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’.

The Pirates: Playing the Patsy

Maddening. Stupefying. Dumbfounding. Confounding.

This is primarily a Steelers blog, but as an avid, lifelong Pirates fan, I just can’t let this latest bumbling tomfoolery of a Dave Littlefield trade-deadline transaction pass without comment.

Alrighty then, let’s get to it: Dave Littlefield, Pirates general manager, has added pitcher Matt Morris and his mind-boggling contract.

This exasperating move is so astonishing in its ineptitude, on so many levels, as to be downright stupefying.

Terms of Morris's staggering contract, as reported by Dejan Kovacevic today in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, are thus:

“Morris will take up roughly 20 percent of the Pirates' entire payroll, which now stands at $47.3 million without counting the $5.5 million in deferred money being paid to Jason Kendall.

“His salary this season is $10,037,283, breaking the previous franchise high of $8,833,333 for Brian Giles in 2003. Morris also is due $9.5 million next season, has a club option for $9 million in 2009 with a $1 million buyout and an unusual $2 million signing bonus that is due at the expiration of the contract.

His total guaranteed money, including the prorated $3.66 million salary for this season, is $15.7 million.”

This is exactly the kind of trade the Pirates shouldn't be making. How many times has this sort of thing happened during the past 8-10 years (under Bonifay and Littlefield alike)? … i.e., misguided spending; staggeringly bad baseball decisions; no plan, no vision, no clue. I've said it time and again, starting with Derek Bell and continuing right through Burnitz, Randa, Armas, et al, and now Morris, ad nauseaum: "I would rather take that money (starting with $9 million for Bell, etcetera, etcetera, ad nauseaum) and INVEST IT IN SCOUTING AND DEVELOPMENT!!!"

No, they keep plowing millions upon millions of dollars into broken-down, over-the-hill veterans too numerous to recount. Does Littlefield really believe this kind of short-sighted, short-term move will save his job? Matt Morris? At this point of his career?? For the salary he's making??? Ugh.

There is nothing creative, helpful or productive about this transaction.

By the way, minutes after the deal was consummated yesterday, Littlefield was interviewed on the Bendel & Benz radio show on 970-AM. His exact words, verbatim:

“We’re pleased with where we’re at.”

Okay, "where we're at," then, if you please? Last place; 15 years of losing. And counting. That’s “where we’re at.”

The View From the Other Side

San Francisco Giants fans and media are chortling and hoo-hooing about this deal. They couldn't wait to ride Morris out of town, and they still can't believe they found a willing sucker to play the patsy.

They are downright gleeful and incredulous that the Giants didn't have to assume even part, let alone all of, Morris's contract.

Check out the write-up and reader comments in the excellent blog, McCovey Chronicles, and also the mainstream coverage at sfgate.com.

It's tragicomic reading for Pirates’ fans.

And, we can only hold our collective breath and cringe in anticipatory “hope” that the players to be named later in both the Cesar Izturis and Matt Morris deals won’t turn into productive major leaguers for the Cubs and Giants, respectively. That would be insult upon injury because, Lord knows, we don’t have enough of those types of players on our major-league club.

I'm going to the Pirates' game tonight … and it’s just, well, sad, that this proud franchise has been reduced to this state of pathos.*

*State of Pathos: Exhibit A – Catcher Ronny Paulino’s ineptitude on consecutive plays last night, failing to catch a foul pop-up (albeit with an apparently wicked spin) and failing to catch Jack Wilson’s perfect relay throw that would have cut down a lumbering Scott Rolen at the plate (albeit with a tough short-hop). Both plays may have been deceptively tough, but they have to be made, if you have the talent, will and gumption to compete in the major leagues. If not, well, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the 2007 Pittsburgh Pirates.**

Other viewpoints:

ESPN’s Jayson Stark:

