The Steelers Can Put the Ravens in Very Deep Hole

The Steelers have a chance to bury the Ravens on Thursday. It's tough for a team to recover from starting the season 0-2 in the division -- with both losses at home, no less -- and that's what Baltimore is facing at home on Thursday vs. the Steelers.

Here's a guarantee: The Ravens, with their collective back to the wall and reeling from the disgraceful Ray Rice situation, are going to adopt the requisite "Us Against the World" mentality. Somebody in that locker room is saying "Nobody's giving us a chance!"

Against this backdrop, at home and on national primetime TV, the Ravens are going to be very, very tough for the Steelers to beat.

No-huddle Coming

Baltimore fans must be very proud.

Another guarantee: The Ravens' offense will go no-huddle early and often. The Browns showed that the hurry-up offense works against the Steelers, and until Dick LeBeau's defense proves it can stop the no-huddle, other teams will press it, too.

There's a catch here for the the Ravens, though, and a hopeful sign for the Steelers. The Ravens panicked early in their game vs. the Bengals, missed chances and failed to establish any sort of identity on either offense or defense.

It's almost never a good thing when your quarterback passes 62 times in a game, as Baltimore's Joe Flacco did on Sunday vs. the Bengals in Baltimore for the season opener between the two AFC North rivals.

In the first half, the Ravens held Cincinnati out of the end zone, but the Bengals compiled five goals en route to a 15-0 halftime lead. After an early fumble by running back Bernard Pierce and with no Ray Rice, Flacco went to the air.

Flacco completed 35 of 62 pass attempts (56.5%) for 345 yards and one touchdown. The  Ravens' receivers did Flacco no favors, though, dropping seven passes. The Bengals sacked Flacco three times.

The Ravens had no rhythm on offense and a sense of disconnect across the board.

As John Eisenberg on the Ravens' website noted, "Their first game of 2014 felt a lot like 2013. That’s not a compliment. The offense experienced an early power outage marked by a rash of mistakes. The defense struggled to get off the field, yet fought hard and kept the score reasonably close. A late rally showed heart and gave the Ravens a chance to win, but the other team made a key play and won, deservedly so. It’s a familiar narrative, one the Ravens didn’t want to reprise."

Where was the Ravens' running game?
During the off-season, the Ravens, Bengals and Browns all stated, repeatedly, their commitment to the run. Of the three, only the Browns backed up that commitment, despite trailing by 24 points at halftime. The Browns ran 30 times for a total of 183 yards (6.0 avg.) vs. the Steelers. The Bengals ran 26 times for only 79 yards (3.0 average) in Baltimore. The Ravens attempted just 20 runs for a mere 91 yards (4.0 avg.) at home vs. the Bengals.

The Steelers? They had 28 running plays (for 127 yards) and 34 pass attempts (for 365 yards) vs. the Browns. We'll see if they can keep scoring 30 points a game, but it wont be easy on the road against a Ravens squad desperate to avoid going 0-2 in the division.

How important is it to avoid going 0-2 in the division to start the season? According to Terrell Suggs, “It’s everything. It’s everything. You don’t want to come out of an 0-2 hole, especially giving up two at home. Wins in the NFL are hard to come by, so that’s why you’ve got to win your home games.”

This is the Steelers' chance to bury the Ravens. Beat them on Thursday, and they'll be forced to climb uphill the rest of the season.

The Baltimore Ray-vens

Here is all you need to know about Ray Rice and the Baltimore Ravens AND Roger Goodell and his NFL:

Ray Rice -- ELEVATOR KNOCKOUT ... Fiancee Takes Crushing Punch [Video] - Watch More Celebrity Videos or Subscribe

From one Ray-Ray accused of murder, to Ray Rice, shown in the video above.

And all the apologists surrounding this very ugly Ray/Janay incident.

It's time for Roger Goodell to resign.
From the way Goodell handled the New England Cheatriots' "Spygate" B.S. to the way he failed to handle the New Orleans Saints' "Bountygate" crap, to the rules changes, the over-saturation of the NFL on TV, all the way through the toothless drug policy, HGH, PEDs testing, to Richie Incognito, to the disingenuous and backpedaling domestic violence policy, and now this.  Goodell's got to go.

Goodell's got some 'splaining to do.

STOMP, Stomped, and then a Win. "Obviously."

Antonio Brown stomps Spencer Lanning.
Photo Credit: Gene Puskar / AP

The final score almost doesn't matter.  Yes, it was a win, thankfully, but the second half is pretty much all anybody will talk about, and it was alarming. As ESPN.com's Scott Brown wrote, "The Steelers were unstoppable in the first half and unwatchable in the second half."

Final score: 30-27, in favor of the Steelers, but ... mistakes, 11 penalties, poor choices, plays allowed and plays not made, including Ike Taylor's trademarked interception-drop to be followed by an opponent's touchdown a few plays later.

It almost doesn't matter what the Steelers did in the first half. They stunk up their own stadium in the second half. The defense let the Cleveland Stinking Browns come back from a 24-point halftime deficit. That was Disgusting.

Good defenses don't blow 24-point halftime leads.

Granted, there were numerous good plays by more than a few Steelers, and several players were downright outstanding: Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Heath Miller, LeVeon Bell, Justin Brown and Ben Roethlisberger.  Even the Special Teams were mostly good.

In some positions, however, maybe the Steelers just don't have the right talent. The front office gave contract extensions to Cortez Allen (why?), Maurkice Pouncey (?) and Marcus Gilbert (??). The offensive line anchored by Pouncey and Gilbert allowed four sacks, which is too many. "Obviously."

Let's see, four sacks a game for 16 games = 60 sacks. Obviously. Numbers like that rarely extrapolate so neatly, but, still, the idea is to protect Ben, isn't it?

And the defense? Ugh. In Joey Porter's Pit Bulls' posts during the week before the game, it was noted the Steelers must stop the run. They didn't.

