Cortez Allen Undergoes Surgery - Still Too Early to Hit the Panic Button....

As the Steelers 2013 training camp approaches the one week mark, injuries continue to lead the news, as Cortez Allen underwent minor surgery on his knee.

#Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen has had minor knee surgery.
— Dale Lolley (@dlolleyor) August 2, 2013

Dale Lolley also reported that it is his understanding that Allen suffers from a meniscus issue, although he could not confirm the news.

If that is the case, meniscus injures are relatively minor compared to ligament damage, and Mike Tomlin has said that he expects Allen to miss “a few weeks.”

Not Time to Hit the Panic Button Yet, But…

While the Steelers likely lost one of its most promising 2013 undrafted rookie free agents when offensive lineman Nik Embernate was carted off the field with what looked to be a season-ending injury, Pittsburgh is in better shape than some of the other teams around the league (see Dennis Pitta of the Ravens).

Allen has had 2 years in Dick LeBeau’s defense, and will likely return to practice well before the season opener.

• Still, for a team ravaged by injuries in both 2011 and 2012, the trend that is forming is not positive.

William Gay has assumed Allen’s slot at nickel back, and Allen’s injury presents and opportunity for Curtis Brown.

The Steelers selected Curtis Brown a in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and when Brown entered the NFL he was seen as more of a finished product than Allen, who the Steelers drafted in the 4th round in 2011. But while Brown has excelled on special teams, he also struggled last year when forced into the starting line up vs. San Diego (again, did anyone look good that day?)

Josh Victorian is also a likely beneficiary, as with Demarcus Van Dyke out he too will get more playing time.

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Al Pacino's "Six Inches in Front of Your Face" Steelers Style....

On Any Given Sunday might not have been the best movie made about pro football out there, even if one of its characters was supposedly inspired by Kordell Stewart.

But Al Pacino’s “Six Inches” in front of your face is one of the better cinematic renditions of a half time locker room rally speech.

Caddy Lakis, an apparent Steelers fan, has taken the trouble of editing together a collage of great moments from Steelers history, and interspersing it with Pacino’s “Six Inches” in front of your face.



Complements to Lakis, who has paired some of Steelers Nation’s proudest and most poignant moments for an excellently choreographed video, including unearthed footage of a young Dick LeBeau, a heavy dose of James Harrison’s 99 interception return in Super Bowl XLIII, Hines Ward’s retirement speech, Charlie Batch’s difficult day in Cleveland, Antonio Brown’s fumble in Dallas, and much more more.

Enjoy!

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Steelers Sign Stevenson Sylvester; Workout Howling and Gooden

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered free agency both salary cap strapped and dangerously thin at inside linebacker. And with one bold* roll of the dice they helped shore up depth at inside linebacker while (probably) saving themselves at least 500,000 dollars in the process, when the resigned unrestricted free agent Stevenson Sylvester. (*Ok, that’s “bold” with a very lower case “b”)

The Steelers drafted Sylvester in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL draft and could have secured right of first refusal or compensation in the form of a 5th round pick by offering Sylvester a restricted free agent tender of 1.33 million.

However, the Steelers opted not to offer Sylvester any tender making him an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign with a team of his choosing. But as obersved here in the free agent focus on Sylvester, no one was going to offer Stevenson Sylvester big money.

Sylvester had a strong rookie season looking good on special teams, but struggled with spot duty in 2011 and saw his 2012 season hobbled by injuries. The reality is that Sylvester will likely have to fight for a roster spot in training camp, especially of the Steelers end up making linebacker a priority in the 2013 NFL Draft as their pre-draft visits indicate.

Nonetheless, the Steelers now have a body at inside linebacker with experience in a Dick LeBeau defense to back up Lawrence Timmons and Larry Foote, which is something they could not say 48 hours ago.

Free Agent Running Back, Linebacker also Pay Visits

The Steelers also entertained former Pitt running back LaRod Stephens-Howling who most recently played for Pittsburgh West (aka the Arizona Cardinals) and former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavares Gooden.

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Cowboys Court Steelers Safety Will Allen

When free agency opened the Pittsburgh Steelers moved quickly to resign current players Ramon Foster, Plaxico Burress, David Johnson, former players William Gay and Matt Spaeth, and outsider Bruce Gradkowski.

• But since making those early moves the franchise has shifted into low gear.

The cap strapped Steelers strategy at this point is to see what they can get in the coming NFL Draft and sign players afterwards, and that includes resigning some of their own players who remain on the open market. (Charlie Batch is one such player.)

However, by working out reserve safety Will Allen, the Dallas Cowboys put the Steelers on notice yesterday that not everyone the Steelers assumed would be available will be there.

The Steelers already lost an “we can probably get him back because we assume that no one else wants him” type free agent when Ryan Mundy signed with the New York Giants.

Will Allen was a similar type player, having played very little during his time in Pittsburgh, save for the 2012 season when he replaced the younger Mundy – to the defense’s benefit.

As the Dallas Morning News makes clear, the Cowboys couldn’t sign Allen now if they wanted to as the team is more cap strapped than the Steelers. But they wouldn’t bring him in for a workout if they were not interested.

Now, no serious Steelers commentator is going to write “Steelers Lose Will Allen. Super Bowl Window Now Shut.” But with that said, Allen is the only veteran safety with experience in Dick LeBeau’s system backing up Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark.

Dale Lolley, the only Pittsburgh journalist to report Allen’s visit, ironically, or perhaps not so ironically, has the Steelers picking safety Kenny Vacarro from Texas in the first round of the coming 2013 NFL Draft.

Regardless of whether it comes in the first round or later, the Steelers must get younger at safety in the coming NFL draft.

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Steelers Report Card vs. Chargers @ Heinz Field

Taken from the grade book of a teacher who, as a second semester junior, decided to blow off studying for his open book, open note final in Crime the Individual and Society and bombed it accordingly. The feeling here is that the Steelers took the same approach to the Chargers game and their report card reflects it. As a caveat, no other grades were consulted prior to this posting.