“The Giants' brass was sitting around its suite Tuesday morning, bemoaning the fact that it had no decent deals cooking whatsoever. And then, out of the blue, it happened. The Pirates called. And wanted Matt Morris. His 7.94 ERA since mid-June? Not a problem. That $9.5 million he's owed next year (counting his 2009 buyout)? Not a problem. And so they swooped in and finished off a deal for Morris minutes before the deadline -- for a legit prospect (Rajai Davis), a second prospect to be chosen from an agreed-upon list and absolutely zero money changing hands. Well, it didn't take long. For the next two hours, after people around baseball learned of this deal, they couldn't stop calling, e-mailing and texting reactions that could probably be summed up with three succinct words: WHAT THE BX!GRZFDQ!!!!! Don't get us wrong here. We love Matt Morris. Terrific guy. Has had a wonderful career. Should be a fine mentor to those young Pirates starters. But the Giants were just about begging teams to take Morris and offering to chomp big chunks of his money if they had to. Then this team going nowhere dropped out of the sky and took the man and the money. What a country. “That move,” said one incredulous front-office man, “is so far out of left field, it's in the Monongahela.”

Henry Schulman, San Francisco Chronicle:

“Morris' tone in a phone interview made it clear he was not happy with the deal, but he held his tongue lest he insult his employer for the next 14 months - the 42-62 Pirates, who have not had a winning season since Barry Bonds left as a free agent in 1992.”

“Maybe if he pitched better there would have been different circumstances for him or the organization as far as the deal," said Giants general manager Brian Sabean, who said the Giants would have tried to trade Morris even if he were winning.

“To turn the page the way we're doing things, we're going to need as much flexibility as we can get next year,” Sabean said. "Unfortunately, in Matt's situation, he became the odd man out.”

Shedding Morris' salary means as much or more than the players the team got in return. Nevertheless, in Rajai Davis, the Giants add a needed element in their organization, a young outfielder with speed.

John Perotto, Beaver County Times:

“Every non-contender in baseball, except one, was looking to deal high-salaried players for youngsters Tuesday as the non-waiver trading deadline came and went.

“That exception was the Pittsburgh Pirates, who traded for a pitcher with $15.7 million left on his contract despite being on their way to a 15th straight losing season.”

SI.com:

“The Pittsburgh Pirates got pitcher Matt Morris from San Francisco on Tuesday, an uncommon deal for a high-priced player by an out-of-contention team at the trading deadline ... Normally, teams not in the race don't look to add an aging and expensive starter such as Morris.”

Tim Kawakami, San Jose Mercury News:

“Morris was pitching horrendously – no shock to this raging skeptic, since I suggested that the Giants should've traded him months ago.”

Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports:

Losers:

1. Pirates

“The idea of adding veteran right-hander Matt Morris to lead a young rotation isn't ridiculous. But has anyone with the Pirates seen Morris pitch lately?

“Over his last eight starts he has allowed almost two hits per inning, his ERA rising from 2.56 to 4.35. Morris, who turns 33 on Aug. 9, is one of the game's great competitors, but his successful opening to the season now looks like an aberration.

“No low-revenue team can afford a No. 5 starter earning $9.5 million, and that description could very well fit Morris next season. GM Dave Littlefield just keeps digging himself a bigger hole.”

========================

**Here's John Perrotto's account of "The Paulino Sequence" in last night's game:

"With the score tied 2-2, two outs and a runner on first base in the sixth inning, the St. Louis Cardinals' Ryan Ludwick lofted a high pop fly toward the screen behind home plate. Catcher Ronny Paulino drifted back toward the ball then watched as it landed two feet away from him.

"Ludwick then ripped the next pitch to the center-field fence and Scott Rolen scored the go-ahead run when Paulino, who may have the most famous hands of stone since Roberto Duran, dropped shortstop Jack Wilson's perfect on-target relay throw.

"For good measure, after being booed off the field at the end of the top of the sixth, Paulino lined the first pitch in the bottom of the inning into the gap in left-center but was robbed on a diving catch made by none other than Ludwick, the left fielder.

"Thus, the Pirates fell to an abysmal 2-14 since the All-Star break and 20 games under .500 at 42-62."

We're Back!

Hey! It’s football season again! Well, training camp, anyway, and that’s good enough to awake from our off-season slumber and shake off the bad taste left by the Pirates, moribund and lifeless as they are.

Anyway, lots to talk about, but we’ll start slow.

How about that Lawrence Timmons?!* Nice first-round draft pick, huh?

Here’s an idea: Why don’t we just move our new punter, Daniel Sepulveda, to Timmons’ slot at linebacker? Hell, Sepulveda is bigger and faster than Timmons, he’s played a little linebacker, and he’s healthy, too! What a great idea!! That way, we could reward the Irish kid, punter Mike Barr, for his persistence in showing up four straight camps and continuing to boom the ball.

