The Steelers have a well scouted "army of athletes" playing a physical brand of football. We have so many players that can flat out "dominate" an opposing team. Their armor is strong on both sides of the ball, but nothing is perfect. We have "Chinks in the Armor" like every known team to man. Hey Dick and Bruce, lets fix these chinks "grandpas"! (No pun Intended) 

Continue reading this post »

Steelers vs Vikings! Take my word for it, Steelers win this one. Steelers are at home on this one. Big Ben is 9-1 against the NFC at home. The Vikings D is without their top CB, who is arguably their best player in the secondary. Ben will shred this D through the air. Only if Arians stays smart and does not leave Starks 1-1 with Allen. I'm not worried about the Williams sisters getting after Ben. He can outrun or elude both of them with ease. Its set in stone that our O will outmatch their D with our playmakers. The question is how will our D stop their O? 

Continue reading this post »

       I rarely have time to post anything nowadays. I'm always busy with college, work, and the newborn princess I have. But after reading many "negative" articles about the Steelers and posts on this site, I find myself compelled to voice my "positive" attitude. In doing so I hope to change the "negative" outlook many of the Steeler faithful have. I believe a team is only as good as those who support them. And we as fans and members of "Steeler Nation", are obliged to always remain optimistic about our team. The media is already there to try and predict all those stupid negative "what if" situations. And there is a lot of media out there already doing so. So why don't we look on the "bright side" of things? Trust me there is always a bright side. Lets have hope for our team, trust in our coaches, and believe in the players we have(or will soon acquire). Don't join the millions of fake fans who buy into any stupid "what if" situation the media comes up with. Stay a proud member of STEELER NATION and believe in your Steelers!

BELIEVE STEELER NATION!

Continue reading this post »

               You can officially put this game in the "giveaway" column. We started hot and we were in complete control. The running game was getting positive yardage. The passing game was getting open downfield. The Bengals D stiffened up after halftime. The rush weakened, passes were being dropped, sacks were allowed, and a missed FG were the story of the 2nd half. To make matters worst the Bengals got hott. Their rushing game scored a 23 yard TD and their passing game scored the winning TD late. The D held its own, forcing two 4th down conversions, but after more than 8 tries Palmer finally threw a short TD to end it. Now why is this a giveaway?

Continue reading this post »

The following writing is opinion formed based on "factual" observations of our roster. If you deny in any way please feel free to express your opinion in the section below. These are my predicted first cuts, which happen in one week. Enjoy, and "Lets Go STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!"

Continue reading this post »

At 12:39am i would like to wish all Steeler Faithfull a great weekend! :)

So yeah i got to write more so ummmm... I'm celebrating my B-Day and im on cloud nine lol... On to better things... There is alot to like about the 2009 Steelers. On both sides of the ball. But there are things we were once excited for that many have forgotten about.... I don't feel like writing so enjoy the pics lol... Remember every picture is worth a "thousand" words... We need more FanShots BTSC...

Continue reading this post »

     Whats up BTSC??? Its been awhile since i wrote, but i guess nobody missed me hehe... Anyways just wanted to take some time out of my busy schedule to drop a High-5. Because i am High and i have 5 things i want to share my point of view on. Enjoy... And lets go Steelers!!! Our 09 squad better be fired up if they want a ring this year!!!

Continue reading this post »

OMG! I had a dream that lasted through a whole year. I think i "over-did it" with the sleeping pills hehe. But anyways here i am writing this article on April 3rd, 2010, the near future. And no cars are not flying, WW3 has just started, and The Steelers just won their 7th Lombardi and are planning ahead. Thats right we did it guys! We won #7 with the same exact OL, the same QB, and a better D! A 3-4 D that was transformed through the draft into a monster! But first let me tell you of a group of players who helped elevate this team to elite status. I will break down these players into draft classes, including the one yet to be seen by those who read this now (Yeah Thats You). They are all "Tomlin and Colbert" draft classes. The one you have yet to witness gave rebirth to "The Steel Curtain". And that one is last so enjoy the ones prior ok? Hahaha...

Continue reading this post »

Hey whats up Steeler Nation? Just dropping by to give all of you a HIGH-5 (or as you spell it hi-5). Todays HIGH-5 topic is Limas Sweed. A giant out of Texas who has alot of potential to be a very effective and tough WR. He is listed 6'4'' at around 220 lbs. He is said to be a strong WR that can also seperate. He was limited by injuries his senior year at UT. Thats why we got him in the 2nd round. Other teams were dumb enough to pass him up in the late 1st and early 2nd. We got a steal in the 2nd round. This guy has potential, enough potential to have been rated a 1st rounder by scouts. We got a young talented guy with potential and size, who had a productive college career, and had great size, speed, and strength to play in the NFL, in the 2nd round!! Its a miracle, coming into our 3rd SB run this decade we have 3 "potential" 1st round picks teams have to plan for. One of these players' "potetial" seems to have been forgotten by many. Here is a reminder, this is my quick HIGH-5 fellas...

Continue reading this post »

Hey BTSC the name is Jason. Im a Pacific Islander from the beautiful island of Palau. Just recently moved to the United States in 2004. The year i became a fan of The Steelers. My uncle was a big Cowboys fan and i hated him. So i rooted for the team he hated most, The Pittsburgh Steelers. But as i watched them play and read about their longstanding history and tradition i became a true fan. Now i worship the Steelers! True fan till i die! Sorry the proper introduction is late guys. I just really wanted a place to express my love and knowledge about the Steelers. So i chose BTSC. I was a reader for awhile and i really like the community on this site. So i joined and went straight to writing. I have many fanposts, check them out. Many, not all members, are true fans of The Steeler way. Those true fans are what make this site so welcoming. They are honest, nice, and sensible. And Blitz is a great guy. His passion for The Steelers is what makes him such a great writer. Great site Blitz, the best part is that membership is free lol. Ok im out of things to say hehe... Glad im part of this great site and hope you guys like my writing...  

