Fight or Flight, What's It Gonna Be...

"There's no substitute for guts."
- Bear Bryant

"To succeed...You need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you."
- Tony Dorsett

"I learned that if you want to make it bad enough, no matter how bad it is, you can make it."
- Gale Sayers

Let's be honest, the Steelers chances for playoff success this year look pretty bleak. Willie Parker is out. Aaron Smith is out. Marvell Smith is out. Max Starks is out. The team hasn't really stopped a Running Back (Pats game does not count) since Week 13, they allowed a ridiculous 47 sacks this season, AND they've only won three out of the last seven games. So what possible reason do we as fans have to believe that they can win in the playoffs, first against a team that gouged them for over 400 yards of Offense and then against a team that is 16-0? How can the team overcome such challenging circumstances?

The answer is Heart.

At the risk of sounding like a little girl here, it is Passion, Emotion, and Fire that can make the difference. This probably isn't the first time you're hearing something like this from me, but as I generally maintain - there are many many great athletes in the NFL. What separates some of the greatest from the more pedestrian is their drive and desire to win. To play as hard as they possibly can, with purpose, despite the fact that things may be going wrong left and right. Fortunately for us, the Steelers roster has plenty of this kind of character. Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, these guys have a desire to win and a commitment to their team's success that is arguably rare in today's free agency era. If you need a reminder of this, just think back to the 2005 playoffs...

Simply stated - the team has two choices. They can either look at how the deck is stacked against them and cry about it, OR they can see that effectively everyone is 0-0 now, and realize they still have the talent and gusto to win, even given all the current adversity.

I'm not saying that emotion alone can win a playoff game. All I'm saying is - if we have any hopes of winning, we had better find some passion and play like we want it. I haven't seen that side of this Steelers team consistently in a few weeks now. Get it back and we have a fighting chance. Play flat and we are dead in the water.

Remember, it's like the great Yogi Berra says - "It isn't over 'til it's over." Don't give up hope yet Steeler fans. Sometimes, when you least expect it, people can surprise you. Even football players. Cue Journey...I'll get down off my soapbox now.

What say you all?

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Steelers' Worrisome Injury List Long, Growing [Associated Press]
Steelers Finish With Top Defense [Post-Gazette]
Steelers Defense Feels New Pressure [Tribune-Review]
Starks Out Saturday, Essex To Start [Die Hard Steel]
Something To Believe In... [One For The Other Thumb]
Filling Some Big Shoes [Yahoo! Sports]

Putting The "Special" In Special Teams...

[From left to right - Chuck Batch, Face Me Ike Taylor, Willie "Hands" Reid]

“Right now, it’s balls to the wall. It’s the playoffs. If you ain’t ready to go in the playoffs, you don’t belong here."
- Tyrone Carter

Departing from general OFTOT redux format, I won't say much about last night's game. Partially because many of my Steelers blogging compatriots have done such a stellar job already and partially because I'm still recovering from the case of Rolling Rock ponies I drank last night. However, I will say this - meaningless game or not, if you fumble kickoffs, throw untimely interceptions, and can't stop a 3rd/4th string running back, you are not going to win any game, let alone a playoff game. If what we saw yesterday was a preview of what we have to look forward to next Saturday against Jacksonville, then I'm going to need to main line vodka to watch that game.

Of course, the turnover problem was all Willie Reid and Charlie Batch - two gentleman that are not likely to see the field next week. But the more troubling challenge, one that could remain, is not stopping the run. Musa Smith/Cory Ross (No Name Back 1/No Name Back 2) ran for 155 combined yards yesterday. All I have to say about that is - have fun with Fred Taylor and MJD, guys.

Oh, and this off season, somebody better teach Ike Taylor to catch. Sort that sitch out Tomlin.

So guys, how do you feel about the playoffs after yesterday? Will we get it together enough to stop the Jaguars two headed monster and make Garrard beat us with his arm? Who will return kicks if Rossum can't go? If this game was so meaningless then how come I'm still pissed we lost?

GAME RECAPS:
[Behind The Steel Curtain]
[Blitzburgh Report]
[Die Hard Steel]
[Doubt About It]
[Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies]

[Associated Press]
[Post-Gazette]
[SteelCityInsider]
[Tribune-Review]

Wake Up Dicks, We Got A Game to Play...

"I'll tell you what, if you can find someone in this locker room to tell you they want to take a break, come tell me. Come tell me."
- Alan Faneca

"On top of that, it's Baltimore. That's one of our biggest rivals. They had a lot of comments they said after the first game that didn't sit too well with a lot of guys in this locker room."
- James Farrior

"I don't care for them much. There are some guys on that team I just don't like and they don't like me. It works good in that environment."
- Max Starks

The Patriots are undefeated. Might as well concede the playoffs...

I mean, we have a game against the Ravens today...let's chat.

You're A Good Man Charlie Batch...

"I felt good about this football team, and the more I got to work with them I started to feel better and better. I am not surprised by any stretch. I am not satisfied, either. We have more work to do."
- Mike Tomlin

Alright ladies (that's right, you heard me), here's the deal - Cotter had to get a haircut and drink a couple of well deserved beers last night, so he had less time for things like, oh, you know, editing this post and shit. So bear with me if this thing ends up making little to no sense. It's been a long season, I'm trying to make time for the important things in life. Like scoring severe style points, and well, drinking beer.

Moving on...

First things first - if you're a serious Steeler fan, you may already know this, but...guess who just signed Chidi Iwuoma? No, not the Steelers...The Tennessee Titans. Interesting that they sign a former Steeler on the eve of the playoffs in which they just might be playing the Steelers. Ok, let's face it, we know they really signed him because he's a solid Special Teams performer and you can never have enough of those (ahem ahem, Bob Ligashesky...). But I guess this means he's probably not coming back to Pittsburgh anytime soon...damn.

Next, by now you should be aware that it was all but made official yesterday - Big Ben shall not play this Sunday, nor shall Marvell Smith. Ben is still a little less than 100%. However, the move to sit him is more a precautionary measure than anything else. Marvell's exclusion, on the other hand, is just a bit more serious. Marvell underwent surgery yesterday to repair a disc problem in his back. And while the team is saying they're "cautiously optimistic" that he could return by the AFC Divisional Round, I wouldn't put any money on it.

Now here's where normally on a Friday I would talk about what the Steelers SHOULD do to win Sunday's game. However, being that this game is effectively meaningless, I strongly considered not doing that this week...and then after about 5 seconds I reconsidered. So without further ado, here are some things the Steelers SHOULD do this weekend. And keep in mind, we're seriously compromising the integrity of the exercise here...so lower your expectations...

OFFENSE

• Show Us Some Future Potential ~ And by this I mean show ME what #3 RB Gary Russell can do. In case you missed it in the comments section of yesterday's post - I'm pretty interested in seeing how Russell can perform in a regular season game. At Minnesota, he was poised to become the starter after an 1100 yard, 18 TD season (12 games at least) in which he shared ball carrying duties with Laurence Maroney. Then he failed out or some dumb shit like that, thus never getting a chance to prove what he was fully capable of as the undisputed #1. All I'm saying is he looked good in preseason and I like his college record (playing, not studying), so he could just inject some added interest into this otherwise marginal game. Hear that Tomlin - Gary. Russell. Sort it out...


• Try and Find a Rhythm ~ As of late, the Steelers Offense has really come together. Last week, albeit against the Rams, the Steelers only punted twice. That's two times out of 10 drives. And of our 41 points, 35 were off touchdowns. That's what I call being effective, and that's the kind of rhythm I'd like to see going into the post season. Of course this is probably a moot point since the majority of our starters will be spending a significant portion of this game on the bench. But I gotta write something...I guess...


