SB Nation User Blog: ncoolong

Pregame Zone Blitz: Raiders at Steelers

ncoolong — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:45:16 -0000

More photos » by Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

There's a special feature in the PZB this week. Not football-related, but it's still packed with enough information to suggest Pittsburgh is poised to break out of their three-game losing streak in a big way.

Losing to the Ravens is never fun, but...it was actually a pretty fun game to watch. No bitterness, no animosity, we're just Seeing Dennis Dixon, and we're getting a whole lot of funk.

I had a beer with a fellow travelling Minnesotan at the Buckeye Bar in Port Columbus International Airport. We joked with the college-aged Buckeyes-obsessed bartender, shared a few laughs at Cleveland's expense, while the calming beer-buzz got me ready to board the cattle car headed home.

We approached the gate, and through the dark, we saw the plane, but with it, two police squad cars, followed by a long line of vehicles; trucks, Chevys, Hondas.

My new friend clearly is more versed in airports than I (although I travel a bit), and he mentioned something about having "seen this before."

I asked if it was a funeral, and another traveler gathered around our expanding group of onlookers.

"Honor guard," he grunted.

It wasn't as if he said it loudly, or that everyone could have heard it, but there was a pall that overtook everyone. Within the next 10 seconds, seemingly out of obligation, every person in the gate was gathered by the window. Staring, observing, perhaps reminiscing. A hearse slowly made its way to the plane we were about to board. I couldn't take my eyes off it, not having a clue whether the coffin was coming out of the plane, or if they going to place it on board.

A single mother held her two daughters close to her, all three in tears. It wouldn't make sense for them to know whomever it was this procession was for, but it was as if they did.

We all did. Somehow or other, whomever it was, we knew him or her.

The honor guard lined up with a sense of purpose, in full uniform, and marched proudly yet solemnly toward the plane.

It was noticeable in their gait; it was the least they could do.

A soldier returned home without his or her life. I tear ran down my cheek as I could hear the young girls sobbing, asking their mother what was going on. The mother didn't answer. The emotion was so thick in the air no one dared move.

We stood at full attention, watching the casket draped with an American flag be wheeled out of the cargo bay of the plane.

The only thoughts I had were that I wasn't moving until that casket was out of my sight, and what that soldier was thinking in the final moments of his or her life.

Maybe about family. Maybe about God. Obviously that person wasn't thinking about me, but I felt obligated to honor this person in what little way I could; I wasn't going to move until that casket and that flag were properly placed in the hearse.

Strangely, it seemed everyone else had the same thought. The gate attendant didn't even interrupt this small honor for that soldier.

I hoped the last thought this soldier had was about the honor and respect he would be paid upon his tragic return. I prayed that he or she know that he was honored by 150 stranger travelers. I prayed that the soul of that person was able to see 150 people standing at attention, honoring his or her sacrifice.

I hoped this person knew his or her heroic return stopped the actions of 150 people waiting anxiously to get home. I hoped he or she was aware of the sobering moment we all had, and in that, he or she was given the sense of honor and pride they dedicated themselves to.

Most of all, I hoped when this is published, a soldier or family member of a soldier reads it, and is comforted by the fact that at least 150 people inside Gate C54 at Port Columbus International Airport honored that returning soldier.

And I can't imagine anyone will forget it.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

Does it take an "Idiot" to solve the Raiders current woes? Saint of Silver ‘N Black Pride has a few ideas.

This is one of the bluntest, funniest headlines I've ever read.

Raiders SS Tyvon Branch answers some questions from Raiders Faithful on Silver ‘N Black Pride.

Raiders All-World CB Nnamdi Asomugha takes the Raiders defense to task.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk takes a hilarious shot at the Browns current misfortune.

Last Game

In email/IM conversations with Site Commander Blitzburgh and my buddy Keith from Steel Curtain Rising, I learned something I thought I already knew; it's tough to win every week in the NFL.

Seems simple, but with the amount of games Pittsburgh has won recently, and in comparison to other teams that can't do what we do each week, it's a helluvan accomplishment to suggest we're bitter to the point of agony over a three-game losing streak.

I can't say I'm happy about the loss, but one thing I can't get out of my head is just how much fun that game was to watch. Obviously, I want a win as much as the next Steelers fan, but watching the future main contributors to this great rivalry - Ray Rice, Lawrence Timmons, maybe even Dennis Dixon - was tremendously enjoyable.

We hate Baltimore, of course. Frankly, though, I'd rather see Baltimore win than Cincinnati. Get your pitchforks and torches ready, cuz you're going to kill me for suggesting this, but we lost to a great team, a great coach and a great franchise.

We were so close to winning, much like the Ravens were in three games last year (well maybe two and a half games). Unlike Kansas City, the Steelers put up a commendable effort, and came close to beating a formidable opponent on their soil.

I'm not hanging my head over this loss. Iron sharpens iron, after all. My hat's off to the Ravens, that one is just another chapter in the story of the best rivalry in football.

We'll see them again in Pittsburgh, hopefully, with our main guys. I'm looking forward to it.

Opponent Spotlight: Nnamdi Asomugha

The advantage the best player on a bad team has is massive exposure. It's tough to talk about anyone else. But frankly, very few players can boast being at the level Asomugha is at.

It's difficult for the average fan to truly apply value to defensive backs. Asomugha is the prototype example of that. Is the fact that he's the only defensive back in the league who's played more than 400 snaps and been targeted less than 25 times (24) due to his ability, or the dozens of holes that exist on the Raiders defense?

Truthfully, it's probably both.

Why throw at Asomugha when you can throw at his counterpart, Chris Johnson (77 targets in 749 plays, 7^th highest total in the league)?

Regardless of the reasons behind it, the fact is teams will not throw at Asomugha, hence the reason he barely has any statistical accomplishments this season (1 INT, 1 pass defensed).

Working with only half the field hasn't prevented teams from putting whooping on the Raiders, though. The Raiders have given up 13 pass plays of over 40 yards (2^nd highest in the league) and they are 3-8 going into Sunday.

Because of all this, expect the Steelers to take an Ignorance is Bliss stance; they have nothing to gain by challenging one of the league's elite defenders, but his ability to lock down half the field alters Pittsburgh's wide-open passing attack.

Steelers Spotlight: RBs Rashard Mendenhall and Willie Parker

Mendenhall has to be licking his chops in watching film. Oakland allows 4.6 yards per carry and has allowed a league-high 17 rushing touchdowns. Add in the fact QB Ben Roethlisberger is returning from a head injury that kept him out of Pittsburgh's last game, it seems like the perfect opportunity for Mendenhall to have a career game.

Is 216 yards possible? That would give him 1,000 for the season. Oakland surrenders 161 rushing yards per game, but it's typically a cadre of backs instead of just one. Jets rookie Shonn Green put 144 on the Raiders earlier this season, and Thomas Jones added 127 more. Enter in Parker, who's had 11 carries in the past two weeks, vs. two carries in the team's previous three games.

This seems to be a game where Pittsburgh will look to reach the 40-carry plateau, and potentially have two 100-yard rushers. Oakland's linebackers do not tackle well, and the front seven allows chunks of yards after contact.

Mendenhall rushed 24 times against a stacked Ravens box, gutting out 95 yards. All evidence suggests a considerably higher yardage total in 24 carries against the Raiders. If Pittsburgh is dominating the game, it's not likely Mendenhall will have that many carries, but Parker and third-down back Mewelde Moore could both crack double-digits as well. This is all assuming none of them place the ball on the ground, which Oakland has been able to force 11 times this season.

Either way, with a QB who says he should be good to go, Pittsburgh will likely place this game on the shoulders of its offensive line (which will have LB Chris Kemoeatu back) and its talented group of backs.

We need that funk. We need that energy. We need #1 P-Funk, so spin it, you goofy bastard.

I See You

I see you, Dennis Dixon. Your numbers certainly weren't enough to earn Player of the Week or anything like that, but I see you because of two non-statistical measurements: you played with a sense of calm and patience in a game where very few passers are calm and patient, and with how hard you took that loss.

You had 100 percent confidence in yourself and your ability to help this team win, even when no one gave you a chance before the game. Your focus and your ability to shrug off mistakes were admirable, and you earned your varsity letter in that loss.

There are plenty of NFL-level QBs who would have thrown that same interception. It was a great defensive play call, and it was executed very well. While many Steelers fans are willing to give you a mulligan on that, considering your touchdown pass and run in that game, but you held yourself to a higher standard after the game, and put the loss on your shoulders, much like any great leader would.

Wins are all that matter to you. Steelers fans are going to remember this loss for a variety of reasons, but we aren't going to say "we lost because Dixon played a terrible game." We're going to say, "we had a bunch of injuries, and went into a hostile environment without several key starters, and almost pulled out a win."

There's something to take away from wins and losses, but what we know is you earned a seat at the table this past week. We're looking forward to seeing you again.

Key Stats

Since 2005, the Steelers are 13-6 in December
Oakland has won two straight over Pittsburgh (2006, 2002)
Pittsburgh has 20 rushes over 10 yards to the right side of center
The Steelers are 2-3 when the opposing QB passes for more yards than Roethlisberger/Dixon
The Steelers are 3-1 when an opposing receiver has the game-high receiving total
Troy Polamalu has 3 of the team's 8 INTs this year (23^rd in the NFL)

Pregame Zone Blitz: Steelers at Ravens

ncoolong — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:52:03 -0000

After a disastrous loss to the lowly Chiefs, and Cincinnati's equally disastrous loss to the even lowlier Raiders, the Steelers find themselves in a knock-down, drag-out fight for the AFC North title and a Wild Card spot at the same time.

PZB promises not to mention the phrase "let-down game" again.

The phrases "The Hated Ravens" and "Rivalry Week" will be used liberally, though.

It's so much fun to hate the Ravens, but frankly, there's so much to these games - hence the reason one of the two of them is always on Primetime. There's the fact that last year's AFC Championship game was the most physical in the history of the event. There's the excitement of knowing from the start of the playoffs it was going to be those two teams fighting - literally - for a Super Bowl bid. There was The Bounty, Sweed's smack on Corey Ivy (wait, he's a Steeler now...more on him in a bit), Clark vs. Magahee...and that was all one game.

Now, PZB is still recovering from the stomach punch he took when the Ravens traded up to select Hardcover Boy Michael Oher in last year's draft. I don't think I can even watch the movie, but The Blind Side is probably the most enjoyable book I've ever read. And he's a Raven...damn that hurts.

