Watch Tower: James Harrison Slights Ben Roethlisberger, Profaning the Terrible Towel and More...

The Steelers took to the field vs. the Titans looking to answer a lot of questions. Suffice to say, Steelers Nation didn’t get the answer it wanted. But that led to a lot of interesting stories for the Watch Tower to shine its light upon but ironically the biggest story had to do with the week to come.

Silverback Scales Big Ben?

For as big as the Steelers loss to the Titans was, perhaps even bigger news is the impending match up with the Bengals which of course bring James Harrison up against his former team.

• In both the Steelers and Bengals locker room both factions studiously avoided providing (almost) any bulletin board material. 

The “story” as told by the Post-Gazette, Tribune Review, and ESPN was that James Harrison held no grudges, that this is all part of the business.

At least that’s the line that Ralph Paulk, Scott Brown, and Ray Fittipaldo held to in their stories based on the weekly conference call with opposition players (Ray Fittipaldo in fact parlayed the interview into two stories.)

There was one rather glaring exception, and it was only reported by free lance reporter Jim Wexell. Harrison had no ill words for the Steelers, but he did slight their most prominent player, Ben Roethlisberger.

As reported by Wexell Harrison had this to say on his Steel City Insider site:

Harrison did punch one Steeler in the gut. "They had a rough one," Harrison said of the Steelers' last game. "They lost their best offensive player they had in Maurkice Pouncey."

To his credit, Wexell made no attempt to blow the quote out of proportion, but did remind readers of how Harrison ripped into Roethlisberger in his infamous Men’s Journal interview in July 2011.

• Regardless, Harrison’s comment offers real news value.

If he’s trying to snub Roethlisberger by default, then that’s news. And if he sincerely believes that Pouncey is the Steelers best offensive player, that’s also news.

One can only speculate as to why this angle of the story was completely ignored by rest of the Steelers press crops. An easy conclusion is that they succumbed to pressure from the Steelers PR office. But that makes little sense upon further examination, as Wexell himself is a correspondent for Steelers Digest.

Either way, Wexell deserves credit for reporting on something that his colleagues ignored.

Steelers Supposed to Suck, Yet Still “Underachievers”

Few pundits preseason pundits picked the Steelers to do anything, but few were as strident as SI’s Don Banks. In his annual prediction column, Banks was merciless when it came to the Steelers, predicting a last in the AFC North finish.

That made his Tuesday column all the more interesting, when he labeled the Steelers as one of the top “underachievers” of the NFL’s opening weekend.

• So if the Steelers are really supposed to be bad, then how can they be “underachievers?” 

Banks never addresses that. To be fair, he did list underachievement as one of the weaknesses heading into 2013 saying Injuries, age and underachievement will combine to produce Pittsburgh's worst season since the Steelers plummeted to 6-10 in 2003.

• Banks’ post-Titans critique also had its flaws. 

However, Banks all but declares the Roethlisberger era to be over in Pittsburgh.

• Lest accusation of homerism should let fly, both Ben Roethlisberger’s short term health and longevity are very much in danger.

But if the story on the Steelers in NFL week one was “underachievement” then Banks picked the wrong poster boy in Roethlisberger, as he managed a pretty good game with very, very little help.

Profaning the Terrible Towel

The Post-Gazette’s Dan Gigler brought a very important story to light in his Blog and Gold column, when he informed his readers that the Steelers are desecrating the Terrible Towel with logos from other teams.

• That’s right, you can now get your Terrible Towel with Steelers and Titans or Jaguars logos printed on it.

This is near blasphemy and Gigler deserves a shout out for reporting it.

Lolley-Le'von Axis...r

Veteran Observer-Reporter journalist Dale Lolley did a little bit of his own Watch Towerism this week by calling out the rest of the press crops over the handling of the Le’Veon Bell injury.

Le’Veon Bell of course is the Steelers 2nd round draft pick who was all but anointed as the next Franco Harris/Jerome Bettis on the strength of a strong training camp, only to fall prey to a lisfranc injury in camp.

This fact was reported widely in August, although the severity of the story quickly diminished as it became clear that Bell didn’t have a lisfranc tear, unlike Matt Spaeth.

Bell himself had told reporters that he might return by week two, but that story got cold water thrown on it. Regarding the press’ handling of this pattern of events Lolley observed:

From the beginning, I reported that Bell had a Lisfranc injury. And, despite what some were reporting, Mike Tomlin never said Bell didn't have a Lisfranc injury.
He only said Bell didn't have a Lisfranc tear like the one Matt Spaeth did and that they were hoping he would recover without surgery.
The initial estimates on his recovery - not from the Steelers, but by reporters - was six to eight weeks.
So now, a story is written saying Bell will be out another month. That would put him right in line with the six to eight weeks that was being reported from the beginning of this thing.