Continue reading this post »

I would like to take a minute and brag about one of my favorite players on our Roster. This young man, or should i say "young Silverback", is the next great Steelers OLB (think Greg Lioyd). Since we are in the off-season, i will not talk about his dominance during the season. Instead i will talk about the beauty of having a young superstar signed to a cheap contract, and watching other teams overspend for unproven FA talent. And since everyone is updated about the draft, i will also compare him to highly rated OLBs in the draft. Enjoy.

Continue reading this post »

I had another dream (i tend to dream when i sleep lol), again i was Kevin Colbert. This time i made a discovery. No i didn't discover Atlantis, but Nicholas Cage did in his upcoming movie (spoiler alert). I discovered the next great young DB. Like that one time i made Brett a starter at DE, people said it was a bad decision. But the 7th rounder shut them all up with great production. Or that one time i let that scary looking guy Woodley be a starter at OLB, in only his 2nd season. He was actually good at it, i never really saw the kid play. I get these letters in the mail that tell me to promote these guys. So i do it, because it always works. Well this time i got a slideshow (he upgraded his letters with pics lol), a slideshow of a young star at DB. His name was Roy Williams, and he was on my team. I had never seen the dude lol. I will let the pics do the talking...

He shows great open field tackling ability here. And he hits with power, he can seperate the ball.

He has one full hand on the ball, and the WR is still not down. Sounds like a Forced Fumble if you ask me. He is a playmaker!

Again he shows how he is a great tackler. He never misses a tackle, his size and speed combination is great.

He is always around the ball. A young ball-hawk, sort of like Jim Leonhard, but Bigger.

Wow who wrote me this letter. Hmmm BlitzKurtain?? Never heard of the guy. But his decisions always work so why not... Oh crap just woke up and im 5 hours late for work!! That was a great dream, hope he reads my letter...

Since our first SB run in 05, we have lost many taleneted and established veterans. But every veteran we lose is replaced by another player who is just as good, if not better! The Front Office is truly under-appreciated. They are the reason the 09 Steelers have the best chance of repeating as SB Champs. We are returning many starters from our 09 SB run. We didnt lose many "key players", like we did in 05. Many of our "key players" are players who replaced the "key players" from the 05 team. We are really good when it comes to identifying young talent. We have young talent everywhere on our Roster. Just waiting for a chance to show off their skills. Here is a list of "key players" we lost, and the "key players" we replaced them with. Enjoy...

Continue reading this post »

Wow, i still can't believe he is gone. The contract he agreed to is bulls**t! 2 years at 10 million? Where's the long term guarantee in that? I say people will realize how "average" he was, than he will be a lower tier CB. Forcing him to ask for less money, after Arizona releases him next year. But yeah, he is gone. He is not "Joey Porter Gone", we do not have an equal or better veteran replacing him. He is "Alan Faneca Gone", his replacement is a young guy with less size, and athleticism.

Steeler Nation Loved both men in the picture, we lost both men to other teams. Was it all because of just the money? You decide lol.

Gay, or whoever takes the spot, will shine in our system. Playing behind an already "historic, SB winning, pass rush". Gay has the highest chance of breaking out, he already has a year under his belt. But by breaking out i dont mean "excelling", like Harrison did. I mean playing steadily, and smartly. That is what support players like Bryant did in our D under Lebeau. They covered while guys like Troy and Woodley made plays. And Gay is a great cover corner, he makes up for height with great agility, and vertical jumping.

 A Young and developing superstar at CB, covering the crap out of a Developed Pro Bowler at WR? You decide lol.

Yup he sealed that game for us! It was not all Ben to Tone people, there was alot of "D statements", that were being made to show why #2 is not in any way better than #1 Ratbirds!!!

As far as Free Agency goes focus on these two guys. They are both young and can add to the KR department. Which if you ask me, is an area of "need". Something we need more than a 3rd WR, who will play seven snaps a game and run forward all the time. They also both have potential and are good zone guys, not really one on one guys like Ike and Champ Bailey. But they have good speed and ok size. 

First is Chris Carr. Played in Oakland and Tennesee. Has provided steady and improving play at CB going into his 5th season. Shows great return ability. He has never, in his short career, averaged less than 22 yards a return. His average punt return last year was over 10 yards. He had 5 PRs for more than 20 yards and one for more than 40. He is younger than Bryant at age 25, and shows just as much potential if you ask me. The one knock on this guy is his size: only 5'10''and 180 pounds. But the way i see it, he is taller than Troy lol. But seriously he plays bigger than his size. I like his tenacity.

Is that a one handed downhill tackle of a young strong back? You decide lol. But remember that this is the situation our CBs are put in when asked to support the run. Ike and Bryant excelled at this because they loved physicality.

The other guy is Justin Miller. I don't really like this guy. But i love his return ability. Not really the answer at corner. Has good speed and can cover a bit. But he is not a sure tackler and is not that physical. 

Yeah he has return ability. But is that all we want? No not at all.

Come draft day i like 3 particular guys. I will not waste time thinking about Malcolm Jenkins, he is a top 15 pick. I will look at two potential first day picks and one second round guy, who i think we can develop. I will evaluate these player on skills required to excel in our 3-4 D, i will not evaluate based on 40 times and such. I will evaluate how physical they are, run support, tackling ability, and size. 

