tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17157853437890011852024-02-19T21:05:31.634-05:00Blitzburgh New HampshireHello Steeler fans and welcome to Blitzburgh, NH. This Blog is being created as an open forum to rally support from Steelers fans in New Hampshire and throughout New England. Let's wave those Terrible Towels and get some dialog going. Here we go...Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-9051265417414556362014-09-03T15:31:00.001-04:002014-09-03T15:32:30.254-04:00Importance of a Franchise Quarterback to the Steelers SuccessSince 1974, the Steelers have been to eight Super Bowls, winning 6 of them. Over the course of these last 40 years, the Steelers have had exactly two franchise quarterbacks. Terry Bradshaw went 4-0 in Super Bowls. Then, there was a long gap with one Super Bowl loss in between Ben Roethlisberger taking the team to three Super Bowls and winning two of them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roethlisberger and Bradshaw Are Franchise Quarterbacks</td></tr>
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The point here is that it hasn't mattered that the Steelers have had some of best defenses over those 40 years. The also team went to an additional six AFC Championship games without advancing to the Super Bowl. Mark Malone, Neil O'Donnell, and Kordell Stewart were certainly not franchise quarterbacks and could not get that elusive fifth ring for the team. The franchise QB is important to success!<br />
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Some might argue that Roethlisberger is not a franchise QB. However, his overall record and two Super Bowl rings speak for themselves. He deserves the franchise QB moniker. While, there's still a few more years left for a productive Roethlisberger, the team really needs to start thinking about what's next or really loading up for a couple of more runs with him. This year's team may only be as good as a make-it-to-the-playoffs team. Our fan base really doesn't want to see another long drought of championships and years of mediocrity. It's time to start looking for and grooming that next franchise QB.<br />
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<br />Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-69597826703989796872014-08-26T16:25:00.000-04:002014-08-26T16:27:24.875-04:00Bell and Blount...A Storm on the Horizon?There's no denying the stupidity of what these two knucklehead running backs did last week. Do they not understand the cascading impact of what this could do to the team. If <span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount want to smoke some weed, don't do it in your car on McKnight Road, one of the busiest roads in Pittsburgh. Do it at home! While it doesn't sound like a suspension will be coming any time soon, here's what could get interesting once the league dishes out its discipline.</span><br />
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<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">If they get more than a one game suspension, what will the players and owners think about that when comparing it to Ray Rice's two game suspension for beating the tar out of his wife. Would this show that league is more concerned over players smoking marijuana, which is being legalized in more and more places, rather than players involved in domestic violence incidents? <a href="http://news.google.com/news/url?sr=1&sa=t&ct2=us%2F0_0_s_3_0_t&usg=AFQjCNFfMKZidSPvGrADem_ZoWOFUevR8A&did=a0545fbaab757e5d&sig2=URKh88hkkX56Il2yhsngnA&cid=52778591556225&ei=ee38U7jJGZSUwAHG24GAAg&rt=STORY&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.denverpost.com%2Fbroncos%2Fci_26394817%2Fmatt-prater-suspended-by-nfl-first-four-games" target="_blank">Matt Prater already got a 4 game suspension</a> for drinking a few beers after an initial substance abuse issue.</span><br />
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<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">For anybody who saw the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2KB4e8nmv4" target="_blank">video evidence of Ray Rice dragging his unconscious wife out of the elevator</a>, how could he only get two games? Now, don't get me wrong on this...Ben Roethlisberger is certainly no saint here, but there was no where near the evidence in his case of what the league had on Rice, and he got suspended for six games initially (later reduced to four). May have been the best thing to happen to Big Ben as he seems to gotten things together since then. </span><br />
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<span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">So, what's next? The league needs to figure out its player discipline strategy before its inconsistencies cause major issues.</span>Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-40290804532154147642010-02-24T10:30:00.000-05:002010-02-24T10:30:44.635-05:00Franchise Tag for Casey HamptonIs the franchise tag for Casey Hampton a good or bad thing? For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's a necessity as there is nobody behind him on the depth chart. For Casey Hampton, it's at least $7 million in his pocket this year and potentially more long term. Not bad for a 33 year old who hasn't really committed himself to physical fitness over his career. What do you think?Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-12891015913178852502010-02-04T12:28:00.000-05:002010-02-04T12:28:53.480-05:00Keep Casey Hampton or Ryan Clark?With both Hampton and Clark about to be unrestricted free agents, this is a pretty tough decision for the Steelers. Both players are key contributors to the defense. <br />
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Hampton is really the cog of the 3-4 scheme. He takes on blockers and opens the holes for the linebackers to make the plays. While he's somewhat unheralded because of his stats, he's extremely valuable to the performance of the defense. He will be 33 at the start of next season and has a history of injury and weight issues.<br />