Quarterback
Of all the units quarterback is one that offered something redeeming. Which is not to say Ben Roethlisberger played well. He was rusty early on and finished 5-13 on third down conversions – and that includes garbage time. So Ben must bear some responsibility. However, he didn’t have help from his running game, his receivers, or his offensive line. In spite of that, he did his part moving around to buy time and leaving the pocket and rushing. It wasn’t enough.  Grade:  C-

Running Backs
Jonathan Dwyer outran Roethlisberger by one yard, and most of his carries came on a 14 yard scamper. Outside of that he got nothing. Isaac Redman had 2 carries for zero yards. Chris Rainey had some one garbage time carry. Arguably the running backs should have gotten more carries, but they indisputably were ineffective in the carries that they had.  Grade:  F

Wide Receivers
Mike Wallace looked great. The problem was he didn’t start playing until garbage time, save for the final drive of the first half. Before that he dropped an almost certain touchdown. Antonio Brown had a drop, as did Jerricho Cotchery and even Heath Miller dropped a touchdown pass. Plaxico Burress made a difficult catch in triple coverage. The Steelers needed plays like that. They didn’t get them. Grade: F

Offensive Line
The Steelers offensive line started to click in Cincinnati when Willie Colon settled in at guard. Colon’s been hurt or out recently and line play has suffered. But the Standard is the Standard, and all of the Steelers offensive lineman were “below the line” in both their run blocking and their pass blocking. If they could get it done, at least against the Raven’s pass rush, then why was Ben running for his live vs. the Chargers? This unit failed to get it done. Grade:  F

Defensive Line
Vs. the Steelers San Diego was playing offensive lineman who’d spent the previous Sunday watching games while drinking beer with their buddies. And while San Diego only rushed for 2.6 yards, the Steelers defensive line did not dominate this group by any definition. Ziggy Hood did fairly well early on, and Brett Keisel chased Philip Rivers around but the Steelers needed more, and didn’t get it.  Grade:  D

Linebackers
Lawrence Timmons played well, especially early on. However Jason Worilds was invisible, James Harrison failed to be a factor as did Larry Foote. This group more than the lineman must shoulder blame for the lack of pressure on Rivers and San Diego’s almost automatic ability to convert third and shorts. Where have the forced fumbles been? Grade:  F

Secondary
Against the Ravens, Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown looked ready for prime time. Against the Chargers, ready for the practice squad Brown looked. Allen also took a step back. Troy Polamalu made some good tackles at the line of scrimmage, but a potential interception was botch by a collision with Allen. Keenan Lewis made some plays, but the truth is that Philip Rivers owned the Steelers on third down having converted more than the last several opponents combined. Unacceptable.  Grade:  F

Special Teams
Shaun Suisham made a 49 yarder. Drew Bulter punted well after a poor first punt. But the Steelers started inside their own 15 seven times. That’s not all on the special teams, but they could have provided a spark, but they didn’t and when it seemed like they were about to, you guessed it, it got called back on a penalty. Likewise the special teams got caught asleep at the switch on a fake punt at a point when the offense must might have been able to get the Steelers into the game. Inexcusable.  Grade:  F

Coaching
Norv Turner is terrible head coach but an excellent offensive and it would be interesting to see his life time record vs. Dick LeBeau. During the first half LeBeau held his own, but Turner out foxed him, calling just the right play on third down time and time again. On a day when his player executed so poorly, its difficult to assess Todd Haley’s performance, other than to say it wasn’t good enough.

But the spotlight is and should remain on Mike Tomlin. The day he was hired, he declared that a true measure of a team isn’t how it handles failure but how it handles success. In the locker room after the game, the Steelers player all but said they’d overlooked San Diego. Yes, professionals shouldn’t “need to be motivated, but it’s the head coaches job to get his team mentally prepared to play, and the Steelers were anything but prepared. Grade:  F

Unsung Hero
Naming any kind of award winner here is a challenge. The Chargers opening possession of the second half really complicated things for the Steelers, but Steelers return unit Rainey stood ready to answer that with a 29 yard kick return, that while it wouldn’t have been a game breaker, could have set the tone for the Steelers in the second half. Instead it got called back, but that doesn’t negate Chris Rainey’s effort or attitude, and for that he is the Unsung Hero of the week.

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Steelers Upset New York Giants 24-17 @ the Metlife Stadium

The Pittsburgh Steelers started 2012, in a word, slowly to the tune of letting three fourth  quarter leads slip away as Steelers Nation watched in anguish.

Rumblings began:

• Have NFL offenses found the antidote to Dick LeBeau’sdefense?
• Did father time finally catch up with that self-same defense?
• Has Haley robbed the Steelers of their ability to play physical football in the trenches?

Yes, Pittsburghresponded with strong victories vs. the Bengals and Redskins. But neither team has a winning record.

• A victory over a contender still eluded the Steelers.

The Giants appeared to offer the perfect measuring stick, and the game in New Yorkgave the team a chance to measure themselves against the defending Super Bowl Champions, as well as providing a different sort of test for the Steelers - one where they proved to be more than worthy to the task.

“We focus on the things that we can control” – Mike Tomlin, on many occasions

NFL coaches prepare for any and every contingency. 

• Mike Tomlin studies film for hours, probing for weakness
• Dick LeBeau and Todd Haley painstakingly lay ground work to defend or exploit a formation which they might see just once in a game
• Position coaches like Scotty Montgomery or Carnell Lakedrill players ad nauseam to capitalize on minuscule tendencies that will win them a crucial 1-1 match ups

 All of this is necessary for victory, but it is not sufficient because factors outside the control of players and coaches influence outcomes in football. The question is never “if” those factors will come into play in a big game but “when” and more importantly, how will you react?

Starting Out Old School

The Steelers and the Giants are two of the NFL’s oldest and most tradition-steeped  franchises, so its fitting that the game started out as a slug fest, with both teams probing for weakness, but failing to land blows.

That changed late in the first quarter when Steve McLendonpressured Eli Manning into a quick throw, which Ike Taylor was only too happy to intercept.

After that Isaac Redman powered the Steelers down into the Red Zone where Ben Roethlisberger connected with Emmanuel Sanders in the End Zone to put the Steelers ahead.

The Steelers defense had forced a turnover, and the offense converted it into money. Everything seemed to be going the Steelers way….

Beware Zebras Waving Yellow Flags...

But then the uncontrollables appeared:

• Keenan Lewis got flagged for a tickky-tacky pass interference call
• Ryan Clark leveled Victor Cruz and got flagged for helmet-to-helmet contact despite the fact that no part of Clark’s body touched Cruz’ head
• Andre Brown scored a touchdown although even on replay it looked like he was down before crossing the goal line

That was just the warm up act. Three plays after New York’s touchdown, the officials struck again.

Had Ben Roethlisberger’s name been “Peyton Manning” or “Tom Brady,” then the stat sheet simply now simply read “incomplete pass.”  

Credit Michael Boley for hustling. Several players on both sides also appeared to think the ball was incomplete rather than a fumble. But Boley played to the whistle, charging 70 yards for what was ultimately, and incorrectly ruled, a touchdown.

The Steelers had started the game against the World Champs by taking control, and they were suddenly down by 7, due to little fault of their own.

It happens. Welcome to the NFL. Now, what do you do about it?

“Games like this don’t build character, they display it.” – Bill Cowher 11/5/95

Anyone who understands Steelers knows they were not about to wallow in self-pity.  Mike Tomlin teams do not do that. 

• But feeling sorry for oneself is one thing, staying focused is something else.

 Focus at times has not been a team strength (see Oakland, see Tennessee).

• The Steelers made it immediately clear that history would not repeat itself in New York.

