Keep Wavin' Those Towels

I'll take the good with the bad; Well, when the Steelers win the game, that is.
The game was as nailbitten as any season opener can be, and the defensive fistfight between the Titans and Steelers seemed almost inevitable. The game was really sloppy, and no team had a perfect drive, but I think we all can agree that we saw two very talented teams on the field. Be afraid AFC, be very afraid. Here are my thoughts on the main storylines of the night.
The Good.

Ben: BBR was very much himself. The clutch QB looked sloppy at times, but when he got things rolling, he was essentially impossible to stop. Yes fellow Steeler Fans, I know it feels odd to have so much trust in our passing game. But when one has an elite QB hooking up with two Super Bowl MVP wide recievers, one can't really complain. It's becoming a trademark of Ben's to convert 3rd down passing plays like he's eating peach rings-and in the 4th quarter nonetheless. I'm also getting to the point where I'd rather see the ball in Ben's hands in shotgun on 3rd down and 2, rather than put the conversion into the hands of our offensive line's run blocking capabilities.

WR's: Mike Wallace made a clutch play, and a great move to get open. Hines Ward was incredibly clutch-yes, even with that fumble. And I have a strange feeling that Hines is going to spend the rest of the season making up for that drop-even though we won the game. Oh, and Santonio Holmes was ALWAYS THERE. I don't think i've ever been this excited for our wide recieving corps.

D: The run defense had a shaky start, but they really clamped down after the first half. Keyaron Fox looked right at home, and looks like a very solid backup. He had a fumble recovery after James Harrison's destructive tackle of Bo Scaife. The pass rush didn't get to Kerry Collins enough, but Farrior had a crucial sack to take away field goal range, and KC was rushed often into making some bad throws. BIG SNACK was absolutley tearing it up out there. The secondary was hurting out there, and I'll get to TP a little later, but they pulled it together to stop some crucial drives late in the game.

Special Teams: Isn't it nice to have some talent in our special teams? Stefan Logan looked like he could break out into a TD run at any point in the game. Jeff Reed made the clutch kicks. Sepulveda BOOMED the ball, and Aaron Smith blocked a field goal that proved to be the difference of the game. What more can I say?

The Bad:

Troy:Most guys would put Troy's injury in the ugly, but we're talking about the Steelers. Injuries aren't excuses, they're opportunities for other guys to step up. Troy will be out 3-6 weeks, but he'll be resting and possibly fully energized to take on the post-season if it comes to that. Also, Tyron Carter is one of the best back-ups on the team. He has incredible energy, veteran smarts, and makes big plays. I may be overthinking this, but I think teams underestimate the defense when Troy is out. That gives the Steelers a leg up to catch their opponents sleeping. There are still great playmakers. But boy, the way Troy was playing in the first quarter, I cannot wait for him to get back.

The Ugly

Running Game: There is no way I'm blaming Fast Willie for this running attack. As i've said from the end of last season, the run blocking is the worst element of this Steeler Team. I don't know what the coaches can do, but they need to take some action. The line needs to make opportunities for Willie to run; it was utterly embarrassing to see WP caught in the backfield repeatedly. That being said, Willie needs to break the first tackle. There were times when a little hole was there, but his ankle got caught and boom, there goes that run. The one shining light was Mewelde Moore's runs in the 4th quarter; he can be a real slimy dude when he wants a first down. With that on the table, let's remember that the Titan D-Line is one of the best, even without Hayneworth.

Overall, I wasn't dissapointed with the team in the least. There is definitley room to improve, but they just got one of their toughest foes knocked off the schedule, and got away with a mark in the win column. Although the Bears are a tough team, the matchups really benefit the Steelers. Baltimore will be the next game that could be as tough as this one. Let's all hope that Troy will be back and in great shape for that one.

Here's to the start of another great Steeler season.

Towel Stomper, or Titan Romper? Steelers Titans Preview;

This year's season opener is already proving to be a goodie, and kickoff is still more than a day away. Just thinking about it give me the tingles, and there are some great story lines that are bound to play out.

