San Francisco's new head coach, Jim Tomsula, is a Pittsburgh-area native who took over for Jim Harbaugh in the off-season. A typical Pittsburgh guy, the former defensive line coach is first and foremost defensively oriented: The Niners held the Vikings to just three points.
Tomsula's hiring and initial meetings with the media in San Francisco were widely panned. Many prognosticators forecast the 49ers would be among the NFL's worst teams this year.
After reading some of the articles about him, however, particularly this one and this one, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls came around to thinking the 49ers would be a lot better than people expect. After all, Tomsula is a Pittsburgh guy; he's a football guy.
Against the Vikings, the 49ers did something the Steelers did not: They played good, fundamentally sound football. Blocking and tackling.
It would be nice if we could also see good, fundamentally sound football from the Steelers. What a concept.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Niners TE Vernon Davis Must be Looking Forward to This Game
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| Rob Gronkowski had open space in front of him for much of the game vs. the Steelers. |
If there was one guy you'd think they would have had a game plan for, it was Rob Gronkowski. But no-o-o-o. By some combination of incompetence, lack of talent, lack of planning and lack of brains, the Steelers let Gronkowski romp and roam through wide swaths of open space.
The San Francisco 49ers bring a pretty talented tight end of their own in Vernon Davis to Heinz Field on Sunday. In fact, Vernon Davis is a very talented tight end. The Niners also have two wideouts familiar to Steelers' fans, and familiar not in a good way: former Ravens Anquin Bolden and Torrey Smith.
San Francisco also demonstrated in their season opener that they can run the ball, with Carlos Hyde, who racked up 163 yards rushing against Minnesota. And quarterback Colin Kaepernick, of course, brings a multi-dimensional game that includes running speed that the Steelers just haven't seen in another quarterback.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Everybody's Looking for the Next Russell Wilson ...
The Buffalo Bills' selection of Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback raised eyebrows across the NFL. Taylor vindicated their decision by playing well on Sunday in leading the Bills to a decisive victory over the Colts. What we might be seeing, increasingly, is effort by NFL teams to find the next Russell Wilson.
We might be tempted to speculate that's what the Steelers had in mind with respect to Tyler Murphy, except that he is now playing wide receiver instead of quarterback, which is what he played at Boston College. The undrafted rookie free agent acquitted himself well during training camp and beat the odds to earn a roster spot. Not only that, but he earned a game-day helmet for the season opener, which is more than can be said of fellow rookie Sammie Coates, the more highly touted third-round draft choice out of Auburn. The coaching staff declared Coates inactive for Sunday's game.
Kudos to Murphy for adapting to a new position and apparently surpassing Coates to this point; admittedly it's early, and maybe Coates will be great. The fact that Coates was on the inactive list instead of Murphy, however, raises questions about his development and how far away from being a contributor he might be.
The Steelers might not have drafted Coates had it not been for Martavis Bryant's immaturity, poor decision-making and inability to keep himself from failing repeated drug tests. The Steelers knew of Bryant's failed drug tests and potential consequences last Spring, before the 2015 NFL Draft, and that his tenuous status influenced their decision to draft Coates in the third round.
Once again, in any case, Pittsburgh's nose tackle play was unimpressive during the loss at New England. It would have been interesting to see if Davis would have fared better against New England's undrafted rookie center.
Thanks, Martavis.
The big problem for the Steelers right now appears to be the defense, particularly the secondary. One thing is sure: Nobody is scared of or intimidated by the Steelers' defense anymore. And that's been the case for several years.
Looking at the bright side, maybe the Steelers actually have the next Russell Wilson on their roster in Tyler Murphy. They just have him playing wide receiver. Over Sammie Coates.
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| Tyler Murphy |
Kudos to Murphy for adapting to a new position and apparently surpassing Coates to this point; admittedly it's early, and maybe Coates will be great. The fact that Coates was on the inactive list instead of Murphy, however, raises questions about his development and how far away from being a contributor he might be.
The Steelers might not have drafted Coates had it not been for Martavis Bryant's immaturity, poor decision-making and inability to keep himself from failing repeated drug tests. The Steelers knew of Bryant's failed drug tests and potential consequences last Spring, before the 2015 NFL Draft, and that his tenuous status influenced their decision to draft Coates in the third round.
“We have known about the possibility of it for some time,” head coach Mike Tomlin said this past week. “In a lot of ways, it directed our course of action throughout the offseason, specifically drafting Sammie Coates, because of the potential of this event.”Maybe the Steelers would have drafted Davis instead of Coates; maybe not. Different positions, different circumstances and different teams, but apparently Carl Davis is further ahead in his development than Sammie Coates.
Once again, in any case, Pittsburgh's nose tackle play was unimpressive during the loss at New England. It would have been interesting to see if Davis would have fared better against New England's undrafted rookie center.
Thanks, Martavis.
The big problem for the Steelers right now appears to be the defense, particularly the secondary. One thing is sure: Nobody is scared of or intimidated by the Steelers' defense anymore. And that's been the case for several years.
Looking at the bright side, maybe the Steelers actually have the next Russell Wilson on their roster in Tyler Murphy. They just have him playing wide receiver. Over Sammie Coates.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
They Are Who We THOUGHT They Were!
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| Rob Gronkowski breaking free from Robert Golden |
To borrow the words of former Arizona Cardinals Denny Green, "They are who we THOUGHT they were!"
Which is, for most of them: Not very talented. Not very smart. Lousy tacklers. Hapless. Clueless. Undersized. Slow. And not very good at their craft,
It was no surprise, the way they performed; but it was shocking, the ineptitude.
Mike Tomlin, Keith Butler, the rest of the coaching staff and the players should be ashamed of themselves. They had all off-season to prepare for that game. The entire off-season. It was the season opener, for crying out loud. They knew what the Patriots were going to do. Everybody knew what the Patriots were going to do. It's what they do.
The missed tackles. The blown coverages. The half-hearted attempts at coverage. Honestly, it was embarrassing.
What happened to the plans to jam Gronkowski, play him tight and disrupt patters? Big talk. Turns out it's easier said than done.
If the performance we saw Thursday night is what we have to look forward to watching all season, it's going to be a long year.
Frankly, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls still don't understand why the Steelers' brass seems to be so infatuated with certain players in the secondary: Shamarko Thomas. Mike Mitchell. Cortez Allen.
Well, we're stuck with them.
It's Michael Vick's fault. Bad karma.
Friday, September 11, 2015
We Will Never Forget
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."
-- St. Francis of Assisi
-- St. Francis of Assisi
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Blame it on Michael Vick
It's Michael Vick's fault.
The Steelers had all off-season to prepare. The entire off-season.
"It's unbelievable how much the Pittsburgh Steelers have given away tonight," exclaimed Chris Collinsworth early in the fourth quarter, following another long pass to Rob Gronkowski, who soon thereafter recovered a Dion Lewis fumble at the goal line.
The secondary is a hot mess. Brady at one point had 19 consecutive completions, a new team record. Four touchdowns. Hot toast. Crumbs.
The big trouble with this game: Too few TV commercials. "More commercials! We need more commercials!!"
And the Steelers nose tackles made the undrafted free agent rookie center making his first start in the NFL look like an All-Pro. What a weak effort by the defense. We wonder what Donald Trump would say about this. "They're very low energy. It's kind of sad."
