We’re off to see the Wizard …

All this talk of wizardry confuses Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls. First off, Ken Whisenhunt, “The Wiz,” claims to have nothing especially tricky up his sleeve this weekend for his Arizona Cardinals’ matchup against the Steelers.

“I don't have any feelings,” Whisenhunt said.

Uh-huh. Shurrre.

Also in Arizona, assistant head coach Russ Grimm, a/k/a Karl Rove, says of his being passed over for Pittsburgh’s head coaching job, “If you put your neck out there sometimes, it's not always going to turn out the way you wanted. I wouldn't say it's a disappointment.”

Yeah, right.

Meanwhile, in talking about the Steelers’ defensive coordinator, Steelers linebacker Larry Foote, notes, “Dick LeBeau’s the wizard of defense, everybody knows that.”

So, then: Who will the more dazzling, wizardry wizard, Whisenunt or LeBeau?

Our crystal ball is cloudy, but our Magic 8 Ball says LeBeau’s Minions will baffle and bewitch Whisenhunt's Whizzes, including the beatific Kurt Warner, who shalll be stifled (hopefully) in his attempt to reincarnate himself as no-huddle mastermind and league MVP candidate, yet again.

In any case, the Steelers’ visit to University of Phoenix Stadium this weekend may be only the first of their two trips to Arizona this season.

The other is Feb. 3, date of Super Bowl XLII.

Uncle Sam Wants ... Sen. Larry Craig?

So I’m at the Pirates game last night (great catches by outfielders Nyjer Morgan and Nate McLouth by the way).

I go to the men’s room to do my business. Standing there, staring blankly at the ad poster above the urinal, I notice a business card inserted in the lower left corner of the poster frame. Looking more closely, I see it’s a business card for a recruiter from the U.S. Army National Guard. I’m thinking, “So this is what it’s come to in the world of recruiting for the armed forces: Trolling men’s rooms in public venues, sticking business cards in ad posters to solicit recruits.”

I understand recruiting numbers are down, especially for African-Americans (arguably the backbone of the U.S. Army), but this is ridiculous.

Even more depressing: Has it really gotten this bad for Pirates’ fans? I mean, seriously, what desperate, disconsolate Buccos’ fan is going to be so forlorn by yet another 90-loss season to the point that you’re standing there, thinking, “All right, I’ve had enough of all this losing. I’m giving up on the Pirates and am going to sign up NOW to go to Iraq! Fallujah, here I come!!"

Seeing Red

Well, then, isn’t this NFL season shaping up to be an interesting one?

To tell the truth, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls aren’t all that surprised to see what we consider the top four teams (Indianapolis, New England, Dallas and Pittsburgh) looking so good.

As the regular season approached, we became more and more upbeat about the Steelers and new coach Mike Tomlin, whom we like a lot. The team has looked terrific so far, albeit against three teams that most people would consider mediocre, at best. We remain optimistic that the Steelers will fare well, overall, the rest of the way.

What’s interesting to us is the sudden and precipitous decline in the performance of several teams we thought would be good: San Diego, Kansas City, New Orleans, Chicago, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Denver, Seattle … all have looked frayed at the edges and in varying states of disarray. Other teams (Jacksonville, Seattle, Miami, the Jets, St. Louis, Washington) already seem to be playing on the fringe of contention and appear like that’s exactly where they’ll stay.

And we’re okay with all of that.

As "they" say, one game at a time, and this week’s matchup takes the Steelers to the Arizona desert to meet the Cardinals. This matchup bears watching for several reasons:

• The Coaching Connection – We all know that storyline: Ken Whisenhunt and RussGrimm, top assistants on Bill Cowher’s staff in Pittsburgh, were widely considered to be front-runners to be named head coach. The Steelers hired Mike Tomlin – and we believe he was the right choice – and the Cardinals hired Whisenhunt and Grimm, as well as others with a Pittsburgh connection both on and off the field, including Kevin Spencer, special teams coach. Naturally, everybody wants to see how this will play out, and this Sunday’s game will be compelling to watch if for no other reason than the coaching dynamics.
• Yet there are other compelling reasons, and none more so than the Cardinals’ skill-position players. When Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls watched the Cardinals-49ers Monday night matchup to conclude the first week of the season, we became mildly concerned. The Cards have some elite skill-position players in wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald (former Pitt star), and running back Edgerrin James. Backup running backs Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington can provide a spark, too, as can wide receiver Bryant Johnson, a former number one draft pick from Penn State.
• At quarterback, an ineffective Matt Leinart was replaced last Sunday by Kurt Warner, who absolutely lit up the Baltimore Ravens. Warner completed 15 of 20 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, a 75 percent completion percentage and 150.0 QB rating. Anquan Boldin had 14 catches (!) for 183 yards (!!). All this came against the “vaunted” Ravens defense (chumps). We fully expect to see Warner replace Leinart, early, against the Steelers. The two-time NFL MVP has a quick release, veteran poise, and pinpoint accuracy when he’s on. This could be worrisome.
• On defense, the Cards play a four-three defense and, like the 49ers, have a corps of talented, athletic players, including several good cover guys in the secondary and fairly consistent pressure up the middle. Standouts include safeties Adrian Wilson and Terrance Holt; corners Rod Hood and Eric Green; and middle linebacker Gerald Hayes, formerly of the Pitt Panthers. Defensive ends Antonio Smith and Bertrand Berry are quick, active and aggressive -- but perhaps a little undersized. Still, getting Willie Parker outside on this group might be a bit of a challenge.
• We will watch another player with great interest. That would be kick returner/wide receiver Steve Breaston, who grew up in the Pittsburgh area and starred at Woodland Hills High School and the University of Michigan. The Cardinals drafted the speedy Breaston in hopes that he would become their version of the Bears’ electrifying return specialist, Devin Hester. Breaston has all the requisite skills, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed he doesn’t but a long return on Sunday.
• For what it’s worth, former Steelers with the Cardinals include Chukky Okobi, backup center; Sean Morey; backup wide receiver and special teams specialist; Rodney Bailey, backup defensive lineman; Tim Euhaus, third-team tight end; and Mike Barr, punter and holder on place kicks. Hmmm, supposedly one reason Bill Cowher didn't keep Barr on the roster for the 2006 season was a lack of confidence in Barr's holds on placekicks. Might there be a field goal blocked on Sunday?
  

Should be fun.

Addendum: Expect to See Warner Run the No-Huddle

By the way, when Warner enters the game on Sunday early in the second quarter (if not sooner), look for the Cardinals to go into full no-huddle mode immediately.

Whisenhunt will have a built-in excuse for the quick trigger: He can explain that the veteran Warner is more comfortable with the no-huddle; that he wanted to use the no-huddle to pressure the Steelers’ defense and disrupt situational substitutions; and that he wants Leinart to master the intricacies of the position before burdening him with the no-huddle.

This will happen, and it provides Whisenhunt with a convenient way to replace Leinart without “replacing” him.

Alex Smith is Having Nightmares This Week

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls have a feeling the Steelers’ defense is going to have another big game Sunday against the 49ers, who are undefeated after two narrow wins over St. Louis and Arizona. San Francisco’s young quarterback Alex Smith, a former Number One Overall Draft Choice out of the University of Utah, is in his third year as a starter, which makes him a veteran, but he is still the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL for the third straight season – and how is that even possible? Frankly, he hasn’t shown much in the NFL, although he and the Utah Utes did dismantle the Pitt Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl a few years ago – but the Steelers’ defense ain’t the Pitt Panthers’ defense. Thank God for that, a painful fact young Mr. Smith will discover soon enough.

Smith does have good mobility (he’ll need it!) and a decent passing touch, but he doesn’t have a big arm, his receivers are pedestrian, and the 49ers’ coaching staff have maintained a fairly conservative playbook (demonstrating what appears to be a lack of confidence in Smith).