Unfinished Towel Business: Ever since Lendale White and company laid their dirty, blasphemous cleats on the towel of glory, Steeler fans and players have been itching for some payback. Thinking back to TJ Shoebomber's stomp o' the towel in 05, the B n G got their payback soon after-defeating them in the AFC wild card game, and eventually winning the Super Bowl (insignificant tidbit). But the Steelers didn't get a stab at the Titans in last year's playoffs. they got beat before we got to them. we wont the biggie. ouch.

So now's our chance. The time to say "hey, that towel is our glory rag, and you really need to eat crow." By crow I mean losing the 1st game of the season-never a great start to a team that has already lost its best player, has a deteriorating quarterback and a suicidal backup, and a depleted recieving corp in which Nate Washington can rise to the very top in a matter of weeks.
just sayin.
Lendale White wants to stomp on it again. Let's just see to it that he leaving the stadium with a white towel over his head, and a check in the loss column.

O-Line
Everyone is making nonsensebuzz over Darnell Stapleton being out. Given, he was decent last year, and has great potential, he's not the core of the O-line. It will be interesting to see how the line operates, though. Big Ben certainly looks himself, so hopefully they can hold back the Defense just long enough.

Joystick
Stefan Logan, nicknamed "Joystick," could start for kick and punt returns this week. We all saw what he could do in the preseason against first, second, and third team special teams. If he lights it up in any similar form, the Titans better watch out. The steelers did a great job at finding and picking this kid up. A dangerous return man is just what every other team is fretting-pretty much the only thing that can instantly improve this Steeler team.

Foxy
Keyaron Fox is starting in place of Lawrence Timmons at inside LB. He's been great in special teams and second team defense since he put on a Steeler uniform, and I expect no less from him this week. This is his chance to prove that he deserves to be the go-to-guy in terms of LB reserves. ie. what tyrone carter has done year in and year out for the secondary.

Washington
Nate Washington may not play in his game due to a hamstring injury, but if he does, i'll be excited to see what he can do. He's never been the number one or two reciever, and given the oportunity, he could become a dependable guy. He's always had the speed, but never the talent to rise up in the Steeler system. The Titans really like him, and I hope he gets an applause if he starts. He played some solid years with some clutch catches for Pittsburgh.

There are so many other story lines-the Pittsburgh running game, Kerry Collins, Titans D Line, Chris Johnson. But the aformentioned are my favorites.

The season has really snuck up on us. Here We Go.

[Lebeau]tiful

Dick Lebeau has finally been nominated for the Hall of Fame. He's now being taken into consideration for a seniors' spot in the class of 2010. His role, however unique, deserves a spot in the Hall.

No man has had such an impressive a playing career-7th all time in interceptions and possibly the most consecutive starts for a cornerback-and gone on to change the game as a coordinator. Come on people, he invented the zone-blitz.

Although this nomination is long overdue, it was also easily foreseen. Peter King and Rod Woodson, leading media and player push respectively, are two of the many NFL observers that were shocked by his absence in the Hall.

As Steeler Fans, we've watched his amazing schemes confuse quarterbacks and coaches alike. We've seen him scold and praise players and turn boys into bodysmashing, runstopping, route detecting, o-line rupturing machines. He made the defense a bonded unit that, with ease, touted the league's top achievements for years.

Now his placement in Canton is only a summer's wait away- he's belonged there for quite some time.

Stefan's Speed;Thoughts On Preseason Game 2

Ben was out for this preseason game, and the Steelers got a better look at some of the younger guys-especially against the Redskins' first team. Some guys made a great impression, and some did their job, but no one really made a bad impression this game.

Here's some quick thoughts from yours truly.

*Daniel Sepulveda continues to boom, so I may start calling him "thunder." His consistency will make him a key component to the 2009 team.

*Although Fast Willie ran well, Rashard was definitely more impressive. Mendenhall got several carries against the Redskins first team defense, and he made the most of them. After 2 or 3 carries, he got into a great rythm. More importantly, he was making some great cuts between the tackles.

*Run Blocking, for the second game in a row, was not impressive. Runners are getting the getting the ball only to face a brick wall. We can't expect them to make great cuts every time. They need holes to find if the Steelers want to move out of their embarrasing 23rd rushing offense.