Is it too early to label Timmons a bust? Of course it is, but not here!

====================================

*As noted in the May 1 draft-analysis entry:

“Aside from being small, slow, raw and inexperienced, and having Drew Rosenhaus as his agent, what’s not to like?

“As noted in this space before the draft, we would have preferred to see the Steelers draft Purdue’s Anthony Spencer, so it will be interesting to see how their respective careers play out. For us, Timmons will always be measured against Spencer and Jarvis Moss (who went just two picks later), as well as two linebackers who went in last year’s draft: Ernie Sims, his predecessor at Florida State, who went number nine overall to Detroit and led the team in tackles his rookie year; and Camerion Wimbley, who went number 13 overall last year and has the look of a mainstay on the Browns’ defense for many years to come.

Second Round: While we are less than enthralled with the Timmons selection, we are very happy that the Steelers were able to add Lamarr Woodley, DE/LB, Michigan, with their second pick. As noted here before the draft – again – we were hoping Woodley, 6-1-1/2, 266, would end up in black and gold … but we figured he’d be gone by pick number 46 overall, so we’re thrilled the Steelers had the good sense to pick him when he was still there. He won the Lombardi Award, the Hendricks Award, and more. He’s a winner, and we expect the Steelers to use him initially in a three-point stance to RUSH THE PASSER off the left edge. Excellent pick.”

**Addendum: Before the draft, we were looking at Spencer’s incredible stats from college and thinking, “Sheesh, if this guy finished second for the Hendricks Award, who the hell finished first?” It was Woodley, of course, and we couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t rated higher. We concluded it was his flat-out 40 time. Still, the guy’s a football player and, already, media pundits are saying, “Hey, now it looks like Woodley should have been the number one pick and Timmons a number two.”

And you would’ve been happy with that.

Also, and only because we like to say, "Told ya so!", here's an excerpt from a post we published before the draft :

"We also like (a lot) Lamarr Woodley (6’2, 270), the majorly accomplished defensive end/linebacker from Michigan, but he almost certainly will be selected before the Steelers’ second-round pick."

Reality check: It’s only the first week of training camp, for crying out loud.

But still.

Running for Cover

To anybody who has been paying attention, it’s clear the Steelers plan to add some fresh wrinkles to the offense under new head coach Mike Tomlin and new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. More spread formations, crisper rhythm all around, greater use of the (gasp!) tight ends, more swing passes, quicker breaks, etcetera.

All long overdue and, hopefully, these changes will help the Steelers offense open lanes while shoring up their weaknesses (pass protection) and optimizing their strengths (getting Fast Willie Parker out in space, as in, open field, and moving the chains with quick-hit passes to receivers, including tight ends).

We keep hearing coaches and players use the term, “less predictable” in reference to the offense, and that should be a good thing.

All well and good, indeed. Especially if Fast Willie Parker maintains the blessed good health he enjoyed throughout last season … if, however, he goes down, God forbid, what then?

It’s a fair question not only because of who the Steelers may have available to step in, but also because of what type of backs they are likely to have. If FWP goes down, will that force a return to the kind of crimped, between-the-tackles inside running game we’ve grown so accustomed to around here?

After all, in their quest to find a big back to complement FWP, the Steelers have quietly stockpiled a bevy of fairly big backs. Nobody quite as big or as productive as Jerome Bettis — who is? … he was one of a kind — then again, nobody as fast as Fast Willie Parker, either, but who is?

Najeh Davenport (250 lbs.), John Kuhn (255), Kevan Barlow (235), Carey Davis (235), Paul Mosley (235),Verron Haynes (225): All these guys are between-the-tackles types, and all are at least 235 pounds, with the exception of Haynes, who’s never been a burner in any case.

The only exception to the between-the-tackles model would be undrafted free agent rookie Gary Russell, who is listed at 5’11”, 215 pounds, and is evidently a slasher. We don’t know yet what we have in him. But if Fast Willie Parker goes down for the season this weekend in minicamp, Russell would be the closest thing to him in terms of approximate physical stature and, possibly, running style.

So, we’re just asking.