The Browns racked up 183 yards on the ground, including runs of 29 and 25 yards, and 6.1 yards per rush.

Allowing 183 yards on the ground is unacceptable by anybody's criteria.

The porous defense allowed running back Terrance West, a small-college (Towson) rookie playing his first NFL game, to run for 100 yards, and another small-college rookie, Isiah Crowell (Alabama State), to score two touchdowns. West averaged 6.8 yards per carry; Crowell averaged 6.4 yards per carry, and starter Ben Tate averaged 6.8 yards per carry before leaving with an injury.

Mike Mitchell, in trail

Backup and no-name receivers running free made us wonder why Cortez Allen got an extension.

And, we have to ask, where was Mike Mitchell, the big-money free agent safety? He was in on seven tackles, but if anybody thinks he had anything resembling a good game, uh, no. Same goes for Ike Taylor, Jason Worilds, Cam Thomas and Steve McClendon.

Each of the linebackers had at least one good, noteworthy play, but there were plays and tackles left unmade, and that was obvious by the numbers.

The Steelers had better get their act together by Thursday.

Next game: Thursday night in Baltimore vs. the Ravens, who clearly have problems of their own.

Game Day 1: Browns at Steelers. "Singular Focus. Obviously."

You'd think, hope and expect the Steelers will be ready to start the 2014 season today. At home. Versus the stinking Cleveland Browns, the Black 'n Gold's historical and geographical arch-rival, never mind the 24-4 record vs. the Browns since 2000.

The Steelers should stomp this team.

Then again, you'd think the Steelers would have been ready to open the season in 2013. At home. Versus a mediocre Tennessee Titans team that had no business coming into Pittsburgh and beating the Steelers.

The Steelers also lost their 2012 season opener, 31-19, in Denver. And they got walloped in an ugly, 35-7 beating by the Ravens in the 2011 season opener in Baltimore.

The concern for today's game, though, goes back to last year. There's no disputing the Steelers weren't ready for the 2013 season. They went 0-4 to start the regular season.

And the Steelers didn't look particularly crisp this pre-season.

The Browns have been worse than the Steelers in season openers. In fact, the Browns have lost nine season openers in a row. When they lose their 10th today, it will set an NFL record. For what it's worth, Vic Carucci on the Browns' website noted, "the last time the Browns began a season in Pittsburgh, 1989, they also had a first-year head coach in Bud Carson. They won, 51-0. "

On the other hand, Mike Pettine, Cleveland's rookie head coach, surely is aware that the last seven Browns head coaches have lost their debut with Cleveland.

What about today?
To win today, the Steelers must stop the run. Last year, opponents averaged 4.4. yards per carry vs. the Steelers. The Browns are going to try to run the ball. It's all they have on offense. The Steelers must stop the run.

On offense, the Steelers would do well to score early and force the Browns to play catch-up, on the road in a noisy, hostile environment, with a new coaching staff and a squad comprised of 12 rookies, 23 undrafted free agents, numerous first-time starters, and a whopping 26 players who weren't on Cleveland's roster at the end of last season.

The Steelers can and should win this game ... IF Mike Tomlin has them ready this time around.

Browns Week: With Baltimore looming, let's not look past the Browns, although they stink

As bad as the Browns have been in recent years and, more crucially, with Game 2 vs. Baltimore looming just four days after the season opener vs. Cleveland, let's all hope that nobody on the Steelers is looking past the Browns, as incredible and absurd as that sounds for a home opener vs. the team's historical and geographical rival.

The Steelers have lost their past three season openers, however, and came out flat last year in their loss to the Titans at Heinz Field.  If there was ever a team to stomp, it is this year's Browns.

Cleveland Browns fans

The Browns have been a rolling clown car of a franchise for quite a while now and this past off-season in particular.  Their quarterback situation has received so much focus, it's easy to overlook some of their better attributes. Their defense was in the NFL's top 10 last year. The offensive line is anchored by two Pro Bowlers, tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack. Their running game could be good. Tight end Jordan Cameron is a Pro Bowler and is a capable receiving threat.

Their wide receivers, though, are question marks, and some observers have derided this corps as the worst receiver group in the NFL. Starters Miles Austin and Andrew Hawkins have had some success in the NFL, but Austin has been slowed by injuries the past couple of years, and Hawkins has always played in the slot.  He will start on the outside for the Browns. The third receiver, Travis Benjamin, is a smallish, pure speedster (4.29) who is coming off a year lost to an ACL. He has mostly specialized in kick/punt returns. He will get some snaps at wide receiver, but Hawkins is their most dangerous receiver right now.

One thing about the pre-season games: The Browns' quarterbacks, Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel, took almost no shots downfield.  We're not sure they can. Neither have cannon arms, and Cleveland's scheme may not be set up for long downfield passes.  That's the perception, anyway, as most observers assume the Browns will rely mostly on their running game and quick, relatively safe passes to sustain drives and eat up the clock. They'll try to and avoid sacks and turnovers, which could be a real bugaboo for the Browns this year, given their QBs.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is aware of all this, of course, and Joey Porter's Pit Bulls expect that he will indeed have Hoyer try to get the ball to Hawkins, occasionally. The 5'7" Hawkins (a Johnstown, Pa. native) is one of those quick, slippery, nimble guys with short strides and a good, explosive first step. Whether he has long speed? Maybe. Whether he can battle a cornerback all the way downfield and out-jump or battle for a long pass is another thing. He is, after all, just 5'7" tall.

“You need a lot of speed to play outside,” Shanahan said of Hawkins. “He’s got the speed. You’ve got to have quickness to play inside. He’s got the quickness.

Shanahan continued: "You can’t just go out and run, run, pass every play. I don’t think you’re going to do well. The key to this league is keeping defenses off balance. If you’re one dimensional – I don’t care how good you are in that dimension – defenses will find a way to stop you. The players are too good. The coaches are too good. You have to do everything.”

Whether the Browns can do everything isn't what they should be worrying about. It's whether they can do anything.

