It's a rainy day here in Pittsburgh, though temperatures are mild and there's not a lot of wind on the field.
The Heinz Field turf looks OK, for now. But today's game will be the fourth game played here in the past seven days. That can take a toll.
LaMarr Woodley, Brett Keisel and Ramon Foster are out for the Steelers, as are Landry Jones, Derek Moye, Shamarko Thomas and Richard Gordon.
Guy Whimper will start at left guard. Jarvis Jones will start at ROLB, with Jason Worilds moving over to LOLB.
For Detroit, WR Nate Burleson is out again, as the team's best edge pass rusher Ziggy Ansah.
Also, rookie LaAdrian Waddle will start at RT, while Devin Taylor will start in place of Ansah at defensive end.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Who I like, Detroit version
The Steelers played their most complete game last week and
defeated the Buffalo Bills, 23-10, in a game that wasn’t even that close.
That win put them at 3-6 and, surprisingly, pulled them
within two games of both the AFC North lead and the second wildcard spot in the
AFC.
This week we’ll find out for sure if we have to start
looking at the playoff races or if the it’s time to start looking at potential
draft picks when the Steelers host the Lions.
Of Pittsburgh’s remaining seven games, only three are
against teams with winning records, and Cincinnati and Green Bay, two of those
teams, are struggling right now.
The other is the Lions, who come into Pittsburgh on a bit of
a roll, having won three of their past four.
Obviously, everyone knows the Lions have star wide receiver
Calvin Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford throwing him the ball. It’s all
that’s been talked about this week, along with Detroit’s potent offense.
But that offense is a little less potent on the road (21.8
points per game) than it is at home (32.2). And while the Lions don’t allow
Stafford to be sacked – just 10 this season – they also don’t get a lot of
sacks. Detroit, despite the presence of defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and
Nick Fairley, has just 15 sacks this season.
That means today’s game will be the first this season
outside of the opener in which the Steelers, who have 16 sacks, will have more
than their opponent.
Certainly, other teams with low sack totals, Chicago, for
example, have found ways to get to Ben Roethilisberger. The Bears just 14 sacks
this season, but three came in a win over the Steelers.
The Lions are two-point favorites to beat the Steelers and
this game could go down to the wire.
If the Steelers can keep Johnson under control and force
somebody else on Detroit’s offense to beat them, they can win.
If Detroit can get to Roethlisberger and force some
turnovers, they could run away with it.
Take Detroit, 24-17
Friday, November 15, 2013
Talking Steelers-Roethlisberger
The NFL Network is trying to generate ratings on the backs of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Twice in the past five days the network's "insiders" have released stories revolving around Ben Roethlisberger and have even added a dash of Mike Tomlin in there as well.
I don't doubt for a second that Ian Rapoport and Michael Silver have some sources. But I don't think either of them have strong sources within the Steelers organization.
There are certain national reporters who, when they say something about the Steelers, I pay close attention. Nothing against either man, but Rapoport and Silver are not among them.
I don't doubt that both of them heard something - though I'm not sure it's "news" that Tomlin's coming back next year. No kidding. Has anybody in Pittsburgh not been saying that all season long?
Any reporter you see on TV has an agent. And many of those agents also represent both players and coaches. And that's how a lot of this kind of stuff gets started, through agents hoping to make themselves and a client more money.
After wandering through the wasteland of the '80s and '90s without a star quarterback, does anyone think that the Steelers, who finally found one in Roethlisberger, are in any hurry to get rid of him?
Last Sunday, when Rapoport's initial report that Roethlisberger was unhappy and would seek a trade and the Steelers would be open to exploring that option - and had, in fact, done so the previous summer - was denied by Roethlisberger's agent, then the Steelers and finally Roethlisberger himself. In fact, Roethlisberger denied it several times.
For their part, the Steelers are standing by team president Art Rooney II's simple and succinct statement:
"Contrary to erroneous reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not explored trading quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and have no plans to do so."
Rapoport immediately grasped at Rooney's use of the word "plans," as proof that something might happen.
Ridiculous.
This is not to say that Roethlisberger won't ever play for another team. Heck, Peyton Manning and Joe Montana finished their careers elsewhere.
But neither were traded by their respective teams without a solid plan already in place. In Manning's case, the Colts knew they were getting Andrew Luck. In the case of Montana, the 49ers had Steve Young waiting in the wings.
The Steelers have Bruce Gradkowski and Landry Jones. Nothing against either guy, but neither should be the heir apparent to a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
The Steelers aren't about to head into the wasteland of not having a franchise quarterback. They've been there and struggled through that.
And please save me the idea that they can tank the rest of this season and get one of the top quarterback prospects in this draft. Even when the Steelers found themselves fortunate enough to take Roethlisberger in the draft, they didn't plan on playing him as a rookie.
It's just not the way they work. They never want to be forced to play a rookie.
Roethlisberger is also sincere in his desire to finish his career with the Steelers. His wife and her family is from here. He's made Pittsburgh his home.
Is there perhaps some jockeying being done right now behind the scenes for offseason contract negotiations? Absolutely that could be the case.
But there's also this. The Steelers are losing this season and remain one of the NFL's most popular franchise.
The people at NFL Network know that they can drive some ratings by talking about a popular franchise that is struggling.
Twice in the past five days the network's "insiders" have released stories revolving around Ben Roethlisberger and have even added a dash of Mike Tomlin in there as well.
I don't doubt for a second that Ian Rapoport and Michael Silver have some sources. But I don't think either of them have strong sources within the Steelers organization.
There are certain national reporters who, when they say something about the Steelers, I pay close attention. Nothing against either man, but Rapoport and Silver are not among them.
I don't doubt that both of them heard something - though I'm not sure it's "news" that Tomlin's coming back next year. No kidding. Has anybody in Pittsburgh not been saying that all season long?
Any reporter you see on TV has an agent. And many of those agents also represent both players and coaches. And that's how a lot of this kind of stuff gets started, through agents hoping to make themselves and a client more money.
After wandering through the wasteland of the '80s and '90s without a star quarterback, does anyone think that the Steelers, who finally found one in Roethlisberger, are in any hurry to get rid of him?
Last Sunday, when Rapoport's initial report that Roethlisberger was unhappy and would seek a trade and the Steelers would be open to exploring that option - and had, in fact, done so the previous summer - was denied by Roethlisberger's agent, then the Steelers and finally Roethlisberger himself. In fact, Roethlisberger denied it several times.
For their part, the Steelers are standing by team president Art Rooney II's simple and succinct statement:
"Contrary to erroneous reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers have not explored trading quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and have no plans to do so."
Rapoport immediately grasped at Rooney's use of the word "plans," as proof that something might happen.
Ridiculous.
This is not to say that Roethlisberger won't ever play for another team. Heck, Peyton Manning and Joe Montana finished their careers elsewhere.
But neither were traded by their respective teams without a solid plan already in place. In Manning's case, the Colts knew they were getting Andrew Luck. In the case of Montana, the 49ers had Steve Young waiting in the wings.
The Steelers have Bruce Gradkowski and Landry Jones. Nothing against either guy, but neither should be the heir apparent to a two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
The Steelers aren't about to head into the wasteland of not having a franchise quarterback. They've been there and struggled through that.
And please save me the idea that they can tank the rest of this season and get one of the top quarterback prospects in this draft. Even when the Steelers found themselves fortunate enough to take Roethlisberger in the draft, they didn't plan on playing him as a rookie.
It's just not the way they work. They never want to be forced to play a rookie.
Roethlisberger is also sincere in his desire to finish his career with the Steelers. His wife and her family is from here. He's made Pittsburgh his home.
Is there perhaps some jockeying being done right now behind the scenes for offseason contract negotiations? Absolutely that could be the case.