And that brings us to the subject of Kevan Barlow (pictured above). Our reaction to his signing? Eh. We’ll see. Does he bring anything that you’re not getting already from Najeh Davenport, who performed well last year, or John Kuhn, who looked good in training camp last year and could play on all special teams? Hard to say. Will Barlow even be willing to play special teams? … and we’re not even talking about returning kickoffs? Will he make a block or bust a wedge? Has he ever?

Again, just asking.

Willie Reid, if he makes the team, presumably will take over the primary kickoff return duties from Davenport. But Davenport actually did pretty well in that role last year, and he showed he could catch the ball out of the backfield. He did everything he was asked to do.
So has Verron Haynes, who has always excelled on special teams and in the role of the third-down back, as a blocker, runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield, but his health presently makes him a question mark.

Bottom line: We’re not as excited about Barlow as some people. At least he gives them an option at running back, and he’s signed at a cut-rate price. He was a star at Peabody, at Pitt and in the NFL with the 49ers, so he’s worth a look. We just wonder if he has anything left – and, if his skills have diminished as a running back, well … he’s not likely to give you what you need from your third running back on all the various special teams.

Tag! You’re it!

Silence.

After all the hysterical pre-draft trade speculation, nobody’s talking about Alan Faneca. The Steelers’ front office is silent. The Faneca camp is silent. Even the grubby mainstream media is silent.

Not Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls.

Hey! Somebody’s got to say it!

What?

The Steelers plan to franchise-tag his ass.

What’s that mean?

Along with Minnesota’s Steve Hutchinson, Faneca is one of the two best guards in football. Faneca’s contract expires after the coming season, so before the April 28 draft most people assumed one of three things would occur: (1) The Steelers would sign him to a lucrative five-year extension with a signing bonus in the very posh neighborhood of $50 million, a bar set by the recent contracts given to Faneca’s legitamate peer, Hutchinson, and Eric Steinbach, a journeyman who’s never been All-Pro; (2) Trade Faneca for a high-round draft pick, with Arizona discussed as the logical destination because of Faneca’s pronounced affection for former Steelers’ assistant coaches Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, now in charge in the desert; or (3) let him play out his contract and become a free agent following the coming season.

The fourth option that nobody has discussed in public (that we’ve heard) is The Frachise Tag. In the murky world of Salary Cap Management, players generally hate the franchise tag, and franchises (the Steelers in particular) are loathe to use it. They’re allowed to tag one player per year at a league-average top-five salary for the position.

The club is in control, however, and if ever a situation called for using the franchise tag, this is it.

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls are not cap experts, so feel free to correct us. But, as we understand it, the franchise tag stipulates that the club pay Faneca at the equivalent average of a top-five player at his position – without a signing bonus. Franchising Faneca would put his salary for the 2008-09 season at about $9.55 million -- a one-year commitment that is fair, which is what the Steelers ostensibly are all about. Unfortunately for Faneca – and we should all be so unfortunate to be in a position to receive a one-year salary of about $9-10 million – this represents getting cock-blocked. He’s at an age – in his prime – where he should expect to cash in on a five-year deal at market price: about $50 million guaranteed, with a base salary starting at $7 million and escalating to about $11.5 million over the length of the contract, with the understanding that he’ll never see the back-ended last two years. That’s why, for the player and agent, it’s so important to nail down that guaranteed money in a signing bonus. That’s cash, baby, and money talks.

And bullshit walks.

If the Steelers have proven anything over the years, it’s that they have little patience for bullshit. And if Faneca thought he was going to push his leverage as a pending free agent, that’s bullshit. He can miss voluntary workouts and min-camp. He can talk sweet nothings about his fondness for Whisenhunt and Grimm. He can pout and bemoan the “direction” the Steelers are taking with new coach Mike Tomlin.

But the Steelers won’t be strong-armed. Faneca’s been a great player for them over the years, and a model citizen. He and his wife have done a lot of good work for charities (including The Epilepsy Foundation, among others) in the community. He’s kept a low profile, never gotten in trouble and appears to be destined for the Hall of Fame. He’s earned his right to a big payday.

He’ll get it, eventually. Not here, though, not unless you count $10 million as a “big payday.” I do, and you do. But that’s beside the point.