The Giants threatened to close out the half with another score, this time on their own merits, but the Steelers defense held, aided by a missed field goal.

With 30 seconds and one time out, Ben Roethlisberger put the Steelers in field goal position to narrow the Giants half time lead to four.

It would be poetic to say that the Steelers from this point on represented a model of composure and controlled the game from there on.

But they didn’t.

Chris Rainey and Emmanuel Sanders made potentially game-changing returns, but the Steelers squandered them with a Roethlisberger interception and a failed faked field goal attempt.

While this was happening, however, the defense quietly delivered. Case in point, New Yorkreturned Roethlisberger’s interception to the 5, but the defense forced the Giants to settle for a measly three.

• And so it was, the Steelers opened the fourth quarter, not defending a lead, but down by ten.

The offense awoke. The fact that they came back to defeat the defending Super Bowl Champions is good, but the way they did it offers even more hope.

Since Ken Wisenhurst’s departure the debate over the proper Run-Pass balance that should define the Steelers offense has consumed Steelers Nation.

• Such debate misses the point.

Neal Coolong of Behind the Steel Curtain observed last season, the Steelers need a dynamic offence, that can either run or pass when the situation warrants.

The Steelers fourth quarter performance reveals a dynamic offense par excellence.

• Ben Roethlisberger first connected with Mike Wallace for a catch-and-run quick strike.
• Pittsburghthen mixed passes and runs to four different ball carriers, with IsaacRedman  punching it in from the one
• Finally, the Steelers iced the game on a clock killing drive that featured a 16 yard completion on third down and 28 yard scamper by Redman

 And what of the defense?

• The unit  was simply spectacular, forcing New Yorkto go 3 and out on all three of their final possessions.

Versus the Giants the Steelers had multiple opportunities to flinch. But they chose to focus instead, and in the process the played their best regular season game in over a year.

Not a bad place to be at the season’s half way mark.

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Steelers Report Card vs. Redskins @ Heinz Field

Taken from the grade book of a teacher whose now seen his star pupil live up to expectations two weeks in a row, here goes the Steelers report card for their victory over the Redskins. As a caveat, no other report cards were consulted.

Quarterback
It may be 'dink and dunk' but its winning football for Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger was 3-3 in the Red Zone, hitting three different receivers and led the Steelers to 5 scores. The Steelers, however were only 4-11 on third downs. That didn’t really hurt the Steelers, but does pull his grade down a smidge. Grade:  A-

Running Back
Jonathan Dwyer gave the Steelers their first back-to-back 100 yard games since Willie Parker in weeks 1 and 2 of 2008, and in doing so made a play on the mantel as the team's starter. Chris Rainey broke another long one at the goal line to set up a touchdown. Baron Batch struggled on the ground and caught 1 pass. Will Johnson blocked well and got his first NFL TD.  Grade:  A

Receivers
We've said this before:  All Heath Miller does is catch touchdowns (and in the process, is making his case for team MVP.) Mike Wallace atoned for his butter fingers by making several clutch catches. Emmanuel Sanders did have a drop, but his third down conversion set up the first touchdown. Antonio Brown didn't show a lot of fire works, but made the bread and butter catches that resulted in a 6 minute advantage in TOP. Leonard Pope executed his role to perfection on the touchdown play. A strong outing for the receivers. Grade:  A-

Offensive Line
After posting its best outing vs. Cincinnati, could the offensive line made it two in a row? The answer is yet, it could. If you want to see why Willie Colon's move to guard excited people so much, take a look at the block he threw on Sanders early 3rd down conversion. Mike Adams did well in his second start. The offensive line is gelling nicely, and that process is having spill over effects elsewhere. Grade:  A-

Defensive Line
Defending a player like RG3 is tricky, but the Steelers defensive line was more than up to the task. Moreover, they shut down the NFC’s most prolific passing attack. Brett Keisel defensed a pass, hurried RG3 and his tackle of Logan Paulsen on 4th down for a 7 yard loss sealed the game for Pittsburgh. Ziggy Hood got a hand on a pass, and Cameron Heyward led the team in tackles, by ESPN’s count. All in all an excellent afternoon for the defensive line.  Grade:  A

Linebackers
Larry Foote had the game’s only sack, which forced a field goal late in the game. Lawrence Timmons got into RG3’s face and got guys down behind the line of scrimmage. James Harrison might not have gotten a lot of pressure, but he did make 8 tackles. LaMarr Woodley also registered a tackle for a loss. Commentators enjoyed talking about how RG3 “frozen” the Steelers linebackers with his play fakes – which is true, but the bigger truth is that the linebackers never lost containment on RG3, and that made a huge difference.  Grade:  A

Secondary
So you go up against RG3 without your top All Pro strong safety and lose Pro Bowl free safety, and what happens? You hold him to 12 points. The Steelers secondary was excellent in coverage, containment and run support on Sunday. Yes, the unit benefited from drops, but their hard hitting helped plant the seeds for some of those drops. This group was down right aggressive, and that aggressiveness paid dividends.  Grade:  A

Special Teams
The good news.  Shaun Suisham was 2-2 including a 48 yarder. Drew Bulter punted well. Rainey was solid returning kicks.  The bad news. The Redskins has a 17 yard punt return that set up their final score. Their kick return average was a little better than you’d like. But the most egregious error by the special teams was yet another touchdown was nullified by a penalty at a time when Redskins could have been put away. Sure the Steelers over came it, but That’s just inexcusable and pulls the unit “Below the Line.” Grade:  D+

Coaching
Mike Tomlin mentioned that he saw an intensity from his defense that he had not seen all year. That was evident, and if the D is in fact finding its Mojo, then they’re doing it at just the right time. Todd Haley’s game planning was phenomenal. Roethlisberger’s goal line touchdown to Pope (and also to Johnson) show just how deadly this offense can be when the opposition must respect the run. Dick LeBeau is now 15-1 vs. rookie quarterbacks and he clearly had his team prepped to contain RG3. An outstanding game by one of the finest defensive minds in the game. Special teams coach Amos Jones needs to find a way to stop the penalties.  Grade: B+

Unsung Hero
18 months ago much of the Steelers coaching staff, let alone Steelers Nation had written this man off another failed third round draft pick. However, Carnell Lake took a personal interest in this young man, and he got on to the field in 2011, and more importantly, he kept himself there with his play. For the second consecutive game this man’s determination to play to the whistle saved the Steelers a touchdown in the end zone, in addition to two other passes defensed and plenty of hard hitting, and for that Keenan Lewis is Steel Curtain Rising’s Unsung Hero of the Redskins game.

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Steelers Defeat Redskins 27-12

When the Pittsburgh Steelers last faced the Washington Redskins in 2008, the folks in DC labeled it a “statement game.”

Leading a 6-2 Redskins squad, head coach Jim Zorn appeared to be establishing himself as a bright, young, offensive mind. Under his tutelage, Jason Campbell finally seemed to be hitting his stride.