At least they beat the spread, as Josh Scobee almost made up for the two missed fields that he'd Scobee'd earlier by kicking the last-second extra point that made some money for people who bet the underdog Steelers.
Nice game, guys.
We blame Vick.
https://twitter.com/alex_navarro/status/642173711370616836/photo/1
Game Day 1: Steelers at New England - NFL Season Opener
If the corners play off the Patriots' receivers, Tom Brady will dink and dunk all night long,just like he did in the Super Bowl, controlling the clock in the process.
If this game turns into a shootout, look out. Without Le'Veon Bell, the Steelers are not built to "keep Brady off the field." The Steelers are no longer built to control the clock. And, without either Bell or Martavis Bryant to worry about, Bill Bellichick will scheme to take Antonio Brown out of the game as much as possible.
On defense, based on what we've seen so far in 2015, the Steelers' secondary appears to be a hot mess. We'll see. Safety Will Allen is a steady veteran, but nobody will ever compare him to Ronnie Lott. William Gay has always been better than people give him credit for being, but he's played best in the slot. Tonight, he starts at left corner. Newcomer Brandon Boykin likely takes over in the slot, where he performed well for Philadelphia last year, grabbing six interceptions. He is smallish. Antwon Blake is physical and will see the field, and he's shown flashes at times. But ...
Cortez Allen, who is slated to start at right corner, was downright bad last year. And starting safety Mike Mitchell has shown next to nothing since he joined the Steelers. He takes poor angles, has been a lousy tacker and makes poor decisions. The same could be said of fellow safety Shamarko Thomas, who is 5'9", can't stay healthy, has fragile confidence and most definitely is not a good matchup for either of New England's tight ends.
Expect the Patriots to employ a lot of two tight end sets with Rob Gronkowski and Scott Chandler, who was signed in the off-season (and would have been a nice addition to the Steelers, if they'd been able to get him). This will be much the same offense (with new wrinkles, of course) that we've seen before from the Patriots. And it will likely look much the same as the two tight end offense the Baltimore Ravens have employed so effectively against the Steelers ... including last year's ugly loss in Baltimore, when tight end Owen Daniels caught two touchdown passes.
The Steelers' defense will have to prove tonight that they don't have a soft middle. Brady will probe the middle of the field all night long, and the linebackers will have to help in pass coverage. The Patriots like to use the small but quick Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola to scoot through the secondary on intermediate and crossing routes, and both Gronkowski and Chandler are actually threats to go deep. Look out. It could be a long night.
Thursday, September 03, 2015
Martavis Bryant: Dumber Than a Box of Rocks
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| Martavis Bryant |
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| Chris Henry |
Following the reports of multiple failed drug tests since he entered the NFL in 2014, many people have chimed in on the Martavis Bryant situation and how dumb, clueless, obtuse or just plain stupid he was -- or addicted -- to have gotten himself into the jam he currently finds himself, which is a four-game suspension to start the 2015 season (with the corresponding loss of salary -- about $105,000 in game checks), which follows in the wake of the six games he missed at the beginning of last season.
Chris Henry Redux?
People have said Bryant may end up being the next Josh Gordon, but Bryant reminds Joey Porter's Pit Bulls of another troubled former player, the late Chris Henry, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Chris Henry died at the age of 26. His death followed a brief but tumultuous NFL career during which he not only was arrested five times but made an infamous name for himself for all the wrong reasons.
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| Martavis Bryant |
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| Chris Henry |
On the field, the former Bengals wide receiver was built much like Bryant (6'4", 210) and could fly -- a deep threat exactly in the mold of Bryant.
Off the field, however, Henry had a knack for getting in trouble, including numerous arrests for marijuana use, a DUI and other mishaps, calamities, tomfoolery, hijinks, shenanigans, chicanery and sloppiness.
Not to say that Martavis Bryant is destined to for the same fate that befell Henry, but he's off to a fast start down a path that could abruptly end his NFL career. By now, of course, we all know that's not news.
In fact, it wasn't even news that Bryant was, uh, "troubled" even before the Steelers drafted him. The red flags were there for all to see, and why he lasted until the fourth round of the 2014 draft.
As reported on this blog on May 21, 2014, here is what his college coach, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, had to say about him in an interview recorded in April 2013, before Bryant's final season at Clemson:
"Accountability, responsibility, dependability, trust-ability - those are the 'abilities' that matter," said Swinney. "He's got plenty of ability, it's all them other ones that have kept him from being a complete player. He's had some great moments, but he's been inconsistent. When you're not fully committed, you're going to be inconsistent."
But then here's another "red-flag" quote (from earlier in the article) that makes us wonder which Martavis Bryant the Steelers are getting (again, keeping in mind this was published in April 2013, before his senior season):
"Martavis isn't a bad guy, not at all. He's just been an immature, uncommitted guy - off the field, academically, in the meeting rooms, on the practice field, in the way he's prepared, not being dependable."After the Steelers drafted Martavis Bryant, a skeptical Joey Porter's Pit Bulls asked if Bryant might end up being a latter-day Fred Gibson, another tall, skinny fourth-round receiver -- who never made it out of his first training camp. Gibson was cut before the first game of the regular season.
At least during his rookie season, Bryant showed flashes of big-time playmaking potential. At this point, however, everybody will be relieved if Bryant doesn't end up like Josh Gordon ... or, worse, like Chris Henry.
The Ripple Effect
It came to light this past week that the Steelers knew of Bryant's failed drug tests and potential consequences last Spring, before the 2015 NFL Draft, and that his tenuous status influenced their decision to draft wide receiver Sammie Coates in the third round. To most observers of the draft, the selection of Coates was a head-scratcher, as he is somewhat physically similar to Bryant, as well as raw and unpolished with a reputation for dropped passes.
“We have known about the possibility of it for some time,” head coach Mike Tomlin said this past week. “In a lot of ways, it directed our course of action throughout the offseason, specifically drafting Sammie Coates, because of the potential of this event. So we are going to deal with it the best we can.”At the time of this year's NFL Draft, we weren't crazy about the Coates pick because it seemed redundant and, more so, because the Steelers need so much help on defense. We were further dismayed when, just three picks after the Steelers selected Coates, the Baltimore Ravens selected a player Joey Porter's Pit Bulls really liked and thought would be a good fit on the Steelers' defense.
That player was Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis (6'5", 320 pounds), a rough and disruptive force on the defensive line -- and Lord knows the Steelers could use that.
But, no, because of Martavis Bryant's inability to stay clean, the Steelers felt they had to reach for another wide receiver, Coates. Now, as it turns out, the reports out of Baltimore (nauseatingly enough) are that Carl Davis could have been "the steal of the draft" and, according to Pro Football Focus, was rated as the Ravens' top-rated defensive player after the first three preseason games. Just great.
- Article headline: "Carl Davis emerging as Ravens' top rookie this year" -- ESPN
- Headline: "Should the Ravens start Carl Davis over Jernigan?" - Baltimore Beatdown
- Quote: "There's a value pick right here. Some thought Davis would sneak into the back end of the first round. He had an outstanding Senior Bowl week. He has dominating height-weight-speed physical traits." -- Mike Mayock
Thanks, Martavis. You've not only deprived the Steelers of your services, your irresponsible behavior prompted them to draft a player they wouldn't otherwise have needed, and very possibly at the expense of drafting an impact defensive lineman who went three picks later to our divisional arch rival, the despised Baltimore Ravens. But you don't get any of that, do you, Martavis, and chances are you don't care.