Next January, the Steelers will franchise Faneca’s ass and effectively cock-block him for another year. They can keep doing this, by the way, for another two years beyond that. He’s not going anywhere. The Steelers have to negotiate long-term contracts with two other elite players, Ben Roethlisgberger and Troy Polamulu. In the meantime, they can hold their cards close to the vest. You can’t give huge signing bonuses to everybody – so they'll assess their options with Roethlisberger and Polamulu, and wait on Faneca. If his play declines or he gets injured, God forbid, they'll let him walk.

He knows it, his agent knows it, and the Steelers know it.

At the moment, however, to Faneca they are saying, effectively, “Tag! You’re it!”

Draft ‘n ‘At

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls are satisfied with the Steelers’ new crop of draft picks and undrafted free agents.

Lost in the day-after wailing and gnashing of teeth over the Steelers’ failure to draft a running back was the fact that on Monday they did add a running back (two, actually) among the crop of undrafted free agents.

We predict one of them will make the team. That would be Gary Russell, running back from the University of Minnesota.

Why did Russell go undrafted? Well, for one, he didn’t play last year. Injured? No. Too small, too slow? No, and no. Buried on the depth chart, a la Willie Parker at North Carolina? Again, no.

Gary Russell didn’t play last year because he was ruled academically ineligible.

He dropped out of school.

That took him out of the spotlight and almost completely off the radar screen. So, give the Steelers credit for signing this guy. Maybe they had a deal worked out before the draft.

They must have had competition. This guy was no secret.

When he played for the Golden Gophers during the 2006 season, Ross started only game but split time in the backfield with Laurence Maroney, last year’s number one draft choice of the New England Patriots. Maroney and Ross each went over 1,000 yards rushing, and Ross scored 19 touchdowns for Minnesota, 18 on the ground.

This followed a stellar high school career in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. In Russell’s senior year, he rushed for more than 2,100 yards and scored 29 touchdowns, the same number of touchdowns he scored as a junior.

For more details, check out the “strengths” and “weaknesses” listed in his “Prospect Profile” on NFL.com, which compares him to Dallas’s Marion Barber, who’s a pretty good football player, and also had this to say:

“Russell actually looks a bit like a former Cowboy, Emmitt Smith, as he has excellent explosion and cutback ability, along with that low center of gravity that makes it tough for defenders to attack his legs.”

If anything, Russell reminds us of Kenny Irons, the Auburn running back drafted in the second round by the Bengals. In any case, Gary Russell is an intriguing prospect, to say the least. The Steelers did well to sign him, and we don’t feel so bad about them not drafting a running back.

Which brings us back to the draft.

First round: Lawrence Timmons: Aside from being small, slow, raw and inexperienced, and having Drew Rosenhaus as his agent, what’s not to like?

As noted in this space before the draft, we would have preferred to see the Steelers draft Purdue’s Anthony Spencer, so it will be interesting to see how their respective careers play out. For us, Timmons will always be measured against Spencer and Jarvis Moss (who went just two picks later), as well as two linebackers who went in last year’s draft: Ernie Sims, his predecessor at Florida State, who went number nine overall to Detroit and led the team in tackles his rookie year; and Camerion Wimbley, who went number 13 overall last year and has the look of a mainstay on the Browns’ defense for many years to come.

Second Round: While we are less than enthralled with the Timmons selection, we are very happy that the Steelers were able to add Lamarr Woodley, DE/LB, Michigan, with their second pick. As noted here before the draft – again – we were hoping Woodley, 6-1-1/2, 266, would end up in black and gold … but we figured he’d be gone by pick number 46 overall, so we’re thrilled the Steelers had the good sense to pick him when he was still there. He won the Lombardi Award, the Hendricks Award, and more. He’s a winner, and we expect the Steelers to use him initially in a three-point stance to RUSH THE PASSER off the left edge. Excellent pick.

Third round: Matt Spaeth, tight end, University of Minnesota. This is a head-scratcher. At least, like Woodley, Spaeth, 6-7, 270, won the major individual award (The Mackey Award) for his position as the best tight end in the country, so he’s got that going for him. As for how he might fit into the Steelers’ plans, we should get used to seeing some new schemes now that the Tomlin-Arians era is here. Perhaps multiple tight end sets, with either Spaeth or Heath Miller serving as a slot receiver? We shall see.

