So, it's a Halloween night game...a night for tricks or treats.  Well, I guess we got the trick instead of the treat on this one.  I think I saw Mendenhall run for two TD's tonight, unfortunately only one of them counted (more on that later on).  Credit must go to the Saints coaching staff because they won the coaching battle tonight, and it was a big win for them. 

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Whew!  That was close.  So, when it was 3rd-goal at the two, I was thinking "just don't do anything stupid, Reed has a chipshot for the FG...worst thing that can happen would be a turnover in the endzone."  I was also thinking, "Ben, don't try to do to much, if something's open in the endzone...take it, but don't force anything and if you're getting pressure, take the sack...go down and we'll take the FG". 

As the ball was snapped, I realized Ben was going to take it on a bootleg.  "This is good," I thought, "he's gonna run it in...he's gonna score!".  Then, when he started to dive, I thought "he dove too early."  I saw him get hit and the ball come out and what looked like Miami recover.  I thought, "Oh sh!t" we're gonna lose".  But, I saw the ref signal TD and I thought maybe he actually broke the plane before the fumble.  After the challenge, though, and the replays, I realized he didn't break the plane...again I thought "wow! this is how we're gonna lose."  It didn't occur to me though that, maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't give the ball to the Fins because they already had signaled TD and blew the whistle so the ball would be dead at the spot of the fumble.  It turned out that was the case, but had there been clear evidence of a Fin recovering the ball (or had the refs not initially called it a TD) we might have seen a different outcome to this game...who knows? 

A win is a win though, and at 5-1, we're still on top the AFC North and got a big road win against an AFC opponent.

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Big Ben makes his return, the Steelers get the win as expected, we're 4-1 and back in first with the Ravens OT loss. 

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Well, Well, Well...as I was watching the game my thoughts kept going back and forth on what I was going to write here.  At one point in the 4th QTR, I was ready to say missed opportunities (and missed FG) were the main cause for the loss.  Then, after the impressive 93 yrd drive followed by the defensive stand at the goal line, I was ready to write that this team has something special that is the mark of a champion.  However, the ugly things that cost them games last year came out again in the final minutes (penalties and a shredded secondary).  This loss hurts because it was against our biggest rival for first place at home, and we could (should) have won it.  That being said, 3-1 is probably better than most expected without Ben.  Here's how I saw it today...

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Wow! I came into the game expecting a win, but this was impressive.  The Steelers beat the Bucs in all aspects of the game and right now look like one of the most dominant teams in the NFL.

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This was an unusual game withthe heat, the injuries, the turnovers, and the overall lack of offence on both sides.  However, it was one heckuva defensive game and some good 'ol fashioned smashmouthfootball.  It's great to go to TENN and come away witha win with what is essentially the Steelers 3rd and 4th QBs.  Here we go, 2 and 0! 

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First off, it's always nice to come away with a win, and this was a nice positive start to the season.  I think going in, the thought was to at least be 2-2 when Ben gets back.  For the most part, I think it was a well coached/well played game (with some exceptions I'll note later).  Below, I break down the performances by position....

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The first three rounds are in the books and the Steelers have three picks, so here is how their grade out...

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Mansfield to Webster to Dawson to Hartings...the Steelers had 40 years of great Center play...

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I've seen a few posts and discussions on these topics, and for us Steeler fans, the months leading up to the draft are always very exciting (especially so when we have a year where we actually miss the playoffs and this is what we have to look forward to until April).  With this post, I hope to share with you one of my favorite charts (the draft pick point value chart) and how we can move up or down to either get the guy we want or add value.

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This is the third in my four part series grading the Steeler performances for 2009.  I think everyone knows the special teams where anything but special this year, particularly the coverage teams which gave up no less than 4 KO returns (2 more than the next highest in the NFL) for a 24.3 avg. (27th in NFL)...the punt coverage team wasn't that much better (ranked 23rd).   Below, I grade the specialists and a few position players who were really just strictly ST players this year...