But there's also this. The Steelers are losing this season and remain one of the NFL's most popular franchise.
The people at NFL Network know that they can drive some ratings by talking about a popular franchise that is struggling.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Mid-week blues
The Steelers entire starting offensive line - whatever that is - sat out practice on Wednesday. We'll probably see several, if not most, of them return to practice today, but it's a troubling trend to have a line that is so banged up, especially considering what the Steelers have ahead of them.
The Steelers play three games in 11 days starting with Sunday's game against the Lions. That's a pretty quick turnaround by anyone's standards, especially in the middle of the season when they've already logged nine games - 13 if you count the preseason.
Of the injured linemen, I would expect Ramon Foster to be the only one who sits out this weekend with his high ankle sprain.
Everybody else returned on Thursday.
@ Pro Football Talk ran a blurb Wednesday with the headline "Roethlisberger keeps talking about how he doesn’t want to talk about trade rumor"
Perhaps the headline should have read, "Roethlisberger keeps being asked about trade rumor that everybody has already dismissed."
The accompanying story made light of the fact that Roethlisberger keeps saying he doesn't want to talk about the trade "rumor," but continues to do so.
What's he supposed to do when he's continually asked about it?
@ LaMarr Woodley and Brett Keisel were both still out of practice on Thursday, though I would expect both to try to play.
It's important for Keisel, in particular, to get back onto the field.
The Steelers will need him to help their run defense. The Lions have only allowed 10 sacks all season, so it's not like the pass rush and, in particular, Woodley, is going to get there a lot on Sunday anyway.
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau did say, however, that part of the reason for that is because Detroit QB Matthew Stafford has a tendency when pressured to just throw the ball up for grabs. When you've got a 6-5 receiver in Calvin Johnson and a 6-7 tight end in Joseph Fauria, you can do that.
@ We'll see if Detroit running back Reggie Bush gets on the Steelers' radar for this quote, "There have been some big lanes," when talking about the Pittsburgh run defense.
Those lanes have mostly happened in road games, where the Steelers are allowing 149.8 yards per game compared to the 99 per game they allow at home.
The Lions, by the way, average just 87.8 yards rushing in their road games and 21.8 point per game away from Ford Field.
The Steelers play three games in 11 days starting with Sunday's game against the Lions. That's a pretty quick turnaround by anyone's standards, especially in the middle of the season when they've already logged nine games - 13 if you count the preseason.
Of the injured linemen, I would expect Ramon Foster to be the only one who sits out this weekend with his high ankle sprain.
Everybody else returned on Thursday.
@ Pro Football Talk ran a blurb Wednesday with the headline "Roethlisberger keeps talking about how he doesn’t want to talk about trade rumor"
Perhaps the headline should have read, "Roethlisberger keeps being asked about trade rumor that everybody has already dismissed."
The accompanying story made light of the fact that Roethlisberger keeps saying he doesn't want to talk about the trade "rumor," but continues to do so.
What's he supposed to do when he's continually asked about it?
@ LaMarr Woodley and Brett Keisel were both still out of practice on Thursday, though I would expect both to try to play.
It's important for Keisel, in particular, to get back onto the field.
The Steelers will need him to help their run defense. The Lions have only allowed 10 sacks all season, so it's not like the pass rush and, in particular, Woodley, is going to get there a lot on Sunday anyway.
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau did say, however, that part of the reason for that is because Detroit QB Matthew Stafford has a tendency when pressured to just throw the ball up for grabs. When you've got a 6-5 receiver in Calvin Johnson and a 6-7 tight end in Joseph Fauria, you can do that.
@ We'll see if Detroit running back Reggie Bush gets on the Steelers' radar for this quote, "There have been some big lanes," when talking about the Pittsburgh run defense.
Those lanes have mostly happened in road games, where the Steelers are allowing 149.8 yards per game compared to the 99 per game they allow at home.
The Lions, by the way, average just 87.8 yards rushing in their road games and 21.8 point per game away from Ford Field.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Tuesday with Tomlin
The Steelers are a little banged up heading into their game next Sunday against Detroit.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said rookie safety Shamarko Thomas is out this week - and possibly longer - with a high ankle sprain.
Guard Ramon Foster also has a high ankle sprain, but Tomlin isn't counting him out just yet. Guy Whimper would likely get the start at left guard if Foster can't play.
That's a big injury considering the strength of the Detroit defense is its interior line play.
LaMarr Woodley (calf) and Brett Keisel (foot) also will be limited early in the week.
@ With Thomas out, look for veteran safety Will Allen to play a more prominent role.
@ Tomlin said that veteran tight end Michael Palmer has earned more playing time due to what he's shown in practice.
The depth chart reflects that. Palmer is now No. 2 with David Paulson No. 3.
Tomlin didn't have an update yet on the status of Matt Spaeth, but Spaeth has been around the facility more often lately and has made a couple of the recent road trips as well.
I've been asked why the Steelers are carrying four active tight ends on their roster. The reason is simple, even though Richard Gordon has yet to dress for a game.
Heath Miller has been given every Wednesday off this season to rest his knee. The Steelers need Gordon around to practice on Wednesdays.
If/when Spaeth is activated, Gordon will be let go.
@ Tomlin's line of the day came when discussing running back Jonathan Dwyer's contributions this season.
When asked if he's seen a change in Dwyer's outlook, Tomlin replied, "I would guess that unemployment does that."
Head coach Mike Tomlin said rookie safety Shamarko Thomas is out this week - and possibly longer - with a high ankle sprain.
Guard Ramon Foster also has a high ankle sprain, but Tomlin isn't counting him out just yet. Guy Whimper would likely get the start at left guard if Foster can't play.
That's a big injury considering the strength of the Detroit defense is its interior line play.
LaMarr Woodley (calf) and Brett Keisel (foot) also will be limited early in the week.
@ With Thomas out, look for veteran safety Will Allen to play a more prominent role.
@ Tomlin said that veteran tight end Michael Palmer has earned more playing time due to what he's shown in practice.
The depth chart reflects that. Palmer is now No. 2 with David Paulson No. 3.
Tomlin didn't have an update yet on the status of Matt Spaeth, but Spaeth has been around the facility more often lately and has made a couple of the recent road trips as well.
I've been asked why the Steelers are carrying four active tight ends on their roster. The reason is simple, even though Richard Gordon has yet to dress for a game.
Heath Miller has been given every Wednesday off this season to rest his knee. The Steelers need Gordon around to practice on Wednesdays.
If/when Spaeth is activated, Gordon will be let go.
@ Tomlin's line of the day came when discussing running back Jonathan Dwyer's contributions this season.
When asked if he's seen a change in Dwyer's outlook, Tomlin replied, "I would guess that unemployment does that."
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Post-Buffalo thoughts
Ben Roethlisberger, his agent and Steelers president Art Rooney II all denied the NFL Network report that Roethlisberger wants to be traded after this season and that the team is considering doing so.
In fact, Roethlisberger vehemently denied it, saying he's a Pittsburgher now and wants to end his career with the Steelers.
Judging from Roethlisberger's denial, his voice inflection and body language, he's either serious in his denial or a very good liar.
@ Sunday's 23-10 win over Buffalo improved the Steelers' record to 19-2 against rookie quarterbacks with Dick LeBeau as the defensive coordinator. That mark has been improved by a 2-0 record this season.
The trouble is, the Steelers aren't scheduled to face any more rookie QBs the rest of the way - unless some teams decide to change starters.
@ Still, the most important thing was not that the Steelers beat another rookie starter Sunday, it was that they showed the ability to shut down a good rushing attack.
C.J. Spiller had nowhere to go throughout this game and finished with 23 yards on eight carries.