The Browns aren't equipped to play catch-up

It will serve the Steelers well to get off to a fast start on Sunday. 

Here's a suggestion, Mike Tomlin: If your team wins the coin toss, accept the kick for a change.

We all know Tomlin will defer, if he gets the chance, figuring it smart to put Cleveland's shaky offense on the field first in front of a hostile and hopefully noisy Heinz Field crowd. And maybe that is the conventionally "football-smart" thing to do.

But Joey Porter's Pit Bulls would love to see Dri Archer have a chance to return the kickoff all the way and really set the tone.

C'mon, Steelers, if there was ever a game to be aggressive, this is it: Administer a beat-down on the Browns so bad, it will make Cleveland fans long for 43-0 (the 1999 "return of the Browns" season opener) and 41-0 (Christmas Eve, 2005, when James Harrison body-slammed a Cleveland fan running around on the field)

The Cleveland Browns are not built to play catch-up football. Opening on the road with a first-time head coach, a new starting quarterback, and a new set of receivers, the Browns hope to play a ground-it-out game of attrition: Pound the ball on the ground with running back Ben Tate, eat up clock, hope its defense can force the Steelers into a series of three-and-outs, keep the game close and hope to find a way to pull it out at the end.

Stop the Run
The Steelers cannot allow any of that. On defense, the Steelers' run defense -- which allowed an alarming number of big plays last year and an uncharacteristic number of plus-100-yard rushing games both last year and this pre-season -- must stop the run. It's all the Browns have (besides tight end Jordan Cameron).

On offense, the Steelers need to stomp the Browns early and often, and then put the pedal to the metal. Get up early, and the Browns will panic. And make mistakes. And fold.

To counter the Steelers' passing game, the Browns are going to lean heavily on its pass rush. Kevin Jones, a staff writer on the Browns' team website, makes this point:

"The Steelers posted a 3-6 record in 2013 when their quarterback was sacked three times or more. The team who dropped Big Ben to the floor the most? The Buffalo Bills sacked Roethlisberger four times and of course the unit was led by Mike Pettine. ... A strategy the Browns might employ in sacking Roethlisberger is attacking Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert. The fourth-year pro gave up 11 total sacks in 2013, third worst in the entire NFL. Even though Cleveland is fond of rotating their outside linebackers on various sides, the Browns coaching staff should go into the game with an idea of whether Paul Kruger, Barkevious Mingo or Jabaal Sheard presents the toughest challenge for Gilbert." 

That may be, but the Steelers still have enough firepower to keep the pressure on a Browns' defense that finished in the top 10 last year, but which Joey Porter's Pit Bulls suspect is over-rated and will struggle this year, in part because Cleveland's offense will not be able to sustain drives or control time of possession.

Here's another thing the Browns have going against them: History. The Browns have had no stability in the coaching ranks over the past decade, and the fact is, the last seven Cleveland head coaches have lost their debut NFL game. Rookie head coach Mike Pettine brings a Cleveland squad into Heinz Field that has a whopping 22 undrafted free agents and question marks all over the roster, especially at quarterback.

After last Saturday's "final" roster cutdown, the Browns were still scrambling to fill holes and promptly made four additional roster moves. There are a lot of moving parts on that team, and a lot of question marks, and that is not usually a good sign for any team.

It's been 11 years since the Browns won a game in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers should be primed and ready to break their own ignominious and inexcusable streak of losing their last three season openers. The Steelers, shamefully, weren't ready to open last season, losing at home to Mike Munchak's Tennessee Titans and then going 0-4. There is no reason for them not to be ready this time around.

This is one game the Steelers should not fool around with.

Something you may not know about the Browns ...

Twenty-two (22!) players on Cleveland's 53-man roster are undrafted free agents (UFAs). Yikes. By comparison, the 2014 Steelers have 10 UFAs.

Somebody else can look this up, but Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wouldn't be surprised if Cleveland's 22 UFAs are an all-time NFL high.

Alejandro Villaneuva: A Tight End in the Making?
Speaking of undrafted free agents, one of the Steelers' new practice squad members is 25-year-old Alejandro Villaneuva, 6'9", 277, who is listed as an offensive tackle but sounds like he has the makings of a tight end (and target in the red zone).

Alejandro Villaneuva, as a wide receiver for Army.
Photos courtesy of MMQB.SI, which provided the following caption:
"As a receiver at Army, Alejandro Villanueva pulled in a one-handed grab against VMI in November 2009 (left) and soared against Navy a month later. (Frank DiBrango/Icon SMI and Matt Slocum/AP)"

A graduate of West Point, Villaneuva spent three tours of duty in Afghanistan, where he was awarded a Bronze Star for valor. Currently, he is a captain in the U.S. Army Rangers Reserve. Here's what ProFootballTalk.com had to say about him:

"Villanueva, who played at West Point and served as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan before returning to football, has been added to the Steelers practice squad. The Steelers list Villanueva as an offensive lineman, which he played in college before making the rare move from tackle to wide receiver, while the Eagles were trying the 6-foot-9 prospect as a defensive lineman."

Let's see: A 6'9", 277-lb. guy who has experience playing both tackle and wide receiver? To Joey Porter's Pit Bulls, that sounds like: "Tight end and red zone target."

Browns Week: Hello, Cleveland.

What do we really know about the 2014 Cleveland Browns? ... other than that, from top to bottom, they are probably the most dysfunctional organization in the NFL and that they had probably the most tumultuous off-season of any franchise. On the field, however, what can we expect to see on Sunday at Heinz Field?

What we do know is that the Browns have a rookie head coach, Mike Pettine, about whom questions are already being asked.  And it is fair to question the way he's handled the two-headed quarterback monster that is the combination of Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel.

As for the coordinators, Cleveland's offensive coordinator is the polarizing Kyle Shanahan.

The Browns have some good personnel on defense, but, in Jim O'Neil, they have a first-time NFL defensive coordinator. Nobody knows how he's going to handle the defense, which also happens to be Pettine's specialty, so we can expect to see his stamp on it to some extent.