Your NFL career is in jeopardy, Martavis, as is your very future. Time to grow up and act like an adult. You might actually be able to salvage something of your life -- unlike Chris Henry. Let his tragedy be a cautionary tale to you.
One final Footnote, because that ugly signing still reeks:
Meanwhile, the Steelers' signing of Michael Vick still is such a turnoff that ... ugh, it's tough to even comprehend that they gave him a uniform and put him on the payroll. Puke.
It's tough to feel good about this franchise right now, especially with Vick in Black 'n Gold.
What? We're supposed to embrace and celebrate that guy? Vick? No thanks. Nothing but bad karma that guy. We'll pass.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
It's Embarrassing
If you are known by the company you keep, then I am embarrassed to be a Steelers fan today.
The trouble is, I've been so emotionally invested in the Steelers for so many years -- a lifetime -- that they are like family. I can't disown them.
But, this, sheesh. This is embarrassing.
We can root for the team and feel good about guys like Alejandro Villanueva, Antonio Brown, Cameron Heyward and others. But not Michael Vick.
Vick taints the entire organization; he taints Steeler Nation.
They couldn't have found a better backup quarterback? Someone with some upside? Granted, a guy like Kurt Warner doesn't come along every day, but Michael Vick? Are you kidding me?
It is embarrassing. The guy is a lightning rod for trouble and bad karma.
We'll hear the usual platitudes: He's "paid his dues," blah, blah, etc., etcetera, ad nauseum. Save it.
We're also hearing, of course, that he's an "experienced" quarterback, as if that's supposed to make this acceptable and make everybody comfortable. Experienced at what? Sucking? He's not even a good quarterback, and he never has been, except for sporadic flashes.
It's a shame that guys like Vick keep getting rewarded. That's apparently the culture of the NFL anymore, and maybe it's always been that way.
We'll keep watching, no doubt, but it's embarrassing. And we don't like this signing one bit.
That's it, Fort Pitt.
The trouble is, I've been so emotionally invested in the Steelers for so many years -- a lifetime -- that they are like family. I can't disown them.
But, this, sheesh. This is embarrassing.
We can root for the team and feel good about guys like Alejandro Villanueva, Antonio Brown, Cameron Heyward and others. But not Michael Vick.
Vick taints the entire organization; he taints Steeler Nation.
They couldn't have found a better backup quarterback? Someone with some upside? Granted, a guy like Kurt Warner doesn't come along every day, but Michael Vick? Are you kidding me?
It is embarrassing. The guy is a lightning rod for trouble and bad karma.
We'll hear the usual platitudes: He's "paid his dues," blah, blah, etc., etcetera, ad nauseum. Save it.
We're also hearing, of course, that he's an "experienced" quarterback, as if that's supposed to make this acceptable and make everybody comfortable. Experienced at what? Sucking? He's not even a good quarterback, and he never has been, except for sporadic flashes.
It's a shame that guys like Vick keep getting rewarded. That's apparently the culture of the NFL anymore, and maybe it's always been that way.
We'll keep watching, no doubt, but it's embarrassing. And we don't like this signing one bit.
That's it, Fort Pitt.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Oh, no, say it ain't so ... this ain't right
We're done.
Or so Joey Porter's Pit Bulls are tempted to say. Enough.
The Steelers specifically, and the NFL generally, are making it really, really hard to feel good about their product. Just about impossible, in fact.
This is revolting. Downright nauseating. This is a dark day in Steelers history. It's an affront.
When cretins like the infamous Michael Vick, of all people, get signed by the Steelers ... how much can we take? It's disgusting. Disappointing. And we don't have to like it -- there are plenty of other things to do.
This signing goes against every grain of decency and respect for the fan base. Vick is not even a good football player, and he's a despicable human being. A sociopath? Maybe. A convicted felon, certainly.
Who the f--k lobbied for the Steelers to sign this emm-effer? Who signed off on it?
Mike Tomlin? Kevin Colbert? Shame on them. And Art Rooney II allowed this? Ya gotta be kidding. This has gotta be some kind of sick joke. And the joke's on us fans.
How insulting and presumptuous of them to think they can do this signing and, what? ... the fans wouldn't notice or comment?
The Steelers can try to parse arguments and explain this one away in "football" terms all they want, but it'll never sell. Not here, not on this blog, and not to a hell of a lot of passionate Steeler fans and people of common sense and decency.
What's next? Maybe they're sending scouts to the prison where convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez is rotting to see if he's in "football shape."
Ray Rice is still looking to get back in the NFL. Richie Incognito? How about Ray Lewis? Leonard Little? Donte Stallworth? Maybe he and Warren Sapp could come out of retirement.
Enough.
And so much, by the way, for the Steelers wasting a fourth-round draft pick and three years of development time on Landry Jones. They have such little faith in Jones that he can't even get promoted to second string in his third year? Incompetent scouting, drafting and player development. A fourth-round pick wasted.
But that's not the point today. The point is Vick. And the Steelers. It's sickening. Of all teams ...
This one is more disappointing and heartbreaking than any playoff loss. This here, what happened today? This is no game. This is a travesty.
Vick's presence is toxic, poisonous and polarizing, that's for sure.
Just last November, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wrote about the Jets with Vick:
But Vick? Signing him to wear Black 'n Gold should be a crime, it feels like, but at the very least it is an affront to a great number of fans. That guy is loathesome; despicable; always has been. We don't want any part of him. He brings nothing positive to this football team or this city.
The Steelers are inviting trouble and bad karma into our fair city. And we don't like it. Not one bit.
If you can manage it, enrich your life today by adopting a stray dog from a shelter such as the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania or Animal Friends. And, if you can swing it, try to support organizations like the ASPCA and the Humane Society.
Or so Joey Porter's Pit Bulls are tempted to say. Enough.
The Steelers specifically, and the NFL generally, are making it really, really hard to feel good about their product. Just about impossible, in fact.
This is revolting. Downright nauseating. This is a dark day in Steelers history. It's an affront.
When cretins like the infamous Michael Vick, of all people, get signed by the Steelers ... how much can we take? It's disgusting. Disappointing. And we don't have to like it -- there are plenty of other things to do.
Who the f--k lobbied for the Steelers to sign this emm-effer? Who signed off on it?
Mike Tomlin? Kevin Colbert? Shame on them. And Art Rooney II allowed this? Ya gotta be kidding. This has gotta be some kind of sick joke. And the joke's on us fans.
How insulting and presumptuous of them to think they can do this signing and, what? ... the fans wouldn't notice or comment?
What's next? Maybe they're sending scouts to the prison where convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez is rotting to see if he's in "football shape."
Ray Rice is still looking to get back in the NFL. Richie Incognito? How about Ray Lewis? Leonard Little? Donte Stallworth? Maybe he and Warren Sapp could come out of retirement.
And so much, by the way, for the Steelers wasting a fourth-round draft pick and three years of development time on Landry Jones. They have such little faith in Jones that he can't even get promoted to second string in his third year? Incompetent scouting, drafting and player development. A fourth-round pick wasted.
But that's not the point today. The point is Vick. And the Steelers. It's sickening. Of all teams ...
This one is more disappointing and heartbreaking than any playoff loss. This here, what happened today? This is no game. This is a travesty.
