SB Nation User Blog: ec

Sports Illustrated predicts the Pats win it all

ec — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:12:10 -0000

First, I think it's great news that the SI team led by Peter King, who is almost never remotely right with his predictions, is calling for the Pats to win it all. Chasing 19-0 again, is how they put it. This, along with the LV odds-makers' predictions, will certainly help motivate a Steeler team that historical draws great inspiration from being counted out or underestimated. It is just the right medicine to counter any unlikely post-SB let-down in the Tomlin era.

Second, shouldn't King be required to disclose his personal bias? The guy was born in Springfield, MA and grew up in CT. He regularly has picked the Pats and spends an inordinate amount of time covering them. We all know about the natural big media bias toward New England corridor teams, but he seems a particularly egregious offender.

Finally, on the substance of his prediction, King projects that the Pats will drop only 3 games despite their top-five toughest schedule (e.g., Ravens, Falcons, Colts, Titans, Saints, Texans and the Dolphins twice), while the Steelers, with one of the lightest will drop 5. Does anyone who isn't a Foxborough homey really understand this? Granted, the Pats have reloaded the Death Star with Brady back in that offense, but can they really stop anyone with their defense? Peter King called out this dangerous achilles heel when the Colts possessed it, but not when his beloved Pats do. Meanwhile, does anyone doubt that the Steelers have the same once-in-a-decade caliber squad in their defense, but with an offensive unit that also wins games (final SB drive ring a bell, Mr. King?)? Better schedule and better balance should produce a better record, assuming no injury problems. I'm not sure what King is thinking. Or maybe he's not...

Thoughts?

Steeler Training Camp Too Soft!

ec — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:57:08 -0000

I have read more than one local article and blog suggesting that the Steelers training camp is more relaxed than last year and far more relaxed that Tomlin's first camp, or what Bill Belichick regularly runs in New England. One article noted that while players in many camps are fined for sitting on their helmets, the Steelers are regularly lounging around. Meanwhile, players have voluntarily stepped out of practices to chat with celebrities who have come to watch practices (John Legend and Ving Rhames are recent examples).

Now, I know that the Steelers looked pretty solid for the 10 minutes that the starters were on the field, but I worry that more of the '06 complacency, that left the team out of the playoffs following a SB win, is beginning to show. Much has been made about not talking about last season's championship, but watching Tomlin, Brett Kiesel, Tre Essex and Charlie Batch join Big Ben in Hollywood antics for the Shaq Versus show made me think that the team is not hungry enough.

I hope that I am wrong, and that the relaxed mood doesn't hurt their play. But there is a reason that few teams repeat, and maintaining focus over more than a season is very rare. I wonder what others think...

2010 Compensatory Picks

ec — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:22:49 -0000

Assuming the Steelers do not pick up any free agents during this offseason, then how many losses would count against their compensatory picks calculation? Does anyone know? Clearly, Bryant McFadden and Nate Washington will count. However, will Anthony Smith count? What about Marvell Smith? He just signed with the 49ers. If players are cut from the team prior to an offer being made, then I thought that they would not count toward the compensatory picks calculation. Is this correct? If so, then why shouldn't the Steelers have delayed releasing players until other teams had shown interest?

What Leigh Bodden says about the Steelers free agency moves

ec — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:54:17 -0000

This was some recent press on Bodden:

***

Broncos linebacker Andra Davis turned a few heads with remarks in the Boston Herald about new Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden.

"He’s one of those Champ Bailey corners," Davis said of Bodden, his former Browns teammate. "I used to tell my agent he was one of the best corners in the league."

Bodden got his first serious notice when Bengals star Chad Johnson said Bodden was the best corner he faced. An anticipated breakthrough to big money stalled when Bodden had an injury-plagued 2007 with the Browns, then spent 2008 seeming lost after getting traded to the hapless Lions.

Bodden, 27, signed a one-year deal with the Patriots worth a reported $2.25 million.

"They really got a steal," Davis told the Herald. "He just has that swagger and that confidence to line up against anybody and shut them down.

"He’s going to do great in New England ... being around a better bunch of players, and on a team that’s supposed to win."

***

Now, Bodden is from Duquesne and presumably would have been interested in playing for the most recent SB winners and top defense in the league while returning to his old college town. Why was he not brought in? The Patriots picked him up for a price that the Steelers could afford ($2.25M). By most accounts and statistical measures, he would have been an upgrade over McFadden, not to mention Gay.

