prophicide
Nov 16, 2009 May 15, 2012 30 214
a fan of
Pittsburgh Steelers
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2011 marked a new chapter for nearly every Steelers rivalry
by prophicide on Feb 3, 2012 3:11 AM EST
on Behind the Steel Curtain
Rivalries abound for this storied franchise. Historical rivalries such as the Raiders and Cowboys; current rivalries with the other perennial AFC contenders, mainly the Patriots; and finally those most important and oldest foes, the divisional rivals. 2011 was an important year for many of those rivalries.
CB Injury situation: Lewis likely to play at Denver
Cortez Allen "questionable at best." I hope he's ready if the team draws the Pats, Pack, or Saints in the playoffs.
Great teams and great offensive guards.
by prophicide on Dec 22, 2011 5:21 AM EST
on Behind the Steel Curtain
In 2008, the Steelers won a Super Bowl with what many consider the worst line to win a championship. Center Justin Hartwig was pancake blocked into the endzone and called for holding, resulting in an ill timed safety. In each playoff game of the 2010 run, interior pressure resulted the opposing defense scoring in some way.
The fate of the NFL postseason pivots on Monday Night.
by prophicide on Dec 19, 2011 4:56 AM EST
on Behind the Steel Curtain
The Steelers vs. 49ers tilt set for tomorrow night became dramatically more important after a wacky Sunday. Both teams have clinched a playoff berth, but as of now both teams control their own destiny and are on course for a 1st round bye. Only one team will stay on that course. From the Steeler's perspective, this is nothing new.
We don't need to sign a new left tackle.
by prophicide on Jul 29, 2011 2:37 AM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
We have three players on the roster to compete for the spot, and Tomlin loves competition. We know that Jonathan Scott, the imperfect 2010 replacement who is nevertheless a fine backup swing tackle, is good enough for the Steelers to win with. He seems like the default choice, but with recent draft picks Tony Hills and Marcus Gilbert on the roster, the starting job is by no means his already.
Starks gone?
Jason La Canfora reports Starks is out, in what would be a surprising move. However when his cap hit of 6.75m is weighed against his field impact... Good night sweet prince.
Cap Trouble: Forget about Asomugha
by prophicide on Jul 16, 2011 11:50 PM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
With the projected cap of 120 million and Woodley's franchise tag, the Steelers may not have enough left over to resign even Ike Taylor.
FO's Best Linebackers Run Stop rates: Three Steelers in top 10
If you're reading this, Woodley, you know what you must do.
#1 Defense: Our rightful place.
by prophicide on Dec 27, 2010 10:12 PM EST
on Behind the Steel Curtain
There are two different measurements of overall team defense, Points Per Game and Yards Per Game, and they are arguments for either one's relation to the absolute strength of the defense. Right now the Steelers lead the league with 14.9 PPG, a respectable but hardly historic number. The 2nd place team, the Packers, are allowing 15.8 PPG so far, so on Sunday the Steelers just have to allow 14 fewer points than them or any other team on the PPG ranking to earn the Top Defense: Points Allowed honor.
The Chargers are currently the only team ahead of the Steelers in YPG. They allow 267.2 and the Steelers allow 280.3... in order to pass the Chargers, the Steelers would need to allow 209.6 fewer yards in the final game. That is a tall order, especially when the Chargers are playing some team from the NFC West. The Broncos maybe? The Broncos are in the top half of the league offensively, but the Orton-led Broncos were owned on a particularly boring edition of MNF. The Chargers have this honor seemingly wrapped up.That's OK because historically the Steelers have earned the title Top Defense in one measurement of the other more than any other team since the NFL-AFL merger. I actually did a lot of research on this and I'll share it with you guys after the jump.
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I picked the Ravens Sunday Night - but I'm looking forward to this game
by prophicide on Dec 4, 2010 12:43 AM EST
on Behind the Steel Curtain
Every analysis of this game that even pretends neutrality will pick the Ravens by 3 - just like the spread. They say, and I agree, that the only discernable difference maker in this game is the Steelers O-line, which looked horrible last week. Both starting tackles on IR means goodbye season. The only dissenting voice I've heard or read is that of football humorist Peter King, who picks the Steelers by 3 on a "Gut feeling that Rashard Mendenhall, the tougher Mendenhall, will outgain and outscore Ray Rice."
"Roughing the Passer" Week 12
by prophicide on Nov 30, 2010 8:27 PM EST
on Behind the Steel Curtain
What constitutes roughing the passer in the NFL these days? Pass rushers have to be cautious about late hits, hits to the quarterback's head, low hits, driving the quarterback to the ground, and now (apparently, as I was unable to find mention of this rule anywhere) leading with the crown of the helmet regardless of target area. Even if all these rules are followed, referees will err on the side of the QB from time to time, especially if the QB in question has beautiful hair.
After the jump, I list all the "roughing the passer" penalties I found in Week 12, and all of the Steelers' such penalties for the season. Some are much more egregious than Harrison's $25000 hit on Fitzpatrick.
Roughing the passer calls and non-calls have always been spotty. After a clean Weeks 1-7, the Steelers have been flagged for roughing the passer 6 times in 5 games. The most troubling thing I found was that Woodley's first roughing the passer call this season resulted in a $12,500 fine. As far as I cared to look, his fine was unique among first offenders.
Thank you NFL for NFL Game Rewind, making it as easy as possible to keep up with my favorite team and also expose your hypocrisy. Readers can view these free clips after clicking OK.
Patriots@Steelers regular season 2004
Thought this might cheer some of you up.