Anyway...so much to this game. Gotta love The Hated Ravens and Rivalry Week.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

Bruce with Baltimore Beatdown sums up the Ravens position against their arch-rivals quite nicely.

Let's remember, this is the best rivalry in the NFL.

The Baltimore Sun (best local team coverage of any paper anywhere) gets the Ravens' reactions to the classic "We'll start our own towel tradition!" bit.

Steelers receivers let out a sigh of disappointment when they find out Ravens CB Fabian Washington was placed on the IR.

Jason Whitlock calls out the Ravens coaching staff in his 10 NFL Truths column (No. 7).

Last Game

SteelerWife texted me during the fourth quarter, saying we had to leave right after it was over because she just threw up in the bathroom. We were with SteelerBro and future Mrs. SteelerBro, so not admitting to her ailment was paramount.

While I wasn't physically sick, that overwhelming feeling of hopelessness was setting in. The Steelers just weren't able to put the plucky Chiefs away. From the minute Pittsburgh's special teams allowed yet another touchdown - and we got the treat of seeing yet another return man run away from a hard-charging Stefan Logan from the end zone cam - the game didn't feel right. Up until the point SteelerWife summarized the game with a few violent heaves in the bathroom of McGovern's, I felt mentally sick.

We normally turn to our quarterback in those situations. He was completing passes, but there was a fumble after a completion by Mike Wallace, there was a ball that went straight through Heath Miller's hands, there was a bad throw in the end zone that was picked off and returned nearly all the way.

Then there was a defense that clearly wasn't on the same page when Chris Chambers waltzed like an elderly man in a ballroom dancing class 60 yards down the field to set up one of the stupidest losses in team history. We were leaving the bar barely before the kick was made.

SteelerWife got sick again on the way home. She got over it. I'm not sure if the Steelers will.

Opponent Spotlight: QB Joe Flacco

Flacco's numbers in his first three games against the Steelers made him look more like JaMarcus Russell.

Granted, if you take out the three games against the Steelers, Flacco looked like a star on the rise.

So far in 2009, he's struggled a little bit more, but his overall scope of work is pretty solid. Eight interceptions are too many for any passer, and it goes a little bit into why Baltimore is 5-5. He hasn't been particularly consistent, either. His last four games, his completion percentage has gone from 80 (win) to 56 (loss) to 72 (win) to 65 (loss).

He's had Player of the Week performances (at Minnesota in Week 6, 385 yards, two touchdowns) and Russell-ian depths (at Cincinnati in Week 9, 18-for-32, 0 TDs, 2 INTs).

Baltimore's defense has been banged up for a good portion of the season. NT Haloti Ngata and DE Terrell Suggs have both missed time this year, and CB Fabian Washington was just placed on the IR. The Ravens have relied on their second year passer to carry much of the burden this year, which is a shift from standard for the defense-laden Ravens. While Flacco has received a boost from All-Purpose Machine Ray Rice (1,248 yards rushing and receiving, seven total TDs), Pittsburgh is going to have harass Flacco much like last year to nullify their own injury disadvantages.

Steelers Spotlight: QB Ben Roethlisberger

(UPDATE: Maybe none of this matters, Fox Sports' Jay Glazer is reporting Roethlisberger will not play Sunday night.)

PZB doesn't catch knees to the head very often. What happened to Roethlisberger in Week 11 looked extraordinarily uncomfortable, but Charlie Batch's Lamar Latrell impression on an out-pattern, followed by his subsequent wrist surgery, makes Roethlisberger's injury look mild by comparison.

At least, that's the impression the team gave off this week. Batch's wrist injury moved Roethlisberger's concussion from "normal" to "mild," and all signs point to Roethlisberger playing Sunday.

That's the case in most people's minds, but Jason La Canfora of NFL.com suggests Ben may bench himself. Seems like a ridiculous notion, but it's worthy of mention, because if Ben doesn't play, the Steelers go into enemy territory with Dennis "Double-D" Dixon under center.

Even funnier, if Roethlisberger doesn't play, former mild Saturday hero Tyler Palko will back Double-D up.

Stranger yet, the chairs of the NFL's concussion committee resigned this week. Is there a connection here?

The last time Roethlisberger played the week following sustaining what was believed to be a concussion was in 2006 at Oakland. The Raiders managed all of 98 yards of offense, but returned two Roethlisberger interceptions for touchdowns. One of those came in the end zone, when CB Chris Carr took it back 100 yards for the decisive score in an improbable 20-13 win.

Should we expect Roethlisberger to perform similarly Sunday? It's a matter of at least some conjecture, but he's played some of the best football of his career against Baltimore. He's also played some of his worst. What we can definitely count on is a lack of rushing game. While it's likely Roethlisberger will be under center, and while it's not the same Ravens team it was a year ago, neither team traditionally runs well against each other, and the key is typically one defense's ability to put the passer on the ground.

Steelers NEW Spotlight: QB Dennis Dixon

Operating under the assumption that Roethlisberger will not play, let's take a look at Dixon, and what we know about the man.

He decided he'd be a better quarterback than a baseball player. So he's got that going for him.

His 3-yard completion to Hines Ward (his 800th career reception) in mop-up time in Week 17 last season makes him one of the few 100 percent completion passers in NFL history. Also a nice honor to have.

What's going to be critical for Dixon, however, is the element of surprise. Teams always have to be wary of the player of which they have no actual game film. Dixon hasn't played against any NFL starting talent (just the preseason taxi squads and the Browns), but those teams haven't seen him either.

The Steelers had the advantage of disguise as well. They could have had Ben running around a bit all week just to put out the idea he's going to play, but behind closed doors, preparing Dixon to start.

Plus, film study, practice reps, preparation...that's one thing. Getting one of the best athletes in the game out on the field with nothing personally to lose (no one expects him to win this game) can be an advantage - even playing on the road.

How quiet do crowds get on the road when Ben scrambles for 17 yards on 3^rd-and-9? How tired do defenses get when he avoids a tackle, buys some time and flicks the ball off to a running back for a 12-yard gain? These all seem to be right in the wheelhouse of a third-string quarterback with all-world athletic ability.

I See You

"Corey's presence here has nothing to do with insight, and more to do with his ability to make plays in the special teams game."

-Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin

I see you, Corey Ivy. That's difficult to say, I'm not gonna lie to you. I've seen you with the Ravens several times over the years. I even saw you with the Browns. You're not someone I've seen positively yet in your career.

I see you now, though, because you've got a chance to get back in the game. There's a few coverage units that need desperate help. We allow kick return touchdowns like we're confused as to whether we're supposed to tackle or block. Our Nickel defense hasn't been great, either.

We need your help, Corey. I know, I Saw Donovan Woods last week, and he didn't exactly come through. But you're going to be the man this week. I'm going to tell you why, too. You didn't hate the Steelers after Limas Sweed laid you out in the AFC Championship game. You hated all the Ravens fans who cast you out. You hated upper management when they brought in Fabian Washington to essentially replace you. You just have to love the Steelers now. They're giving you a chance to go out and exact some level of revenge. I'm looking forward to the roar from Steeler Nation when you make a few special teams tackles, and you grab your place on this roster.

I hope you See it too, Corey. Really, I do. But we gotta watch your lowest low moment again. Sorry.

Key Stats

33 of Ravens QB Joe Flacco's last 53 passes have gone to Derrick Mason or Ray Rice.
Baltimore's offense has failed to score a touchdown in the first half of its last six games.
Rice is second among NFL running backs with 124.8 yards per game from scrimmage.
The 2009 Steelers defense is allowing 11 less rushing yards per game (69.2) than the 2008 Steelers (80.2).

Quick Hitters

I understand the sin of schadenfreude, but frankly, if anyone deserved the misery of dropping seven of his last eight, it's former Ravens coordinator now Jets head coach Rex Ryan. It's nothing against his players or Jets fans, it's the fact he had one full year of experience under a humble coach, John Harbaugh, and three games against another successful and humble head coach, Mike Tomlin, on which to build a career. Instead, Ryan acts like a complete pompous ass, getting in verbal back-and-forths with players on other teams. He calls out the Patriots before their Week 2 game, celebrates as if he won the Super Bowl when he defeating their arch-rivals, then complained after the Pats put a whipping on his team in the re-match. I have a world of respect for Harbaugh and what the Ravens have been able to accomplish. I'm glad to see, records aside, Ryan is no longer a part of this rivalry, but I sure wish the Jets were in the AFC North. I'd love to see Tomlin's reaction to anything that bloated jackhole would have to say.

Interview With Pro Football Focus Reveals Excellent Analysis, New Jinx

ncoolong — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:38:37 -0000

BTSC writer Neal Coolong met up with one of the writers of Pro Football Focus, a web site dedicated to providing thorough and detailed statistics on every NFL player in every game. Neil and six other members of the site have been in existence since 2007, and were recently mentioned in SI writer Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback column (beating Coolong to the punch, he's yelled at King since then). The interview took place over several emails in the past two weeks, here are the highlights:

NC: First off, thanks for doing this. I'll admit, when a co-worker of mine gave me the link to this site, my productivity at work was reduced greatly. So maybe I shouldn't be thanking you. But if I'm pissed at anyone, it's at Peter King for beating me to giving you guys the recognition I feel you deserve (No. 8 of 10 Things I Think I Think). Who does he think he is, anyway? Give me a little background. Who are you guys? How many people do you have on staff? How long has the site been up?

PFF: The site in some form or another has been up since 2006. In it’s initial guise it was more a vehicle for displaying my limited data than anything else. There’s a whole section on how we got going in the "About" tab under the "History" section which explains a lot more about how we started.

At the moment we have 7 guys working on the site. Interestingly (or perhaps shockingly) all bar one of us are based outside the US with the majority of us based in the UK.

NC: That brings me to the issue of grading, which is thoroughly explained here.

I'll paraphrase you, "We are not grading style or technique; just result...We've all heard the terms knee-bender, stiff hips, inconsistent footwork or over-extension etc. but as far as we're concerned it doesn't matter whether you know what they mean or not. All we care about is the result."

So you're grading the pure results of the play, black and white, win or lose. Personally, I love that approach in terms of ranking an evaluating individual players. Answer me this, though, in particular reference to the defensive backs, do you feel the amount of statistical data you keep on each player fairly takes into account the roles of that particular player in that particular defense?

For example, Ike Taylor and William Gay play in a different defensive scheme than, say, Antoine Winfield. While I am not surprised Winfield scores as highly as he does, do you feel your evaluations hold up when compared to his peers? Is it fair? Or is your intention more to show the results of individual players, without the concern of how they stack up against their peers?

