Latest Pittsburgh Steelers Blogs:

Last Updated: Sunday, 07-06-08 1:02 pm PDT

What Exactly Is This Team?s Identity? - (12/19)

For months Mike Tomlin has talked of forming a certain identity.  This identity would be given to them not threw words by the media and we the bloggers.  The identity would be identified through actions earned on the field.  So far this season hasn’t been a total bust, although many think because losing two straight games to [...]

Fixing What?s Broken: Part 2 - The Running Game - (12/18)

It?s time for some triage in the Steel City. The team is reeling after losing three of its last four games and has simply looked outclassed in each loss. This is part two of a week-long series detailing what can be done in the short- and long-term to stop the bleeding. How can I sit here [...]

Widow brings husband's ashes to Heinz Field - (12/18)

Jaguars 29, Steelers 22 - (12/18)

Jaguars: What are the Chances...? - (12/18)

Should Tomlin start Roethlisberger? - (12/18)

Thoughts on Steelers? Pro Bowl selections - (12/18)

The NFL Network just announced Pro Bowl rosters, and five Steelers made the cut. Here they are, with some quick thoughts on the selections: - Ben Roethlisberger, reserve: This isn’t that surprising. He’s having his best statistical season and has shown he can win big games with little help. I hope this gets his name mentioned [...]

New Steelers Poll is up?. - (12/18)

Thanks to all of those who voted in our first poll question concerning the Heinz Field playing surface.  Here’s the results of the poll; FieldTurf - 183 votes, 48% Natural Grass - 114 votes, 30% DDGrassMaster - 77 votes, 20% Other - 5 votes, 4% The new poll is something near and dear to our collective hearts.  How far are [...]

Fixing What?s Broken: Part 1 - Offensive Line - (12/17)

It’s time for some triage in the Steel City. The team is reeling after losing three of its last four games and has simply looked outclassed in each loss. Here are some short- and long-term ideas to first stop the bleeding, and then prepare for next season. Right now in Pittsburgh, “offensive line” is [...]

Not great, not very good. Just good. - (12/17)

I’m going to echo some of the sentiments raised in expressed in previous posts about Sunday’s loss and the season in general. The Steelers are a good team. They’re better than the average NFL team, but they are not elite. Mike Tomlin said as much after the loss. He also said the defense wasn’t playing [...]

Steelers? rose-colored glasses are getting foggy - (12/17)

Allow me to start by addressing those who’ve questioned those of us that have not been giving the rubber stamp praise to the Steelers this year.  We’ve been some reading some comments that state if you doubt your team, you’re not a real fan. Let me make this perfectly clear;  When the Steelers have been on top of [...]

Define Sunday?s Performance As You Will - (12/16)

The Pittsburgh Steelers performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon can take on a few definitions.  The first that comes to mind is unprepared, the second is unmotivated, and the third is uninspired.  Use whatever negative term you can think of that might best define this mystery team.

Steelers Redux?Game 14: Jacksonville SMACKS the Steelers in the MOUTH - (12/16)

It was your typical smashmouth, Pittsburgh Steelers’ football game.  Those of you that know what it’s like in Pittsburgh in mid-December, know what I’m talking about.  The winds are blowing at about 40 MPH, and they are blowing in 10 different directions all the time.  The snow is coming at you sideways, and it’s miserable.  [...]

Steelers Starters?Game 14: Steelers look to rebound vs. upsurging Jaguars - (12/15)

If there is one thing that Mike Tomlin has proven to excel at, it’s rebound games.  Although the Steelers have lost four games this season, none of them have been back-to-back losses.  After losing in week four to Arizona, Pittsburgh rebounded with a resounding 21-0 victory over Seattle.  After a week 7 loss to the [...]

Forget the Pats, Steelers have bigger worries - (12/14)

Chuck Noll is often quoted, and forgive me for not getting this exactly verbatim, when he said “There are many problems, and they are great”. Boy does that apply to your Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m not specifically referring to the embarrassment in Foxboro last Sunday.  That was calculated execution at its best by the Patriots, whether you want to [...]

Norm Johnson rescues woman from overturned car - (12/13)

Onward: Heinz Field 2007 finale - (12/12)

We heard the guarantee.  Then, unfortunately, they played the game.  We were fed a further dose of bad news on Monday when we learned that the team’s — nay, the league’s — best 3-4 defensive end would be out for the remainder of the season.  And now we “welcome” the Jacksonville Jaguars to town for [...]

Aaron Smith placed on IR - (12/12)

Patriots beat Steelers; Belichick reaches new fashion low - (12/12)

Steelers Redux?Game 13: Steelers fed BIG piece of humble pie by superior Patriots - (12/09)

It was the end of the first half, and the Steelers were down 17-13.  Pittsburgh controlled the ball for much of the half, and other than a big strike to Randy Moss, over a burned Anthony Smith, the Steelers did everything they needed to do to win the game.  Pittsburgh would get the ball leading [...]