Fred Jackson's numbers - 12-55 - look better on paper, but were propped up by an 11-yard run late in the game and an 8-yard carry late in the first half. On both occasions, the Steelers were more than happy to allow the Bills to run the ball.
Take away those two carries and Jackson had 10 carries for 34 yards.
The Steelers did an excellent job of staying in their gaps and stringing out plays to the sideline. That was especially big against Spiller, who is faster than anyone the Steelers have on defense.
@ After Sunday's effort, it was obvious it was a good thing the Steelers didn't keep Brian Moorman around.
@ Mario Williams was a huge focus for many coming into this game. He not only failed to record a sack in this game, he didn't sniff making a tackle, either.
@ Le'Veon Bell might be the Steelers' best running back coming out of the backfield as a receiver since John L.Williams.
He's still feeling his way as a running back, ie. hitting holes, etc. But he's really providing some punch in the short passing game.
@ Some people have asked why I think Mike Adams still has a future on this team. Take a look at Sunday's game tape.
Adams is a ferocious run blocker. He needs to get better in his pass sets, but that should come. Then again, the entire team needs to get better in its pass blocking.
@ I didn't pick the Steelers to win this game because I thought they would have issues stopping Buffalo's run game and also slowing the Bills' pass rush.
But that didn't mean I didn't think the Steelers could win this one.
Now that they have, what does it mean?
We'll see next week. If the Steelers can get a win next week over Detroit, they're back in the playoff hunt.
As it stands now, they're two games out of the division lead with a game still remaining at home against Cincinnati.
They're also just two games out of the final AFC wildcard spot currently held by the Jets, over whom they hold a tiebreaker.
Again, a win over Detroit this week could make things very interesting.
In fact, Roethlisberger vehemently denied it, saying he's a Pittsburgher now and wants to end his career with the Steelers.
Judging from Roethlisberger's denial, his voice inflection and body language, he's either serious in his denial or a very good liar.
@ Sunday's 23-10 win over Buffalo improved the Steelers' record to 19-2 against rookie quarterbacks with Dick LeBeau as the defensive coordinator. That mark has been improved by a 2-0 record this season.
The trouble is, the Steelers aren't scheduled to face any more rookie QBs the rest of the way - unless some teams decide to change starters.
@ Still, the most important thing was not that the Steelers beat another rookie starter Sunday, it was that they showed the ability to shut down a good rushing attack.
C.J. Spiller had nowhere to go throughout this game and finished with 23 yards on eight carries.
Fred Jackson's numbers - 12-55 - look better on paper, but were propped up by an 11-yard run late in the game and an 8-yard carry late in the first half. On both occasions, the Steelers were more than happy to allow the Bills to run the ball.
Take away those two carries and Jackson had 10 carries for 34 yards.
The Steelers did an excellent job of staying in their gaps and stringing out plays to the sideline. That was especially big against Spiller, who is faster than anyone the Steelers have on defense.
@ After Sunday's effort, it was obvious it was a good thing the Steelers didn't keep Brian Moorman around.
@ Mario Williams was a huge focus for many coming into this game. He not only failed to record a sack in this game, he didn't sniff making a tackle, either.
@ Le'Veon Bell might be the Steelers' best running back coming out of the backfield as a receiver since John L.Williams.
He's still feeling his way as a running back, ie. hitting holes, etc. But he's really providing some punch in the short passing game.
@ Some people have asked why I think Mike Adams still has a future on this team. Take a look at Sunday's game tape.
Adams is a ferocious run blocker. He needs to get better in his pass sets, but that should come. Then again, the entire team needs to get better in its pass blocking.
@ I didn't pick the Steelers to win this game because I thought they would have issues stopping Buffalo's run game and also slowing the Bills' pass rush.
But that didn't mean I didn't think the Steelers could win this one.
Now that they have, what does it mean?
We'll see next week. If the Steelers can get a win next week over Detroit, they're back in the playoff hunt.
As it stands now, they're two games out of the division lead with a game still remaining at home against Cincinnati.
They're also just two games out of the final AFC wildcard spot currently held by the Jets, over whom they hold a tiebreaker.
Again, a win over Detroit this week could make things very interesting.
Steelers-Bills game-day thread
First, let's address the Ben Roethlisberger trade "rumor."
Not only have the Steelers not explored trading Roethlisberger, they have $14 million reasons not to. That's the amount of dead money he would count against their salary cap next season if they moved him after this season is complete.
The Steelers would have to sign Roethlisberger to a more cap-friendly contract extension before moving him. And if they were able to do that, why would they want to trade him?
The whole thing stinks to me of an agent trying to lay the groundwork for offseason contract talks, something that goes on all the time but doesn't necessarily get reported.
Roethlisberger's agent later Tweeted that the entire report was wrong and that the QB wanted to finish his career in Pittsburgh.
The only time the Steelers even remotely considered trading Roethlisberger was during the 2010 offseason when he was going through his legal problems.
At that time, they had both Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch as backup quarterbacks.
And all he did that season was lead them to a third Super Bowl.
The Steelers aren't going to trade Roethlisberger now with only Bruce Gradkowski and Landry Jones as possible replacements.
They don't want to be forced to play a rookie QB. Remember, the only reason Roethlisberger played as a rookie was because Tommy Maddox got hurt. The plan was to allow him to sit and learn a season under Maddox.
@ Jones, Derek Moye, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Richard Gordon, Kion Wilson, Chris Carter and Hebron Fangupo are inactive for the Steelers.
For Buffalo, the only inactive of any import is Robert Woods, a rookie who is the team's third-leading receiver.
Both Marcus Gilbert and Kelvin Beachum are active for the Steelers and are expected to start.
William Gay will start at CB.
Not only have the Steelers not explored trading Roethlisberger, they have $14 million reasons not to. That's the amount of dead money he would count against their salary cap next season if they moved him after this season is complete.
The Steelers would have to sign Roethlisberger to a more cap-friendly contract extension before moving him. And if they were able to do that, why would they want to trade him?
The whole thing stinks to me of an agent trying to lay the groundwork for offseason contract talks, something that goes on all the time but doesn't necessarily get reported.
Roethlisberger's agent later Tweeted that the entire report was wrong and that the QB wanted to finish his career in Pittsburgh.
The only time the Steelers even remotely considered trading Roethlisberger was during the 2010 offseason when he was going through his legal problems.
At that time, they had both Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch as backup quarterbacks.
And all he did that season was lead them to a third Super Bowl.
The Steelers aren't going to trade Roethlisberger now with only Bruce Gradkowski and Landry Jones as possible replacements.
They don't want to be forced to play a rookie QB. Remember, the only reason Roethlisberger played as a rookie was because Tommy Maddox got hurt. The plan was to allow him to sit and learn a season under Maddox.
@ Jones, Derek Moye, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Richard Gordon, Kion Wilson, Chris Carter and Hebron Fangupo are inactive for the Steelers.
For Buffalo, the only inactive of any import is Robert Woods, a rookie who is the team's third-leading receiver.
Both Marcus Gilbert and Kelvin Beachum are active for the Steelers and are expected to start.
William Gay will start at CB.
Friday, November 08, 2013
Who I like, Buffalo version
The Steelers have allowed 197 yards rushing in back-to-back games to fall to 31st in the NFL against the run.
They're better than that, but there's no doubt the run defense hasn't been up to snuff this season.
That’s bad news against the Bills. With Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, Buffalo runs the ball as well as anyone. The Bills average 145.3 yards rushing per game. Add in E.J. Manuel doing some running out of the read-option as well, and the Bills can hurt the Steelers on the ground.
Buffalo also has some premium pass rushers, led by Mario Williams, and is third in the NFL in sacks.
Like the Steelers, the Bills have found ways to pull defeated out of the jaws of victory.
They're better than that, but there's no doubt the run defense hasn't been up to snuff this season.