Just last November, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wrote about the Jets with Vick:
"Just as fatally for the Jets, they placed their backup chips on Michael Vick, who has always tantalized with spasmodic flashes of flick-of-the-wrist laser throws downfield and speed of foot. But there's something wrong with Vick, and always has been. His notorious involvement in, and leadership of, a criminally loathsome dog-fighting ring, suggests "psychopath." Since then, of course, he served his time in prison and was reinstated to the NFL, has received big-money contracts, and doesn't need any of us. And he acts like it. Does anybody really think he is any kind of leader? Does he do anything in the community?
"But if anybody in the Jets' management structure ever really believed Vick was going to be a supportive backup to Geno Smith, imparting veteran wisdom and showing Smith how to be a professional quarterback in the NFL, well, they deserve what they're getting. It's actually painful to watch.
"Vick is not a very good quarterback. He's never been an accurate passer, and he's never exhibited consistent ball protection. He fumbles too often and throws too many incompletions and interceptions. He's not a very good quarterback, and he's made a lot money conning people into believing he can be a good NFL QB."And that's not the worst of it, that he's a shitty QB. If he were just a crummy quarterback, he could get in a long line of other sub-par quarterbacks. Landry Jones apparently is a lousy QB, and so are lots of other wannabe quarterbacks across the land. Being a crummy quarterback is no crime.
But Vick? Signing him to wear Black 'n Gold should be a crime, it feels like, but at the very least it is an affront to a great number of fans. That guy is loathesome; despicable; always has been. We don't want any part of him. He brings nothing positive to this football team or this city.
The Steelers are inviting trouble and bad karma into our fair city. And we don't like it. Not one bit.
If you can manage it, enrich your life today by adopting a stray dog from a shelter such as the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania or Animal Friends. And, if you can swing it, try to support organizations like the ASPCA and the Humane Society.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Training Camp Almost Over, Already
Yikes. So far, it's been pretty uneventful. Preseason football games are barely worth watching anymore. There's been very little to get excited about.
Monday, July 06, 2015
Monday, May 04, 2015
Whimpey, now playing Offensive Tackle
Joey Porter's Pit Bulls is always interested to see what gems may emerge from the list of undrafted free agents (UFAs) signed immediately after each year's draft. This year, clearly, we have some winners.
With the memory of the departed offensive lineman Guy Whimper ("Abdullah the Butcher") still fresh, it is encouraging to see the Steelers's 2015 crop of UFAs includes a tackle by the name of Kevin Whimpey, 6'5", 295, out of Utah State. With a name like "Whimpey," he's got to be tough.
So, we figure, Guy may have gone out with a Whimper, but Kevin's going to enter minicamp with a bang. Nothing whimpy about this offensive tackle.
Here is the complete list of this year's UFAs signed by the Steelers:
With the memory of the departed offensive lineman Guy Whimper ("Abdullah the Butcher") still fresh, it is encouraging to see the Steelers's 2015 crop of UFAs includes a tackle by the name of Kevin Whimpey, 6'5", 295, out of Utah State. With a name like "Whimpey," he's got to be tough.
So, we figure, Guy may have gone out with a Whimper, but Kevin's going to enter minicamp with a bang. Nothing whimpy about this offensive tackle.
Here is the complete list of this year's UFAs signed by the Steelers:
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Clear | TE | 6-5 | 277 | Texas A&M |
| Nigel Crawford-Kinney | DT | 6-5 | 300 | Saint Augustine's |
| Dominique Davis | DE | 6-5 | 285 | Liberty |
| Miles Dieffenbach | G | 6-3 | 303 | Penn State |
| Reese Dismukes | G | 6-3 | 296 | Auburn |
| B.J. Finney | C | 6-4 | 318 | Kansas State |
| Tyler Murphy | WR | 6-2 | 213 | Boston College |
| Bradon Prate | DE | 6-4 | 285 | Illinois State |
| Collin Rahrig | G | 6-2 | 285 | Indiana |
| Eli Rogers | WR | 5-10 | 180 | Louisville |
| Ross Scheuerman | RB | 6-0 | 204 | Lafayette (Pa.) |
| Kevin Whimpey | T | 6-5 | 295 | Utah State |
Friday, May 01, 2015
Bud Dupree: Good pick ... we hope
The selection of strongside/elephant linebacker Bud Dupree looks good at a glance -- or, more accurately, upon first reaction after four-and-a-half months of intense speculation, scrutiny and hand-wringing over who the Steelers might select with their first pick in this year's NFL Draft.
Dupree is the right size (6'4", 269), that's for sure, and has the requisite athleticism (4.56 in the 40-yard dash; 42-inch vertical jump at the Combine).
He says the right things and is said to be a high-character guy, and that is reassuring.
The video says he sets the edge, and that is something the Steelers desperately need on defense.
Crucially, he has experience dropping into coverage, and at his size, if he can cover at all, he should help with covering some of the bigger, more athletic tight ends (Gronk; etc.).
Dupree even has experience playing tight end himself, in high school, where he had 1,000 yards receiving. That suggests he can catch the ball, and interceptions are something the Steelers desperately need.
All good things.
The Steelers needed to bolster their pass rush. Oddly, however, pass rushing is not considered the strongest part of Dupree's game. Various draft observers over the past few months also noted that it is worrisome that he tended to disappear for stretches at times during games; that his game was inconsistent; that it needs polished; and that he needs to be coached up.
As long as his head is right and he has a good motor, all of those potential negatives sound like they can be fixed with coaching and him being in the right environment (as in, being around James Harrison, Joey Porter, Keith Butler and Mike Tomlin).
We should also keep in mind that while Kentucky is in the SEC, it is by no mans a football powerhouse; in fact, football has always taken a distant back seat to basketball at Kentucky. Dupree was Kentucky's best player, by far, and thus would have been targeted for special attention by SEC opponents.
Tangent: How did the Bengals pass on Dupree ... ???
How the Bengals passed on this guy is a mystery. It gives us hope Cincinnati maybe is reverting to its past historical pattern of lousy drafting following a solid run of productive drafts over the past several years.
In fact, looking at needs of various teams picking ahead of the Steelers, we figured it was an absolute no-brainer for the Bengals -- picking at No. 21, just ahead of Pittsburgh -- to pick a pass-rusher. The Bengals tallied an NFL-low 20 sacks last year.
Dupree would have made perfect sense for the Bengals. As a "local" kid playing for the University of Kentucky, he was right there for them -- and, it appears from initial news reports, the fact they passed on Dupree has angered their Kentucky fan base, which is a huge proportion of their overall fan base.
Granted, the Bengals fortified their front seven a bit during the off-season in free agency (Michael Johnson returns from to Cincinnati after a disappointing stint in Tampa Bay), but they still have a real need for muscle in their linebacking corps. Of the top candidates still on the board when their pick came up -- Dupree, Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Shane Ray and Randy Gregory -- either Dupree or UCLA's Odighizuwa would have made perfect sense, and either Ray or Gregory would have made Bengals sense; i.e., flaky players with a history.
Yet the Bengals went offensive tackle with the selection of Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi, who gave up seven sacks in 2014 and blew out in his knee in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 29th, meaning he may not even play in 2015.
Maybe the Bengals are thinking they won't be able to resign Andrew Whitworth to a contract extension. If that happens, we'd be happy to eventually have Whitworth on the Steelers. But we digress; that won't happen.