Kudos to Lolley for his effort to keep a story in context and to hold his friends and colleagues accountable, albeit without naming them.

Lolley also offered some level headed thinking both immediately after the Titans game and on the Monday afterwards.

Wallace Watch Starts

In the 1990’s the Pittsburgh Steelers “enjoyed” an annual tradition of off season free agent exoduses. Perhaps none were as intently watched as Mike Wallace’s decision to bolt to Miami for a cool 13 million per year.

• The Steelers made it very clear, very early they were not going to pay Wallace that kind of cash.

One of the reasons why was that Wallace resented having to share the spot light with the likes of Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.

As many fans know, Wallace’s Dolphins beat the Cleveland Browns, but Wallace was limited to one catch for 15 yards. Dan Gigler shared a Miami Herald article which painted a picture of a deeply disgusted Wallace who had to be consoled by the team’s general manager no less.

For their part, Behind the Steel Curtain also offered its own piece, comparing Wallace to Keyshawn "Will You Just Give me the Damm Ball"  Johnson.

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Fernando Velasco - From NFL "Street" Free Agent to Steelers Starting Center

Note to future NFL “street” free agent offensive lineman, should the Pittsburgh Steelers contact you about joining the team in mid-season, you stand a strong chance of starting that next Sunday.

The Steelers set the precedent in 2011 with Max Starks, and now they follow it with Fernando Velasco per Gerry Dulac’s tweet:

New C Fernando Velasco will start in Cincy. Isaac Redman: “I’ve never seen anyone come in and look as comfortable in the offense so quick."
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) September 13, 2013

The Steelers waived Max Starks in July of 2011 following the NFL lockout after his weight had reportedly ballooned up to near 400 lbs. After Willie Colon tore his triceps during the Debacle in Baltimore the Steelers turned away offers from Flozell Adams and instead opted to start then rookie Marcus Gilbert.

• In 2011, the team desperately wanted to turn a new page on its offensive line.

But the Houston defense desperately overwhelmed Jonathan Scott the Steelers turned to Starks. He arrived at the South Side with his name penciled in as a back up, but within 24 hours the Steelers were talking about starting Max Starks and start he did.

The Steelers of course reached out to Velasco within 24 hours of Maurkice Pouncey’s ACL/MCL tear suffered vs. the Titans. Pro Football Focus rated Velasco as the 11th best center in 2012, but The Turk nonetheless darkened his door on cut down day.

Velasco’s experience with zone blocking attracted the Steelers, and Behind the Steel Curtain’s Steel34D film review confirmed Velaco’s ability in a zone blocking scheme, (a review which includes some success at Casey Hampton’s expense.)

Word that Velasco will start frees Kelvin Beachum to return to his role as primary backup across the offensive line and of course the new hat he wears, blocking tight end.

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Jarvis Jones Gives Steelers Nation A Sight for Sore Eyes - No. 95 Making Splash Plays Again

Sometimes error can lead to great fortune. Going into the 2013 NFL Draft, draft nicks knocked Jarvis Jones because he was a little slow.

Gil Brandt, architect of the Dallas Doomesday Dynasty of the 1970’s didn’t consider Jones a first round talent explaining, "I think he's one of those guys that when you're rushing the passer, he's going to almost get there, but not quite."

The Steelers made their own evaluations of Jones, and perhaps that included the knowledge that a minor injury tainted Jones combine time and they selected Jarvis Jones in the first round.

Shortly after joining the Steelers Jones upped the ante, by choosing 95 for his jersey number. While 95 doesn’t hold hallowed status in Steelers lore the way 12 (Terry Bradshaw), 32 (Franco Harris), 47 (Mel Blount), 58 (Jack Lambert), 59 (Jack Ham), and 75 (Joe Greene) do, it is the number worn by Greg Lloyd and therefore commands respect.

• Some of the players donning number 95 recently haven’t lived up to the standard (think Alonzo Jackson).

There were very few bright spots in the torturing the Steelers suffered at the hands of the Titans. But there was one highlight worth reliving:

• You call that, Steelers Nation, hitting with authority.

Yes, it Jones has only made one play. Yes, it is perhaps understandable that the Titans might “forget” to account for a rookie so early in the season – the Bengals won’t suffer a similar memory lapse this weekend.

But for ten years Greg Lloyd executed exactly that type of decisive playmaking to breath legend into Number 95.

Jones still has long way to go to live up to the standard set by his fellow Georgian.

• But his booming tackle of Chris Johnson amounted to a very strong step. 

And number 95 smashing players in the backfield gives Steelers Nation a sight for sore eyes.

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Can't Get Enough of Tennessee? Steelers Sign Former Titans Center Fernando Velasco

Note to aspiring NFL centers. If you're looking to for a shot at the mantle of Ray Mansfield, Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, and Jeff Hartings and you don't get drafted by the Steelers, you should try to first latch on with the Tennessee Titans.