Back on offense, this will be the first time former Steeler (for about 20 minutes) Brian Hoyer opens a season as an NFL starting quarterback. The Browns plan to do a "running back by committee" approach, according to Pettine, and they have a pretty good offensive line.  But they have a receiving corps that is questionable, at best, except for Jordan Cameron, who is a very good tight end.

For what it's worth, Vic Carucci on the Browns' website noted, "the last time the Browns began a season in Pittsburgh, 1989, they also had a first-year head coach in Bud Carson. They won, 51-0. "

The last time the Browns beat the Steelers was in 2012, in Cleveland, when they forced eight turnovers on a windy day with Charlie Batch at QB for the Steelers.

The Steelers should win this game, but what do we really know about the 2014 Pittsburgh Steelers? ...  If they don't win this game, at home, look out below.

It all starts with the quarterback ...

In Cleveland, the Browns have had 20 starting quarterbacks since 1999. That's right, 20 starting quarterbacks.

In the past six years, the Browns have had five different opening day quarterbacks.

This year, the Browns will open with former Steeler Brian Hoyer at QB. Hoyer was with Pittsburgh for about 20 minutes, you might recall, in 2012.

Turnabout is fair play, and it's worth noting (or not) that current Steelers' backup QB Bruce Gradkowski started for Cleveland against the Steelers in Week 17 of the 2008 season.  Gradkowski completed 5 of 16 passes for 18 yards. He three two interceptions and had a quarterback rating of 1.0. The Browns lost, 31-0.

It will be interesting to see whether Hoyer fares better against the Steelers this Sunday than Gradkowski did against the Steelers in 2008.

Since 2008, the Browns have had the following head coachs: Mike Pettine (2014), Rob Chudzinski (2013), Pat Shurmur (2011-12), Eric Mangini (2009-10) and Romeo Crennel (2008).

The Browns' offensive coordinators: Kyle Shanahan in 2014, Norv Turner in 2013, Pat Shurmur in 2011-12; Brian Dabol in 2009-10.

In Cleveland, the Factory of Sadness grinds on.

Work: Ironic, isn't it, that Labor Day is a holiday?

"Find a job you love, and you'll never have to go to work."
      -- Mom

Lyrics from the song, "U.S. Steel," by Tom Russell:
"You made their railroads, rails and bridges.
You ran their driving wheels.

And the towers of the Empire State are lined with Homestead Steel.

The Monongahela valley no longer hears the roar.

There is cottonwood and sumac weeds,
inside the slab mill door.

And this mill won’t run no more."

Labor Day is a uniquely American holiday. 
For many people, Labor Day isn't even a "holiday" -- they go to work: on farms, in retail stores, convenience stores, in public safety, sports, entertainment, news, construction, mining, etc. These people have to work on Labor Day, whether they want to, or not.

Lots of people without jobs don't have that opportunity. Others choose to work -- self-employed entrepreneurs, artists, writers, musicians, etc.; they can't help themselves.

Granted, work is something you do, not talk about, but Labor Day is a good day to reflect on the nature and meaning of work. Work, any kind of work, represents opportunity. It puts food on the table; a roof over the head; toys for the dog.

Work can be enervating, energizing and inspiring. Or it can be soul-sucking; energy-depleting; drudgery. Work can be something you do because you want to do it -- because it gives you the satisfaction of a job well done, of achievement, of accomplishment, of something to be proud of. By work, we can make a difference; a better place of the world.

Mining: dirty, dark and dangerous

That holds true whether your work is "play" (pro sports), or entrepreneurship, craft, blue collar, white collar, gray collar, pink collar, sweat-stained collar, on the farm, in the factory, in the plant, at the waterworks, in the snakepit of politics, in the cloud of academia, or the gray of Cubicle City, Dilbert's world. Work is work.

One thing for sure: If you've ever been in deep coal mine, you'll appreciate working above ground.

There's such a thing as "Pittsburgh work ethic," and anybody from Pittsburgh knows what that is. You work.

The unemployment line

If you're fortunate enough to have gainful employment, to have work that enables you to support yourself and the ones who rely on you, you're blessed, lucky, fortunate. Anybody who's been poor can relate. Work is good. It's good to have the opportunity to apply your talents and skills, your blood, muscle, corpuscles, neurons, hands, brainpower, energy. It's good to work up a sweat.

Even if you're unemployed, you have an opportunity: Your job is to get a job, or to make a job -- which more and more people are forced to do in this economy of self-employment.

Work is an opportunity. What you do with it is your business.

Our late friend Mickey McGovern once said of a neighborhood slacker who avoided work at all costs, "He thought Manual Labor was a Mexican waiter!"

Or, as Maya Angelou said, "Nothing will work unless you do."

Labor Day: Time to get to work.

Roster Composition (for now)

Looking at the composition of this team, "positional flexibility" notwithstanding ...

Let's start at the back end of the defense: Five safeties and six corners.  Five inside linebackers. Three outside linebackers. Six defensive linemen.

The offense: Six wide receivers. Three tight ends. Three running backs. One fullback. Nine offensive linemen. Three quarterbacks.

A kicker. A punter. A long-snapper.

That's it. Make of it what you will.  2014 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Not-so-final roster cuts

Remember last year's "final" roster  cuts announced on the Saturday following the final pre-seaon game? They weren't so final. By the following Tuesday, the Steelers had made another five roster moves. The five players added in those few days after the initial "final" roster cuts were Terence Garvin, Antwon Blake, Kion Wilson, Vince Williams, and Zoltan Mesko.

So, when "final" cuts are announced today, Saturday, August 30th, don't be surprised if they're not so final. Additional roster shuffling is sure to follow. 

It's worth remembering the Steelers entered the season opener at home vs. the Titans with 19 new players. Nineteen! They lost that game, and the next three. They weren't ready. Could the same thing happen this year?

