The Blitzburgh Report

For better or worse, this season will be defined by injuries. If the Steelers lose in the playoffs, the talk will be about how the team went on a slide after starting 9-3 and how much the major injuries played a role. If they win it all this year then the story will be about how they overcame the significant injuries on a memorable run through the playoffs.

The injury bug has hit the Steelers hard this season

This has certainly been a particularly bad year for the health of Steelers players. Currently, the Steelers have seven players on injured reserve. Losing any player for the season is usually a big deal, but each of these players had an important role with the team.

After watching the game last night I have two questions- Did you hear that Anthony Smith guaranteed that the Steelers won? Yeah, I thought so. But more seriously, what happened in the second half there?

They had ‘em. Things felt pretty good at half-time, didn’t they? The Steelers were showing heart and despite blown coverage on one play, they were right in the game. Too bad they never scored again after the half.

• This was another game where I was left scratching my head a bit over some of Bruce Arian’s playcalling, specifically at the goal-line in the fourth quarter. The shovel pass to Hines Ward was not bad and got them to the one. But after that, I’m not sure why we didn’t see Najeh Davenport come in and pound the ball. He has shown to be very reliable in short yardage this season. So why give it to Hines to try and run in? Arians just gets too cutesy sometimes.

• Speaking of that goal-line stand, why was there no defensive holding called on Rodney Harrison on the fade pass to Santonio Holmes? It seemed like a pretty clear call. There was also that third down on the Steelers’ first drive where Mike Vrabel seemed to jump offsides before the snap but was not penalized. Both instances would have given the Steelers more cracks at getting into the endzone.
   
  I don’t think you can ever use the officiating as an excuse, but it is still very frustrating. Especially against a team like the Pats where for whatever reason (them making it happen, or luck, or whatever you want to say) the ball just seems to bounce their way… like the punt bouncing straight into William Gay’s crotch on that one play.

• I think one play summed up the game and playing this year’s Patriots in general- Under ten minutes to go in the 4th, Partiots have a 2nd down and two yards to go. James Harrison is defending Kevin Faulk, who is lined up as a receiver in the slot. Harrison reads the play perfectly, and is ready to pounce as Tom Brady turns and fires a quick pass to Faulk right after the snap… only Harrison slips and falls down and Faulk gets the first down. That’s just the way things were going.

• Anyone else put off by that announcement during the game that CBS partnered with the Patriots to build some upcoming complex at or near Gillette Stadium? I guess we’ll have to wait for more details, but something about the network that shows the AFC games partnering with the Patriots rubs me the wrong way.

• I wasn’t happy that the Steelers ran out the clock to end the game. I’m of the mind that you keep going, even when it is obvious you’re not going to win. With just under two minutes left, why not keep throwing and try to get a score? I don’t see that as cheap. It is not giving up and going out fighting. Running the clock out was the same as holding up a white flag.

• I’m wondering what those who had no problem with Anthony Smith’s comments think now. The problem wasn’t so much that he made a guarantee, but that you have to be smart about what you say. Any slip, and it gets blown out of proportion. The proof was all there- it got mentioned 8,000 times before the game, 5,000 during the game, obviously discussed on the field by the players, and chanted by the fans.
   
  Not to mention Anthony Smith had a horrible game and ended up looking pretty foolish. Hopefully he was humbled a bit, but his comments after the game about it being taken out of context make me think otherwise. Sure, they may have been, but at this point he just needs to eat some humble pie and move on.

• I don’t have a problem with a quarterback being emotional or fired up, but Tom Brady getting in Anthony Smith’s face annoyed me. It was the fact that Brady and the Patriots as a whole acted all week like they were above trash talking and things of that nature. Then you saw Brady’s true colors during the game. Again, I don’t have a problem with trash talking during the game, but then don’t turn around and act like you are above it.
   
