I remember back in 1973 or 1974 when my Dad was watching the Steelers on television. I heard him say that a player named "Mean Joe" had just picked up a guy and threw him. I started watching and never stopped. Before long everything in my room was about the Steelers. I had posters of Mean Joe, Franco Harris, and Terry Bradshaw; an NFL with a Steeler emblem; a signed ball from the 1974 season; a team picture; a transistor radio shaped like a Steeler helmet; Steelers bedspread; collector mugs from the first four Superbowls; several Terrible Towels; and a Steeler trash can.

My family is from Pittsburgh and my parents bought season tickets for my grandparents in 1971, before the team became good. The tickets are still in our family and my Dad and I still travel back to the city each year to see at least one game. 

Continue reading "It all started for me with Mean Joe Greene"

I'm sitting here "watching" the Steelers play against the Rams on ESPN's Gamecast. Of course, I'm not really watching the game, but Gamecast is the next-best thing and it's free. I just don't like the idea of paying for the NFL Network. I have watched games on television my entire life and I just can't see paying for it now. I really don't know what I would do if every game was on a pay-per-view or subscription basis. I have always heard how mush the NFL makes on advertisements. If this is true, then why do they need their own pay channel?

On a more important topic, the Steelers are ahead 31-24 with 10:17 left to play. I'm glad they are winning, but I don't think they should let a team like St. Louis score 24 points. The Defense has me worried about their chances in the playoffs. I really think Tomlin should get rid of Dick LeBeau after the season and put in his 4-3 defense. LeBeau has been great, but I don't think his 3-4 defense puts enough pressure on the quarterback unless they blitz linebackers. Then, if the opponent picks up the blitz, receivers are left wide open. I think the 4-3 will allow them to bring more pressure from the defensive line without blitzing.

Continue reading "I won't pay for the NFL Network."

This is the official start of my LeBeau Must Go campaign. I believe it's time for Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to leave, or retire. I know the defense is ranked statistically number one, but there are problems that must be addressed before the Steelers can get back to the Superbowl. The main problem, in my opinion, is the lack of consistent pressure on the quarterback. The defensive line in only there to stop the run, leaving pass rush responsibilities on the linebackers. Now I think Harrison and Hagans and Foote are all good players, but they just don't get to the quarterback enough. I think the defensive scheme is the problem-not the linebackers. In LeBeau's 3-4 defense, the only time they get good pressure is when the blitz multiple players. This works ok, but when the opposing team picks up the blitz, receivers are left wide open. Mike Tomlin prefers the 4-3 defense and had success with it last year in Minnesota. Plus, he learned under Dungy when they were in Tampa Bay. Both of those defenses relied on on strong defensive lines that could pressure the quarterback with massive, and risky blitzing. 

Continue reading "LeBeau Must Go!"

Given all the attention being spent on the Patriots, it makes some sense that other teams in the AFC are being left out of discussions of who will go to the Superbowl. However, it appears that ESPN and all the other so-called NFL experts are convinced that the Colts, Chargers, and Jaguars are the only other contenders in the AFC.

But why is there no mention of the Steelers? Maybe it is because the Patriots whipped the Steelers a few weeks ago. Perhaps it is because of Parker's injury. Still, I think the Steelers deserve serious attention as valid playoff contenders for the following reasons.

1. Big Ben. Roethlisberger has been great this year and his numbers are not far from Brady's. Brady throws on almost every down and he even admits that sometimes he just throws it up and Moss makes the catch. Big Ben does everything to help the Steelers win. He moves around better than Brady, runs harder on QB sneaks, and in my opinion has just as good an arm as Saint Brady. I wish Big Ben had better protection and didn't have to scramble as much, but I bet that if Brady played for the Steelers he would have worse stats than Big Ben.

Continue reading "Are the Steelers being overlooked as playoff contenders?"

Ok, forget the Patriots for a while. How are the Steelers going to do?

First, we start off with a rematch against Jacksonville. I think the key for the Steelers offense in this game, and for their chances throughout the playoffs, will be for them to establish the run. The Steelers' O-line can run block better than they pass block, and they must open some holes for Davenport. Jacksonville's line is very tough, but the Steelers need to establish the run. If they get the running game going, the Jags will be forced to load up to try to stop it, which will open up the passing game, and take some of the pressure off Big Ben. If Roethlisberger has time to throw, he is good enough right now to challenge any defense in the league. However, it has to start with the running game. That is Steeler football. Plus, it keeps the other team's offense on the bench. I would rather us run the ball well and win convincingly by a score 20 - 10, than get into a shootout where both teams score more than 30. Run the ball and leave Santonio Holmes in single coverage and good things will happen

Continue reading "Steelers' prospects for the AFC playoffs - part one"