Steelers Starters?Game 13: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots - (12/09)

It’s been an interesting week. There’s been a big part of me that’s a bit sickened that the Steelers have been made a part of this undefeated garbage. For years, I’ve had to watch those old Miami Dolphins players mumble and grumble about teams that were undefeated, and celebrate with champagne when the last undefeated team [...]

Steelers v. Patriots: Line now at 10.5 points - (12/09)

Patriots: What are the Chances...? - (12/09)

Steelers @ Patriots: Odds & Ends - (12/09)

There's no denying it: The New England Patriots are hateable But why is it so? Is it really about The Hoody and his cheating, boorish behavior; or the fact that Tom Brady seemingly has a contract with GQ that requires that he be on its cover every two or three months (when he's not impregnating attractive women, then immediately begins dating another)? Or perhaps its because Scott Pioli has a text message alert on his phone whenever the Steelers cut a player. Sure, it could be all of that -- but why don't fans of the Steelers hate Tom Coughlin (the original Steelers' roster raider)? No, it seems clear that the source of the enmity is something off the field. The view from here that the reason the Patriots are hated has to do with the ridiculous fawning of the media. It's Tony Kornheiser announcing in the fourth quarter that "if the Patriots hand on to win this [game] they're going undefeated!" Sure -- struggling to beat a 4-7 team is just the hurdle the Patriots needed to clear. Or perhaps its just the "Patriots" item on the ESPN crawler with its "Pursuit of Perfection" subtitle that keeps pushing me a little closer to the edge. It's all about scoring In the first twelve games of this season the New England Patriots have scored in 44 of the 48 quarters they have played. Meanwhile their opponents have been shutout in 20 of those quarters; and only the Baltimore Ravens (the 26th rated scoring offense in the league) scored in all four quarters of their contest against the Patriots. Here's a look at the Patriots' per quarter scoring averages for the season:

• 1st Quarter: 9.17
• Second Quarter: 12.08
• Third Quarter: 6.92
• Fourth Quarter: 10.92

Here are the Patriots' opponents' scoring averages:

• 1st Quarter: 2.58
• 2nd Quarter: 5.42
• Third Quarter: 3.67
• Fourth Quarter: 5.75

Meanwhile, the Steelers have scored in 36 of the 48 quarters they have played (included in that is having been shutout for the first three quarters of the game against Miami), while limiting their opponents to scores in 25 quarters -- including two shutouts (versus Seattle and Miami). Here's a look at the Steelers' per quarter scoring averages for the season:

• 1st Quarter: 5.42
• 2nd Quarter: 7.33
• 3rd Quarter: 5.08
• Fourth Quarter: 6.83

And here are the Steelers' opponents' scoring averages by quarter:

• 1st Quarter: 3.33
• 2nd Quarter: 3.42
• 3rd Quarter: 2.50
• Fourth Quarter: 3.42

The real keys to the game Experts -- people who actually earn a living paying attention to professional football -- have offered their insights into exactly what will make the difference in Sunday's game. And while we all enjoy reading about how Tom Brady has to do this, or James Harrison has to do that, the real keys are the same each week, irrespective of the opponent. Here are a few to look for today:

1. The battles in the trenches: Controlling the line of scrimmage the single biggest key to the game. If the Steelers are able to run the football, and Ben Roethlisberger has time to throw the ball they will score. Conversely, if the Steelers defensive front controls play the Patriots will struggle. It doesn't get much simpler than this.
2. Pressure on the quarterback: Related to point one, all of this talk of a "blueprint for beating the Patriots" is nonsense -- the Ravens and Eagles were the first teams this season able to get sustained pressure on Tom Brady, and anyone who saw either of those games saw what can happen to even the best quarterback when the defense comes crashing in. However, not all pressure is crated equal -- a pass rush that comes from the middle of the line is far more effective than pressure off the corner, especially when the quarterback is not sacked. Related to this is what to do with Casey Hampton. Mr. Hampton is routinely pulled when the opponent's offense is in a passing situation. However, New England's willingness to throw on any down makes for a matchup challenge for Dick LeBeau.
3. Special Teams: All fans of the Black & Gold who have seen Troy Brown kill the Steelers on kick returns won't soon forget it, and while the return specialist is different the challenge is not. Mile Tomlin said it earlier in the season: "As a kick coverage team we stink," and if they stink this week it's going to result in a loss.
4. Turnovers: The Cincinnati game not withstanding, the Steelers have to be perfect with the football all day long. Stated another way, if the Steelers are -3 in takeaways against New England they're going to lose by at least 21 points. The Patriots are more than capable of driving a long field, give them a short field and New England will put 50+ points on the board.

Conclusion Not to state the obvious but the Steelers face their toughest test this season and they will have to play flawlessly in order to have an opportunity to win. Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic will be online at half time with a look at the numbers from the first two quarters, and a look ahead to the second half.

Anthony Smith Makes a Steeler Statement?WHO CARES - (12/08)

As I sit here and watch the Steelers vs. New England ballgame from 2005 on the NFL network (the Steelers scored with 1:30 left in the game to tie it, and I think about 20 seconds later, New England kicked a field goal to tie it), I’ve had time, for the first time this week, [...]

>>More Pittsburgh Steelers blogs...