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This is part 2 of my 4 part post Grading the 2009 Steelers performance.  First up was the O, now the D, then comes STs, and finally the coaches.  Obviously the D was a major disappointment this year, injuries played a part but there was more to the story than that.  Read on, and feel free to reply with your opinion...

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Now that '09 is officially over, it's time to take a look back and grade the performace of each Steeler on the active roster.  Overall, it was a disappointing season for us Steeler fans, however there were some good performances to go along with some very poor ones.  In passing out my grades, I take a look at the players entire body of work for the regular season.  However, I judge their performance based on their role on the team, and give more weight to their role/expectations going into the season.  In other words, for example I judge Ben (starting QB) differently than Dixon (3rd QB)...so an "A" for Ben would be based on different criteria than an "A" for Dixon.  Also, a player like Sweed will be judged more on the expectations at the beginning of the season (which was that he'd be the 3rd or 4th WR).  So, without further ado, here they are (and I'm sure there will be some debate)...

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I may have missed it, but I don't recall hearing any details about the Lewis injury that landed him on the IR (other than that it was his back).  Also, I didn't hear anything about the mysterious illness that sent Sweed there either.  If anyone has the details, do share...

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First off, we are all Steeler fans here, and it was a great Win regardless and a real reason to celebrate!  Plus, our playoff hopes are not only still alive, they are within the realm of reasonable possibility.  That being said, I think I was one of the first to call out the on-side kick, and I gave my reasons why.  On this board, it seems like most fans loved it...but, I've heard differently among many other Steeler fans who totally hated it, so I'm thinking it's about a 50/50 split at this point.

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Big Ben said, "hell no!  I'm not going to let my coach's boneheaded move lose this game for us!  I'm gonna go down and win this damn thing, with a little help from my friends Heath, Hines, Tone, and Mikey."  And that's just what he did!

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Just read that she was charged for assault in a brawl at a game-watching party in Akron....damn!

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Rumor is Art III is negotiating contracts with both as we speak...

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There's really no need for words or explanations.  What we just saw on the field was an absolute joke of a performance from an NFL team.  Cleveland was the team playing a playoff game, and the Steelers looked like a bunch of sorry, rich, fat, lazy guys trying to keep their primadonna as**s warm.

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Ok, so there's been a lot of talk so far as to why we lost to the Raiders.  While it was a team effort in the loss, as it always is in any game (win or lose).  One thing we all watched (if you could bear to watch) is the secondary get torched for 3 TDs in the 4th QTR by a team that never even scored 20 pts. in a GAME all season.  Yet the saddest part is that this isn't the first time we saw something like this happen.  It has happend for most of the season.  So what would you do to fix the secondary?

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No I'm not calling for Tomlin's head at this point, but there has been a disturbing trend all season that this team can not hold a lead.  There no need for words or Tomlin-isms.  Some things should have been fixed by now and haven't been, which means some people should be let go.

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The Steelers are the 10th defending SB Champ to start the season 1-2, here's some facts about how that might play out...

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After an emabarrsing loss to Chicago last week, I didn't think they could do it again this week, but they did!

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Putting Stapleton on the IR may have answered one of the big questions as to which OL make the team, and cutting Nance early was classy since it gives him a chance to catch on somewhere else.  We all try to guess what the final 53-man will look like, and one way to try may just be to guess which 22 will get cut now(or put on IR or traded)

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Since Bruce Arians likes to use a lot of 3 and 4 wide receiver sets, this is a unit that will need depth behind starters Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.  Maybe that's the reason they have so many currently on the roster?  Typically, you would expect 5 WR's to make the 53-man roster, but this year 6 isn't out of the question.

As for TE's, Arians likes to use 2-TE sets with a lot of motion as well.  So, is 4 TE's on the final roster possible?

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I would like to take a look at the roster now that the mini-camps have begun and its time to start evaluating the players.  I picked the OL first, since it was one of the weaker units last year and received a lot of talk and speculation in the off-season.  In upcoming posts, I provide an analysis of each unit...after OL will be receivers, then backs, then QBs, then on D will be the line, LBs, then secondary...special teams will be last.  So, here goes...