Enough of the Bengals. Back to the Steelers ...
With Dupree in Black 'n Gold, we can hope other good players at positions of need fall to them in subsequent rounds. The secondary must be addressed, obviously. Nose tackle could be bolstered.
Of the first-round selections that followed No. 22, the only one that we might have been really interested in was Malcolm Brown, the Texas nose tackle who went to New England at pick No. 32. We also liked UCLA's Odighizuwa, a lot, but the Steelers clearly liked Dupree better; and we don't have a major issue with that. We also wouldn't have objected if the Steelers had selected Connecticut's Byron Jones, the cornerback who went to Dallas.
The Jarvis Jones Question
One interesting thing about the Dupree selection: Yes, he will most likely play on the right side, in the spot vacated by Jason Worilds. But the selection of Dupree also may be seen as the team knowing it has to hedge its bet on Jarvis Jones. So far, although Jones showed glimpses of playmaking ability, he has looked mostly underwhelming, and that may be an understatement. If the Steelers had faith in Jones, they may not have brought back James Harrison.
In the event Jarvis Jones doesn't pan out, however, and Harrison retires after the 2015 season, Dupree could move over to the left side.
Clearly, Dupree is being brought in to play right away, albeit on the side opposite of Jones/Harrison. Arthur Moats resigned with the team in the hope he would get the starting job, and maybe he will start for a while at the beginning of the season. But the position is earmarked for Dupree.
Other players currently in the mix for roster spots at outside linebacker are Shawn Lemon (CFL; Akron); Jordan Zumwalt (2014 practice squad; UCLA); Howard Jones (practice squad; Shepherd); Roosevelt Nix (futures contact; Kent State); and Shayon Greene (1st-year free agent; University of Miami).
They all have hopes, and so do we, and so do the Steelers -- particularly for Bud Dupree to become the fierce and tenacious presence on defense the team drafted him to be.
One afterthought ...
It's a bit ironic, isn't it, that the Steelers passed on linebacker Shane Ray for a guy named "Bud."
With the very next pick after Pittsburgh's selection of Dupree, the Denver Broncos selected Shane Ray, who received a police citation for marijuana possession just three days ago. Then again, marijuana is legal in Colorado, so maybe the Broncos figure it's no big deal. Still, it is likely that Ray will start his pro career with one strike against him on the NFL's substance abuse scoreboard.
The Steelers got the right Bud.
He says the right things and is said to be a high-character guy, and that is reassuring.
The video says he sets the edge, and that is something the Steelers desperately need on defense.
Crucially, he has experience dropping into coverage, and at his size, if he can cover at all, he should help with covering some of the bigger, more athletic tight ends (Gronk; etc.).
Dupree even has experience playing tight end himself, in high school, where he had 1,000 yards receiving. That suggests he can catch the ball, and interceptions are something the Steelers desperately need.
All good things.
The Steelers needed to bolster their pass rush. Oddly, however, pass rushing is not considered the strongest part of Dupree's game. Various draft observers over the past few months also noted that it is worrisome that he tended to disappear for stretches at times during games; that his game was inconsistent; that it needs polished; and that he needs to be coached up.
As long as his head is right and he has a good motor, all of those potential negatives sound like they can be fixed with coaching and him being in the right environment (as in, being around James Harrison, Joey Porter, Keith Butler and Mike Tomlin).
We should also keep in mind that while Kentucky is in the SEC, it is by no mans a football powerhouse; in fact, football has always taken a distant back seat to basketball at Kentucky. Dupree was Kentucky's best player, by far, and thus would have been targeted for special attention by SEC opponents.
Tangent: How did the Bengals pass on Dupree ... ???
How the Bengals passed on this guy is a mystery. It gives us hope Cincinnati maybe is reverting to its past historical pattern of lousy drafting following a solid run of productive drafts over the past several years.
In fact, looking at needs of various teams picking ahead of the Steelers, we figured it was an absolute no-brainer for the Bengals -- picking at No. 21, just ahead of Pittsburgh -- to pick a pass-rusher. The Bengals tallied an NFL-low 20 sacks last year.
Dupree would have made perfect sense for the Bengals. As a "local" kid playing for the University of Kentucky, he was right there for them -- and, it appears from initial news reports, the fact they passed on Dupree has angered their Kentucky fan base, which is a huge proportion of their overall fan base.
Granted, the Bengals fortified their front seven a bit during the off-season in free agency (Michael Johnson returns from to Cincinnati after a disappointing stint in Tampa Bay), but they still have a real need for muscle in their linebacking corps. Of the top candidates still on the board when their pick came up -- Dupree, Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Shane Ray and Randy Gregory -- either Dupree or UCLA's Odighizuwa would have made perfect sense, and either Ray or Gregory would have made Bengals sense; i.e., flaky players with a history.
Yet the Bengals went offensive tackle with the selection of Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi, who gave up seven sacks in 2014 and blew out in his knee in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 29th, meaning he may not even play in 2015.
Maybe the Bengals are thinking they won't be able to resign Andrew Whitworth to a contract extension. If that happens, we'd be happy to eventually have Whitworth on the Steelers. But we digress; that won't happen.
Enough of the Bengals. Back to the Steelers ...
With Dupree in Black 'n Gold, we can hope other good players at positions of need fall to them in subsequent rounds. The secondary must be addressed, obviously. Nose tackle could be bolstered.
Of the first-round selections that followed No. 22, the only one that we might have been really interested in was Malcolm Brown, the Texas nose tackle who went to New England at pick No. 32. We also liked UCLA's Odighizuwa, a lot, but the Steelers clearly liked Dupree better; and we don't have a major issue with that. We also wouldn't have objected if the Steelers had selected Connecticut's Byron Jones, the cornerback who went to Dallas.
The Jarvis Jones Question
One interesting thing about the Dupree selection: Yes, he will most likely play on the right side, in the spot vacated by Jason Worilds. But the selection of Dupree also may be seen as the team knowing it has to hedge its bet on Jarvis Jones. So far, although Jones showed glimpses of playmaking ability, he has looked mostly underwhelming, and that may be an understatement. If the Steelers had faith in Jones, they may not have brought back James Harrison.
In the event Jarvis Jones doesn't pan out, however, and Harrison retires after the 2015 season, Dupree could move over to the left side.
Clearly, Dupree is being brought in to play right away, albeit on the side opposite of Jones/Harrison. Arthur Moats resigned with the team in the hope he would get the starting job, and maybe he will start for a while at the beginning of the season. But the position is earmarked for Dupree.
Other players currently in the mix for roster spots at outside linebacker are Shawn Lemon (CFL; Akron); Jordan Zumwalt (2014 practice squad; UCLA); Howard Jones (practice squad; Shepherd); Roosevelt Nix (futures contact; Kent State); and Shayon Greene (1st-year free agent; University of Miami).
They all have hopes, and so do we, and so do the Steelers -- particularly for Bud Dupree to become the fierce and tenacious presence on defense the team drafted him to be.
One afterthought ...
It's a bit ironic, isn't it, that the Steelers passed on linebacker Shane Ray for a guy named "Bud."
With the very next pick after Pittsburgh's selection of Dupree, the Denver Broncos selected Shane Ray, who received a police citation for marijuana possession just three days ago. Then again, marijuana is legal in Colorado, so maybe the Broncos figure it's no big deal. Still, it is likely that Ray will start his pro career with one strike against him on the NFL's substance abuse scoreboard.