One of Mike Tomlin's more unsuccessful personnel moves was to bring Sean Mahan to the Steelers from Tampa. After that experiment failed, the Steelers looked to free agent center Jeff Hartwig who'd cut his teeth in Tennessee.

Now the same cycle is repeating itself. The experiment with Kelvin Beachum at center may last one merciful game as the Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran center Fernando Velasco.

Long time free lance reporter Jim Wexell described Velasco in these terms:

I watched new Steelers OL Fernando Velasco this preseason and am surprised he was available. Strong, some mobility. Quality pick-up.
— James C Wexell (@jimwexell) September 9, 2013

It is not know if Velasco will start Sunday vs. the Bengals but, unlike Kelvin Beachum, he'll at least have game experience at center. One thing is certain, regardless of whether Velasco starts or not, he won't spend his week in practice as the team's number 2 tight end...

Steelers Continue to Shuffle Roster

The shuffling of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 roster in the wake of their disastrous loss to the Titans also continued in other areas, as Jonathan Dwyer returned to the team and kicker Shayne Graham also came on board due to Shawn Suisham's hamstring injury.

Maurkice Pouncey, Larry Foote, and LaRod Stephens-Howling officially went on season-ending injured reserve.

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In Through the Out Door - Jonathan Dwyer Returns; Steelers Sign Kicker Shayne Graham

The biggest surprise for the Steelers on cut down day was the decision to cut Jonathan Dwyer. While the move had been rumored for some time, Dwyer was at once their only healthy experienced back.

• And in the eyes of at least one reporter, the decision to waive Dwyer was made under protest from "the coaches.

Regardless of whether that report is correct or not, someone on the South Side has a severe case of egg on their face, as Jonathan Dwyer is returning to the Steelers in light of the season ending injury to running back LaRod Stephens-Howling.

Dwyer, however, doesn’t seem to be taking his waiver personally, per his Twitter account:

Glad to be back home #steelernation
— Jonathan Dwyer (@JDwyer27) September 9, 2013

Dwyer will rejoin Isaac Redman and Felix Jones, adding to the irony of the situation. Dwyer's propensity to fumble made him expendable yet it was Redman who coughed up the ball twice, while Jones did not see a single carry.

Another Shayne to Give the Steelers a Kicking Edge?

The Steelers loss vs. the Titans was really costly for the Steelers. When the game ended, fans didn’t know the half of it. After the game it was revealed that Larry Foote should torn a biceps and will miss the season.

And the poor kick that resulted in the Steelers safety? Well, Shaun Suisham injured his hamstring in pre game warm ups. To occupy pregame kicking duties and to take Foote’s spot on the roster, the Steelers have signed kicker Shayne Graham.

Graham is a veteran kicker who has kicked in the NFL since 2001 for the Bills, Panthers, Bengals, Patriots, Giants, Dolphins, Ravens and Texans.

• The Steelers have had good luck with replacement kickers named “Shayne.” 

During 1996 the Steelers punter Josh Miller got injured and the team brought in CFL punter Shayne Edge. Edge’s punting wasn’t quite NFL quality, but he got fined for getting into a fight with the then Houston Oilers….

…You’ve got to love a punter that gets fined for fighting!

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Steelers Roll "Snake Eyes," Come up Short in 16-9 Loss to Titans

As the 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers took to the field against the Tennessee Titans they did so as a squad looking to answer many questions, questions whose response typically began with “ifs.”

• If the investment in the offensive line pays off… 
• If the injury gods would grant them a hiatus from their wrath
• If they can incorporate 22 new players alongside a group of playoff tested veterans

So what was the answer to those “ifs?” Look no further than Mike Tomlin himself, who said “…we didn’t play well enough. We didn’t coach well enough.”

Steel Curtain Rising whole heartedly agrees with the Steelers reigning field general, but would add one additional “well enough” as in “We didn’t plan well enough.”

Steelers Roll Snake Eyes, End Up Snake Bitten

Steelers Digest editor Bob Labrolia previewed the season observing “The Steelers will be doing a Nik Wallenda imitation this season – working on the high wire without a net….” In fact, the Nik Wallenda metaphor is one he used multiple times in preseason.

• If the high wire metaphor is apt, then Steelers Nation got to see the football equivalent of an offense falling off that wire.

As the game started it looked as if the Fates might have chosen to smile on the Steelers, as Darius Reynaud stepped back into the end zone to give the Steelers a safety.

And on the Steelers first drive the offense gave Steelers Nation a glimpse of the best of what they could have reasonably hopped to see from a unit starting its third tight end, second string running back with a young offensive line learning a new blocking scheme.