Fourth Round: Daniel Sepulveda, P, Baylor. Not to say, “told you so,” but once again we wrote in this space before the draft that we hoped the Steelers would draft either Sepulveda or Adam Podlesh (Maryland). Of course, Ryan Smith over at HeelsSoxSteelers has been trumpeting this pick for months. Like Woodley and Spaeth, Sepulveda won the top award for his position – The Ray Guy Award – which he won not once, but twice, a first for that award. So, we were gratified the Steelers drafted Sepulveda. That they traded up to do so only underscored the urgency of landing this guy after Jacksonville drafted Podlesh, who rated marginally higher as a slightly better technician with no career blocks. Anyway, Sepulveda is a beast who kicks the ball consistently long, with good hang time and down-placement technique. We like this pick a lot, as the Steelers are long overdue for upgrading the play of all special teams. Apparently, Coach Tomlin truly believes that special teams matter, and so do we.

Fourth Round: Ryan McBean, DL, 6-4 1/2, 285, Oklahoma State. We like this pick a lot. We saw McBean play some for Oklahoma State, and he impressed. He’s a versatile guy who should get to play inside as well as outside. Good pick, and good value at this spot.

Fifth Round: Cameron Stephenson, G, 6-3, 306, Rutgers. Maybe a bit of a development project, but the Steelers absolutely needed to shore up depth along the offensive line, and this guy should help. Hey, somebody was clearing holes for Rutgers’ running game, which was among the best in the nation last year.

Fifth Round: William Gay, CB, Louisville. No problem with this pick. The guy comes from a good program and displayed good ball skills. He’ll see a lot of action on special teams.

Seventh Round — Dallas Baker, WR, 6-3, 209, Florida. According to the Post-Gazette, “The Steelers liked Baker because of his size, the fact he started two seasons and was productive for a big-time school and defending national champions.” Hey, for a seventh-round choice, that sounds pretty good.

The Steelers also signed some intriguing receivers from D2 schools as undrafted free agents. Long shots, all, but it’s always fun to watch whether any of these guys will emerge from the pack.

Ah You. Yeah, you.

Sorry it’s taken so long to return from our hiatus. Damn. “A few days” turned into “a few weeks” and now here we are on the eve of the NFL Draft, smack dab in the middle of one of our favorite weeks of the year. Seriously, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls love the NFL Draft. Naturally, our focus is on the Steelers. Nothing happens in a vacuum, however, and the draft produces cause-and-effect consequences that ripple across the NFL landscape while producing consequences that can change the competitive balance of the league for years.

So, after re-reading our assessment posted March 16 (more than a month ago, for crying out loud), we can’t say that our opinion has changed much. As happens every year, some players rise on the draft board. Others fall. It looks like Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska, is rising on everybody’s draft board, and we’d be surprised if he falls to the Steelers at pick number 15 in the first round. Conversely, Leon Hall, CB, Michigan, seems to be falling and could well be available when the Steelers pick. Like a lot of people, however, we’ve cooled on Hall and have changed our Pit Bull minds: We’d pass on selecting him.

We’d also pass on Darelle Revis, CB, Pitt, whom many pundits are touting as a logical choice for the Steelers. Granted he has all the size/speed measureables, and you can never have too many corners (good corners, that is). But, having watched a lot of Pitt football, our problem with Revis is this: He didn’t make plays. He simply didn’t. He wasn’t a disruptive playmaker. Admittedly, shutdown corners are supposed to be invisible, but, still: He didn’t stick out, and Pitt’s had a bad – no, a terrible – pass defense the past few years, playing against competition that for the most part was weak, to be generous. Remember the loss to the Ohio University Bobcats in 2005? Yeah. Anyway, as for the Steelers taking Reavis? We just don’t see it. He didn’t seem to play tough against the run, you can’t say he was a shutdown cover guy, and he didn’t have many interceptions. He didn’t make plays. Aside from that, he’s great.

So that brings us back to the defensive front seven, which is where the salary cap and roster depth cast a glaring spotlight. Personally, we’ve cooled a bit (but not much) on Jarvis Moss, although ya gotta love the following quote:

“That's what makes you who you are," Moss said. “Just overcoming lots of adversity growing up. Hopefully, teams will see that in the fourth quarter -- when there's lots of adversity -- I'm going to be there. I'm going to play hard to the finish and leave it all on the field.

