CurtainRising

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Thursday, 20 October 2011

Has the NFL Neutered the Steelers?

Posted on 18:37 by Unknown
Prologue -December 7th, 2005

In just 3 weeks Pittsburgh has fallen from 7-2 to 7-5. Crucial losses to AFC contenders Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati rob the Steelers of their swagger. The final game ends egregiously, with Chad Johnson taunting the Heinz Field faithful by wiping his cleats with a stolen Terrible Towel.

The morning after the Post-Gazette speculates as to whether Jerome Bettis was second guessing his decision not to retire and, worse yet, fans learn that the Steelers could run the table yet fail to make the playoffs.

That Wednesday morning the Steelers return to the South Side to a surprise. Bill Cowher announces a practice in full pads. Long time veterans cannot remember a full pads practice this late in the season. But order it he does, and the Steelers go on an 8 game winning streak that ends on the podium in Detroit at Super Bowl XL....



Does This Impact the Steelers?

Ask Mike Tomlin how this affects the Steelers and he’d likely dismiss any impact, pleading lack of concern, as long as the rules apply to everyone….

Sounds like common sense, but the Steelers, more than many teams, have established a foundation in being physical.

The new CBA between the owners and the NFLPA stipulates that during the 17-week regular season, teams are only permitted a maximum of 14 padded practices. Moreover, coaches can practice in pads 11 times during the first 11 weeks with a single two-padded practice permitted once during that span.

During the final six weeks of the season, only 3 padded practices are permitted.

Those are the restrictions. How might they be impacting the Steelers?

Neal Coolong, of Behind the Steel Curtain (full disclosure, I also write for BTWC) offered this assessment in a personal email following the Trashing in Texas.
The direction of this game is becoming an absolute joke. We are [explicative] year because we cannot practice with pads on, and our defenders are so freaked out about getting fined every game they aren't hitting. Add that with the lack of practice time on the things, you know, you DO IN THE GAME YOU'RE PLAYING, you have a weak team that [sic] supposed to be physical.

In other words, they've Steeler-proofed the NFL.

Look at that screen play [vs. the Texans] on third and long in a must-stop situation for Pittsburgh's defense. Polamalu doesn't want to hit Foster the way he's supposed to be hit, because that involves the helmet and could lead him to a penalty, or another fine. Instead, he literally jumps on top of him and lets gravity do the rest.


Pittsburgh is facing a running concept they hadn't seen much of, and they can't practice in pads to truly replicate what it feels like in the trenches when guys are cutting you. Because of that, every team is doing it to them, and they can't keep up.... Their practice time in pads has been reduced 200 percent, and the physical defenses (Pittsburgh, Jets, and yes, the Patriots).

Our offensive line is in the same position. When will you get to know a person better, when you spend a day with them or when you exchange instant messages? Not being in pads and hitting their opponents during the week hinders their ability to learn each other's tendencies and work together on their weaknesses. They could last year, which is why they kind of held up despite all the injuries. Same amount of injuries, most of the same guys, completely different results.

Neal's logic flows flawlessly and he makes quite a compelling argument. But as Yoda might say “Reality not always does coherent logic add up to.” Aristotle argued that if you drop two objects the heavier one will fall to earth first. It made so much sense that no one thought to challenge him until Gallieo tested it from the Tower of Pisa and discovered Aristotle was wrong….

Neal was hardly the first fellow member of the blogging community to comment about the dramatic reduction of physical contact in NFL practices, so I thought it best to bounce his observations off of someone who has been watching the Steelers practice for decades. In his weekly PG Plus chat of two weeks ago this was how Gerry Dulac responded:


Clearly Dulac doesn’t think new rules on contact in practice are an issue. I don’t want to wade too much into a shadow debate between a friend and a serious journalist whom I respect. At this point Steel Curtain Rising will lay both issues out and comment that this is a story that will continue to develop.

The issue of how teams coach their players to avoid helmet-to-helmet hits is another issue.

The ironic thing about this is that after the Texans game Mike Tomlin reportedly ordered is two-pad practice and the Steelers rebounded with their best and most physical game of the year by far vs. the Titans.