• It wasn’t spectacular, the running game struggled, but the Steelers moved the ball in into scoring position in workman like fashion.

Of course they fumbled it away due to a bad handoff – which isn’t excusable, but perhaps understandable given the circumstances.

Its dangerous to extrapolate too many “could haves” based on the first 8 plays of a football season, but Ben Roethlisberger was sharp and Jerricho Cotchery and Antonio Brown showed that they could make a few plays.

Of course nestled into that 8 play series was a disaster of, shall we say, titanic proportions – Maurkice Pouncey went down, tearing his MCL and ACL.

The Steelers worst nightmare had come true, the rock upon which Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert had constructed their offensive line rebuilding project had crumbled.

• After that nothing else went right for the Steelers offense. Literally nothing.

The Steelers offense had 11 drives. Seven end in punts, one got fumbled away, another ended in an interception, the clock ran out on another and yes, on one the Steelers did get a garbage time touchdown.

• …OK, technically that wasn’t garbage time, but did anyone really think the Steelers were going to recover the on-sides kick and score?

Isaac Redman couldn’t run or hold onto the ball. Felix Jones didn’t get much of a chance. LaRod Stephens-Howling did and didn’t look horrible, but of course got injured and it appears may have torn his ACL. Ben Roethlisberger got sacked 5 times and hit 6 times.

If you subtract the 75 yards the Steelers consumed on their garage time touchdown drive, the team had 120 total yards of offense.

There really are no hidden gems, moral victories, or silver linings. The offense was atrocious.

Steelers Defense Above the Line, But….

Normally when you hold a team to 16 points in the NFL, you have a good shot at winning. When you hold them to 13 (as the Steelers defense very well might have had it not been for a 27 yard punt return after a bad punt) you stand a very good shot at winning.

• So judged purely by numbers, the Steelers defense played well vs. the Titans, especially when you consider Tennessee was working with short fields.

That doesn’t mean everything went well. Jake Locker had time to throw and was only sacked once, by LaMarr Woodley. The Steelers run defense held Chris Johnson in check, but the Titans did successfully nickel and dime the Steelers on their only touchdown drive of the day.

• And for the unteethen time since 2010, the Steelers defense failed to secure a turnover.

There’s no way to lay blame at the Steelers defense for this defeat but, given the quality of opposition, the level of dominance needed to carry an offense that looks to limp for a while was missing.

The Problem with Calculated Risks? Sometimes They Go Wrong

So disaster struck on the offensive line, and the Steelers did not have the personnel to compensate. The Steelers shoved Willie Colon out the door and let veterans such as Max Starks and Doug Legursky leave without so much as a token effort to keep them.

• Is it fair to say the Steelers didn’t “prepare well enough?”

Perhaps, and perhaps not. The Steelers salary cap situation is precarious, and management made a number of calculated risks in what amounted to a sort of Loaves and Fishes variety of salary cap maneuvering.

• They gave it there best shot and hoped for the best.

During the first round of what looks to be a marathon 16 round fight, Art Rooney II, Kevin Colbert, and Mike Tomlin’s best clearly wasn’t good enough.

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Could John Malecki and Marshall McFadden Return to the Steelers?

The sting of the Steelers 16-9 opening day loss to the Tennessee Titans is not yet 24 hours old, and the news continues to get worse.

• Maurkice Pouncey is out for the year with a torn MCL and ACL
• Larry Foote has a torn biceps and will likely miss the year
• LaRod Stephens-Howling, if rumor is confirmed, also has a torn ACL

All of these players will go on injured reserve ending their seasons.

That also means the Steelers will need to replace them. Quickly. Where to turn? There are a number of possibilities.

One of the surprise cuts that the Steelers made was of John Malecki, who started one game for the Steelers and served as a back up. The Steelers cut him in favor of Cody Wallace, who didn’t even dress vs. the Titans. Malecki didn’t get picked up, and the Steelers will likely bring him back.

Larry Foote’s injury also creates another vacancy at linebacker. One candidate is Marshall McFadden, who was another surprise cut. McFadden landed on the Raiders practice squad, but the Steelers can sign him with the provision that he stays on the active roster for 3 games (which shouldn’t be a problem.)

The Steelers also need to make a move a running back.

• Could Jonathan Dwyer return?

Its possible but doubtful. Doubtful that the Steelers would seek his serveices and probably equally doubtful that Dwyer would agree to return.

Another potential move the Steelers could make would involved Max Starks. That depends on what they wish to do at center.

Kelvin Beachum had been serving as an emergency tight end and as the team’s top back up at tackle, guard and center. If he is to continue to start in front of Ben Roethlisberger at center, the Steelers will need to add depth, and Starks is currently without a job (although his experience in San Diego was terrible.)

Either way, the Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 Roster is about to get reconfigured again.