• That's All I Got... ~ No, just kidding. Um, last point -- Offensive Line, I know this is a lot to ask and there's little to no chance of it happening, but could you please try and maybe pass block, like even a little bit. Especially you Sean Mahan and Willie Colon, we'll all be watching. Larry Zierling, put Shiteaters.com away and do some coaching. Tell these assholes to use that size for something other than making dents in the turf with their backs. Sort it out.

DEFENSE

• Show Us Some Future Potential ~ Remember Lawrence Timmons? LaMarr Woodley? They were our top 2 picks in last years draft. But while other 1st and 2nd round picks like Patrick Willis are out making the pro bowl and creating nightmares for opposing offenses, these guys have been gathering splinters from riding the bench. No, it's not their fault they haven't been starting or getting large chunks of playing time (nor should they be with Silverback, Foote and Farrior around). But so far, Timmons' claim to fame has been the infamous Ricky Williams stomp and Woodley has been promising yet restrained. I'd like to see one or both of these guys get some decent time Sunday and maybe see if they can generate a pass rush. Because we all know Clark Haggans ain't taking care of business.


• Calling All Pass Rushers ~ Jonathan Ogden or not, the Ravens O-line ain't exactly awful. They're at least half decent, I'd say. So this just might be some good practice for the likes of Silverback, Farrior and Foote (maybe even los Rookies, see above). IF the aforementioned, any of them, see decent playing time, I'd like to see them spend it in the Ravens backfield, chasing down and tackling Troy Smith. Smith is neither fast like Vince Young, nor strong like Big Ben. So this shouldn't be quite the tall order it might normally be. Bottom line - we got ONE sack last week. This week let's try and build on that. Let's go for...uh, two sacks. Hey, lack of success = modest goals.


• Stop. The. Run. ~ I'm not trying to mask this with any clever language, just, stop the god damned run. The Ravens are starting their #3, Musa Smith. He's no slouch, but he's certainly no Fred Taylor or MJD. The Steelers ought to be able to shut him down. OUGHT TO be able to...This is the last chance Kirschke, and Eason will get to exhibit their best Aaron Smith impressions before the playoffs. So I expect them to use it accordingly. Or Ryan McBean, whoever. Hey, maybe McBean might even do the job well. Maybe we SHOULD give him a shot. Anyways, the run - stop it. Thanks.

Well that was borderline painful. Hopefully you're still with me and not cursing me for wasting your valuable time.

Look, if we can gain anything from this game - I say it's that we take Bart Scott up on his offer to give Larry Foote the key to beating the Patriots. We all might know what that key is, but judging by what we saw three weeks ago in Foxborough, the Steelers don't.

Let's face it, we just have to get through this game, hope for a win, try not to get anyone hurt, maybe try and establish a little rhythm and generally make sure our team is in good shape for next week's Wild Card game against either the Jags, Brownies or Titans. That's all.

So guys, what do you think we SHOULD be looking for Sunday? Who will you be watching? Are any of you planning on going to this game? And of course, the real question - Will the Browns put Brady Quinn in for the season finale? I, for one, will be waiting on the edge of my seat to find out...

PS - We WILL be doing the weekly gameday discussion session this Sunday, despite the fact that this game is pretty lackluster. Come join us as we discuss the game, the playoffs and maybe even Mini Ponies...if Tec shows up that is.

PPS - Just because I can, here's a picture of Brian Billick as Robocop...


REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Arians Won't Change Plan for New Players [SteelCityInsider]
Big Ben Expected to Sit Sunday [Post-Gazette]
Smith Has Back Surgery - Return Unknown [Post-Gazette]
Ravens' Scott Changes Tune [Tribune-Review]
Some Ravens Fans Throwing In Towel [Baltimore Sun]
Buy Ravens Tix [Craigslist - Baltimore]
Troy Smith: Bring on The 3-4 [Baltimore Sun]
Davenport Focused On Chance As Starter [Post-Gazette]

Brian Billick Has A Whole Bag of "Sh" With Your Name On It...

"Looking at the Ravens, they are a rival of ours. I know they have fallen on some tough times, but you can throw records out of the window when we play Baltimore. They’re going to play to win, we’re going to play to win."
- Mike Tomlin

Yep, there's no better division, full of heated rivalries, than the AFC North. Whether it's Bengals-Browns, Ravens-Bengals, Steelers-Ravens, etc., you pretty much know it will be a hard fought game. Normally that is...

However, as far as this Sunday's matchup goes - the Steelers have already won the division, and since the only way to clinch a #3 seed is for the Chargers to lose against the Raiders while we beat the Ravens, this game does not really mean much more than division bragging rights. That's enough for the Ravens no doubt, but for the Steelers, some of whom are literally limping into the post season, it might be hard to justify throwing them out there against a physical team like the Ravens, who will be on a manhunt. I guess what I'm saying is - I'd like to win this game, but I'd prefer to try and do it without Big Ben, Troy Polamalu, Marvell Smith and anyone else who is still nursing a shoulder or an ankle or a back, etc. etc.

And honestly, it wouldn't exactly be an unfair fight to put our #2s out there against the Ravens. Mostly because, just like many of the teams with losing records in 2007, the Ravens come into this weekend's game with a laundry list of injuries. In actuality we'll be facing a lot of their #2s and in some cases, #3s. The full Ravens injury report looks like this:

Steve McNair - Out (IR)
Kyle Boller - Out
Willis McGahee - Out
Mike Anderson - Out (Maybe - Limited in practice)
Demetrious Williams - Out (Though I hear he's "intent" on playing)
Michael Clayton - Out (Maybe - Did not practice)
Todd Heap - Out
Quinn Sypniewski - Out
Daniel Wilcox (#3 TE) - Out (Maybe - Did not practice)
Jonathan Ogden - Out (Maybe - Limited in practice)
Kelly Gregg - Out
Trevor Pryce - Out (IR)
Ray Lewis - Out
Chris McAllister - Out (IR)
Samari Rolle - Out (IR)

And the list may go on, I don't even know. Maybe even Brian Billick is injured...errrr, nevermind, I forgot - Brian Billick is impervious to all conventional weapons.

Injuries aside, the Ravens are pretty much who we think they are - anemic offense and bruising defense. After starting the season as the defending AFC North champs and amassing a 4-2 record through their 1st six games, the Ravens have dropped EVERY LAST ONE of their last NINE games, which brings them home to BMore this Sunday a disappointing 4-11.

It's hard to compare us to them given the troubles they have had this season, but I'll do it anyway, because (a) I'm a dick, and (b) This is just what I do on Thursdays and god forbid I break routine. Check out the numbers below and we'll talk a little more after.

OFFENSE
Rushing Yards: BMore ~ 1617 (#18) | Pit ~ 2122 (#3)
Passing Yards: BMore ~ 3137 (#23) | Pit ~ 3200 (#20)
Total Yards: BMore ~ 4754 (#23) | Pit ~ 5322 (#10)
Points Scored: BMore ~ 248 (#25) | Pit ~ 372 (#8)


DEFENSE
Rushing Yds. Allowed: BMore ~ 1222 (#2) | Pit ~ 1258 (#3)
Passing Yds. Allowed: BMore ~ 3522 (#18) | Pit ~ 2896 (#4)
Total Yards Allowed: BMore ~ 4744 (#6) | Pit ~ 4154 (#1)
Points Against: BMore ~ 363 (#24) | Pit ~ 242 (#3)

So...the Ravens Offense...uh, what Offense? Previously, this is where I would have mentioned Willis McGahee, the threats he presents and maybe even Steve McNair or Kyle Boller and the treats they present, but none of those guys are playing on Sunday. In their respective places will be a tandem of Smiths - Musa at RB and Troy at QB. On top of that, without Todd Heap and Demetrious Williams to throw to, or Jonathon Ogden to block, things might be pretty tough for the Smiths and the rest of the Ravens Offense. Still, Todd Collins has the Redskins on a roll so I guess anything's possible...and plus, we know that even the Ravens 3rd stringers would love to beat the Steelers and contribute to keeping them from securing a #3 seed for the playoffs. So I'm not counting the Ravens O out by any means.

