Love for the Steelers (1 Viewer)

[timschochet]

from Sports Illustrated:

The hype surrounding the Patriots-Colts showdown makes the NFL seem like a two-team league with 30 spectators. Not true. There are 29 spectators. Don't count the Pittsburgh Steelers out.

Everyone seems to think a New England-Indy AFC Championship Game is a forgone conclusion. The Pats and Colts are undefeated and winning by huge margins. The Steelers are 5-2, with some narrow victories, and have a rookie head coach, so they're not getting a lot of attention as a threat to the two powerhouses.

Here are five reasons that may be a mistake:

They have the No. 1 defense in the NFL: They kept defensive coordinator **** LeBeau and are working in new head coach Mike Tomlin's influence. They could be a better at the end of the season than they are now.

They have the No. 1 running game in the NFL: Willie Parker is a more confident player than he was during the 2005 Super Bowl run and this is basically the same offensive line that led them to a championship.

Ben Roethlisberger is back: Big Ben threw 18 TDs and 23 interceptions in 2006 when he was reeling from a motorcycle accident and appendectomy. He has 15 touchdowns and six picks in seven games this season, meaning he's on pace for 35 TDs and 13 picks.

Roethlisberger is rarely in the discussion of the elite QBs. A New York city radio talk show said it wouldn't trade his career for Eli Manning's. That's ridiculous. If you took last year's aberration off his resume, Roethlisberger would be on a Hall of Fame track. His uncanny ability to escape the rush with his feet and keep drives alive is often overlooked. And he could burn any team that loads up to stop the running game.

They have basically the same team that won Super Bowl XL: Six starters from the Super Bowl team are gone -- Antwaan Randle El, Jeff Hartings. Joey Porter, Kimo Von Oelhoffen and Chris Hope. Name one of those players the Steelers significantly miss. While Hartings' retirement was a blow, Sean Mahan has been a pleasant surprise at center. And Porter's volume may be missed, but all you have to do is look at his performance in Miami to gauge how much Pittsburgh misses him on the field.

Their two losses this season were excusable: They fell to a Cardinals team that was basically playing its Super Bowl because their head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, wanted to beat his former team so badly. And they fell to the Broncos on Sunday night. Sunday night road losses don't indicate much since they're like Monday night games and the home teams tend to play out of their minds.

Other than a trip to New England in Week 14, the Steelers have a soft schedule in the second half, including games against the Jets, Rams and Dolphins. If they end up 12-4, they could get a home playoff game against the Colts. New England isn't going to lose anywhere near four games, but Indianapolis has a very tough schedule and always drops a few games toward the end of the season.

Maybe I'm fooling myself because I want more teams added to the drama. But Patriots and Colts in the AFC Championship Game seems too predictable for an NFL that never follows the script.

 

[ShadowMaster]

 

[CrossEyed]

Personally, I'm fine with the rest of the league sleeping on the Steelers. I think below the radar is just where this team needs to be.

 

[plymkr]

When you lose to the Cardinals and the Broncos, you should be below the radar.

 

[CrossEyed]

When you lose to the Cardinals and the Broncos, you should be below the radar.

Postseason is January & February.

 

[JoeSteeler]

Personally, I'm fine with the rest of the league sleeping on the Steelers. I think below the radar is just where this team needs to be.

It always seems that is where they like to be too. I was glad when the Steelers got rid of Porter. I thought he was so overrated and I was excited to see what James Harrison could do.I do like the Steelers chances of a deep playoff run this year but that OL worries me.

 

[The Jerk]

from Sports Illustrated:this is basically the same offensive line that led them to a championship.

It's more like 50% is back. Hartings retired, Starks is on the bench, Smith and Faneca are not playing as stout as in 2005

Sean Mahan has been a pleasant surprise at center.

Only true if you expected him to miss 10 blocks a game.

Their two losses this season were excusable

Losing to Denver was not acceptable. They are a mediocre at best team that a supposed championship contender should kick to the curb.I'm a :( and other parts of the article are more accurate, but these parts are not.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Unless Norv really screws them up down the stretch (highly likely)...the Chargers are looking better than the Steelers over the last few weeks. Steelers are a strong team though, offensive line definitely needs help in the offseason. That is their only weak spot. All other facets of their game are hitting on all cylinders.