  I absolutely loved the bump that James Harrison gave him, though. I can’t say I would have minded if he body slammed Brady like he did to that Browns fan. But Brady had a great game and is having a record season, so it is hard to talk smack about him; at least his play. I still think after all these years that Bill Belichick’s villainous demeanor has rubbed off on him, however.

• Ben Roethlisberger still had a good game. He made good decisions with the ball and the offense still moved fairly well. It was also refreshing seeing Willie Parker actually getting runs longer then 2 or 3 yards again. But the offense just ended up stalling out; something that has been an issue all season. You just can’t keep settling for field goals, especially when you are at or near the goal line. It has happened a lot more then it should be. I think a lot of it has to do with the above mentioned Arians’ playcalling.

• On a last note, the offensive line played pretty well all things considered. I’ve called them out enough over the season when they’ve been horrible so it is worth mentioning when they did OK. That’s two weeks in a row now and hopefully they are on their way to coming together.

It is a loss but the sky is not falling. I think I’ve written that line after each loss, but it needs to be repeated. We’re a super-passionate fans base in both wins and losses, so we can go a bit crazy. But now that we’ve had some time to catch our breaths, we need to place this in perspective.

The Steelers did show, at times, that they do have what it takes to beat the Patriots. It is in there somewhere, but things fell apart. If these teams met again, when it is all on the line, the Steelers have a pretty solid chance. Even with the loss, they are still in lead of the division and on the road to the playoffs. History is on their side in proving that things are far from over just yet.

Anthony’s Big Mouth

Anthony Smith guaranteeing victory over the Patriots was just not a good move on the young player’s part. I am not going to go as far to say that it is going to motivate the Patriots , but one thing I do know is that it doesn’t help the matter in any way, for a number of reasons.

First, to whatever extent, it can be used as motivation for the Pats. That’s the obvious one. But secondly, I’m not sure that it really helps motivate the Steelers. It’d be one thing if it came from Joey Porter when he was here, or from James Farrior. I’m just not sure that Anthony Smith yet carries that type of role with the team. If anything, it gives the team another distraction as they try to prepare for their biggest test yet this season.

While I must admit that I enjoyed a lot of Joey Porter’s moments, a lot of it had to do with him having the resume to back it up. I’m excited about Anthony Smith, his big hits, and the excitement he brings. I just don’t know if it is his place to make guarantees for the whole team.

The last issue is that it doesn’t reflect well on the team. One thing that I’ve always enjoyed about the Steelers is that they’ve been one of the good guys; for the most part a model franchise. They were more about letting their play on the field do the talking. I think a young player like Smith saying that, in the end, looks a bit silly. As I said I like the guy and am excited about his future with the team, but he probably should have kept his mouth shut there.

The Race for #2

Have you ever started to write up your thoughts on something, feeling strongly about it, only to convince yourself of the opposite position halfway through? Well, I’ll admit that I started to write a piece on why the Patriots game, while huge, maybe wasn’t as big as it was being made out to be. But as I went on I think I changed my mind.

Now, I didn’t change it because I think beating the Patriots is important, but because I think getting the win is very important. Obviously, winning is always the goal and as a Steelers fan living in New England I’ve love for nothing more than for them to beat the tar out of the Pats. But looking toward the playoff seeding it is extra necessary here.

Originally I was going to say that if the Steelers lost they would still be in good position. While that is true, I think making a run for that second seed in the AFC is a big deal. The Steelers are only one game behind the 10-2 Colts and they’ll want to keep pace with them. The Colts face some teams that could trip them up (Baltimore, Houston, Tennessee), but they have it fairly easy compared to the Steelers.

The Steelers end with the Patriots, Jaguars, Rams, and Ravens. That is quite a stretch, especially with the Baltimore game to end the year. They always play the Steelers tough and the last thing you want heading into the playoffs is to be hurting and tired. Not to mention that if the Steelers are the third seed, they’ll have to play likely either the Jaguars or Browns right away. Both of those look like some difficult match ups. The bye week that the second seed provides could be a huge help.