The Steelers are the NFL's top villain.
by prophicide on Oct 18, 2010 7:05 PM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
This may come as a shock to some of you. It has actually been a long time coming. Here are five reasons the Steelers are Darth Vader in 2010.
NFL intends to suspend players for helmet to helmet hits
It's happening, no idea if they're going to suspend players involved in Week 6's rash of helmet to helmets or will apply this sort of punishment going forward. James Harrison is a prime target for example-making.
Press conference with Mike Tomlin
by prophicide on Oct 4, 2010 2:52 AM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
Week 1 Opponent Preview: Atlanta Falcons
by prophicide on Sep 3, 2010 4:29 PM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
The first game of the season, and the first game of Ben's suspension. Those four games are probably familiar to most of you: Atlanta, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore. Baltimore is undoubtedly the toughest of those games, but Atlanta has a strong case for second toughest. With the untried Dixon at QB, none of these games is a sure thing.
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Hills taking a step forward
It's great news that one of our third year players is developing into a viable pro tackle, but the best news in this article are Hills' raves about Kugler and the positive effect he's having on the environment.
Information about the Steelers' new veteran OT, Flozell Adams
by prophicide on Jul 29, 2010 7:02 PM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
I combed the web for information because I wanted to make sure this is good news. Adams will make the team better this year, but I think we'd be better off if Colon were on the line.
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First signs of discontent from Woodley
"If there is no franchise tag … I guess I can play for 31 [other] teams now. That’s what it boils down to. If they’d wanted to keep other teams from getting a crack, they could’ve tried to do so."
Free-agent guard Pitts draws Colts, Steelers to workout
Another prospect that may shore up our O-Line. Hopefully we'll sign someone decent to add to that unit at RG or RT.
Two Steelers featured on NFL Network's Top 10 beards
I'm not going to mention which ones here, because honestly, who cares? Watch this if you were going to waste the next three minutes of your life anyway.
How can opposing teams beat the Steelers?
by prophicide on Jul 2, 2010 5:32 AM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
Fans can look at the Steelers and see what they want to see. Fanposts on this site foresee championships. Fanposts on our rivals' sites foresee a losing season. The reality is that no team is going to just check the Win box next to the week they meet the Steelers. It's going to take talent, strategy, and execution. This fanpost is an analysis of the strategies that can exploit next year's Steelers.
Plays Bruce Arians doesn't know about, part 1: BOSS
by prophicide on Jun 10, 2010 7:10 PM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
"Take the Super Bowl for example. There were seven catches or six catches Santonio [Holmes] had that were running plays when [there were] safeties blitz that are unblockable, and you have runs called. So it's not a 'number' of runs because we threw the ball out there and got a bunch of yards. 'Oh, that's a good pass.' No, that was a running play. That happens quite often. And what we do, we take some short screen stuff and treat that as [part of the] running game."
Remember this Bruce Arians interview? Everyone thought this was a confusing excuse for not running the ball. Arians seems to believe he has discovered a heretofore unappreciated flaw in running attacks. I think that with the personnel the Steelers use, aborting running calls is the correct decision. Arians' mistake is his conclusion that calling an audible when runs are likely to fail is the solution. Obviously this does not lead to a balanced attack and allows other teams to make the Steelers one-dimensional. In fact, it essentially cedes the decision to the other team, instead of imposing our will.
New Special Teams Coach Everest has a promising mustache.
Looks the part, has plenty of experience. He's interviewed in this steelers.com article, and makes it clear that he knows he's not very important and plans to emphasize fundamentals.
Would you give up picks to move to the top spot in the fourth round?
by prophicide on Apr 24, 2010 1:41 AM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
These point values are derived from this chart.
If we give up some of our draft picks, such as a 4th a 5th and a 6th, we could move up to the first pick tomorrow. It has been hard to see defensive backs fall and get taken in this draft when we obviously need someone to hold the unit together if Troy is injured again. According to the board at NFL.com, cornerbacks Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Dominique Franks, and Donovan Warren are not only the top remaining Defensive Backs, they are rated the top three of all players remaining. In addition, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah obviously has the coolest name left on the draft board (possibly has since Suh was drafted). Do you have to, have to have him?
Remember that we have our untradeable compensatory picks, so there's not really a concern of not getting enough players.
I personally would prefer a safety to a corner, but on NFL.com the remaining safeties are rated much lower than the corners.
Math follows.
A look back at 2009 and a last minute look forward to the Draft
by prophicide on Apr 22, 2010 4:36 PM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
The Steelers' 2009 season was a fairly miserable title defense, ultimately resulting in missing the playoffs. Along the way the Steelers were swept by the Bengals and lost many games to basement dwelling opponents, including the lowly rival Browns. Ideally, the Steelers should be looking towards 2010 with the primary goal of AFC North dominance.
Mr MaLoR: "Yea, but the Steelers are actually a good football team."
Caught you, you closet Steelers fan.
Redemption 2010: The Baller and the Ball Dropper
by prophicide on Apr 14, 2010 6:46 PM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
I mean Big Ben and Limas Sweed.
THE TOP FIVE Potential Gentleman's Agreements (that may secretly be behind the Holmes trade)
by prophicide on Apr 13, 2010 2:10 AM EDT
on Behind the Steel Curtain
I saw a lot of speculation about gentleman's agreements surrounding the supposed Holmes giveaway. Like most strange baseball customs (minor league? chewing tobacco?) I have no idea what that means, so I did some research, and I'm sharing my wiki-educated guesses with you. After the jump, we explore what gentleman's agreement the Steelers and Jets might have made, in order of likelihood.
How the Steelers will make the playoffs.
by prophicide on Dec 13, 2009 1:32 AM EST
on Behind the Steel Curtain
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