PFF: I don’t think we’ll ever get a full view on secondary or WR play until the NFL allow us access to game film so we can actually grade each player on each play (I’m led to believe hell will be freezing over shortly so we should be OK). I think until then everything is a fudge to some degree, regardless of the scheme.

That said I think we do more than anyone else with equal access. Most people who delve into advanced type stats will just note down whose in coverage on a play. While we also compile the base stats for coverage we do it more for completeness than anything else. The truth of the matter is we try to use a combination of factors when rating CBs but go more off our grading than anything. The base statistics can tell a lot of lies regardless of whether the coverage is zone, man or some combination. Let me give you a few examples:

A team run a WR screen at a CB who is in man coverage. The CB is double-teamed by screen blocks and can do nothing but because of missed tackles by other players the screen goes for 80 yards and a TD. The CB was clearly in coverage and hence the yardage goes against him.
A CB is beaten badly for a reception but the WR then drops the ball.
Another CB is beaten badly and gives up a 70 yard TD by peeking in the backfield (Chris McAlister has patent pending on this) but the play is called back on a holding call

In the first of these the CB has done nothing wrong and is penalised by having 80 yards and a TD logged against him. In the latter two the CB has been poor but is rewarded with incomplete passes to his credit. Obviously in our grading the CB would not be penalised in the first but marked down significantly in the others.

To come back to the original question of schemes, I think the situation with CBs is fairly straight forward. The CB almost always has initial responsibility for the man across from them, he starts off in their zone and to all intents and purposes is in man coverage until such time as he’s handed off to a LB (on a crossing route) or a Safety (on a deeper route). As soon as he’s handed the guy off (and that point is normally very easy to judge) he no longer has responsibility. So the CB stats, taking into account my reservations above, are pretty accurate from a standpoint of responsibility and performance.

So I guess the question is back to you… can you give me an example where or why you think a Steeler CB may be at a disadvantage in our ratings? We were pretty high on both Bryant McFadden and William Gay last year.

NC: I wasn't suggesting they were at a disadvantage, I was simply using the Steelers players in a 3-4 zone blitzing scheme as opposed to Antoine Winfield, who plays in a Cover 2. I'd likely be hunted down and beaten up if I brought up Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph.

But since you mentioned Bryant McFadden, and I felt he was a very strong producer on last year's Super Bowl team, do you feel his play has really fallen off that much (currently 79th on your CB rankings)? William Gay hasn't produced, per your stats, nearly as much this year as he did last year.

I'm gonna have to plant a phrase on you: The Pro Football Focus Jinx. For Steelers Players. Cornerbacks in Particular.

There maybe something to be said for an overall scheme benefitting an individual players skills more than another, but that's a separate issue. Lemme ask you this, do you think you could apply your approach on Pro Football Focus to coaching? Do you think there is a measurable way to analyze coaches, beyond the normal wins/losses metrics? I understand any coach will tell you wins are all that matters, but do you think there is a statistical measurement for coaches?

PFF: Certainly Bryant doesn’t look as solid as he was last year. In 2009 he was in coverage for 344 snaps, gave up 342 yards and a TD, defensed 5 passes and intercepted a further 2. In addition he held up well in run defense and was pretty consistent in terms of having very few off days but never particularly setting the world on fire. It was therefore no surprise at all when he was picked up by the Cards who’d got a bit fed up with Rod Hood’s inconsistency and having two corners playing in that style (I’m not sure anybody thinks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will stop being "mercurial" any time soon) was a liability.

That said he appears to have morphed from a relatively safe pair of hands into Rod Hood II. Even excluding the W10 game vs. Seattle, Bryant has already been in coverage only 23 snaps less than last year and has had some decent performances but also some bad games. So far he has been marginally better than Rod Hood in 2008 but isn’t as sure as he was last year for you guys. In those 321 snaps he hasn’t given up a TD and he’s defensed 8 passes which is great but he’s also given up 467 yards including 171 YAC. All this suggests a more aggressive approach since the move and I’ve seen that on tape too.

Regarding William Gay I’d just be a little cautious when using the rankings in that way (a few points is very insignificant) and what we’ve seen is a reasonably average NFL corner who has had some good days (most notably against the Chargers) but has been less effective of late. Last year he was above average but as a part-time player and he’s already had a good couple of games worth of snaps in coverage more than last year.

If you wish to talk jinx it’s not the Steelers who should be concerned…… we’ve had a far more negative effect on the Bengals at a player level. We name Evan Mathis and Keith Rivers to our mid-season All-Pro and both are injured. You should be paying us to put their CBs on the team too!

On the coaching question it’s something I notice analyzing games; the whole play is executed well but it doesn’t work… at all. You wonder what they were thinking when they drew it up. That said it doesn’t happen often enough to be significant in my view and as we break down each play, 95% of the time I’d guess, a play works or fails because individual players either blow assignments or do something extraordinary. Obviously this is a coaching responsibility too for either a) not getting someone good enough to do the job b)not teaching them well enough or c)not motivating them sufficiently to see it through.

I suppose something we could do to check at a strategy level what coaches are performing (although I have absolutely no idea as to how relevant it might be) is to compare overall team performances on offense and defense with records. For example I would contend the Saints have a lot of below average players on defense (and some very good ones in the secondary) but haven’t lost a game and rank 17th in points allowed and 21st in defense. It might be expected that they would be a bit worse than that.

NC: Well, we still may see Cincinnati in the playoffs, so there's still time. How much would it cost to ensure the ratings of Joseph, Hall and their impressive nickel back, Morgan Trent, go way down? I'll get with Blitzburgh (our publisher) and work out some kind of payment. I'm not talking dismemberment or death here, just maybe like a debilitating stomach flu...

Obviously with the amount of games/plays you're watching on a regular basis, you have to develop a sense of overall teams as well. You mentioned the Saints, do you think they are the best team in football through nine weeks? Does any team have a clear advantage over the field in terms of Super Bowl contention right now?

PFF: It’s interesting because no team is without some significant weakness and I could genuinely still see 13 teams winning. My Preseason pick was the Vikings, mostly because of their defense but as it turned out their offense has been better than suspected and their defense worse.

I’m really sorry to tell you this but regardless of last weeks result I still think the Steelers are the best team in the AFC (and probably the NFL); just too much balance, too many quality players in every unit. Apologies for damning you to a season without playoffs.

In the NFC it’s difficult to look past the Saints but the cracks that have always been in the defense are starting to widen and I’m not going to get off an 8-1 horse at this stage.

NC: I was like you, I called the Steelers and Vikings at the beginning of training camp (pre-Favre) and it was because of the defense of those teams. Both of the Steelers recent championship teams had slides at or right after the mid-season point. There's still a ton of football to be played.

There seems to be enough football to play, and a tight enough race to wonder who will be league MVP. Who's your horse in that race?

PFF: For me MVP is all about what would happen if you remove that player from the team. We saw last year without Brady the Patriots were still functional as were the Steelers when Ben was hurt. Minnesota was still a playoff team without Favre. I think the same would be true this year too.

Without Brees and Manning I don’t think either the Saints or the Colts are over .5 and truthfully I believe the Colts record would be 2-7 not 9-0. When we analyze QBs we grade each pass and In the past we have seen games where we have not given Peyton a single negative mark. I think he’s likely to go down as the best of all time and a worthy MVP in 2009.

On a lighter note the most ridiculous comment I’ve ever heard was a sentence from Dan Patrick in SI which started with the phrase "It’s debatable which Manning brother is the better QB………"

NC: Almost as ridiculous as the idea that Kansas City would beat Pittsburgh...any given Sunday, right?

PFF: I’m really sorry, as soon as I said "I liked the Steelers in the AFC", I knew something like this would happen.

NC: Ok, we're blaming you.

Pregame Zone Blitz: Steelers at Chiefs

ncoolong — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:21:11 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

Browse more photos »

Considering the Steelers' opponent this week, the hapless Kansas City Chiefs, it almost feels like a lose-lose situation. It's got letdown game written all over it. Even if the Steelers win, it will no doubt bring back the pain of a tough and rare AFC North loss to Cincinnati. PZB is going to demonstrate why this isn't a trap game and why a win is a win is a win.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

Arrowhead Pride points out an interesting discussion Steelers C Justin Hartwig had with 610 Sports Today in Kansas City.

The Kansas City Star's blog makes a good point about Larry Johnson ending up the winner of the feud between himself and the Chiefs.

A fan post brings up some solid analysis, but responders to it aren't optimistic about the Chiefs' chances.

Chiefs coach Todd Haley isn't at a loss for respectful words when it comes to the Steelers.

How hard can it be to simply not use a diuretic?

Last Game

After the Denver game, PZB called out the Broncos for not making enough splash plays throughout the game. It marks the last time PZB will ever do that, considering Pittsburgh's lack of explosive plays in its 18-12 loss vs. Cincinnati in Week 10.

That sounds like an excuse, though, and we don't make those.

We do know now how the Other Half lives; the other half of the league that does not have a productive quarterback under center. Clearly, Ben Roethlisberger is one of the better passers in the game, but for whatever reason, he played a substandard game against the division-leading Bengals. While he protected the ball well enough considering a pretty intense Cincinnati pass rush and excellent secondary, his accuracy was a negative factor for the first time this season.

Let's make a positive out of a negative though. We had the ball with two minutes remaining, down six, and that was after five sacks (four of them caused by outstanding coverage), a slew of tipped passes and Pittsburgh's seventh returned touchdown against this season. The Bengals even managed to botch the extra point.

PZB's hat is off to a vastly improved and legitimate Bengals team. We now focus on Kansas City.

Opponent Spotlight: QB Matt Cassel

Is there anyone else? No.

It took the Chiefs a little over 33 quarters to score a rushing touchdown in 2009. Jamaal Charles broke a 44 yard run in the second quarter of Kansas City's 16-10 win over Oakland in Week 9. Oakland has allowed the most rushing touchdowns (14) in the NFL. Kansas City is the only team to fail to score a rushing touchdown against the hapless Raiders, which they accomplished in their Week 2 loss at the hands of Oakland.

Now, with the defending Super Bowl champs and league's top-ranked rush defense coming to Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City's beleaguered rushing attack is safely considered to be non-existent this week.

Making matters worse for the Chiefs, top receiver Dwayne Bowe was suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic, and will not play in this game.