 

[3C's]

Their two losses this season were inexcusable

fixed

 

[Steelnation]

 

[timschochet]

My love for the Steelers is great, but I agree the O- line is of concern. I would so love them to do well in the playoffs, however:

1. The 2007 Steelers are a better team than the 2005 Steelers which won the SB.

2. The 2007 Indianopolis Colts are a better team than the 2006 Colts which won the SB.

3. Unfortunately, this will not be enough for either of these teams...

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

12-4 isn't getting a home game against the Colts. It will take at least 13-3, and they would probably need to win out if they want the bye.

 

[The Jerk]

Unless Norv really screws them up down the stretch (highly likely)...the Chargers are looking better than the Steelers over the last few weeks. Steelers are a strong team though, offensive line definitely needs help in the offseason. That is their only weak spot. All other facets of their game are hitting on all cylinders.

The possibility exists that these could be the best divisional round playoff games in the past two decades. More precisely, the games might not end up being the best, but the caliber of these four teams could be the best. Think of the Chargers or Steelers as a likely #4 seed.

 

[timschochet]

Unless Norv really screws them up down the stretch (highly likely)...the Chargers are looking better than the Steelers over the last few weeks. Steelers are a strong team though, offensive line definitely needs help in the offseason. That is their only weak spot. All other facets of their game are hitting on all cylinders.

The main competition between the Steelers and the Chargers is this: who gets to play at Indy, and who gets to play at NE. Pick your poison. The Steelers have a soft schedule coming up, so it will be hard for SD to catch them. I'm betting the Chargers get the return trip to NE...

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Love the Steelers but losses to Denver and Arizona don't put them on the same field with Indy or NE right now. However, the Steelers may be saving their best football for December/January as they did in 2005. They certainly have the potential to compete with either Indy or NE in January. But let's get past Baltimore on MNF first...

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I'm as big a Steeler fan as anyone....but a couple things he points out are indicative that he's on glue. Sean Mahan a pleasant surprise? He's been pretty weak, in my mind. Especially in pass protection. Their whole OL has. If Roethliseberger weren't as good at throwing with guys draped all over him I think they'd be up there in terms of sacks allowed easily. Their pass protection needs an enema, IMO. It's not awful, but it's very inconsistent.

He makes a few valid points though, and I think any given week their offense can put up points on anyone when all their skill position guys are healthy(and that includes the vaunted Patriots. Those big mo'fuggin' TEs they have cause teams with average/worse than average safeties problems), but they still have some areas that need to improve: Pass rush, pass protection and kick return coverage being my "big 3" hot button issues. Some games they have a nasty habit of forgetting to play defense on third downs as well(which cost them the Denver game along with those unforgivable encroachment penalties inside the 2 min. mark), though probably not as often as in years past.

If they played their A game on O, D and STs with all their top guys healthy they could probably run with the Colts and Pats. If they played their A game on O and C game on D they'd probably have a pretty long day. If they played their A game on D and C game on O they'd probably lose in a close one. Depends on how many points that "A" game on defense garnered them.

I think the Steeles COULD get better as the year goes on, especially if they started working in guys like Woodley on third downs for more pass rush/showing some different blitz packages. And it's not like they aren't good right now(solid D, emerging O, pretty good return units with Rossum), but they're clearly a rung below the Colts and Pats.

If they can sand off the edges on a couple areas they have as good a shot as anyone.

 

[timschochet]

For those of you who are Steeler or Charger fans, it's never going to happen, but-

Can you imagine this scenario?

The Steelers punk Indy again in the RCA dome, and-

The revamped Chargers get revenge in New England?

OK, I know it doesn't seem possible, but man, that would stun the media, stun all the fans, and be the PERFECT AFC championship game-

Man I wish...

 

[Chase Stuart]

Their two losses this season were excusable: They fell to a Cardinals team that was basically playing its Super Bowl because their head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, wanted to beat his former team so badly. And they fell to the Broncos on Sunday night. Sunday night road losses don't indicate much since they're like Monday night games and the home teams tend to play out of their minds.

 

[DanFouts]

For those of you who are Steeler or Charger fans, it's never going to happen, but-Can you imagine this scenario?The Steelers punk Indy again in the RCA dome, and-The revamped Chargers get revenge in New England?OK, I know it doesn't seem possible, but man, that would stun the media, stun all the fans, and be the PERFECT AFC championship game-Man I wish...

That would be nice....a rematch of the 94 AFC championship.....Pupunu to the red courtesy phone....