*Mike Wallace continues to impress for two reasons. First-his speed is always lingering as a danger for coverage. He hasn't been covered well downfield in a game yet. Second-he's making great short catches to keep the coverage guessing. He made a great sliding catch and ran decent slants when he was in there. More importantly, he was running routes against first team coverage. No one really expected this guy to come into the league with this much polish. If he had Sweed's height, he'd be the number 3 reciever without question. This WR competition is shaping up to be interesting-->it can only help the team. I'm still giving the 3rd spot to Sweed for now; Wallace will get his chances though.

*Tony Hills needs to get his snap count together. He continued to jump the ball, line up in the wront position, etc. Other than that he protected fairly well.

*Stefan Logan was by far the most impressive player this week. His kickoff and punt returns were the most promising and consistent i've seen since Randel El-->and he wasn't even that great. His cuts and speed make him the danger that we've needed at that position. Although I don't think he'll start at the position, he should make the team if he continues his magic in practice/future games.

*The First Team Defense is full of weapons just waiting to explode. There is so much talent at every position, and all of the guys look like they're in the best shape of their lives. It's really a treat to watch these guys perform for just one quarter. I can't wait until the real deal.

Goodwill Punting

Daniel Sepulveda could be that extra boom the steelers need-->no pun(t) intended.

But seriously, has the return of a punter ever been so celebrated? Now, let's not forget that his first trot onto Heinz Field turf was in front of many drunk and giddy fans, waiting for something to cheer about during a preseason game; but nevertheless, Sepulveda's first boomer was quite the stomach release for a Steeler Faithful. He could be that extra peptobismol dose the team needs to get over the feared super bowl hangover. Let's face it, no one wants to live through a repeat of 2006.

Sepulveda's punting was greatly missed in 2008, as Steeler Fans were enlightened as to how important punting and field position can be in a close game. Mitch Berger's punting in several games cost us either a comfortable win, and in some cases a tally in the loss column. I'm thinking of the week 8 loss to the Giants, specifically. Although the Offensive Line was labeled as the worst unit in Black and Gold, punting is certainly the worst, and most overlooked part of the team. Berger's punting was wretched and put the defense into horrible holes that, usually, they could somehow escape from. But with Sepulveda launching the pigskin deep into enemy territory, the defense will have a lot more room to play with, and alot more freedom to blitz as they please.

The only caveaut I might add is that the Defense seemed to perform at their best when they were under great pressure. When the opposition was at midfield, or approaching field goal territory, the secondary would clamp down, and black and gold sack machines would turn to extreme mode. So, although other teams will be starting much further back than in 2008 with our new addition, the Defense has got to keep that pressure mentality up to perform as well as last year. This is a small worry of mine, because the the additions and improvements in the defense can only make it a better unit this year. And having more breathing room certainly has more benefits than downsides.

Playing the Ravens 2-3 times in a year, a matchup in which field position can decide games single-handedly, I'm certainly relieved to see Sepulveda booming away in the backfield.

Whatchutalkinbout, Wallace!?

O.K. all of you fellow die hard Stiller fans, don't get too excited. Don't go buy his stitched authentic jersey or draft him early on in your fantasy league. Don't place bets on his success and definitely don't get a tattoo of his face on your bicep; But Mike Wallace is looking reaaaaal good in camp.

Wallace was only drafted late in the 3rd round, and wasn't perceived as a wide receiver with much polish or mechanics, but boy, he's been quite the unexpected gem so far in workouts. He ran the second fastest 40 at the combine, behind only Darrius Heyward-Bey (that kid that Oakland drafted 7th overall), and scored in the top 5 for jumping as well. But the biggest surprise has been his route running and finish at camp-he's not just using his speed.

This gives us steeler fans some hope that this kid might be more than just a Nate Washington-more than a guy that can get away with using his speed to stay at the 3 spot. But with Hines Ward aging and Limas Sweed looking to step up, it sure is comforting to see some unexpected talent to break coverage. Wallace is already looking like a threat downfield, as Roethlisberger has hit him several times after he beat coverage on every play.

Jim Wexell has already labeled Wallace the fastest Wide Reciever in Steeler History (uhhhhh),
and much as been made of a possible race between the reciever and Ike Taylor, supposedly the fastest man on the team. In fact, Taylor's summer workout man has touted him as the fastest in the NFL (this guy works with Chris Johnson as well). It's really exciting to have such young speed on the team.