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Clark is the safety valve of the defense when Troy Polamalu is flying all over the place. Yes, he was exposed this season without Polamula in the line up, but who wasn't exposed on the defense this past year. He is a couple of years younger than Hampton and probably has a little less wear and tear on his body because of the position he plays. Clark is one of the most ferocious hitters in the NFL and receivers fear him coming across the middle.<br />
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Both players will be looking for top 5 money at their positions and the Steelers will not be able to sign both. If Hampton does not come back, the team may need to shift to a 4-3 defense, a potential major philosophy change. And, losing Clark would present a depth problem at safety.<br />
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Who do you think is more important for the defense to be successful again in 2010?Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-75083598608660740572010-02-02T09:30:00.000-05:002010-02-02T09:30:49.123-05:00Holes the 2010 Steelers Must FixYes, 2009 was a disappointing year for Steelers and us fans. We can leave it at that and now move on. What we did learn is this team does have some critical holes. However, the situation is not dire and the Steelers should have a solid chance of getting back into the playoffs in 2010.<br />
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When analyzing the roster based on performances in 2009, here are the areas that I think are critical to fix:<br />
Defense -- unlike the Steelers, it was the defense that continued to breakdown last year. The depth is just not there to compensate for the losses of Troy Polamalu or Aaron Smith. Both injuries had a huge impact on the teams performance. The Steelers must focus on quality defensive depth when drafting this year. Every defensive position needs some youth.<br />
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Defensive Line: Casey Hampton is a free agent and the rest of the line is getting older. Ziggy Hood stepped in late in the season and showed that he will be an impact player. However, he's the only player on the line younger than 30. The team needs youth and depth here. Is a first round pick needed? Probably not, but two picks in later rounds would not be a surprise.<br />
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Linebacker: Woodley and Timmons will be the new cornerstones of this defense. Harrison will still be a force for a few more years. However, Farrior was exposed a little more this past season. In the OT loss to Baltimore, Farrior looked slow trying to cover Ray Rice. Why was Timmons not assigned to cover Rice? Farrior is still the leader of the defense, but he cannot be put in situations where he doesn't match up well. Beyond the starting four, there are also depth issues here. Don't be surprised if a first or second round pick is spent on a linebacker.<br />
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Safety: Polamalu will be back, but who else will be. Ryan Clark is a free agent and was exposed without Polamalu. Tyrone Carter is an OK fill in for a game or 2, but he is not a long term solution. There are some younger players, but they are unproven. This may be the position the Steelers focus on in round one, especially if Earl Thomas is available.<br />
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Conerback: Ike Taylor is a good cover CB. Just wish that he could catch the ball. Deshea Townsend is probably not coming back. William Gay lost his confidence after repeatedly getting burnt. Can the young guys fill in here or do the Steelers need to draft or sign few new players? This is another area where depth is needed.<br />
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Offense: Not a lot is needed on offense. Willie Parker will likely not be back, so a RB will need to be drafted in the later rounds. WR is all set. QB is all set. TE is all set. The offensive line does need depth, but it's not as bad as the stats dictate. This group will be healthier and better. A second or third round choice should be used on an OT. And, signing Willie Colon is a must.<br />
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Special Teams: The Steelers must sign Jeff Reed and fix the kick coverage.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-81611184723645150372009-11-20T09:41:00.002-05:002009-11-20T09:51:48.126-05:00Bungled by the BengalsOK, it's hard for me to give the Bungles respect, but by sweeping the Steelers this year I will now refer to them as the Bengals. They have a greatly improved defense that just completely frustrated Big Ben in this last game. And, Carson Palmer is playing as well as he ever has. Losing Cedric Benson could be tough on them. Signing Larry Johnson was a strange move considering how hard Marvin Lewis has worked to change the perception of that team.<div><br /></div><div>Enough about the Bengals... Good to see KC up next for the Steelers. This should be a great opportunity to get the running game back on track. If Mendenhall doesn't go for at least a 125 yards, then we got problems. This should be a good tune up before the first Baltimore game. Steelers just need to stay healthy and show some improvement in kick off coverage, which has just been a disaster.</div><div><br /></div><div>Steelers can still catch the Bengals, but will lose the tie-breaker for first place. My guess at this point is that both teams finish 11-5. </div><div><br /></div>Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-66296401340282711112009-05-14T16:07:00.002-04:002009-05-14T16:13:13.145-04:00Wow...A Lot Can Happen in a YearWell, my last post to this Blog was over a year ago and a lot sure has happened... Can you say Super Bowl ring #6. A new, very demanding job and young child took me away from writing to my Blog. Just wasn't enough time in the day to do it all. It's a shame because I missed commenting on one amazing season. I hope to find some more time now and throughout training camp and the new season. It would be great to repeat, win # 7, and trump the Patsy'rots as the team of the decade.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-16159626029549540352008-02-28T08:02:00.001-05:002008-12-10T03:55:06.794-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAA5pemMUB7tmUS88LkDtS0TVYTZzXs1fW5ZtV7uz8NF3wKSRKoDEucnH-cQieu__HWhXmKSNdXNj0vv_-D0_azER2jzHBJYZWREfC42zakQLasym5xSyuQ74NIl-UisKwKYKEWzodFuI/s1600-h/cope.