SB Nation User Blog: acrollet

New UDFA signings - long snapper + OT

acrollet — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:27:51 -0000

According to kffl.com, Steelers sign Tackle Ramon Foster (6'6" - 325) out of Tennessee and Long Snapper Mark Estermyer from Pitt.

From Nfl.com:

Foster is a three-year starter who won Freshman All-SEC honors in 2005 after stepping in at left guard and right tackle due to injuries. He primarily started at right tackle the past three seasons, but he will be tried inside and outside at the next level to see where he fits best. Foster was named to the ESPN Mark May's 2007 "MayDay Team" after playing with a broken thumb throughout most of his junior season. Had an arm span of 34 1/2 inches and a hand span of 10 inches at the combine.

From Pitt's website:

A vital part of Pitt's kicking game as the starting long snapper...handles punts, field goals and extra points...an incredibly consistent and reliable performer...is a true "student of snapping," watching endless film of himself and other long snappers on the pro and college levels...also accomplished in the classroom and was named to the Big East All-Academic Football Team each of the last three years.

Anyone know anything about these dudes?

UPDATE: From the comments - also signed: linebacker Tom Korte of Hillsdale College + safety Derrick Richardson of New Mexico State.

From Hillsdale's website:

Korte distinguished himself as one of the best linebackers in the 117-year history of Hillsdale College football during his career that spanned from 2005-08. He led the team in tackles three times, was named the team's most outstanding linebacker three times, and was tabbed First-Team All-GLIAC three times.

From the Las Cruces Sun-News:

Last year, Richardson was the Aggies' top defensive player and was among the country's best. He averaged 12.5 tackles per game, tops in the nation, and his 137 tackles were a career-best for a season.

Gary Russell released for more than a negligible cap hit

acrollet — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:03:34 -0000

Right on the heels of NYSteelersFan4 post about the fine line between "character issues" and youthful indiscretions comes news that Gary Russell was thought of Bengals material by the front office.

© SteelCityInsider.com's Jim Wexell has confirmed the rumors that were being bandied about the Steelers media room Monday that running back Gary Russell was released due to a run-in with the law.

Russell apparently was staying with a friend at a Columbus, Ohio home that was raided by police. A large stash of marijuana was found.

Dale Lolley has the whole story, be sure to give it a read. Also great news that Ike Taylor has restructured his contract to free up nearly a half mil of cap space...

Gary Russell signed by Cincinnati

acrollet — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:15:34 -0000

Gary Russell signed by Cincinnati

That was quick! No word on the particulars of the contract yet... Hate to see him become a Bungle, but that's the business..

The final word on why we only got a 5th rounder

acrollet — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:43:54 -0000

From Dale Lolley:

According to the compensatory pick rules, teams that lose a player with 10 or more NFL seasons under their belt are awarded a pick no higher than the fifth round for that player.

So it's a stupid rule, but it's a rule, and there's no "anti-Steelers bias" or knock-down for winning the Super Bowl. Doesn't take the sting off, but it's nice to know and be able to put an end to all the speculation...

Steelers to work out Eric Wood

acrollet — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:58:34 -0000

From Dale Lolley:

Louisville center Eric Wood is scheduled to visit the Steelers in the next couple of weeks and it a definite possibility to be the team's first-round draft pick.

Wood has been mentioned on here by Badmaafala and Datruth4life, but I haven't paid a lot of attention to his name, since Mack and Unger seem to be getting the most love around here. He says that he's willing to play guard, and has 49 consecutive starts at Louisville - seems pretty durable. Scout.com has a nice article about him.

Some linkage:

rival.com.

Bio at louisville's website.

So what do you draft gurus think? Is he a good pick at #32? Would anyone take him over Mack or Unger?

I'm on this plane right now :)

acrollet — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:16:34 -0000

I'm on this plane right now :)

Fox close to being signed

acrollet — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:17:20 -0000

Fox close to being signed

great news from Dale Lolley that Keyaron Fox is close to being signed - hopefully it's for 3-4 years and not too much money.

Why the Steelers nearly lost Super Bowl XLIII

acrollet — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:34:35 -0000

What causes this? (via static.nfl.com)

So, everyone's heard the crusty old quote - "The prevent defense/offense only prevents you from winning!" I personally think that we saw a perfect example of why that's true in this past game. Up by 13 with only a quarter to play, you saw the aggressive defense that had nearly completely shut down the Cardinals abandoned for a conservative, "stop the big play" defense that manifestly failed to do so. You also witnessed a conservative offense that was just trying to grind out the clock instead of trying to throw another set of nails in Arizona's coffin.

That last paragraph sounds fine, but it's really only an opinion without some kind of scientific fact to back it up. Isn't it better to be conservative when you have the lead? After all, you don't want to get aggressive and give up an INT return, or allow a big play on defense... I can't recommend this article highly enough for a scholarly, thorough statistical analysis of why this is exactly the wrong approach, and why it leads to losing games. The author gives a great statistical analysis of win probability by lead vs. time in game, and what it means (or should mean) to coaches. I'm not going to excerpt much of it, because it should be read in its entirety, but I will whet your appetite with this:

Something big happens right around the 4th quarter mark that changes the nature of the game. This seems to be the point where teams stop playing a conventional contest of point maximization, and they start maneuvering for the end game. Teams that are ahead would take fewer risks while teams that are behind would take greater risks. Both teams would start managing the clock, either jockeying for that extra possession or running down the clock.

...

Throughout much of the 2nd half, a team with the ball, down by 1 point, will probably win the game.

...

Effectively, this means that throughout much of the 4th quarter, teams on defense with a one point lead are already losing. They just don't know it yet.

Anyway, we all know how it ended - the Cardinals scored too quickly, which was our saving grace - if they had ground out two more minutes of clock, we're probably here discussing this very topic with much more fire instead of marveling at what a gamer #7 is...

Food for thought - what do all of you think?

The TD that wasn't?

acrollet — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:01:33 -0000

I was re-watching some of the super bowl this evening, and was struck by how questionable Larry Fitzgerald's first TD looks. I went ahead and grabbed some screen captures for everyone to see and comment upon...

Now, before the inevitable comments start rolling in - this is not in any way sour grapes, I have no beef with the officiating, etc. This is merely to point out that while there were some questionable calls, they really went both ways, and I don't think there's any way to realistically say that the refs gave Pittsburgh the game...

Here they are:

via farm4.static.flickr.com

Sound off!

Poll

Was it a TD?

absolutely no question in my mind

18 votes

probably, but it's a little iffy

59 votes

good chance it would have been overturned if challenged

67 votes

ARE YOU BLIND, REF?!?!??!

13 votes

157 votes | Poll has closed

Fun espn video talking about some of the Steelers' nicknames - worth it just to hear some new ones...

acrollet — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:28:11 -0000

Fun espn video talking about some of the Steelers' nicknames - worth it just to hear some new ones for Casey Hampton.