That’s bad news against the Bills. With Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, Buffalo runs the ball as well as anyone. The Bills average 145.3 yards rushing per game. Add in E.J. Manuel doing some running out of the read-option as well, and the Bills can hurt the Steelers on the ground.
Buffalo also has some premium pass rushers, led by Mario Williams, and is third in the NFL in sacks.
Like the Steelers, the Bills have found ways to pull defeated out of the jaws of victory.
The Steelers are 3-point
favorites in this game and could certainly win it. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Ben Roethlisberger has a lot of success throwing the ball. Buffalo has allowed an
amazing 20 touchdown passes already this season.
But the feeling is that the Bills will control this game with
their rushing attack and squeak out a win.
Take Buffalo, 21-20
Thursday, November 07, 2013
Thursday news, notes
This is a big week for the Steelers. At 2-6, they don't have a lot to hang their hats on.
They've been within a touchdown of the lead or a tie entering the fourth quarter of each of their games this season, only to fall short six times.
But watching the Thursday night game, I was reminded that, at 2-6, you're not necessarily out of the playoff race.
In 2012, Washington started its season 3-6, then won its next seven games.
That's why the Steelers aren't making sweeping changes. Right now, they're two games out of a playoff spot in the AFC and three games off the lead in the AFC North.
As we saw Monday night when Green Bay lost Aaron Rodgers for six weeks to a broken collarbone, you never know what might happen with your future opponents or division rivals.
@ A lot is being made this week of the fact that both of Buffalo's starting guards were with the Steelers.
Kraig Urbik was a third-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2009.
He was terrible in camp as a rookie that season and was barely passable in 2010 but was going to make the roster.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for the first four games of 2010 due to the Milledgeville, Ga., incident.
Pittsburgh planned to go into the season with two quarterbacks, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon, to ride out the first month without Roethlisberger. But Leftwich was injured in the preseason finale and the Steelers had to keep a fourth quarterback, Charlie Batch, on the roster.
That meant that somebody had to go that the Steelers had planned to keep. That somebody was Urbik.
Doug Legursky is the other starting guard and he left Pittsburgh as a free agent before this season. The Steelers liked Legursky as a center, but not as much as a guard.
The Steelers felt they would be better served with Kelvin Beachum, who they felt could play all five spots on the line, being their top backup. He's now their starting left tackle.
@ Ike Taylor was back in practice today as he tries to return from a concussion.
Vince Williams was cleared as well, but was limited.
That's bad news for him. Mike Tomlin usually keeps rookies who don't get a full week of practice on the sidelines because he feels they need as much practice as possible to play.
If Williams doesn't play, Stevenson Sylvester will get the call.
@ Beachum and Marcus Gilbert were also out again today.
They've been within a touchdown of the lead or a tie entering the fourth quarter of each of their games this season, only to fall short six times.
But watching the Thursday night game, I was reminded that, at 2-6, you're not necessarily out of the playoff race.
In 2012, Washington started its season 3-6, then won its next seven games.
That's why the Steelers aren't making sweeping changes. Right now, they're two games out of a playoff spot in the AFC and three games off the lead in the AFC North.
As we saw Monday night when Green Bay lost Aaron Rodgers for six weeks to a broken collarbone, you never know what might happen with your future opponents or division rivals.
@ A lot is being made this week of the fact that both of Buffalo's starting guards were with the Steelers.
Kraig Urbik was a third-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2009.
He was terrible in camp as a rookie that season and was barely passable in 2010 but was going to make the roster.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for the first four games of 2010 due to the Milledgeville, Ga., incident.
Pittsburgh planned to go into the season with two quarterbacks, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon, to ride out the first month without Roethlisberger. But Leftwich was injured in the preseason finale and the Steelers had to keep a fourth quarterback, Charlie Batch, on the roster.
That meant that somebody had to go that the Steelers had planned to keep. That somebody was Urbik.
Doug Legursky is the other starting guard and he left Pittsburgh as a free agent before this season. The Steelers liked Legursky as a center, but not as much as a guard.
The Steelers felt they would be better served with Kelvin Beachum, who they felt could play all five spots on the line, being their top backup. He's now their starting left tackle.
@ Ike Taylor was back in practice today as he tries to return from a concussion.
Vince Williams was cleared as well, but was limited.
That's bad news for him. Mike Tomlin usually keeps rookies who don't get a full week of practice on the sidelines because he feels they need as much practice as possible to play.
If Williams doesn't play, Stevenson Sylvester will get the call.
@ Beachum and Marcus Gilbert were also out again today.
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
Wednesday news, notes
Earlier in the week, I stated that Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau isn't the part of what's ailing the team right now. In fact, he'll be one of the solutions.
But one of the prevailing questions being tossed around the locker room today - when Incognito-Martin questions weren't being lobbed at players - was whether LeBeau had lost his fastball.
Ridiculous.
Since LeBeau returned to Pittsburgh in 2004, the Steelers have ranked 1st, 4th, 9th, 1st, 1st, 5th, 2nd, 1st and, yet again, 1st in the NFL in total defense.
In that period, the Steelers also went to four AFC Championships, three Super Bowls and won a pair of championships.
Just because Terrelle Pryor broke off a 93-yard run and Tom Brady torched the defense for 610 yards in back-to-back weeks doesn't mean LeBeau can't coach.
It means the players just aren't getting things done right now.
The biggest issue, to me, is that the run defense has allowed 197 yards in back-to-back games.
This is a team that basically has three new starters in its front seven - nose tackle Steve McLendon, Vince Williams at inside linebacker and the Jason Worilds/Jarvis Jones combo at outside linebacker.
Those three are replacing Casey Hampton, Larry Foote and James Harrison, respectively.
By themselves, those changes could be covered up. All together, it's a big change, not only in level of play, but experience.
And when the Steelers aren't crushing the run - they've fallen to 31st in run defense - it opens up a lot of things in the passing game.
Safeties Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu are biting on pretty much every run fake because they have to with this front seven. And that's hurting the Steelers on the backside in the passing game.
@ David DeCastro was back at practice today, but Kelvin Beachum (knee), Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and Fernando Velasco (thigh) were all out.
@ It was good to see rookie receiver Markus Wheaton back at practice today. He still has his pinky wrapped, but it didn't appear to bother him catching the football.
@ Sean Spence was placed on season-ending injured reserve and wasn't around the facility today.
I'm sure Spence was hurt by the news that the Steelers weren't going to put him on the active roster as he continues his attempt to come back from a dislocated knee and torn ligaments suffered last preseason, but at least the Steelers are keeping the door open for him.
Pittsburgh could have released him outright, but he showed enough in the past few weeks of practice that the organization is willing to keep him around. The Steelers could have released him outright.
But one of the prevailing questions being tossed around the locker room today - when Incognito-Martin questions weren't being lobbed at players - was whether LeBeau had lost his fastball.
Ridiculous.
Since LeBeau returned to Pittsburgh in 2004, the Steelers have ranked 1st, 4th, 9th, 1st, 1st, 5th, 2nd, 1st and, yet again, 1st in the NFL in total defense.
In that period, the Steelers also went to four AFC Championships, three Super Bowls and won a pair of championships.
Just because Terrelle Pryor broke off a 93-yard run and Tom Brady torched the defense for 610 yards in back-to-back weeks doesn't mean LeBeau can't coach.
It means the players just aren't getting things done right now.
The biggest issue, to me, is that the run defense has allowed 197 yards in back-to-back games.
This is a team that basically has three new starters in its front seven - nose tackle Steve McLendon, Vince Williams at inside linebacker and the Jason Worilds/Jarvis Jones combo at outside linebacker.
Those three are replacing Casey Hampton, Larry Foote and James Harrison, respectively.
By themselves, those changes could be covered up. All together, it's a big change, not only in level of play, but experience.
