SB Nation User Blog: grapes

I AM NOT MEL KIPER

grapes — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:17:01 -0000

I'm no Mel Kiper so I would like some help with this one. Reading many of the posts it seems like opinions vary wildly on what position to go after in round #1. On defense in seems we need help at all the levels (secondary, linebacker, and line). Do we go after an ilb to replace Farrior? A nosetackle to replace Hampton if he is unsigned? A corner or safety to help out Troy? How about the offensive lineman people have been screaming for? I guess the only places we wouldn't go in round one is QB, WR, and RB. To me it's a toss up as to which defensive position needs to be filled immediately.

Keep the following in mind, we have not drafted a corner #1 since 1997 (Chad Scott) and we have not drafted two players back to back #1 at the same position since 1999-2000 with Edwards/Burress (what does that say about Troy Edwards?). Really the only two non productive #1 picks in the last fifteen years or so have been Edwards (99) and the nearly all pro Jamaine Stephens (96).

Obviously where we go depends upon our draft position and who has not been taken in front of us. For the sake of this discussion lets assume we draft somewhere between 12-20. The other consideration is to we draft someone we feel can start right away, or do we look longer term. I am not a patient person, so would go for the former (but then again I don't run a football team).

COWHER VS. TOMLIN

grapes — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:50:34 -0000

I guess it is all about instant gratification. I remember, this summer, reading posts about how Cowher was not that great a coach because we should have won more SB's under him with the talent we had. At this point in time we had just won a SB, and Tomlin was a young genius for winning it in his second year. The smack talk was all about Bill.

Now, at 6-6, we have fans posting on Tomlin being good PR man with some witty sayings, and not a very good coach.

I'm not saying Tomlin is perfect, in fact I think he is too stubborn sometimes, but let's keep things in perspective. It is not realistic to think we will be dominant all the time, under any coach, ever. Yes, the talent might be better than last year, and it rips my heart out to see them play this way, but I have good and bad days at work too, and so do my supervisors. Let's keep it real. Tomlin is a good coach an this will be worked out eventually.

ARIANS FAULT?

grapes — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:10:02 -0000

I know we all love to bust on Arians, and he deserves it. But don't you think with this year's offensive "issues" some or most of the blame should be put on Tomlin? Week after week the play calling is consistantly poor, but hasn't been changed. Isn't it Tomlin's job as CEO to put Bruce in his place and dictate which plays to call when. I don't mean every play, but he should be given some parameters on what to call in key down and distance situations. I think Tomlin is great, but he can really be stubborn at times.

Robopunter? Not according to the stats.

grapes — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:29:55 -0000

Sitting in the stands before the Bengals game I saw one of the most amazing football displays ever, Dan Sepulveda warming up. Each and every punt seemed to fly sixty yards in the air, and those that didn't were perfectly placed inside the ten yard line, it was awesome. But after watching that game in person, and the Chiefs game on TV, especially the touchback in overtime, I thought that maybe we might be giving Robopunter too much credit for his game performances.

Here are the stats: 2007-42.4 yards/punt avg. -18th in the NFL-(rookie year)

2008-41.3 yards/punt avg.-Mitch Berger (fans pounded on him all year)

2009-43.7 yards/punt avg.-19th in the NFL

Wow, less than 2.5 yards different per punt than Berger?

Is his "robopunter" nickname deserved? Statistically he is the definition of mediocrity, is it his physique and practice kicks that have endeared him to fans? Was the 4th round pick used on him justified? I don't know, just curious what 'yall think?

Unreal stats

grapes — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:45:24 -0000

1. 8 games in a row with teams scoring on a kick/int/fumble return for a touchdown?

2. 184 points given up-56 not by the defense?

3. 4 losses by a total of 15 points?

4. 233 more yards of offense than KC today, over 400 yrds. pasing, over 500 yrds. of offense, and we lose today?

You couldn't make this stuff up and have it be believable. Are we all living in bizarro world?

SECOND FITZGERALD TD IN SB

grapes — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:32:20 -0000

Home sick with bronchitis, so I occupied myself with football thoughts. On the second Fitzgerald touchdown in the SB, was there a blown defensive assignment (if so by whom), or was it just a case of Fitzgerald making an incredible play. Did LeBeau ever say anything? The only reference I heard from Dick after the game was "we were out of position a couple of times". Anybody know?

These are the additional words I needed to add in order to make 75

Low jersey numbers for receivers, what up with that?

grapes — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:51:03 -0000

Anybody have any idea why there is a trend of giving receivers low numbers? For years 99% of all receivers had numbers in the eighties. Over the last five years or so it's been chic to use the numbers 10-19. Look at the Steelers: Holmes #10, Logan #11, Sweed #14, and Wallace #17. I think Quincy Morgan back in '05 might have been the first with the Steelers. Only problem is, sometimes when I see #10 I have a flashback and think that Kordell is the QB! Actually I kind of like the low numbers. Receivers could where single digit number if they wanted to right?

HOLDING HARRISON

grapes — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:18:09 -0000

I've been a football fan for 35+ years, and for the life of me I can't figure out why holding on James Harrison is not called more often! I noticed it again against the Bills, last year he was almost getting his shirt ripped off on many plays, yet no flags. I don't believe the "refs against the Steelers" arguements, is he that good, therefore it can't be called everytime? Anyone out there with reasonable possible reasons, I can't come up with one.

TOP FIVE STEELERS QUARTBACKS SINCE BRADSHAW-#1 ENOUGH SAID

grapes — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:09:41 -0000

Actually here we're only talking about #2-5.

Since Bradshaw retired in '83, the Steelers have had 15 quaterbacks that have won/lost games. How would you list the top 2-5? How about the bottom 5? Here they are with years played in Pittsburgh and wins/losses:

Cliff Stoudt   1980-83   9-7
Mark Malone   1980-87   21-24
David Woodley   1984-85   7-6
Scott campbell   1984-86   0-2
Bubby Brister   1986-92   28-29

Steve Bono 1987 (strike games) 2-1

Todd Blackledge 1988-89 2-3

Neil O'Donnell 1991-95 39-22

Mike Tomzcak 1993-99 15-12

Kordell Stewart 1995-02 46-29

Jim Miller 1995-96 0-1

Kent Graham 2000 2-3

Tommy Maddox 2002-05 15-15-1

Charlie Batch 2003-2008 3-1

Big Ben 2004-2008 51-20

1979 Chargers game-anyone remember? Still bothers me

grapes — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:21:46 -0000

Anybody out there remember the1979 Chargers loss like I do? For some reason I have been fixated on this loss for the last thirty years. It was crushing and I never dreaded playing another team in the playoffs as much as that Fouts led "Air Corryell" offense (the rematch never occured because the Chargers lost to Houston the week before the championship game). The Steel Curtain defense was rapidly aging and had slowed a bit, and the thought of Wes Chandler, John Jefferson, and Kellen Winslow running free down field was terrifying to a 14 year old obsessed with the Steelers. For about a four year period (79-82, coincidently my high school years) they were the last team I wanted to play, and we lost to them all three times we played.

On a brighter note we did win the SB that year (with some difficulty; dreadful third quarter). It marked the begining of the end for the first Steeler dynasty. The retirements began before the following season, I think Mike Wagner was one of the first.