First Vontae Davis. Great size at 6' and 200 plbs. Very "aggressive" in run support, had 206 tackles in 3 years at CB. Great in coverage, 22 pass break ups and 7 interceptions in his short career. Great tackler with ferocious hitting ability. Can seperate ball carriers from the ball. Very physical player with tremendous upside. Has character questions but as an athlete and football player, he matches what we need. And he is also very versatile. He excels as a gunner on STs and has return ability as well. He can contribute on STs while he splits time with Gay. Similar to Timmons last year. He is a first rounder for sure. I say we take him if no great OL are around. Also if he falls into the 2nd round, snatch him up right away please. 

 Is there a cover curse for NCAA? I wonder lol.

Secondly Alphonso Smith. Ok size at 5'9'' and 193 pounds. Is not that good in run support, he struggles to shed blocks. But is good at shutting down sideline runs. Something our CBs do alot in the 3-4. He is a very physical player who does not "shy away" from contact when tackling. Very good at tackling with technique rather than just relying on his strength. Has great character, is said to be a team player. He has also shown flashes of return ability when he has the ball in his hands. Like Troy did in the AFC Championship game. He is going to around at 32 in my opinion. But again i say we only take him in the late 1st if there are no OL around worth picking. The best situation would be us trading out of the 1st, for a high 2nd rounder and an extra 3rd rounder. So we will not be reaching for smith. and will have extra picks for LineMen. 

He has his head up so that stiff arm will not work. Good Technique? 

Shed a block and kept his eyes on the RB. Good Technique?

The guy i think we can get in day 2 of the draft is the guy i like the most. Kevin Akins out of Boston College. Excellent size, 6'2'' at around 220 pounds. Very instinctive deffender who is always around the ball. Very effective open field tackler who is not afraid to take on bigger players. Very capable in coverage. Has great agility, made 5 ints as a CB. Very effective blitzer! Had 15.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss at BC. Very versatile player. If he is coached up by Lebeau, he will become a perennial Pro Bowler. He has a knack for making a "Big Play". Reminds me of Troy P. alot. Maybe we can convert him now that Smith is gone to Green Bay. I think he will be available in the early 3rd round. If he is grab him Colbert. If he is available in the late 2nd, take a look at him Colbert. This guy is a diamond in the rough. I just hope another team does not realize that and reach for him. I would love this guy in Black and Gold.

Effectively timed blitzes end like this. In a Sack. We all love negative yardage lol.

Wouldn't that be a "highlight sack"? You decide lol.

These are just a few players out there who can help our team. There are many more out there. Any suggestions? How about Criticism? Let them be heard below... Thank you for your time...

I remember our SB run in 05. We had an OLB by the name of Joey Porter. He was one of our key players during the run. He was very productive during the 4 game trip. He was a beast on the field: 12 tackles, 3 sacks, and constant pressure. He was a fire off the field: called Indy "soft" and responded, with trash talking,  to Jeremy Stevens' "comments". He was the emotional leader of our D, in a way. And he was in the last year of his contract the season after the SB. Did we extend him? No, we let him walk. Because the Steelers dont give big money to players over 30. He still had about two more years of solid production left in the tank. And he had just turned 30 around the time we could have resigned him, so he was not that old. At first we, the fans, panicked. But after we saw what Harrison could do we quickly forgot about Joey leaving. 

I dont think many people realize were in a similar situation this year. Again with our ROLB. A great player who excels in our system, was a beast on the field during our 6th SB run(14 tkls, 1 sack, and a Pick-6), and is 30 years old with one year left on his contract. The only thing different is the Steelers are actually trying to extend this guys contract. My question is, should they pay the 30 year old guy big money? Sure you could say he has not played much, so he will play alot longer into his thirties, like Potsie. But Potsie doesn't make big money. Why can't Deebo play for just a little more than what Potsie makes? Here is what i think we should do about Deebo.

First, offer him a reasonable extension. Around 4 to 5 million a year, for about 4 years, with a good signing bonus. If he signs it, great its over with! If not we let him play the season under his current contract. Sticking to the Steeler way. If we need him for another season we will use the TAG. After that i think he has nothing left in the tank. Yeah i just said Deebo is only good for another two seasons. But its just my honest opinion. If we extend him for too long with alot of money, he will probably run out of gas before the contract is up, leaving us with an over-paid back up OLB. I say w dont overpay him, and when he walks, show the world the next great Steeler OLB. Whoever that may be........

Our Cap is pathetic guys. We still have a line of players we have to renegotiate before the season starts. Like Deebo, hopefully Mcfadden, and Heath etc. etc. I think our team will look exactly like it is now come draft day. Meaning we hopefully keep Mcfadden, Essex, Keyaron, Frazier, Madison, and An Smith. I for one like An Smith, he has tenacious hitting ability and good hands. And say bye to everyone else. So come draft day we will have roughly 4 positions of need: OL, DL, CB, and WR. With the most important one being OL followed by DL, CB, and WR. So in other words our main concern is our OL. But there other positions that could use youth and talent. So if we cant get what we want in round 1 for the OL, we look to see if there is talent at other positions of interest. Here is a list of players at all our positions of need that have first round talent. If one falls down to us at 32 i say grab him. Remember, there is more than one way to improve our team.

OL: Alex Mack. A 6'4'', 316 pound Cal Center.