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172016250944375090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAA5pemMUB7tmUS88LkDtS0TVYTZzXs1fW5ZtV7uz8NF3wKSRKoDEucnH-cQieu__HWhXmKSNdXNj0vv_-D0_azER2jzHBJYZWREfC42zakQLasym5xSyuQ74NIl-UisKwKYKEWzodFuI/s320/cope.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Let's all wave our towels to Myron today.</div><br /><div></div>Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-38609997595179595362008-02-05T08:51:00.000-05:002008-02-05T08:52:19.612-05:00A Quiet Day in New EnglandAs the readers of this Blog know, I live in New England and just despise the Patriots. So, my original plan was to just blow off the Super Bowl and go to the movies. However my neighbor invited me to his Super Bowl party and I decided to attend it even though Patriots fans would surround me. I thought I’d just drink some beer, have some good food, and leave just after the half. I did want to see Tom Petty. What would unfold that evening still has me smiling from ear-to-ear. Not like the euphoria that I would experience for months after the Steelers won it all in 2005, but I have an extra bounce in my step as the rest of NE wallows in the mire of defeat.<br /><br />I knew the Monday after the Super Bowl would be great as I actually couldn’t wait to listen to the local sports radio show for months. I just wish I had more time on my morning commute because the normally clogged roads were empty. Oh the sad Patriots just couldn’t take it and were calling in sick by the dozens. At work, I thought I was at a morgue for most of the day and I almost didn’t send out my planned trash talking emails to friends and coworkers, but I couldn’t resist. The reaction was priceless. How soon do they forget how they treated me in the Steelers’ 2001 and 2004 seasons. <br /><br />18-1 is a lot of wins for absolutely nothing to show for it. Welcome to the draft table Patriots. Just like the Steelers, we’re just watching the Giants celebrate their championship. Congrats Giants for making the Patriots the most disappointing team in NFL history.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-43616812747906651522008-01-09T10:12:00.001-05:002008-01-09T10:54:55.214-05:00End of the Year Reflections, Part 2This season can be defined by the performance of the Steelers’ defense. Over the first twelve games, the team produced a 9-3 record and dominated on defense. That 9-3 record could easily have been 11-1 or 12-0 as the defense played well enough to win in both games against the Cardinals and the Jets. In the teams last four games, the Steelers’ defense became the team’s biggest weakness. The Steelers could not stop the Patriots from passing, the Jaguars and Ravens from running, and even the Rams from moving the ball. They also could no longer pressure the quarterback. This breakdown coincided with the loss of Aaron Smith, and proved just how valuable he is to this team.<br /><br />What makes the Steelers such a great franchise is the team’s commitment to defense. They had that swagger back in the first three-quarters of the season. The team must get that back to go deeper in the playoffs next year. Here’s my position-by-position breakdown, grades, and predictions. I’ll also throw special teams in here and that review won’t be very flattering.<br /><br /><strong>Defensive Line:</strong> This group went from playing great to bad at the snap of your fingers or more likely the snap of Aaron Smith’s bicep muscle. I thought there was a lack of depth on the defensive line to start the season, but that the team could overcome it with their starting talent. Other than Chris Hoke at backup NT, the Steelers really did not have any capable backups for either Smith or Brett Keisel. We all know what happened to this unit when Smith went down. Some have said that Casey Hampton had a sub par year, but his job is to clog the middle for the linebackers and defensive ends to make plays. Maybe he could have done more, but his job will never get attention unless he makes some plays.<br /><br />The starters here are solid, but the team needs more depth. A late round pick must be spent on a defensive lineman and the Steelers should also look to bring in some free agents. This position is nowhere near in as much need as the offensive line, but it does need to be addressed.<br /><br />When Smith was in the line up, this unit got an A. Opposing teams could not run on the Steelers and became completely one-dimensional. Without Smith, the grade went down to an F, as the Steelers suddenly couldn’t stop anybody.<br /><br /><strong>Linebackers:</strong> The Steelers’ tradition is built on its linebacking corp. This group performed well for much of the year and then seemed to lose its focus in the last four games. In the first 12 games, the pressure on opposing quarterbacks was relentless and it seemed the Steelers linebackers never missed a tackle. That all fell apart in the last four games. The positives were that James Harrison emerged as a big time player, and James Farrior and Larry Foote played great in the middle. The negatives were that Clark Haggans continued to slip, and that the two top rookies, Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley spent too much time on the injury list.<br /><br />Look for Woodley to replace unrestricted free agent, Haggans, on the outside next year. When healthy, Woodley was a disruptive force and showed that in the playoff game. Timmons needs to show more, but my gut tells me he will play a big role on the team next year as a situational pass rusher and backup outside LB. The team should look at drafting an inside linebacker in the later rounds as Farrior and Foote are getting older.<br /><br />Overall grade for the linebackers is a B-minus. It would’ve been higher if they sustained their high level of play that was displayed in the early season.<br /><br /><strong>Defensive Backs:</strong> This is a group that really came together this season. Except for the debacle against the Patsy’rots, this unit played well. The one knock on them can be their lack of interceptions. Ike Taylor rebounded nicely from a bad season last year. Deshea Townsend continues to play well. Anthony Smith was having a good season until the Patsies exposed him. Darren McFadden and Troy Polamalu spent too much time on the injury list, but did play well when healthy. And, rookie William Gay proved to be good late round pick. This unit will be better next year as they will be healthy again.