"The Lord made me like this for a reason. He put me on the football field for a reason. This is what I do. I have a real passion for football. It's what I enjoy. When all is said and done, it's not about the money or the fame to me. I want to go down as one of the greats to play the game. That's what I work for: to be a great football player and to win championships.”

As for Paul Posluszny, we like him, but … although he was consistently great in high school and college, we have concerns about his size, durability and playmaking abilities in the NFL. As noted in our last posting, Jack Ham calls Posluszny “the greatest linebacker ever to play at Penn State.” That’s high praise, indeed, coming from the man who was in fact “the greatest linebacker ever to play at Penn State” and also one of the best in NFL history. Still, we have concerns: Will he be able to shed blocks? Rush the passer? Disrupt crossing patterns? Cover downfield? Stay with tight ends like Todd Heap, Alonzo Gates and Tony Gonzalez? Uh, we don’t know, and we aren’t convinced. We know he’s big enough and has all the intangibles, but still … we have concerns.

Personally, we like Anthony Spencer of Purdue. As noted previously on Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls, we see him as a cross between Levon Kirkland and Adalius Thomas. We believe he would be a truly disruptive force on the pass rush, in coverage and stopping the run. Spencer is the guy we’d take, or …

Or, Reggie Nelson, safety, Florida: The trouble with taking Nelson this high is the salary cap. Troy Polamulu, Anthony Smith, Ryan Clark, Tyrone Carter, Mike Logan, et al, already inflate the cap at this position, so from that perspective, drafting Nelson may not be pragmatic. And you could argue the Steelers are loaded at safety already. But Nelson is a safety who plays like a cornerback, and that is how the safety position is evolving in the NFL. Because the NFL passing game has become so aggressive, defensive coordinators have responded with nickel and dime packages that stress coverage ability. If you can make a case for the Steelers drafting a cornerback such as Revis or Hall at No. 15, then you can make at least as strong a case for drafting Reggie Nelson to upgrade the safety position and simultaneously transform the defense into one that shuts down the deep middle of the field where wide receivers ramble and tight ends roam. I like the idea. This would be a radical move that would vex the likes of Carson Palmer and his corps of receivers on the Bengals, as well as premier tight ends like Todd Heap.

Having said all that, the most glaring hole to fill is on the defensive front seven. And, in the first round, the Steelers should be able to select from a cadre of very talented players (Carriker, Moss, Posluszny, Spencer) to help fill their weakness there, and they may consider drafting at least one or two more players for the front seven later in the draft. We also like (a lot) Lamarr Woodley (6’2, 270), the majorly accomplished defensive end/linebacker from Michigan, but he almost certainly will be selected before the Steelers’ second-round pick.

Another guy we like, but only because of his name, is C.J. Ah You, DE, Oklahoma.

Who? Ah You, who explains his name in the following media interview:

SS: What does C.J. stand for?
Ah You: Charles. I'm named after my father, Charles Ah You. The J is for Junior.
SS: Does your last name have a meaning in Samoan?
Ah You: I don't know, really.

Well, then. That clears that up. Speaking of great names, there’s always Melvin Bullitt, S, Texas A&M, but …

More seriously, other players we’d really, really like to see in Steelers uniforms next year include Tony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio State, Sabby Piscitelli, S, Oregon State, and either Adam Podlesh, P, Maryland, or Daniel Sepulveda, P, Baylor. And, oh, Eric Weddle, S/CB, Utah.

The offensive line needs help, too, but you knew that already.

2007 NFL Draft Preview: Opening Salvo

Our preference for the Steelers, of course, would be one of the guys who will be gone by the 15^th pick of the first round, so let’s not even discuss any of the absolute sure-fire top 10 picks. And, unless we’re mistaken (always a distinct possibility), the following players we like will be gone by pick No. 15:

• Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
• Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
• Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
• Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
  
• Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
• Gaines Adams. DE, Clemson

If ANY of these guys is available, take him. They’ll be gone, though.

Realistically, then, who may be available for the Steelers to draft in the first round? … and at a position that makes sense (which eliminates QB, RB, FB, C*, TE, WR**).