PROS: Has good size and strength. Plays with good technique and leverage. A very nasty blocker that plays till the whistle blows. Tenacious run blocker. Blocked for Bills starting RB in college, who is a first round pick. Great at run blocking on the second level. He was heavily awarded in college. A three time straight All Pac-10 first team selection. He was voted by deffensive lineman as the hardest center to play against two years in a row. His awards and play speak for themseves. He is a great C. Who could also play G in our system, like the Stapler.

CONS: Must show more consistency in pass blocking. A talent we need on our OL. Failed to participate in combine, so his measurables are unkown, not a big deal at all. Still has his Pro Day to impress scouts. Didnt play against many elite DL. The AFC north is filled with elite DTs.

ANALYSIS: Mack is a great addition if we draft him. He could provide depth at C and G, where we are suprisingly thin. We only got Legursky back there. He could compete for starting LG with Kemo. He could replace Hartwig in the future and anchor the line for years to come. Getting him will certainly require us to trade up from 32. Are we willing to trade up? I for one hope we are. I see the future when i look at players like Mack.

DL: Anthony Tyson Jackson. A 6'4'', 295 pound LSU Deffensive End. 

PROS: Has size to play DE in a 3-4. Has very long arms with big hands. Has outstanding strength. Great against the run. Makes plays in the backfield consistently. He sheds blocks well. Twice named to the 2nd Team All SEC. Played on a Championship team. He is a versatile DE, who could put on weight and play inside. He is a team player, something the Steelers love.

CONS: Has average speed. Wont get many sacks. His awareness is questionable. Not a very high motor guy. Does not play with great technique.

ANALYSIS: Jackson will be a great addition to our DL. He could rotate at both DE spots. He has potential to start if we lose Brett next year. He could play inside on nickel packages. His versatility, size, and strength are just what we need on the DL. As for his motor problems, Tomlin is a great motivator.

CB: Vontae Davis. A 6'0'', 204 pound Corner for Illinois.

PROS: Has great size and speed. Very athletic with loose hips. Hard hitter thats very aggressive in run support. Has return ability on both kicks and punts. Can cover kicks and punts as well. Very young with alot of upside, only 21 years old.

CONS: Inconsistent hands. Not a great in man coverage, better in zone coverage. Does not shed blocks well. Peeks in the backfield too often. His work ethic is very questionable. Was benched in 2008.

ANALYSIS: If we let Bryant walk, we must consider a CB early. Vontae is young, athletic, physical, and versatile. His versatility stands out the most. He can play corner, return kicks and punts, and be a gunner. While he is learning the ropes behind Ike and Gay, he can still produce for us on STs. Than when he is ready, he could take over at CB for years to come. His work ethic seems to be his biggest problem, but i think Tomlin can fix that.

WR: Jeremy Maclin. 6'0'', 200 pound receiver for Missouri.

PROS: Good size for a reciever. Elite speed and playmaking ability. Scored 6 rushing TDs, 22 receiving TDs, and returned 5 balls for scores. Extremely athletic reciever who is also versatile. Very young at age 21.

CONS: Still needs work on his route running. Tends to make a move before he secures the ball, leading to drops. Relies heavily on athletic ability alone. Had a major knee injury in college that some say needs to be checked.

ANALYSIS: We are loaded at receiver. But i still think we should get this guy, if all other options are taken. He is the answer to our return troubles. He is the Devin Hester of the draft. He could be returning kicks for 6, while polishing his receiving skills. Than when Hines leaves, he could add fire to our offense, to go along with Santonios thunder.

On a side note, lets think about Deebo. If we dont lock him up he is gone for sure after 09. So what about a replacement? I say his replacement is in this draft. And he goes by the name Larry English. A 6'2'' 275 pound monster OLB for Northern Illinois. Two time deffending MAC deffensive player of the year. 31.5 sacks in college. He is quick, violent, and has a high motor. We need to convert him if we draft him. But i say its worth it. This guy reminds me so much of Woodley. Remember how that turned out.

These are just a few players i think we should keep our eye on in Round 1. I for one believe we should focus mainly on our lines. But its hard to ignore all these other athletic players who could add another dimension to our team. 

I had a dream, no not that dream, another dream about me being Kevin Colbert for the draft. It was a dream come true, in a dream lol. I locked up Mcfadden to a 5 year deal. Renegotiated Ben and the big guy Starks to free up cap space. Extended Deebo 5 years. Kept Miller and Hampton around with extensions. Said bye to DeShea to clear up cap. Signed Khalif Barnescheap and put him in the mix at RT with Hills. Let Nate go play catch with Vince Young. Push for young guys like Legursky, Hills, Reffet, and Bailey. I did alot that people did not think i would do. I did things the Steelers way. I kept a very competetive and young group of players around. 

Soon these players will be seasoned and might become young superstars like Polamalu, Woodley Holmes, Heath, and Ben.

But come Draft Day i did things straight up old school. I sat around and watched who people took and erased the player they chose from my Needs list. Its an old boring Rooney routine. But we still use it up to this day because it works. We got Miller, Holmes, Timmons, and Mendy following the routine. And as you know, each is superiorly taleneted in areas where they can be productive. Like the way Miller, Holmes, and Ben can be amazing playing Backyard Football. They all work hard and never give up. Mendy has worked so hard that he recoevered early. Than, as i was saying, you choose with whatever pick you have the BPA, as the media calls it. We call it the Last Good GUY.One time we had to pick a Pot Head named SanAntonio, just kidding Holmes, your a great role model for younger kids.