Epilogue

The issue of the lack of contact was discussed on CBS both before and after the game. The exact flow of the conversation escapes memory, but Bill Cowher clearly said that were he still coaching, he’d want an extra padded practice in his back pocket.

One can imagine he would, if for no other reason than his famous full-pads December practice that sparked his Super Bowl run wouldn’t be possible in 2011.

Thanks for visiting. Click here to check out the rest of Steel Curtain Rising. Or, click here to follow us on Twitter @SteelCurtainRis.
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Posted in Bill Cowher, Chuck Noll, Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers, Steelers 2011 season, Steelers vs. Bengals, Steelers vs. Texans, Super Bowl XL | No comments
Newer Post Older Post Home
View mobile version

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • Steelers Lose to Bengals 20-10 at Paul Brown Stadium
    For the first time since 2002 the Steelers will start the season at 0-2, after dropping a 20-10 contest to division rivals at Paul Brown Sta...
  • 5 Steelers Fighting for Their NFL Lives this Summer
    Steelers Nation finds its hallowed ground on the fields of St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe. Since the mid-60’s the Steelers shifted their h...
  • Chuck Noll vs. Jerry Glanville Revisited
    Bill Cowher won the affection of Steelers Nation because the fist-pumping, Chin Out, spit in your face coach acted out what every fan felt....
  • Watch the Steelers vs. the Raiders in the 1975 AFC Championship
    Missed seeing Bradshaw, Lambert, Franco, Greene, Swann, Blount and Stallworth in their primes? (Scroll down for the video.) Fortunately thos...
  • Aaron Smith, Willie Parker, Marvel Smith and Joey Porter Retire as Pittsburgh Steelers
    There’s one thing that no one in Steelers Nation can deny. Kordell Stewart is a man of many talents. But no one would have predicated that ...
  • Alan Baxter, Brian Arnfelt Lead Steelers Practice Squad Signings
    The Steelers 2013 off season is officially at a close. After cutting Jonathan Dwyer along with 22 other players and finalizing their reg...
  • Greg Lloyd Calls Out Roger Goodell
    13 years after he played his last down in the NFL, Greg Lloyd continues to capture the imagination of Steelers Nation. If you’ve ever wonder...
  • Steelers Report Card vs. Browns @ Cleveland Stadium
    Taken from the grade book of a teacher who is watching one half of the class fail its written test horribly, while the other half is acing t...
  • Steelers Release James Harrison
    In a move that was as anticipated as it is being lamented, the Pittsburgh Steelers have cut former NFL Defensive Player of the year James ...
  • Jarvis Jones Makes Bold Statement in Requesting Greg Lloyd's #95
    Since being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft Jarvis Jones has said all the right things. When as...