A Week in the Life of Big Ben

If you’re like me, you’re curious about the day-day operations of a football team, and how they prepare for the game each week. If you are, then you’ll enjoy this article that takes a day by day look at Ben Roethlisberger’s week.

One interesting point is that this year Ben is getting the preliminary game plan at least a full day earlier then he did under Ken Whisenhunt. This gives him more time to review the plays and provide his input. In fact, he has a whole lot more input on the plays now and even spends time with Bruce Arians marking down which he likes and which he doesn’t.

Another one is how Ben watches film on the Steelers’ upcoming opponents:

“Every night, Roethlisberger studies a DVD of that week’s opponent, an end-zone view that allows him to see the defense the way it will appear to him in a game. He plays it on the 120-inch projection screen at his home. The home theater is part of a game room that includes pool and poker tables.
While he studies a team’s tendencies, he’ll spread out his paperwork before him. He isn’t a coffee drinker, so he might pop open a Gatorade and stand before the screen, like he’s in the shotgun formation, holding his clicker.”

Also, a few quick notes:

-The team stays together in a hotel the night before games even for the home games.

-On how much time he’s spending preparing this season compared to previous ones: “I know it’s dramatically more than it was (last year),”

-Arians says of himself, “”As the game progresses, I’m not one to repeat a lot of plays.”

-It appears that Whisenhunt didn’t ask much for Ben’s input on all the plays he liked, only asking sometimes what his favorite one or two plays were.

It sure sounds a whole lot like Ben wasn’t crazy about Whisenhunt, not that we didn’t already know that. The article is a good read, however, so go check it out.

Last time Santonio Holmes and Troy Polamalu were out the Steelers went on to play their best complete game of the season, shutting out the Seattle Seahawks and putting up 21 points. Things could be a little harder this time, however.

I know the next opponent, the winless Miami Dolphins, aren’t the strongest foes but we said the same thing of the Jets last week. Unfortunately as well, Holmes (high ankle sprain) and Polamalu (knee) might be out for multiple games and with the Bengals, Patriots, and Jaguars coming up that isn’t exactly exciting news.

This time, there will be some new faces stepping in. Nate Washington will be replacing Holmes this time instead of Cedric Wilson. Wilson was solid in replacing Holmes last time, catching five balls for 69 yards, but the coaching staff would like to see what Washington can do. Washington normally is the back up flanker, but will be trying his hand at split end. The switch is not trivial, however, as Washington recently told the Post-Gazette:

“It’s totally different from the Z,” Washington said, referring to flanker, the only position Washington has played since joining the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. “It’s totally different blocking schemes and the sights [adjustments] are different. I’ll be in my book a lot more and studying film a lot more this week to prepare myself to play [split end].”

Washington offers up some big play ability over Cedric Wilson, and I suspect the coaches pegged him to start to keep up the same deep threat that Holmes has turned into. Washington is still a bit inexperienced and drops some balls. This coupled with his new blocking assignments will mean that he’ll have his hands full and will really need to be prepared.

On the other side of the ball, Tyrone Carter will be filling in for Troy Polamalu. This will be different then the last time Troy was injured, because veteran Ryan Clark was then paired with second year playerAnthony Smith. With Clark now on injured reserve, Carter and Smith will be the starters. Smith has been exciting but at times his inexperience shows. Carter has done well enough the times he has filled in during the past, but he is mostly good when needed in a pinch. He’s not a guy that you want to rely on for multiple weeks.

Another wrinkle into the whole thing is that the Post-Gazette also reports that rookie linebacker Lawrence Timmons might take Troy’s spot in the dime package. In that package, Troy plays more of a linebacker role, so it makes sense. But we have seen next to nothing of Timmons this season so it will be very interesting to see him out there.