• But the Steelers dispatched them 23-6 while masses of Black and Gold took over FedEx Field in a banner night for Steelers Nation.

Four years later the two teams met again, and while no one called it a “statement game,” both teams had something to prove….

Setting Up for a Shoot Out

The Washington Redskins are of course all about Robert Griffin III or RG3. Coming out of college, RG3 was touted as a defensive coordinator’s nightmare, a true, mobile quarterback who could also pass within the pocket.

Of course people have made similar claims about players like Aiki Smith, Cabe McNown, Daunte Culpepper, etc…. But RG3 did something those players never did:

• He delivered above and beyond the pre-season hype. 

What would Dick LeBeau do? The legendary Steelers defensive coordinator entered the game 14-1 vs. rookie quarterbacks since his return to Pittsburgh in 2004.

But 2012 has tested LeBeau, as he defense had given up three 4th quarter leads resulting in three losses.

LeBeau’s defense held against Andy Dalton, but how would it fare against a rookie who after only 7 games is already one of the game’s most dangerous threats?

Could LeBeau’s aging defense contain the RG3 juggernaut, or would this game devolve into a “whoever has the ball last wins” contest that is too typical of today’s NFL?

The Shoot Out that Never Was…

The anticipated shoot out between the Young Turk RG3 and Ben Roethlisberger and Young Money (aka Wallace, Brown and Sanders) never materialized.

It failed to materialize because Dick LeBeau and his counterpart Todd Haley both broke two sacrosanct two commandments that dictate success in of the modern NFL:

• Thou shalt not run
• Thou shalt not play physical defense that compromises the passing game

Fortunately, for Steelers Nation, neither LeBeau nor Haley read the updated cataclysm.

The Art of a Drop

Nothing in football frustrates more than a drop. In a word, drops….

• Convert touchdowns into field goals
• Transform 1st and 10 into a punt
• Erode momentum and stall drives

Sometimes mental lapses cause drops. Sometimes the players don’t have good hands. Sometimes drops are endemic of a larger lack of focus….

• …But sometimes defenses induce drops

In 1990 the Pittsburgh Steelers started 2-2 without scoring an offensive touchdown.  During one of those victories the rival Houston Oilers and their Run’N Shoot offense couldn’t hold on to anything.

Then defensive coordinator Dave Brazil explained how Pittsburgh’s defensive backs actually allowed Houston’s receivers catch the ball early on, only to lay in the wood after. As the game progressed, Houston's Pro Bowl quartet of receivers began dropping balls in droves.

NFL rules protecting defenseless receivers are supposed to change all of that. Yet against the Redskins the, Steelers secondary showed that you can aggressively go after receivers while staying in the rules.

• The results of LeBeau’s strategy were evident in the Redskins collective butter fingers 

Numerous times Redskins dropped balls when black jerseys were barely in sight. That’s when you know the secondary has intimidated the opposing receiving corps – guys fear hits when none are imminent.

The secondary of course wasn’t solely responsible for the Steelers success, just as RG3 is not the only Redskins weapon. Pittsburgh contained one of the NFL’s most potent rushing attacks.

Alfred Morris and Darrell Young did rip off impressive runs, but they never threatened to take over the game, just as RG3 made some nice completions, but never got into a rhythm with his receivers.

Credit Dick LeBeau for his game plan. Credit his players for executing it.

Throw to Score, Run to Win

Todd Haley was hired as offensive coordinator with three purposes in mind:

• Keep Ben Roethlisberger upright
• Improve scoring, particularly in the Red Zone
• (Re)Establish the run

During the first six weeks of the season Haley has done an excellent job with number one. And while the Steelers scoring hasn’t quite below expectations given available offensive talent, Haley’s done OK in the Red Zone.

Part of the reason that scoring has not been higher lies in Haley’s plan to protect Ben by getting the ball out of his hands via shorter passes.

The strategy has yielded a tremendous time of possession advantage for Pittsburgh but up until recently that time of possession has come through the air.

• All time of possession minutes, however, are not created equally. 

There’s value added to time of possession gained on the ground. Opponents get worn down. Tackles get broken. Cornerbacks throw inane fits. Running backs register double digit runs. You impose your will.

For the second straight game the Steelers have built up early leads and then taken the air out of the ball on the ground behind Jonathan Dwyer.

Somewhere the late Ron Erhardt is smiling, knowing that even after he’s passed the “Throw to score. Run to win,” philosophy that he brought to Pittsburgh lives on.

• Ironically it’s a strategy he and Bill Parcells used to best the Redskins countless times in the 80’s.

The double irony is that the real test will come in Pittsburgh’s ability to replicate that success next week against a far more formidable New York Giants team.

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Steelers Report Card for Steelers/Titans @ LP Field

This week's Report Card for the Steelers loss to the Titans come by way of my good friend Tony Defeo, who is pitch hitting for me as the game was not show in Buenos Aires. You can read Tony's thoughts on the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins at Pittsburgh's Best Sports Blog. Tony is also a regular at Behind the Steel Curtain. Many thanks to Tony.

Quarterback 

Ben Roethlisberger did surpass Terry Bradshaw to become the all-time passing leader in team history, and he did have a pretty good all-around game, going 24-40 for 363 yards, with a touchdown and interception. The touchdown was an 82 yard pass to Mike Wallace in the first quarter, and it was a familiar sight for the passing combo that hadn't been seen since the first half of last season. However, the interception was a poorly underthrown pass to Antonio Brown near the end of the first half immediately after he hooked up with Isaac Redman for a 55 yard catch and run deep into Titans' territory. This was a potential three or even 10 point swing, as the Titans responded with a field goal drive to close out the half and take a 16-10 lead. Ben also missed a wide open Emmanuel Sanders on the drive that resulted in the Suisham 52 yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter. Sure, the Steelers got three, but a completion to Sanders there would have kept the drive alive and possibly led to a game-sealing touchdown. Speaking of which, Roethlisberger also missed a wide open Baron Batch on third and six shortly before the missed 54 yard field goal in the game's final minute. I realize that Ben was scrambling for his life on the play, but it's the kind of play that he's known for, and the team desperately needed their franchise quarterback to bail them out right there.  Grade: B-

Running Backs

After a great return last week vs. the Eagles, Rashard Mendenhall was out of action after only six carries for six yards, this time with an Achilles injury, and Redman and Co. couldn't pick up the slack, as the Steelers ground attack was downright awful, accumulating 56 yards on 22 carries (42 on 21 if you take away Ben's 14 yard scramble). Redman did have a career day catching the ball out of the backfield--including a 33 yard gain on the Steelers' first possession where he broke several tackles--and his 105 receiving yards marked the first time since 1970 that a Steelers back eclipsed the 100 yard mark in receiving. However, Redman only gained 14 yards on the ground before leaving the game with a knee injury. Baron Batch replaced him and ran hard and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to make up for another bad day running the football for the offense. Grade: D-

