The Blitzburgh Report

It is losses like the one the Steelers suffered today that make you wonder that identity that a team has. Usually by this point in the season, you know what teams are all about. It seems like the Steelers went from a team with an identity to one without as the season wore on. Their inconsistency is a bit baffling and you can’t really get a read on what their deal is. That said, here are a few observations from the game:

• I’m not saying giving up so many rushing yards was all because Aaron Smith was not in, but it makes you wonder, doesn’t it? We’ve said all along that losing Smith was going to be huge and this proves it. You can’t say that it was all because Smith wasn’t there but you can certainly say it had a lot to do with it…

• …but whatever it was, the defense just looked anything but the best in the league today. The Jaguars’ two running backs are very talented, but their offense isn’t exactly known for tearing up opposing defenses. But the Steelers got torn up badly. The stats speak for themselves: 421 total yards, 147yards and a TD for Fred Taylor, 69 yards for Maurice Jones-Drew, and three TD’s for David Garrard.
   
  This wasn’t the Patriots or the ’99 Rams that they played against. In the past it wasn’t often that you would see the Steelers get out-muscled, something that has really become an identity for the team. But it has happened numerous of times this season. Quite honestly, when the Steelers aren’t pounding the ball and playing tough, physical defense it just feels wrong. That’s who they are and what they do… at least it used to be.

• This team just makes no sense this season. You just don’t know if they are good or bad. They’ve had some bad losses, but any team that has already won nine games can’t be all that bad. They have (had?) the number one defense in the league- yet they have given up real stinkers like this game where they let the Jags put up over 400 yards of total offense. Willie Parker leads the league in rushing, but has had some pitiful games, and in of all those yards he hasn’t been able to provide any of those game changing runs that he has in seasons past.
   
  Even in the losses and close wins they’ve been hard to classify. In both this game and last week against the Patriots they’ve had moments where they’ve looked brilliant, then looked horrible. The Denver game they beat themselves but still made a come back and almost won. They played poorly in the last Browns game but battled back to win. They almost won again today. They show both flashes of a great team and flashes or a horrible one.
   
  Who are these Steelers? What is their identity?

• As much as I hate to agree with Dan Dierdorf, I do agree when he said that Ben Roethlisberger was giving it his all out there. He’s done that a lot this season and I believe he is really emerging as a leader. He has nearly single-handedly won some games this season and almost led them on another one today.
   
  Also, congratulations to Ben on throwing 29 touchdown passes this season, which breaks Terry Bradshaw’s record of 28. He’s having a heck of a season and he appears on pace to be one of the all-time greats, even if few outside of Steelers Nation give him the respect he deserves.

• The offensive line was back to its old tricks again. They gave up five sacks and looked shaky. Particularly Marvel Smith. I’m not sure if he is still hurting or not, but he had a pretty bad game against a back ups. In fact, I believe the Steelers pulled him on the last few drives. Again, I’m not sure if that was because his back was acting up again or because of his play.
   
  Max Starks was once the scapegoat of the line, but it seems like he possibly playing better then Marvel has been. Max, overall, has held his own over the past few games and if Marvel is hurt and/or just playing poorly, maybe it is time to give Max another shot.
   
  Honestly, at this point something has to happen. I’m not sure if the answer to fixing the line lies within the players we currently have, but they’ve got to figure something out fast.

• The two-point conversion that the Steelers ran was actually a nice call for once by Bruce Arians. I give Cedrick Wilson a lot of knocks, but that was a pretty nice ball he threw to Santonio Holmes. At least two point conversions is one thing the Steelers have done right this year.

• Why do the Steelers seem to run a draw play on every third and very long this year? How successful is it really? I know sometimes you can catch a team off guard with it, but when you run it nearly every time you have about 15 or more yards to go then they probably expect it. I don’t have a problem with the play, just that you can do it every time. Try taking some shots down field.

• It was nice to Troy Polamalu back in action. I, as well as others, have commented on his lack of big plays this season, but today showed that a lot of his contributions are just making plays (tackles, knocking the ball down) at opportune times. He may not be getting the interceptions or sacks, but he’s a ball-hawk and is usually in the right place at the right time. He wasn’t perfect, but at least he was one guy out there that appeared to be giving it his all.

I think I’ve ended all my recaps after losses this season with a lot of optimism and saying that the sky isn’t falling. I’m not so sure I feel as strongly right now. The sky isn’t falling, and I think the Steelers will in fact win the division still. But I don’t think right now that this team is giving any indication that they have it together enough to put together a Super Bowl run. Something just feels off about them, doesn’t it?
 