<br /><br />Not too much tinkering to do here, but they may want to add a little more safety depth. It will be good to get Ryan Clark back, but they may want to add another low-budget insurance policy player to the mix. Overall grade for the DBs is a B.<br /><br /><strong>Special Teams:</strong> Jeff Reed was great. He only missed two kicks all year, one from 45 and the other from 65 (yes, they tried a field goal from 65). Daniel Sepulveda was great at putting the ball inside the 20, but when he needed to make some big punts he didn’t come through. He was an upgrade from last year and is a superior athlete as a punter. He will be one of the top punters in the league with a little more consistency.<br /><br />Now, the kick coverage teams were just abysmal. Every year, the Steelers stink on covering kicks and it comes back to haunt them. They lost to the Cardinals and then to Jaguars in the playoff because of kick returns, and continued all season to give other teams good field position. Changes are made, new coaches are brought in, starters are put on coverage teams, and it still doesn’t work. This problem needs to be fixed and fast.<br /><br />For special teams’ grades, I’m breaking the unit down. Reed gets an A-minus as he could get his kickoffs a little deeper. Sepulveda gets a B-minus. The kick coverage teams get an F.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-49536805747193261032008-01-08T10:17:00.000-05:002008-01-08T10:20:49.581-05:00End of the Year ReflectionsThe Steelers’ 2007 performance was about what I expected. I thought 11-5 would win the division and 10-6 would get them the wild card. However, I did think they would win their first round playoff game and they should’ve done that. Overall, I’m not disappointed by this season. I think this team has a lot of strengths and the weaknesses are visible enough that management knows what needs to be fixed.<br /><br />Here are my observations, grades, and predictions position-by-position.<br /><br /><strong>Coaching:</strong> Mike Tomlin will be the coach of this team for a long time. He has the mental make up and charisma the Steelers desire in a leader. However, I started to question the play calling on both offense and defense late in the season. That was highlighted when the team started to struggle. The gaffes in play calling were very evident in the Jacksonville playoff game. The defensive game plan worked well for the most part until the late game breakdown on Garrard’s critical fourth down run. I also will not question the decisions to go for two points three times, including going for it from the twelve yard line. What I seriously question is the offensive play calling on the Steelers last offensive possession. The team had been shredding the Jaguars throughout the second half and then they suddenly go conservative. With 3:30 left and the Jaguars holding all three timeouts, the Steelers had to get at least one first down. So, why did they go so conservative when Heath Miller and Hines Ward were consistently open for at least five yards on every play? I did not understand that decision; too much time was left on the clock.<br /><br />Bruce Arians and Dick Lebeau both handled the offense and defense fairly well throughout the year. Offensively, I like where this team is going when we have all of our weapons. The big problem was the failure of the offensive line and Ben refusing to throw the ball away (more on that coming). Defensively, the Steelers started off the year so well, but started to have big problems at the end of the year. They righted the ship and played well enough to win in the Jacksonville game, despite a few breakdowns. Aaron Smith was a big loss and showed just how valuable he is, as sacks went down and they had trouble stopping the run. This group will be fine next year and may even improve with some changes.<br /><br />Now the big problem, special teams. Will the Steelers ever get this right? Jeff Reed was great. Sepulveda was good and should improve. Kick coverage and the kick return teams continue to stink. I don’t know what the problem here is, but every year (playoffs included) there are major issues. Tomlin knew this coming in and it still couldn’t get fixed. I think we’ll see the special teams coaches fired soon.<br /><br />Overall grade for the coaches is a C-minus. Tomlin and the staff must learn from this year’s mistakes and get better. They must also fix the offensive line and special teams as this team will not win without those issues taken care of.<br /><br /><strong>Quarterback:</strong> Most of the questions about this position were answered by the great performance of Ben Roethlisberger. He needed to prove he could lead this team and perform at high level. He did both. My only criticism of him is that he needs to make better decisions when he is pressured. He needs to know when to throw the ball away to avoid drive-killing sacks. I know he likes to hold onto the ball as long as possible to make plays, but he must know that he can’t always do it all. <br /><br />My quarterback grade is a B-plus. Look for the Steelers to lock up Ben long term. He is now one of the top five QB’s in the NFL.<br /><br /><strong>Running Back:</strong> Willie Parker was having a very good year until he broke his leg and he probably would’ve won the NFL rushing title. Davenport is a more than capable backup, but isn’t the short yardage specialist the Steelers were hoping for. I think Dan Kreider’s Steeler career is over. The team will go cheaper here and keep Carey Davis. Gary Russell may be a decent future back. However, the team needs to find that power back to complement Parker, one that can get that all-important yard or two.<br /><br />The good news is that Parker’s injury is not serious and the unexpected rest may actually help him. The team will look hard for that power back on draft weekend and may pick up a backup fullback too. My RB grade is a B-minus. I was hoping for a little more consistent production.