Wide Receivers

The 82 yard touchdown catch by Mike Wallace in the first quarter looked to be a foreshadowing of what was yet to come as the Titans secondary is one of the worst in the NFL. However, Wallace would only catch one more pass the rest of the game. As for Brown, he was pretty ineffective, only catching five passes for 20 yards and was far from the dynamic play-maker that he was a season ago. Tight end Heath Miller was his usual reliable self, and Sanders made a few key third down receptions, but all-in-all, a subpar day for the receiving corps. Grade: C-

Offensive Line

What would a Steelers game be without some injuries up front? This time, Maurkice Pouncey and Maurcus Gilbert both left the game with injuries and did not return. Mike Adams replaced Gilbert at right tackle and Doug Legursky replaced Pouncey at center. I guess all things considered, the line hung in there, but as I said earlier, the running game was practically non-existent, and Ben wasn't exactly under attack the whole game--only one sack--but that could be attributed to his talent for escaping danger and his new ability of getting rid of the ball faster. Grade: D+

Defensive Line

Titans running back Chris Johnson had 91 yards as Tennessee looked to take advantage of Pittsburgh's struggles with the stretch play. Johnson wasn't that much of a factor, but he did leave an awful lot of yards on the field by hesitating and hitting the wrong holes. I thought the defensive line was ripe for the picking if Johnson would have been more aggressive. The holes appeared to be there way too much for my tastes. Grade: D

Linebackers

James Harrison short-circuited the Titans first drive of the game by sacking Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on first and goal from the two, forcing Tennessee to eventually settle for three. Also, Larry Foote sacked Hasselbeck in the third quarter and nearly caused a fumble. And Lawrence Timmons had the unit's only takeaway when he intercepted a Hasselbeck pass at mid-field in the fourth quarter shortly after the Steelers had taken a 20-16 advantage. However, they were part of a unit that let up another crucial fourth quarter drive when the Titans drove 80 yards for the game-tying touchdown with four minutes left. And Harrison was badly victimized on the pivotal 25 yard completion to tight end Jared Cook that set the Titans up for the game winning field goal. Grade: C-

Secondary

After having his best season in 2011, Ike Taylor has regressed to the point where he seems to just want to grab and wrestle with his receiver on each and every play. In week 2, Ike was the victim of some pretty questionable calls by the replacement officials, but now he's making the regular officials jobs much easier with his obvious manhandling of wide receivers. Thursday night was no exception, as Taylor was flagged for pass interference on the Titans' initial possession that resulted in three points. Later on in the first half, Taylor had a pass interference penalty that was declined because of a long completion, and he was called for holding on third and 10 during the game-tying touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Keenan Lewis had a pretty decent game with three passes defensed, but he also had his hands on a fairly easy interception during the above mentioned game-tying touchdown drive and failed to close the deal. Grade: D-

Special Teams

There was the good: Chris Rainey's 49 yard kickoff return to start Pittsburgh's initial possession, and the 52 yard field goal by kicker Shaun Suisham that gave the Steelers a 23-16 lead in the fourth quarter. And then there was the bad: Punter Drew Butler on the receiving end of a blocked punt on the final play of the first quarter that gave the Titans the football at the one yard line and led to Tennessee's first touchdown. Unfortunately, the bad far out-weighed the good, as the special teams breakdown may have been the ultimate difference. Grade: D

Coaching

They say hindsight is 20/20, but I'm still baffled by Mike Tomlin's decision to try the 54 yard field goal with 54 seconds remaining. I realize that Suisham had earlier made a 52 yarder with room to spare, but it was just way too risky that late in a tie game. If you punt there, worst case scenario is Tennessee has the football at the 20 with about 40 seconds left, needing at least 50 yards to reach ideal field goal range. However, once Suisham missed, and Tennessee gained possession at their own 45 yard line and only needed about 20 yards, it was just a matter of a completion or two before the Steelers were in trouble.

Maybe it's the ultimate indictment of his defense that Tomlin couldn't even trust it to keep a team from driving into field goal range after starting from its own 20 in the final minute of regulation. Speaking of which, Thursday night marked the fourth time in five games that Dick Lebeau's unit failed to protect a fourth quarter advantage. I know that Polamalu and Woodley did not play. However, Lebeau has received his fair share of praise throughout his storied career, so I think it's only fair that he receives a good deal of criticism for what looks to be a very average defense that simply cannot protect late leads.  But he wasn't the only coordinator that failed on Thursday.

Todd Haley needs to be called out for not attacking the Titans secondary more aggressively. Former Titans safety Blaine Bishop, who now does analysis and studio work for his old team, was on a local radio station this week, and when asked about the Titans secondary, he practically mocked their inability to cover anyone. Why the Steelers didn't attack the Titans deep more often than they did is beyond me. Grade: F

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Steelers Report Card vs. the Jets @ Heinz Field

From the grade book of a teacher who cannot deny that his star pupil performs better at home here is Pittsburgh's report card for the Steelers victory over the Jets. Remember, as a caveat, no other grades were consulted prior this posting.

Quarterback
After being a little rusty out of the gate, Ben Roethlisberger started throwing with lethal efficiency. And again, he excelled when it counted on third downs. Todd Haley seems to be finding a balance between calling and designing plays that get the ball out of Ben’s hands quickly while letting Ben be Ben. The results -- 75% completion rate, two touchdown passes, and a 13 minute time of possession edge -- speak for themselves. Grade: A-

Running Back
There's no sugar coating the rushing stats -- they're anemic. Consistency eluded both  Issac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer. But that only improved their focus, and by the end of the game, both were burning off precious minutes from the clock by grinding out extra yards with second and third efforts. Baron Batch blocked well but he and Chris Rainey went nowhere with their carries. Grade: C-

Wide Receiver
Another week, another outstanding performance from the entire unit. Antonio Brown had a fabulous game making some of his near-impossible catches. Mike Wallace both caught passes in traffic and hurt the Jets downfield. Emmanuel Sanders was a force underneath. Heath Miller just catches touchdowns. Jerricho Cotchery made a very tough catch that put the Steelers on the one. Will Johnson had another catch. Grade: A

Offensive Line
For the first time in memory the unit suffered no injuries, which we must hail as an accomplishment. Ben Roethlisberger got good protection, "only" suffering three sacks (a high number elsewhere in the NFL). The run blocking on the other hand was atrocious. One out of four times they were handed the ball, Steelers running backs got tackled for a loss, which really isn't their fault. Run blocking must improve. Grade: C

Defensive Line
The defensive line started very weak against the run in the first quarter. But they picked up the slack well enough that the Jets couldn’t or didn’t attempt to run late. The unit neither made splash plays nor got into Sanchez’ face, but they did occupy New York’s offensive line, freeing the defense to make plays. Cameron Heyward closed the game with a sack.  Grade:  C