And when the Steelers aren't crushing the run - they've fallen to 31st in run defense - it opens up a lot of things in the passing game.
Safeties Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu are biting on pretty much every run fake because they have to with this front seven. And that's hurting the Steelers on the backside in the passing game.
@ David DeCastro was back at practice today, but Kelvin Beachum (knee), Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and Fernando Velasco (thigh) were all out.
@ It was good to see rookie receiver Markus Wheaton back at practice today. He still has his pinky wrapped, but it didn't appear to bother him catching the football.
@ Sean Spence was placed on season-ending injured reserve and wasn't around the facility today.
I'm sure Spence was hurt by the news that the Steelers weren't going to put him on the active roster as he continues his attempt to come back from a dislocated knee and torn ligaments suffered last preseason, but at least the Steelers are keeping the door open for him.
Pittsburgh could have released him outright, but he showed enough in the past few weeks of practice that the organization is willing to keep him around. The Steelers could have released him outright.
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Tuesday with Tomlin
Mike Tomlin is apparently not much of a David Bowie fan. You know, Ch-ch-ch-changes.
Tomlin announced there would be no changes at this point after Sunday's debacle in New England and that he did not see any "blatant" lack of effort issues for the Steelers.
As I've stated before, Tomlin's hands are really kind of tied at this point.
Many of the young guys on this team are already playing: Jarvis Jones, David DeCastro, Vince Williams, Mike Adams, Kelvin Beachum, Shamarko Thomas, Le'Veon Bell.
And Markus Wheaton, who has been out the past month with a broken finger, is expected to return Sunday.
The Steelers aren't going to give up on a season. And, at least according to the standings, they're still alive for a playoff berth.
Perhaps if the losing continues, they'll make some moves later in the season to get some younger guys in the game on a full-time basis. But right now, they're still fighting.
Remember, the last time they started 2-6 - in 2006 - they went 6-2 in the second half to finish 8-8.
This is a proud bunch and it's just not the Steelers way to give up on a season.
@ For those wondering, here's the snap counts thus far for some of the younger players:
Jarvis Jones 230 snaps; Shamarko Thomas 189; Vince Williams 289; Le'Veon Bell 264; David DeCastro 426; Kelvin Beachum 392; Mike Adams 339.
The Steelers have had 527 defensive and 530 offensive plays.
Again, it's not like those guys aren't seeing the field and seeing it plenty.
@ Tomlin was asked about Dick LeBeau today and whether he still has faith in his defensive coordinator. He simply answered, "Certainly."
When pressed on that, Tomlin replied, "Because he's Dick LeBeau. Does that answer your question?"
Good for Tomlin. LeBeau isn't the problem. In fact, if he decides to stay around, he'll be part of the solution.
@ Tomlin said he pulled Antonio Brown out of the game Sunday because he made a mistake in his route running that led to Ben Roethlisberger's last interception.
Some ran with that saying that because Tomlin was willing to bench Brown, he should have also taken Roethlisberger out of the rout in order to protect his quarterback.
But they didn't listen to the rest of Tomlin's explanation.
"As opposed to continuing to absorb negativity from that standpoint, potentially, with some things we were doing in the no-huddle offense, I chose to remove him from the game."
Later, Tomlin explained further: "He was frustrated at the end of the football game, and rightfully so. There were a lot of us that were."
Sounds to me like Brown got a little chippy on the sideline following the interception and Tomlin decided to bench him for it.
@ In addition to Wheaton, DeCastro is expected to be a full participant this week in practice.
Marcus Gilbert (ankle), Ike Taylor (concussion) and Williams (concussion) will be limited.
With Taylor limited and possibly out - he has to pass concussion tests - the Steelers re-signed DeMarcus Van Dyke and released Isaiah Green.
Van Dyke gives them some leeway in case Curtis Brown isn't recovered from the death in his family suffered last week.
@ When asked who should be held accountable for the team's draft failures, Tomlin said, "I take responsibility for the players we have drafted since I've been here."
Tomlin announced there would be no changes at this point after Sunday's debacle in New England and that he did not see any "blatant" lack of effort issues for the Steelers.
As I've stated before, Tomlin's hands are really kind of tied at this point.
Many of the young guys on this team are already playing: Jarvis Jones, David DeCastro, Vince Williams, Mike Adams, Kelvin Beachum, Shamarko Thomas, Le'Veon Bell.
And Markus Wheaton, who has been out the past month with a broken finger, is expected to return Sunday.
The Steelers aren't going to give up on a season. And, at least according to the standings, they're still alive for a playoff berth.
Perhaps if the losing continues, they'll make some moves later in the season to get some younger guys in the game on a full-time basis. But right now, they're still fighting.
Remember, the last time they started 2-6 - in 2006 - they went 6-2 in the second half to finish 8-8.
This is a proud bunch and it's just not the Steelers way to give up on a season.
@ For those wondering, here's the snap counts thus far for some of the younger players:
Jarvis Jones 230 snaps; Shamarko Thomas 189; Vince Williams 289; Le'Veon Bell 264; David DeCastro 426; Kelvin Beachum 392; Mike Adams 339.
The Steelers have had 527 defensive and 530 offensive plays.
Again, it's not like those guys aren't seeing the field and seeing it plenty.
@ Tomlin was asked about Dick LeBeau today and whether he still has faith in his defensive coordinator. He simply answered, "Certainly."
When pressed on that, Tomlin replied, "Because he's Dick LeBeau. Does that answer your question?"
Good for Tomlin. LeBeau isn't the problem. In fact, if he decides to stay around, he'll be part of the solution.
@ Tomlin said he pulled Antonio Brown out of the game Sunday because he made a mistake in his route running that led to Ben Roethlisberger's last interception.
Some ran with that saying that because Tomlin was willing to bench Brown, he should have also taken Roethlisberger out of the rout in order to protect his quarterback.
But they didn't listen to the rest of Tomlin's explanation.
"As opposed to continuing to absorb negativity from that standpoint, potentially, with some things we were doing in the no-huddle offense, I chose to remove him from the game."
Later, Tomlin explained further: "He was frustrated at the end of the football game, and rightfully so. There were a lot of us that were."
Sounds to me like Brown got a little chippy on the sideline following the interception and Tomlin decided to bench him for it.
@ In addition to Wheaton, DeCastro is expected to be a full participant this week in practice.
Marcus Gilbert (ankle), Ike Taylor (concussion) and Williams (concussion) will be limited.
With Taylor limited and possibly out - he has to pass concussion tests - the Steelers re-signed DeMarcus Van Dyke and released Isaiah Green.
Van Dyke gives them some leeway in case Curtis Brown isn't recovered from the death in his family suffered last week.
@ When asked who should be held accountable for the team's draft failures, Tomlin said, "I take responsibility for the players we have drafted since I've been here."
Monday, November 04, 2013
Post-New England thoughts
There's not a lot to say about this game on the defensive side of the ball. In fact, there's nothing good to say about what the Steelers put on tape defensively on Sunday.
There were some good plays - Steve McLendon getting penetration at the goal line to stuff a fourth-and-inches run, Jason Worilds getting a couple of sacks - including one on which he beat the tackle - Troy Polamalu forcing a fumble early in the third quarter. But those were few and far between.
The secondary had easily its worst day of the season, failing to get its hands on a single one of Tom Brady's 33 pass attempts and drawing three pass interference penalty.
It was like an added scene from Airplane. "The Steelers picked the wrong day to quit playing defense."
The biggest problem was the run defense, or lack thereof. New England averaged 5.6 yards per carry with a long run of 23 yards and one Tom Brady kneeldown.
The Patriots averaged a ridiculous 8.6 yards per play.
@ By the same token, the Steelers offense played a reasonably good game - outside of three Ben Roethlisberger turnovers.