Cassel knows what it's like to be on the losing end of an ears-pinned-back pass rush from Pittsburgh. OLB James Harrison in particular ravaged Cassel in New England last season, forcing two second-half fumbles en route to a huge Steelers road win. In many ways, that victory propelled Pittsburgh to an eventual Super Bowl championship. Cassel remembers that thrashing, and also is aware Pittsburgh is in the rare spot of trailing another team in the AFC North. It'll be surprising to see Cassel hang onto the ball for longer than three seconds. He is an accurate passer when provided with adequate receiving support, and the match-ups in this game present a very simple and familiar game plan for Cassel; pass on the edge, get out of the pocket and try to protect the ball at all costs.

Steelers Spotlight: NT Casey Hampton

I wrote about this in Blitzburgh's Steelers Annual.

The key moment to last season was a holding call on Steelers Hampton in Week 13 at New England. Big Snack flipped his lid over the call (truthfully, it was valid), and we witnessed a rare display of animalistic emotion from one of the better nose tackles of his generation. Hampton blew up Patriots C Dan Koppen, sacking then-Patriots QB Matt Cassel.

It opened floodgates that didn't stop spilling until early February.

Hampton has that rare higher gear which can't be achieved by everyone. He has the ability to destroy an opponent's entire offensive game plan, because, frankly, you cannot plan around penetration. You can't run around it, you can't pass around it.

And you mostly can't do anything about it if you have an offensive line as inconsistent as Kansas City's.

OLB James Harrison had two sacks and two forced fumbles after Hampton roared. Lawrence Timmons had an interception return back to the Patriots' 1-yard-line after Hampton exploded.

The Steelers had one of the better defenses the league has ever seen in 2008. They realized it not long after they lost two of three to quality teams - the Giants and the Colts.

Hampton can lead by example, and he can dominate his opponent physically. This isn't a call-out to him because he's been off his game (he hasn't at all). It's a plea for him to reach for that upper gear and again become the unifier this team needs right now. Maybe this game can be the catalyst to push the Steelers over the top.

I See You

I see you, Donovan Woods. I may be getting a bit off the topic in this section, because usually, I see players from the previous game. The theme of this column this week is "moving ahead." Because of that, Donovan, you become the most important player in this game. You filled in admirably last season, jumping to and from the practice squad, the waiver wire and the active roster. That can't be easy and Steelers fans respect it.

We need you badly, Donovan. We need you to give us a sense of excitement to see the return man buried inside the 20, instead of the feeling of dread we currently have any time the ball is kicked. We need a spark, and we've all seen you provide that spark before.

I see you added to the roster and inserted immediately with the Herculean task of helping a stout defense not have to defend a short field, or stave off points allowed by other units. I see you making a few tackles, standing up, smacking some helmets and giving the Steelers defense a reason to pin their ears back and kick the tar out of Matt Cassel and the Chiefs.

Key Stats

Pittsburgh is 6^th in the NFL in scoring defense at 17.4 points per game (157 points).
Removing kick/punt returns and interception returns, Pittsburgh is allowing 12.9 points per game (116 points).
Kansas City scored its first rushing touchdown this season in a 16-10 win over Oakland in Week 10.

Quick Hitters

I am the only person who doesn't mind Bill Belichick's decision to go for it on 4^th-and-2 from inside their own territory. I've heard every reason why he shouldn't. Every one of those reasons is valid. But if I'm Belichick, I've got Tom Brady. Indy's got Peyton Manning. If I'm Belichick, I'm aware of the fact it's either going to be Peyton's day, or Tom's. I'm gonna give Tom the ball, and prepare to accept the consequences. Either way, wherever we are on the field, if No. 18 comes under center with time on the clock, this game isn't ending in my favor. Perhaps the most instructive part of this is seeing how close the Pats came to converting. Except for the fact the Colts showed how tough of a team they are by getting the season's biggest defensive play for the stop.
I am not gushing praise for Maurce Jones-Drew's "selflessness." But I'm not dogging him for not taking the points while they're there. The fact of the matter is the game of football is decided by the clock just as much as by points. A 1-point lead with no time on the clock is more important than a 6-point lead with 12 seconds left. The critics pontificate about the possibility of a field goal getting blocked, or a snap getting botched. All true. Are you going to suggest it's less likely to simply execute a 19-yard field goal as time expires than it is to stop a speed-burning kick returner with a gadget play at his disposal from breaking it for a touchdown? Sorry, I'm not buying the bravado. Let that clock run all day, MJD, and please, Mr. Mendenhall, Mr. Parker and Mr. Moore, keep your knee on the ground should you encounter this situation in the future. You shouldn't have any more faith in our kickoff coverage either.

Pregame Zone Blitz: Bengals at Steelers

ncoolong — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:05:23 -0000

by Ed Reinke - AP

View full size photo »

Want to learn to be a sports writer? There's a secret they don't want you to know. You are able to write game previews ("advances") in the same way each week. Just look at the Steelers. You can very easily apply this formula to every divisional game they play. Here it is:

In Week X, the Steelers and the <insert upstart AFC North team here> face off in a champions/challengers type of game. The play of <insert name of upstart AFC North team's quarterback here> has been outstanding, and these two teams hate each other, in particular the <insert upstart AFC North team here> despise Steelers WR Hines Ward. You may remember the feud that broke out between the <insert upstart AFC North team here> and Pittsburgh after one of the two Steelers victories last season. Now, Pittsburgh has beaten the <insert AFC North team here> in x of their last y meetings (x divided by y equals greater than 75 percent), but the <insert upstart AFC North team here> are ready to knock the defending champs off their throne.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

It's a new Bengals team. They can get in car accidents and the word "intoxication" does not appear on the police report.

Cincy Jungle mentions a kid who was suspended for getting Bengals stripes shaved into his head. They, of course, accuse the school of being overrun by Steelers fans, which, I guess, is probably true.

Bill Cowher's from Carlynton, huh? Where is that, exactly? (for those who don't know, Carlynton High School is Cowher's alma mater, and it's made up of the boroughs of Carnegie, Crafton and Rosslyn Farms. Cowher is from Crafton.)

Chad Ochocinco in the UFC...yeah, I'd pay to watch that. Seriously.

Cincinnati.com's Chick Ludwig, a Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, uses Wikipedia to define the actions of former Steelers DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen. Let's hope he bases his HofF vote on something more than free encyclopedias anyone can edit.

Woodley's writing for Sports Illustrated again. And he's still proud to be a Steeler.

Last Game

I'm sure Broncos ~~head cheerleader~~ coach Josh McDaniels is offering his kingdom for a splash play. All credit in the Steelers' kingdom goes out to McDaniels and the Broncos, as that first half was about as well-planned and well-executed as it gets. It would have been a different game had they found a way to make a play of 20 yards or more. Pittsburgh had five plays of 20 yards or more. Denver had one, and their longest play in the second half went for 16 yards. They failed to score an offensive touchdown.

It's a mark of Denver's efficient but non-lethal offense, and Pittsburgh's ability to not allow QB Kyle Orton enough time on his deeper drops. DE Brett Keisel must have heard the disrespect Mike Tirico was giving him, consistently saying Aaron Smith and Travis Kirschke were the regular starters, as he was able to bust through for two sacks. Those were Pittsburgh's only two sacks of the game, but the pressure was constant, and the Ryan Clark-less secondary was opportune enough to snare two important turnovers, and one more in garbage time.

The fact of the matter is Pittsburgh has proved since Week 2 the strategy to dink and dunk is bunk. Cincinnati is going to have to find a way to make plays down the field and get the ball in the end zone if they want to continue as this year's token Team That Can Compete With Pittsburgh in the AFC North.

Opponent Spotlight: CBs Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph

The first time PZB is going with a pair of spotlight players, and it's mostly because they'll both factor into one of Pittsburgh's key weapons in Week 10.

Joseph and Hall, Cincinnati's two former first-round selections, appear to be even in many statistics, and both generally rank in the upper echelon in the NFL in key areas for their position. The main thing, though, is average yards allowed per reception and yards after the catch. Hall is top 10 in the NFL, allowing 12 yards per catch. Joseph drops off quite a bit, landing at 14.5, and Joseph has allowed 150 yards after the catch, compared to Hall's 115.

Joseph's average would be a bit higher if Limas Sweed held onto the ball. Sweed fried Joseph on the play, but unfortunately, could not hang onto the ball in the end zone.

In Joseph's defense, he did have an interception return for a touchdown, but overall, Pittsburgh threw at Joseph nine times, completing seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. In particular, Joseph struggled greatly against rookie WR Mike Wallace, and as mentioned earlier, his numbers would have really been poor had Sweed caught the ball.

As the statement goes, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas. Joseph made what ended up being the critical play of the game. Wallace may feel like it's Christmas Day in the re-match, especially with the production he's had out of Pittsburgh's Hurry-Up offense (more on that below).

Hall fared much better in his match-up against Wallace, along with Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward. Pittsburgh threw at him five times for just 32 yards.

Pittsburgh is likely to push this advantage again, with both Holmes (coming off his best game of the season at Denver) and Wallace (steadily improving). Joseph is going to need to play a more disciplined game, or Pittsburgh's passing offense will chew him up. Hall, on the other hand, has a strong performance in Week 3 to go off of in terms of preparation for the re-match.

Steelers Spotlight: WRs Mike Wallace and Santonio Holmes

Wallace's break-out game came against the Bengals in a losing effort in Week 3. It'd be pretty ignorant of Cincinnati to ignore the rookie this time around, considering his 102 receiving yards were the highest total in the game. Wallace methodically picked apart Joseph, but Hall handled Holmes fairly well; he finished with just one catch for 18 yards, and his mistake led to Joseph's interception which he returned for a touchdown.

Holmes has been held out of the end zone since Week 1, but has caught a pass for 35 yards or longer in the Steelers last three games - they won all three games. With the absence of S Roy Williams, the Steelers are going to look to get the ball deep down the field if QB Ben Roethlisberger sees either Wallace or Holmes with single coverage. Both receivers have shown they can make the big play, it's a matter of timing and protection.

Speaking of big plays against Cincinnati...

I See You

I see you, Tyrone Carter, a.k.a. AFC Defensive Player of the Week. You stepped in for Ryan Clark in true modern Steeler fashion, and elevated your game to his level. You were doghoused by a lot of people (including PZB to an extent) for what we perceived as lack of production earlier this year. Your interception and touchdown return were the only points the Steelers scored when Denver was controlling the game on both sides of the ball, and really gave your team the swagger to know, despite being on the bad end of a 11-4 TOP advantage through two quarters, it could still win.