Anyways, the Ravens Defense...well, it's the Ravens Defense. Ray Lewis or not, these guys are going to be hungry and looking for any opportunity to HIT us HARD. Bart Scott (the Mad Backer) and Terrell Suggs (T-Sizzle) are probably already salivating at the idea. Fittingly, those two, along with Safety Ed Reed are going to be our biggest "worries" on Sunday. But beyond them, the Ravens D Line is down 2 of 3 starters and the secondary is down 2 of 4. Bottom line - no point risking Big Ben's health putting him out there against guys who have nothing more to play for than spilling blood.

Overall, like I've already said - really, this game means nothing. Even if we were to win and San Diego was upset by Oakland, giving us the 3 seed, we'd still have to play against the best (you know who I'm talking about) if we have any hopes of winning the ultimate prize. So I personally am fine with the #4 spot. Bring on the Jags.

What do you guys think? Does it make sense to rest the starters? Are you worried about what's left of BMore's defense? Do you think Troy Smith does a good mini-me impression?

Oh, and speaking of - in case you're wondering where Mini Me is in the image above...see below.


REFERENCE MATERIAL:
2007 Ravens Stats [Pro-football-reference]
More Ravens Stats [ESPN]
2007 Steelers Stats [Pro-football-reference]
Ravens Injuries [ESPN]
Steelers Will Go For #3 Seed [Steelers.com]
Tomlin Outlines Injuries, Baltimore Game Plan [KDKA]
Motivated? For Ravens? Steelers Say No Problem [Associated Press]

Something To Believe In...

"He's a great quarterback, and I think what happened last year has just caused him to maybe put that much more [pressure] on himself to come out this year and play really well for this team."
- Brett Keisel

Happy Wednesday friends. Hope you all enjoyed your respective holidays! Today, it's back to work, and here at OFTOT, it's story time....

This past April, Domski and I were in Tampa, Florida visiting some friends, when we had a very interesting and puzzling experience. While we were out one night, we were talking with a Buccaneers fan who said something I'll probably never forget - he told us he would rather have Chris Simms under center than Ben Roethlisberger. Needless to say we tried to state our case to him, and point out that he just might be out of his mind, but he was not to be persuaded. He, like many, thought that Big Ben's "success" was never really all that great or even attributable to his abilities as a Quarterback. In short, he felt Ben was essentially one and done. Looking back now, I wonder if he has changed his mind...

Frankly, as we all know, there isn't much not to like about where Big Ben is at right now. 32 TDs, only 11 INTs, a 65% completion percentage, and his 1st trip to Hawaii all sound pretty good to me. Especially after a 2006 performance that included just 18 TDs, 23 INTs, a 59% completion percentage, a concussion, an appendectomy, and one giant bounce off the windshield of a Chrysler New Yorker (sans helmet). A classic Hollywood turnaround story if you will.

All the talk this year has been about Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Brett Favre. And rightfully so, I'm not taking anything away from any of them. BUT the fact is, Ben has thrown the ball 132 less times than Brady, yet only has 16 less TDs (ok so thats still a lot of TDs, but you get the idea), has thrown the ball 100 less times than Homo Romo, yet only has 4 less TDs (and 7 less INTs), and has thrown the ball 120 less times than Favre, yet has 6 MORE TDs (and 4 less INTs). Oh and PS - he has 1 MORE TD (and 3 less INTs) than the archetype QB himself Peyton Manning, despite having tossed the pigskin 95 less times. AND I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that he's been sacked at least twice as many times as any of the aforementioned. I'm not trying to say Ben isn't getting the respect he deserves (although he probably isn't). Honestly, I'm ok with him being under the radar. However, I AM trying to say that Ben IS deserved of any respect he does get.

Anyways, now that Willie is on IR, Najeh is the new head closet shitter tailback, and Verron Haynes is back, it seems apt to mention/reiterate that this is essentially Big Ben's game. I'm not saying Najeh can't play a pivotal role in this year's playoff run (let's hope it lasts long enough to call it a run). But to me, these games will hinge on Ben's ability to execute play action, throw the ball down the field, and at the same time, continue manage the game (as really they all ultimately do). Ben's come along nicely in the few short years he's been in the league. And this post season he is in an even better position than he was in 2005, when despite putting up one of the worst performances statistically, was still able to make enough plays to win Super Bowl XL.

So, playoff seeding? Doesn't really matter. Sunday's opponent? Doesn't really matter. Primary Running Back? Doesn't really matter. Regardless of where we ultimately end up, who we play on Sunday, and who's carrying the ball in lieu of Willie Parker, the bottom line is the same, Mike Tomlin has made that much clear -- The Steelers will play to win, and not just the next game - but the ultimate prize. And in doing so, Big Ben shall lead us, as he has all year.

Now I turn to you all - Do you believe in the godsend Big Ben? Will he step up in the clutch? Does he have more ability than we give him credit for? Will he ever start wearing a helmet? Let's discuss...

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
2007 NFL QB Stats [ESPN]
No Love For Parker, Roethlisberger [Blitzburgh Report]
Tomlin Worries Most About The Biggest Picture [Post-Gazette]
Steelers Still Face An Important Game [Associated Press]
Mike Tomlin Presser [SteelCityInsider]
The Steelers Make A Great Christmas Gift [SteelCityInsider]

Thank You Santa Marvin...

Guess we can't say Marvin Lewis never did anything for us.

Yep, with the Bengals win over the Browns this afternoon, the Steelers have now clinched the AFC North and either the #3 or the #4 seed in the AFC playoffs pending the outcome of the final two Charger games.

In my mind, the ideal scenario here is for the Chargers to lose Monday, then with a win at Baltimore, the Steelers can secure the #3 seed, and hopefully play the #6 seed Browns/Titans in the 1st round of the playoffs (at Heinz Field).

Either way, thank you Marvin Lewis for taking down the Browns.

Merry Christmas Cincinnati. As for your collective New Years Resolution - I'd strongly consider NOT eating chili with cinnamon in it. That shit just ain't right, man.

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Steelers Win AFC North [Behind The Steel Curtain]
Steelers Clintch AFC North... [Blitzburgh Report]
Ladies and Gentlemen, Your 2007 AFC North Champs [Die Hard Steel]
AFC North Champs, Baby!!! [Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies]
Steelers Wrap Up AFC North [Tribune-Review]
Steelers Clinch Division [Post-Gazette]
Early Christmas Present [SteelCityInsider]

Well...I've Got Good News and Bad News...

"I took it upon myself to put the offense on my back and carry it...He's our guy, he's our breadwinner. Not having him, everyone has to pick it up a level."
- Najeh Davenport

"Our heart goes out to him because he's a competitor, he's a warrior...As a team, we're not going to throw a pity party. It's part of the game, people get hurt, we'll adapt and improvise and move forward."
- Mike Tomlin

I probably don't need to tell you the bad news, but yes, Willie Parker is DONE for the season with a fractured fibula...[insert crickets]...