A number of factors are likely to come into play on Sunday:

· The 49ers will be playing a second straight game on the road, following their win in St. Louis on Sunday. This time, they cross the country to the Eastern Time Zone.

· After playing in St. Louis and returning to San Francisco, the Niners’ Pro Bowl starting RB, Frank Gore, flew to Miami for his mother’s funeral (our condolences, by the way). He then flew back from Miami to San Francisco and was expected to return to practice on Thursday. He was accompanied by two teammates, left tackle Jonas Jennings and fullback Moran Norris, along with running backs coach Bishop Harris. Jennings was described as “exhausted” when he returned to San Francisco on Wednesday. This has to have been an emotional and draining week for all concerned, but Gore may play an inspired game fueled by adrenaline on Sunday. In any case, the majorly talented Gore, who had 1,595 yards rushing (!) last year, spearheads the 49ers’ offense.

· And it’s a good thing for them, because their receivers are average, at best. Arnaz Battle is Hines Ward Lite, and Darrell "Pushoff" Jackson, continues his history of erratic, sometimes effective play, plagued by periodic drops, including two long passes this season that have gone through Jackson's hands.

· The 49ers have yet to get the ball much to their talented young tight end, Vernon Davis (the number six overall draft pick in 2006), much to his chagrin (and he’s started to woof about it).

· As noted above, the offensive game plans have been conservative, and dapper head coach Mike Nolan has had to defend the play calling all week: “We don't have a creativity problem,” Nolan said. "We do shotgun, reverses, play-action passes, and we do a lot of things with formations. But when it's ineffective, then that's what you have to fix. Our inconsistencies really lie in the execution." Uh-huh.

· Which may happen (execution) to the Niners backfield on Sunday, if starting center Eric Heitmann can’t handle the Steelers’ monster All-Pro nose tackle Casey Hampton. Heitman (or anybody else) would have problems with Hampton even when healthy, but Heitman has been hobbled by a dodgy ankle. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “OL David Baas filled in at practice for Heitmann, the starting center who has endured two tough games already this season. Baas, the 49ers' backup at both guard positions, played center during his senior season at Michigan. He could be snapping to Alex Smith in games soon if Heitmann's injured ankle doesn't improve.” Oh-oh. Alex Smith should not be sleeping well this week.

· Having said that, the Niners do have some good players on their offensive line, including the stalwart veterans Jonas Jennings (tackle) and Larry Allen (guard) on the left side, and impressive rookie first-rounder Joe Staley at right tackle.

The 49ers’ problem is they just don’t have enough playmakers on offense.

In Their Defense

Expect Daniel Sepulveda to get several chances to punt because the 49ers’ defense is fairly good. They definitely have some intriguing talent. Rookie inside linebacker Patrick Willis is being hailed as the early front-runner for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Free agent signee Tully Banta-Cain has demonstrable pass-rushing skills. The second of last year’s two number one picks, Manny Lawson, is a super-fast, super-freak of an athlete at outside linebacker/rush end. (*Thursday Afternoon Update: Lawson tore his ACL in practice on Wednesday and is done for the season.)

The secondary is talented and aggressive. It features shutdown cornerback Nate Clements, with Pitt’s Shauntae Spencer playing a key role at nickel back, and the rangy, physical Michael Lewis at strong safety. Also, 33-year-old cornerback Walt Harris had eight interceptions last year and went to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his 11-year NFL career.

Kicking It About

In a game of attrition and field position, then, punting could become a major factor. This makes for an interesting storyline, if only because of the off-season maneuvering whereby the Steelers made a contract offer to San Francisco punter Andy Lee, who punted for Pitt during his college career and was a restricted free agent following last season.

Lee initially accepted the Steelers offer, but the Niners matched or bettered it, thereby retaining the rights to keep Lee. Having failed in their attempt to woo the veteran left-footed Lee away from San Francisco, the Steelers traded up in the draft to select their own southpaw kicker, Daniel Sepulveda, with a fourth-round draft choice. We’re glad they did. We would rather have Sepulveda than Lee.