The Steelers got the right Bud.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Departures and ... what?
While 'most everybody was surprised to hear of Jason Worilds' announced retirement, it should have been no surprise that he wasn't going to be a Steeler this coming season. We knew that.For Steeler Nation, therefore, his retirement is really a non-event -- insofar as he wasn't going to be playing for the Steelers anyway. Good luck, Jason. If you can retire at 27, more power to you.
At the time the Steelers announced the low tender offer to Brice McCain, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls thought the team's offer was too low, and we wondered, Why? Last year, McCain played better than most people expected, and those three interceptions were timely and valuable. He competed. Not a Pro Bowl cornerback, but competitive.
Neither Worilds nor McCain were top-line players, and it was a foregone conclusion Worilds was gone. As a second-round draft pick he was over-drafted. As a back-up for those initial years, he was not utilized. When he finally got limited playing time at the end of 2013, he made the most of his opportunity for seven games -- which he parlayed into a $10 million payday for last year. But he wasn't a consistently "dynamic" player; an "impact" player; a "difference-maker."
The Steelers need an upgrade at both pass-rush linebacker positions. And now, with the departure of McCain, they need even more help at an already-thin cornerback position. Patrick Robinson? Ugh. Another under-achieving, low-impact player.
Mediocrity is not the answer.
There are a lot of "ifs" on the defense, that's for sure.
On the offensive side of the ball, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls are less than enthusiastic about the prospect of 32-year-old DeAngelo Williams coming in to do, what? ... be another LaRod Stephens-Howling? To be an older, slower version of Dri Archer?
Like Worilds, Williams was over-drafted from the get-go, and he's never become the player the team who drafted him hoped they were getting. It seems a bit late to hope he is suddenly going to blossom. There's no upside. He has a history of injuries. Pass protection could be an issue. And he's too small.
We'd pass, but it looks like a very real possibility the Steelers will sign him. Meh.
Monday, March 02, 2015
Back from Winter Hibernation
The Steelers had no business losing to Baltimore in the playoffs, but they did. They got out-physicaled.
A number of unpleasant memories linger from that game, but two stand out: Dri "Tiny" Archer getting run over and having his helmet knocked off by Terrell Suggs; and Jason Worilds slugging backup tight end Crockett Gilmore after the play, in the side of the head -- to absolutely no effect; Gilmore didn't even flinch. Worilds looked weak, hot-headed and foolish, and he cost the Steelers a costly 15-yard penalty.
It was downright embarrassing.
The Steelers' lack of physicality, especially on defense, was evident all year. The middle of the defensive front was too soft, too often, and first-round linebackers Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier got pushed around and pushed back way too often for the relatively little amount they played. It's a concern.
Several veterans are likely to be released this week, and some new ones may be brought in.
As much as we would have liked to have had Jacoby Jones on the Steelers (instead of the Ravens) the past few years, he is 31. His best days are behind him.
Mike Wallace? No. Lamarr Woodley? No.
The Steelers need help on defense, especially in the secondary and at rush linebacker. That's no secret. Whether that help comes via free agency or the draft -- or whether it comes at all -- we'll just have to wait and see.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
The Ol' Fumblerooski
Anybody who's played football knows the slippery spheroid (the football itself) can be tricky to handle at times. It can be especially tough to hold onto, especially in wet, cold conditions that frequently occur in places like Pittsburgh and, yes, Foxboro, Mass.
Fumbles happen ... but it always helps if the football is a little under-inflated, making it softer and easier to grip.
A hat tip to our pal Richard over at YinzBurgh BBQ, the best Southern-style barbecue in Pittsburgh, for pointing out this massively stat-backed analysis by Warren Sharp at Sharp Football Analysis.
Mr. Sharp analyzed the New England Patriots' amazing ability to avoid fumbling the football since 2007. Detailed research by Mr. Sharp includes this tidbit:
"The 2014 Patriots were just the 3rd team in the last 25 years to never have lost a fumble at home! The biggest difference between the Patriots and the other 2 teams who did it was that New England ran between 150 and 200 MORE plays this year than those teams did in the years they had zero home fumbles, making the Patriots stand alone in this unique statistic."A coincidence? Does Bill Bellichick cheat in the woods?
This all gets back to the absurd, preposterous NFL policy of allowing the teams to supply and control the footballs they use on offense.
The NFL, which controls every last detail down to the type of socks worn on the field, does not have game-day officials or its own equipment people supplying the footballs used in a game. The NFL created this mess; now the lawyers Goodell & Co. get to stew in it during the very week the league is in the world's media spotlight.
Monday, January 26, 2015
The NFL Looks Foolish in its "Culture of Cheating"
Distractions? What distractions?
During the build-up to the Super Bowl, the media-consuming public is usually subject to non-stop minutiae of the most tedious sort about all the possible storylines, players, coaches, quirks, proposition bets, Xs and Os, and other minutiae in the most agonizing detail.
Not this year.
The New England Deflatriots have seen to that. This year, virtually the only story has been the one about Deflated Footballs, splashed all over the mainstream news channels in addition to the usual sports outlets (except for the NFL Network, and even they can't totally ignore it).
Good. Coaches hate distractions during game week, and this is the grand-daddy of them all.
Bill Belichick, the ultimate mastermind control freak, can deny and declaim all he wants, but he looks foolish in all his sheepish "Don't know" statements. Tom Brady, in all his wide-eyed "candor," cannot bask in all the wonderfulness that usually accrues to him.
Best of all, the New England Patriots once again are tainted and tarnished by the label of Cheats. They embody what former Carolina Patriots GM Marty Hurney called "a culture of cheating." Even Don Shula has been heard describing Bellichick as "Bill Bellicheat."
And the NFL itself looks foolish because of how colossally stupid it's been for the league to have ever allowed footballs used in a game to be managed by anybody but league officials. Why?
This is supposed to be the NFL's undisputed week in the spotlight. It is, but for the wrong reasons. It's not been a good year for Roger Goodell.
During the build-up to the Super Bowl, the media-consuming public is usually subject to non-stop minutiae of the most tedious sort about all the possible storylines, players, coaches, quirks, proposition bets, Xs and Os, and other minutiae in the most agonizing detail.
The New England Deflatriots have seen to that. This year, virtually the only story has been the one about Deflated Footballs, splashed all over the mainstream news channels in addition to the usual sports outlets (except for the NFL Network, and even they can't totally ignore it).
Good. Coaches hate distractions during game week, and this is the grand-daddy of them all.
Bill Belichick, the ultimate mastermind control freak, can deny and declaim all he wants, but he looks foolish in all his sheepish "Don't know" statements. Tom Brady, in all his wide-eyed "candor," cannot bask in all the wonderfulness that usually accrues to him.
Best of all, the New England Patriots once again are tainted and tarnished by the label of Cheats. They embody what former Carolina Patriots GM Marty Hurney called "a culture of cheating." Even Don Shula has been heard describing Bellichick as "Bill Bellicheat."
And the NFL itself looks foolish because of how colossally stupid it's been for the league to have ever allowed footballs used in a game to be managed by anybody but league officials. Why?
This is supposed to be the NFL's undisputed week in the spotlight. It is, but for the wrong reasons. It's not been a good year for Roger Goodell.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
The Purple Browns Get Their Man
It would be unfair, possibly, to judge Trestman completely on his failure as head coach in Chicago with that jackaloop Jay Cutler.