Other than that, a pretty solid effort from the Steelers Offense tonight (at the risk of downplaying the injury). They posted the most points of any game this season - 41. Big Ben padded his season TD total, adding 3 more for a grand total of 32 on the year, Santonio Holmes had 4 catches for 133 yards and a score, Najeh Davenport stepped in capably and contributed 123 yards on 24 carries with 1 TD, and good ol' Hines Ward got 59 yards on 6 catches, finally passing John Stallworth as the team's all time leader in receiving yards. So in honor of that, I'd like to take a short moment and recognize Hines' achievement...

There, now then. Big Ben was nearly perfect tonight. If you don't believe me, just check his passer rating (although this stat is highly over rated) - 158.3. 16/20, 261 yards, 3 TDs, ZERO INTs. Willie went down early, but Ben didn't get rattled. He simply continued to execute and made a great game out of it. Yes he holds onto the ball too long more often than we'd all like. But you can't really ask for too much better play by your Offensive leader and signal caller.

Now, the other side of the ball? Mixed results. They did hold Steven Jackson to just 85 yards. However, they also let Marc Bulger throw for 208 yards including 3 TDs. And let's not even mention how they let a team that's one of the lowest scoring in the NFL this season put up 24 points. Oops, too late.

So overall, this was an encouraging win. We once again go one up on the Browns, at least until Sunday. And although we lost our stud RB, the #1 rusher in the league by the way, there were a lot of positive things to take from this game. Checklist goes as follows:

Before I get into any specifics, I just want to say this - There are some times when a man just has to get emotional. Coach Tomlin preaches not getting caught up in the emotional roller coaster that is the NFL regular season, but listen, when your Defense (of all things) is under performing and you think they need a little motivation - get your ass over there and light a fire under them. Sometimes it's ok to show some emotion - positive or negative. Just let it all out Mike...we can handle it.

Anywho - like I said - many positives to take from this game, not the least of which were:

1. My Man Najeh ~ He's still not our #1 back. But with the spotlight on and no one to back him up except Carey Davis (guess Russell didn't dress?), Najeh came through big time. 123 yards was more than I think any of us might have expected, no matter what we might say. North-South looked real good last night. Almost makes you nostalgic for the days of Jerome Bettis stiff arming the likes of Brian Urlacher. I'm still not sold on Najeh's ability to carry us into the playoffs, but for at least this night, he was king. And he didn't even have to choke a bitch...


2. The Hotrod Cashes In AGAIN ~ Two weeks in a row, Nate Washington makes a TD grab. I mean, he caught the ball! AND he caught the ball twice. For TWO TDs! 2 total catches, both for scores, 50 yards receiving. Someone test this man for illegal substances, I couldn't believe my eyes...


3. Old In Body, Young In Play ~ Hats off to Deshea Townsend for some solid play tonight. 4 tackles, and more importantly, 2 passes defended. Deshea was pretty much there everytime the Rams chose to take to the air. And although I like to give him shit for being one of the shorter guys on the team at 5'10", he played the game of a giant (metaphorically speaking) tonight. 10 points my lilliputian friend, you did good.


4. Triumphant Return Part Deux ~ Troy came up pretty big yet again. Led the team with 6 tackles, and had 1 pass defended and of course the forced fumble. I did see him miss a few tackles tonight, but I'm gonna let that slide on account of the fact that the man is a monster. No matter where the play is on the field, he's in it. Perhaps it was an injustice that he got voted into the pro bowl this year having not played like himself for the better part of the first 3/4 of the season, but he's certainly showing us all now, that he deserves it. Plus, 15 points for the sick beard. Wish I could grow facial hair...


5. Pressure? Nah, Not Really, But... ~ A sack!!! Finally, after at least two weeks without one, Big Snack came through and put Bulger on the ground. It's pretty hard to stomach that the Steelers Defense has not been able to manage but one sack in three weeks. However, we're just playing the hand that has been dealt to us I suppose. Let's hope there's a lot more where that came from...I like watching sacks...and Casey Hampton. Hook 'em Horns.

But listen guys, not to take anything away from the team, but this was the RAMS! They were 3-11 coming into this game, and while they do have an omnipresent Offensive force, had we not won this game decisively, I don't think any of us would have had much hope for the playoffs left. As it is hope is at a premium.

Finally, I just want to say - for the 1st time all season, I actually 100% wholeheartedly agreed with Tobiathan on the Ref BS. We got screwed not once, not twice, but at least three times in this game, by my count. First off - I'll be awaiting an apology from the league on the Steven Jackson fumble - how you can turn upfield, take three steps but not have possession is beyond me. Second - pass interference on Ike Taylor during the play with Isaac Bruce - Come on, just because Isaac Bruce is ancient, I don't wanna hear it. There was NO interference on that play. Ike just played it well. I hate to have to highlight shit like this, but sometimes you gotta call 'em like you see 'em...errr not, if you're reffing the Pittsburgh-St. Louis game...it would seem.

So now that you've read all I've got to write (not all, but look, it's late and I'm tired) - What did you guys think? How do you feel about losing Willie? What are your thoughts on the playoffs now? Will the Steelers invest in a solid Offensive lineman in the first three rounds this April? [INSERT WITTY QUESTION HERE...sorry, too tired right now].

PS - Man, if I'm not the biggest Bengals fan this weekend, you have no idea...
PPS - If this post made little to no sense and was not humorous in the slightest, please accept my sincerest apologies. I wrote it quite late, after I spent approximately an hour and half trying to photoshop this nice collage you see above. Yep, I suck at photoshop.

GAME RECAPS (N'AT):
Steelers-Rams Initial Thoughts [Behind The Steel Curtain]
Parker Lost But Offense Finds Its Way [DC Steeler Nation]
Steelers Dominate Without Parker [Die Hard Steel]
Tonight, Pitt Was America's #1 Town [Doubt About It]
Monday Morning Chrylser New Yorker [Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies]

Steelers RB Parker Fractures Leg [Associated Press]
Steelers Prevail, Stay Atop AFC North [Associated Press]
Steelers Beat Rams, Lose Parker [Tribune-Review]
Steelers Urgency Produces Clutch Win [Tribune-Review]
Steelers Win 41-24 [Post-Gazette]
Steelers Notebook [Post-Gazette]
The Big Plays Make a Big Difference [Post-Gazette]

Ahr Yinz Gahn Dahntahn 'a Watcha Stillers?

Calling all Jagoffs...it's game time. Have atit...

Grab The Bull Ram By The Horns...

"We play 16 games. They’re all important. We’ve got to be where we are, live in the moment, prepare to be the very best that we can be in the opportunity in front of us. That’s the nature of it...I want to dig hard all the time, whether we see the light or no. That’s what good, hardened, top-caliber football teams do."
- Mike Tomlin

Here we are, Thursday morning and it must be gameday again, because The Prophet is gracing the upfront of today's post. Doesn't quite seem like it's been long enough, does it? Well, unfortunately, that ain't for us to decide. So today it is. The Steelers head into the Edward James Dome tonight to do battle with the 3-11 St. Louis Rams, and hopefully come out the other side with a win and the accompanying playoff berth...hopefully...

Injuries? Yep, we got some of those. Looks like Face Me Ike's still got some Face Me pain in his knee - and while Dr. Coach Tomlin seems to think he'll be fine, there's a chance McFadden will start at Corner in his place. Also, Marvell Smith is a little less than 100% with that back thing he's had going on this season. Hence, the suddenly capable Max Starks will likely be starting at Left Tackle for Smith. And finally, both odd man out LB Clark Haggans and replacement End Travis Kirschke are "limited" and "may or may not" be able to take the field. In the event neither does, we shall most likely see LaMarr Woodley and Nick Eason respectively in their place(s). What impact will this have? God only knows. After the last couple of weeks I'm not trying to predict anything (these don't get any funnier folks...sorry).