I know that the Steelers' lack of free agency activity is worn as a badge of honor, but that shouldn't be the case. The lack of stupid free agent signings should be a badge of honor, but deals to get Bettis or Farrior should be replicated with the frequency with which the Patriots do it. The Steelers are as attractive a team as the Pats, and Tomlin should leverage that asset the way Belichek does. I could be wrong about Bodden (and, by implication, Gay), but I see this as a missed opportunity that could haunt the Steelers this season. More importantly, it highlights free agency as a missing piece in Pittsburgh's team building that should be addressed so they can keep pace with the Pats. As a Steelers fan, it pains me to say that New England appears to have the edge going into the season, and, with 6 draft picks in the top 100, they could widen their lead next month...

Don't get me wrong. I am a die-hard Steelers fan and have been since the early 70's. But a true fan sees his team clearly and doesn't let hope and loyalty mask observed weaknesses that IMO should be addressed.

The Patriots picked up Leigh Bodden for veteran minimum prices ($750K). Do we like Chris Carr more...

ec — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:43:37 -0000

The Patriots picked up Leigh Bodden for veteran minimum prices ($750K). Do we like Chris Carr more or are we feeling a little jealous, as Steelers fans??

How can you hate the Steelers?

ec — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:49:13 -0000

There's a great article on the FoxSports website detailing how hard it is to hate the Steelers, given all the great aspects of the franchise. Citing it as one of the very top brand names in all of sports, the author goes on to name several celebrities that are long-time fans. Perhaps most die-hard supporters already knew most of what's in the article, but I found myself getting a warm, tingly feeling inside reading it nonetheless. You can find it at:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9123622/It's-pretty-hard-to-hate-the-Steelers#

Enjoy!

Raven's "take-out" of Chris Johnson (NYT article)

ec — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:24:31 -0000

The following links you to an interesting article concerning the questionable actions by Ray Lewis and company that resulted in Johnson coming out of the AFC Divisional game last weekend.

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/did-the-ravens-defense-take-out-tennessees-chris-johnson/

Given that the referees flagged the wrong team (Tenn) during the fracas that ensued after manhandling the runningback, I wonder what people think the Steeler players and staff ought to do before and during such an incident this Sunday. This is not an unlikely hypothetical, given what the Ravens did to Mendenhall in the first matchup between the two teams. I wonder whether the Ravens will get out of Pittsburgh alive if they attempt to do this to Willie Parker while the refs stand idly by... Thoughts?

Historical Win-Loss Record

ec — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:08:28 -0000

Perhaps this is old news to some, but I just saw that the Steelers now have the best w-l record since the start of free agency ('93) and the second best record since the formation of the NFL ('70). They are also the only team appearing near the top on both lists. The details, courtesy of the most recent Steelers game notes, are as follows:

Since Merger:

Team W L T Win-%

1. Miami Dolphins 363 233 2 .609

2. Pittsburgh Steelers 362 234 2 .607

3. Dallas Cowboys 356 242 0 .595

4. Denver Broncos 347 245 6 .587

Since Free Agency:

Team W L T Win-%

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 159 94 1 .628

2. New England Patriots 159 95 0 .626

3. Green Bay Packers 157 97 0 .618

favorable weather (again)

ec — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 09:48:39 -0000

The twelfth man on the Steelers' team last week in Gillette Stadium was the weather, which helped slow the Patriots' explosive offense and likely helped to cause a couple Randy Moss drops. The weather in Pittsburgh during the game is projected to include snow and 15-25 mph winds. This will help the Steelers clamp down on Romo, TO, Witten and Williams. I also hear that the cold weather expected might make Ware's hyperextended knee feel pretty arthritic and stiff. Isn't winter great?!?

Orpheus Roye...

ec — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:26:56 -0000

...signed by the Steelers. It's in the local papers as of an hour ago. It is probably not a big lift to the quality of the defensive line, given his age and the fact he was released by the Eagles, but he cannot be much worse than Eason and the other backups. If he can spell Big Snack, along with Hoke, then maybe it's a good thing. Importantly, adding to depth cannot hurt, as the Patriots have shown time and time again. I wonder what this means for the prospects of Booger McFarland making this team...