Your performance was yet another example of the depth the Steelers possess. Going into the game, we knew it would be a tough match-up, playing a hot quarterback on the road with athletic receivers. The defense bent for the first half, then allowed just 49 yards the rest of the way. While we have to give the offense credit, you were a big part of a secondary that played perhaps its finest two quarters of the season.

Despite lacking size, you took an outstanding college resume and translated it into a successful NFL career, one in which you proved year in and year out our team is better with you than without you.

Key Stats

Pittsburgh held the ball for 22 minutes and 25 seconds of the second half in Week 9's win over Denver.
Cincinnati is 19-34-1 since losing to Pittsburgh in the AFC Divisional playoffs in January, 2006.
Rashard Mendenhall is second in the NFL, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
Santonio Holmes leads the NFL in first down reception percentage at 94.4 (36 catches, 34 first downs).
This game is the first time since 2005 where both teams were above .500 going into their second meeting of the season.
Pittsburgh has scored three defensive touchdowns in the last five quarters.
Cincinnati RB Cedric Benson became the first player since Ricky Williams in 2002 to rush for 100 yards in consecutive games against Baltimore with his 117 yard performance in Week 9.

Quick Hitters

Must-Read: I recently came across Pro Football Focus, and it became a new key resource in my insatiable thirst for statistics. I don't possess a degree of higher education in anything numbers-related, but this site doesn't really require one. The information is presented in an understandable, and not pompous manner - statistics for all games and all players listed without the feeling that someone is trying to prove a point. For what the opinion of PZB is worth, check it out if you're into that kind of thing.

Far Too Much Attention: I used to write with Nick Signorelli back in our Steelers Fever days, and I usually enjoy his take on things. However,his article, like any other article I've read on the subject, failed to present any rational reason behind why we would need former Chiefs RB/full-time slanderer Larry Johnson. I mean, it's not like Mike Tomlin played professional football. Maybe more than anything, though, what's gotten lost in all the gay slurs and bitterness is the fact Johnson isn't any good. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 11 of 2008, and hasn't played 16 games since his monster 416-carry season of 2006. Let's just let him be surly and sullen somewhere else.

Pregame Zone Blitz: Steelers at Broncos

ncoolong — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:41:26 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Browse more photos »

We've got a week of casual viewing of our present and future opponents, and a healthy record's perspective from which to see them. Health is the trendy topic this week, as Pittsburgh is out multiple defensive ends and potentially, a free safety. It should be noted (and of course, the PZB makes sure of that) Ryan Clark has the support of Steeler Nation with whatever he and the medical staff decide to do, but certainly, a win in Denver helps Pittsburgh's case to not be in this situation come playoff time.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

We feel your pain, Denver fans. We had these same feelings about Mitch Berger.

Dawkins: "(Dumervil and Harrison) are guys that are lower to the ground already." Hilarious description for the vertically-challenged stud pass rushers for Denver and Pittsburgh.

Nod to our brethren at the Mile High ~~Club~~ Report. This will no doubt gain some traction. PBZ has to ask, though, is there a logical reason for you to be in the city of Baltimore?

It's safe to say both Denver and Pittsburgh have concerns with their young stud running backs hanging onto the football.

A slight digression, but ESPN's Adam Schefter's 10 Spot column always has a bunch of fantastic information. This week,it's chock-full of Steelers stats.

Last Game

There is such a thing as winning a game but not beating your opponent. The biggest difference between the two is teams get a win for winning the game, not for beating their opponent.

Pittsburgh's defense flashed some 2008-like playmaking ability, and behind the steam of LaMarr Woodley and Keyaron Fox, who both scored second half touchdowns, Pittsburgh won a critical intra-conference game against a good Vikings team.

Luck? Nah. Champions tend to have the moxie needed to win games like that. If nothing else, it was one of the more entertaining games we'll see, considering the level of individual talent on that field.

I've been trying to best describe him, but Vikings rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin plays unlike any receiver we've seen in some time. He has the strength of a much larger possession receiver, but how many possession receivers are returning kicks at a high level of success? I've been watching Harvin with great interest since I saw his first kick return against Kansas City in the preseason. The first upfield cut he made was like magic; he runs so powerfully, yet gracefully.

Try to accurately draw a comparison to him, seriously. I'm not saying he's a Hall of Fame player, I'm saying we haven't seen a receiver quite like him. He has great speed, obviously, but it's his strength for his size that makes him so unique. My favorite example was during the Steelers game, and there have been a half dozen of these examples so far this year. Harvin catches a curl, squares his shoulders, and SS Troy Polamalu, with a 10 yard head of steam, plants his shoulder directly on Harvin's thigh, as perfectly as it looks in the text book. I can't think of even tight ends who wouldn't go down when hit like that. Harvin faltered a little, but didn't go down. He basically didn't move, he just stopped moving forward.

The best I can come up with is Steve Smith with the strength of Ben Coates. He's a special player.

Opponent Spotlight: QB Kyle Orton

Hey, did you hear the Broncos traded High-Talent-Mediocre-Leader Jay Cutler to the Bears for Kyle Orton? It's true. It's even more true that Denver (6-1) has had a bit more success than the Bears have (4-4) to this point in the season.

Pittsburgh's biggest problem is the fact Cutler played a helluva game and beat Pittsburgh earlier this year. Logic should dictate Orton will beat them even worse.

What's interesting between the two is how Cutler, the big arm, gunslinger passer, went short, short and short again to maintain possession and eat away at the clock and let Jeff Reed miss two field goals. Orton's game - and Denver's success - is predicated on the concept of short, controlled passing.

So in many ways, Pittsburgh should be prepared for much of what they saw against the Bears. But Orton has had a great deal of success in playing in this philosophy. With a passer rating over 95, and just one interception to nine touchdown passes, his efficiency keeps Denver competitive.

Pittsburgh loses a bit of athleticism when ILB Lawrence Timmons isn't on the field, and their hook-to-curl defense will be challenged by playmakers like WR Brandon Marshall. Orton loves to find Marshall inside the numbers, and despite Marshall's career-low 10.8 yards per catch, he's as dangerous as they come with the ball in his hands.

Containing Marshall isn't done by one player, and it's more sensible to find ways to get to Orton and disrupt his rhythm. If Orton is the same precision-based passer he's been so far this season, it could be a repeat of the Steelers trip to Chicago.

Steelers Spotlight: WR Hines Ward

"It's hard to sit there and tell everybody it's a violent sport but tone it down a little. When I go across the middle, those guys aren't going to tackle me softly and lay me down to the ground. That's not football. I find it ironic that now you see a receiver delivering blows, and it's an issue. But I haven't changed. I've been doing it this way for 11 years." - Hines Ward

It's tough not to give Ward a nod for the Spotlight this week, considering his achievement as being named the Dirtiest Player in the NFL this week. It's an intriguing match-up for Ward as well, considering a relative lack of success against Denver in his career.

Ward has squared off against Shanahan's Broncos three times in the regular season, and has yet to garner a win. Since he was named the Dirtiest Player in the NFL, and he obviously gives a rat's patootie about that, he's gotta be fired up and ready to play, right?

If nothing else, the fact Ward continues to roll back the hands of time, and is putting up the best half-season numbers in his career, speaks volumes to the role he plays with the passing attack version of the Steelers.

An even bigger fact to consider; Denver's nickel defense was shredded by Baltimore's Joe Flacco last week on 13-for-15 passing. It was so bad, Denver went out and signed the ageless Ty Law, and released CB Jack Williams.

It's fair to say Pittsburgh has a tad deeper group of receivers, and a bit more experienced of a passer. Law on Ward is a nice match-up for you nostalgia fans, but the scope of Pittsburgh's passing game against Denver's sub packages is going to be an advantage for Pittsburgh.

(honorable mention: LT Max Starks)

I See You

"It is only one game in the long journey of a season and Steeler Nation would completely understand if you stood along the sidelines." - Dr Del on BTSC

I see you, Ryan Clark. Perhaps I'm seeing you a bit later than I should have. It was scary to hear what happened to you the last time Pittsburgh went to Denver. Even more tragic, perhaps it took us that crisis to realize your value to the team, and to solidify your place among the best free agent acquisitions the team has ever made. In missing the remainder of the 2007 season, after the high altitude of the Mile High City, you prepared yourself well enough to have a fantastic 2008 season. Your ability to place the team ahead of yourself was demonstrated by the multiple bone-jarring hits you delivered (see: McGahee, Willis and Welker, Wes). It's because PZB loves you, Ryan, that a point must be made; while it's tougher to win without you, don't play this game if you feel there's a chance it can be repeated. We'll worry about you playing in a potential playoff game at the 6-1 Broncos when we get to it. PBZ said at the time you should have been Comeback Player of the Year in 2008, I'd rather you not attempt to win the award you should have had. The fact you made it back on the field is enough to show everyone you have the warrior mentality, both on the field and off it.

Key Stats

Monday Night marks the second time in three years the Steelers have played at Denver following a bye
Mike Tomlin's Steelers teams have scored 66 points in their two games following a bye (1-1)
In three regular season games, Hines Ward has never scored a touchdown against Denver (0-3 regular season).
The Steelers have faced three of the league's top five rushers (Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson and Cedric Benson) through eight weeks, and haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher.

Pregame Zone Blitz: Vikings at Steelers

ncoolong — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:11:30 -0000

More photos » by Jim Mone - AP

Browse more photos »

It's a personal grudge-match for PZB; Steelers vs. the hometown Vikings. Far too many bets riding on this game, and perhaps it's because these are the two teams PZB hears about the most often, but it looks like two mirrored teams will be squaring off at Heinz Field. Both teams can make arguments supporting them having the best three-deep receiving corps in the league. Both have dominant edge pass rushers. Both have highly successful quarterbacks with reputations to gut out wins late. All signs point to this being a close one. Maybe it comes down to the kickers. At the very least, we know our kicker looks for fights as opposed to backing away from them.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

Gonzo with the Daily Norseman will be "severely disappointed" if he sees CB Karl Paymah in anything short of a special teams capacity.

Not to worry, it looks like Benny Sapp will get the starting nod for the injured Antoine Winfield.

PZB pities you if you look like Brad Childress, but at least you could win Vikings/Lions tickets.

Anthony21 of the Daily Norseman says Minnesotans can pony up the cash to build the Vikings a new stadium.

It's a good time to remember former Vikings coach Jerry Burns, and his submission for Greatest Post-Game Rant of All Time.

