Well, you called it. You get the prize this week.
The offensive line is just an embarrassment. Ben paid for it with the turnovers and sacks, and with that and the stupid penalties this game was way too close. Thank God Curtis Painter sucks balls.
A win is a win, though. On to Houston.
On a brighter note my other big concern, the secondary, has pretty good so far. That’s pretty impressive considering the defensive line has been pushed around a bit.
On that note, where has Aaron Smith been? I was looking forward to having him back after his injury last year. The only time his name came up in last night’s broadcast was when they mentioned how well the Colts’ tackle, the one that failed as a guard, (Linkenbach I think?) was holding up against him.
Oh, and the offensive line is horrible. I have no idea what they’re going to do there.
We squeaked by playing a poor team - and Baltimore stomped all over their opponent. I fear that this does not bode well if we don’t start playing better.
Good question. The television coverage doesn’t always make it easy to see what the linemen are doing but I’m pretty sure I saw him getting knocked over on one of the stretch plays. That’s nothing for a lot of guys but it’s really quite rare for him even with all the cut-blocking. Maybe they’ll have to sit him out more often like they’re doing with Farrior.
So this week there are a few big injuries for the Steelers. Legursky and Scott are out on the offensive line, so in goes Trai Essex and Ramon Foster. Interestingly, there’s been some talk that Foster should have been playing all along, so it may be that he was in Tomlin’s doghouse. We’ve seen Essex before, he’s OK. Not great, but he couldn’t possibly be as bad as Scott was. Scott was burned so badly his mother didn’t even recognize him when the game was over last week. It was Mathis and Freeney, sure, but this is the NFL, there shouldn’t be that kind of disparity.
The offense will probably be running max protect all afternoon to keep Mario Williams out of Ben’s face. If Ben gets any time at all (and tucks the ball in when threatened, something he hasn’t done well this year), the offense will do OK. The running game will get 75 yards or so on the ground, maybe more if they break one long. It depends on how the scoring goes and how wedded Arians and Tomlin are to the running game. If Pittsburgh gets ahead Spindenhall and Redzone will see the ball a lot more than if they’re behind. The running game will naturally suffer with the focus on pass protection.
Kiesel is out for the defense. Ziggy Hood will fill in, and I’d call that a wash, maybe a bit of a step down. They need to blitz all day, that’s their style. Ironically, I’ve been reading that their pass defense is doing better than their run defense, something totally unexpected from Ike Taylor and company. If Shaub gets good time to throw the ball the defense is in for a long afternoon. Arian Foster should get stood up a good bit if Pittsburgh does in fact bring the kitchen sink instead of rushing four. Polamalu playing his usual wild man game will make it fun to watch as usual.
Pittsburgh wins this by a touchdown, and as per normal they make it exciting. I’m hoping that the O-line plays well and establishes a good starting group, because what they had before just wasn’t cutting it. Sometimes the best individual choices don’t make the best squad, and it sure would be nice to see a group consistently give Ben some time to make things happen instead of making him run for his life.
Pittsburgh 24, Texans 17. Houston gets the home spread at 3.5, but I think Pittsburgh beats the spread. Now watch, the Steelers win on another end-game field goal just to prove me wrong and give me yet another patented Steelers gameday heart attack.
Our boys seem to be the underdog this week, at least in the picks. I am superstitious and usually like for them to be the underdog, but I’m a little nervous this week. The team just has not been performing as I would like them to. At least this week I’ll get to cheer! (or curse.)
This team is not a contender. We are in the familiar '06 and '09 Super Bowl hangover mode.
The defense is old, and the o-line is non-existent. Time for some serious turnover next offseason.
Ooof! I see why our boys were the underdog. They played well for a little while, but the O-line just isn’t there and even the D didn’t do as well as usual.
Oh well, a Sunday in October watching the Steelers lose is still better than any Sunday during the summer.
And now I have to root doubly hard for the Jets dammit! I hate the Jets. But they are playing the Ravens.
Well, ladies and gents, the problems that I have been trying to write off all season are real and they’re not going away. The Steelers almost came back and won a blowout game. That 17-10 score was a gift from Houston.
So, what went wrong? The sun rose. No, really, it’s time to admit that Pittsburgh isn’t everything that they seemed to be. The offensive line is hideously deficient, and Ben was lucky that he didn’t get killed today. The run defense? What run defense? Aside from the third quarter Arian Foster had his way all day long.
That game could have been 31-10, and but for some of the stupidest penalties I’ve seen all year from the Texans it would have been.
Pittsburgh has the benefit of an overall easy schedule, so they may be able to sort some of this stuff out, but until they do and start playing football the way they ought to be able to this season is going to be a series of trials for Steelers fans. Maybe they make the playoffs, maybe they don’t. But if they do, what we’re seeing right now isn’t going to win the Super Bowl, or even the wild-card game.
It’s tough for me to say that, but being an optimist only goes so far.
So, next week my sister and I are going to see the game at Heinz Field. I’m hoping for a win, but who knows? Maybe they’ll show up next week, or maybe they’ll get pounded up and down the field. All I know is that being in Pittsburgh and seeing a game live is always better than analyzing it on TV.
Under ordinary circumstances I’d say that I need a drink. Alas, I don’t drink anymore, so it’s time to bust out some Gears of War and kill some aliens, because I’m not nearly as happy as I would be if things were going well. Oh, well, they can’t be great every year, and 2-2 still leaves open the possibility that they can get well and stay well.
Next week, the Titans at home. Let’s see how things go this week leading up to Sunday.
That is a march to the superbowl? It is time for you to pick a new team. The Lions are waiting for you.
Wow, The Lions are (apparently) making a once-a-generation run and now you’re thinking you’re the cat’s ass? When the Lions make a Super Bowl (two words, capitalized, I know you wouldn’t know that) get back to me. And, of course, you have had more than a half-century to pick a new team but didn’t, so why would I change because of what appears to be one sub-par season? I wouldn’t root for the Lions if the Steelers lost every game in a season (something the Lions have done, by the way).
Airman Door, USAF;
It was very clever of you to make the excuses before the game started, not after it ended. The “My team is going to win because I like them” prediction was adorable.
I predicted a win and I stand by it. I made no excuses.
Well I want my money back.
You are wrong. it has been 2 generations. But i had seasons tickets and had no choice. i saw Barry Sanders entire career. that was worth it.
It has been a while since i have been able to turn a screw in someone else. i will not pass up that opportunity. Especially blind fans who can only see the good on their team, even when the Stealers had an easy schedule so far and are 2 full games in back of the Lions.
Could we have the team that played in the third quarter show up next week please? Thanks.
The difference between the two of us, gonzomax, other than basic literacy, is that I’m lamenting a team’s performance and they’re 2-2. This is a bad season. I’m actually glad to see the Lions do well, but this is an aberration. We’ll see if it becomes the norm. If history is any guide, it won’t be.
History is not a guide. Things change. The concept that history repeats itself is silly. So is your childish dig. But I suppose you are depressed to see what is on the horizon for the Stealers.