I’m asking you, Steelers fans, what’s wrong with the Steelers right now?

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.

The talk now about the Steelers’ special teams is all about their poor kick coverage, and rightfully so. But there is also another issue that is getting overshadowed- the Steelers’ own return game is quite unimpressive as well.

Consistency versus greater chance of big play. What’s more important? Earlier in the season I praised the trade for Allen Rossum and stated that I was perfectly fine with having someone returning kicks who at least knew what they were doing and could catch the ball (check the comments). I reasoned that after the gaffes last season, anyone who would not drop the ball was just fine in my book.

But now that we are past the midway point of the season I am starting to rethink things. I like Allen Rossum and the experience that he brings to the return game. There is something to be said for a guy who knows the rules and isn’t going to do something stupid. But as you watch these young guys like Josh Cribbs and Devin Hester running all over the field, you start to wonder if just having a speedy guy who can make people miss is the better option.

Antwaan Randel El was one of the better returners that the Steelers have had, but if you remember a lot of times he was held to short gains after a lot of dancing around. However, he was always a threat to break lose and return one. I am starting to think that Rossum is only a threat to maybe break one for 10 yards as opposed to the 6.5 yards he is averaging on punt returns currently.

But this is not to pick on Rossum. He is an asset and you could certainly do worse then him back there. But maybe the Steelers are in need of some explosiveness on returns. The team is worried about giving up the special teams play, but they are almost no threat to have one themselves right now. It might be time to give someone else a chance.

But who? Willie Reid is the obvious choice, because he was seemingly drafted for his return ability. He was a bit lackluster this pre-season when he was given a crack at it, but he reminds me a lot of Randel El. He’ll do a lot of dancing around, but with his speed and ability he could break one at any time.

Cedrick Wilson is also an option. I can’t say that I am his biggest supporter, but he has actually performed fairly well returning punts when given the chance. Santonio Holmes is a possibility as well, but I don’t think the team would want to risk him unless they really had to.

The point is that there are options out there and maybe it is time to play a little risk/reward with the return game. We’ve seen the risk last season where it cost the Steelers wins, but we’ve also seen the reward where teams have won or almost won games against the Steelers because of their return game. I say it is time to give Willie Reid a shot, starting this Sunday against the Jets. Let him get comfortable over the next few games before the team has some tough tests with New England, Jacksonville, and Baltimore.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were quite impressive in Mike Tomlin’s first game as an NFL head coach, here are some highlights and lowlights:

Highlights

Carey Davis- Wow. Carey Davis looked very Bus-like tonight as he bulldozed his way through would be tacklers. He also caught a screen pass and took it 33 yards. In the 2nd quarter he broke a tackle and bounced outside for a 56 yard run. This kid just keeps impressing and just might force out Kevan Barlow.

Ben Roethlisberger- Big Ben looked great, highlighted by a 55 yard bomb to Cedrick Wilson that was right on the money and not underthrown like a lot of his past long balls have been. His only incompletion was a drop by Nate Washington.

Carey Davis Continues to Impress

Cedrick Wilson- I can’t say that I am a huge fan of Cedrick Wilson, especially after his recent outburst about not getting the ball. But Ced stepped it up tonight and made catches all over the field.

Santonio Holmes- Showed great burst to get separation from the defensive backs. Ran a great fade pattern for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter. Holmes looks like he will be continuing right were he left off at the end of last season.

The Steelers’ New Offense- The passing was crisp, the screens were run well, the running game was still there and hard hitting. Over 400 total yards. The debut of the new Steelers’ offense looks good so far.

The Secondary- The Steelers secondary had a solid game, broke up a lot of passes, and made Drew Brees look rusty. William Gay, the guy many people knew little about when drafted, came away with a huge hit and a nice interception.

Lowlights

Max Starks- Starks looked a bit weak, especially when he was placed in at left tackle where he gave up 2 sacks.

Nate Washington- Washington has a good receiver somewhere in him which he flashes from time to time, but if he keeps dropping passes he is going to have a hard time moving up the depth chart.

Tightends- It is still early, but for all the talk of three tightend sets, getting the tightends more passes, etc- the tightends were a complete non-factor. Hopefully the getting the them more involved talk is not just more of the same lip service from past seasons.

Kevan Barlow- Didn’t run with much power, especially for a player trying to make the team in a powerback role. His chances of making the team seem to be getting slimmer and slimmer.