I'm not sure if Ericj69 from the Daily Norseman understands that fan support is not the bottom line for a team moving. It's about money, and Vikings owner Zygi Wilf wants a new stadium. Unless the people of Minnesota vote to build him one, he's moving the team.

Last Game

"This is the best I've ever seen him play." - Steelers tight end Heath Miller on Ben Roethlisberger

It's cliché to suggest Roethlisberger is punishing Cleveland for not drafting him when they had the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft.

It's about close to a reality as it gets, though.

Roethlisberger put on an individual clinic Sunday, throwing for 417 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh's 27-14 victory, that was way more lopsided than the score indicates. If it wasn't for a bizarre sequence in the third quarter that saw five turnovers in 12 plays between the two teams, Pittsburgh could have had 600 yards of offense.

Cleveland dropped eight back into coverage at times, and Roethlisberger completed passes. Cleveland rushed eight guys at times, and Roethlisberger completed passes. Cleveland threw foreign objects and rosin into Roethlisberger's eyes, and yes, he still completed passes. Well, he would have if they did that.

While PBZ doesn't want to try to create an impression that doesn't exist, that Browns defense isn't as bad as Pittsburgh's 543 yards indicates. In stretches, they looked like a physical, cohesive unit. It was as if parts of their team forgot Eric Mangini was their coach, or their Prozac kicked in or something.

Opponent Spotlight: WR Sidney Rice

"I wasn't expecting the ball because it was a run play." - Vikings WR Sidney Rice, on the playcall before a 63-yard reception against Baltimore in Week 6.

Third-year receivers are commonly (cliché?) seen as players who are finding their stride. Ironically, the stride of Sidney Rice is what has made him a sleeper high-end wide receiver in the NFC.

He may not have found his mental stride in his first two seasons in Minnesota, but his incredible physical ability is helping make up for that.

And when he gets both working for him? Look out.

That process may be accelerated with the addition of a quarterback not known for convention. Brett Favre may in fact be the perfect passer for Rice. This was illustrated by a 63-yard completion that blew the game open for Minnesota in Week 6, en route to a 33-31 victory.

Rice thought it was a run play. Maybe if he knew Favre intended to throw the ball, he would have been able to earn the extra eight yards he left on the field before the end zone.

He's just one component to a lethal array of weapons at Favre's disposal. It doesn't appear rookie Percy Harvin will play (shoulder), Bernard Berrian is adjusting to Favre more each game. TE Visanthe Shiancoe leads the team in touchdowns with five. Rice, though, wasn't expected to be leading the team in receptions (23) and yards (409) after six games.

Rice's size and quickness off the line make Favre drool, and as guaranteed as pregame close-up shots of Ben Roethlisberger and Jared Allen, Rice will run a slant or a quick post, Farve will hit him in stride. While it's not guaranteed, Rice has a decent chance to take any of those passes to the house. He's been doing it all season.

Much like Roethlisberger is doing for the Steelers, Favre is using all his receivers, but Rice is emerging as their main weapon, and Pittsburgh's ability to slow him down will be instrumental in its success in Week 7.

Steelers Spotlight: QB Ben Roethlisberger

"It is a mark of how good Ben Roethlisberger is that he threw for 417 yards, with two touchdowns, and no one noticed. It's becoming routine." - Peter King, Sports Illustrated

Minnesota's secondary is in dire straits. With Pro Bowl CB Antoine Winfield wearing a walking boot to protect his sprained foot, the Vikings have several unappealing options in case he can't play. One, Minnesota can move nickel back Benny Sapp to the LCB position, which will put special teams guru Karl Paymah, who curiously chose to let Ravens WR Mark Clayton to his inside while he was defending the sideline, giving up a 32-yard touchdown last week, to the nickel. Or, they could use rookie (and yet to achieve activated status) Asher Allen at the nickel spot.

Ya think Roethlisberger, fresh off a 417-yard display against the secondary-weak Browns, isn't licking his chops over the thought of any of those match-ups?

Roethlisberger has a favorable match-up against the Vikings defense, especially considering his elusiveness and ability to buy time in the pocket. The Vikings have had difficulties in their deep secondary, which has caused some big games for opposing quarterbacks and tight ends. Roethlisberger can utilize his multi-faceted receiving corps and TE Heath Miller for big gains, provided his head remains attached to his neck after the constant pressure he'll feel from DE Jared Allen.

Don't ask me, though, let's go to the experts. If you want to get some analysis from a kid with a bad moustache, foul mouth, massive Pittsburgh accent and ADHD, he's your guy.

Even better, it gets followed up by the kid from Two and a Half Men:

I See You

I see you, Steelers wide receivers. I see you because you're trying so hard not to be seen by your opponents, and it's working. Don't think the fact Hines Ward now leads the NFL in receiving yards has escaped our attention. Only Browns Defensive Coordinator/Allman Bros. Roadie Rob Ryan forgets about Hines Ward, hence the reason, Hines, you dialed his defense up for 159 yards and a touchdown.

But what about Santonio Holmes? Leading the NFL in first down percentage (min. 2 catches per game, are we clear on that this time?), and 8^th in the NFL in receiving yards (438). ‘Tone has 28 grabs, 26 of them have gone for first downs, and he's averaging 15.6 yards per catch.

Then Mr. Mike Wallace...Coach Tomlin is right, the game's not too big for you. I haven't heard many descriptions that are as fitting for a player as that is for you. You were drafted due to your speed, but it's your versatility that's going to land you on the All-Rookie Team. You're running sharp routes, catching passes underneath and over the top, but more than anything else, you're playing the game without a sense of fear. How many Browns did it take to get you out of bounds on that reverse in the third quarter? Two Browns got credit with a tackle on that play, but one more step, and you would have scored the most inspiring touchdown of the season.

It wouldn't surprise us at all to see ‘Tone grabbing eight passes for a buck 59, Ward hauling in five catches for five first downs and Wallace blocking as if his contract depended on it.

Put simply, the three of you are forming into the quietest but best all-around receiving group in the game. PZB can't see one of you without seeing the other two.

Key Stats

Pittsburgh's 543 yards against Cleveland was their biggest offensive game in 14 years.
Combined record of Vikings road opponents this year: 1-16.
Minnesota is 6-9 since 2007 when Adrian Peterson rushes for less than 100 yards.
The Steelers haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 24 games.
QB Brett Favre has completed 75 percent (63-for-84) in the Vikings last three games (3-0).

Quick Hitters

WTF?: I didn't watch the replay, but how did former Steelers WR Nate Washington manage to lose 22 yards on one reception? Oh wait, I know, because he left the defending champions for the Terrible Towel-jinxed Titans. Tennessee has lost seven straight since proudly declaring themselves Pittsburgh's superior, including a 59-rip dismantling at the hands of New England in Week 6. The wheels have officially come off that bus. Quick! Get off their bandwagon!

Tempting: Having direct access to Chad Ochocinco? Like, we can call him a tool 24 hours a day? That may just be too much fun to be permitted. If we really had no life, a group of Steelers fans could get together and just spam the hell out of him. While I'm sure Jordan Palmer and his buddies have years of experience in such technological ventures, I wonder if their app could handle massive amounts of messages just saying things like "you suck," and "what a loser," or "Mamma call him Johnson, I call him Johnson."

Pregame Zone Blitz: Browns at Steelers

ncoolong — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:59:17 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

Browse more photos »

Fourth quarter points? Psshaw! All that means is our offense scores enough to force teams to come back. Detroit had nothing else to play for, and the fact Daunte Culpepper threw perhaps the stupidest pass I've ever seen (including high school quarterbacks) is exactly what makes them the Lions. It's tough to worry when you've got a passer the likes of Ben Roethlisberger under center (I see him, too). But, the greatest news of all, we've got Troy back. Worst news of all, Aaron Smith is out for the rest of the year. Take the good with the bad, because it's a new season, ladies and gentlemen. It starts with a visit from our old pals in Cleveland.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

Dawgs By Nature says we shouldn't read into anything about trade rumors involving Brady Quinn.

Quinn tells the Cleveland Plain-Dealer basically nothing about anything, including nothing about his house for sale, nothing about the $10 million he'll miss out on this year, and nothing about his future.

Our Fearless Leader Blitzburgh shows off his tap-dancing skills in an interview with Dawgs By Nature.

Look! Limas caught a pass! Sorry, kind of off-topic.

Chris Pokorny of Dawgs By Nature discusses the post-Edwards Browns receiving corps.

Last Game

"It's still not up to the level we need it to be. We let them go down the field again and make it close." - James Harrison

That sour taste remains strong after another week of missing direct contact with that last nail in the opponents' coffin. Pittsburgh rarely gets beat in Time of Possession. Detroit 32:35, Pittsburgh 27:25. Rashard Mendenhall had six carries in the second half, after a "Delicious" 65-yard first-half effort.

Are we waiting for the other shoe to drop on a season in which the Steelers can't get out of first gear, or are we waiting for the Steelers to put together a concerted four-quarter effort from everyone, coaches included?

A modicum of credit needs to be given to Detroit. While it's not likely we'll see them in the Super Bowl any time soon, they played a solid game. In fact, if it wasn't for QB Daunte Culpepper's JV-level interception, Detroit could have pulled out a huge win.

But that's what makes them the Lions.

They don't give out style points, but we certainly use them in evaluation of our teams. With a divisional showdown with the bizarre Cleveland Browns looming, Pittsburgh needs to find a way to mirror their first half performances so far, and ignore their second half results.

Opponent Spotlight: P Dave Zastudil

"The Browns beat Buffalo 6-3 in one of the all-time ugly NFL games because of Zastudil, and almost because of Zastudil alone. On nine punts, the Bills had seven return yards. Seven!" - Peter King

PMZ likes looking at punters, and the impact they have on a game. Coincidentally, Zastudil hauled off one of the best punting performances in NFL history the same game the Browns put up one of the poorest winning efforts in recent memory.

It was extremely curious how the Browns won 6-3 over Buffalo, (Best Headline Award goes to Dawgs By Nature) when QB Derek Anderson completed two - TWO - passes in fair weather conditions. But looking at Zastudil's performance, it's no surprise. If you want to produce no offense, turn the ball over and generally do nothing significant with the football, you better punt well, or you're going to lose by 30.

Zastudil was the only reason Cleveland was even within four scores, let alone won the game. He leads the NFL with 18 punts inside the 20, and he's tied for the lead with 30 punts. With the struggles the Browns are having offensively, it's a good bet he'll be on the field a bunch, and he has shown the ability to affect the game on his own.