The Dog Days of August
It's Labor Day weekend, so people will be car-shopping and doing lots of fun stuff with family and friends. It's a good weekend to adopt a dog. Natch, Joey Porter's must put in a good word for our brave canine friends awaiting adoption at the Animal Rescue League and Animal Friends.  Visit your local animal shelter today, just for fun, or to volunteer to walk dogs, or even to adopt a dog (or cat, or bunny) into your home and their forever home.  You won't regret it.

And, as if you didn't know it already, Pit Bulls are cool.

"It's time to put the hay in the barn"

Holy cow, last night's wannabe Steelers-wannabe Panthers sham pre-season finale scrum was dreadful to watch. There were lots of empty seats, but anybody who actually sat through that charade should have been paid to watch it, not the other way around. It's amazing the NFL gets away with it.

Antwon Blake struggled vs. the Panthers.

It's hard to read too much into the performance on the field. A lot of the guys who played won't be in NFL uniforms next week. The guys in Steelers uniforms last night got beat by guys like Philly Brown and Fozzy Whitaker. Let's get real.

The next round of cuts shouldn't be too hard in most cases. It's time to end the Mike Adams experiment. And, do Steelers really need more than two quarterbacks on the active roster to start the year?

There are other concerns, of course. These new free-agent signees won't get cut, but to be honest, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls don't see what Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin saw in off-season additions Cam Thomas and Mike Mitchell.  Neither has shown much this camp or in the pre-season games. With Brett Keisel's recent arrival, where does Thomas fit on the defensive line? The run defense has looked awful all pre-season, and Thomas was supposed to bolster it. He's looked slow, fat and a pushover. Mitchell may be able to hit, allegedly, but he can't tackle, apparently; and he takes bad angles in pursuit -- which he seems to be doing a lot (chasing down guys already past him).

Not encouraging.

After the game, Coach Tomlin said, "We’re very much still a team in development like all teams are.  I think you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re a finished product this time of year. We’re going to continue to put the hay in the barn."

Let's hope this team somehow gels before the season opener vs. Cleveland at Heinz Field. Last year, the Seelers lost the season opener at home vs. Mike Munchak's Tennessee Titans, and then proceeded to lose the next three games.

The Steelers weren't ready to start the season last year, and they don't look ready now. It's time to put the hay in the barn.

The annual dreaded exhibition vs. the Carolina Panthers

Fans will get the torturous privilege of watching quarterbacks Landry Jones and Joe Webb get the bulk of playing time tonight at Heinz Field and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Charlotte North/South Carolina Panthers in the dreaded annual preseason finale between the two teams.

Let's get this over with already and hope nobody sustains a major injury.

"Witching Hour ... in the Deep End of the Pool"

Not surprisingly, this year's first round of player cuts produced no major shocks, but a few mild surprises. Linebacker Vic So'oto had showed some good things in camp and during the pre-season games.

What Joey Porter's Pit Bulls liked about So'oto was that he played with leverage, ferocity and velocity -- good traits for a linebacker.  We haven't seen that with consistency in the play of some of the higher-pedigree linebackers remaining on the team, but what do we know?  The coaches are at camp every day ... although coaches routinely make mistakes in evaluating personnel (James Harrison and Mike Vrabel come to mind, and both played with leverage, by the way).

Based on everything we'd read and heard about Brian Arnfelt last year and during the off-season, we thought he had a chance. Again, though, the coaches know what they want.

Same goes for nose tackle Hebron Fanguopo. For some reason, every time his name came up, we would hear the little Myron Cope voice in our head calling him "the dear Hebron Fan-GU-po."  But Daniel McCullers is here, and Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wouldn't be surprised if McCullers is the starter by Game 3 of the regular season.

Remaining position battles that bear watching: 

• Offensive line: Wesley Johnson vs. Guy Whimper vs. Mike Adams
• Linebacker: Howard Jones vs. Chris Carter

Summer's Almost Gone
In anticipation of the dreaded annual final preseason game against the so-called Carolina Panthers (ugh), head coach Mike Tomlin invoked a couple of new Tomlinisms: "It's the witching hour," for a lot of players on the bubble, he said, and it's time to throw newly signed Brett Keisel into "the deep end of the pool." Good ones, Mike.

Tomlin also may have tipped his hand a bit by sending kudos the way of wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, whose primary role apparently will be as a gunner on the special teams. Tomlin had this to say about the special teams in general:

“Many of the guys who are fighting to improve their position within the group and carve out roles for themselves at the 11th hour, we’re not talking about defensive backs who are going to play defensive back, or wideouts who are going to play wideout. Usually we’re talking about defensive backs who are going to be gunners or corners in the kicking game. A lot is written and said about how they perform offensively or defensively, but what they do on special teams is going to be a significant element in determining who sticks and who does not.”

About Heyward-Bey, specifically, Tomlin said:

“I’m just as pleased with what he’s provided us from a special teams standpoint as I am what he’s doing at wide receiver. I really like some of the things he’s shown us in the kicking game of late. Some things that quite frankly I didn’t know he had in terms of his willingness and ability to cover punts. His willingness and ability to block for punt returners. It’s attractive and he’ll be given an opportunity to display those things, along with his wide receiver play in this game."

Those words are encouraging for Heyward-Bey; not so much for Justin Brown.

Is this how they normally prepare for team business?

Clang!

The smoke has mostly cleared from the aftermath of last week's police interaction with Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount, Le'Doobie Brothers.

Coach Mike Tomlin has disclosed that the team will deal with the incident internally, whatever that means, and the discussion on Tuesday will be about the first round of roster cuts, so the fallout from the Bell/Blount incident will continue to dissipate for a while.

Questions remain, however, and one question is this: Is this the way these guys typically prepare for games? It's a legitimate question.

For that matter, how often do they (and other Steelers) go to team functions, practice or games immediately after getting high?  How about other players? How about some of the coaches? Clearly, Bell and Blount felt comfortable gathering in close quarters (a plane) and interacting with coaches and teammates. Apparently they were unconcerned that would anybody would notice.