<br /><br /><strong>Wide Receiver:</strong> When all of the Steelers WRs are healthy, this is a very talented group. Ward had his typical solid season, but got hurt. Santonio Holmes proved he is a big time threat, but he also got hurt. Nate Washington got better as the year went on and seemed to overcome his problem dropping passes. The team even got Cedric Wilson more involved and he performed well as the number four guy. <br /><br />What the team needs at this position is a big receiver they can utilize in the red zone. I think Willie Reid has now worn out his welcome. He didn’t make enough plays on offense and did nothing to help the team as kick returner. The team will need a little more depth here. My WR grade is a B<br /><br /><strong>Tight End:</strong> The Steelers are all set here. Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth played very well. Miller is a big time threat and Spaeth is great in the red zone. I doubt Jerame Tuman will be back as they will probably bring in a younger player. I give the TEs an A.<br /><br /><strong>Offensive Line:</strong> Yuck!!! This group never really came together. I won’t put all of the sacks on them as Ben’s decision making led to at least ten of those, but this group was awful. Yes, there were injuries, but the team cannot use that excuse. This is actually the position that worries me the most going into next season. The team’s best offensive lineman, Alan Faneca, will probably not be coming back. Max Starks may also not be resigned. Marvel Smith now has a back problem. There are some decent young players, but the Steelers need a good OL to succeed.<br /><br />The biggest disappointment this year was the center, Sean Mahan. The Steelers pride themselves on stability at the center position and Mahan was terrible. The only big free agent signing the Steelers made and it proved to be a bad decision. The team must find a new center. It’s time for the Steelers to open up the wallet for free agent offensive linemen and draft wisely at this position.<br /><br />I’d love to give this group and F, but the offense was still relatively productive despite its collective failure. My grade is a D-minus.<br /><br />That’s enough for today. I’ll analyze the defense and special teams in my next entry.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-32727996569524094512008-01-03T10:45:00.000-05:002008-01-03T10:46:25.481-05:00Playoff Expectations10-6 or 16-0… It doesn’t matter now because every team is 0-0. So, does that mean the Steelers have a chance. It all depends upon how they will play on defense. <br /><br />The Steelers number one ranked defense has not looked so good as of late. Running teams have run on them and passing teams have passed on them too. They have not been able to consistently make the necessary plays to stop teams when they need to, especially on critical third downs. The team needs to get back to the basics. Against Jacksonville, they cannot allow Fred Taylor to run wild again. Let David Garrard try to beat them through the air. He is not playoff tested and he can make mistakes. <br /><br />If the Steelers defense cannot get its swagger back, the season will end on Saturday night. Even with Willie Parker, Marvel Smith, and Max Starks out, the Steelers offense is still very dangerous. Roethlisberger has now established himself as an elite NFL quarterback and can carry this offense. The team has enough weapons to score points on any team. However, they need to stop the other team.<br /><br />I attended the last game against Jacksonville and what I saw was a slow defense that day. Roethlisberger led the team back late and had the momentum in their favor. All they needed to do was make a late stop and get the ball back. The defense failed at the most critical time. Taylor and Jones-Drew just ran right through the Steelers’ defense. It was tough to watch because that’s exactly how the Steelers usually do it.<br /> <br />If the defense can play at that high level again, this team can beat anybody. It is now Tomlin’s time to show us that he can get this team motivated. All of us Steeler fans would love a rematch with the Patsy’rots. Nothing would be sweeter than knocking them out and making their season a failure. First, lets get back to Steeler football and beat Jacksonville, show us that we can believe.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-68372491582500807832007-12-27T15:27:00.000-05:002007-12-27T15:28:20.135-05:00Thank You ClevelandCleveland played a big part in the Steelers AFC North title and as fans we owe the Browns a big thank you. With the Steelers two wins over the Browns, and the Bungles win this past weekend, the title was wrapped up. Steelers are going to the playoffs.<br /><br />This was a costly week for the Steelers. Losing Willie Parker could hurt in the playoffs. Davenport looked good though and may actually be a better back right now than the short yardage specialist the Steelers were trying to mold him into. The big problem is that there is a big lack of depth at the running back position. However, this should be the least of our concerns though.<br /><br />What has me worried is a defense that can’t stop anybody right now. Even the Rams were moving the ball early in last week’s game. With Jacksonville coming back to Pittsburgh in less than two week, the Steelers better figure out a way to stop Fred Taylor. The team must get that swagger back and make teams fear them. If that doesn’t happen, it will be one and done. Get it back and this team could be scary in the playoffs. After this weekend’s meaningless game, we’ll see what happens.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-58013439247907881282007-12-14T10:44:00.000-05:002007-12-14T11:18:34.774-05:00Slowly RecoveringI don’t know what happened in that game against the Patsy’rots. The way the Steelers came out and played in the first half I thought we had the Patsies on the ropes. In the second half, it seemed as though the game plan changed…of course for the worse.<br /><br />Now, being a Steeler fan in enemy territory has subjected me to a week of relentless beatings from New England football fans. What makes it worse, is that NE barely knows what football even is. There’s only one major college team with a less than 40,000 capacity stadium. High school soccer is more popular than high school football. And, just because the NFL has immensely helped its local franchise because of its TV market, there are now super annoying, pseudo football fans. Well, Patsy’rot fans, the most annoying in the league.