Moving on, as has been the case in recent past - we've also got a few records that could be broken this week. Of course we shouldn't be focused on breaking records so much as we should be focused on breaking Rams faces, but I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention these potential milestones. They are (in no particular order):

1. A victory secures the Steelers 1st road win against the Rams in team history. Oh, and it also secures us a playoff spot. No pressure.
2. With 103 yards passing, Big Ben can break the 3,000 yard mark for the 2nd straight season, tying a team record and generally making Neil O'Donnell jealous. Bonus.
3. 42 more receiving yards and Hines Ward moves into sole possession of the Steelers all time lead in the category. Consequently, 50 more receiving yards and we'll all see that patented Hines Ward shit eating grin.
4. Fast William Everette Parker needs 177 more rushing yards to surpass his season high mark of 1,494, set last year. You think he can get it all in one game? Let's hope so...that'd be pretty awesome.
5. 1 measly point and Jeff Reed has 100 on the year, which would make it 5 straight seasons with 100 points or more for our resident party boy place kicker extraordinaire. Also, 3 more beers funneled and __________ (you fill in the blank).

But like I say, none of these matter to us Steeler fans if the team can't eke out a win tonight and solidify our playoff hopes.

So the real question is, as it is every week - what SHOULD the Steelers do in order to win this game. As far as I'm concerned, the answer(s) is as follows:

OFFENSE

• What Do You Think I'm Going To Say? ~ RUN. THE. FOOTBALL. Willie Parker gets at least 22 carries, we win. That's all I'm saying. Last week we dug ourselves a 15 point hole, which to an extent, limited the number of times we could give the ball to our hot hand. Even still, FWP had 14 carries for 100 yards. Like I said earlier this week - 4 or 5 more carries and you better bet Willie's breaking one of those for just a bit more than 20 yards. Get the Memo Arians, you dick.


• Play Action Pass...Beuller? Beuller? ~ What's the complement to a good running game? A little play action maybe? By my count, we haven't seen nearly enough of it this season. So tonight, once Willie gets going, which hopefully will happen, let's see a few play action passes to, I don't know, Heath Miller maybe? Hines Ward? Santonio, deep? Any and all. Mix it up. Use some deception. Just because it's a logical way to do things doesn't mean we can't do it. Dial it up Arians, you dick.


• Cut That Play Clock Shit Out ~ Ben - you are not a Colt. Nor a Patriot. Hence, you do not have the protection from your Offensive Line that would allow you to run the play clock down to :01 before snapping the ball and expect to escape harm every time. When you do that, they know when you're snapping the ball and can get a better jump. O-line - I'd say protect Ben, but we all know that's a pipe dream at this point. I don't mind the no huddle. In fact, I kind of like it for us. But the whole idea of it is to catch the other team off guard. Don't get predictable when you're trying to be unpredictable. Got it Arians, you dick?

DEFENSE

• Show Me Something ~ Really, I'll take anything promising. But particularly, I'd like to see some sacks and some turnovers. Last week, no sacks. The week before, no sacks. Pressure Marc Bulger and hit him when you get the chance! Further, if/when you get sufficient pressure on him such that he makes bad decisions, capitalize. If a ball comes your way, catch it. Simple stuff. Sort it out Troy, I know we can count on you.


• Quit Jaggin' Around ~ For god's sake, please get off the field on 3rd down. It'll only be better for you in the end to play a little harder then, get some rest and be fresh for the next set of downs. Also, consistency would be nice. Play hard for 60 minutes, not just 58. I know it's not likely that you'll have the same problem you had last week or in Denver. But you never know. Bottom Line - you're still arguably the top Defense in the league, play like it. It's damn near playoff time.


• Stop. Steven. Jackson. ~ I think it's sort of been implied already, and it's certainly the most obvious of the bunch. But just in case you didn't read it between the lines, our best Defensive bet to secure victory is to shut Steven Jackson down. Now, this ain't gonna be easy. The guy just ripped through Green Bay's Defense (which isn't exactly terrible) for 143 yards four days ago, while the entire Rams passing game only managed 219 yards. Sure, the Rams still have some great weapons on the outside. But as we know all too well, it's much harder for a team to beat you when you force them to be one dimensional (unless that team is the 2007 New England Patriots). Get it done. Step up Nick Eason. Show us what you're made of...

And that's it - it's just that easy...er...yeah. Honestly, I don't want to say my expectations are lowered, because I still expect this team to play like it's playoff caliber, but what I really want to see tonight is a commitment from both sides of the ball that they can beat this team (or any team) decisively. Play solid Defense, don't give up points. Be efficient on Offense, get 7 points. An over-simplificiation, yes. But it's late, I'm tired, and this post is already too long...what do you want from me?

So how about you all? What do you want to see tonight? Steven Jackson on his back? Marc Bulger on his back? Big Ben standing up? The back of Willie Parker's jersey? Have at it...

PS - Don't forget - solid Gameday Discussion here tonight, 8:15, be there or be a Browns fan.

And oh yes, and the Rams have cheerleaders. Boy are they festive...Hooray for Domes!


REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Key Matchups: Steelers-Rams [SteelCityInsider]
Slumping Steelers Try to Rebound in St. Louis [Associated Press]
Large Steelers Showing Expected in St. Louis [SteelCityInsider]
Steelers Notebook [Post-Gazette]
Steven Jackson vs. #3 Rush Defense [Post-Gazette]
Steelers Trying to Forget Unpleasant Memories [Post-Gazette]
Arians Rethinks Calls Against Patriots [Tribune-Review]
Steelers-Rams What to Watch For [WPXI]
Steelers Seek to Gird 'Selves vs. Rams [USA Today]
Steelers Stumbling Stretch Run [Yahoo! Sports]

Gentlemen, Please Sack This Man...

"We've got punched two weeks in a row and, hopefully, we can respond...This will be a great challenge for us. Short week, and our backs are kind of against the wall. We need to get our 10th win and seal up this thing."
- Brett Keisel

Thursday games - can't live with 'em, the NFL can't live without 'em. In an attempt to extort our money, under the guise of "bringing us more action," the NFL has so graciously scheduled our Steelers to do battle with the St. Louis Rams just a mere four days after we were run over by the Jaguars for 224 yards.

For what it's worth - my feeling on this is that both teams are in the same boat. The Steelers may have gotten trounced this past Sunday (physically, but not on the scoreboard) and the one before, but the 3-11 Rams have been trounced all season long. And we may have some guys nursing injuries, but at least 8-10 of the Rams key players have not been their normal, healthy selves for much of the 2007 season. So short week or not, I don't really want to hear excuses...

But I digress. The Rams. 3-11. I want to say that's kind of deceiving, but I'm really not so sure. The thing is - they have some great talent. Their biggest challenge this season, as previously mentioned, has been injuries. Franchise QB Marc Bulger has missed 4 games, stud RB Steven Jackson has missed 4 games, the X-Factor Dante Hall is done for the year after missing some games, their O-line is down 3 starters, and not to mention some Defensive injuries (Tinoisamoa principally) have kind of held them back. It seems like it's just been one of those seasons for the Rams. But the reason I think 3-11 might actually be kind of deceiving is the Rams Offense really hasn't gotten going like we all know it can. So I guess my concern is - have the Rams been sleeping, just waiting for a game like this to awaken?

