Thank God for football season.  I thought it might never come.  Thankfully it has and with it games that matter on television again.  I thought last weeks game went about how I hoped it might.  I had little hope for the running game versus the Titans and thought Collins might get some good garbage yards versus the Steelers D. 

But the new week is upon us and I'm heading out of town tomorrow to get married, so I wanted to share what little insight I might have to offer for this weeks game.  Living in Chicago and routing occasionally for the Bears has made it so that I've watched more than my fair share of Bears football over the last few years.  Combine that with spending far to much time watching and discussing the Steelers perhaps gives me a slight bit of insight into this weeks game.  Ya'll can be the judge of that after the jump...

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I propose a brief trip down memory lane.  I joined BTSC in April of 2008.  Since becoming a regular here I've been astounded by the quality of people and stories that have been listed here. 

We've recently had a lot of rounds of tournament style voting.  I'm tempted to start my own, however I want to get feedback from ya'll before I make the round selections. 

My proposed tournament would be the best stories ever posted here on BTSC. The most fun of this will be getting to go back and waste time all over again (or for the first time for those who are new around these parts) when voting.  I've spent a few minutes finding some of the stories I found impressive at the time and still now.  Some I list mostly for their ability to tell the future, others are just well written amazing stories.  I've missed a lot of good stories here, and completely know that.  I tried to get a smattering of greatness from many different regular authors here at BTSC. 

This will get more fleshed out once the tournament begins (if people like the idea if I get no response I might not worry about it).  But here's some stories to get you started.

Blitz's early take on Mewelde Moore. Might I say, prophetic...

Wolfpack's analysis of the WR position.  He had many of these and I grabbed WR to get us started.

The Helmet -Good stuff from maryrose.  To be fair, one could put just about every article maryrose has posted in this tournament and if you haven't read through his histories I invite you to make good use of your spare time and go through them..

Tomlin’s Coaching Resume – Blitz hits it out of the park again evaluating our young coach.

Art Rooney Jr. Interview - An amazing one-on-one interview with one of the creators of the Steelers dynasty.

Summarize Season in 7 Words - A fun fanpost that generated some really clever ideas.

How the Steelers Defense works LB edition - This from one of our many servicemen on the site.  An excellent X's and O's description of the Steelers D.

Remembering Bradshaw - a great retrospective on one of our greatest players.

Blasphemy, I know...  But Lebeau's got some fun toys at his disposal. 

We've got some crazy knowledgable folks here at BTSC and I'm curious what defensive schemes people would use with the Steelers personnel. In another post steelguy99 was refering to running some 2-5-4 with Fox or B. Davis.  How would it look and what advantages would it give us? 

Let's be creative in where we put people, where we hide blitzes and where the coverage lies.  The genius of Dick Lebeau and other good DCs is that they don't just think of fun ways to get to the QB, they think of ways to confuse the QB so that even if they see the blitz coming they can't use their normal dump off/outlet. (see James Harrison's 100 yd INT)

Feel free to say what situation you'd use your custom play (ie 3rd and long against Peyton Manning, 1st defensive snap of the game versus the uni-brow, etc).  And don't limit yourself if an offensive or special teams player could make a difference put them in.  (I'm looking in your direction Mitch Berger)

I'm also all for historical players being brought in.  What kind of formation could you run if you had Mean Joe Greene next to Hampton?  Could you make an 11 linebacker defense from all the Steeler greats? (that could be a scary group)

Just another way to kill time till there's real football news again.  Have a great Memorial Day all.

The following will be a rather random collection of my blue-sky wishes for the NFL in the coming year.  Very few will be directly oriented at the Steelers, as that's well-covered ground on the site.  I should note that I don't think these will or even could happen, but if I ruled the NFL world they would.