Linebackers
He’s going to get fined for it, but you can trace the change in tempo of this game to Lawrence Timmons hit of Mark Sanchez. LaMarr Woodley’s sack on the Jet’s first possession of the second half nipped any inkling of a New York comeback in the bud. Larry Foote was “quiet” in that he simply was the number two tackler. The unit was strong in run support and made its opportunities vs. the quarterback count. Grade:  B

Secondary
Between the penalties and the catches the first quarter made it look like Santonio Holmes was going to own Ike Taylor. But Taylor persisted and shut ‘Tone down for the duration. You didn’t hear Cortez Allen or Kennan Lewis’ names mentioned much, and which means they were doing their jobs. And what about Ryan Clark? Clearly this is a far different, and far better secondary with him playing. Welcome back Ryan. Grade: A-

Special Teams
Shaun Suisham was 2-2 from 45 yards out and his kickoffs were deep. Has this kid built up his leg strength? Drew Butler again punted well. DeMarcus Van Dyke forced a turnover on a punt return. Chris Rainey and Antonio Brown did well in the return game and the Jets got nothing on punt returns, although the Steelers could have covered kickoffs better. Grade:  B+ 

Coaching
Want to beat the Steelers? You’d score fast. Its still very early, but Todd Haley has thus far shown a ball-control focused offense the late Ron Earhardt would envy. Take away his two former Defensive Players of the Year and Dick LeBeau will merely hold your quarterback to three completions for 2 and a half quarters. Seriously, the main “adjustment” was the Steelers secondary settling down and communicating better, but players on the field can only do that if they’re well prepared, and Dick LeBeau had his players prepped. There are 14 more games to go, but no one is missing Al Everest.

Unsung Hero
The Steelers so thoroughly dominated the numbers of this game that no one will remember that they were behind until late in the second quarter. But with 4:23 left to play Ben Roethlisberger called a time out after a one yard run by Jonathan Dwyer and an incomplete pass left the Steelers at 3 and 9 on their 39. The target of Ben’s next two passes converted with a 10 yard catch and then followed with a 19 yard catch to put the Steelers in the Red Zone. That target’s name wasn’t Wallace or Brown, but his contributions were just as important to the Steelers victory, and that’s why Emmanuel Sanders is Steel Curtain Rising’s Unsung Hero of the Jets game.

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Steelers Report Card vs. Broncos @ Mile High

From the grade book of a teacher who never had much sympathy for those who always found the first day of school to be difficult, here is the Report Card for the Steelers game vs. Broncos. Remember, no other report cards were consulted prior to issuing these grades.

Quarterback
When we last saw him on this field, Ben Roethlisberger was wounded and his pass lacking zip. This time Ben was rocketing off balls to targets all over the field, despite losing the right side of his line. While Roethlisberger did fail to deliver on first and second downs, he was lethal on third down. Threading the needle in pro football is a sight to behold, because it precision, timing and a lighting fast ball. It also involves risk. Roethlisberger had a couple of near-interceptions until he went to the well one too many times. True to character, Ben accepted blame for the loss. He shouldn't, he had plenty of help. Nonetheless his mistake was costly and timely and his grade suffers. Grade:  B

Running Back
Isaac Redman played the game of his life last year in the playoffs, seemingly broadcasting to the world that the one time-training camp curiosity was in fact for real. Redman's encore was a thud, he got no and did nothing of note. Jonathan Dwyer only got 2 more carries but logged 23 more yards, and looked good doing so. Neither Chris Rainey nor Baron Batch did much of note with their carries, and the Steelers never established the ground game.  Grade: C-

Wide Receivers
If the Broncos game is any indication, Todd Haley is one offensive coordinator that knows how to spread the ball around to diverse group of talented receivers. Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Heath Miller, and Mike Wallace each had four catches, and each man found a way to come up with the ball it crucial situations. The unit suffered a few drops, but overall, a very, very solid night from the unit that is quickly distinguishing itself as the team's strongest.  Grade:  B+

Offensive Line
Doesn't the law of averages dictate that the Steeelers can't keep suffering offensive injuries? I mean, it has to, right? Unfortunately dice do not have memories, ans neither do defensive front 7. In a word, this was not a good night for the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. The unit was plagued by false start and illegal formation penalties, failed to establish an inside running game, and did an “OK” job of protecting Ben when it counted, and then completely failed at the end. Right now this unit remains a liability. Grade: D+

Defensive Line
This was supposed to be the Year of Youth on the Defensive line. Steel Curtain Rising even bought into the hype about Ziggy Hood’s training techniques. Johnny Mitchell rotated his lineman frequently, so everyone in uniform got plenty of snaps. Maybe that prevented them from getting into a grove, but regardless this group had the worst night of any unit. Brett Keisel, Hood, Cameron Heyward, Steve McLendon and Casey Hampton failed to get penetration, failed to control their gaps, and failed to disrupt well, anything. Grade:  F

Linebackers
Larry Foote was not only the best player of the linebackers, he was the best player on the entire defense, leading with 8 tackles, 1 sack, a pass defensed and a couple of hurries. In contrast, last year’s bonus babies, LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, were invisible, save for Manning getting away from Timmons. Jason Worilds got onto the field for his first action all year, and registered a sack, but then joined Woodley and Timmons disappearing act. The Steelers need more from their linebackers.  Grade:  C-

Secondary
Another unit that was supposed to see the flowering of a Youth Movement instead looked inexperienced and tentative. Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen were ineffective in coverage. Troy Polamalu had a bad angle on the 71 yard touchdown pass and got out foxed by Peyton Manning all night. The secondary’s resident “Ryan” failed to make forget “Mundy” is printed on the back of his jersey rather than “Clark.” Grade:  F

Special Teams
Shaun Suisham made good on all of his attempts and kicked the ball deep into the end zone. David Paulson delivered a leveling hit that sprung Antonio Brown loose on a 23 yard punt return. Emmanuel Sanders had a nice 27 yard punt return. Drew Butler boomed off 3 nice punts. Newly acquired Marcus Van Dyke downed a punt at the Denver 1. Overall, a solid effort. If Al Everest’s absence is going to be an issue in 2012, it wasn’t evident vs. Denver. Grade:  B

Coaching
The Steelers game plan was predicated on keeping the ball out of Peyton Manning’s hands. The Steelers did that yet still got foiled. Game planning really wasn’t at issue on offense, even if execution was at times. On defense it’s a different story. It would be foolish to suggest that “the game is passing Dick LeBeau by” or any such nonsense, but Pittsburgh’s defense was clearly unprepared for Manning. In contrast, Manning was a step ahead of the Steelers defense from the first quarter onward. In terms of making adjustments, Manning ran circles around the Steelers defensive players and coaches. Grade:  C-

Unsung Hero
He’s been called a one trick pony. Vilified as selfish and uncommitted to the team. His lack of physicality has been criticized here and in parts elsewhere. But his production equaled that of everyone else in Young Money and he caught his passes in traffic. He also used his body to prevent the DB from making a play on the ball while catching a touchdown, and for those efforts Mike Wallace is Steel Curtain Rising’s Unsung Hero of the Broncos game.