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Steelers to Begin Answering Questions on Peril, Potential vs. Titans

At 1:00 pm the Pittsburgh Steelers will open the 2013 regular season vs. the Tennessee Titans. And it is at that moment that the Steelers Nation will begin to get answers to some of the many questions that face their beloved franchise.

• No one knows what to make of the 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Many, if not most pundits are predicting 8-8, no playoffs, 3rd in the AFC North if not worse. Yet there are others predicting the AFC Championship.

Who is right?

• The truth is no one really knows.

The 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers field a team that is riddled with question marks that intimate peril, yet each one of those question marks also offers potential.

Take the Steelers running back stable. Not happy with mediocre results in 2013, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin all but whipped the slate clean. Rashard Mendenhall is in Pittsburgh West aka Arizona. Chris Rainey, Baron Batch, and Jonathan Dwyer are filing for unemployement insurance.

Only Isaac Redman remains. Le’Veon Bell was to offer hope, but his NFL career amounts to four carries. Could Felix Jones realize that this is his last shot at NFL glory?

At wide receiver the Steelers situation is much the same.

Mike Wallace’s speed will be missed. But his lack of maturity and “me” focus will not. On paper Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are more complete receivers.

But are they complete enough to make up for the loss of Heath Miller?

Lynch Pin on Offense – The Line

When “the Steelers have done it before they can do it again” emotions fade, any rational analysis will hold that the Steelers receivers and running backs will face learning curve.

• But there’s a big X Factor at work, and that is the Steelers offensive line.

The Steelers offensive line had been substandard for the better part of the Tomlin era. Some of it has to do with Ben Roethlisberger holding on to the ball too long, but even when you account for that Pittsburgh has not enjoyed consistent run or pass blocking since Alan Faneca departed.

As Steel Curtain Rising (and others) have repeatedly observed, the Steelers Brain Trust has invested heavily in changing that.

• Now is the time for the Steelers investment in the offensive line to begin paying dividends.

Keeping Ben Roethlisberger healthy is certainly the variable of paramount importance in this equation. But it goes quite beyond that.

Ben Roethlisberger’s, the receivers, and running backs have played a lot of winning football in 2008, 2010, and 2011 behind offensive lines that were playing musical chairs.

• If the line’s personnel can stabilize and those men can stay healthy, and even begin to play to their pedigrees, then they can cover up for some growing pains in the skill positions.

But again, this depends on the players both developing and staying healthy, which has been a challenge recently. So there you have a question….

Word on Defense, it Isn’t Quite Polamalu or Bust, But…

The Steelers defense had its soul ripped out when James Harrison opted to walk over accepting a pay cut. But the heart of this defense is Troy Polamalu. As Tim Gleason aka Mary Rose of Behind the Steel Curtain has pointed out, Polamalu is like an expensive European sports car. When not in the shop, he is the ultimate football player.

Polamalu’s ability has almost taken on mythic proportions in Steeles Nation and perhaps those comparisons are simply exaggerations.

ESPN’s Scott Brown has calculated that the Steelers defense allows on average 5 fewer points when Polamalu is healthy.

• It’s a good bet that the defense is stingier yet when Polamalu is healthy.

Beyond keeping number 43 healthy, there are other concerns and questions.

• Can the Steelers make up for Harrisons and Casey Hampton’s run stuffing ability
• Will LaMarr Woodley return to his explosive self?
• Are either Ziggy Hood and/or Cameron Heyward going to have a break out year?

Right now these are all questions.

And there are others. Can Danny Smith transform the special teams into something that is not a glaring liability? What of the depth, the younger players that played so poorly in the preseason?

In a very short time Steelers Nation will begin getting some answers.

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Steelers Sign McLendon, Proactively Keep Him From Packers

My what a study in contrasts.

When word leaked that Emmanuel Sanders had visited the New England Patriots, the Steelers Braintrust calmly watched as confusion spread about his signing, debated the pros and cons of keeping him, and matched the offer at the 11th hour.

• While the Steelers value Emmanuel Sanders, clearly there is another restricted free agent who was "more equal" than Sanders.

When news broke that starting nose tackle Steve McLendon had worked out with the Green Bay Packers it sent, in Dale Lolley’s words, “shockwaves” through the front office.

• Less than 24 hours later, the Steelers had resigned Steve McLendon to a 3 year deal.

According to reports published by Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, McLendon’s deal is for 7.25 million dollars and includes a 1.67 million signing bonus. The move likely spells the end to Casey Hampton’s time in Pittsburgh – Dale Lolley commented that Hampton’s agent expects his client to land an offer during training camp.

Steve McLendon joined the Steelers practice squad during the 2009 season, and saw his first action in week 2 of 2010, earning his stripes vs. the Tennessee Titans in what was one of the finest defensive performances in franchise history.

