SB Nation User Blog: 5020

Packer Knows Pizza

5020 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:01:44 -0000

Many of you have seen me post a shout out to my buddies Giuseppe and his son Mike Aiello of Aiello's Pizza in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. Out here in So Cal where good pizza is scarce I always venture into Aiello's on my annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Heinz) for a game. The steak hoagie rocks and the pizza is world class.

Packers Head Coach and Alldredice High alumni Mike McCarthy also is a HUGE Aiello's fan and has supposedly ordered 60 pizza's and hoagies for the Packers trip home from Pittsburgh Sunday night. While I hope Tomlin knows more football than Pittsburgh boy Mike McCarthy and can guide the Steelers to a W it is clear Coach McCarthy and Coach Tomlin both know their pizza. Make sure to visit Aiello's on your next trip to Pittsburgh and tell Joe and Mike that 50 sent you. The video accompanying the article will make your mouth water. 50 swears.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/22008414/detail.html

Ryan Clark Calls Out Fans & Media

5020 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:21:22 -0000

I guess it's pretty frustrating to go from the Super Bowl to missing the playoffs. In the midst of a 5 game losing streak and with terms in the local papers like "losers" being used to describe their play Steeler S Ryan Clark lashed out today. Apparently a letter from a fan is the straw that broke the camels back. Clark posted it on the Steelers bulletin board but the FO PR people took it down before the media could see it. As the Steelers World turns...

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09350/1021511-100.stm

Turn Out The Lights

5020 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:31:18 -0000

“Turn out the lights, the parties over” Don Meredith used to sing on Monday Night Football. NBA’s Charles Barkley simply photo shops a fishing hat and gear onto an athlete to let you know his season’s over.
While the Steelers have 3 games to play, their chances of a Lombardi repeat are all but officially over. Time to turn out the lights, send the party guests home and grab the fishing reel. Let’s head for Lake Erie. Then again, maybe not.

Lake Erie was the frozen tundra and the Steelers offense was frozen in neutral most of the night. In one of the most telling signs of the team not being able to get out of their own way, the Coaching staff called an inexplicable time out killing late Steelers momentum and handing the Browns their first win over the Steelers in eons.
With 2:40 to play, the Steelers were finally driving. With the Brown defense on their heels and gasping for air the Steelers scored a first down in Brown territory with the clock ticking and promptly called a time out. From there, out of the no-huddle with the offensive coaching staff free to add their two cents late in a losing game it became 3rd and 19. I am at a loss to explain the time out. Like the Steelers.

The defense gave up a couple big plays on the frozen field but only 13 points and not time of possession. Only one sack and no turnovers forced from Brady Quinn spelled doom with the “inept” play of the offense. The tackling looked shoddy with James Farrior repeatedly burned on the edge for crucial first downs and Carter and Clark missing tackles in the secondary. Timmons whiffed on a couple sacks and Quinn looked like Otto Graham at times. Ike Taylor looked very disinterested. I did like Joe Burnett the rookie. He got a little playing time from William Gay (maybe every third series?) and seemed to be around the ball.

The offense is an enigma. With 2 Super Bowl MVPs lined up at WR, a two time Lombardi winner at QB and capable Heath Miller, Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall, more was expected of this offense. With no offensive identity and no real attacking game plan the Steelers run hot and cold. They wait for the no huddle offense or the big play. On a frigid night by Lake Erie there were no big plays coming. With no ability or determination by the coaches to grind it out the Steelers were stuck in neutral and managed a blustery 3 points in each half. The O line was completely dominated by the Cleveland front 7 who sacked Roethlisberger an Eagle like 8 times. The linemen looked confused. Zierlein and Arians made no adjustments. The Steelers will get no playoff games.

Some Steelers appeared to quit on their head coach yesterday. The game against Green Bay in 10 days is the true test of Tomlin’s young career. Will the team give him a 100% effort through season’s end as Cowher got in a couple losing years? I think the Steelers will give a better effort. Regardless this team was not built to go all the way. Too many injuries, turnovers and points left on the field led to a sub 500 record. Maybe with the draft in April we can reload with some better athletes picking in the middle of each round instead of at the end. Maybe we can sign some free agents that will contribute and hire an offensive coordinator that will test Ben and make him better instead of being his friend and letting him help design the game plan. If nothing else we have 2008. Last one out turn off the lights...