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I actually haven't read any of the grades from the so called experts, but I'd give it a B+.  Here is my analysis...

Round 1 - I was pissed that the Brownies took our guy Alex Mack, but thought we might still get Wood, then the Bills took him.  The Seahawks passing on Sanchez and Jets trading up with the Brownies to get him threw things off a bit, or else maybe either Mack or Wood could have fell to us.  Any way, the Steelers did the best they could at that point by picking Hood. who filled a key need and was one of the best players on the board.  Max Unger would have been a reach at that point.  Grade = A (given the situation)

Round 2 - At first I was a bit surprised they traded down, but then I realized a few of the guys they were probably targeting were gone (a theme for the day).  I think given the pick of DL Hood in the first, DB Sherrod Martin was they guy they wanted, but Carolina took him 5 picks before.  Other guys they probably would have taken were OLs Phil Loadholt, Andy Levitre, or Max Unger (all gone earlier in 2nd).  DE Fili Moala would have been another guy they liked but he went to the Colts, plus having picked Hood, it was doubtful they'd go for a DE with 2nd pick...probably the reason they passed on Jarron Gilbert (who was best player on the board at 64) and traded down.  Grade = B+

Round 3a- I thought maybe they were targeting C Antoine Caldwell with the 3rd rounder they got from Denver, but the Texans took him two picks ahead of us...yet another disappointment!  At that point, I realized the Center of the future candidates were probably gone.  Next went Louis Vasquez to the Chargers (a guy Steelers looked at), but taking Kraig Urbik was probably better anyway since he is more versitile.  Grade = B

Round 3b - The next 3rd rounder, I was expecting them to take a WR named Mike..but with a last name of Thomas, or maybe a CB (I thought maybe Donald Washington), but the Mike Wallace pick seemed to make sense the more I looked at it...especially with his speed and KR return ability.  Grade = B+

Round 3c- At this point for sure, I was thinking Donald Washington, and was surprised when they took another CB named Keenan Lewis who I didn't know much about.  Turns out he was best friends with Wallace, ironic.  When you look at it, Lewis might be the kind of guy who can compete for a starting job (if not this year then next) or also maybe be considered as a FS (since he's not fast for a CB), which is an area where we need the depth.  Another guy who may also have been considered here was DT Sammie Lee HIll (as he went mid-4th). Grade = B-

Round 5a - The guy I was hoping they were going to take as the pick was approaching was FS Chris Clemons who I thought was underrated and would be a nice fit...but he went 3 picks ahead to Miami...(the theme continues).  I wasn't sure which way they would go at that point, and interestingly OL Herman Johnson went the pick before ours to the Cards, but they might have passed having already picked Urbik.  Anyway, taking CB/KR Joe Burnett wasn't a shock since they liked him, but having taken Lewis in 3rd and Wallace who is also a KR, I don't think Burnett was a need at that point.  However, there probably wasn't much else to consider at that point.  Grade = B-

Round 5b - I could hear the roar already when they announced Frank Summers.  I actually thought he might last until the 6th, but at this point, why risk it if he's the guy they want.  I think he'll make Carey Davis expendable and fill Gary Russell's short yardage roll quite well.  Grade = A-

Round 6 - When it was our turn and Ra'Shon Harris was still on the board, I thought maybe that's where they'd go...either him or A.Q. Shipley since we didn't get a C yet.  It makes even more sense now that they want to try him at NT since we need the depth there and missed out on Sammie Lee Hill.  Grade = A-

Round 7a - Getting A.Q. was a nice steal in a way, since we got both him and Harris anyway.  Not sure if he'll be the C of the future we were looking for, but he could be a nice back-up at least.  Grade = A-

Round 7b - I didn't know anything about David Johnson so I thought maybe it was a flier on a TE prospect.  I was wondering why they didn't pick an ILB for depth, but then when I read about Johnson the pick made a lot of sense.  He can be an H-back like Sean McHugh a bit, and come out of the backfield for a pass or make a block.  Might back the FB/back-up TE competition interesting.  Even more reason Carey Davis looks like his days are numbered.  Grade = B+

Haven't seen much on the signings of any UDFA, but I'd assume the will grab a QB to have another arm in camp.  Also, assume they'll get a couple more OL and DL bodies to bang around.  ILB for sure since the numbers are thin, and I'd think they'll need another S or two since depth is very thin.  Oh, and maybe a token P and K for extra legs.