Mike Tomlin always likes to talk about the importance of having "a singular focus, obviously."

Well, "obviously," the singular focus of Bell and Blount is getting high. It seems to be their priority over and above what they get paid for as professional football players. We are what we do.

Links: 

Last Word on Sports: Are Blount and Bell to be Trusted?

Dejan Kovacevic: "The Standard is the the Standard."

Eagles.com:  The Eagles are loaded at running back

Le'Doobie Brothers

This story just keeps getting better and better.

According to the official police report and as reported in various media outlets, including ProFootballTalk.com, the exchange between Bell and the officer continued:

When the officer asked what game he was referring to, Bell replied: “I have to be on a plane at 3 to be in Philadelphia. I play for Steelers.” 

Bell initially told the officer there was no marijuana in the car, but when asked if they had smoked any, he replied: “It was about a minute ago,” before clarifying that it could have been within the previous two hours.

As one of the PFT readers commented, "If guys like this had to think in order to breathe, they would have been dead years ago. There’s dumb, and then there’s the level of dumb that just makes you numb to consider."

As a proud citizen of Steeler Nation, it pains Joey Porter's Pit Bulls to write this, but Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount -- Le'Doobie Bros. -- have made the Steelers the laughingstock of the NFL.

Dumb and dumber.

Room for Improvement

Le'Veon Bell drops a pass in Philadelphia.

Ugh. This one was ugly, lackluster, sloppy, messy and borderline-unwatchable. The Steelers looked pitiful. Mike Tomlin played mostly starters for three quarters and trailed 31-7.

The Steelers scored no points in the first half, with just 96 yards of total offense and one interception.

The defense was worse. For the game, the Steelers' defense surrendered a total of 482 yards offense and a total of 36 first downs. For the game, the Eagles had 13 first downs rushing. Thirteen! Rushing. The Eagles topped that with 17 first downs passing. And the Steelers gave the Eagles six first downs by penalty. Philadelphia racked up 79 plays on offense; the Steelers had just 54 plays on offense.

The new-look high-speed defense got pushed around all night by the Eagles, who came out fast, just as expected. Everybody knew the Eagles, at home in the next-to-last game of the pre-season -- the annual "most important" tune-up game for starters in anticipation of the regular season -- everybody knew the Eagles would start fast with the home crowd behind them. The Steelers looked totally unprepared and out of sync. Were they distracted? Unfocused? We don't know, but it looked that way.

"Obviously," as Tomlin might say, "There was a lack of singular focus." They were just bad.

Worst of all -- and this may be a knee-jerk reaction to a "meaningless" exhibition game, but maybe not, considering the Steelers are coming off consecutive 8-8 seasons -- this team looks like it has far too many players who just aren't talented enough to compete effectively in the NFL.

As Heath Miller said earlier in the week, before last night's game, “This will be the closest taste we get as far as an actual game to the time we are in there. This will be a good gauge in that respect.”

If that's the case, look out below. Speaking of which ...

Now, even the Browns might have some hope
This performance must give encouragement to fans in Cleveland. If the Steelers play like this in the season opener at home vs. the Browns, they're going to lose -- no matter who is at quarterback for Cleveland: Brian Hoyer, Rex Grossman, Connor Shaw or even Johnny Manziel.

This sounds absurd, but it's so obvious: The season opener looms as a must-win game.

The first roster cuts will probably start on Saturday. As Chuck Noll once said, "Cutting players isn't the problem. The problem is going to be where to stop."

Cheech Blount & Le'Veon Chong: Up in Smoke

Chronic: "Hey how am I driving, man?"

Blunt [looks around]: "I think we're parked." 

Tomfoolery, hijinks, chicanery and shenanigans with the 420 in the 412 with LeGarrette "Blunt" and Le'Veon "Chronic" Bell!

Just imagine how that conversation in the car went?

Chronic: "Ya wanna get high, man?"

Blunt: "Does Howdy-Doody have wooden balls?"

  
This isn't a distraction, is it? What could possibly go wrong?  
  After all, just a week ago, the Tribune-Review quoted Mike Tomlin as saying:

“They're both going to get their share (of carries). But in terms of the details and anything more detailed than that, no, we'll deal with that on a game-by-game basis based on the plan, based on health of the men and a lot of other variables,” Tomlin said last Thursday. “We have a great deal of confidence in both guys. Both guys are going to be central reasons why we're successful. That's the plan, and I think they're open to that.”

Well, they were open to something. 

What's with the hand signals?

Now, in the aftermath of this latest imbroglio, lots of talk will ensue about some of the alleged incidents allegedly involving Blount before he arrived in Pittsburgh, but that's all in the past, right? What's past is past, and what's done is done. A fresh start and all that. All is good. Right?

Just wondering: Where was Alameda Ta'amu, anyway? Maybe the Steelers can sign Ricky Williams?

Welcome Back, Ol' 99

The timing is perfect, just as planned and agreed upon with the Steelers, no doubt.

Now that the indignities of training camp are over, Brett Keisel, Ol' 99, is back with the team as Defensive End Emeritus.

The bearded professor will tutor and mentor the younger guys -- the graduate student-athletes, if you will -- in the finer points of playing defensive line in the NFL and how to conduct oneself professionally.

We and everybody else figured it was entirely possible that Kesiel would return, and Joey Porter's Pit Bulls are very happy that Keisel didn't end his career in the wasteland of Arizona or Carolina or anywhere else. He is and should be a Steeler for life. Welcome back.

Looking forward to the season opener

Add caption

We're so happy the Cleveland Browns have Johnny! Johnny!! Johnny!!! Manziel. On Monday night vs. the Washington Redskins, Manziel was the player we'd thought he was: scrawny, manic, skittish and inaccurate.  Better yet, he flashed the finger on national television. Classy.