Round 1, there was an OL run before i picked, i was shocked! So there i was just sitting down staring at the NEEDS list, trying to pronounce the player i was about to says name right. I had two to pick from. Mack a center from Cal who could provide tenacious run blocking and leadership at OL. But since i already had the lead man in Hartwig and my whole line as it stands (Starks, Kemo, Hartwig, Colon, Barnes/Hills) can run block. Not to mention i have a stronger Legursky who was a 4 year starter in college. So i erased his name, i didnt want to say a short boring name anyways. The other was a CB, i think. His name was Vontae and i liked it. So i chose him. I had a few more minutes so i Googled him. Not only was a solid fast corner with good size. He could play both both CB spots, was a Pick-6 threat, and showed flashes of Return Skills. Wow!!! I just filled two needs (depth at CB and a Return Specialist). And i gave the deffense more speed and fire, with the young HotShot. Think Woodleys attitude, but at Corner.

Come round 2, i had a Red Bull. I got jumpy and wanted to go on stage. So i looked down and tried to find someone to trade up for on the NEEDS list. I saw this cool name Tyson Jackson. So i chose him and looked to see who was picking. Its Seattle, they got a young coach so i can sucker him. I offer him my 4th and my 5th round to switch places. so i could go on stage. He said ok, but to give him like 5 minutes to make it looke like he was thinking hard. So i got on my iphone and looked up this Jackson dude. He sounded to me like a young Aaron Smith. All he needed was a little motivation. I think playing for the historical Pittsburgh Steelers will motivate any and every player who loves football. He had good size, was great against the run, and showed good awareness to bat away passes. And with a little coaching and weight lifting, he could play inside on nickel deffenses. He can add strength in the weight room, and not lose his speed. I did it again!! Filled a need at DL. He will provide Eason, Travis, and Reffette good competition. All i got to tell Mike to do is motivate the big guy, like what he plans on doing to Hills.

The red bull didnt wear at all and round 2 was not close to over. Titans were still deciding what criminal to take. So i looked down at my list and looked to see who was not crossed out yet. Herman Johnson, long name, i liked it. So i called up the Greenbirds and threw a 6th round pick at them so they could trade with me. At first they said no, so i threw in one of my 7th rounders. After they agreed i had 10 minutes to wait for Tenn to pick and Philly to say they traded. So i called up a friend of mine in Louisiana to ask about this Johnson guy. He said the guy was a giant and had very long arms. I immediately envisioned him providing depth and competition at LG. I also saw him starting, in the near furture. Doing so i filled a nedd at LG. Wow this list is cool. Who made this list??

Come round 3, I crashed. The red bull wore off and i was lifless. So i traded out of the 3rd round with Detroit, than went home and slept. I was bored at home so i really looked at the list and analyzed it very carefully, to find what most know as a Gem. I call it a guy i didnt care about at first lol. I found this pretty good guy. He kinda reminded me of Plax. Big, athletic, great hands, but he was young at age 22. We all know youth can sometimes be trouble. His name was Jaison Williams, no i didnt choose him because his name is spelled weird. I chose him because he had great size and toughness. I figured with Sweed replacing Nate we need someone to breed behind Hines.I filled a need left in free agency as well. I LOVE THIS LIST!!

After Jaison i took a nap. Than i woke up energized and ready to let the words roll. So i looked down at the list and hoped for a long name. Sammie Lee Hill, great,  i looked him up quickly. Turns out the guy had great size and potential. He showed abiity to be dominant when motivated. And he filled a need at DT for me. I was not about to pay Hoke all that money anyways. BYE Hoke! Wow this list is amazing. I really need to know who made this list!!

I turn the paper over and i notice a message. It was small but i could read it well, "This is a list of the BPA at positions of possible need. Do not ignore and go OL Crazy!! Remember there is more than way to improve the team. Dont listen to the media and go Crazy trying to fix your One Glaring Weakness. Improve in multiple areas at once to make your team as a WHOLE better!!", signed BlitzKurtain. Wow this guy is smart, i said to myself. After i took a moment to admire the one they call BlitzKurtain, i proceeded to follow the list.........only to be awoken by my alarm singin, "snap back to reality...there goes gravity". Now im awake, in reality, this nightmare where im BlitzKurtain. Hope Kevin gets my list lol.....

Ok its Free Agency, we got to focus on keeping the team together. We are trying so hard to think of ways to keep that young talent we have. That young talent like B-mac or Nate. We are thinking so hard that we forget other teams lose talent too. The player i think we we should not ignore is Khalif Barnes. Once a starter on a team that beat us twice at Hines field. A Starter at LT that is. Now, he is an unrestricted free agent. We should take a serious look at this guy Colbert. He can really help our team out at OT. Than we can go BPA in the draft and grab another great athlete, like Troy, Heath, and Rashard.

He is built like an OT. He is big at 6'5'' and heavy at around 330 plbs. He was a starting LT for the Jags. Off the field issues might scare some teams away. But i think Tomlin will scare his off the field issues away. This guy can improve our line if we bring him into the mix at RT. Like last year with Hartwig at center. Just move Colon to RG bring Hills to RT and let him compete with Khalif. This will help improve our OL.

So what do you think? I say we go after him, but im not sure what kind of money he is looking for. He is young, only 26, and has talent (Jags always had a good running game). He fits our system and he might be available. He helps us along our OL and in the draft. Look him up Steeler Nation. Than tell me what you think about the guy?

Hey Steeler naition lets take a break from FA, and think about our current group of key players that have won us two rings. Do our key players have the chance to all be enshrined in the hall? Like the key players on the Steelers 70s teams? 

Im talking about those nasty guys on our SteelCurtain. Players like Mean Joe Greene. The guy just could not be blocked. Mel Blount, throw at him and just pray it hits the ground. This guy had great hands and concentration. A historical group of LB. They were all athletic, quick, and had great strenghth. 2 are in the Hall. That is a legendary deffense called the SteelCurtain.