McLendon worked his way past Chris Hoke in the starting line up, and by training camp 2012 many fans felt that McLendon was outperforming Hampton. Hampton started all 16 games for the Steelers in 2012, but McLendon got plenty of playing time, and when he did he disrupted.

This was one player the Steelers needed to bring back, and they’ve taken care to do just that.

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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 Fall to Titans, 26-23

There's one thing we know for certain about the 2012 Pittsburgh Steelers -- they're not a strong road team. Traveling to Tennessee, an environ that has never been favorable to them, the Steelers gave up yet another 4th quarter lead and dropped their 3rd game of the season 26-23.

The night was historic in a sense, as Ben Roethlisberger broke Terry Bradshaw's career passing yardage total. However, the record means little to Roethlisberger himself, who sees that additional championships as his only record important to him.

A third Super Bowl for Roethlisberger does not appear to be in the offing his year, to say the least.

In addition to giving the Steelers another road loss and another AFC loss, the game was costly in terms of injuries, as Maurkice Pouncey, Marcus Gilbert, Chris Carter, Isaac Redman, and Rashard Menedenhall were all injured.

The sailing does look to get rough from here on out. But rest assured Steel Curtain Rising will continue to follow the Black and Gold every step of the way.

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Aaron Smith Goes on IR; Steelers Activte Corbin Bryant

During training camp this summer All-Pro Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith made it clear he was not one to go gently into this good night. When asked about retirement plans he was very open with the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette:

No, I don't think I'll know. They'll have to tell me. My personality is I feel I can do anything. I've always felt anything is possible; you can always turn things around. I'm kind of an optimist. Maybe, it's denial to a point. It would be hard for me to admit it to myself.

"Someone would have to say, 'Hey, Aaron, you're not doing this, you're not doing that. You need to hang it up or something.'

One must wonder if just such a conversation has already taken place on the South Side between Smith and the Steelers braintrust as the Ed Bouchette is reporting that the Steelers have ended Smith's season by placing him on injured reserve.

To take his place on the roster, the Steelers have activated practice squad player Corbin Bryant, who joined the team as an unrestricted free agent who played so well in camp that some observers doubted the Steelers would be able to "sneak him on to the practice squad."

From No Where to Starter

Aaron Smith joined the Steelers in 1999 as part of Tom Donahoe's final draft class as a fourth round pick out of North Colorado.

Smith drew the ire of fans by staging a mini-hold out during his rookie training camp, and only played six games as a rookie recording all of one tackle.

But it was during the 2000 summer at Latrobe that Smith exploded out of no where to establish himself as a starter. He started opening day in 2000, missed the following week, and then returned on week 3 vs. the Tennessee Titans. From there Smith started every game for the next seven seasons until injuries caused him to miss a game in the middle of the 2007 season.

During that time Smith established himself as one of the best, if not the best 3-4 ends in the league. 3-4 defensive ends don't normally pile up pretty statistics, but during 2004 Smith registered 8 sacks 3 forced fumbles in 2004. Not concidentally the 2004 Steelers won 15 straight games that year.

Injuries Take Their Toll

During Mike Tomlin's rookie campaign the Steelers lead the NFL in defense overall, but by the end of the year they'd lost much of their edge, finishing the year at number one due to the tremendous advantage they'd built up earlier in the year.

Some naysayers even claimed the unit had "gone soft" in allowing the Jaguars to run over them in late December. The simpler truth was that the Steelers defense wasn't the same without Aaron Smith.

In 2008 and the Steelers led the NFL in defense and came within a hair of setting a number of all-time defensive records on their way to Super Bowl XLIII. Again, there's no coincidence that this happened with Aaron Smith back as a full-time starter in peak form.

However, against Detroit in 2009 Aaron Smith torn his rotator cuff and quickly went on injured reserve. He was back again in 2010, but this time after six games he tore his triceps. Although Aaron Smith did not go on IR, he never played another down.

Smith returned in 2011 - many thought the Steelers might part ways with him, but did not look the same. Smith injured his foot during the Thrashing in Texas, and missed both the Titans and Jaguar's games.

The End of the Line?

Little information circulated about Aaron Smith's injury and prior to today no press reports indicated that it was potentially season-ending.

It is possible that Smith's injury worsened but it is just as probable that the Steelers have concluded that Smith can no longer help the team.

With Chris Hoke and Casey Hampton both declared out for the game vs. The Cardinals the Steelers needed to activate someone from their practice squad, which also meant someone on the roster needed to go.

If the Steelers thought Smith could still contribute in 2011, it is unlikely that they'd have ended his season. And, sadly, it is even more likely that this spells the end of Aaron Smith's career.

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Steelers Report Card vs. Titans

From a teacher who suspects his pupils got a stern talking to after receiving their mid-semester report. Here goes the Steelers report card for their Tumbling of the Titans. As always, no other grades have been consulted.

Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger’s first two passes were off, and the interception before the half seemed foolish. But beyond that, Roethlisberger was damm near perfect, throwing five touchdown passes for the second time in his careeer. Moreover, he adjusted his game, and got the ball out smartly. Grade: A-

Running Back
Overall rushing averages might fail to impress, but Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer did something that had yet to be done in the first four games – make the Steelers running game relevant. And that made a huge difference as Ben Roethlisberger used play-action to perfection. Grade: B+

Wide Receivers
Seven different receivers caught balls, and all of them made plays, from Hines Ward and Heath Miller returning to their roles as Mr. Dependable I and Mr. Dependable II, to Antonio Brown’s catch which set up the first TD, to Mike Wallace burning Tennessee deep after he burned them underneath. Against the Titans, Steelers Nation glimpsed what Pittsburgh’s offense could be with a compotent running game and decent pocket protection. Grade: A

Offensive Line
Who says that you can’t sign quality left tackles off of the street? Turthfully, it is possible to give Max Starks too much credit for the line’s rebound, as Pouncey played markedtly better and Foster looks to settle back into a starting role. But Starks did make a difference on any number of plays. The line opened up holes for the runners and give Ben what he needs, time. Grade: B+

Defensive Line
Cameron Heyward got his first NFL sack, Ziggy Hood got part of another, Brett Kiesel batted a pass that got intercepted and Chris Hoke had two tackles for losses. Outside of one quality 21 yard run, Chris Johnson was not a factor. The Steelers defensive line played head and shoulders over what it had done before, and that allowed other things to click for the defense. Grade: B+

Linebackers
James Farrior played as if he took all of those “over the hill” comments personally. His career may be winding down, but Farrior seems determined to go out with a bang. LaMarr Woodley atoned for his past misdeed with 3 splash plays. Lawrence Timmons also had a tackle for a loss and a pass defense. Grade: B+

Secondary
Statistically Matt Hasselbeck didn’t have a bad day, but he also did not move his team effectively until garbage time rolled around. Still, there were a few miscues that lead to the late touchdown and the defense needs to guard against those. Grade: B

Special Teams
The successful fake punt and another moster game by the return team are nice. A blocked field goal and the failure to recover an on-sides kick are not so nice. While its gone unnoticed because of everything else and because of some dumb penalties, the Steelers special teams breakdowns are happening with alarming familiarity. The breakdowns must stop. Grade: C-

Coaching
Mike Tomlin said after the Texans game that their was nothing that ailed the Steelers that couldn’t be solved with a little better blocking and better tackling, and he was one to something. Really, it looked like a different team out there between the improved run defense, improved offensive line, and flawless play calling by Bruce Arians on offense. Grade: A

Unsung Hero
This award could go to a lot of different guys. With young studs blossoming into super stars around him we have not seen a lot of him, but with 7 catches 2 touchdowns and a number of key third down conversions, Hines Ward is Steel Curtain Rising’s Unsung Hero of the Titans game.

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The Standard Is the Standard: Steelers Tumble Titans 38-17

Four games into the 2011 season found Steelers Nation a wash in clichés. “Old and Slow.” “Sieve-Like Offensive Line.” “Lost Their Edge.” “Walking Wounded.”

The glory of a cliché is in the truth it conveys. Late in the 4th quarter Greg Gumble reported that Ben Roethlisberger confided in him the dread and panic projected onto the team by media and fans was absent in the Steelers locker room.

After watching the Steelers 37-17 thumping of the Tennessee Titans it is easy to understand. And you can trace the reason why back to another time-honored Tomlin cliché: The Standard Is the Standard.

The translation of “The Standard” is simple: Injuries are no excuse. Play above the line. Play winning football.

In a league whose season is routinely and, correctly, described as a “battle of attrition” those are bold words. How are injuries not the deciding factor let alone an excuse? Against the Titans, the Steelers showed just why “Injuries are no excuse.”

Turning an Important Corner

After the Trashing in Texas, the Tribune-Review’s Dejan Kovacevic was alarmed by the Steelers lack of urgency and challenged Mike Tomlin’s diagnosis that the Steelers could cure what ailed them with better blocking and tackling.

Mike Tomlin was on to something.

The Titans began the game by following the blueprint left by their successors in Houston. A 21 yard run by Chris Johnson sparked a 67 yard, 6:46 min drive with the Titans reaching Steelers 4.

At that point LaMarr Woodley took matters into his own hands, blowing by a blocker and sacking Matt Hassellbeck for a 5 yard loss. Troy Polamalu struck next limiting Chris Johnson to a 1 yard gain.

The Titans would have to settle for a field goal, and the Pittsburgh Steelers had turned an important corner – they’d maintained The Standard controlled the game from there on.

