SB Nation User Blog: acrollet

This was the scene after the game last night - chanting, towel-waving... You really would have...

acrollet — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:15:25 -0000

Steelers @ Broncos aftermath from Adrian on Vimeo.

This was the scene after the game last night - chanting, towel-waving... You really would have thought you were at Heinz field.

Rashard Mendenhall is earning the moniker Rush-Hard

acrollet — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:42:16 -0000

As I was watching the game last night, I saw something that we haven't seen from the Pittsburgh running game in quite a while - namely, consistent positive yardage against a good rushing defense. This is huge, because it opens up the offense for Big Ben and his merry band of wideouts. All of a sudden, play action is effective, defenses are forced to stay in the box longer, and the oft-maligned Bruce Arians is able to stick with the run game. It's one thing to say that you're going to commit to the run, and another thing to keep at it when your run game is consistently putting you in second and 13. I was very impressed by seeing Mendenhall consistently hit the hole hard and pick up 3 or 4 yards, keeping the offense ahead of the chains. Eventually, of course, this paid big dividends as the defense wore down and had to respect the threat of the pass. More stats after the jump.

via www.post-gazette.com

Of #34's 20 carries outside the redzone, all but 4 went for 3 or more yards, and all but 2 went for positive yardage. There's also some nice playcalling in there - towards the end of the game, you had 3 runs towards the right for a combined -3 yards. This set up the defense nicely for a run behind left guard for 36 yards. That was the infamous "step out of bounds" run - couldn't understand it at the time, but as much as the coaches have been in his ear about ball security, that may have just been him deciding to make the safe play. (Especially after the "leap for the 5 yard line" debacle a couple of weeks ago...)

All of Mendenhall's runs in order:

Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 22 for 5 yards
Mendenhall left tackle to PIT 37 for 6 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 23 for 3 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 27 for 4 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 31 for 4 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 45 for 3 yards
Mendenhall right tackle to PIT 30 for 6 yards
Mendenhall left tackle to PIT 33 for 3 yards
Mendenhall right end pushed ob at DEN 38 for 24 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 6 for 3 yards
Mendenhall right tackle pushed ob at PIT 48 for 28 yards
Mendenhall right tackle to DEN 25 for 8 yards
Mendenhall right tackle to PIT 34 for 1 yard
Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 43 for 2 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to DEN 44 for 4 yards
Mendenhall right guard to DEN 19 for 6 yards
Mendenhall right end to DEN 25 for -6 yards
Mendenhall right tackle to PIT 23 for -3 yards
Mendenhall left guard pushed ob at DEN 46 for 36 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to DEN 3 for 18 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to DEN 4 for -1 yards
Mendenhall up the middle to DEN 3 for 1 yard

In summary, say hello to the future of Pittsburgh's running game. It's somewhat sad and poignant to see Willie Parker on the sidelines, but it's the right thing for the team.

Poll

Rashard Mendenhall currently has an even hundred carries for 573 yards. (That's an other-worldly 5.7 ypc for those of you keeping score at home) Will he finish the regular season:

Fanhouse explains the calls from last Sunday.

acrollet — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:46:30 -0000

Fanhouse explains the calls from last Sunday.

"Simmer down, Stealers haters"

Jeff Reed forgetting that this is tackle football.

acrollet — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:47:48 -0000

Jeff Reed forgetting that this is tackle football.

Check out angry Ben after the late hit - I think you would have seen punches thrown if the refs...

acrollet — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:43:06 -0000

Late hit on Big Ben from Adrian on Vimeo.

Check out angry Ben after the late hit - I think you would have seen punches thrown if the refs weren't right there.

Is Gay the weakest link?

acrollet — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:32:03 -0000

In Blitzburgh's excellent summary of last Sunday's game, the following stuck out to me:

William Gay had 8 tackles on Sunday, increasing his season total to 30. Only James Farrior, Ryan Clark and James Harrison have more tackles. In case you were wondering, I don't necessarily think this is a good thing. I tip my hat to Gay for playing hard and for making some nice plays in each of the Steelers first seven games, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's the weak link not only in the team's secondary, but the entire defense as well. Teams are going right at Gay most weeks, hence the high tackle totals. And they're definitely making him pay when he gives his man too big a cushion. I don't have the exact total on me, but there were at least four or five plays where Favre quickly slung the ball out to the wide receiver that Gay was defending

Another tackle he shouldn't have had to make? (via zimbio.com)

Gay's stat line for the game: 9 tackles (8 solo) with one pass defensed.