Sometimes we Steeler Fans forget that we have Kevin Colbert at the realms. The guy that found William Gay in the 5th round two years ago, and Willie Colon in the 4th round of 2006. These are two dependable starters going into 2009. Super Bowl Champion-dependable starters, that is.

So watch with me on Thursday, as Tomlin shows off his new toy in Mike Wallace. He'll start the game as the kickoff return man; so don't blink-you might just miss him.

That Tomlin Swag

Swag isn't something you can just mimic. It's not easily recreated or transferable through any medium. It's someone's patented and established way of carrying themselves; Of talking, of walking, of acting. But specifically for Mike Tomlin-it's coaching.

Since his emergence into the league as the sultan of swagger, many have tried and failed to mirror his essence, his style, his culture. They've seen those steely eyes when he trots into Heinz Field on game day. They've envied his pat-on-the-back encouragement after first down completions. They've spent nights staring into the mirror, practicing one liners that don't come close to Mr. Tomlin's glorious fire-spits.

Why wouldn't they want to be like him? Tomlin is the leader of the most successful franchise in Football. He won a Super Bowl in his second coaching year, and he became the youngest coach-second ever African American-to win the biggy. The desirous bunch of unaccomplished coaches have plenty reason to follow his every move, but they can't even touch him. Blinded by the reflection off of his pitch-black shades, they struggle to catch a glimpse of Pittsburgh Potentate.

We all understand why teams are hiring these young, defensive coordinators as coaches. We know why they're looking for that guy that doesn't take any nonsense; the man that has a simple plan-one of few words and hard action. Guys like Mike Singletary and John Harbaugh are reasonable attempts for a team's recreation of the Tomlin Aurora. But they fall short in so many ways. Lombardi trophies, like helium, lift Tomlin and the Steeler Organization over the posing potentials.

Singletary proved this past week that he doesn't come close to Tomlin. The main reason?-he tries too hard. His obvious attempt at shooing away Michael Crabtree drama is yet another case of Tomlin mimicry that just doesn't feel right.

Singletary's failed effort sounded like this:
"In terms of Crabtree, when he comes in, he comes in," "Would you love to have him in? Absolutely. You'd love to have him. Do we want him here? Yes, we want to have him in. But until that happens, I just can't sit back and think about the what-ifs. All I can do is concentrate on what is, and control that."

Far too many words Mr. Singletary. It comes no where close to a Tomlin Tag like "Not subscribing to hocus pocus." So much less blabber, yet so much more swagger.

So the posers can pose, the haters can envy, and the hungry can starve. But with Tomlin, "Together we all eat."

His swagger can't be touched.

Top 11 Steelers of the Decade

The decade of the New Milennium has been a momentous one for the Steelers Organization. There have been many highs, lows, changes, and of course, championships. The Steelers Management has a reputation of not overpaying players, and letting guys go when they become free agents. In this decade, it has proven a successful strategy for the team. Relying on the draft has created competition, youth, development, and depth within the organization, but it makes it hard for a player to last. Well, except for the great ones.

These are the players with that Steeler Mentality. The true essence of Black and Gold. The quintessential hypocycloids, if you will. The guys that don't get overpaid, but overperform, so that their contributions lead the team to success year, after year. Based on their attitudes on and off the field, statistic contribution, consistency, and team success while playing, these players have stood out as the best of the BG. Some are gone, some are retired, and some are suiting up as we speak. Given that there are 11 guys on the field for a team at any time, doing 11 guys only makes sense. These guys are the top 11 steelers of this decade.

11. Deshea Townsend-CB
Although not the most talented, nor flashy player on the team at any point in the decade, he made the list because of his hustle, leadership, and most of all consistency. All of these contributions can't be shown through statistics, but he is such a great component to the team because he can be so under-the-radar, yet make big plays at crucial times. Also, his coverage has never been doubted, and the skills he's learned in his 11 years as a Steeler have enabled him to keep up with today's passing game. The skill and leadership that he passes down to younger cornerbacks is unmeasurable.