Improvising, Adapting, and Overcoming on Offense

Going into a game with an ailing quarterback, your 5th offensive line configuration in as many weeks (and that doesn’t even touch the intra-game reshuffling), and your lead running back out, you’d have to figure that things would be different on offense.

And that’s not such a bad thing.

Between injuries and ineffectiveness, the Steelers have failed to establish any kind of offensive rhythm in 2011 thus far. Against the Titans, the Steelers offense marched to the cadence of a new drummer.

• Isaac Redman led the way. 49 yards might fail to impress, but this kid can play.

Redman didn’t simply run the ball, he took the point of attack to the defenders. For traditionalists like yours truly Redman’s 2nd, 3rd, and 4th efforts were a sight for sore eyes.

Jonathan Dwyer also impressed. His 76 yard scamper was a thing of beauty, and while he did make some mistakes, he also showed that he can combined speed with power.

Hats off to Bruce Arians and the rest of the offensive staff for calling one of their best games ever.

Whether it was the return of Max Starks, improved play by Pouncey, or the simple fact that this line had enough, the pass protection was far, far better than it had been all season.

Nonetheless, Arains stuck to his game plan, which mixed short, quick developing pass plays, straight ahead, between the tackles rushing, aided by timely misdirection. The Steelers netted 18 yards on reverses and executed play-action to perfection.

This only works if the running game keeps the Titans honest and if the receivers come down with catches on third downs, which they did. The offense maintained The Standard to the tune of 38 points.

The Adults Are Alright

When you have the NFL’s oldest defense and play poorly, pundits point to the Age Issue. When that same unit plays well, the team benefits from its "maturity."

Against the Titans the Steelers defense didn’t looked aged, they looked experienced.

Need proof?

• James Farrior led the team in tackles.
• Chris Hoke recorded two tackles for losses.

How did Chris Johnson fair after the opening drive?

• The Steelers defense limited him to all of 30 yards.

The Steelers defense didn’t play a perfect game, but they responded whenever again whenever the Titans threatened to return to the game. The Titans post on-side kick recovery lasted all of one play, as the Steelers recorded their first interception of the season.

What Makes the Standard "The Standard"

Admit it. In 2007 when the Steelers were giving up games in the 4th quarter and Tyrone Carter and Anthony Smith were getting torched in Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark’s absence Mike Tomlin’s credo of “Injuries are no excuse” sounded pretty hollow.

“The Standard is the Standard” is no motivational aimed at getting the uninjured to step up. In Steelers Digest last year Tomlin explained merely playing in the NFL puts a player in the top 0.5% of the population of football players. The difference in talent from starter to back up is miniscule by comparison.

In other words, Tomlin means what he says.

But Tomlin relies on his players to put deed behind his word. They did it against Jacksonville in 2008; they did it down in Tennessee last year, and they did it again against the Titans.

In Week 5 the winning football is once again the standard of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Casey Hampton, Chris Kemoeatu, Aaron Smith Out for Titans Game

Perhaps reporters should conserve ink (and pixels) by reporting on who is playing for the Steelers vs. the Titans.

Because the injury list is horrendously long.

James Harrison is of course out with an orbital fracture. So is Aaron Smith. Chris Kemoeatu is out. So is Casey Hampton.

Rashard Mendenhall is listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury. Hamstrings generally do not heal quickly, and a hamstring would seem to be a bigger issue for a running back than say, a lineman (which isn’t to say it would be insignificant for the lineman.) Don't expect Mendenhall to play.

Ben Roethlisberger is going to suit up using his special protective boot.

Chris Scott Returns, via Practice Squad

The Steelers 2010 5th round draft pick Chris Scott was a roster casualty in the wake of Max Starks return. This was a shame, because the Steelers need to develop young lineman.

Scott returned to the Steelers today, via the Practice Squad. Welcome back Chris.

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James Harrison Suffers Orbital Fracture, Out 'Weeks'

If the cliché adversity builds character has any merit to it, then the Steelers are in for some major character building.

Already reeling from the Trashing from the Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced that All Pro Linebacker James Harrison has an orbital fracture around his right eye. Team doctors will operate on Harrison Wednesday, he will miss “several weeks.”

Harrison will not get lonely on the injured list. His back up, 2010 second round pick Jason Worilds has a quad strain and is doubtful while Aaron Smith is “extremely questionable.”

And this only sums up the Steelers injuries on defense.

Halfback Mewelde Moore has a right ankle sprain which could keep him from playing, and Rashard Mendenhall has a hamstring injury.

That leaves the Steelers with all of two healthy running backs – Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer.

The “good” news is that starters Jonathan Scott and Doug Legursky are expected to return to the Steelers starting sieve. Bryant McFadden’s health has also returned, although Ed Bouchette indicated during his PG Plus chat that he might not recover his starting job.

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