But hey, at least Zastudil's not in Detroit!

Pittsburgh has struggled in the punt return phase, with Stefan Logan averaging 7.4 yards per return, 27^th in the NFL. This is the only area in which Cleveland holds a strong advantage, and if Pittsburgh wants to avoid the upset, Logan will have to break a return or two, and create decent field position.

Steelers Spotlight: SS Troy Polamalu

"You know, I really enjoy watching my brothers play out there. I really feel like I'm out there anyway. I ride the emotional roller-coaster of wins and losses if I play or not." - Troy Polamalu

The most anticipated return in Pittsburgh since the Stanley Cup is expected Sunday when the Browns come to town. Granted, to get there, the Steelers had to lose another indispensible defensive player, but what the loss of Aaron Smith does to the Steelers, at least Polamalu's return will hide it somewhat.

Putting it nicely would be to say Cleveland's offense is not moving the ball very well. To put it accurately would be to say their offense is the worst in the league. The play they've gotten from Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson at quarterback has been grossly lacking, and that has caused serious disruption in the 1-2 rushing attack of Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison.

Polamalu isn't necessary to slow down this offense in most regards, but his inclusion will nullify any confidence the Browns may have received when they learned of Smith's injury.

There's a certain amount of game-planning teams will have to do when Polamalu is on the field. He affects both the pass and run offensive plans, but the lack of Smith, and Cleveland's lack of passing attack likely will equal a steady diet of "run-left" kinds of plays.

That presents a problem for Pittsburgh. While Quinn, Anderson and their C-list group of receivers have produced next to nothing so far this season, the running game has produced two 100-yard rushers the past two weeks. Harrison had 121 yards against Cincinnati in Week 4, and Lewis put 117 on the Bills in Week 5. Polamalu will be stationed at the line for much of the game, and should expect a physical contest. With the platoon of Travis Kirschke, Nick Eason and rookie Ziggy Hood holding down Smith's left defensive end position, the Browns are libel to run to that side. Polamalu will help shore that potential gap up.

I See You

I see you, Ben Roethlisberger. It isn't just your career-high 73.8 percent completion rate, it's that smirk we saw on your face after throwing your second interception that was returned for a touchdown this season. The confidence you displayed in yourself, seeing you own up to a mistake, is inspiring. More of what we really loved was how you showed your young receivers you believe in them. Limas Sweed's drop woes continued, but your first pass attempt was to him on his first play since the drop against Cincinnati. Granted, he's probably got to catch that slant as well, but you went back to him. Mike Wallace joined the fun, dropping what would have been a 71-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. You could have doghoused him too, and just gone to Ward, Holmes and Miller as you had been all game, but you see the value in involving as many receivers as possible. The more confidence they have in themselves, the better they are. You went back to Wallace, who beat CB William James (the guy who took your out route to the house earlier) as badly as any corner has ever been beaten, and got his first career touchdown.

The confidence you have in your receivers makes them better, and it's as much a factor in your ridonkulous completion percentage as your own ability. It's also a big reason why the Steelers are 3-2 without their best defensive player.

Key Stats

Pittsburgh has won the battle of time of possession in nine of their last 11 games
Pittsburgh is 2-0 in those games (Dallas in 2008 and Detroit in 2009)
James Harrison has forced 18 fumbles in his last 36 regular season starts.
Cleveland (11), Oakland (9.8) and St. Louis (6.8) are combining to average 3 points per game less than 2008 league-low Cincinnati (12.8)

Quick Hitters

Thankfully, He Doesn't Play for Us: I would have paid good money to witness the conversation between Bly and Singletary. Good money.

What's Going On In Bravo Company, Matthew?: A classic Col. Nathan Jessup quote to the Cleveland Browns for their most recent PR disaster. My favorite is the sarcasm-laced comment from the league about never having the need to implement rules about players without pads getting hit by players with pads. Only the Mangenius...

I Am Not Talking About No Fine: Chad Ochocinco gets hit hard, and Ray Lewis gets fined. It's kind of a double-win, huh?

Pregame Zone Blitz: Steelers at Lions

ncoolong — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:32:50 -0000

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

Browse more photos »

The Lions got off the schnide in Week 3 with a big win over Washington. Then they hopped right back on via a thorough whipping at the hands of Chicago in Week 4. New Look Lions? Maybe not so much, but former Titans defensive coordinator, now Lions head coach, Jim Schwartz has them going in the right direction. (Just look at what happened to Tennessee since he left) He's got a strong ex-Steeler, a multi-faceted defensive end and a promising quarterback. The PZB has nickname ideas, a look at our opponent's preparation and The Big Legursky.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

Pride of Detroit writer Sean Yuille gives a run-down of team notes, including an interesting tidbit about Bears WR Johnny Knox's controversial touchdown in Week 4 (he also calls for Tigers manager Jim Leyland's job. Ouch. Don't ever count the Twins out, Sean).

Pride of Detroit is breaking down Detroit's Red Zone efficiency, sponsored by Comcast's Red Zone Channel.

Fans posting on Detroit Lions Forum.com aren't exactly optimistic with their chances Sunday.

The versatile DE/OLB Julian Peterson is studying, says Detroit Free Press writer Nicholas J. Cotsonika.

Ford Field is officially sold out for Sunday's game, which obviously means the Steelers are coming to town.

Last Game

"We never make it easy, it seems." - Willie Colon

What's easy? Almost entirely shutting down one of the better offenses in the game? The league's 27^th-ranked rushing offense exploding for 177 yards? The fact the offense ran 73 plays to San Diego's 47? The fact Pittsburgh won the time of possession battle 40:20 to 19:40?

I could go on...5-for-5 in the Red Zone, 4.9 yards per carry, 8-for-12 on third downs...So Stefan "Joystick" Logan had a ball ripped out of his hands when the play should have been blown dead, and there's some work to do on potential onside kick situations. Other than that, it was as solid of a three-phase effort as Pittsburgh has shown over the past two seasons. As Coach Tomlin often says, they don't give out style points. Even if we insist on the idea of "closing teams out," 2-2 sounds a helluva lot better than 35-7 does.

Opponent Spotlight: LB Larry Foote

"We all know that (Foote's) a top-quality player and person, high character guy and great leader for those guys." - Mike Tomlin

I was at McGovern's in St. Paul, chomping on a brat at the Steelers Fans of Minnesota's annual pregame picnic in Week 2. The Vikings were playing the Lions, and a few of the purple faithful who invaded our bar took exception to the cheering from my table after former Steelers LB make a tackle for a loss, and did his Stomp Out routine.

Usually, the Steelers who leave Pittsburgh don't leave under the best circumstances. Joey Porter was ticked at the franchise for their lack of desire to give him $20 million guaranteed. Plaxico Burress was no different.

If Week 5's game was in Pittsburgh, I get the feeling Larry Foote would receive a boisterous ovation. A fourth round pick in 2002 - arguably GM Kevin Colbert's best all-around draft - and became a keystone of a foundation that won two Super Bowls. Probably not surprising to anyone, he leads the Lions in tackles through four games. While it probably comes as a shock to most people, Foote is leading a defensive unit that is aggressive, physical and what's worse for the Steelers, is growing in confidence.

They haven't quite learned how to put it together for an entire game, but in stretches, they've looked quite imposing.

Physical, confident, imposing...that certainly sounds like Larry Foote. If James Harrison and Troy Polamalu were the heart and soul of the Steelers defense in their most recent Super Bowl championship season, Foote was the mouth.

His teammates say they miss him. I'm sure the fans do as well. For the team, he's one of the guys who does things the right way. For the fans, he's a fearless, emotional sparkplug. I'll admit it, I'll be cheering the same way for him Sunday as I have since 2002.

He's a Steeler for life.

Steelers Spotlight: Rashard Mendenhall

"He had a good week's practice. I'm not going to take any credit for that." - Mike Tomlin, on Rashard Mendenhall

Whether we call him "Delicious," or "Runnin' Hard Rashard" or just "Mendy," Rashard Mendenhall's introduction to high production party Sunday night was a thing of beauty. Forget San Diego's suspect defense, the level of run blocking oftentimes is keyed off how hard the running back is playing. In turn, the running back is running as hard as the hogs up front are blocking.

Both were clearly dominant, and it was a joy to watch.

While he's holding down the fort in Willie Parker's absence, the offensive line will enter Week 5 with a large amount of confidence. Coming off their most dominant performance of the season, it gives them a week reprieve from the slings and arrows usually associated with their production. It wasn't that Parker didn't get the same level of effort, it's that Mendenhall had the same sizeable monkey firmly planted on his shoulder as each member of the line did. They clearly were taken to task the week before the Chargers game, and Mendenhall broke out of the gate, and neither he nor the line ever looked back. He was decisive, sharp and powerful.

Detroit isn't exactly going to take Pittsburgh to the shed defensively. All signs point to Mendenhall making his second start of the season, and the Steelers should use it as an opportunity to grow even stronger in the run game.

I See You

I see you, Doug Legursky. I see you, because according to Coach Tomlin, the decision to put you in at fullback on goal line situations against San Diego was more spontaneous than anything, and it was made largely due to the fact you made yourself available to do it. However you can get yourself on the field, whatever role you can fill, right? Fill that role, you certainly did. With FB Frank Summers regulated to the IR, and H-back/TE David Johnson out with an ankle injury, you blew out a hole at the goal line for Rashard Mendenhall - one of his two touchdowns on the game - and helped supplant confidence for anxiety in the Red Zone. Championships are won situation by situation, and the confidence needed to win those championships is built by knowing someone is always willing to fill a role. Credit to Tomlin and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians for noticing all value in each player, and trusting their back-up center's athletic ability enough to know he can move fast enough to lead the glory back to paydirt. But more than anything, credit to "The Big Legursky," we needed the confidence boost.

Key Stats

Pittsburgh has beaten Detroit in two of their last three meetings dating back to 1998. That game is memorable to Steelers fans...something about a coin toss.
The last time the Steelers played at Ford Field, they defeated Seattle 21-10 to win Super Bowl XL.
James Harrison's two sacks against San Diego gives him 31.5 in his career, moving him to 8^th all-time in Steelers history, just above Mike Merriweather and Chad Brown (31).
Detroit is surrendering 6.2 yards per play, the highest in the NFL.