Answer that question however you like. Either way, the reality is here's how this matchup looks for us:

OFFENSE:
Passing Yards: StL - 3146 (#15) | Pit - 2911 (#24)
Rushing Yards: StL - 1362 (#21) | Pit - 1952 (#3)
Total Yards: StL - 4508 (#22) | Pit - 4863 (#15)
Points Scored: StL - 220 (#29) | Pit - 331 (#8)

DEFENSE:
Pass Yards Allowed: StL - 3256 (#19) | Pit - 2661 (#4)
Rush Yards Allowed: StL - 1556 (#19) | Pit - 1168 (#3)
Total Yards Allowed: StL - 4812 (#18) | Pit - 3829 (#1)[God knows how...]
Points Allowed: StL - StL - 349 (#27) | Pit - 218 (#1)

Having said that, here's the deal. Nothing surprising about the Rams. They have top tier Offensive talent (albeit a depleted line) that hasn't had a chance to get any steam yet this year, and a middle of the pack Defense (at best) that sports a solid secondary and a Middle Linebacker that's bound to be in our backfield a good amount. None of that changes the fact that no matter who the opponent, the Steelers need to show some balls. Hit somebody. Get a pass rush. Run the football (well). Pass efficiently. Utilize play action and the TEs. Maybe a gadget play or two if the game so permits. Ain't nothing revolutionary about it. Just be careful not to turn the ball over, give up too many 3rd down conversions, big kick returns (fingers crossed), or sacks (not holding my breath though). Am I wrong?

But honestly, as of 5 weeks ago, who thought we'd be afraid of the Rams right now? Yep, me neither...

PS - We'll be doing the weekly Gameday bitch Discussion Session tomorrow night. So come join our merry band of assholes and share our joy...hopefully not our pain. Plus we'll no doubt have a lenghty discussion about how Britney Spears' 16-year old sister has been impregnated.

PPS - For the first time in my life, I'm a Bungles fan this weekend...beat the Browns to a pulp...please...

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Steelers Not Excited to Play Again Soon [Associated Press]
Steelers May Find Home Away from Home [Associated Press]
Steelers vs. Rams - Early Look [Behind The Steel Curtain]
2007 Rams Stats [Pro-Football-Reference]
More Rams Stats [ESPN]
Smith is Dropped As Starter at Safety [Post-Gazette]
Rams Rush to Get Ready for Steelers [St. Louis Post Dispatch]

Attention Steeler Defense...

"Looking forward to the St. Louis Rams...Steven Jackson is a very, very talented runner. We’ve got our hands full there....We better be sound in terms of what we’re doing. We better be on our Ps and Qs in terms of executing our assignments and you can’t lose the physical element of the game in doing that. We’ve got to be physical, we’ve got to turn him around, we’ve got to tackle him. If we don’t, he’ll fall forward, he’ll bounce off tackles and he’ll make us pay the way Fred [Taylor] did."
- Mike Tomlin

Morning friends. You may have noticed the lack of presence on my part yesterday. It was a long day, but nothing's in my way now. So expect a full side by side comparison later on.

Until then, enjoy this photoshop goodness...

Word.

Mike Tomlin's Wild Ride...

"That is the mental toughness element of this game...Every team faces trials and tribulations, ups and downs...The reality is that we are what we are. We’re 9-5. We’ve stumbled of late. So be it. We’ve got to go to St. Louis and seek our 10th win."
- Mike Tomlin

Well Steeler fans, here we are at 9-5 with two games to go and just a slight leg up on the Browns in the division. Facing the reality that we have to win both of our final games to insure a playoff berth. The season has essentially been reduced to this - Two games, on the road, against two teams that will be vastly under rated by most, including NFL odds makers.

It's been an interesting season thus far. We've seen the Offense look good. We've seen the Offense look bad. We've seen the Defense look good. We've seen the Defense look bad. We've seen Special Teams look...well, bad. The point is - over the last month or so we haven't really seen the Steelers play 60 minutes of solid football on both sides of the ball. And it's been well documented on these here interwebs.

So looking ahead to Thursday, the Steelers have a date with a team we don't see very often. The St. Louis Rams. And I have to admit - since it's been a while, I couldn't really remember the last time we saw the likes of the team formerly known as The Greatest Show on Turf. After having my memory jogged, I'm kind of sorry I did.

The year was 2003. 'Twas the 2nd year of the failed Tommy Gun experiment, in which the Steelers finished with an overall 6-10 record, and consequently were able to secure a fine young man out of Miami University of Ohio in the 1st round of the 2004 draft. In this game, Pittsburgh native and field general Marc Bulger ripped apart the Steelers secondary for a Brett Favre-esque 375 yards passing. Plus, the Rams 3rd string running back Arlen Harris (who I'm pretty sure isn't even in the league anymore) added 81 yards and 3 TDs, en route to a 33-21 Rams victory. On the receiving end of the majority of Bulger's 22 completions was the always lethal Torry Holt - who hauled in 7 catches for 174(!!!) yards and the only passing TD.

For the Steelers, Tommy Maddox threw 2 touchdowns...and 3 interceptions. Jerome Bettis ran for 42 yards...and graciously contributed a lost fumble. And Hines Ward was the only one with any kind of Offensive success, catching 5 Tommy Maddox "bullets" (get it, Tommy Gun...bad one) for 90 yards and 2 scores. Plaxico sucked as usual.

Needless to say, with the passing of almost half a decade, a lot has changed for both the Rams and Steelers. The Rams now have the inhuman monster Steven Jackson responsible for the ground game, Marc Bulger is a few years more seasoned (albeit also worn), and the Rams have traded Mike Martz for Scott Linehan, who is 3-10 in his 2nd season at the helm.

The Steelers, on the other hand, have gone on to play in the AFC Championship game in '04, win Super Bowl XL in '05, and traded legendary Coach Bill Cowher early in '07 for the young Mike Tomlin, bringing us full circle to that 9-5 we talked about earlier. Willie Parker is now the main man on the ground, leading the NFL in rushing yards. And while Hines Ward is still a big deal in the Pittsburgh passing game, he's been joined by 2nd year stud Santonio Holmes and 3rd year TE Heath Miller, who've both contributed solid play in their relatively short time as Steelers.

We'll get to the side by side comparisons...tomorrow I guess (F these Thursday games). But for now, envision these guys walking into that St. Louis dome, beating the absolute shit out of the Rams, and reaffirming our faith in their ability to dominate, offensively and defensively, for 60 god damn minutes.

That all said, who scares you more - Fred Taylor, Thomas Jones or Steven Jackson? Yep. Me too...

Who's The Boss?

"We're not good enough to win right now, and that's what I just told that football team."
- Mike Tomlin

I don't mind having to play from behind. I don't mind losing a game. I don't mind calling a pass play to a receiver who isn't beyond the 1st down marker on 4th down in a last ditch effort to tie the game. However, I DO mind getting out muscled, and ran over in our own house. The Jaguars played OUR game today and they played it better than we could, against the NFL's somehow still #1 rated Defense.

Fred Taylor ~ 25 carries, 147 yards
Maurice Jones-Drew ~ 12 carries, 69 yards
Total Rush Yards Allowed ~ 224
Total Pass Yards Allowed ~ 197
Total Yards Allowed ~ 421
Jaguars on 4th Down ~ 3/3
Jaguars Time of Possession ~ 37:39

I'm not sure I need to write much else. That pretty much sums up the game. The Jaguars ran it. We couldn't tackle them. The Jaguars threw it short. We continued to play 8 yards off.

But perhaps most frustrating was the Jaguars final scoring drive of the game (which by the way reeked of Week 7 against Denver). We had just tied the score in truly dramatic fashion. All we needed was to stop the Jaguars Offense, get the ball back and go for the win. But 8 plays, 73 yards and only 3 minutes 49 seconds later, they were putting 7 up on the board and the Steelers hopes came down to a 2 minute drill. I understand that by that point in the game, the Steelers Defense had played a lot of football, but en route to their deathblow, the Jaguars ran the ball 5 out of 8 plays, netting 52 (of the 73) yards and the score.

