one for thumb but only after another flameout in 04 against the cheating Pats* and hiring a Whiz at Offensive Coordinator.

So here we are Nation, on the brink again. We are going to Tampa with a “special” team and a “Championship” caliber defense. I’m with you. I’m just not as positive and dreamy eyed as all of you. I’ve had a hard life in the desert with this team I love and this Nation I am a part of. Every week since 80 has seemed like root canal at the dentist. I’ve had my heart broken a thousand Sunday’s. I’m with you though and I’m coming along. I’m just coming along kicking and screaming.

The Whis

5020 — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:26:55 -0000

Hey BTSC! Happy New Year. Sorry I haven't been able to post much lately. Me and the girlfriend bought each other Akita puppies for the Holidays. I didn't realize how my life was going to change! No time for anything as I watch my 10 week old Samurai 24/7. She's doing the same around the corner with Sam's sister from the litter Muki. Utmost respect to all the "real" parents out there. Can't wait until the puppies are a bit older and I can get back to some semblance of the wonderful life I had.

In between separating the 2 dogs I caught the games yesterday. Felt the Titans weren't all that and wondered if we would get a shot at them after they disrespected the TT. Guess karma caught up with fat LenDale. What really impressed me yesterday was Ken Whisenhunt. He was one of the few Steelers OC I actually liked. Congrats to the Whiz, who now has 2 more Playoff wins than Coach T.

That brings me to my point. Today's game against the Chargers will be a brawl. I will be rooting for our Steelers to get a W (3-2 baby!) and advance. You may disagree but there is pressure on Coach Tomlin to get this done. Get a W and it is vindication for the Rooney's for passing on Ken Whisenhunt and hiring the unknown Tomlin. This is Tomlin's biggest test. HUGE. Two home playoff losses in two years is not the stuff of legends. While I was happy with his first year (10-6 and a playoff appearence) and happy with his second (vast improvement in pass rush and specal teams and a 12-4 record) it all comes down to January wins. Whisenhunt 2 Tomlin 0 (for now) Hoping the Steelers come to play with their A game. Hoping they don't turn it over and play solid D and ST. Hoping they bring vindication to the owners, the city and the Steelers Nation. Here We Go Steelers!

This Defense

5020 — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:12:36 -0000

This Defense is real good. "Playoff Caliber" I was fond of saying and writing. "Championship Caliber" says Blitzburgh. Now he has me singing his tune. The coming weeks will speak volumes on what is the truth and what is dreams, but damn this Defense is good.

The Steel Curtain will forever be the greatest Defense my eyes ever saw. For what seemed like my entire youth (6 years to be exact) legends called Mean Joe, Jack Splat, Hollywood Bags, Fats, Dobre Shunka, Pine, The Headhunter and Mad Dog decimated opposition offenses with ferociousness, showing no mercy. In 1976 the Defense posted 5 shutouts and 2 games of only 3 points each over the last 9 games to turn 1-4 into 10-4 and a playoff berth.4 Super Bowl titles intertwined within 1976.

The 90's gave birth to LeBeau's brain child. A Defense that gave me that warm safe feeling of sure victory that came with youth in the 90's. Blitzburgh (the defense) featured big play machines Woodson, Lake, Lloyd and Kevin Greene along with boulders like Kirkland, Seals and Steed. Neil O'Donnell cheated them out of their rightful place in Steeler history as the bringers of "one for the thumb" by only putting up 13 points in the 94 AFCCG and then tossing millions to Dallas DB Larry Brown in XXX.

A great article on the Steelers 2008 edition of Blitzburgh at ESPN Page 2 by David Fleming. I enclosed the link below. Get ready for the goose bumps. Get ready for some history? Here We Go!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=fleming/081217&sportCat=nfl