Quick Hitters

Pittsburgh, Philly, Boston, In That Order: Congratulations to Pittsburgh, being named the top sports city in the U.S. and Canada, by The Sporting News. Both myself and site publisher Blitzburgh lived in Philadelphia, and we can both attest to the maniacal sports following of that town. To be considered an overall better sports market is quite the achievement.

Get Your Roll On: While Lions coach Jim Schwartz seems to want to make it a surprise, Lions rookie QB Matthew Stafford hasn't been officially held out of Sunday's game. At this point, its likely veteran Daunte Culpepper will get his first start of the season. This is the same Culpepper who turned down the Steelers' offer to back-up Ben Roethlisberger (a job that eventually went to Byron Leftwich) because he wanted the chance to start. Probably a very unwise move by Culpepper and his agent (they're the same person). Then again, this is the same quarterback who was part of the "Floating Orgy" with the Vikings in 2005. Along with the agent/player relationship he has with himself, my favorite part of the confused Culpepper is the way he calls a huddle together. Here's a game for you, count how many times Culpepper interlocks his fingers with his arms over his head, the universal signal to call a huddle, over the game. Bonus points given to the confusion on his face, or if he's the last one to join the huddle, which has already formed without him.

Woodley the Scribe: Nod to Surag for pointing this one out, but it seems Steelers OLB LaMarr Woodley has found a way to help bolster his salary. Per the editor's note at the start of his article, Woodley will bewriting for Sports Illustrated off and on this season. Good for him, it's good exposure, and it seems our pass-rushing monster can string a sentence or two together. His main point of contention, of course, is the league's protection of quarterbacks, and offensive players in general. At the risk of swinging at this softball myself, I thought Jason Whitlock makes an excellent point, "Why can't there be a 5-yard running-into-the-Brady call and a 15-yard roughing-the-Brady call?" The need to protect the cornerstone franchise player is inherent; the league can make the penalty far less severe as to not damage the integrity of the game being played. Then again, any penalty that hurts the Ravens seems ok to me.

Pregame Zone Blitz: Chargers at Steelers

ncoolong — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:56:53 -0000

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

Browse more photos »

The friendly confines of Heinz Field probably never looked as good as they do right now for the battered Steelers. Dropping two consecutive games, something that hasn't happened in over two seasons, is a sobering reminder of the cruelty of the NFL season. Missed field goals, dropped touchdown passes, that extra yard on a 4^th-and-2 all add up to a disastrous 1-2 start. The good news? The new season starts Sunday vs. San Diego.

Here's what our opponents are saying.

Opponent Web Sites/Forums

Kevin Acree of the San Diego Union-Tribune (one of the best in the game) says Roethlisberger "gets things done" against the Chargers.

Acree also thinks Chargers QB Phillip Rivers will set up out of shotgun.

OLB Shawne Merriman practiced this week, but is listed as questionable with a groin injury.

One of my favorite forum names, Glorify the Past, is predicting a variety of scores, mostly all of them pick a victory for the visiting team.

The Union-Tribune is optimistic about LaDainian Tomlinson's chances to impact Sunday's game.

What raising a champion taught Loreane Tomlinson, mother of LaDainian Tomlinson, about life, faith and listening to your dreams. If you buy the book, please let me know what championship she's referring to. Seems to me LT is usually hurt during the playoffs.

Last Game

"Two games." - Ben Roethlisberger, to Jim Wexell, summarizing his unshaken confidence in his offense after two blown 4^th quarter leads in the last two games.

It's difficult to characterize the poor start Pittsburgh has gotten off to as a "Super Bowl Hangover," which is the readily accepted phrase. If that were true, they could just drink some Gatorade, visit a Chinese buffet and sleep it off, like most people do. It goes deeper than that.

‘Shake said it the best in the post-game forum, "Teams are beating us like we beat them last season. Look back at the Dallas game from last season where we were beat for 3+ quarters found and found a way to win with a pick 6."

Were we not exactly like Cowboys fans last year, right after Deshea Townsend ripped their still-beating heart out of their collective chest? What about Ravens fans after Roethlisberger twice saved victory from the jaws of Baltimore defeat?

We won those games last year. It was our trademark of the 2008 season. We had no problem closing those teams out, and the team knew it. The Bengals had the ball 23 of the game's final 30 plays. They converted two fourth downs. They caught passes that hit them in the chest in the end zone, and ran the correct routes on blitz reads.

Cincinnati did not play the better game through four quarters, but they won the little battles, and exploited the dropped passes, wrong routes and they stretched out for those first downs.

When the rubber met the road, they wanted it more. Hangover? No. Gut-check time, absolutely. It's the little things that matter.

Conversely, we showed blitz too early too often, but QB Carson Palmer did not throw well into pressure when he didn't see the blitz coming pre-snap. CB Jonathan Joseph will be a marked man for the rest of the season (beaten at least four times, by my count). Poor personnel decisions can and will be corrected moving forward. We have more to work with here than we think in our post-back-to-back-loss gloom.

Opponent Spotlight: WR Vincent Jackson

"I've always seen myself I look at Reggie Wayne, Derek Mason, Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, I've got to put myself up there. If you don't see yourself being in that position, I don't think you can achieve it." - Vincent Jackson

The secret's out. The rest of the league has found Vincent Jackson.

He's been the NFL's best-kept secret for two years now. Jackson has managed to stay off most people's radars, despite being built like T.O., having hands like Harrison and the big play ability of Moss.

Maybe it's something with Division I-AA Northern Colorado. Jackson's alma mater is the same as another underrated player involved in this game; Steelers DE Aaron Smith.

The Steelers probably know him well enough that he scares them. It didn't take long for him to make his impact against Pittsburgh in the 2008 Playoffs. Shortly into it, QB Phillip Rivers found Jackson from 41 yards out, giving the Chargers one of two leads they had all game - the only two times the Steelers trailed all playoffs.

Jackson hasn't slowed down a step since then, either. He's second in the NFL with 317 receiving yards, and second in touchdown catches (2). He's also the NFL's active career leader in yards per catch, at 17.5. Incidentally, Santonio Holmes is third with 16.5.

Jackson is certainly boosted by Rivers, whose lights-out year of 2008 went largely unnoticed, if not unappreciated. His 105.1 rating was the 13^th-best passing season in NFL history, and he's already racked up 991 passing yards.

The Chargers, much like their opponents on Sunday, are slowly transitioning from a power running team to a team that will average 38 pass attempts a game (the 6^th highest total in the NFL). Pittsburgh is currently averaging 36.3, good for 7^th highest in the league. San Diego averaged 29 pass attempts per game in 2008. It used to be that Rivers spread the ball all over the field, and completed passes to as many guys as coach Norv Turner put on the field. TE Antonio Gates led the team last season with 60 receptions. Jackson was second with 59 and RB LaDainian Tomlinson had 52.

Jackson averaged 3.7 catches per game in 2008. He's averaging 5.3 so far this season.

Stopping the big-play production of Jackson will be a critical component of a Steelers victory. And with Pittsburgh having given up six plays of 20 yards or more through the air, it's a good bet the Chargers will look to get Jackson open deep.

Steelers Spotlight: OLB LaMarr Woodley

"We're not playing winning football right now, and the reality of it is we've got to get after the quarterback. We have to find ways to make significant plays at significant moments." - Mike Tomlin

Woodley stands at the edge of league dominance. When one gets to the edge of anything, one can either walk away, or jump. There's no third option. He's currently staring at that edge, and we're waiting to see whether he'll jump to another level of production, or if he'll walk away.

This isn't to say Woodley is playing poorly. He's just not showing that he's factoring in much. He swatted away a Carson Palmer pass in last week's loss, but through three games, he hasn't registered a sack, and the highly-touted Steelers defense has a pedestrian five sacks overall.

It's time for Woodley to step up.

Granted, offenses have not been looking to attack deep very often. Pittsburgh is only surrendering an average of six yards per pass completion, indicating passers are only taking three or five step drops and quickly releasing the football. San Diego, however, is transforming into a vertical passing team, led by the strong-armed Rivers. Woodley, and the rest of the Steelers' pass rush, is going to have a chance to get him to the ground.

Rivers may remember this hit in the playoffs last year.

One issue the defense seemed to have last week was with disguise. They often mis-timed their blitz, showing far too much of it pre-snap. That allowed Palmer to change plays, which he did successfully. That's an issue of rhythm and cohesion.

Expect Woodley and the Steelers to have a stronger pass rush, as coach Tomlin likely took the front seven to task this week.

I See You

"Really, how can anyone have faith in Sweed?" - Ron Cook, Post-Gazette

I see you, Limas Sweed. Yeah, you (eat me, Ron Cook). I see you because of the route you ran, not the pass you dropped. What most people don't look at on your second ginormous drop as a Steeler is how beautifully you burned Bengals CB Jonathan Joseph, and how you ran your route so crisply, it was right behind the safety as well. A receiver can be taught how to catch, it's a lot tougher to teach them the kind of balance, timing and speed you displayed in the execution of that route.

And hey, not to sound like a jerk, Limas, but you came a lot closer to making that catch than you did on your drop in the AFC Championship game.

I see you, Limas. We're behind you. We want so badly to add "SWEEEEEED" to our list of cheers upon one of your big receptions. We haven't given up on you, so please, don't you give up on you, either. All it takes is one catch, your confidence will be restored. Then, you can get back to kicking the hell out of chumps like Joseph on a regular basis.

Key Stats

Opposing quarterbacks are completing 62.7 percent of their passes against the Steelers - 9^th highest total in the league.
The Steelers are allowing 6 yards per completion - fifth-lowest total in the league.
Of Pittsburgh's last six losses, they held leads in the fourth quarter in four of them.
Of the 9 kick returns Steelers WR Stefan Logan has taken, two of them have gone for less than 20 yards.

Quick Hitters

Welcome Back Carey: Good to see you, Carey Davis. Glad you weren't too busy to try and help us out. With rookie FB Frank Summers whiffing on several blocking assignments with just a spattering of plays in two games, his "mysterious" back injury will keep him out all year. Davis was sort of a "jack of all trades, master of none" kind of guy in his previous stint here, so maybe he can provide some versatility in a hot-and-cold running game.

What? Really?: Maybe I'm being oversensitive, but does it sicken anyone else to read comments from Rodney Harrison discussing himself, Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, and bringing Hines Ward into the discussion? None of the three of them will ever be a champion the caliber of Hines Ward. I'll give Moss a half-pass in this discussion, because he's not the bum people make him out to be, but don't make comparison where comparisons do not exist; Rodney, you're no Hines Ward. T.O., you're no Hines Ward.