Madden Disses Tomlin

5020 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:56:56 -0000

Is Mike Tomlin the next Jon Gruden? Did Mike Tomlin get lucky inheriting a bunch of Bill Cowher's players fresh off a Lombardi and win one with Chin Music? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, once they became Gruden's team ended up in the "toilet" barked Madden. Will the Steelers have the same fate as the Steelers become Tomlin's team Madden seems to ask?

Mark Madden doesn't admit to thinking these things and he reports others are saying this. I haven't seen this stated anywhere in the local or national media outlets so I assume they are Madden's thoughts. I personally think Madden is a buffoon.

I like Coach T. He is an up and comer still growing into the role. He did inherit some good players. That is testimony to the greatness of the Steelers front office. To me aside from a couple on field mistakes (like the decision to kick a FG from 53 on Sunday) Coach T's biggest mistake was to let BA stumble all over the field waiting for Ben to pull it out. We got lucky and caught all the breaks last year. This year has been a different story. Madden link below;

http://www.wxdx.com/pages/supergenius.html

3 HUGE Plays

5020 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:57:15 -0000

In any game there are a myriad of plays that had they gone differently, the outcome could have been changed. To me there were 3 HUGE plays that spelled defeat for the Steelers last night. The first two were in regulation with the defense on the field and the third was in OT with the offense on the field. Typical of the Steelers season, there were 3 times (at least) that the game was right there to be taken and the Steelers shrunk from the spotlight.

1) 3rd and 22 for the BrownRavens deep in the 4th quarter. If someone on defense steps up and makes a play there, the game is over. To me this was the play of the game. If we force an incomplete or tackle someone after a short gain, then Baltimore would be forced to punt on 3rd and 20 with 3 minutes left. Steelers could have ground out the clock and tucked away the W. Instead the porous secondary allows ancient Derrick Mason a HUGE 17 yard pass completion.

2) 4th and 5 for the BrownRavens deep in the 4th quarter. This play has been discussed ad naseum in some other posts. Seeing Farrior on Rice, Flacco knows he will be open. Clarke and Carter whiff on the tackles and Rice is deep inside Steelers territory and after a FG the game is tied. Don't know what other DBs were lined up for the Steelers on the play that could have taken Rice? Farrior or any other LB is not hanging with Rice on 4th and 5 without a chip at the line.

3) With the Steelers holding the ball at midfield in OT on 2nd and 6 even Chris Collinsworth is begging for an innovative and creative play from BA and Dennis Dixon to move the Steelers into FG range and a major upset. The Steelers choose to throw a bomb down the sideline instead of exploiting Dixon's speed and legs which have already burned the BrownRavens for runs of 24 and 40. Or how about that nifty Mewelde Moore halfback toss for a big gain? On the next play Dixon is intercepted and the ball is returned into FG range. Steelers earn another L.

Who Do We Think We Are?

5020 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:33:59 -0000

I was called out last week for stating that the Steelers are no worse off after their loss to KC as they were after their loss to Cincinnati. The main point of the post was not that the Steelers hadn’t blown a HUGE opportunity to get back in the race for the AFC North Title or sew up a wild card berth but that the Steelers are who they are.

Currently the Steelers are an under performing group of under achievers. They give away points with their defense on the sideline with the regularity of a Metamucil user. The once vaunted “Championship Caliber” defense of 2008 gives up third down conversions at an alarming 40% clip and regularly disappears in the 4th quarter. The QB mistakes go for touchdowns not just change in ball possession. The offensive game plan is to put the QB in the no-huddle and wait for the “big play.” The coverage units are embarrassing and in the same league as once was the University Of Pittsburgh. (Funny how the ST coordinator is one in the same) Punts and kickoffs are regularly returned in huge chunks of yardage. Tackles are few and far between. The Steelers in the post KC loss reality are still chasing a wild card spot as they were after the second loss against Cincinnati. The Steelers are who they are.

Sunday night in Baltimore is not “make it or break it” for the season but we are getting there. If Baltimore treats Ben Roethlisberger as they did in the 2006 game it could be a break it game for Benny’s career and future mental abilities. Don’t kid yourselves. Suggs or no Suggs, Murderin’ Ray and his band of fired up psychopath defenders will be hard charging at Benny’s skull. It is never more imperative for the offensive line to step up and protect their leader from harm than now. If the Steelers can get a performance of the year from this group of 5 I like the Steelers chances on Sunday night at Baltimore to change their personality and who I think they are. If they don’t I fear for Ben Roethlisberger’s health.