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Sorting Through the Steelers Opening Day Loss to the Broncos

Peyton Manning has dominated the NFL passing game for over a decade. During that time no defense has been as consistently dominant as the Pittsburgh Steelers. Manning sat out all of 2011 with an injury while the Steelers ranked up the NFL’s number 1 pass defense.

What better combination for the marquee match ups that the NFL reserves for Sunday Nights? Unfortunately for Steelers Nation, only one dominator showed up.

Tale of Two Halves

There is perhaps no one player to forces opponents to game plan from him more than Peyton Manning. He isn’t simply a playmaker, he’s an offense maker, and if you doubt that see how badly the Colts imploded in his absence.

The Steelers have faced off against Manning before.

Absent a strong pass defense in 2002, the Steelers quite simply took advantage of Manning’s mistakes, with Brett Alexander and Mike Logan picking him off three times, as the Steelers won 28-10.

During the 2005 regular season a Manning capitalized on Steelers miscues and turnovers to tune of a 26 to 7 drubbing.

In the playoffs however, the Steelers returned to Indy with a little different game plan. That plan  entailed unleashing their secret weapon, Ben Roethlisberger to jump to a quick lead and then sit on the ball. (The plan of course worked to perfection, until Jerome Bettis came within a shoe string tackle of his career ending in disaster.)

• This time around Todd Haley and Mike Tomlin’s plan focused on one thing:  Ball Control.

Let the record reflect that the Steelers plan worked to perfection, during the first half.

The Steelers defense forced the Broncos offense to punt twice and forced and then recovered a fumble.

On the two drives where the Steelers forced Denver to punt, Larry Foote and Jason Worilds registered sacks

• That’s no coincidence. 

And unfortunately, Worild’s sack near the end of the first quarter was pretty much the last time a Steelers defender even breathed on Number 18.

The next time Manning touched the ball, he went 6-7 as he marched his team down the field 80 yards for a go ahead touchdown.

• The Steelers answered with a touchdown of their own.

By the time Manning got the ball back, all had time for was to take a knee and head for the locker room. That would be his past passive act of the evening....

The Half Time Momentum Shift that Never Was...

All of that should have been a good thing.

As everyone knows, scoring a touchdown right before the half is all important as it gives you a momentum shift heading into the locker room. The momentum shift is amplified when you get the ball to start the next half.

Network commentators always remind viewers of this fact. What’s more they’re on to something when they say that such momentum shifts are decisive. Except for when they're not.

Count Sunday Night in Denver as an occurrence of one of those “occasions when no decisive momentum  shift occurs” (try running that through your redundancy filter.)

• One almost has to wonder if Steelers coaches saw Manning’s first touchdown drive and feared they’d awakened a sleeping giant.

Because Todd Haley and his offensive players seemed determined to ensure that Manning did not touch the ball again.

• And they made a good run of it as the Steelers offense possessed the ball for all but 21 seconds of the second half’s first 16 minutes.

The plan might have worked, had the Steelers defense been able to stop Manning from throwing Demetrius Thomas, the accomplice to January’s Tebowing of the Steelers, a 71 yard touchdown pass in that brief span of 21 seconds.

That 21 second was pretty much characteristic of Peyton Manning on the entire second half. Ditto the a Steelers defense whose:

• Defensive lineman couldn’t get penetration or control their gaps
• Linebackers didn’t get pressure on the quarterback
• Defensive backs who could neither cover nor threaten to create a turnover

Outside of that, Dick LeBeau’s defense looked every bit ready to take their place alongside some of his other legendary units.

Not Quite Like the Good Old Days

Its understandable that a good chunk of Steelers Nation is a mite bit taken aback by an opening day loss. Until the Debacle in Baltimore last year, there had not been one in Roethlisberger era.

Things were not always such, however.

Opening day losses were a staples of the Cowher years

These weren’t simple losses, but thrashings.

• San Francisco began the trend in 1993
• Dallas inflicted two, in 1994 and 1997
• Jacksonville likewise was a repeat offender in 1996 and 2001
• Baltimore did the honors in 2000, shutting the Steelers out at home
• New England followed suit in 2002

The attentive reader will note (and if you’re read this far, you must be attentive) that each of those was a winning season, all but one were playoff years, and three of those years ended in the AFC Championship.

• Opening day wins in 1998, 1998 and 2003 turned out to be harbingers of doom, or at least mediocrity. 

The moral of this history lesson is that it doesn't pay to get too worked up over an opening day loss. With that said there’s something bothersome about the Denver loss.

Haley’s offense, while a work in progress, flashed signs of greatness, greatness that the Steelers might be able to realize if they can go a whole game without losing an offensive lineman.

Unlike the losses mentioned above, the Steelers defense didn’t get dominated physically so much as it got out foxed. Peyton Manning simultaneously checkmated Dick LeBeau off the field while playing a constant game of chicken with Troy Polamalu on the field and winning each time.

Now, one would think mental errors are more easily corrected that a lack of physicality. After all, its easier to teach guys to correct their mistakes than to grow them bigger and stronger.

But 48 hours plus after the game, it doesn't feel that way, my gut is telling me the opposite.

Let’s hope that Mike Tomlin will prove me wrong.

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Omar Khan to Stay with Steelers

Free agency is still a few weeks away, but the Pittsburgh Steelers will start ahead of the curve.

First the Bulter did it. Now Omar Khan is following in his footsteps.

Linebacker's coach Keith Bulter had an offer to become the defensive coordinator of the Colts, but Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin talked him out of even listening to what the Colts had to say. Bulter's contract had expired, but reports indicate that he's been promised the Steelers defensive coordinator slot when Dick LeBeau retires.

Now Rooney has done it again with Omar Khan. The St. Louis Rams had asked for permission to interview Omar Khan. The Steelers granted the Rams permission to interview Khan, who also interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks two years ago, but Khan has opted to stay in Pittsburgh, as reported by Ed Bouchette on PG Plus.

Khan might perhaps be biding his time, as Bouchette reports that Khan would rejoin Bill Cowher were Cowher ever to don the coach's headset again.

Omar Khan has been with the Steelers for 12 years, and serves as their director of bueinss operations and as their lead contract negotiator.

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Keith Butler to the Colts?

Steelers Linebackers coach Keith Butler is not a man driven by impulse. He passed on the chance at the defensive coordinator’s headset in Pittsburgh West. He also had a shot in 2009 to join Tony Soprano’s staff in Miami. Again he said no.