I thought I remembered Gay with some bad plays, but I really thought I remembered some pretty solid ones, too. In the interests of truth, justice, and the american way, I decided to go through and watch all the plays he was involved in. The play-by-play with my notes follows after the break.

1st quarter:

2-18-MIN 10 (10:40) 29-C.Taylor left guard to MIN 14 for 4 yards (22-W.Gay, 94-L.Timmons).

This was a good play by Gay - he diagnosed the situation correctly, and came up to help make the tackle.

2-12-MIN 15 (7:36) 4-B.Favre pass short left to 17-G.Lewis to MIN 22 for 7 yards (22-W.Gay).

On a long passing down, Gay closed quickly and made an excellent shoestring tackle. Good play.

3-5-MIN 22 (6:58) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short right to 12-P.Harvin to MIN 29 for 7 yards (22-W.Gay).

Not so good - there appeared to be some miscommunication or hesitance between Gay and Taylor as Harvin and another receiver crossed each other. Still, he gave up the 1st down to his man, and it could have been more had Favre hit him in stride instead of about 2 inches off the ground. Bad play.

2cd quarter:

3-6-MIN 28 (9:46) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass deep left to 12-P.Harvin to PIT 44 for 28 yards (25-R.Clark) [22-W.Gay].

This was the infamous hesitation on the cornerback blitz - it's possible that Favre would have still gotten the pass off if he hadn't stopped for a split second, but probably not. Bad play.

2-5-PIT 39 (8:39) 4-B.Favre pass short right to 87-B.Berrian to PIT 32 for 7 yards (22-W.Gay).

Gay was lined up nearly 10 yards off the LOS, and gave up the easy 1st down on the screen pass. I don't know if you blame LeBeau or Gay here - the game plan definitely seemed to be to keep everything in front of the D, and you give up a lot of the short stuff that way. Even if Gay had instantly diagnosed the play and flown up like Troy, you're probably talking 3rd and inches, with AP in the backfield. Call this one a wash.

1-10-PIT 21 (7:23) 4-B.Favre pass incomplete short left to 87-B.Berrian. Coverage by #22 Gay.

Berrian missed the catch with Gay about 4 yards away - probably an 8 yard gain if Berrian comes back for a poorly aimed Favreball. Lucky play.

3-1-PIT 12 (6:41) 28-A.Peterson left guard to PIT 3 for 9 yards (25-R.Clark, 22-W.Gay).

Gay keeps his head in the play and gets off a block in time to help Clark save a TD. Good play.

3rd quarter:

1-10-PIT 44 (8:11) 4-B.Favre pass short left to 17-G.Lewis to PIT 44 for no gain (22-W.Gay).

Good diagnosis and a good tackle on another screen - good play.

4th quarter:

2-4-MIN 20 (12:25) 4-B.Favre pass incomplete deep right to 12-P.Harvin (22-W.Gay).

On a deep pass that would almost certainly have gone for 6, Gay does an excellent job of staying with the receiver and turning around and making a play on the ball - no defensive pass interference, and a good play at a crucial point in the game.

2-13-MIN 34 (11:00) 4-B.Favre pass short left to 17-G.Lewis to MIN 39 for 5 yards (22-W.Gay).

On a quick snap against an unprepared defense, Gay does a good job of reacting and making the tackle instantly - good play.

1-10-PIT 46 (9:45) 4-B.Favre pass short left to 17-G.Lewis to PIT 40 for 6 yards (22-W.Gay).

Another play with a big cushion - Gay makes the tackle and doesn't allow Lewis to make any YAC - good play.

1. 3-J.Reed kicks 43 yards from PIT 30 to MIN 27. 12-P.Harvin to MIN 37 for 10 yards (22-W.Gay, 11-S.Logan).