Of course, we may feel differently on Sunday, if the Niners manage to block a punt or two, God forbid, but Sepulveda has the stronger leg, more upside and counts less against the salary cap (San Francisco signed Lee to a six-year, $7.1 million contract, for cryin’ out loud).

Prediction

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls will be surprised if the Niners get 200 yards of offense. We wouldn’t be surprised if San Francisco turns the ball over two or three times. And we expect the Steelers' defensive pressure to wear down the Niners, while the Steelers offense should be able to pop some big plays.

All in all, then, this could become a game of field position and turnovers. Which we expect the Steelers to win. Handily.

Footnote: After describing the 49ers' attack as conservative, tight end Vernon Davis almost laughed when asked whether such a plan would work Sunday against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers: "No way."

Well, at least we can agree on one thing.

49ERS	Rank	STEELERS	Rank
Total Offense	32	Total Offense	6
Passing Offense	31	Passing Offense	22
Rushing Offense	23	Rushing Offense	2
Total Defense	17	Total Defense	3
Run Defense	17	Run Defense	5
Pass Defense	17	Pass Defense	3
KOR Average	24	KOR Average	10
PR Average	12T	PR Average	24T
KO Coverage	5	KO Coverage	24
PR Coverage	4	PR Coverage	1

It’s Plain as Black and White

Apropos of nothing at all …

Ironic, isn’t it, the looming possibility of two families, the Bushes and Clintons, potentially controlling the White House for seven consecutive terms spanning 28 years (1989-2017)? … and how the Clintons were dogged by Whitewater, while the renegade security firm mercenary organization unregulated army security firm Blackwater USA is currently in the news during these waning days of the current Bush administration. Of course, things aren’t quite so black and white as all this, but still … can you say, "Plutocracy"?

What's in a name?

We’re baaaack ...

Let the games begin.

It’s Browns Week. ‘Nuff said. We’re ready.

Oh, and by the way, it’s the first game of the 2007-08 season. So, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls have returned from our long somnambulance.

In case you were wondering, yes, we did consider renaming this blog. And, no, not to “Michael Vick’s Pit Bulls.” Smart ass. But Joey Porter is no longer with the Steelers, so he is essentially irrelevant. “Dead to us,” as the young Don Corleone might say to Fredo.

Anyway, for now, we’re keeping the name because: (1) We’re too lazy to change it; (2) We’re too lazy to change it; and (3) It has brand equity, believe it or not; i.e., a handful of people seem to like it, and others kindly provide links on their blogrolls.

So we’re keeping the name. For now.

This week, we will discuss some of the names the Steelers kept on their 53-man roster entering the season (subject to change of course).

Today’s subject: Kick Returner Allen Rossum.

The last-minute-trade of a conditional draft pick to acquire the 32-year-old Rossum was mystifying, if only because: (1) He’s old; (2) He can’t do anything except return kicks; and (3) The Steelers already have a handful of players who can return punts (Cedric Wilson and Santonio Homes) and kickoffs (Willie Reid, Najeh Davenport, Holmes and Wilson), while fulfilling other roles productively.

Willie Reid, apparently, is why Rossum is here. Or, to be more precise, Willie Reid’s lack of success as a kick returner is why Rossum is here.

Yet, if Rossum is here, why is Willie Reid still here? Potential, presumably, since he sure hasn’t shown much to indicate he will be either reliable or productive as a returner or receiver. Still, we wonder: How will Reid showcase his talents if Rossum is handling punts and kickoffs? We don’t have the answer, but it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls just don’t want to see Rossum deployed in the secondary because ... as a cornerback, well, he ain’t.

This point was made rather emphatically in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, discussing one of the key reasons Atlanta’s coaching staff deemed Rossum expendable:

“Rossum, meanwhile, had been demoted at cornerback behind rookies David Irons and Chris Houston and was solely a returner. This staff wants its role players to contribute in as many ways as possible.”

Just sayin’.