Now think about our current group of deffenders. We have similar talent in similar places. How do their chances of getting into the Hall fare? Can we expect multiple guys from our D to be enshrined? We are only covering the Key Players. But i will touch on who to expect in the future, there are many!

See that guy with the hair? Thats Troy P. who just gave us 2 rings. He sealed the Baltimore game with a pick-6. Last years AFC Championship Game he was dominant. His numbers are not great but they are not bad either. Surrounded by so many playmakers limits his oppurtunity to make plays. Ever since he joined this deffense he has given us a spark and made us a step faster. Does he deserve to be in the Hall? Yes, great players show up when it counts! He is almost a lock because of the 2 rings he has. I expect him to be in.

See that skinny kinda white looking guy? Thats Potsie, the best MLB in the league. He is the leader of the D, he lead us to championships. His numbers are very good and he has two rings. But he does not have pro-bowls and people like that bulls**t. So yeah its harder for the guy to get in because people dont know about how hard he plays every down! Show someone his highlights and they will automatically think he deserves a spot in Canton. I say the man should get in but who knows what could happen. He has a chance if he puts up more numbers. His two rings should get him in. I expect him to be waiting for Troy. 

Ok my favorite deffender and guy i think should be a lock as well. Aaron Smith, the guy that does all the dirty work on this D. He demands a triple team sometimes, making Hamptons job easier. He is the most consistent DE in the NFL regardless of scheme. He brings the pain year in and year out. If Richard Seymour gets in before my boy i will be pissed. We all know now that it is Vince W. that runs the DL of the Pats. So kick Aaron in there all you oldies who are voting! He should be a lock, he has two rings. He will join James in the wait.

Sadly let me tell you about our other key player and how he might be forgotten. Silverback Harrison. If he can produce like this again and help us win another SB, he might get consideration. I love the guy, he is built for this sport. Rough, Tough, and Determined. I personally think we would have won like 2 straight superbowls in 05, because i thought they were going to unleash Silverback in 06. But they didnt, so yeah we had to wait till Tomlin came. His numbers are average and if he makes them great with another ring, he will be a lock! I expect him to slip by and not make it. Sorry James i just want to motivate you brother.

Those are the Key Players we have that have a shot at the Hall. But there are others who may have shot. B-Mac if he stays and intercepts alot of passes to help us win another SB than he is a candidate. If Ike does the same he is a candidate. If Foote continues his play and helps win another he may get in too. In the era of the 3-4 deffense Hampton has to get some consideration. He might be a lock if he sticks around to win another! 

On a last note i would like to tell you about WOOD. He is young at age 24. Big fella, weighs in around 260 pounds. Good height, 6'2''. He is a natural athlete. A brute force kinda guy who can throw people around. He has terrific pass rush ability, he is second on the team in sacks since being drafted. He owns an NFL record. He is the other guy playing with Silverback, they own the team sack record. He is great against the run. He is already tutoring a young stud named Bruce Davis. This guy has potential to be great! If he becomes great has yet to be seen. I have a feeling he will be one of many LBs this deffense sends to Canton.

Next i will cover the offensive side of the ball. Which is suprisingly similar on both sides like the deffensive side is.

Thoughts? Criticism? let it be heard...

Hey Steeler Nation lets think a bit. Our current situation this year is actually a very good situation to be in when thinking about doing a Youth Movemnet. We currently have an age issue at DL but dont worry too much about that cuz these guys all can Still Play and they proved that to us these past two years!! Lets think about our OL where what we lack is talent and depth right now. Lets think about how we can save cap and still build a young, talented, and experienced OL shall we? 

We got Starks locked up and that is good!! Yeah we gave him alot of money, but hey, atleast now we have an excuse to let go those old grumpies!! Simmons was never the same after that whopping extension that pissed Faneca off. Trade him!! Smith is too old and Fragile. Let him go!! Promote Legursky and let him learn from Hartwig!! Promote Hills and let him learn from Starks. Than maybe he could be RT on our Seventh Super Bowl run!! Oh and Yeah lock up Chris and Willie cuz they both young with potential. And yes im thinking about moving Willie into RG!! His arms are too short and hes too Wide to be a RT!! Bring in a steady guy like we did at C with Hartwig to an upgrade at RT!! ANY SUGGESTIONS??? Befor the draft our line should be average looking with the lineup L to R would be like this; Starks Kemo Hartwig Stapler and maybe Khalif Barnes. Khalif Barnes people!!! look him up!!

As for the draft. Lets look for youth that we can use to upgarde our line. Maybe a young gun like Alex Mack to come in and conpete with the Beast in Kemo. Again plaese look him up. Or a potential Starter at RT like Andre Smith or Ebon Britton?? Than later in the draft we find young studs who can help us improve. Like a CB or a WR depending on who we lose, in Mcfadden or Washington?? Also try to pick up a Big DL cuz this draft has alot of them. One is Fili Moala, look him up!!

Follow these simple steps Kevin C. and we should have a Great Young OL that will lead us to Greatness in History!! thoughts...comments??? let them be heard Steeler Nation!!

HAHA! Who has the last laugh world?? Steeler Nation does!! You said he ran around too much and always went deep to no success. Consider the fact that he was mostly put in obvious 3rd down passing situations; mostly with 6+ yards to go!! And ya he did not exactly have a steady line; no pro bowlers at all!! But the guy played mostly above average football based on Qb rating and statistics!! But thats just statistics that the world judges players by. They will never know what Steeler Nation now knows; BIG BEN IS A LEGEND IN THE MAKING!!