I posted this as a reply last night but here it is as the draft is about to begin...

Soon enough we will know the answers, but I think here are the things we need to come out of the draft with:

1- Center of the future, from Mansfield to Webster to Dawson to Hartings we had 40 years of Hall of Fame/All-Pro play at the key position on our OL. It’s time we find a player that maybe has that kind of potential, and sitting at #32 we will likely have a shot at the top C in the draft (whether that be Mack or Wood you make the call).
2- WR that can at least be our #4 and ideally can return kicks. Sweed is still a ? until he proves he can step up and be our #3 (or even #2 of the future), and behind him there isn’t much.
3- DL depth. Everbody’s over 30 and Hampton and Keisel could be FA’s after the season. I’d love to have both back, but we still need to infuse some youth into the rotation.
4- Saftey depth. Ryan Clark will be a FA after season, and while it would be nice to have him back, it may be tough. Even if he’s signed, there’s really only Tyronne Carter as the backup to basically both him and Troy. So we need some insurance.

So all that being said, here are my predictions (you will notice a theme here):

#1-32 Alex Mack, C – I think he’s the best C in the draft and could come in right away and push Hartwig for the job. He can play some G too, kinda like the way Dirt Dawson did and then took over for Webster (if they like Eric Wood better, they can go in that directon too…I can’t imagine both would be gone at 32). However, if both are still there it might be worth trading down just a bit into Rd. 2 and pick up another 3rd or 4th.

#2-64 Sherrod Martin, DB – This is a tough one, because ideally it would be nice to get DE’s Jarron Gilbert or Fili Moala here, but I think both would be gone by 64, so they’d have to probably trade up to get one of them. It’s not out of the ? that they could. If they stay put, I think Martin could still be there and would be an ideal choice since he can play FS and CB and give them options as a potential future starter at either position.

#3-96 Mike Thomas, WR – he’s a short but stocky speedster who can play the slot and return kicks if needed.

#4-132 Sammie Lee Hill, DT – Small school stud who can develop either into a replacement for Hampton or work into the DL rotation even as a DE since he has the athletic ability at his size

1. Louis Vasquez, G – here is where I can see them trading their 5th (168) and their 6th which would give them enough pick value to move up high in the 5th to get someone they may like. Vasquez could be a RG prospect that could have starter potential down the road. Another option here would be if they saw a DE that they liked that they would go up and get.

#5-169 Scott McKillop, ILB – local kid from Pitt who could provide needed inside depth. Foote will be a FA after the season, and it’s likely that Timmons will replace him, but they can use some depth other than just Fox who is more known for his special teams play. (The other pick that would make sense here would be CB Don Carey if they were to get Gilbert or Moala in Rd. 2…or if they were to stay with both of their 5th rd. picks)

#6-205 I’m projecting they trade this pick, not sure if it’s a great place to pick unless someone falls that they like, otherwise you’re basically getting a 7th round type player here.

#7-226 Ra’Shon Harris, DE – He’s a prospect that they took a look at, and if they liked him he could fit the mould as a 3-4 DE and be developed into someone who could add depth.

#7-241 Frank “The Tank” Summers, FB – Popular guy with some of the posters here. I think he could be a short yardage back who could end up pushing Carey Davis off the roster

Ok, there it is…and the theme is obviously that these are all guys that the Steelers brought in for visits. Now, it’s unlikely that they will only draft guys that they brought in, but I did notice they seemed to have players spread out throughout various rounds in the draft giving them options depending on how it all shakes out. I haven’t heard much about which guys they didn’t like that they brought in, but maybe some were eliminated.

Anyway, we’ll find out soon enough. Draft day has gotta be one of my favorite days of the year! I can already hear Mel Kiper ranting and Berman bumbling and stumbling.