1. Goodbye Goodell...  I don't like Roger Goodell as a commissioner.  I don't like almost any of the changes that he has made in his tenure as NFL Czar.  Sure he's tough on players that get out of line, but then he's weak on coaches and organizations that break rules (ahem, Coach Hoodie I'm looking in your direction.)  He's gotten excessive with fines for things that should not be fines and generally has not made the game better in any definable way.  
2. Overtime Changes-  I've stated this in multiple places here so I won't reiterate too much.  I don't want college football and I don't want wacky rules that change the game from the regular time.  I just want an overtime period.  And like most sports if you score more points in that overtime period, you win.  Shutdown corner has an idea I like and could totally get behind: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tinkering-with-the-overtime-rules-makes-me-nervo?urn=nfl,142449
3. Coach's Tape- Have a service where I can download not only the broadcast of every game from the season, but also coaches tape of each game.  I will pay extra for this, but my obsession with football (and I think many of you would join me) to the point where I want to see more than the standard shots.  I want to see the routes that didn't get thrown to.  I want to see if a special teams player didn't stay in his lane and that's what caused the big return.  I do not need video of coaches sending in signals so Coach Hoodie can put his hand down.
4. Keep 'em Here- Less international games.  Actually strike that, no international games.  I don't like taking home games away from fans.  They can have pre-season games if they want them.  When the day comes that I can't get tickets to a "home" Steelers game in Pittsburgh I will throw a fit.
   
5. He's Earning What?- It's time to get these rookie contracts under control.  The fact that the top picks earn more money than God without ever playing a down is ridiculous.  NFL is built for parity but these top 5 pick salaries are handicapping the teams that get them from being free-agent buyers.  And no one wants to trade up for these positions cause they know that the better value is after the 10th pick.
6. Name Someone Better- Dick Lebeau deserves to be in the HOF.  In fact I think the rules for getting into the hall are somewhat odd.  I'm fine with the press getting a vote, but I think all existing hall members should also get a vote.  And for Pete's sake get coach Lebeau in the HOF!
7. Have You Ever Seen Football- I'm tired of almost all football announcers.  I'd like the stations to give me the option to listen to the home broadcast of the game through the TV. 
   
8. I Love this Show- NFL Matchup on ESPN will be moved to the pre-game slot and will be an hour long.  This is good football analysis and it's unwatchable without DVR.  I would like more shows like it during the week.  NFL Network and ESPN have employed legions of former players and coaches who all know how to break down film, let me watch it!
9. Get a Real Expert- National pundits should be required to bring in a beat reporter from the team they're talking about for accurate news.  Lolley, Wexell, or Bouchette would be far better reporting Steelers news than Chris Berman and his co-horts. 
   
10. I Don't Care Anymore- Pundits and announcers would only be allowed to bring up "hot topic" issues once an hour.  If I hear about Brett Favre twice in the same quarter I will reach through my screen and choke someone.  Same goes for TO, anything Dallas related, or the Pats*.

What do you guys think?  How would football change if you were king?  Or am I wrong and the NFL is perfect and to change anything would be to ruin it!?  Thanks for reading.

Oh yeah, and most importantly, One for the Other Pinky!

Thumbs Up To:

1.  Big Ben.  He's a game winner, no doubt.  Could easily have been MVP.

2. 'Tone-He was MVP and rightfully so. 

3. The TE screen pass to Heath.  We've been terrible at RB screens (see one of the thumbs down) but this was a thing of beauty.  Slows down the outside rushers when they realize that Heath can release that quick.  Hadn't seen that play all year and it was a good wrinkle introduced by BA and the offense.

4.  Hines Ward.  He may not have been ultra productive in his catches, but he drew coverage and blocked as well as ever.  Good for him coming back 3 weeks earlier than most players could from that injury.

5.  Mike Tomlin's victory speech.  I was ready to follow that man after that speech.  Turns out he has no use for me, but still.

6.  The Cards play call on Fitz's second TD.  Credit is due here.  The route combination was fantastic.  We're in a two deep and we're expecting throws to the sidelines to maintain the clock.  Two outside receivers run the same out routes just past the 1st down marker.  Troy and Clark bite hard on these two routes leaving the center wide open.  Ike is a step behind and the ball is placed perfectly so that Fitz can grab it and run.  It was a beautiful thing that made me want to puke.

7.  The Wookie.  Lamar just looks unstoppable at times.  He collapses his side of the pocket every time he bullrushes.  All it takes is a little extra pressure either up the middle or from Harrison on the other side and the QB has no escapes.  I can't wait to continue watching this player for years to come. 