Roethlisberger was sacked five times, but at least four were because Roethlisberger held the ball too long.
@ As bad as things are right now, the Steelers were in the same boat in 2003. The Steelers didn't quit that season and went 4-4 down the stretch, including a 13-10 overtime loss at Baltimore in the regular season finale.
These Steelers won't quit, either.
So forget about all of the "They have to play this young guy or that young guy" stuff.
Jarvis Jones, Le'Veon Bell, Shamarko Thomas and Vince Williams are getting plenty of playing time. Markus Wheaton has been held back by his broken finger, but he wouldn't deserve playing time over Jerricho Cotchery at this point.
Cotchery is having an outstanding season.
@ Cam Heyward continues to get better and better.
But there's something missing in the team's run defense. McLendon makes some plays here and there, but he's not the long-term answer as the starting nose tackle.
In fact, he's probably better suited to be the No. 2 nose tackle.
@ It's probably not going to happen, but I would take a serious look at Jones at inside linebacker moving forward.
You can win with Jason Worilds at outside linebacker, but I'm not so sure that you can with Williams at inside linebacker.
Williams left Sunday's game with a concussion, so his status for next week's game against Buffalo will be in doubt.
Jones has good coverage skills and might be better served in the NFL if he didn't constantly have to take on offensive linemen. Put him inside and let him run the ball.
There were some good plays - Steve McLendon getting penetration at the goal line to stuff a fourth-and-inches run, Jason Worilds getting a couple of sacks - including one on which he beat the tackle - Troy Polamalu forcing a fumble early in the third quarter. But those were few and far between.
The secondary had easily its worst day of the season, failing to get its hands on a single one of Tom Brady's 33 pass attempts and drawing three pass interference penalty.
It was like an added scene from Airplane. "The Steelers picked the wrong day to quit playing defense."
The biggest problem was the run defense, or lack thereof. New England averaged 5.6 yards per carry with a long run of 23 yards and one Tom Brady kneeldown.
The Patriots averaged a ridiculous 8.6 yards per play.
@ By the same token, the Steelers offense played a reasonably good game - outside of three Ben Roethlisberger turnovers.
Roethlisberger was sacked five times, but at least four were because Roethlisberger held the ball too long.
@ As bad as things are right now, the Steelers were in the same boat in 2003. The Steelers didn't quit that season and went 4-4 down the stretch, including a 13-10 overtime loss at Baltimore in the regular season finale.
These Steelers won't quit, either.
So forget about all of the "They have to play this young guy or that young guy" stuff.
Jarvis Jones, Le'Veon Bell, Shamarko Thomas and Vince Williams are getting plenty of playing time. Markus Wheaton has been held back by his broken finger, but he wouldn't deserve playing time over Jerricho Cotchery at this point.
Cotchery is having an outstanding season.
@ Cam Heyward continues to get better and better.
But there's something missing in the team's run defense. McLendon makes some plays here and there, but he's not the long-term answer as the starting nose tackle.
In fact, he's probably better suited to be the No. 2 nose tackle.
@ It's probably not going to happen, but I would take a serious look at Jones at inside linebacker moving forward.
You can win with Jason Worilds at outside linebacker, but I'm not so sure that you can with Williams at inside linebacker.
Williams left Sunday's game with a concussion, so his status for next week's game against Buffalo will be in doubt.
Jones has good coverage skills and might be better served in the NFL if he didn't constantly have to take on offensive linemen. Put him inside and let him run the ball.
Sunday, November 03, 2013
Steelers-Patriots game-day thread
No surprises on the inactive list today for the Steelers.
Landry Jones, Markus Wheaton, Curtis Brown, Richard Gordon, Kion Wilson, David DeCastro and Hebron Fangupo are inactive for the Steelers.
It's sunny but chilly here at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Aquib Talib, who leads the Patriots with four interceptions, and wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins, who has four touchdown catches, are inactive for the Patriots.
The Patriots are going with seven active offensive linemen for the game.
Landry Jones, Markus Wheaton, Curtis Brown, Richard Gordon, Kion Wilson, David DeCastro and Hebron Fangupo are inactive for the Steelers.
It's sunny but chilly here at Gillette Stadium.
Cornerback Aquib Talib, who leads the Patriots with four interceptions, and wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins, who has four touchdown catches, are inactive for the Patriots.
The Patriots are going with seven active offensive linemen for the game.
Friday, November 01, 2013
Who I like, New England version
For all of the talk about New England dominating the Steelers, Pittsburgh has actually won two of the past three matchups against the Patriots. Of course, one of those games came with Matt Cassel at quarterback instead of Tom Brady.
Brady owns a 6-2 career record against the Steelers, though four of those meetings came prior to 2005, when Brady and the Patriots were still winning Super Bowls.
As hard as it is to believe, the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 2004 season. Since then, the Steelers have won two Super Bowls and been to another.
But that wasn’t these Steelers, or these Patriots, for that matter.
While the Steelers’ issues during their 2-5 start have been well-documented – turnovers, sacks and lack thereof and allowing big plays on defense – the Patriots have found a way to overcome some of the same issues to win.
New England has allowed 23 sacks, is converting on 32 percent of its third downs, Brady has been intercepted six times and the Patriots have fumbled 11 times. But they’ve only lost three of those fumbles.
New England’s opponents have also lost 11 fumbles, but the Patriots have recovered six.
It adds up to a plus-7 for the Patriots in turnover margin, which will help you overcome some shortcomings.
By contrast, the Steelers have fumbled 10 times and lost seven. Their opponents have fumbled seven times and recovered one.
The Steelers are minus-9 in turnover margin, but much of that was built during the team’s 0-4 start. Pittsburgh has turned the ball over just three times in its past three games.
The Patriots have 10 interceptions this season, though four have been by corner Aqib Talib, and he’s questionable to play with a hip injury.
The Patriots are 7 ½-point favorites in this game and that seems like a big number for a team that has seen six of its eight games decided by a touchdown or less.
The Steelers will continue to take better care of the football, and it wouldn't surprise me if they won. But not having David DeCastro, who has been their best offensive linemen, available will hurt.
I expect them to lose yet another close one.
Take New England, 24-20
Brady owns a 6-2 career record against the Steelers, though four of those meetings came prior to 2005, when Brady and the Patriots were still winning Super Bowls.
As hard as it is to believe, the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 2004 season. Since then, the Steelers have won two Super Bowls and been to another.
But that wasn’t these Steelers, or these Patriots, for that matter.
While the Steelers’ issues during their 2-5 start have been well-documented – turnovers, sacks and lack thereof and allowing big plays on defense – the Patriots have found a way to overcome some of the same issues to win.
New England has allowed 23 sacks, is converting on 32 percent of its third downs, Brady has been intercepted six times and the Patriots have fumbled 11 times. But they’ve only lost three of those fumbles.
New England’s opponents have also lost 11 fumbles, but the Patriots have recovered six.
It adds up to a plus-7 for the Patriots in turnover margin, which will help you overcome some shortcomings.
By contrast, the Steelers have fumbled 10 times and lost seven. Their opponents have fumbled seven times and recovered one.
The Steelers are minus-9 in turnover margin, but much of that was built during the team’s 0-4 start. Pittsburgh has turned the ball over just three times in its past three games.
The Patriots have 10 interceptions this season, though four have been by corner Aqib Talib, and he’s questionable to play with a hip injury.
The Patriots are 7 ½-point favorites in this game and that seems like a big number for a team that has seen six of its eight games decided by a touchdown or less.
The Steelers will continue to take better care of the football, and it wouldn't surprise me if they won. But not having David DeCastro, who has been their best offensive linemen, available will hurt.
I expect them to lose yet another close one.
Take New England, 24-20
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Random news, notes
It appears as if the Steelers will be at full strength on the offensive line when they head to New England.
