Couldn’t this possibly be because the Steelers defense is somewhere between average and very good (hard to tell yet) and Cincy’s defense, from all appearances, stinks?
Every season I start out thinking that the Pirates may have a chance at a winning season, too. It has to happen sometime, right?
LOL. Dad was a Pirates fan and so, even though I don’t like baseball, I always keep an ear out for them. Man, I know they have won *some *this year, but I swear that they never announce it when the do…
I’m not trying to steal credit from the Steelers’ defense at all. The quick assumption is that a sack is the result of bad protection by the O-line, but that’s not always the case. There were plenty of times in that game where the line provided pretty good protection, but Frye held the ball for longer than any NFL QB ever should, and created his own sacks. Sometimes he’ll run into a blocked defender and then the defender will reach out and sack him, or break free because of the new angles.
Which is why when a non-Frye quarterback was in there (in 2005 Trent Dilfer, in 2006 Derrick Anderson) the sack rate dramatically goes down. That game is a particularly extreme example - 5 sacks in 10 attempts vs 1 sack in 28.
So definitely, the Steelers defense owned us, but it wasn’t because of bad pass protection by the O-line. I was refuting the assertion that so many sacks in the first game meant our O-line was bad.
As far as Cinci’s defense goes - they were very effective at pressuring and causing turnovers against the Ravens. Does that mean that Cinci’s defense is better than what they showed yesterday, or that Baltimore’s offense is really pathetic? Probably both.
I doubt you’re going to see anyone put up 40 on the Cinci D for the rest of the year, let alone 50.
Okey-dokey. We stand agreed.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are lurking…
Was that intended to read like a joke from Batman, or were you actually serious? If so, I think you’ll find yourself severely disappointed on Sunday.
The Steelers are not on in my area! :mad:
I’m gonna have to go to a bar to see them.
They aren’t on in my area, either, but I found a way to stream them over my computer, and we’ll just leave it at that. Unfortunately, I have something that I must do around 3, so I’ll still miss a good part of the game. More’s the pity, too. It’s 7-6 Pittsburgh as I type this. It looks like it should be a good game.
One more thing: the Iggles’ throwback uniforms are utterly hideous. There is no other way to describe them.
Well, that game turned into a spanking. 37-16. Pittsburgh has given up just 3 more points in 3 games than the Ratbirds did today to the Carpets.
Yeah, I’m thinking Tomlin was a good choice.
Woohoo! A fine game. It took Ben a little bit to catch his stride, but he played well in the second half.
Where was Ward today? I don’t recall seeing him in a single play (note that I was in a bar and was drinking.)
Damn, Tomlin’s not going to have to pay for a single beer for at LEAST a month.
So, Jamal Lewis ended up with 56 yards on 15 carries, with no TDs, against the Oakland defense, the 7th worst defense in the league against the rush.
Najeh Davenport ended up with 47 yards on 5 carries with a TD. (Willie Parker had 133 yards on 24 carries, with no TDs).
Yeah, I don’t think I’ll be trading offensive lines with the Browns any time soon.
I think our schedule will get a bit tougher, but we have had commanding control of every game so far. I was surprised that we hadn’t been 3-0 in any season since 1992! I like our team and I really like the new coach.
Did I hear correctly that this is the Steelers’ first 3-0 start since 1992, Cowher’s rookie year?
Maybe the Steelers should change head coaches more often.
<Ducks out door…>
Wouldn’t you just know that a guest douches up the thread with a dumbass lolcat? :rolleyes:
I’m with Hentor. Our offensive line is pretty tight.
I’ve already admitted that the Steelers line is an elite run blocking line, and didn’t say the Browns were better in that aspect. They seem to be better in pass protection, though.
Yardage totals to evaluate line performance can be deceiving. The Browns ran for 4.47 yards per carry, pretty decent, but bad QB and defensive play put them behind. Teams rarely put up good rushing numbers playing from behind.
I’m not trying to talk down the Steelers’ line. It’s very good. I’m talking up the Browns line, which has been surprisingly good.
This makes me optimistic for Quinn - when he gets in there the amount of QB mistakes will go down, and he’ll have enough protection to do decently.
Amazing! We agree!
Some things are so empiricially evident that dispute is impossible.