Now this was not exactly a breakout year for Ben. He has been amazing since his first start; a nice comeback against a good ravens 'D' we lost sadly! But next thing u know: He becomes Starting Rookie QB Winning Streak record Holder, Leads us to the AFC Champ game Twice in a row (which is also a record he holds), Wins a Superbowl as the Youngest Starting QB (Which Is Why He Was Nervous), He has a rebound and sets FRANCHISE RECORDS after costing his team a trip to the playoffs, and He just Locked His Ticket to the HOF with his current superbowl performance!! So yeah if you didnt know anything i just wrote you are not Bleeding Black and Gold like Steeler Nation Faithful!!

2008 was what i thought the best season of Bens career so far. But i do think he will top it mutiple times in his career!! Stastically Ben was good; not great but just good. In reality Ben was Legendary; not just great but Legendary!! This guy played this season like a warrior; with no fear at all!! He was determined to win no matter what; and his teamates fed off his hunger!! If Steeler Football is truly 60 minutes, Ben defines it!! Their is just no quit in the guy folks!! Now let me tell u why he was a Legend in 2008!!

In 2008 he showed three qualities that i think will make him a legend!! Right off the bat u can tell this guy has MENTAL TOUGHNESS!! He lead six game winning drives in 08. True Steeler Nation Faithful know this; you cant forget if you try. The Jags Game; WOW what a display of athleticism!! The Ravens Home Game; He took that win with Determination!! Not to mention bouncing back from Bad Games; games where the OL let him be a Running Back!!

He also showed more of what we saw in 07; the ability to DOMINATE teams!! He showed it in 07; just look at the stats!! He simply Outplays teams who dont have speed on D; without it they cant contain him!! 07 against the Browns (41 yard rushing TD), Bengals (1 Rushing TD), Miami (NOone could run in that game), and others. 08 he DOMINATED the Bengals, Ravens (Just Twice), New England, and Houston!! There are times when it is impossible to dominate because of his OL. But he still avoids many sacks with his Athleticism!! Sure he holds on too long at times when he should not. But sometimes its the reason he gets a W (4th Qtr comebacks)!! Behind a better OL he could be Dominant against anyone!!

Man i have not even mentioned how Tough as Nails he is!! He played with a Bad (never clearly stated injury) shoulder for multiple games!! Bounced back from a Concussion (that is supposedly worst than once thought) and leading his team to a SuperBowl!! Than led a 80 yard TD drive going 4 of 5 with a Game Winning TD to win the 6th ring with broken ribs!! Did i mention he scrambled like every time he found an open reciever. Is this the TOUGHNESS of a legend (like John Elway) or what!! 

On a last note his escapabilty and the accuracy he throws with when off balance is like nothing i have ever seen!! The throw to Hines in the Jags game was Amazing!! And he is even better when given time to throw!! This guy is both a pocket QB and scrambling QB. You rarely find QBs like him!! He can make u miss, look you off, shake you off, bomb you deep, drag you around, and run past you if you give him the chance!! His talent alone is Legendary!! He is more aathletic than Brady, Manning, Brees, and Romo!! And people still say he is not on their level!!

thoughts?? criticism?? let them be heard...

Let me get one thing strait!! Im not writing this to give praise or to driticize our O-Line in any way. Im writing this to show how our Athletes (YEAH I SAID IT; THEY ARE ATHLETES=ATHLETIC!! ) are not being used properly on the line. I believe alot of people on the line can be productive if used properly. I will now proceed to break down how we should use the players, that i believe, we are using wrong. READ with an open mind please!!

Chris K.= First we should resign him. But not because he was a good LG. Because he showed improvement in his technique throughout the season he was a starter. We should resign him and use him as a back-up with starter expereince, who clearly can still improve. Doing so our line will gain DEPTH, YOUTH, and EXPERIENCE!! Those three things are what we need to focus on when thinking about rebuilding lines in football.

Willie C.=Yes we should resign him!! And no he will not be a starting RT!! We should really move him from there due to his guard like body and athleticism!! He is not built like a RT at all. Short; about 6' 3''. Wide; about 335 pounds. And has Short arms; with alot of power!! He should be able to compete with The Stapler for the Starting RT spot. Doing so we add Depth, Youth, and Experience!! I also believe the Competition will raise their Talent Levels. Like it kinda did for Foote and Timmons.

Darnell S.=Ofcourse we resign The Stapler!! This guy and shown alot of Mental Toughness!! I love that in a football player. Despite small size he did not get dominated at all by massive DTs he faced!! Imagine if he got BIGGER!! Not to mention; he too showed improvement as the season wore on. We just added depth, youth, and experience to our O-Line!!

Max S.=Give the guy some money please!! He just helped you win a super bowl as a Starting LT!! Shooot, last time he helped you win a super bowl as a startin RT!! This guy deserves a big contract. He is playing very close to his potential and when he peaks he will be a quality startin LEFT TACKLE (yeah i just said that and no im not drunk). He has been quicker and he was wlways strong!! He is tall and has long arms. He is built like a LT. With a little more FILM ROOM TIME, he will become the protector ouf our Franchise QBs blindside for years to come!! We now have more depth, youth (MAX IS YOUNG), and experience (2 RINGS PEOPLE) to our O-Line.

Justin H. =I think he is still under contract. And he is in a  position to produce in many ways. As a center he has alot of qualies that make him good but not great!! He will never ge great due to his sub par athleticism. But he is Smart and Mentally Tough!! And he's a veteran who will teach Doug L how tu use his Massive srength and good size on the line. Good signing of Doug L. It adds those three things we need on our line!! And yes Doug L. has experience (HE WAS A LONG TIME STARTER IN COLLEGE).