Ramon Foster returned to practice Thursday, and though he must pass another ImPact Test Friday, that shouldn't be a problem.
David DeCastro is also expected to try to return Friday.
@ The Steelers do not have to make a final decision on Sean Spence until next Wednesday.
But the broken hand he suffered two weeks ago likely means he's headed to injured reserve.
@ The Steelers are expecting plenty of no-huddle out of the Patriots, which is to be expected since that's what the Patriots do a lot of.
But New England's no-huddle is different than everyone else's in that they run a play, sprint back to the line of scrimmage and snap the ball with 25-plus seconds remaining on the clock.
In many cases, however, it's been hurry up and punt for New England, which is converting just 32 percent of its third downs.
@ Aquib Talib continues to struggle with a hip injury for the Patriots and his loss would be a big one.
Talib has accounted for four interceptions. That's one less turnover than the Steelers have as a team.
@ After speaking with reporters Thursday, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau asked if anyone wanted to talk to him about turnovers.
"What, we start getting them and now nobody wants to talk about them," LeBeau said jokingly.
Ramon Foster returned to practice Thursday, and though he must pass another ImPact Test Friday, that shouldn't be a problem.
David DeCastro is also expected to try to return Friday.
@ The Steelers do not have to make a final decision on Sean Spence until next Wednesday.
But the broken hand he suffered two weeks ago likely means he's headed to injured reserve.
@ The Steelers are expecting plenty of no-huddle out of the Patriots, which is to be expected since that's what the Patriots do a lot of.
But New England's no-huddle is different than everyone else's in that they run a play, sprint back to the line of scrimmage and snap the ball with 25-plus seconds remaining on the clock.
In many cases, however, it's been hurry up and punt for New England, which is converting just 32 percent of its third downs.
@ Aquib Talib continues to struggle with a hip injury for the Patriots and his loss would be a big one.
Talib has accounted for four interceptions. That's one less turnover than the Steelers have as a team.
@ After speaking with reporters Thursday, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau asked if anyone wanted to talk to him about turnovers.
"What, we start getting them and now nobody wants to talk about them," LeBeau said jokingly.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Wednesday news, notes
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took part in drills Wednesday but did not participate in the team portion of practice.
It's no big deal, but Roethlisberger did admit the team's lack of scoring in the first quarter of games, and more specifically on the opening possessions where they have yet to score, is a big deal.
The Steelers have scored one first quarter touchdown and total points in the first quarter and have just six first downs on their opening possessions when working off offensive coordinator Todd Haley's script.
But let's be honest, it's not just Haley's script, Roethlisberger has a say in what's on the script as well. He sits down with Haley every Saturday night and is given some veto power over what is run.
When asked about the lack of success off the script, however, Roethlisberger said reporters would have to ask Haley what's going wrong.
@ David DeCastro and Ramon Foster did not practice Wednesday, but Foster did pass his concussion tests. Look for him to practice Thursday.
DeCastro, meanwhile, was moving around well Wednesday despite sitting out. His sprained ankle does not appear serious.
@ For the record, LaMarr Woodley was not responsible for the quarterback on Terrelle Pryor's 93-yard touchdown run to open the game against the Raiders.
Woodley's responsibility in that situation was coming down the line of scrimmage on backside pursuit of the running back. Lawrence Timmons, who had shifted sides at the last moment with Vince Williams at inside linebacker, and Ryan Clark were responsible for Pryor.
It's no big deal, but Roethlisberger did admit the team's lack of scoring in the first quarter of games, and more specifically on the opening possessions where they have yet to score, is a big deal.
The Steelers have scored one first quarter touchdown and total points in the first quarter and have just six first downs on their opening possessions when working off offensive coordinator Todd Haley's script.
But let's be honest, it's not just Haley's script, Roethlisberger has a say in what's on the script as well. He sits down with Haley every Saturday night and is given some veto power over what is run.
When asked about the lack of success off the script, however, Roethlisberger said reporters would have to ask Haley what's going wrong.
@ David DeCastro and Ramon Foster did not practice Wednesday, but Foster did pass his concussion tests. Look for him to practice Thursday.
DeCastro, meanwhile, was moving around well Wednesday despite sitting out. His sprained ankle does not appear serious.
@ For the record, LaMarr Woodley was not responsible for the quarterback on Terrelle Pryor's 93-yard touchdown run to open the game against the Raiders.
Woodley's responsibility in that situation was coming down the line of scrimmage on backside pursuit of the running back. Lawrence Timmons, who had shifted sides at the last moment with Vince Williams at inside linebacker, and Ryan Clark were responsible for Pryor.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tuesday with Tomlin
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had better news than expected when it came to his injury outlook for this weekend's game at New England.
Tomlin said all three linemen injured against Oakland, David DeCastro (ankle), Ramon Foster (concussion) and Guy Whimper (knee) have been checked out and could play this weekend.
Foster has been cleared to practice, while Whimper only hyperextended his knee.
DeCastro could be limited with his ankle sprain early in the week, but could be return to practice later in the week.
Also, rookie wide receiver Markus Wheaton has not been ruled out with his fractured finger.
@ Tomlin said he and Ben Roethlisberger spoke Monday about Roethlisberger's use of timeouts down the stretch against Oakland and that the Steelers would have preferred to have all three once Oakland got the ball back.
@ Tomlin said he is open to making a trade before the deadline.
But don't expect anything at this point.
@ Jarvis Jones has been demoted to second team and Tomlin said it's due to the rookie not always playing his responsibilities.
That was obvious a few times - the few times he was on the field before being pulled - when he lost outside contain against the Raiders. Jones didn't start against the Raiders and it could be a while before he starts again.
@ Tomlin said he felt Zoltan Mesko rebounded from the blocked punt to make some good kicks, pointing out a punt he made that was downed at the 1 late in the game.
Tomlin said he's open to looking at upgrades at all positions, but it doesn't sound like he's ready to make a change.
That change came later in the day when the Steelers waived Mesko and signed Mat McBriar.
McBriar, an Australian, has kicked in the NFL since 2004, mostly with Dallas. He spent the 2012 season with Philadelphia and has a career average of 45.4 yards per kick.
@ Through eight weeks of the season, there hasn't been a 100-yard rusher in the AFC North this season. Who'd have thunk it in a division that used to be known for power football?
Tomlin said all three linemen injured against Oakland, David DeCastro (ankle), Ramon Foster (concussion) and Guy Whimper (knee) have been checked out and could play this weekend.
Foster has been cleared to practice, while Whimper only hyperextended his knee.
DeCastro could be limited with his ankle sprain early in the week, but could be return to practice later in the week.
Also, rookie wide receiver Markus Wheaton has not been ruled out with his fractured finger.
@ Tomlin said he and Ben Roethlisberger spoke Monday about Roethlisberger's use of timeouts down the stretch against Oakland and that the Steelers would have preferred to have all three once Oakland got the ball back.
@ Tomlin said he is open to making a trade before the deadline.
But don't expect anything at this point.
@ Jarvis Jones has been demoted to second team and Tomlin said it's due to the rookie not always playing his responsibilities.
That was obvious a few times - the few times he was on the field before being pulled - when he lost outside contain against the Raiders. Jones didn't start against the Raiders and it could be a while before he starts again.
@ Tomlin said he felt Zoltan Mesko rebounded from the blocked punt to make some good kicks, pointing out a punt he made that was downed at the 1 late in the game.
Tomlin said he's open to looking at upgrades at all positions, but it doesn't sound like he's ready to make a change.
That change came later in the day when the Steelers waived Mesko and signed Mat McBriar.
McBriar, an Australian, has kicked in the NFL since 2004, mostly with Dallas. He spent the 2012 season with Philadelphia and has a career average of 45.4 yards per kick.
