tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post3655231178861227759..comments2024-01-01T18:41:14.457-05:00Comments on NFL from the sidelines: Post-Cleveland thoughts IIMoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612323587459830074noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-50292631575725572462013-01-02T12:51:44.415-05:002013-01-02T12:51:44.415-05:00Dale, you have brought up the interesting concept ...Dale, you have brought up the interesting concept of how the ego gets in the way of reality. It did with Wallace's contract negotiations and Ben with his dink and dunk comments. Grimm won't be unemployed for long, he's too good. But, let's just say for arguments sake, that he is unemployed. There is an opportunity in Pittsburgh, to take an offensive line, which has been noted as poor to average at best for the last several years and take it to the next level. The line is loaded with potential and what better person to take it there than a HOF offensive lineman. While the line has size, it's missing the attitude of a hog. Give him the title of "assistant head coach" and guess what? He succeeds, which I think he will and it opens up that head coaching opportunity for him again with another team. I've been married for 20+ years and one of the sayings I follow is "you can win the battle, but lose the war." In this case, Grimm loses the ego and he wins the war.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-18071991683263518222013-01-02T00:26:50.276-05:002013-01-02T00:26:50.276-05:00Well, wouldn't you be loath to return to work ...Well, wouldn't you be loath to return to work for a guy who beat you out for a job?Dale Lolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089003781188560287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-8475137807857436072013-01-02T00:13:41.458-05:002013-01-02T00:13:41.458-05:00Thanks Dale, that confirms the acrimonious departu...Thanks Dale, that confirms the acrimonious departure of Grimm and the hiring of Tomlin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-69234922933738422882013-01-01T18:22:09.155-05:002013-01-01T18:22:09.155-05:00Ah, no, I don't believe Russ will be coming ba...Ah, no, I don't believe Russ will be coming back.Dale Lolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089003781188560287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-54197772787310007912013-01-01T17:30:17.865-05:002013-01-01T17:30:17.865-05:00With Sean Kugler leaving, who are the candidates f...With Sean Kugler leaving, who are the candidates for line coach? Is Russ Grimm available since Whiz was fired? Was the last parting from the Steelers so bad that he wouldn't consider coming back? I remember that Cowher jumped on the chance to hire Grimm, he did a good job and had assistant head coach added to the offensive line coach in both Pitt and Arz. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-54910769980892984972013-01-01T12:52:37.339-05:002013-01-01T12:52:37.339-05:00You get lucky in some years. For example, the year...You get lucky in some years. For example, the year the Steelers took Santonio Holmes, there was no clear impact WR that year and Holmes was the first receiver taken - at the end of the first round, moving up seven spots to do so. <br />The Patriots, also in need of a wideout, took the second one with the early in the second round - a few picks behind the Steelers. They got Chad Jackson. How'd that work out?Dale Lolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089003781188560287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-10986136555318798362013-01-01T08:05:01.176-05:002013-01-01T08:05:01.176-05:00I remember hearing some of Lewis's first year ...I remember hearing some of Lewis's first year hits way up here in NY. He smoothed out those rough edges. What a fast transformation in the secondary. Let's hope for the same on the OL.ibygeorgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-11291871434557905952012-12-31T17:32:13.066-05:002012-12-31T17:32:13.066-05:00"Tough to find impact stars drafting in the 2..."Tough to find impact stars drafting in the 20s and below every year."<br /><br />Thank you, Dale! I once did a stats post about Ziggy Hood, and pointed out that 6 DEs were taken before him in his draft. Statistics repeatedly show that the first couple of players at a given position in a draft are almost always in a different class than the next ten - twelve players at the same position - the later players tend to be more or less interchangeable in terms of the chance of them panning out. The words "first round" seem to be some sort of magic potion, conferring the assumption of greatness. The truth its, picking at #32 is one pick away from the second round...Rebecca Rollettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-29666438788276333202012-12-31T16:52:06.658-05:002012-12-31T16:52:06.658-05:00Anyone can make the calls on defense. Doesn't ...Anyone can make the calls on defense. Doesn't matter what position.<br /><br />Everybody misses tackles or overruns plays at times. It happens. Defense doesn't allow a lot of big plays. It could use more splash plays.<br /><br />As for the recent draft picks, Mendenhall was a two-time 1,000-yard back on his way to a third when he was injured. Pouncey is a solid starter. Hood is a starter and Heyward just finished his second year.<br /><br />Add to that that three of the picks have been linemen - offensive and defensive - whose play is tough to assess if you don't know the assignments, and I don't know that you can say they haven't done well.<br /><br />Look around the league. There are guys from those drafts selected in the first round who are already out of the NFL. That, my friend, is a bust, not a player who is starting just because you don't happen to think they are living up to billing.<br /><br />Tough to find impact stars drafting in the 20s and below every year.Dale Lolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089003781188560287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-8285232892175275982012-12-31T13:33:17.950-05:002012-12-31T13:33:17.950-05:00Dale, why not have an open thread with the subject...Dale, why not have an open thread with the subject "wish list for the 2013 Steelers". I think this year would be as appropriate as any.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-55319536993772473772012-12-31T12:27:40.787-05:002012-12-31T12:27:40.787-05:00I do not know if Spence is the answer, but I hope ...I do not know if Spence is the answer, but I hope he is at least a very solid back up and special teams player. He seems to have the instincts, intelligence, and nose for the ball we need, as well as the quickness we need. They need at least one good ILB in the draft this year, or maybe a veteran free agent. Spenc size is not as big as it has been made compared to who we have and had. He is 5'11" and 230#, to put that into perspective, Foote is 6'1" 240, Timmons is 6'1" 235#, and Farrior is 6'1" and was 225-230# his last year to help him with speed. With the pass happy league, having a quick ILB would serve us well, another Troy Polamalu type back there, especiall in the pass "D".<br /><br />We do not need a lot, just a few pieces and an infusion of hunger/sense of urgency that was greatly lacking this year. The conditioning needs a long hard look as well, just too many nagging injuries. Lancenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-91085465346435684082012-12-31T10:24:59.579-05:002012-12-31T10:24:59.579-05:00The FO's track record on 1st round picks has t...The FO's track record on 1st round picks has taken a hit the last few years. Pouncey isn't as good as his rep, Mendenhall has a bad attitude, Hood and Heyward haven't made an impact.<br /><br />Not exactly a great last few years...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-87265157605748076742012-12-31T10:00:52.472-05:002012-12-31T10:00:52.472-05:00Ghoulish maybe, but I'm kinda hoping Lewis is ...Ghoulish maybe, but I'm kinda hoping Lewis is just injured enough to get him thru the first wave of FA, if the Steelers can't sign him before then. Who'da thought coming into this season Lewis would be their key FA keeper.<br /><br />Curious if the Mack could don the green dot on D? I know Spence was working at backing up both spots, so that might put him in play at Buck. But Butler seemed adamant on draft day that Spence is too small to play Buck and would back up Timmons at mack. So, how can two Macks coexist? Timmons does have enough size to slide over to Buck but, after all these years and still can't fit it up consistently, won't ever be the guy to QB/set/lead the D. Only way for both to be on the field is if one can set the D. That appears to be Spence, who again according to Butler is no Buck. So, bringing it back, can Spence set the D from the mack?<br /><br />Timmons did finish well/strong. But he was the main culprit on a number of key cutback runs this season which contributed to at least 2 or 3 losses. If Timmons is this D's best player now, it's not so much that he's elevated his game, it's that so many many others fell back to him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com