I'm reminded of that line from the movie Boiler Room, how's it go again? - Oh yeah, "Always be closing." The Steelers Defense let the Jaguars Offense run this game (pun intended) and close it out the same way they drew 1st blood. Plain and simple.

Bright spots? Sure there were some...

1. Willie Parker is Fast ~ FWP, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...all 1317 of them. Willie is holding firm as the categorical #1 among NFL backs. Now if only we could've given him the ball more...14 carries, 100 yards...that looks an awful lot like he was about 4 or 5 rushes away from breaking another big one. But alas...we like to throw the ball now...


2. The Hotrod Cashes In ~ Nate Washington caught a pass...a touchdown pass...go ahead, read that again, I still can't believe it either...


3. Some People Now Have Records They Did Not Have Before ~ Jeff Reed moved up to 3rd in Scoring All Time for the Steelers and Big Ben set the team record for Touchdowns in a season with 3 today and 29 on the year. As an also ran - Hines Ward inched 31 yards closer to the Steelers record for Receiving Yards All Time, and now only needs 42 more to reach that mark. Awesome... now, can the Steelers beat a playoff caliber team besides those named Cleveland or those from the NFC? Seriously...


4. The Dolphins Won Today ~ Congratulations. You guys suck, but at least you beat the Ravens (of all people). Too bad Brian Billick cannot be killed by conventional weapons...Yes, you are correct. That had nothing to do with Pittsburgh...


5. One Down, One Up ~ I think that phrase usually goes the other way...oh well. Anyways, we may have lost Aaron Smith this week, but getting Troy back proved to be so much more pivotal than any of us had imagined. He led the team with 10 tackles today (7 solo) and generally showed us why he's the highest paid Steeler in team history. Which leads me to believe he may have been hurt earlier in the season and just didn't say anything. Either way, this is solid news and gives this defense a much needed boost. Plus the Steelers again have one excellent head of hair in the secondary...et tu Al Harris!

So look, this is not the end of the world. We're all disappointed (especially me) by this loss. But a win in St. Louis on Thursday, and in Baltimore on the following Sunday, and we can still take the division by way of our dominance over the Browns. Of course, no game is certain. And you better bet that if it comes down to the final game of the season, the Ravens would like nothing more than to play spoiler to the Steelers, as we did to the Bengals last season. Even still, I'm staying positive. We still have a great shot at the playoffs and then the season will start anew. After all, we were a wild card in '05, and look how that turned out.

Now it's your turn. As usual, I want to know what you all thought. What did we learn today? What are your thoughts on the Fred Taylor show? How about the Steeler fans leaving the game in the 3rd Quarter? Does Bruce Arians know we have the #1 running back in the NFL?

PS - In case you missed it, we had some great discussion going on during the game today. I will continue to do this every week. So please, join us. I'll bring the beers...and Domski will bring the Bartles & James wine coolers...

GAME RECAPS:
[Behind The Steel Curtain]
[Blitzburgh Report]
[DC Steeler Nation]
[Die Hard Steel]
[Doubt About It]
[Football Braniac]
[Joey Porter's Pitbulls]
[Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies]

[Associated Press]
[ESPN]
[Post-Gazette]
[Tribune-Review]
[SteelCityInsider]

Commence Field Conditions Gameday Discussion...

Let's do this.

Exit Sandman, Enter Prophet...

"The Jaguars and Steelers have been mirror images of each other for years, since Jacksonville entered the NFL in 1995 with the idea of building a team in the image of the Steelers."
- Ed Bouchette

"Good teams put it in the end zone."
-TJ DoucheHoushmanzadeh

First things first -- Anthony Smith is no longer The Sandman on One For The Other Thumb. He is now The Prophet. I had dubbed him "The Sandman" after the 1st Cincinnati game, when he deserved it. But after last week's shenanigans - Prophet. So for as long as we last this season, on Friday each week you'll see The Prophet preface my traditional Friday Morning Half Assed Analysis. Starting today.

Post begins...now.

The overall theme this week is reaffirmation. Reaffirmation of the Steelers ability to stop an Offense from marching down the field. Reaffirmation of their ability to be physical. And hopefully reaffirmation of their ability to score TOUCHDOWNS.

Regarding the latter, responsibility will largely be placed on the shoulders of Big Ben godsend. Although he sat out practice for the 2nd straight day yesterday, the team maintains that his shoulder is just sore and that it should not effect whether or not he plays on Sunday. And knowing Ben, I think we can all say we believe he wants to take the field and be the one to reaffirm our belief in said ability to score.

Before I get into the obligatory Friday "Llaves a Victoria" (Keys to Victory), there's a few milestones you should all be aware of that are in reach this weekend. So keep your collective eyes peeled for the following individual accomplishments:

1. Hines Ward needs 73 yards to overtake John Stallworth in Overall Career Receiving Yards
2. Big Ben needs 2 TD passes to tie The Blonde Bomber's single season record
3. Jeff Reed needs but ONE beer point to move into sole possession of 3rd place among the Steelers all time consumption scoring leaders.

Here's to hoping we'll be able to toast these accolades properly after Sunday's game...

And now, without further ado - below are a few things on either side of the ball that the Steelers should do to insure victory this weekend:

OFFENSE:

• 3 Points Ain't Gonna Cut It ~ What? You didn't see that coming? Yes, my first key to the Steelers Offensive success this Sunday or any Sunday for that matter is to SCORE TOUCHDOWNS. Field goals will help, but you need to be able to have the confidence that when your team gets beyond the 20, the 10, the 5 yard line, they're going to finish it off and get 7. We know they can do it. We just need to see it again. Now is the time to develop that Offensive rhythm to [hopefully] propel us into the playoffs. So again, note to Bruce Arians - Try not to get cute at the wrong time. Preferably the right time would be after the game when you're chatting up that chippy cheerleader...I see you BA...


• Two Words ~ Hines. Ward. Get him heavily involved in the passing game. We'll need a good amount of Santonio as well. But I'm envisioning the need for a lot of short passes to a guy who never disappoints. If you need a good pass play to pick up 10-15 yards, look no further. I'm a firm believer in if it ain't broke don't fix it, and Big Ben to Hines Ward ain't broke yet, so you do the math.


• Chicks Dig 3rd and 4th Down Conversions ~ Of course, ideally you don't have to deal with 4th down at all. But either way, when you get into 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1, you need to continue to keep those drives alive (mostly the 3rd downs but go with it). We did this very well against the Patriots. But the Jaguarsoffs Defense is just a hair better than the Pats...and by a hair I mean like a really [use your imagine on word choice] long hair. The Jags aren't going to fold like the Patriots would. This will likely mean Dump Davenport will need to come in and come up big in short yardage. Perhaps on the goal line, who knows. One way or another I'm seeing mucho Najeh. With maybe even a Heath Miller sprinkled in there for flavor...

DEFENSE:

• Trial By Fire ~ #1 objective on Defense is still STOP THE RUN. I talked about it yesterday, but let's not forget that once upon the 2000 season, Fred Taylor rushed for 234 yards on the Steelers. Of course, once upon the 2000 season Fred Taylor was 24 and had significantly less wear and tear. Nonetheless, he's still the #1 back for the Jags. He has earned our respect and we should plan to stop him accordingly. Fortunately or unfortuantely, much of this may come down to Nick Eason and/or Travis Kirschke and maybe a little Ryan McBean. I'm sure the Jags are privy to the news that Aaron Smith is no longer a concern on the Steelers Offensive Line, and they will be looking to fully exploit that fact. So Kirschke, Eason, McflyBean, whoever is assuming the position, please stop the Jaguars rushing attack at the line of scrimmage. We would be forever grateful. Thanks.