<br /><br />On to facing Jacksonville, we go. While this is not a must win game to make the playoffs, it is for the psyche of this team. The Steelers need to play well and win against a quality opponent to regain some momentum. It would also be nice to all but wrap up the division title and a home playoff game in the first round.<br /><br />The Jaguars and the Steelers always play a very hard-hitting game. This game will be no different and will be relatively low scoring. My prediction is Steelers 23 Jags 17.<br /><br />Now, here’s a nice story about a local Steeler fan and some heart warming compassion from a few Patriot fans that ran in our local paper today: <a href="http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/NEWS/712140438">http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/NEWS/712140438</a>Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-91305252840091528062007-12-07T10:01:00.000-05:002007-12-07T10:02:58.077-05:00Here We Go!I’ve had this game circled since the schedule came out and now it’s time to get down to business. The Patsies are going down this weekend. Anthony Smith was right to guarantee a victory. As he stated, if the Steelers execute as they are capable of, they will win this game. The keys are to control the clock, minimize turnovers, and play physical. Simple enough… This is Steeler football.<br /><br />The Steelers could easily be 10-2, 11-1, or even 12-0 coming into this game, but they did not play at their capable levels in losses to 3 poor teams. While this game will not define Tomlin’s success this year, it could establish him as master game planner. A win on Sunday will also give the Steelers a big boost heading into the playoffs with the potential of a #2 seed.<br /><br />My prediction is Steelers 27 Patsy’rots 20. The Steelers play a physical game and rattle the Patsies. The Patsies have not faced a team yet like the Steelers, who have balance on both sides of the ball. The Colts (injuries) and Cowboys (defense in flux) both had their issues at the time. <br /><br />Lets go Steelers!!!Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-22932555666318223452007-12-04T16:09:00.001-05:002007-12-04T16:09:52.649-05:00Goodbye Bungles, Hello Patsy’rotsSo as expected, the Steelers took care of business against the Bungles. After Cincy moved right down the field and scored on its opening drive, it didn’t look good, but the defense stiffened up and played great. Critical Steelers’ turnovers made it a little more interesting too. Yo, Fast Willie, hold onto the ball. <br /><br />I think this is the last time we see Cincy with Marvin Lewis at the helm. His team looks like it has just quit. The big example was Chad Johnson on the Bungles last play – walking out of bounds 3 yards short of a first down. That’s embarrassing. It’s too bad because Lewis is a good coach with great football smarts. He won’t last long in the unemployment line.<br /><br />Now on to New England we go. Even though I live in New Hampshire, I HATE the Patriots. I can easily go on and on, but I’ll leave it at that. In their last couple of games, they have shown where the vulnerabilities are and the Steelers are the ideal team to exploit them. Brady and Moss don’t like to be hit. They don’t defend the run well. And, they have no running game of their own. <br /><br />The Steelers will end the streak of this asterisk-laden, egotistical franchise and gain some retribution for 2001 and 2004.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-87628626084931509462007-11-27T12:08:00.001-05:002007-11-27T12:08:48.879-05:00Bogged DownOk, so the Steelers wanted to lay down new turf for the rest of the season as Heinz Field is always in tough shape this time of the year. That’s great, but did anybody bother to check the 48 hour forecast. Would it have made sense to wait and do it over the course of this week? I’d have to imagine so. The field was basically unplayable last night. Now the question is, can the field be ready for the game Sunday night against the Bungles?<br /><br />Despite the horrible conditions, there were two good things to come out of this game. One being a Steelers’ win, of course. The other was that the game was only two and half hours long. This was a direct result of a lot of short passes, running plays, and that nobody could get out of bounds. <br /><br />Like all Steeler fans, I was looking forward to seeing how this team would bounce back from the terrible loss to the Jets. The weather and field conditions wiped that all away though as it was a struggle for both teams. It probably helped the Dolphins more as things were evened up a bit. In games like this, you play not to make mistakes. The Steelers made one to the Dolphins two. There’s the game right there.<br /><br />It’s also very tough to analyze this game. I thought the Steelers started to move the ball well on a couple of drives, but costly penalties wiped out crucial third-down conversions that could’ve put points on the board earlier in this game. The Steelers played well enough in the muck where they wouldn’t lose and that happened to be just good enough. We can all be happy that nobody on the Steelers’ side of the ball got seriously hurt and that we should get some critical players back for a Bungles team coming off a good win.<br /><br />We’re 8-3, a game up in the division, and probably need 2 more wins to make the playoffs.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-25537769035624017462007-11-20T09:26:00.000-05:002007-11-20T09:27:12.927-05:00The Steelers Can Beat the PatriotsLet me start this post of by saying that even though I live in New Hampshire (part of New England), I cannot stand the Patriots. This team, its coach, and owner just disgust me with their overblown egos and pompous attitudes. I don’t want to see this team go 16-0 and I surely don’t want them to win another Super Bowl. <br /><br />Now, can the Steelers beat the Patriots? Yes, I think they can. I was feeling much more confident before the terrible loss to the Jets, but I think that might just be the kick in the butt this team needs. We all remember the run we went on in 2005 when the team was facing elimination every week. That Steelers’ team found that motivation and played at a level that I think this year’s team is also capable of. How they come out on Monday will tell us all how the rest of season may go.