Trestman moves to a much more talented team in Baltimore, with a much better quarterback and a stable, winning head coach at the reins. Trestman gets to work behind the scenes, where he is most comfortable. He won't have to oversee the defense, or special teams, or deal constantly with the media.
It's good for Flacco, too. Trestman, whose nickname is "The Quarterback Whisperer," has worked successfully with Steve Young, Rich Gannon and Bernie Kosar, among others. He is known to be cerebral and hard-working. Flacco should get all the care and feeding he needs.
Kubiak's departure still hurts the Ravens, though. Trestman has always been known for finesse offenses, and Chicago ran the ball fewer than all but four NFL teams last season, and that's with Matt Forte. Baltimore may lose running back Justin Forsett to free agency following his breakout, Pro Bowl season, and that would also hurt. Another ripple effect of Kubiak's departure is the loss of two other offensive assistants, quarterbacks coach Rick Dennison and tight ends coach Brian Pariani.
It will be a period of adjustment in Baltimore. No guarantees.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Good News for the Steelers
The best news for the Steelers this young off-season comes out of Baltimore.
Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak is now head coach of the Denver Broncos. Not only is Kubiak departing the Purple Browns, he's also taking two of Baltimore's assistant coaches with him to Denver. Good news for the Steelers and everybody else in the AFC North.
Kubiak's departure hurts the Ravens. Badly.
Continuity in a coaching staff is important, and Kubiak was the best offensive coordinator Baltimore has had in years. Guided by Kubiak, the Ravens scored 409 points, their most ever. Working with Kubiak, Flacco had his most productive season: 27 touchdowns and 3,986 yards passing. Under Kubiak, the Ravens ramped up their running game with Justin Forsett, who hits free agency after his breakout season in Baltimore -- another hit to Bawlmore.
Ozzie Newsome and John Harbaugh might hire somebody every bit as effective as Kubiak, but there's no guarantee. There's going to be a period of adjustment not just for the new coordinator, but for Harbaugh and, especially, Joe Flacco, whose fragile psyche will be asked to adjust, once again, to a new coordinator -- his fourth in four years (Cam Cameron, Jim Caldwell, Kubiak and the next guy).
Yup, this is good news for the Steelers and an unwelcome development for the Purple Browns. At least for the moment, Kubiak's departure must be causing some considerable consternation and hand-wringing in Owings Mills and the surrounding cesspool that is Baltimore.
Kubiak's departure hurts the Ravens. Badly.
Ozzie Newsome and John Harbaugh might hire somebody every bit as effective as Kubiak, but there's no guarantee. There's going to be a period of adjustment not just for the new coordinator, but for Harbaugh and, especially, Joe Flacco, whose fragile psyche will be asked to adjust, once again, to a new coordinator -- his fourth in four years (Cam Cameron, Jim Caldwell, Kubiak and the next guy).
Yup, this is good news for the Steelers and an unwelcome development for the Purple Browns. At least for the moment, Kubiak's departure must be causing some considerable consternation and hand-wringing in Owings Mills and the surrounding cesspool that is Baltimore.
How Deflating
 |
| LeGarrette Blount, in the locker after walking off the field before the end of the Steelers-Titans game. |
Of course.
Of course the quitter shitheel Blount was the hero of the day for New England, after he trampled the Colts for three touchdowns and 148 yards on 30 carries. It's tough to see a guy like that succeed after he was such a shitstain in Pittsburgh, but give BilB
Everybody knows the Colts are weak against the run, so Bellichick gave Blount 30 carries. No brainer, right? Yeah, except we see time and again that offensive coordinators stray from game plans and so rarely commit to the run in today's NFL.
Speaking of committing to the run, the Seahawks deserve credit for staging a Conference Championship comeback win for the ages. How did they do it? They ran the ball. Even when they were down by 16 points at halftime.
Commitment to the run. It's kind of refreshing to see.
"The time is always right to do what is right."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Playoff Game Day Observations & Coaching Carousel Thoughts
Something to keep in mind today, as the Colts visit New England: Before joining the Colts, Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore. The Ravens play the Patriots tougher than anybody in the NFL, last week's loss in New England notwithstanding.
If Pagano's defensive schemes evoke Baltimore's approach to playing New England, don't be surprised. The Ravens give the Patriots fits, and Pagano comes to Indianapolis directly from Baltimore. The question is, whether Indianapolis has the horses, so to speak, to beat the Patriots.
Speaking of the Ravens, once again there are a lot of "ifs" surrounding that team right now. The biggest "if," perhaps, is whether offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak moves to Denver. If so, who will become Baltimore's offensive coordinator?
Kubiak would be a big loss for the Ravens, but that organization has a knack for finding the perfect replacements for key roles on both the player roster and the coaching staff. Kubiak isn't a slam dunk to become Denver's next head coach, but preliminary talk is that former Cleveland offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has the inside track to succeed Kubiak in Baltimore, if Kubiak moves on.
Shanahan's Browns gave the Steelers all they could handle, and more, in both games during 2014. He'd be a good get for Baltimore, but losing Kubiak would hurt the Ravens. And that would be good for the Steelers, just as losing defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer hurt the Bengals last season, and there's no question about that.
Speaking of the Steelers, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls would love to see the organization add Deshea Townsend as a defensive backs coach. There's an opening on the staff, and Carnell Lake needs all the help he can get with a secondary in transition. Townsend is savvy, was a very good cornerback, and he is a terrific communicator. He is currently an assistant coach at Mississippi State.
Speaking of the Ravens, once again there are a lot of "ifs" surrounding that team right now. The biggest "if," perhaps, is whether offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak moves to Denver. If so, who will become Baltimore's offensive coordinator?
Kubiak would be a big loss for the Ravens, but that organization has a knack for finding the perfect replacements for key roles on both the player roster and the coaching staff. Kubiak isn't a slam dunk to become Denver's next head coach, but preliminary talk is that former Cleveland offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has the inside track to succeed Kubiak in Baltimore, if Kubiak moves on.
Shanahan's Browns gave the Steelers all they could handle, and more, in both games during 2014. He'd be a good get for Baltimore, but losing Kubiak would hurt the Ravens. And that would be good for the Steelers, just as losing defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer hurt the Bengals last season, and there's no question about that.
Speaking of the Steelers, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls would love to see the organization add Deshea Townsend as a defensive backs coach. There's an opening on the staff, and Carnell Lake needs all the help he can get with a secondary in transition. Townsend is savvy, was a very good cornerback, and he is a terrific communicator. He is currently an assistant coach at Mississippi State.
Monday, January 12, 2015
The NFL has Stupid Rules
Joey Porter's Pit Bulls has no love for Jerry Jones's Dallas Cowboys, but that was a catch.
Dez Bryant made the catch that was first ruled a catch but overturned on replay by indecisive officials who were following the letter of the law, as they interpreted it according to the NFL rule book. And that rule book is part of why the NFL continues to stand for "No Fun League." It's lawyer-ball.
Too bad for Cowboys' fans; while in Detroit, Lions' fans are loving the schadenfreude.
At this point, we have no choice but to pull for Indianapolis to beat New England; Green Bay vs. Seattle, eh.
Knowing that the Steelers whomped the Colts in the regular season does not make us feel any better about the state of the playoffs or what might have been.