Categories

  • 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers (4)
  • 2008 NFL draft (5)
  • 2009 NFL Draft (4)
  • 2010 NFL draft (3)
  • 2011 NFL Draft (2)
  • 2012 NFL Draft (35)
  • 2013 NFL Draft (49)
  • 2014 NFL Draft (1)
  • 75th anniversary game (2)
  • Aaron Smith (12)
  • AFC Central (1)
  • AFC Championship (5)
  • AFC North (5)
  • Alan Fanaca (1)
  • Anthony Madison (1)
  • Antonio Brown (72)
  • Antwaan Randle El (3)
  • Art Rooney II (28)
  • Art Rooney Jr. (12)
  • Art Rooney Sr. (7)
  • Barry Foster (2)
  • Ben (1)
  • Ben Roethlisberger (148)
  • Bill Cowher (46)
  • Bill Nunn (1)
  • Bob Ligashesky (1)
  • book review (1)
  • Brett Keisel (25)
  • Bruce Arians (22)
  • Bruce Gradkowski (3)
  • Bryant McFadden (9)
  • Bubby Brister (5)
  • Byron Leftwich (23)
  • Cameron Heyward (17)
  • Carnell Lake (10)
  • Carson Palmer (1)
  • Casey Hampton (30)
  • Charlie Batch (32)
  • Chris Kemoeatu (7)
  • Chris Rainey (13)
  • Chuck Noll (32)
  • Cincinnati Bengals (1)
  • Cortez Allen (19)
  • Dan Rooney (21)
  • Daniel Sepulveda (3)
  • Darnell Stapleton (1)
  • David DeCastro (38)
  • David Johnson (23)
  • David Paulson (5)
  • defensive line (16)
  • Dennis Dixon (7)
  • Dermonti Dawson (2)
  • Desha Townsend (1)
  • Deshea Townsend (1)
  • Dick Hoak (1)
  • Dick LeBeau (21)
  • Doug Legursky (21)
  • Duce Staley (1)
  • Dwight White (4)
  • Emmanuel Sanders (45)
  • Ernie Holmes (1)
  • Fernando Velasco (1)
  • Franco Harris (4)
  • free agency (13)
  • Greg Lloyd (8)
  • Hall of Fame (2)
  • Heath Miller (46)
  • Heinz Field (3)
  • Hines Ward (32)
  • Ike Taylor (24)
  • Immaculate Reception (1)
  • Isaac Redman (73)
  • Jack Ham (1)
  • Jack Lambert (5)
  • James Farrior (18)
  • James Harrison (87)
  • Jarvis Jones (10)
  • Jason Worilds (13)
  • Jeff Hartwig (1)
  • Jeff Reed (1)
  • Jerome Bettis (9)
  • Jerrico Cotchery (15)
  • Jerry Olsavsky (2)
  • Joe Greene (8)
  • Joey Porter (6)
  • John Stallworth (3)
  • Johnny Mitchell (1)
  • Jonathan Dwyer (53)
  • Keenan Lewis (22)
  • Keith Butler (2)
  • Kelvin Beachum (6)
  • Kevin Colbert (101)
  • Kordell Stewart (12)
  • la toalla terrible (3)
  • LaMarr Woodley (32)
  • Landry Jones (1)
  • LaRod Stephens-Howling (1)
  • Larry Foote (23)
  • Lawrence Timmons (40)
  • Le'Veon Bell (10)
  • Limas Sweed (4)
  • linebacker legacy (9)
  • Lynn Swann (4)
  • Marcus Gilbert (29)
  • Marcus Wheaton (5)
  • Mark Bruener (1)
  • Mark Malone (3)
  • Marvel Smith (6)
  • Matt Spaeth (8)
  • Matt Speath (3)
  • Maurkice Pouncey (39)
  • Max Starks (33)
  • Mel Blount (1)
  • Merril Hoge (4)
  • Mewelde Moore (11)
  • Mike Adams (27)
  • Mike Tomlin (198)
  • Mike Wallace (63)
  • Mike Webster (5)
  • offensive line (92)
  • Paul Brown Stadium (1)
  • Peyton Manning (1)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers (465)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Club of Buenos Aires (1)
  • Plaxico Burress (13)
  • practice squad (10)
  • Ramon Foster (15)
  • Rashard Mendenhall (56)
  • Ray Mansfield (1)
  • Report Card (29)
  • Rod Woodson (9)
  • Rooney brothers (2)
  • running backs (6)
  • Ryan Clark (31)
  • Ryan Mundy (14)
  • salary cap (25)
  • Santonio Holmes (2)
  • Sean Kugler (5)
  • Sean Spence (10)
  • Shamarko Thomas (3)
  • Shaun Suisham (14)
  • special teams (14)
  • Steel Curtain (1)
  • Steeler running game (3)
  • Steeler secondary (24)
  • Steelers 1989 draft (1)
  • Steelers 1989 season (2)
  • Steelers 2008 season (1)
  • Steelers 2009 season (1)
  • Steelers 2010 season (1)
  • Steelers 2011 (1)
  • Steelers 2011 free agent focus (5)
  • Steelers 2011 season (74)
  • Steelers 2012 free agent focus (28)
  • Steelers 2012 off season (47)
  • Steelers 2012 season (59)
  • Steelers 2012 Training Camp (25)
  • Steelers 2013 free agent focus (61)
  • Steelers 2013 off season (119)
  • Steelers 2013 preseason (12)
  • Steelers 2013 roster (16)
  • Steelers 2013 season (17)
  • Steelers 2013 training camp (28)
  • Steelers en espaƱol (15)
  • Steelers Judiciary (6)
  • Steelers June Curse (1)
  • Steelers Nation (1)
  • Steelers obituaries (2)
  • Steelers OTAs (4)
  • Steelers training camp 2011 (16)
  • Steelers Training Camp 2012 (3)
  • Steelers vs. 49ers (6)
  • Steelers vs. Bengals (16)
  • Steelers vs. Bills (1)
  • Steelers vs. Broncos (13)
  • Steelers vs. Browns (16)
  • Steelers vs. Cardinals (1)
  • Steelers vs. Chargers (2)
  • Steelers vs. Chiefs (7)
  • Steelers vs. Colts (8)
  • Steelers vs. Cowboys (3)
  • Steelers vs. Eagles (3)
  • Steelers vs. Giants (2)
  • Steelers vs. Jaguars (5)
  • Steelers vs. Jets (5)
  • Steelers vs. Oilers (3)
  • Steelers vs. Patriots (7)
  • Steelers vs. Raiders (7)
  • Steelers vs. Rams (3)
  • Steelers vs. Ravens (20)
  • Steelers vs. Redskins (3)
  • Steelers vs. Seahawks (5)
  • Steelers vs. Texans (4)
  • Steelers vs. Titans (16)
  • Stefan Logan (3)
  • Steve McLendon (16)
  • Stevenson Sylvester (15)
  • Super Bowl IX (2)
  • Super Bowl X (3)
  • Super Bowl XIII (1)
  • Super Bowl XIll (1)
  • Super Bowl XIV (1)
  • Super Bowl XL (15)
  • Super Bowl XLIII (12)
  • Super Bowl XLV (7)
  • Super Bowl XXX (6)
  • t (1)
  • Terry Bradshaw (7)
  • The Colbert Record (4)
  • Three Rivers Stadium (1)
  • Todd Haley (32)
  • Tom Donahoe (16)
  • Tommy Maddox (3)
  • Tony Dungy (3)
  • Tony Hills (3)
  • Trai Essex (11)
  • Troy Polamalu (56)
  • undrafted rookie free agents (3)
  • VD (12)
  • Watch Tower (27)
  • wildcard playoff game (1)
  • wildcard playoffs (1)
  • William Gay (21)
  • Willie Colon (41)
  • Willie Parker (7)
  • Ziggy Hood (15)