10. Dan Kreider-FB
Krieder was the player most missed by Steeler Nation, following his release in 2008. The fullback position played a crucial role in the running game from 2000, his rookie year, to 2005. However, Bruce Arians has since devalued the position's contribution. Kreider was a force in front of Jerome Bettis, and his loss hurt the Steelers in the 2008-2009 season, when they suffered the worst running attack since entering the AFC in 1975. Willie Parker was continuously caught in the backfield, and Kreider's blocking skill was hurtfully longed for. Kreider was a tough competitor, who played without recognition. He triumphed when his running attack triumphed-and playing Steeler Football, he got his share.

9.Joey Porter-LB
Porter only played in 7 years of the decade, but in those 7 years he defined himself as a player with significant passion, work ethic, and performance. Talking trash was a large part of his game, but backing the trash up was just as important to Porter. He got into people's heads, then he destroyed them on the field. Porter played a signficant role in the playoff runs of 2001, 2004, and the road to the super bowl in 2005. "Peezy," was the team leader in speeches and motivation of all kinds. Possibly his most influential contributions came when he sacked Peyton Manning twice in a row to smother their comeback attempt, leading the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game. Porter also led the Steelers in sacks in 2002, 2005, and 2006. Although he left the team in 2006 to play for the Dolphins, he will always be remembered as a Steeler.

8. Alan Faneca-OL
Faneca was the Steelers most well known offensive lineman, and most recognized for his tough mentality and nitty gritty playing style. He was a six time pro bowl selection with the B n G, because of his consistency, and ability to run block. His most famous block came in the 2005 Super Bowl XL, when he cleared the hole for Willie Parker to make the longest run in super bowl history. His relationship with the Steelers soured in 2007, when he felt he should be resigned, but the Steelers didn't want to overpay him after his playing peak. Faneca signed with the Jets, and continued to produce pro bowl blocking. Faneca makes the list because he held the offensive line together for the Steelers, and established the run blocking game that enabled them to continously run the ball the Steeler Way. His six pro bowl invites are the kicker.

7.. Jerome Bettis-RB
Bettis has made a case as one the best running backs in Steeler History-behind Franco Harris, perhaps, as second best. "The Bus" was quick on his feet but hard on his hits, and could destroy a defense in the 4th quarter. He could run out the clock single handedly, and rushed for a 5th best 13,662 yards in NFL history. Bettis is only 5th on this list because he retired after the super bowl run in 2005, and only has one ring with the Steelers.

6. Ben Roethlisberger-QB
Roethlisberger joined the Steelers in 2004, and made one of the best Rookie Campaigns ever in the NFL. He won 15 straight games as the "manager" of the steeler offense, and led the team to the AFC Championship Game. Although he only played 6 years in the decade, his contributions to win the team's two super bowl wins in the decade surely make him worthy of the All Decade Team. He's defined the Steeler Offense in the past two years, making clutch plays and "getting it done." Roethlisberger continues to make his case as one of the best quarterbacks in Steeler History. He makes the list above Bettis because he has earned two super bowl rings in the decade.

5.Casey Hampton-NT
As the nose tackle in the Steeler Defense, Hampton held together the core of the infamous 3-4 defense for every year in the decade. His ability to take on double teams and move back the line of scrimmaged enabled continous pressure and run stopping year, after year. "Big Snack" earned 4 pro bowl selections, and made significant contribution to the Super Bowl runs of 2005 and 2008. He is a key component to why the Steeler Defense has been elite throughout the decade. Hampton has two super bowl wins, and has played with the team throughout the decade.

4.Troy Polamalu- S
Drafted by the Steelers in 2003, Polamalu improved the Steelers Secondary instantly with his impact. His playing style enables him to be "all over the field," and he consistently makes plays that are unthinkable, and unexpected. He is a nightmare for an offense. Earning 5 pro bowl selections in only 6 years, he has defined him self as one of , if not the best safety in the league. He earned 2 super bowl rings with the team, and made big plays on both super bowl runs. But he makes the 4th spot on this list, because he transformed a below-average secondary into an elite passing defense through his consistency and big plays.