8.  The quick slants to Holmes.  I mentioned this elsewhere, but DRC was ridiculously good at coverage yesterday.  On one play Ben pumped, DRC bit hard on the pump, Ben threw a good ball to Holmes and DRC regained his footing ran hard on the ball and deflected it into Holmes' helmet.  And on the long one to Nate that Ben under threw slightly DRC was way behind and he made up ground ridiculously fast.  But... He's a rookie and makes mistakes and is not the most sound tackler.  This made the quick hits to Holmes a brilliant piece of the game plan.  Again good work by BA.

9. James Harrison.  I don't think much needs to be said.  Lock this man up on a 4-5 year extension this off-season. 

10.  Obama on the pregame.  Not a political statement, I just like that he was up for talking sports and wasn't afraid of alienating people by picking a favorite.  And he's totally right that college football needs a playoff system.

11.  My girlfriend.  After dating 10 months this was the first time she was with me during a Steelers game.  Amazingly she did not break up with me.  I was less than pleasant to be with last night until the end.

Thumbs Down:

1.  BA in the second half...  What the hell happened?  The TE screen was replaced by a RB screen which we have not run well all damn year.  The quick slants to Holmes were replaced by 5 wides slow developing play resulting in sacks. And a QB draw from the 5 yard line?  Really Arians?  Let's just run the QB sweep like in last years playoffs?

2.  The Refs were WAY to involved this game.  Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to finally see some holding calls when Harrison is being hugged, but there were a lot of flags.  I'm not sold that there was conclusive evidence that Ben's knee was down on the first drive.  I didn't see anything that disproved it.  And I know Hartwig carried him in, but that is not reviewable.  And while I think the first Warner fumble was a correct ruling, I think it's a dumb one.  I know it's on the books as such, but you can't tell me that Warner was truly "Attempting a pass" there.  He was pushing foward to try to avoid the sack.  Anyone watching sees that and thinks, "Wow that's a fumble", but because of silly interpretations it's taken away.   The holding on Hartwig?  Really?  He was getting knocked over and the player came with him.  It did not look bad enough to call.  The roughing called on the Cards was terrible too. The holding against the Cards on the missed Hines catch looked off as well.  Just didn't like it.  Refs should be nearly invisible in big games.

3.  John Madden.  I hate listening to that man.

4.  Troy P. tackling the wrong guy.  What the F happened there?

5.  Matt Spaeth and Stapleton.  Both picked a bad day to have terrible games.  Spaeth was getting blown up on every running play I saw him in on.  The Stapler was whiffing on Dockett left and right.  Seldom do I wish for Simmons to be healthy again.

Oops, quitting time at work.  Better finish up.  Thanks for being a big part of the season BTSC.

Now here's an odd thought.  Mike Tomlin for Coach of the Year.

I'm confident there will be plenty of ya'll who disagree, but let me give my reasoning.

1.  Unreasonable amounts of injuries.  In the past we've collapsed under the weight of injuries far less than what the team has dealt with thus far this year.  Looking at the ranks of walking wounded manning the sidelines of the Steelers you could form a better team then most of the NFC West with just our injury lists.  Yet Mike Tomlin has kept his troops together with the rallying cry of 'Standard of expectations do not change.'  Very few teams over-come these levels of injury.  Last year we lost Aaron Smith and our defense started to collapse.  This year we lose Keisel, Hampton, and even Eason for a game.  Now I'll grant you that Smith is likely the best player of that group, but the fact that the line has played at nearly the same high level throughout is a tribute to each man stepping up and doing his job.  It speaks volumes to the practice time each is getting and the coaching that is being done throughout the organization. 

Darnell Stapleton and Max Starks step in and play well when called upon.  Matt Spaeth have career highs for receptions and makes no real mistakes in starting duty.  Mewelde steps in and wins games.

My point is simply that the attitude the Steelers are playing with right now comes from the top, and it's obvious that all players have bought into that mindset.

2.  Head Coach game-time responsibilities...  One thing I was dismayed with last year, was his baffling challenge use.  This year he's been right on.  I've agreed with basically every challenge he's made this year.  He's helped the team win from that stand point. 

He also keeps his men fired up for playing even after lot's and lot's of fines.  Every player continues to go 100% even after being told repeatedly from the league that they need to go 100% till they get within 20 feet of the QB.  Say you want about his over the top response to Farrior's 15 roughing the passer call, but he's sending a signal to his players that they need to keep fighting, scratching, and playing violently cause that's how Steelers win football games.