Blog Archive

  • ►  2013 (213)
    • ►  September (31)
    • ►  August (36)
    • ►  July (15)
    • ►  June (7)
    • ►  May (14)
    • ►  April (43)
    • ►  March (36)
    • ►  February (19)
    • ►  January (12)
  • ►  2012 (190)
    • ►  December (18)
    • ►  November (21)
    • ►  October (21)
    • ►  September (21)
    • ►  August (26)
    • ►  July (8)
    • ►  June (6)
    • ►  May (11)
    • ►  April (25)
    • ►  March (12)
    • ►  February (9)
    • ►  January (12)
  • ▼  2011 (97)
    • ►  December (22)
    • ►  November (15)
    • ▼  October (23)
      • Steelers Report Card vs. the Patriots
      • Steelers Puncture Patriots 25-17
      • Stevenson Sylvester to Start, Farrior to Sit Out?
      • Steelers Should Hacka to Beat Patriots
      • Steelers Report Card vs. the Cardinals
      • Steelers Atomize Arizona 32-20
      • Aaron Smith Goes on IR; Steelers Activte Corbin Br...
      • Has the NFL Neutered the Steelers?
      • Chuck Noll vs. Jerry Glanville Revisited
      • Steelers Report Card vs. the Jaguars
      • Steelers Juke by Jacksonville 17-13
      • Hines Ward Will Not Play After 2013
      • Steelers Report Card vs. Titans
      • The Standard Is the Standard: Steelers Tumble Tita...
      • Al Daivs, Steelers Nemesis, 1929-2011
      • Casey Hampton, Chris Kemoeatu, Aaron Smith Out for...
      • Watch Tower: The Story Behind Max Starks Signing, ...
      • Max Starks Saved the Steelers Season in 2008. Can ...
      • Max Starks "Close" to Resigning with Steelers
      • James Harrison Suffers Orbital Fracture, Out 'Weeks'
      • Steelers Report Card vs. Texans
      • Texans "Trash" Steelers 17-10
      • Statement Game for WHO in Houston?
    • ►  September (26)
    • ►  August (11)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

Unknown
View my complete profile