3. James Farrior-LB
Farrior is the current captain of the Steeler Defense, and his perhaps the best Free Agent signing of the decade for the Steelers. Playing from 2002 to the present after being signed from the Jets, Farrior has consistently led the team in tackles, terrorizing defenses as both a pass rusher on the line and a run stopper in the secondary. Although is one of the oldest members of the team, his ablity to stay in shape has made him the Steelers' most consistent tackler of the Decade. He earned 2 pro bowl selections and 2 super bowl rings, and his role as Defensive Captain puts him above Casey Hampton on this list.

2. Aaron Smith-DE
Smith is the most underrated player in Steelers history. Known perhaps only to Steeler fans, this gritty, hard working, and incredibly skilled defensive end has been the core of the Steeler Run defense for 11 years, throughout the decade. He was most recognized when he was injured midseason of 2007, and the Steelers run defense deteriorated. He has two super bowl rings, and sadly only one pro bowl selection. He is recognized league-wide among players as one of the best defensive ends in Football in the decade. He makes the list at number two because of his play without recognition, his consistency through 11 years, and his ability to hold together the run defense.

1. Hines Ward-WR
Ward is the epitome of a Steeler. His tough playing style, work ethic, consistency, clutch play-making, leadership, and personality make him the best steeler of the decade without question, and one of the best Steelers in history. As a wide reciever he is underrated because of his speed, and as a player he is feared because of his blocking. Ward is one of the best blocking wide recievers in NFL history, and is hated for it by un-expecting cornerbacks and linebackers. Playing from 1998 to present, he has showed no signs of decline, given that his skill at route running makes up for his lack of speed at the position. His leadership on the team and among wide recievers is unmeasurable, and his dedication to the Steelers is a large part of why the team has been so successful in the decade. He was MVP of Super Bowl XL, and although he was injured in the 2008 super bowl, he still played, as well as made significant contributions in the road via in 2008.

Honorable Mention: Ike Taylor, Willie Parker, Jeff Reed, Jeff Hartings Larry Foote, Clark Haggans

Looking to the future: Santonio Holmes, Ike Taylor, James Harrison, Lamaar Woodley, Ben Roethlisberger, and Lawrence Timmons

Pittsburgh Sports Article of the Week

For the Pittsburgh Sports Article this week, I'm going celebrate the build-up to Steelers Training Camp. In past years, Jim Wexell has been the absolute best when it comes to Steelers beat writing. He has the clutch interviews, inside information, and great writing all packaged into one. I also recommend his book "Steeler Nation," about his hilarious travel around the States to Steeler bars, parents, alumni, etc. It's a great read for a Steelers fan.

Although Wexell writes for a payed-subscription online newspaper at Steel City Insider, this article was released for free as a little treat to preview training camp. The article, Camp Points of Interest, highlights a few of the controversies, battles, and expectations heading into camp. I know I can't wait until things kick off.

Down with the Vickness

Mike Vick is now free to sign with any NFL team; Well, any NFL team that will take him.

The 29 year old dash-man is well past his prime in the league for several reasons. One being that quarterbacks need to be able to throw with accuracy and composure. With premier safeties and pass rushers dominating league defense in the past couple years-Troy Polamalu, Bob Sanders, Ed Reed, Osi Umenyiora, James Harrison, Albert Haynesworth-it's become impossible to rely on throwing the ball downfield and/or attempting to scramble as an adequate game plan.

The second reason is that scrambling through wildcat offense, perhaps the only organized set up that would incorporate Vick well, is so 2008. The wildcat setup like any music downloading program ever created-we're talking Morpheus, Limewire, Napster, Bit Torrent. They're the best, and easiest things to execute since Sega Dreamcast, and then they get hacked, figured out, and full of viruses and become worthless, unusable space on your desktop. However lost in digression this simile has become, the Wildcat offense is easy to stop once you're prepared for it. And because it was all the hype in '08, it's going to be the first thing prevented in 09.