I love the run game and am a HUGE proponent of it. That said the Steelers have very rarely been able to run on this Baltimore defense. It is for that reason that while I want the Steelers to continue (or begin to BA!) to pound the rock on the ground, the Steelers chances of coming up with a W are squarely on the abilities of the offensive line, the shoulders of the defense and the right arm of one Ben Roethlisberger. Like the games last year it is up to Ben to find some time to get the ball to his wide outs Ward, Holmes and Wallace and look for the big play. It is important if the Steelers receiver finds himself alone in the end zone that he catches the ball. It is also very important that the Steelers protect the football like it was their last meal, which it could be if they don’t protect their QB. But, so far the Steelers are who they are.

In the end the Steelers have made their road to the 2009 playoffs much harder than it needed to be. This game on Sunday in Baltimore has been an L on many of our schedules since it came out. Being that the KC game and at least one Cincinnati game were W’s this L is not cast in stone. With an L the Steelers will be 6-5 and farther back in their wild card chase with the division title a pipe dream. But, protect the ball and protect Ben and stop Flacco on 3rd downs then this game could come down to the wire. The last few years the BrownRavens have been forced to come to Pittsburgh for a nationally televised evening game and been handed their heads in Pittsburgh. Baltimore lobbied the league office to move that game to Baltimore this year. The league has obliged. The BrownRavens will be seething and ready. Their fans will be loud and intimidating. Are the Steelers ready for prime time? We will see if the Steelers are ready to turn the page and garner a new personality for 2009. Like the Bear game in the 2005 snow, this is a great chance for the Steelers to stop being who they are and begin to be who they want to be.

Keisel The Diesel

5020 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:41:02 -0000

Great article on Brett Keisel in the Pittsburgh Tribune this morning singing his praises for his 2009 performance thus far. Have to agree with Farrior's assessment that this is 99s best year since he joined the Steelers. In Aaron Smith's absence it is also HUGE of Brett to step up.

Always a big game player I will never forget Keisel's contributions on special teams as wedge buster early in his career. Then a couple big sacks at Denver in a HUGE AFCCG game victory in 2005 and his clinching recovery in XLIII cemented his status in Steelers lore. I was inspired to log on and vote for Brett Keisel for Pro Bowl honors. I am glad the Steelers extended him. Link below;

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_654109.html

Bungles No More

5020 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:40:16 -0000

The Steelers propensity for giving up points with the defense NOT on the field continued yesterday at Heinz Field where the Bengals swept the season series against the Steelers with an 18-12 victory. The Steelers 2009 personality seems to be to give the opponent points while LeBeau’s bunch is on the sideline. Whether a Ben pick-6 for 6 or a punt or kickoff return the Steelers are regularly giving up free points to opponents who are using these points to beat the Steelers. At 6-3 the season is far from over but the Steelers chances for an easy road to the playoffs is over and their chances for a home playoff game are virtually nil.

Yesterday Ben Roethlisberger had his worst day of 2009 and Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians had his typical “I wish I had a game plan or a clue” game. Inexplicably the Steelers failed to run the ball with any conviction. Dropped passes, over thrown passes and missed 3rd down opportunities spelled doom for the Steelers TD less offense. Too many empty set backfield plays on 1st down or 2nd and short leading to 3rd and long. Too much of a mish mash incongruent game plan presented by Bruce Arians for the Steelers to put any consistency together. Horrid play calls in the red zone only added to the frustration. Do the Steelers have a play that will work at the goal line? Can someone ask Ken Whisenhunt for a copy of the 2005 playbook?

In a repeat of 2005 the Steelers have lost a home game to the Bengals for possession of 1st place in the AFC North and are now looking up at virtually every playoff team in the AFC. The O line looked a bit like the O line that played for the Steelers last year in Philly and against the New York Giants. A pitiful display in which Max Starks and Willie Colon took turns with the Guards not blocking blitzing Bengals and allowing them in Roethlisberger’s face moments after snap. The receivers failed to get open. When they did, Ben misfired or they dropped the ball. In another repeat of 2005 the Steelers got Willie Parker the ball. Once for a 7-yard run. Mendenhall had a robust 13 carries. Surely not enough to get in a groove and impose your will and game plan on the opposition.