<br /><br />Here’s how I think Steelers can beat the Patsy’rots:<br />Hit Tom Brady hard and often: Other teams have barely touched Brady this year. The Steelers need to set the tempo by hitting him early. I think they even can afford a roughing penalty or two to just get it done. History has shown that when Brady gets pressured, he has problems. And, if by chance Brady is forced out of the game, this one will quickly swing the Steelers’ way.<br /><br />Cover Randy Moss: Ike Taylor may be one of the best one-on-one cover guys in the league. Moss has not faced a corner like Taylor this year that can match his speed with physical play. Moss has wilted in the past when he continually gets hit coming of the line. I would put Taylor exclusively on Moss. The Patsies’ biggest weakness is a lack of a running game, which should let the Steelers key on the pass.<br /><br />Don’t have a special teams’ meltdown: Contain the return game and don’t give up the big play. Sounds simple often. Also, Sepulveda needs to get his leg back and start booming kicks the way he is capable of. <br /><br />Time of possession: Willie Parker must have a big game. If he can get back to 4-plus yards a carry, the Steelers can control the clock. It will also open things up for Big Ben in the passing game.<br /> <br />Don’t panic: If the Steelers are losing at any point, they must stay calm. This team has the weapons to come back. They proved it against Cleveland. Big Ben can make the clutch plays and the defense is capable of big stops when they need to be made. The team needs to stick to its game plane and execute.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-32855156785641769792007-11-19T13:53:00.000-05:002007-11-19T13:54:38.037-05:00What an Embarrassment!!!If the first play of the game wasn’t enough of an embarrassment, it just got worse as the day progressed for the Steelers. A 100 yard rusher for the first time since forever, seven sacks given up, only 50 yards from the team’s top rusher, just 13 points against the league’s worst defense, another bad special teams performance -- that’s a bad day. This team is a lot better than this performance, but they need to be consistent. Did they still have a chance to win this game despite playing such a terrible game? Surprisingly, yes. But, they didn’t deserve it and that’s why they lost.<br /><br />Tomlin needs to become a veteran coach as this season progresses. It was looking like the team would be 10-2 heading into the game against the cheaters (Patriots), but obviously the best we can hope for is 9-3 now. That 10-2 record probably would have been enough to lock up a playoff spot. <br /><br />This team needs to look at this loss and learn from the many problems they showed they had. If they don’t, they will lose to the Patriots badly. Is this team still good enough to knock the Patriots down? I think they are. When everything is clicking, the Steelers are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They need to focus and get their swagger back.<br /><br />In these next six weeks, Tomlin will define whom he is as a coach in the fans’ eyes for years to come. If this team wins the division, Tomlin will begin building his legacy. If Cleveland edges the Steelers out, Tomlin will struggle to regain the fans’ trust. I still really like Tomlin and his approach to the game, but he needs to get this team back on track and playing at a high level.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-53584506381083311852007-11-16T14:47:00.000-05:002007-11-16T14:50:10.256-05:00Soft Stretch for the SteelersWow, I thought last week’s game was going to be fairly close, but not that close. Besides the initial drive by the Browns and the terrible kick coverage, the Steelers played a very solid game. When you look at the box score, you would have thought the Steelers won that game by multiple touchdowns. All in all, it was a great win for the team as they showed they could come back, which should give them more confidence for the rest of the season.<br /><br />Now we’re coming into a three-week stretch against teams with a combined 4-23 record. Hopefully, the Steelers can stay sharp in these games, as they’ll next face the hated Patriots. A 10-2 record at that point should pretty much ensure a playoff spot. However, a win against the Patriots would position the Steelers as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.<br /><br />The Steelers face the 1-8 Jets this week, who just look awful. This was a playoff team last year that has significantly underperformed. Not much has gone right for the Jets this year and I just don’t see the Steelers folding this Sunday. My prediction is Steelers 31 Jets 16.<br /><br />Some key stat projections:<br />Roethlisberger: 250 yards, 2 TDs<br />Parker: 120 rush yards, 3 rec 20 yards, 1 rush TD<br />Davenport: 40 rush yards, 2 rec 20 yards. 1 rush TD<br />Ward: 6 rec 70 yards<br />Holmes: 5 rec 70 yards, 1 TD<br />Miller: 4 rec 40 yards, 1 TD<br />Defense: 4 sacks, 1 fumble recoveries, 3 INTsChristian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-56537242329313859552007-11-09T14:27:00.000-05:002007-11-09T14:28:12.726-05:00Week 10: Steelers 31 Browns 23This is not the same Browns team the Steelers saw in week 1. Their offense is greatly improved and they’re scoring a lot of points. However, the Browns’ defense is still not very good at all and that is why the Steelers will win this game. I think the Browns will find a way to score some points against the Steelers, but the Steelers should be able to score at will against them. Look for a high scoring game that may stay close until the third quarter.