That being said, people still seem to think Vick will land on a team and possible get playing time as a specialist. Some have even gone so far as to put him in the Steelers' laps. Chris Mortensen seems to believe that Mike Vick would fit perfectly with the Steelers Organization, because they have
1. Great Ownership
2. Great Coaching
3. An Established Veteran Locker Room
4. An Established and Leading Quarterback

Let me tell you right now Mr. Mortensen-it is because the Steelers don't take chances on guys like Michael Vick that they have these, forgive the wordplay, a-four-mentioned qualities. The Steelers do have an established locker room, coach, owner, and quarterback-so although it might be the best situation for Vick, there is absolutely no reason for the Steelers to want this guy. They'd much rather help a younger guy develop into a useful player for the future-not a washed up dog torturer that is stuck in the scramble offense of 1998. A guy like Dennis Dixon, who has the same qualities as Vick, but is much younger and has much more time and potential to learn how to win in the league.


Six V. Lomardis doesn't come from dogshit.

Big Ben-thats a [w]rap(e)

Here come the rape nicknames

Rape-lessburger
He tried to "force it up the middle"
He "took over in the huddle"
He "rammed it into the endzone"
He wanted his "clock ticked" a little too much.

Whatever you want to call it, Ben is being accused of rape.

This not a kobe-esque circumstance, because there are absolutely no criminal charges against Ben. These are simple accusations, and i'm not saying they're false, but they're definitely not backed.

-And until they are, this is just a desperate girl wanting attention and money. Am I sexist now? yikes. But all things considered, I wouldn't put it past Ben. He's quite the d-bag, a-hole, cocky bastard. And he's been known be a sleezeball when it comes to women. Could be because he's ugly, cocky, has money, has fame or all of the above.

but he's a great quarterback. and she's a gold digger. let's move on.

Pittsburgh Sports Article of the Week

This week's Pittsburgh Sports Article is coming, for the first time, from a blog. Although there was some decent writing out there in the Pittsburgh newspaper wires, I found an article I couldn't pass up on [Blitzburgh Blog]. The article, titled "Why Pittsburgh isn't America's Team," is a legit bashing of any desire for the Steelers to become the Dallas Cowboys.

The argument spurs from the back and forth on ESPN Nation Blog regarding which team is the true "America's Team." Although there are Steeler Fans across the nation, Blitzburgh makes a great argument for not wanting to be identified with lazy, flashy, quick fix America. Instead, we should be proud to be Pittsburgh's team. A team playing for a hard-nosed city, with hard working people that are diligent and get the job done.

I love the argument; it's a clever rejection of any competition with the Cowboys or any other team for that matter. The Steelers, and Pittsburgh, are above the Cowboys and the general cultural amalgam that America entails. Pittsburgh's team is good enough for me-in fact, it's much better.

It's a great read, as always, from Blitzburgh-I'd encourage anyone to check out the shtuff they're postin over there.

The Sophomore Trump; Steelers in their Second Year

Dear Rashard Mendenhall, Limas Sweed, and Co-
You hear the term "The Sophomore Slump." Rookies have decent seasons, and they get cocky. They think the league is oatmeal and they've dived into it like sweet brown sugar. We've seen it many a time-In the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, and, hell, maybe even in Soccer. But when you put on your black and gold sweaters, when you think about steeler football, sophomore slumps just don't come to mind. You know why?

Because Steelers thrive in their second year. It could be the respect they are taught of the league by their veteran teammates. It could be the fear of dissapointing their proven coaches, or even worse, the Rooney family that reigns above. It could be their hunger to live up to the triple hypocycloid-label that scatters their uniform. But when it comes to Steeler football, sophomore slumps are like losing seasons-they just don't come around. In fact, second year Steelers have developed a pattern of dramatically improving in their second year. For the sake of conciseness, let's call this amazingly beneficial pattern "the deuce."

Let's look at some notable Blackngold of past and present that have exploded in year 2.

Lynn Swann went from having 2 touchdowns with 208 yards in his first season, to snagging a career high 11 touchdowns with 781 yards in the deuce.

Terry Bradshaw threw for only 1410 yards and 6 touchdowns as a rook, but chunked up 2259 yards for 13 endzones in the deuce.

Gregg Lloyd started out with a soggy .5 sacks and 33 tackles in his first season, but hardened up to get 7 sacks and 92 tackles in the deuce.

Jerome Bettis, you ask? Although he didn't start out as a rookie, he gained his single season career high 1,665 yards in his unconventional steeler deuce.