The defense was stout and good as usual but failed to come up with any splash plays. It’s hard to find fault with a unit that really only gave up 9 points yesterday and kept Chad 85 and Ced Benson in check. Yet with the game on the line, James Harrison took a senseless 15-yard penalty and the Bengals ate up plays, yardage and points in the waning minutes of a close game. Something Bruce Arians and the Steelers failed to do on either of their last two one-minute possessions at the 7 minute mark and again at the 2 minute warning. Bengal offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski (a Cowher and Whis disciple) calmly ran off 9 and 11 play drives late in the game to ice the Steelers and garner another victory for the Bengals. If only BA could get a glimpse of that Bratkowski game plan where you run and pass with equal vigor perhaps the Steelers could show some semblance of a consistent well-honed offense.

Losing Troy Polamalu yesterday really hurt and I hope he is back soon. The 3 games the Steelers have lost have all featured a defense sans Troy. He may have given the defense the “splash play” it so badly needed yesterday to thwart defeat. One place Troy Polamalu can’t help even if healthy is on special teams.

The Bengal special teams unit missed a field goal yesterday and missed an extra point. Yet they were the most competent of the special teams units on the field. The Steelers for the 3rd time in 4 games gave up a KR TD costing them valuable points. This time it came back to beat them as it provided the margin of victory and possibly the margin of the AFC North title. I have posted on these pages before that Tomlin's lack of demand for "style points" would cost them games in January and February. That's if this unstylish team gets to January beyond the 3rd. On kickoffs, Jeff Reed kicks it short and the Steelers fail to run down and tackle. When the returner gets passed everyone on the Steelers unit and Reed is left, he simply “oh-lays” the runner like a bullfighter to the bull and it’s off to the races for our opponents. There have been several less than adequate attempts at a tackle by Skippy this year. Perhaps someone should tell him the KR is really a towel dispenser at a Sheetz? Perhaps it’s time to insert Timmons and Harrison on these units? In addition, as much as I liked the idea of Stephan Logan (and he has done an ok job so far) he simply has not broke a KR or PR yet and is hurting them on kick return defense. Perhaps it’s time to go get Anthony Madison back or activate Donovan Woods?

All in all it is not all lost yet. The Steelers can still win out and take the AFCN. Another scenario is a bunch of wins and a wild card spot where the Steelers can go road warrior like 2005. KC will be a tough game as they all are. At any rate, the repeat just got a lot harder and the Steelers don’t look very special at this point of the season. They look good, but not in the class of New Orleans, New England, Indianapolis….or the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ty Carter AFC Defensive Player Of The Week

5020 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:32:36 -0000

When I first saw Ty Carter I didn't like him. It was his first season with the Steelers in 2004. He was making a special teams tackle on the sideline standing over a player and taunting. He didn't get flagged but I remember how pissed I was at him because it was an important game.

Gradually I have come to appreciate Carter's special teams prowess and his ability to step in for Troy Polamalu or Ryan Clark and hit the "standard." After reading about how he conducts himself in his personal life my appreciation for him grew. Now the AFC has appreciated Ty Carter's performance naming him AFC Defensive Player of the week. Congrats Ty!

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_652691.html

A Catch From Heaven

5020 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:34:55 -0000

1Steelersfan did a post Tuesday night on the greatest "Steelers catch" of all time. It came down to Santonio Holmes XLIII, Lynn Swann X (2 nominations) and Franco's Immaculate Reception.

I weighed in late and that fan post has moved on but I had to go back and watch all 3 catches again. ( Thanks www.youtube.com ) I just wanted to share this Immaculate Reception from the original NBC broadcast with those that may have never seen it. To me this is the greatest catch in NFL history.

This game was blacked out in Pittsburgh so only those in attendance actually saw it within city limits. This catch catapulted the Steelers into the national scene and gave the players the confidence that they were destined for greatness. 12/23/72. It also created a multi-million dollar industry and raised a ton of dough for charity. Notice that there is not a terrible towel in the crowd.

The Immaculate Reception. 50s pick as "Greatest Catch in NFL History." Link below. Get ready for some shivers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xMDIcsUMmA