Gay helps make a very important special teams tackle on an excellent returner who had just busted one for 6. He was first to Harvin, and stopped him in the open field, allowing others to come in and help him clean up. GREAT play.

1. 1-10-MIN 48 (:28) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass incomplete deep right to 12-P.Harvin. Coverage by #26 Townsend, #22 Gay.

This was a practically a hail mary by Favre, though well thrown - coverage was all Townsend, Gay would have only been good for clean-up. This was a wash to slightly bad on Gay's part.

Conclusion:

By my count, Gay's record on the day was 8-3-2 - 8 good plays on the game, 3 bad plays, and 2 meh plays. Yes, he was getting targeted a lot - that happens when you're starting opposite "face me" Ike Taylor. Overall I thought he did a decent to good job, considering the coverages he was assigned. Best of all, he really seemed to step up his game after a somewhat shaky start. It may be fair to call Gay the weak link of the entire defense, but only because the rest of the D played an outstanding game. (Ike Taylor certainly gave up a few passes himself...) I would welcome any and all comments - I don't hold myself up as any tape watching expert, but this is what I saw.

Addendum:

I went back and watched all plays of over 5 yards where Gay is not listed in the play-by-play to look for missed tackles. I didn't bother watching the last garbage time drive. (started with 1:00 left in the 4th)

2cd quarter:

2-10-PIT 32 (7:51) 4-B.Favre pass short left to 87-B.Berrian to PIT 21 for 11 yards (92-J.Harrison):

This was a missed tackle by Gay that would have held Berrian to a 4-5 yard gain.

4th quarter:

3-4-MIN 45 (2:00) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short middle to 28-A.Peterson to PIT 26 for 29 yards (57-K.Fox).

This was the infamous trucking by Adrian Peterson. He did make an effort to grab AP's legs after getting creamed, so points for effort there I guess.

Modified Conclusion:

With these two additional plays, put his record at 8-5-2.

Poll

What do you think of Willie Gay's performance last Sunday?

Thumbs up - about as good as you can expect against Favre, Harvin and company

45 votes

Meh - could be better, could be worse.

97 votes

Thumbs down - cut him and kidnap McFadden!

11 votes

153 votes | Poll has closed

Adrian Peterson Joins Antoine Winfield On Vikings' Injured List

acrollet — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:41:37 -0000

Adrian Peterson Joins Antoine Winfield On Vikings' Injured List

Peterson was listed as limited with a sprained ankle on Wednesday. Sounds like he'll still play this Sunday, however.

Steelers kicker Reed cited for public intoxication

acrollet — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:56:31 -0000

Steelers kicker Reed cited for public intoxication

Wow, what a surprise - happened last night after the game on the north shore. Who thinks we might have a new kicker next year?

Getting Ziggy with it?

acrollet — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:03:19 -0000

Dagger from Post Game Heroes did an excellent job creating a video showing every snap that Ziggy Hood played in Detroit. I thought about embedding it in this post, but he went to a lot of effort and deserves the traffic - you can see it here. I'm really curious to hear what people think of his performance. In my inexpert opinion, he's really close, and just needs the game to slow down for him. (to wear out a cliché) He's giving tons of effort, occupying his man, and pushing the pocket on passing plays. He had a couple of "almosts" on two big plays for Detroit:

*just* misses an ankle tackle on a 13 or 14 yard run for Detroit. He had gotten well behind the LOS, and looked surprised to see the ball carrier going just as fast the other way.
was a split second away from shoving his man right into Daunte Culpepper's face mask on the late TD pass.

#96 played at every position on the line, including nose on at least one passing down that I saw. I think that as he gets more comfortable with his assignments and plays more snaps, we're going to start seeing some big plays from him. That doesn't mean that he won't give up a few during his on the job training, of course.

via blackamarillo.us

What did you all see?

Browns @ Steelers on 1310 AM in Dallas this Sunday

acrollet — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:45:53 -0000

Browns @ Steelers on 1310 AM in Dallas this Sunday

From the "better than nothing" department...