At the time the word was that Butler had been tapped as Dick LeBeau’s heir apparent, and seemed content to wait his turn in Pittsburgh. And Ed Bouchette reported in the Post-Gazette that Butler has a handsake agreement that he'll get the job when LeBeau retires.

Butler’s patience, however, may have worn out as reports indicate that he will follow Bruce Arians to join Chuck Pagano’s staff in Indianapolis. Butler confirmed that he will interview for the position, and makes no secret about his desire to coach as a defensive coordinator, however Bouchette reported that Bulter insisted that a move to the Colts is not a "done deal."

The move marks the second significant shift in Mike Tomlin’s coaching staff, following Arian’s departure and it is likely the their will be more turnover, as Randy Fitchner and Sean Kugler are the top candidates fill the offensive coordinator slot which of course means that Tomlin would need to fill their positions as well.

Rumors that Jim Cadwell, who coached with Tomlin in Tampa, might be taking the Steelers offensive coordinator job have turned out to be false, as it was announced that the Ravens had named Cadwell as their quaterbacks coach.

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Tebow Sears Steelers in OT, Broncos Win Wild Card 29-23

In the run up to the Steelers Wild Card game vs. the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, I invoked the ’89 Steelers, offering that with the odds against Pittsburgh getting to the Super Bowl, this was their chance to claim redemption for the ’89 playoff loss.

Unfortunately, it was underdog Tim Tebow who captured the mojo of the 1989 Steelers, as he and Demaryius Thomas sent the Steelers 2011 season to a crashing halt, and ending that was eerily similar to another Steelers team from that era.

By any measure, the Steelers loss to Denver counts as a tremendous upset and a huge let down, but in a sense loss served as a microcosm for the Steelers 2011 season.

Yes, We Have Seen This Movie Before

When the NFL’s number one pass defense limits the NFL’s worst passer to 10 lowly completions you’d generally concluded that things are playing out as they “should.”

The problem is that with those ten lowly pass Tim Tebow torched Ike Taylor and the Steelers secondary for 310 yards. During the entire season, which included games against the like of Tom Brady and Joe Flacco, the Steelers only gave up 2 completions for longer than 40 yards.

• Tim Tebow more than surpassed that total in the second quarter alone.

For as shocking as that may be this kind of turnaround has its precedent in Steelers history. The 1990 Steelers finished number one in defense overall and number one vs. the pass. During the season they allowed a league-low nine touchdown passes.

The problem was that they gave up three of those in a final, must win game at the hands of Cody Carlson, a journeyman back up who was subbing for Warren Moon. (Carlson, in fact finished 22-29 on the night.)

Ending the Way We Started

The reasons for Carlson’s success are of course different from the reasons why Tebow was so successful.

Carlson faced a young defense, led by the likes of Lloyd, Lake and Woodson, who’d been carrying a slightly better than .500 team who simply got caught by the law of averages.

• The reasons for the Steelers failure vs. Tebow are far more damming, unfortunately.

Mike Tomlin’s rational behind “the standard is the standard” is that the fact that someone is in the NFL to begin with means that they’re already in the top one half of the one percent of the world’s football playing population. Therefore, the expectation is that everyone in that talent pool is capable of winning football.

The Steelers have embraced that credo when it comes to their own personnel, but made the deadly sin of forgetting it when it comes to others. We perhaps saw glimpses of that vs. the Colts, Jaguars and Chiefs, but that reality was painfully obvious at Mile High.

The Steelers stacked the line and dared Tebow to throw on him and Tebow made him play. As my friend and colleague Neal Coolong of Behind the Steel Curtain writes:

Taylor's failures were not technique, they were with overconfidence. And frankly, every Steelers defender can be accused of that today. They didn't respect the Broncos offense, and were going for the interception on every pass.

I'm ok with it. Why? Because I was saying all week they can gamble and force turnovers. They gambled and they lost.

Before the game week Brett Keisel said that Dick LeBeau and company were not doing anything special to prepare for Tebow which I took to be pregame boiler plate misinformation. Its obvious now that Keisel was telling the truth.

In September an unprepared and overconfident Steelers team opened the season by traveling to Baltimore and got its asses handed to it. The sad fact is that the Steelers pass defense closed the season in the same fashion.

Overcoming Injuries

The Standard is the Standard. True enough. The Steelers failed to take advantage of the chances they had to win this game. But let’s also keep in mind that the Steelers opened the game without:

• Rashard Mendenhall, their number one running back
• Maukice Pouncey, their Pro Bowl Center
• Ryan Clark, their leading tackler
• Cortez Allen, a stand out rookie cornerback

Ben Roethlisberger played on an injured ankle, Keenan Lewis on a bum hamstring, and during the first quarter the Steelers lost Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel, and during the course of the game Max Starks would also fall injured.

LaMarr Woodley was playing, but did not seem to be himself and had to be spelled by Jason Worilds.

In the face of such adversity the Pittsburgh Steelers withstood a withering attack on their secondary, found themselves litteraly short of bodies on the defesnive line, yet fought back valiantly.

• Isaac Redman played a phenomenal game, living every bit up the standard for Steelers running backs at Mile High that Merril Hoge set in 1989
• Emmanuel Sanders also let it be known that Antonio Brown isn’t the team’s only up and coming stud receiver.
• Ben Roethlisberger led three scoring drives, including one of his patented game-tying fourth quarter touchdown specials
• Ryan Mundy, who must share of the blame for the secondary’s breakdown, forced the fumble that made the game tying touchdown possible.

While the 2011 Steelers had better luck than some other teams with injuries, all season long they’ve had to shift men in, out and around the line up. Rarely has a week gone by where the Steelers didn’t need to shift one offensive lineman out of one position and into another.

And so it was vs. the Broncos. No, the Steelers didn’t get the job done, but that in no way diminishes the valor of their efforts.

“Great teams don’t need to be great all of the time, just when they need to be.” – John Facenda, NFL Films commentary on Super Bowl XIV

The 1979 Los Angeles Rams gave the 1979 Steelers a very strong run for their money in Super Bowl XIV. But as John Facenda explained in leading up to John Stallworth’s go ahead 4th quarter touchdown catch, the Steelers made plays when it counted.

In a similar vein, the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Steelers played their very best football when it was all on the line time and time again during their season.

In contrast, their 2011 successors did just the opposite – they came up short at the wrong times, whether it was the final drive vs. Baltimore or keeping Roethlisberger in the game in San Francisco (and arguably vs. Cleveland) instead of making sure he was healthy to start the playoffs.

And so it was vs. the Broncos.

The Steelers succeeded in neutralizing Denver’s running attack but lost badly by gambling in the secondary. Offensively the Steelers had some great individual performances, but couldn’t quite get the job done.

The 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers had all of the elements of greatness at their disposal, but ultimately couldn’t put the pieces together when it mattered.

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