 

[crowe1130]

That would be nice....a rematch of the 94 AFC championship.....Pupunu to the red courtesy phone....

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

For those of you who are Steeler or Charger fans, it's never going to happen, but-Can you imagine this scenario?The Steelers punk Indy again in the RCA dome, and-The revamped Chargers get revenge in New England?OK, I know it doesn't seem possible, but man, that would stun the media, stun all the fans, and be the PERFECT AFC championship game-Man I wish...

That would be nice....a rematch of the 94 AFC championship.....Pupunu to the red courtesy phone....

I think everyone is discounting both SD and Pitt. Sure both teams have bad losses, but the season is long.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

5-ish mentioned it above. Our Pass Rush SUCKS!

We barely laid a hand on Palmer or Cutler. Yes, I know ASmith is out, but if we can't get pressure on Brady or Manning I'll tell you the outcome of either of those games right now, and neither one will be pretty for the yinzer homers.

We need Woodley and/or Timmons in there with some fire to get some pressure. I'm pretty much over Clark Haggans.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

5-ish mentioned it above. Our Pass Rush SUCKS! We barely laid a hand on Palmer or Cutler. Yes, I know ASmith is out, but if we can't get pressure on Brady or Manning I'll tell you the outcome of either of those games right now, and neither one will be pretty for the yinzer homers. We need Woodley and/or Timmons in there with some fire to get some pressure. I'm pretty much over Clark Haggans.

I saw from commentary from you and others in the steelers thread suggesting the Steelers don't want to necessarily renew with Faneca, but he's made plays this year has he not?

 

[Idiot Boxer]

As others have mentioned, the Steelers and Chargers appear to be 3a and 3b when it comes to the AFC. I'll give them both a chance, albeit small, of cracking the top two come playoff time...but NE and Indy do just look too tough.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

5-ish mentioned it above. Our Pass Rush SUCKS! We barely laid a hand on Palmer or Cutler. Yes, I know ASmith is out, but if we can't get pressure on Brady or Manning I'll tell you the outcome of either of those games right now, and neither one will be pretty for the yinzer homers. We need Woodley and/or Timmons in there with some fire to get some pressure. I'm pretty much over Clark Haggans.

I saw from commentary from you and others in the steelers thread suggesting the Steelers don't want to necessarily renew with Faneca, but he's made plays this year has he not?

Clearly he has. He's a probowl-level guard, and he still has a few good years of football left in him. If he would accept a 3 or 4 year deal, I'd love a resigning. The problem is, he's going to want (and rightfully so) for a 6 or 7 year bank-breaking deal. I don't believe that's in the best interest of our team for the long run.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Look, I'm as big a Steelers homer as there is, but even I think the Colts and Pats deserve to be getting all the pub. If the Steelers had pulled out winnable games against AZ and DEN, I'd be singing a different tune, but they're 5-2 and below the radar where they should be.

The thing he says that thrills me because I've been harping on it on this board for years (and any Steeler fan knows its the truth) is that Roethlisberger's worth is greater than his stats because of his ability to move in the pocket and keep plays alive. Granted, occasionally this leads to turnovers because he has too much gunslinger in him (see Favre, Brett) so he's always going to have INT numbers more like Favre than Brady or Manning, but he does keep drives alive singlehandedly with his ability to avoid the sack and keep his eyes downfield. After years of Tommy Maddox, who went into the fetal position anytime the protection broke down even slightly, every time Ben does this, it's like a giant breath of fresh air. When the pocket collapses on 3rd and 9 and a sack is going to force a punt, when Ben rolls out, looks downfield, pulls up short of the LOS and fires a 12-yard strike to Miller, Ward, or Holmes - that's not just another 12 yard completion. In many, many cases it proves to tbe the difference between points and punts, and Ben does this as well or better than anyone in the NFL right now.

 

[CrossEyed]

5-ish mentioned it above. Our Pass Rush SUCKS! We barely laid a hand on Palmer or Cutler. Yes, I know ASmith is out, but if we can't get pressure on Brady or Manning I'll tell you the outcome of either of those games right now, and neither one will be pretty for the yinzer homers. We need Woodley and/or Timmons in there with some fire to get some pressure. I'm pretty much over Clark Haggans.

I'm guessing that by week 14 you'll see Timmons and Woodley used a bit more than they have been.