Manziel looked unready for NFL competition. He appeared as if, instead of working out and readying himself mentally during the months following the NFL draft ... well, he looked as if maybe he'd been partying hard right up to the beginning of training camp. But that couldn't be right, could it?

Johnny Manziel's swan dive

Monday night, Manziel flashed the finger immaturity evident in earlier displays this summer, from the "money phone," to the champagne swan, to the highly publicized trip to Vegas and the rolled-up $20 bill in a bathroom, to his partying-with-the-Bieb escapades and antics on TMZ, Twitter and Instagram. So far as we're concerned, it's all good. We're Steelers fans.

After Monday night's display, when Manziel was consistently off-target and throwing behind receivers on mostly short routes, it seems doubtful Manziel will play much, if at all, in the season opener in Pittsburgh. Against the Redskins, Manziel went 7-16 passing for just 65 yards. The middle-finger flash was icing on the excrement. His performance reflected poorly on the Browns, and himself.

“It did not sit well,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said of Manziel’s gesture. “I was informed of it after the game and it’s disappointing. Because what we talk about is being poised and being focused — that you have to be able to maintain your poise.”

Steeler Nation cannot help but watch with fascination what is happening in Cleveland. The Browns have had an off-season marked by turmoil, chaos, turbulence and discord, not to mention false steps, mis-steps, blatant incompetence, tomfoolery, chicanery, skulduggery and hijinks of the most eyebrow-raising, head-shaking sort, from the firing of head coach Rob Chudzinski, CEO Jim Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi, to the clownish buffonery and legal troubles of owner Jimmy Haslam, to the flirtation with Jim Harbaugh, to the delayed hiring of a rookie head coach (Mike Pettine) and then a first-time general manager (Ray Farmer); the off-season antics of players like Josh Gordon (DUI, etc.), Davone Bess, etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseum.  

The big story, of course, has been all the drama wrapped around Johnny Sporkball. Rookie coach Mike Pettine has not handled the quarterback situation well, and it doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon in Cleveland.

Going in the right direction, but still too sloppy

Ryan Shazier, intercepting an E.J. Manuel pass.

Steeler Nation is very happy to see first-hand evidence that Ryan Shazier is the real deal, as he displayed the speed, instincts and athleticism we've all heard about.

"Obviously," the final score doesn't matter much in pre-season games, but the Steelers' sloppy 19-16 win over the Buffalo Bills broke a five-game pre-season losing streak, so that's a good thing.  It was the first pre-season win by Pittsburgh since August 30, 2012, when the Steelers defeated the Carolina Panthers, 17-16, to wrap up a 3-1 pre-season campaign.

Antonio Brown, off and running.

The Steelers' first-team offense looked crisp vs. Buffalo's first-team defense. Ben Roethlisberger looked like the seasoned vet that he is. He knew where he was going with the ball, and he got rid of it. It's as if Roethlisberger, after 11 years in the league, decided he simply wasn't going to get hit in a meaningless exhibition game.

Now, if only Roethlisberger can continue that sort of quick-release tempo into the regular season, the offense should be mostly okay ... although the running game accomplished nothing against the Bills. That shouldn't be too much of a concern, though, as the plan was to work the no-huddle passing game.

"We kind of came in with the mindset that we would throw the ball around with our first group and run some no-huddle things," Mike Tomlin said. "I thought that went well."

On defense, despite Shazier's heroics, should we be worried that a Buffalo offense led by E.J. Manuel tallied 212 yards of total offense in the first half? Granted, it was dink-and-dunk, with Manuel averaging only 5.5 yards per attempt, but still, surrendering 212 yards in one half to E.J. Manuel doesn't sound good. And the Bills had nearly a 10-minute edge in time of possession, with 66 offensive plays to 35 late in the game.

"We created some turnovers, the defense, and that’s always good," Tomlin said. "We responded to some situations but some things obviously need to be cleaned up. Too many penalties, too many missed tackles."

True dat.

It's just good to be in the win column again, even if it's a "meaningless" pre-season game.

Next up: At Philadelphia, where we should expect to see a very aggressive up-tempo offensive effort by the Eagles.

Keep the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo

The NFL seems hell-bent on letting speculation run rampant that the Bills will leave Buffalo, the Raiders will leave Oakland, the Rams will leave St. Louis, and the Jaguars will leave Jacksonville.  

Leave the Bills in Buffalo, for crying out loud. The people of western New York deserve to keep the franchise they've loved for more than 50 years.

The Steelers play the Bills tonight in exhibition play at Heinz Field. It may be the last time the Buffalo Bills play in Pittsburgh. That would be a shame, not because the Steelers and Bills have a great rivalry, but because it would be shameful of the NFL, disgraceful, in fact, if the NFL allowed the Bills (under new ownership, still to be determined), to move from Buffalo.  There's a trust between an NFL franchise and the community that supports it, and the NFL needs to respect and nurture that trust, not abrogate and violate it. 

Linebackers: Who's really on the bubble?

The inside linebackers are set: Timmons, Shazier, Williams and Spence. Terrance Garvin makes the roster as a hybrid linebacker-safety and special teams force.  Jordan Zumwalt can play inside/outside, and he remains in contention to make the roster.

Outside, there's competition, and more question marks. The OLB starters are Jason Worilds and Jarvis Jones. Battling for roster spots are veteran incumbent Chris Carter; newly signed Arthur Moats; futures contract signee Vic So'oto; and rookie Howard Jones.

The big question is, What do the coaches really think about Chris Carter? His three years in Pittsburgh have been undistinguished, and he is entering his contract year. Carter plays only the OLB position. That lackluster track record and lack of position flexibility may hurt Carter's chances of making the final roster.

Moats almost certainly makes the roster. So'oto has played well in camp and looked solid vs. the Giants.  Howard Jones has tantalizing athleticism and upside -- much more so than Carter, although Hones is "raw," inexperienced at the position, and coming from a tiny school.

It should be interesting. The Steelers will probably keep 10 linebackers.  What do you think?