<br /><br />My prediction: Steelers 31 Browns 23<br /><br />Some key stat projections:<br />Roethlisberger: 275 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT<br />Parker: 130 rush yards, 3 rec 30 yards, 1 rush TD<br />Davenport: 40 rush yards, 2 rec 25 yards<br />Ward: 6 rec 80 yards, 1 TD<br />Holmes: 5 rec 100 yards, 1 TD<br />Miller: 4 rec 40 yards, 1 TD<br />Defense: 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INTsChristian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-22019931658166240972007-11-07T16:53:00.000-05:002007-11-07T16:56:52.585-05:00James “the Animal” HarrisonWow!!! What more can you say about James Harrison’s performance against Baltimore. I haven’t seen a more dominating defensive game since Spicoli wrecked Charles Jefferson’s car in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.<br /><br />Jefferson's Brother: My brother's gonna kill us! He's gonna kill us! He's gonna kill you and he's gonna kill me, he's gonna kill us!<br />Jeff Spicoli: Hey man, just be glad I had fast reflexes!<br />Jefferson's Brother: My brother's gonna <a href="mailto:s@#$">s@#$</a>!<br />Jeff Spicoli: Make up your mind, dude, is he gonna s@#& or is he gonna kill us?<br />Jefferson's Brother: First he's gonna s@#$, then he's gonna kill us!<br />Jeff Spicoli: Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.<br /><br />He’s sure making us all forget that Joey Porter is still in this league. The biggest point of optimism to take from Harrison’s performance is this is the exact level of play the Steelers will need to beat the Patriots on 12/9. Harrison is creating chaos and disruption and that is a good thing.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-61823297286051017082007-11-02T14:05:00.000-04:002007-11-02T14:08:01.088-04:00This Week’s Prediction: Time for Revenge<p><span>OK, feel free to criticize me as I’ve picked the Steelers every week so far. When looking at the preseason schedule, I had them at 5-2 at this point with losses to Denver and Cincinnati. But as the season went on, I thought they were the better team going into every game. Yes, they lost to Arizona and a Denver, so my predictions are not perfect. I can’t make any excuses either for those losses as I don’t make any team decisions. As an outsider though, it appears as though the team was not as well prepared for those games. I think that Tomlin does a great job of getting this team ready to play, but those two games were breakdowns for whatever reason.<br /><br />My final preseason prediction had the Steelers at 10-11 wins and challenging for the division title. They are still on that pace coming into the halfway point. With a win against Baltimore, they will be well positioned to win the division.<br /><br />There will be no breakdown this week. The Steelers are going to be well prepared for the Ravens. After what happened last season in the two embarrassing games against Baltimore, the Steelers will be ready. In fact, they are the better team on both sides of the ball this year. Will this game be a lopsided Steelers’ win? No way. It will be a typical trash-talking, slugfest between two teams that hate each other. Joey Porter isn’t here to stir the pot, but that won’t matter. <br /><br />My prediction: Steelers 23 Ravens 13<br /></span><span></span></p><p><span>Some key stat projections:</span></p><p><span></span><span>Roethlisberger: 180 yards, 1 TDs, 1 INT</span></p><p><span>Parker: 105 rush yards, 2 rec 10 yards</span></p><p><span>Davenport: 30 rush yards, 2 rec 10 yards, 1 rush TD</span></p><p><span>Ward: 6 rec 60 yardsHolmes: 4 rec 60 yards</span></p><p><span>Miller: 4 rec 30 yards, 1 TD</span></p><p><span>Defense: 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INTs</span></p>Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-10499626890308529202007-10-26T13:33:00.000-04:002007-10-26T13:34:01.643-04:00Week 8: Steelers 31 Bungles 24This game is going to be a shootout. The Broncos exposed some holes in the Steelers defense that had started the season off so well. I think the Bungles are going to put up some points, but their defense can’t stop anybody. The Steelers will score some points in this game. The game will probably stay close into the fourth quarter, but the Steelers will show that they are the better team.<br /><br />Look for a 31-24 Steelers victory.<br /><br />Some key stat projections:<br />Roethlisberger: 270 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT<br />Parker: 130 rush yards, 2 rec 20 yards, 2 rush TD<br />Davenport: 50 rush yards, 3 rec 20 yards<br />Ward: 6 rec 70 yards, 1 TDHolmes: 7 rec 90 yards, 1 TD<br />Miller: 4 rec 40 yards, 1 TD<br />Defense: 3 sacks, 2 fumble recovery, 1 INTsChristian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1715785343789001185.post-24360014264068659362007-10-24T10:31:00.000-04:002007-10-24T10:32:39.816-04:00A Very Disappointing LossWhere did the Steelers great defense go? Jay Cutler suddenly became Dan Marino-like and just torched the Steelers D. Cutler never faced much pressure and had way too much time to make things happen. Throughout the season so far, the Steelers have made young QBs look terrible, but not in this game. The Broncos also were down two top receivers. Coming off the bye week, I think we all expected more, especially with Hampton and Polamalu back in the lineup. <br /><br />Now, with Carson Palmer up next, can the Steelers D get back on track? I think Denver exposed a serious flaw that must be corrected. The Steelers showed they are vulnerable to short, quick passes. This was a problem a few years ago and really doomed our season. With the offensive talent that Cincinnati has, this could be a big problem. <br /><br />The good news is that Roethlisberger had a very good game. Yes, he was picked off twice and coughed up a fumble for a TD. But, he faced pressure throughout the game and still rallied the team back with a chance to win it in an overtime that the defense failed to get the team to. Tomlin has been criticized for his game plan of throwing first, but it really did work. The offense was successful, despite a terrible performance from the offensive line.<br /> <br />If the Steelers can’t right the defense for the Bungles, Roethlisberger should at least be able to take advantage of a really bad Cincy defense. This game has the potential to be a shootout, which unfortunately can go either way. While I’m worried about the offensive line, I’m much more worried about how the defense responds in this game.Christian Simkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05800158229795045690noreply@blogger.com0