Trai E.=Resign him (if we have to hehe). He is Quick and has good technique. Not to mention he has Experience!! He can backup both Tackle spots and even compete for a spot at RT. Competition makes players better!! And i know he can get BETTER!! Just added Depth, Youth, and Experience. 3 things that make a great line!!

Tony H.=Of all the backup linemen we have, he has the highest ceiling. Keep him around to learn from starks. And regain that Athleticism that made him great in college!! He will be a young backup with potential to be Great. I choose to keep him on Active Roster and not on the Practice Squad. Practicing against a number one D will no doubt help him improve!! Forget Capizzi and Lentz lets make him our Project.

Marvel S.=DUMP HIM!! thank you for the superbowl ring!! Your play will be remembered by all those who saw u play at your peak. But its time to go!! Your old and slow!! We need to make room for Future ALL PRO LTs!!

Kendall S.=BYE!! This guys play and Mental Toughness has gone nowhere but down in recent years!! Playing along Jeff H. really made him look better than what he is. And now we see he is not the answer at RG. And he gets paid too much!! Bye, hope Darnell and Willie compete hard for your spot!!

Now by doing what i mentioned we should do to the players above, i believe we will have a Young Experinced and Deep core to build around!! We have Size and Power at the Guard spots. Which are essential to a good running game!! The problem here is technique. Which will get better as they study and mature as Guards. We have Quickness and Size at Tackle spots!! The problem here is Max S., but i have no doubt he will play better if we show him we believe in him!! But there are open spots at both positions. LG and RT!! Here is how you add the finishing touch to your future dominant O-Line!!

Draft=Trade and get a higher first and secound round pick!! Look for a potential starting LG and RT. Be sure they have the size to play O-Line!! For Guard look at Alex Mack; he has the size, athleticism, and character!! This guy should be traded up to pick, we cant wait for him to fall at 32. Get him if he passes pick 10. If not look for a RT and get a LG after! Idk who to put up as a RT, but there are alot to choose from!! Our main focus should be Mack. He would be a great LG with Darnell at RG and Hartwig at C!!

Free Agency=Just look for what we are looking to draft!! Young O and D linemen. there are many on the MARKET!! please sign someone. The young center in Baltimore. The deffensive end in Arizona!! The DT in Detroit!! i heard they wanted Foote. Why dont we trade him??!! Their is talent to be found in the market this year and we could use some of it!! 

 Please follow this Tomlin and Colbert. This plan would give us the cheapest and simplest solution to a BIG problem. It will also allow the players to continue to build the bond most great O-Lines have!! 

thoughts?? comments?? let them be heard...

Before we play in the AFC superbowl today i would like to thank Mike Tomlin & Co. for a very entertaining, inspiring, and violent season. I don't care what happens today or in early February. Because this season has been filled with so many great memories week in and week out. The sweeping of our division, the domination of our rivals (Cryboys, Patsies, Jaguars, and Ratbirds), the BlitzKurtain wreaking havoc on D (Polamalus ints, Harrisons domination, Woodleys ferocity, Timmons speed, Clarks HIT, Mcfaddens improvement, Gays rise, Townsends score, The Old but POWERFUL D Line, and Carters heroics), the offenses last minute miracles (OT vs Ratbirds, 4th Qtr. Super Ben  at Jaguars, Unplugging the Chargers, Keepin up with the Cryboys, and a 92 yard march in about 3 minutes to put the Ratbirds away at home), the rise of young talent (The Stapler, G Russel, M&M, Woodley, Timmons, Gay, and P Bailey), and the Veteran leadrership (Big Ben playing hurt and not making excuses or complaining at all, Harrison not complainin one bit for getting robbed of his sacks all the time, Hines playing tough football no matter what he might have to pay, Foote not griping about the fact that he is about to be replaced, Townsend not upset he is moved down on the depth chart, Starks stepping it up when called upon, and Santonio maturing in many ways on the field and off it).

There truly are more good memories than bad ones. Like the offensive line (inconsistent yet showed improvement), the punting game (unpredictable but it held up well), the return game (never really found anyone who could do it great) and the offensive game plans (dull and very predictable). But the reason why these memories don't bother me is because they are memories of the past and will be easily fixed in the off-season. Fix the line through the draft (alot of OL talent this yaer), the punting will fix itself (Sepulveda should be back and ready to put a lick on some KR/PR), the punt return artist has been discovered (lightning qiuck Holmes is the man if u dont already know) and the game plans have been looking better (killed an ok Brownies D and a hott Bolts D).

So no matter what happens later today this season will go down in my soon to be written book about the current Steelers (Steel the Best) as one of the greatest seasons by any Steeler team ever. Thank you Mike Tomlin and please do keep improving (U have all the pieces to make a super bowl run next season and beyond trust me).

Comments?? Criticism?? Let them be heard... 

Hey what up STEELERnation. I hate to beat a dead and decayed horse, but i think i just came up with a nickname for our historic deffense that has been number 1 these past two seasons. Let me start by saying in the 70s it was THE STEEL CURTAIN because it was impossible to move them out of the way. And in the 90s it was BLITZBURGH because it was impossible to stop the constant pressure they brought. Now as for our current deffense not only are they hard to move out of the way, but its also hard to negate the pressure they bring. Realizing this made me think they are like a combination of the great deffenses we once had. Which is why i believe the nickname for this D should be !!THE BLITZKURTAIN!! 

thoughts?? comments?? please let them be heard.