First-round prospects who may be available (realistically) to the Steelers:

Since Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls like to build teams from the inside out (OL and DL), let’s look first at prospects for the Offensive Line:

• Justin Blalock, G, Texas – Blalock may be the most highly touted guard to come out of college since Alan Faneca. He should be available at 1.15, but the Steelers’s signing of Sean Mahan muddies this picture, along with the contract status of both Kendall Simmons and Alan Faneca. Also, does Chris Keomatu fit in this picture as a potential starter? Uh, we dunno. So … Blalock is a definite maybe, although conventional wisdom says you don't take a guard this high. Clear enough?
  

Elsewhere on the offensive line, at tackle, there’s a big dropoff after Levi Brown, so let’s just move on to look at other first-round candidates, specifically for the Defensive Front Seven …

• Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State – Jack Ham calls him “the best linebacker ever to play at Penn State.” High praise, indeed, but does he need to add weight? Can he cover downfield? Will he be an effective pass rusher in the NFL? Will he be able to shed blocks? Still, this could be the guy, but so could Adam Carriker or Jarvis Moss …
• Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska – Described as “an Aaron Smith clone,” this guy may well be gone by the Steelers’ turn at No. 15.
• Jarvis Moss, DE/LB, Florida – He has all the measurables. A fast, rangy, sideline-to-sideline end/linebacker who has shown impact as a pass-rusher. Really, this could be the guy, but he may be gone, too, so you may have to take a look at, say, the secondary, where you can never have enough ballhawks who can cover and play tough in run support. Then there's also ...
  
• Anthony Spencer, DE/LB, Purdue - At 6'3, 266, Spencer is often compared to Adalius Thomas, which is not a bad thing at all. At Purdue, he was a finalist for the 2006 Ted Hendricks Award as the top collegiate defensive end. He projects as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL. He's a phenomenal physical specimen, but can he cover? Probably. He reminds us of a slightly smaller Levon Kirkland. Adalius Thomas? Levon Kirkland? Definitely worth considering. By the way, for the Boilermakers last year, Spencer ranked second in the nation with 26½ stops behind the line of scrimmage, (including 10½ sacks). He also caused five fumbles and recovered another while batting away six passes and blocking one kick. Mayhem personified.
  

Safety First

In the Secondary***, the top candidates who may realistically be available to the Steelers are:

• Reggie Nelson, S, Florida – Rangy, fast and very, very intriguing. Selecting this guy, perhaps the top-rated safety, at Pick No. 15 would trigger an entirely new philosophical discussion, which we will get to in a later post. Suffice to say for now the argument has merits. Strong merits. Again, we’ll give this topic a closer look in a few days.
• Aaron Ross, CB, Texas – He won the Thorpe Award as college football’s top defensive back. If he’s available, he’s worth considering. You can never too many good corners, and the Steelers today don't have enough, let alone too many.
• Michael Griffin, S, Texas – Ross’s teammate also is worth a close look, definitely, and he may be even better than Ross. At this point, he probably is.
• Darrelle Reavis, CB, Pitt – Worth a look, but we have reservations. Let’s face it, Pitt’s quality of opponents (weak schedule) works against him. Still, worth a look.
• Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas – Smallish, but blazing fast (4.32 speed). Anybody remember Harvey Clayton? He was smallish and could run, but he couldn’t cover.

The Situation Right Now: Just a hunch, but we believe the Steelers are looking closely at three players: Moss, Posluszny and Carriker, and not necessarily in that order. You could make a strong case for any of them, as well as for Anthony Spencer, who is maybe the most intriguing prospect of the four.

Personally speaking, yeah, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wouldn’t necessarily disagree with any of them … But if Reggie Nelson is available … well, put it this way: Can you say, “Ed Reed”?

Still, the cap and depth chart scream, "Linebacker."

More on this later.

*C – There’s a head-scratching logjam at this position with Mahan, Simmons, Okobi and Phillip; it’s a mystery and makes no sense at this point.

**WR – Too many other holes to fill. After Calvin Johnson, too many question marks about the other receivers in this draft. Plus, after Matt Millen, GMs who take first-round wideouts in consecutive years will be few and far between.

*** This entire topic (the Secondary) will be covered in more detail in a later post. Be forewarned: Cap implications will be involved.