Joey Porter started out his steeler career with 13 tackles and 2 sacks, but went on to knock 59 tackles and his steeler high 10.5 sacks in the deuce.

Plaxico Burress caught no touchdowns with 273 yards in year 1, yet exploded for 6 touchdowns with 1,008 yards in the deuce.

As for players still with us,

Willie Parker had 186 yards and no touchdowns in his first year, and 1,202 yards with 4 touchdowns in the deuce.

Troy Polamalu had 38 tackles and no interceptions as a rookie, but thrust 96 tackles and 5 interceptions in the deuce.

Even when Santonio Holmes had an impressive rookie season catching 824 yards and 2 touchdowns, he upped it with 942 yards and 8 touchdowns in three less games in the deuce.

LaMarr Woodley managed only 14 tackles and 4 sacks in year 1, and when on to bake 60 tackles
and grill 11.5 sacks in the deuce.

There are some obvious factors that contribute to this improvement that include being comfortable in the league, knowing the playbook, and of course more playing time. But if you look at these guys, they played an awful lot in their rookie seasons, even if they didn't start every game. Yet they all managed to explode in their second season.

I'm not saying that Mendenhall and Sweed will have amazing seasons, but I am labeling the deuce a trait of a great Steeler player. The second season in the NFL for a Steeler is very telling, and we should be very excited to see how these guys perform when they're clean from their rookie label.

Steeler D

Pondering on the Steelers' success last year, the league has really shifted in terms what successful teams focus on. Defense has become the focal point for most NFL teams, because the best teams have the best defenses. We can look at the success and failure of teams and see that without a premier defense, you will not win in this league; The Titans and the Saints. How does a team with Drew Brees and Reggie Bush go 8-8, while a team with Kerry Collins and a rookie RB goes 13-3? The Titans' defense makes all the difference.

These aren't the days of the "greatest show on turf" or Peyton Manning's fanclub; Instead, teams like the titans, steelers, ravens, and giants have risen to the top of the NFL, because they have complete defenses that can win games themselves. Look at what made the difference in the superbowl; While Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner showed off their offensive firepower, James Harrison's defensive play created a 10 point swing in the game. Even looking back at last year's superbowl; Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the Patriots seemed unstoppable, but the Giants' linebacking corps got to the duo, and they were shut down when it mattered.

Hell, look at the biggest Free Agent signing this offseason; It's Albert Haynesworth's move to Washington, possibly the most pivotal defensive player when he's on the field. The shift also appears in coach signings and success. Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh, both former defensive coordinators, were the most successful young coaches in the past year, and Mike Singletary is making things bubble in San Franscisco. Meanwhile, Eric Mangini, the so-called offensive genius, was left to drown in New York and New England's offensive wiz Josh McDaniels is already looking shaky in Denver.

All this is getting me excited about this upcoming season for the Steelers. This league has proven that Defense is where you win games, and the Steeler D is going nowhere, possibly getting even better.

Lamarr Woodley is hitting his peak, while James Harrison is still hungry. James Farrior is in the best shape of his life, and Ike Taylor is learning to catch, and becoming an elite corner in the league. William Gay is going to make a splash this year replacing Bryant McFadden, because when he was on the field last year, he played extremely well. Last year during the Super Bowl run, the ESPN Insiders wrote that:
"One other surprising addition has been the impressive play of nickel cornerback William Gay. According to Football Outsiders' game charting project, the two starters, Taylor and McFadden, are performing roughly the same as Taylor and then-starter Townsend in 2005. Gay, however, has been the best nickel corner in the NFL. Opponents are averaging only 3.3 yards per pass when they throw at Gay's man."

3.3 yards per pass?! That's incredible, and I think we're going to see even more from Gay when he finally gets his deserved start. However, the guy i'm most excited about is Lawrence Timmons. Timmons is incredibly fast for his size and strength. This allows him to rush the QB and drop into coverage easily, and makes him a guy that lineman and quarterbacks always need to keep their eyes on. Of course, there are alot of those guys on the Steeler Defense. Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith, should I go on?

Sure i'm excited about the offensive developement with our second-year players. But with the league patterns showing defensive prominence, i'm much more excited about the Steeler D; they have the potential to be elite again.