• Apply Pressure Liberally ~ They're either going to run the ball or pass short. Maybe a deviation here and there, but I'm not envisioning the game plan for the Jags becoming much more complex than that. So since we know that, make sure we're blitzing - getting penetration, and on the outside, pressing their receivers like we should've done against New England. They're some big dudes, but I'm pretty sure you can knock 'em off their routes and frustrate 'em just the same. Perhaps The Prophet would like to lend a hand...?


• This Is Football, Not A Tea Party ~ I feel like I use this analogy every week...probably because I do (someone please help me think of something else)...buuuuuuut -- Your balls are directly below your abdomen between those two things that help you run down the field. Now that you know where they are, try and use them. This was the single biggest problem I had with the game we played against the Patriots last week. We were playing flag football out there. Not hitting barely at all, let alone hitting hard, and generally not tackling well. Like I've said all week - this is going to be a physical game. If you're not ready to hit and be hit, you're not ready to win. So kick each other in the groin or something before the game. Remind yourselves what it's like so you do everything you can to avoid feeling like that after 60 minutes has expired.

And that's a wrap ladies and gents. At least that's what I think.

You guys have any thoughts on this game? What else should we be doing? Did you know that Fred Taylor is Santonio Holmes' cousin? And Troy Polamalu's Uncle is the Jaguars Running Backs Coach? Interestingly, Joey Porter and The Prophet are not related...weird...

PS - I plan on doing another gameday discussion thread here in case anyone wants to jump on and talk about the game while it's happening. Or we could talk about like Britney's new boyfriend and stuff...Your choice.

PPS - Everyone wish Cope well...in case you hadn't heard, he's in the hospital with pneumonia.

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Rookie DE Gets His First Chance to Impress Steelers [Wexell]
McBean Ready [SteelCityInsider]
Polamalu On Track to Start [Tribune-Review]
Steelers-Jaugars What to Look for[WPXI]
No Guarantees, Predictions This Week [Associated Press]
Exam Time for Eason, Kirschke [Post-Gazette]
Big Ben vs. Jaguars, No Fond Memories [Post-Gazette]
Roethlisberger Takes Snaps At Morning Practice [KDKA]
Polamalu Matched Against Uncle [Associated Press]

David Garrard Has Great Protection...

"David Garrard at quarterback is playing extremely well for them...He’s big, he’s strong, and he’s mobile. We’ll have our hands full in regards of containing him."
- Mike Tomlin

Hopefully you're still with me and haven't clicked away from the page disgusted...Everybody still there? Ok.

We've got the Jagoffuars coming into da Burgh this weekend, and after last week's debacle, memories of the last two times we've played the Jags, and the news that we've lost Aaron Smith for the season, it's tough to be very confident about how the Steelers will fare. But I'll do my best.

Jacksonville, as we all know, plays a similar game to our Steelers. They like to run the football and play tough, physical defense. In fact, they're physical in just about every aspect of their game.

Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are two backs that can punch you in the face just as quickly as they can dance around you. David Garrard is a 6'2", 240 pound mobile and efficient Quarterback who operates behind a pretty capable Offensive Line (see headline). And their Wide Receiving corps consists of the 6'4, 214 pound Reggie Williams who is clearly the biggest scoring threat of the bunch (and torched us last time for a good 95 yards), the 6'4", 223 pound Ernest Wilford who pretty much doesn't count except for the fact that he's a big dude, and the 6'6", 238 pound Matt "Big Red" Jones who also took it to the Steelers the last time we met (6 catches for 73 yards).

On Defense, take your pick. Although Jacksonville will be without starting DT Marcus Stroud (IR) and DE Reggie Hayward, two of it's top lineman, they've gotten a lot bigger play this season from guys like DE Paul Spicer, the team's sack leader with 6.5, and backup DTs Grady Jackson and Rob Meier. Plus, they've still got Rashean Mathis, the man who you all may remember iced the victory for them in our 2005 meeting (when Tommy Maddox tossed him the game, literally). And also they now have Sammy Knight at Strong Safety, who is leading the team in tackles with 70, despite pushing 70 in the age department (ok he's only 32 but still).

So yeah, this ain't exactly gonna be Tea and Crumpets out there. But after last week, my only hope is that the embarrassment in Foxborough has left the Steelers ANGRY and HUNGRY for a win. Hopefully this week we can try HITTING people instead of throwing our bodies around as if tackling meant falling all over ourselves while watching the guy with the ball run by us.

Now that we've gotten the poetry and prose out of the way, you might be asking - How do the Steelers and Jagoffsguars match up on paper? Well in keeping my Thursday routine consistent, I'll tell you. Read on, then we'll talk more:

OFFENSE:
Rushing Yards ~ Jax = 1870 (#2) | Pit = 1841 (#3)
Passing Yards ~ Jax = 2743 (#21) | Pit = 2765 (#20)
Total Yards ~ Jax = 4613 (#12) | Pit = 4606 (#13)
Points Scored ~ Jax = 305 (#10) | Pit = 309 (#8)

DEFENSE:
Rushing Yards (Allowed) ~ Jax = 1210 (#5) | Pit = 944 (#2)
Passing Yards (Allowed) ~ Jax = 3261 (#28) | Pit = 2464 (#3)
Total Yards (Allowed) ~ Jax = 4471 (#19) | Pit = 3408 (#1)
Points Against ~ Jax = 229 (#7) | Pit = 189 (#1)

So clearly our agenda this Sunday will be STOP THE RUN and PASS EFFECTIVELY. While this sounds all well and good, chances are it won't be that easy.

Even if we do stop the run, Garrard and this Offense we're facing is the dink and dunk kind of passing game that has been obliterating the Steelers all season (See Denver, Jets, New England). What's more, not only do they manage the game well with short throws and the run, but David Garrard has only thrown ONE interception on the entire YEAR! Now granted he missed three games in there. But the only other QB in the league that can come close to that is Jeff Garcia (who has also been injured) who has three picks. Of course the other side of that coin is that Garrard only has 13 passing TDs. So it looks like we've come full circle back to our original objective - Yep, STOP THE RUN. That will be the barometer for success on Defense against this beast.

On Offense, the objective is clearly to establish a passing game. The Jags are 28th against it (thought this could on a normal year easily be chalked up to the fact that they play the Colts twice). Most likely this will mean something similar to what we were forced into on Monday night against the Dolphins. However of equal importance is short yardage running. We can't completely avoid the run (unlike some recent opponents), nor should we. Willie Parker never got a rhythm going the last time we saw these guys. But with that depleted Defensive line of theirs, hopefully he will have a little more success this time around and at least crack 25 yards...yeah, you heard me.

Anyways, this will be a BATTLE. And I mean that in a greater sense than the last game against the Cheatriots. I mean this will be THE test of the year. Will the Steelers bring their balls this week? I sure hope so.

What do you guys think? Where can we gain the competitive edge? Do you think our front 7 can withstand that punishing running game? Will all 5'10" of DeShea Townsend be able to handle the Jags freakishly large receivers? Am I a complete screw up for photoshopping David Garrard's head on a Trojans package? What does that even have to do with this post?

Oh yeah, and the Jags also have cheerleaders, can't forget that:


REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Jacksonville 2007 Stats [Pro-Football-Reference]
Jacksonville 2007 Stats [ESPN]
Jags To See Steelers New Roethlisberger [Tribune-Review]
Jaguars Adjust Defensive Line [Tribune-Review]
Jags Benefit From Preseason QB Change [Tribune-Review]
Taylor Makes Late Push for Pro Bowl [FloridaToday]
Jaguars Cornerback Mathis Gets Some Rest [Orlando Sentinel]