Who's really on the bubble?

It's getting near judgment time. Roster cuts aren't due until next week, but this is the week many decisions will be made.

“If you’re going to make a move it’s going to happen,” said head coach Mike Tomlin. “There are no new surprises, speed of the game, environmental things and so forth. If somebody’s going to make a substantial move it’s going to happen this week.”

Which makes us wonder: Which players are really on the bubble?

The depth chart on Steelers.com may or may not be a semi-accurate indicator.  Is Bryant Browning really the second-team guard behind David DeCastro?

Mike Adams, who is listed as second-team left tackle, is one of the players we're watching closely. Reports on his performance in camp to date have been mixed.  Guy Whimper is listed as second-team right tackle. The options behind Adams and Whimper are rookies: Emmanuel McCray and Wesley Johnson.

If we had to guess, it would be that one of either Adams or Whimper will make it; and one of either McCray or Johnson will make it. One veteran and one rookie; and the ability to play multiple positions may factor into the decision.

Typical Preseason Opener

Sloppy, ragged, erratic and featuring players who won't be in the NFL on opening day, last night's glorified practice before 74,611 paying customers at MetLife Stadium was a drab mess. Ben Roethlisberger (1-2 passing) barely played, and Eli Manning didn't complete either of his two pass attempts.

The lone highlights of "consequence" for the Steelers were Dri Archer's 43-yard sprint with a screen pass on the opening series and Jarvis Jones's eight-yard sack of Manning.

Jarvis Jones sacks Eli Manning

We expect to see more of that sort of dash from Archer. As for Jones, it was good to get his first sack of calendar year 2014 out of the way. Nobody in authority in the Steelers' organization has said anything particularly derogatory about Jones's work during training camp, but nobody has said anything particularly noteworthy either.

The underlying current of thought is this: Jones can say all the right things, demonstrate that he works hard and show that he has a great attitude -- but he has to produce results on the field. He must prove he can make tackles and sack the quarterback.

As Craig Wolfley and Tunch Ilkin have said repeatedly about Jones: "Chuck Noll used to say, 'Don't give me somebody who's around the ball. I want a guy who's on the ball.'"

Jones also must show he is stronger, quicker and has better moves and technique than he showed last year.

On last night's pre-game radio show, Wolfley said, "I want to see Jones sack the quarterback. He's got to show he can do it on the field, not just want to do it. We saw flashes of that last preseason. But, then, during the regular season, next to nothing."

That's why it was encouraging to see Jones sack Manning. Now we need to see that sort of play consistently.

With the Super Moon tonight, the games begin

The Super Moon is tonight. Coincidentally, the Steelers resume competitive play in NFL stadiums tonight. Finally.

After a long-offseason of ugly headlines from across the NFL landscape ... after Ray Rice and Janay; after the Notorious Pouncey Bros. ("Dumb & Dumber"); after nonstop Johnny Football Manziel and his rolled-up-money-phone-partying-with-Justin-Bieber stupidity; after Josh Gordon and his DUI and failed drug tests; the endless Aaron Hernandez murder trial ("Free Hernandez"); after the Darren Sharper drug-and-rape charges; and other assorted nonsense such as the threat of the Buffalo Bills moving out of Buffalo and the Oakland Raiders possibly moving to San Antonio and on and on, ad nauseum ... 

After all that and more, well, finally, the Steelers begin playing in stadiums again this evening. People in Steelers' uniforms, anyway. Regular starters will get limited action, and we will see mostly prospects and suspects taking the field against the NewYork-Jersey Gints, but the Steelers return to play tonight. 

Even though many of the players who play tonight won't make the regular-season roster, it will be good to see the Black 'n Gold in action again. Let's hope everybody stays injury-free.

Oh, and leave the Bills in Buffalo. That's a great region of our great nation, and the good people there should get to keep their beloved Bills. Leave 'em alone.

Encouraging Signs

The early days of NFL Training Camp are much like MLB Spring Training: Hope and optimism are in the air. And why not?

We can't read too much into much of anything at this point, but early reports out of Steelers training camp are encouraging. By all accounts, the defense is looking fast, fast and faster. Rookies Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt project to be impact players, hopefully from Game One. Shazier's emergence will allow Troy Polamalu to go back to doing what he does best. Tuitt will buttress a defensive line that got pushed around too often last year.

Markus Wheaton

On offense, the reports on wide receiver Markus Wheaton also are encouraging. Various observers report that Wheaton has shown polish, speed, good hands and a professional approach. He seems to offer everything that Emmanuel Sanders brought, and more, but with better hands and without the ego.

As reported by ESPN.com's Scott Brown, all this has not gone unnoticed by head coach Mike Tomlin and veteran receiver Lance Moore:

“He’s a detailed guy,” Tomlin said. “I see him not only working out (on the field) before and after but into the evening. He’s just taking a really professional approach. I think he understands what we expect and what we need from him.” 

“He’s definitely got all of the ability and speed and hands and runs good routes,” said Moore, who is entering his 10th NFL season. “He’s definitely going to be an emerging player. It’s a deeper [wide receivers] group than I think people would imagine because there’s a lot of guys that haven’t played as much ball but guys that are definitely capable. I’ve been around long enough and seen enough guys and I think we’ve got a pretty special group.”

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls would like to believe we have reason to be cautiously-hopefully optimistic that Wheaton is a guy who will do well enough to make us forget the high hopes we once had for Emmanuel Sanders, and his disappointing drops, as well.

Wheaton is neither Emmanuel Sanders nor Mike Wallace, and we'll take that as a potentially good thing.

What took so long?

It's about time the Steelers retired Joe Greene's number, for crying out loud. Finally. What were they waiting for?  That number, 75, was defined by Joe Greene and is sacrosanct in Steeler annals. 

Nobody else could wear it.

Same goes for other numbers: 12, 32, 47, 58, 59. And maybe 86 should be in the conversation.

Seriously. Why wait any longer?