@ Through eight weeks of the season, there hasn't been a 100-yard rusher in the AFC North this season. Who'd have thunk it in a division that used to be known for power football?
Monday, October 28, 2013
Post-Oakland thoughts
Terrelle Pryor's 93-yard touchdown run on the game's first play from scrimmage was a tone setter for the Raiders.
It put Pittsburgh's defense on its heels for the remainder of a first half which saw Oakland build a 21-3 lead.
Oakland had 244 total yards in the first half and finished with 279. I'm no math whiz, but that looks like 35 yards in the final two quarters.
But the damage, thanks to that Pryor run and Zoltan Mesko not fielding the snap cleanly, which led to a little pressure by Rashad Jennings on David Paulson turning into a partially blocked punt that gave the Raiders the ball at the Pittsburgh 26.
It appeared that had Robert Golden not immediately fielded the punt - he appeared to think it was a live ball - it might have traveled another 10 to 15 yards.
But hey, once again, the Steelers defense could have stopped an opponent on a short field, but did not.
Those failures to come up with stops on quick changes have been killers this season.
@ Pittsburgh won the turnover battle and lost for the first time since Oct., 2010 against Baltimore. For a team that doesn't get many turnovers, that's a true killer.
@ Pryor completed 10 of 19 passes for 88 yards and two interceptions, a passer rating of 25.7. And won.
He won because he broke Kordell Stewart's record for a touchdown run by a quarterback of 80 yards.
In fact, I feel like I had seen Pryor's performance 100 times before because I saw every start Stewart made for the Steelers in person.
Everything about Pryor's game Sunday looked like Stewart, from the great runs to the overthrown passes that turned into interceptions.
Pryor was 6 of 11 passing for 43 yards when the Steelers kept him in the pocket. Problem was, they didn't do it nearly enough in the first half, thanks to that 93-yard run.
@ Down 11, Ben Roethlisberger wasted a timeout on second-and-three at the Oakland 12 because he was too busy arguing for what he thought was a horse collar tackle on Le'Veon Bell.
That timeout sure would have come in handy even if the Steelers had been forced to kick a field goal in that situation. They scored a touchdown, instead, to cut the lead to 21-18 after also getting a two-point conversion.
Pittsburgh used both of its remaining timeouts and Oakland ran its third-down play with 1:10 remaining. By the time the Raiders punted, because the Steelers were out of timeouts, they got the ball back with 18 seconds remaining.
Roethlisberger said that he and Mike Tomlin will talk Monday about whether it's more important to take a delay penalty in that situation or use the timeout.
How about this? Let the officials call the game and keep playing. Then, you don't have to worry about whether a penalty is called or not. I've yet to see an official, 20 seconds after a play is over, decide that he did, indeed, see a penalty because a player pleaded with him.
But, if Roethlisberger is going to argue, he's got to take the penalty in that situation rather than burning a timeout.
@ Shaun Suisham has missed five field goals in the past season and a half, but each one of them has been costly.
That's the way things go when you count on winning games by three.
@ I'll be shocked if Mesko is still on this team by the end of this week. After all, somebody has to take the fall for this disaster. Why not the JV punter?
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Steelers-Raiders game day thread
No real surprises on the Steelers' inactive list today. It includes Landry Jones, Markus Wheaton, Richard Gordon, Curtis Brown, Chris Carter, Kion Wilson and Hebron Fangupo.
The weather here is overcast with a slight chill.
Interesting to note that the Raiders have completely covered the upper deck seats ala. Jacksonville. Guess they're guaranteeing sellouts, but they are taking a lot of the crowd, and crowd noise, out of the equation.
For the Raiders, starting strong safety Tyvon Branch and right tackle Tony Pashos are out.
The weather here is overcast with a slight chill.
Interesting to note that the Raiders have completely covered the upper deck seats ala. Jacksonville. Guess they're guaranteeing sellouts, but they are taking a lot of the crowd, and crowd noise, out of the equation.
For the Raiders, starting strong safety Tyvon Branch and right tackle Tony Pashos are out.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Who I like, Oakland version
This is an interesting matchup for the Steelers, who have had their issues heading out to the Black Hole.
In his past three games against the Raiders, Ben Roethlisberger has thrown nine touchdown passes and one interception. So clearly, he has not been the issue in the Steelers going 1-2 in those games.
What has been the issue is the defense.
Take, for example, last season, when the Steelers lost 34-31 in Oakland.
The Steelers held a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter that they allowed to slip away - in part thanks to an Antonio Brown fumble in Oakland territory.
Carson Palmer brought the Raiders back, leading them to 13 unanswered points and looking as good as he has at any time since, I don't know, Kimo von Oelhoffen wrecked his knee.
Darren McFadden also hurt the Steelers early in that game with his running to open things up for Palmer.
This year, however, it's Terrelle Pryor starting for the Raiders. In fact, this will be just the ninth career game for Pryor, essentially making him only slightly better than a rookie.
And we all know what the Steelers' record is against rookie quarterbacks with Dick LeBeau as their defensive coordinator coach.
Pryor is a dangerous threat. He leads all AFC quarterbacks in rushing and has actually been decent as a passer, completing well over 60 percent of his throws this season. But he's also been intercepted five times in just 136 passes and has three fumbles, so there's good and bad.
And he'll be playing behind something of a makeshift offensive line that has three starters banged up.
The thing the Steelers must guard against, however, is the fact that this is a trap game, sandwiched between a home game against Baltimore and a road game versus New England.
But I liked the fact that head coach Mike Tomlin gave the team a history lesson in the Pittsburgh-Oakland rivalry this week, something he really hadn't done before.
I also liked the fact that when one reporter, trying, as he said, to work ahead this week, started asking defensive backs how they would handle covering Rob Gronkowski, they told him they would worry about that next week.
The Steelers are 2 1/2 point favorites in this one and must have it before their trip to New England next week. After that game, the schedule eases up considerably.
Take the Steelers, 23-20
In his past three games against the Raiders, Ben Roethlisberger has thrown nine touchdown passes and one interception. So clearly, he has not been the issue in the Steelers going 1-2 in those games.
What has been the issue is the defense.
Take, for example, last season, when the Steelers lost 34-31 in Oakland.
The Steelers held a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter that they allowed to slip away - in part thanks to an Antonio Brown fumble in Oakland territory.
Carson Palmer brought the Raiders back, leading them to 13 unanswered points and looking as good as he has at any time since, I don't know, Kimo von Oelhoffen wrecked his knee.
Darren McFadden also hurt the Steelers early in that game with his running to open things up for Palmer.
This year, however, it's Terrelle Pryor starting for the Raiders. In fact, this will be just the ninth career game for Pryor, essentially making him only slightly better than a rookie.
And we all know what the Steelers' record is against rookie quarterbacks with Dick LeBeau as their defensive coordinator coach.
Pryor is a dangerous threat. He leads all AFC quarterbacks in rushing and has actually been decent as a passer, completing well over 60 percent of his throws this season. But he's also been intercepted five times in just 136 passes and has three fumbles, so there's good and bad.
And he'll be playing behind something of a makeshift offensive line that has three starters banged up.
The thing the Steelers must guard against, however, is the fact that this is a trap game, sandwiched between a home game against Baltimore and a road game versus New England.
But I liked the fact that head coach Mike Tomlin gave the team a history lesson in the Pittsburgh-Oakland rivalry this week, something he really hadn't done before.
I also liked the fact that when one reporter, trying, as he said, to work ahead this week, started asking defensive backs how they would handle covering Rob Gronkowski, they told him they would worry about that next week.
The Steelers are 2 1/2 point favorites in this one and must have it before their trip to New England next week. After that game, the schedule eases up considerably.
Take the Steelers, 23-20
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