Game plans.  I'll admit that our offensive adaptations have been slow.  But that's not his area of expertise.  We do come back with good drives at the beginning of the second half almost every time.  Plus we are always in it till the end, showing that we're doing something right. 

3.  No excuses.  Here's something I love.  Never an excuse even though he's given every opportunity.  He came into this season and said he's excited to have this difficult of a schedule as that's how your team defines itself is by beating the best teams. 

Granted, if our slump continues and we end up missing the playoffs then all of this is moot, but what he's done thus far into the season is impressive to me.  His competition is mostly from rookie coaches turning around franchises and I agree that both Mike Smith and Harbaugh have done impressive things.  But going from 0 expectations to over-achieving shows only so much.  I point to last years Browns as proof. 

I expect I'll take some ribbing for suggesting this while we're spending so much time yelling for BA and dirty Z's heads.  I'm not defending those two.  I think they need to leave post season.  I don't believe they are right for the team.  But I think the decision to keep them this year was the right one.  In business you don't fire your VP of marketing a year after they grow your profits considerably from the year before.  Even if arguments are that the product itself was so good it didn't matter how it was marketed, you don't change a good thing.  But this year our marketing is slumping and Tomlin will be forced to respond.  His 'No Excuses' mantra must stay true for his coaches as well.  The injuries can not be excuses for poor performance. 

What do the rest of you think.  If the Steelers finish strong (and granted that's a hypothetical but it's a hypothetical that all Coach of the Year candidates share) should Tomlin have your vote for CotY?

Finally remember to go to nfl.com and vote for Aaron Smith and the rest of the Steelers playing well this year for the Pro Bowl.

I've got a gut feeling on this weeks games.  I'm gonna throw some predictions out haphazardly.

1.  We'll start with the most important.  I believe Steelers win this one.
2.  I think they win it big.  I'm calling 27-13.
3.  I think Portis ends the day with 15 carries for 64 yards.
4.  Jason Campbell has his first 2 interceptions.
5.  Big Ben takes 3 sacks, but has a Passer Rating of 101.2
6.  Holmes has a 50+ TD reception.

Why do I think this?  Well point 3 has been well discussed throughout the site already so I won't enter into it much except to say that if we can stop Brandon Jacobs' bruising style, we can take Portis who tends to combine some bruising with some shifty. 

Points 1+2 are obviously joined up.  Here's where the feeling comes from...  I may have my problems with Mike Tomlin's hiring and occasional hands off approach on the offensive side of the ball.  I understand having a hands off style of management, but I think he's confusing, "If it ain't broke don't fix it" with a system that could work tremendously better.  This has also been pounded to death here so I won't go into BA's deficiencies.  What I love about Mike Tomlin is his ability to demonstrate a standard of expectation on the organization.  Losing at home last week probably left such an awful taste in each players mouth that they'll be ready to injure people.  James "Deebo/Silverback" Harrison will long snap a few heads in retribution.  If Mike Tomlin left him into long snap this weekend and just lets him snap it where ever he damn well pleases and then annihilate anyone attempting to pick up the ball.

Point 4, is kind of a corollary to point 3.  I think this will be the first game that Campbell is forced to try and win the game for them as the defense will be stuffing Portis all day.  I think Campbell will eventually try to force a ball down field and Troy will get his 4th interception of the year.  Then late in the game they'll be heaving the ball with the hopes that they can get a last minute touchdown, giving stone hands Ike a chance at the pick.

My general feeling is that without a strong pass rush Ben and the line should hold up fine.  We'll see some strong drives and some drives will stall because of poor play calling.  But I see us cleaning up the penalties that were called on us and with Holmes back our receivers will have more room and separation.

Point 6 stems from the thought that Washington will be overly concerned with the aptly named Washington and will shade deep coverage to his side.  This will leave single coverage for Holmes, the play fake will draw a step out of the safety on Holmes' side and Ben will look to take advantage.  (This play may or may not be called back by Colon holding)

What do ya'll think?  Any ridiculous predictions?  Finally a new statistic that needs to start being tracked:

7.  Total Steelers players fines incurred in this game: $15,000