The point is that while on paper it seems like the same situation as the Seahawks game, this time it is a bit different. There will be new players stepping in for Holmes and Polamalu, possibly for multiple games. One thing the Steelers have been great at is having back ups step in and not miss a beat; hopefully that continues.

You might have missed it among some of the other injury stories lately, but free safety Ryan Clark is still dealing with an enlarged spleen and apparently is in a whole lot of pain. In a recent interview with KDKA, Clark said:

“I’m just in pain. You know they told me it was going to be painful situation… …You feel it in whatever you do, take a step, or try to lay down, sit down. You know, I feel a pain.”

Check out the video for Clark’s full comments on his injury.

A combination of Sickle Cell, dehydration, and altitude made his spleen swell when the team was in Denver. While the swelling is going down, apparently he still has a fever and has been undergoing plenty of tests to see if there is anything that can be done to help speed recovery.

By the sounds of things, Clark might be out for a long time. You have to sympathize with his situation, especially with all the pain that he is in, and it has to be frustrating waiting for things to heal. He is a solid player who has done very well for the Steelers and we hope that he recovers soon.

From the Steelers’ perspective, they’ve been fortunate to have yet another player step up and assume a starting role. Anthony Smith is really developing into a great safety as he fills in for Clark. Both players are starter-caliber and it is unfortunate that Smith’s opportunity came at the expense of Clark. But having two more then capable players at a position is a good problem to have. I suspect, however, that the job is now Anthony Smith’s, especially if Clark will miss more significant time.

There is no denying that the Steelers are pretty hot right now (at least against teams that don’t bring more intensity then they do) and after the Ravens’ games last year, they have to be looking to be the ones doing the beating this time around. It should be a tough game, as they always are no matter the standings of the two teams. But, the Steelers look like they have a real good shot at going 2-0 so far in their three game tour of the AFC North. Here are some things to look for in the game Monday night:

• Which offensive line will show up? If the “run for your life, Ben!” version shows up, the Steelers could be in serious trouble. Just look at their losses so far this year and, of course, the two Ravens’ games last year. The offensive line really dictates how this offense plays and they need to have a good game against a strong defensive team like the Ravens.

• Steve “The Steelers Killer” McNair looks like he will be starting the game. For whatever reason, this guy has always played well against the Steelers, to the tune of an 11-4 record. But at the same time, McNair is not quite the same player that he was back in the Titans (update: apologizes for an earlier reference to his celebration; should have researched it better). Still, you have to be nervous any time this guy goes against the Steelers.

• James Harrison says that the Steelers’ lessened sack production over the last few games has been more by design, especially against the Bengals. It will be interesting to see if the team brings more pressure this week, especially against a Raven’s line that is a little banged up. Some have suggested that the lack of consistent pass rush has been because of Aarron Smith’s absence, but he could be back this week so keep an eye on that.

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What Romo’s Deal Means for Big Ben

Yesterday Cowboy’s quarterback Tony Romo signed a six year, $67.5 million contact, $31 million which is believed to be guaranteed. Now Romo has looked simply amazing at times and bad at others. He hasn’t won a playoff game, literally letting the chance slip through his hands. What I’m saying is that he’s still a bit unproven. Now, the point of this isn’t to bash Romo, but instead to point out that if he got handed a pretty sweet deal, what’s a young QB who has won a lot of games, lead his team to two championship games, and won a Super Bowl going to demand?

Of course, I am talking about Ben Roethlisberger, who figures to get a new deal after this season. He’ll have two years left on his contract and the Steelers will be trying to nail a deal down as soon as possible. Even if Ben tanked the rest of this season you still have to think the team would give him a large extension deal. The reality is, however, that Ben is well on pace for his best season yet statistically.

The Steelers must have always had Ben’s contract in their back of their minds, if not after his great rookie season then certainly after the Super Bowl. Any doubts about Ben’s less then stellar season last year are being erased now, at least enough that they really can’t not resign him at this point.

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