Too bad for Cowboys' fans; while in Detroit, Lions' fans are loving the schadenfreude.
At this point, we have no choice but to pull for Indianapolis to beat New England; Green Bay vs. Seattle, eh.
Knowing that the Steelers whomped the Colts in the regular season does not make us feel any better about the state of the playoffs or what might have been.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
End of an Era: Dick LeBeau Resigns
The Urbana Daily Citizen in Ohio broke the news today that Dick LeBeau has resigned his position as defensive coordinator of the Steelers. This marks the end of an era in Steeler history.
At least LeBeau got to say for himself that he's resigning instead of having the Steelers announce he's retiring, as they did "on behalf of" Bruce Arians, who promptly went on to find gainful employment has since gone on to win NFL Head Coach of the year honors.
As reported in the newspaper: “I’m resigning this position, not retiring,” LeBeau, 77, said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Citizen. “I had a great run in Pittsburgh. I’m grateful for all the things that have happened to me and thankful for all the support I had in Pittsburgh.”
It's sad that the revered LeBeau, a Hall of Famer as a player, coach and person, was unable to go out on top, as Super Bowl Champion.
In other ways, it feels right: The one thing we've been uneasy about for some time is that LeBeau would linger on and on and on to the point of irrelevance -- to the point of becoming embarrassingly, there is no other word for it, elderly, like Joe Paterno.
The lack of talent on defense this past year was indisputable -- the Steelers just don't have the same quality or depth that we're used to seeing. LeBeau could only do so much with the talent that was made available to him.
By the same token, it's fair to point out that the Steelers' defensive schemes have gotten a bit stale or predictable. It seemed like opposing offenses knew how to attack the Steelers, and nobody feared this defense over the past couple of years, at least.
All the same, fare thee well, Dick LeBeau, and many thanks for the incredible legacy you built in Pittsburgh. It will be tough to find as fine a gentleman or as smart a defensive coordinator.
At least LeBeau got to say for himself that he's resigning instead of having the Steelers announce he's retiring, as they did "on behalf of" Bruce Arians, who promptly went on to find gainful employment has since gone on to win NFL Head Coach of the year honors.
It's sad that the revered LeBeau, a Hall of Famer as a player, coach and person, was unable to go out on top, as Super Bowl Champion.
In other ways, it feels right: The one thing we've been uneasy about for some time is that LeBeau would linger on and on and on to the point of irrelevance -- to the point of becoming embarrassingly, there is no other word for it, elderly, like Joe Paterno.
The lack of talent on defense this past year was indisputable -- the Steelers just don't have the same quality or depth that we're used to seeing. LeBeau could only do so much with the talent that was made available to him.
By the same token, it's fair to point out that the Steelers' defensive schemes have gotten a bit stale or predictable. It seemed like opposing offenses knew how to attack the Steelers, and nobody feared this defense over the past couple of years, at least.
All the same, fare thee well, Dick LeBeau, and many thanks for the incredible legacy you built in Pittsburgh. It will be tough to find as fine a gentleman or as smart a defensive coordinator.
Wednesday, January 07, 2015
Tackle the catch?
Yet, playing without both of their starting offensive tackles, the Ravens offense put together scoring drives of 80, 70, 57 and 69 yards.
The long drives suggest Pittsburgh's defensive scheme of the corners playing off the ball and tackling the catch didn't work.
When Baltimore was on defense, playing with a secondary that has started seven different cornerbacks and four safeties this season, the Ravens limited the Steelers to three field goals and one touchdown.
Tuesday, January 06, 2015
Penalties: An old bug-a-boo surfaced again
In Saturday night's loss to Baltimore, penalties hurt the Steelers as much as anything.
The eight penalties for 114 yards negated Antonio Brown's nine catches for 117 yards. You take away Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, and what do you have? A loss.
The penalties are an old-bug-a-boo that bit the Steelers badly early this season but had been mitigated for the most part over the second half of the season.
Unfortunately, the flag-fest on Saturday night brought to mind the early part of the season, when the Steelers committed penalty after penalty: Eleven penalties in the season opener vs. Cleveland; nine penalties in the second-game loss at Baltimore; a whopping 13 penalties against Tampa Bay on Sept. 28th; seven penalties vs. Jacksonville, including four on special teams; six bad penalties in the October blowout loss at Cleveland.
Following the loss to Tampa Bay, Mike Tomlin said, "We kicked our own butt today with penalties."
The same could be said about the playoff loss to the Ravens -- although penalties weren't the only reason the Steelers lost. Still, they were a big factor.
Watching some of the penalties committed on Saturday night -- particularly Jason Worild's punch to the (helmeted) head of Crockett Gilmore; David DeCastro's false start; Shamarko Thomas's hit out-of-bounds -- brought to mind Tomlin's words following the haunting loss to Tampa Bay:
It's something that should be a point of emphasis in training camp and throughout next season.
The eight penalties for 114 yards negated Antonio Brown's nine catches for 117 yards. You take away Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, and what do you have? A loss.
Unfortunately, the flag-fest on Saturday night brought to mind the early part of the season, when the Steelers committed penalty after penalty: Eleven penalties in the season opener vs. Cleveland; nine penalties in the second-game loss at Baltimore; a whopping 13 penalties against Tampa Bay on Sept. 28th; seven penalties vs. Jacksonville, including four on special teams; six bad penalties in the October blowout loss at Cleveland.
Following the loss to Tampa Bay, Mike Tomlin said, "We kicked our own butt today with penalties."
The same could be said about the playoff loss to the Ravens -- although penalties weren't the only reason the Steelers lost. Still, they were a big factor.
Watching some of the penalties committed on Saturday night -- particularly Jason Worild's punch to the (helmeted) head of Crockett Gilmore; David DeCastro's false start; Shamarko Thomas's hit out-of-bounds -- brought to mind Tomlin's words following the haunting loss to Tampa Bay:
"The bottom line is we are an undisciplined group," Tomlin said at the time. "We're too highly penalized. ... It's unacceptable; it's inexcusable. Some of the pre-snap penalties and post-snap penalties are just lack of discipline. It's ridiculous. False starts, encroachment. That we have full control over."Apparently not. All those types of penalties came back into play at the worst possible time on Saturday night, either derailing Steelers' drives or giving new life to the Ravens.
It's something that should be a point of emphasis in training camp and throughout next season.
Sunday, January 04, 2015
Pffffttt ...season over
- The Ravens brought a pass rush; the Steelers didn't.
- The Ravens protected their quarterback; the Steelers didn't.
- The Ravens scored sevens; the Steelers settled for threes.
- The Ravens collected three turnovers; the Steelers got just one.
- The Ravens drew just two penalty flags; the Steelers were penalized eight times for 114 yards. Some stupid penalties, too, Jason Worilds, Shamarko Thomas.
The loss removes whatever luster, such as it was, that was attached to winning the AFC North Division ... especially when two division rivals remained standing following the Steelers' loss.
It's going to be tough to muster much interest in the playoffs from here on out. Joey Porter's Pit Bulls despise both New England and Baltimore, and we can't stand Peyton Manning. Knowing the Steelers demolished the Colts doesn't help, either.
In the coming weeks and months, there will be plenty of time to try to figure out where the Steelers can be improved. It's going to be a long off-season, especially with the NFL Draft pushed back to May.
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