Big Snack's Sweatsocks

Previewing the Week: Baltimore, Ho!

2011-09-10T23:51:00.000-04:00

I admit that I will be as emotional as anyone Sunday and it will only be in small part because the Steelers are playing their bitter rivals. Flight 93 crashed, pretty much literally, in my childhood backyard -- five miles away from that small red house, as the crow flies. So, yeah, it's as personal to me as anyone living in New York City or any other American, and I will probably cry more than once. I'm man enough to admit that.

But part of it will definitely be that football has begun anew. This is The Season That Might Not Have Been. We were perilously close to not having football this year, or at least having an abbreviated season. Of course, that same greed that brought off-season activities to a screeching halt ultimately was the same greed that brought it back, because neither players or owners could see any benefit in making no money this season regardless of what they were each forced to concede.

Watching the Thursday night opener made me angry. Seeing how poorly the Saints played defense made me at one point postulate via Tweet, "do the Saints have any defensive backs on their roster? If so, they didn't dress any tonight." It made me long for smashmouth football, something that wasn't even whispered Thursday night.

It also annoyed the crap out of me seeing how poorly the Packers played defense. Where was that in the Super Bowl? And despite the fact that I now only have marginally more against Green Bay than I did going into the Super Bowl, it also angered me that the Saints came up inches short of a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion. Once again, fortune smiled brightly on the Packers, for the second game-that-actually-counts in a row.

Which brings me to Sunday. I'm already angry enough just because the Steelers play the Ravens tomorrow. I get that way when these teams play because, well, it's Baltimore. "Charm City" isn't charming. It's arrogant. It's Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs. It's a bunch of mouths that run non-stop, talking smack about a team they cannot beat when Ben Roethlisberger plays -- seven straight times, Number Seven has found ways to beat them, be it a touchdown pass with 43 seconds left or a 2007 beatdown that included Large Benjamin throwing five touchdown passes in the first half.

Unfortunately for the Purple Birds (I'll be nice and call them non-derogatory names until after the game), Ben is healthy and, if the pre-season is any indicator, looking even more focused, accurate and dedicated than he has ever been. That's bad news for a team that wasn't able to stop him while he was playing with a broken foot and a nose that was turned to blood and putty by an uncalled illegal blow to the head in the first quarter of that game. Despite all the pain that came with those two injuries, Roethlisberger still managed to lead his team to victory.

And the scales may be tipped significantly further in favor of the Steelers this season. The Ravens enter the season with an offensive line that has not played a single snap together -- not even in the pre-season. They acquired speedy receiver Lee Evans from Buffalo, but he's still learning the details of the offense, though as a seasoned veteran he should be mostly up to speed now. Their number-three receiver is fast but is a rookie, doesn't yet know the system and has had some notable issues, oh, catching the ball.

Additionally, the Ravens have a new defensive coordinator and a secondary that is suspect at best. Reed, their perennial all-start free safety, will start the season healthy, which is about a hundred steps up from last season when he missed nearly half a year of games, but after him there is limited speed and experience. That's going to be troublesome against what just might collectively be the fastest receiving corps in the entire league, with third-year wideout Mike Wallace bringing along his speedy "Young Money" partners Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders for a really fast ride. Add in Hines Ward and Heath Miller catching passes underneath and there just might be too many hot options to cover, even if the Ravens rush three or four -- which won't happen because the Ravens' defense is predicated on its pass rush, just like Pittsburgh's. Ward catches anything despite the best coverage, and Miller's size (6'-5", 260 pounds) gives him a distinct advantage over the best safeties in the game.

There's a lot conspiring against the Ravens -- and that scares me, because a cornered animal is the most dangerous of all beasts. So here are the matchups to watch most closely on Sunday, because the winners of these contests will likely dictate who wins the game.

Pittsburgh SS Troy Polamalu versus Baltimore QB Joe Flacco

If Joe Flacco has a nemesis, it is Polamalu. Troy has actually made a career of demoralizing AFC North quarterbacks, and last year he delivered what was probably the lowest point in the Ravens' quarterback's young career. After moving to the line of scrimmage a mere moment before the snap, Polamalu came unblocked off the left tackle and forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter that was scooped up by the Steelers and gave them the ball deep in Baltimore territory. The strip-sack ultimately led to Isaac Redman's nine-yard touchdown catch that solidified him in Steelers' lore and also gave the Steelers the lead that would win the game, lock up the AFC North and give the Steelers homefield advantage when the two teams met for the third time last season in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs -- a game that was won by the Steelers despite trailing the Ravens 21-7 at halftime.

The biggest difference now is that Polamalu is fully healthy. When broken in some way, Troy is merely the best safety in the league. When he is healthy, he is the most dangerous defensive player in the NFL, as evidenced by his earning Defensive Player of the Year honors last season despite playing December and January with a significant Achiiles' tendon injury. His pre-snap movements and instinctive adjustments often befuddle even the most seasoned veterans, but this is only Joe Flacco's fourth year, and reading defenses has been his biggest area of struggle. He's had a good game or two against the Steelers, but more often than not he has struggled to adapt to the steady stream of Dick LeBeau-designed blitzes. That just makes it more difficult dealing with a dynamic player like Polamalu, who has the closing speed to be almost anywhere on the field at any time.

Oh, and Polamalu is one of the happiest people in Pittsburgh right now thanks to a four-year contract extension that is so new it still has the sticker in the window.

Pittsburgh T Jonathan Scott & T Willie Colon versus Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs

Ray Lewis has done his damage against the Steelers. So has Ed Reed, though he has been mostly neutralized when playing the Steelers -- maybe it's the constant sound of Hines Ward's footsteps. Who knows.

But the defensive player who has done the most damage to Pittsburgh is Terrell Suggs. His 12.5 career sacks against Steelers' quarterbacks are his second-most against any team, and the question marks surrounding the Pittsburgh offensive line in recent years -- this year included -- only add to his legend. One head-on hit on Roethlisberger looked so sickening that it still makes me cringe to think about it, especially considering that Suggs was entirely unblockable on that play. Coincidentally, that was also the last time the Ravens beat the Steelers' franchise quarterback.

Despite the string of losses against Pittsburgh's number-one passer, Suggs has continued to be a force. Right tackle Willie Colon will play his first regular-season game in a year and a half after missing the 2010 season with a torn Achilles' tendon, and left tackle Jonathan Scott has a single regular-season start against the Ravens. Suggs will be moved around throughout the game in an attempt to give him the best chance at getting into the backfield to pressure, hit and possibly sack Roethlisberger. But we sure hope not.

Baltimore DBs versus Young Money

We've already touched on the speed of "Young Money" but it deserves a lot more attention, and that's exactly what the Baltimore defense is likely to do as well.

Mike Wallace has 4.3 speed -- that mean's there is really no defender who can go stride-for-stride with him on every down. As his route-running has improved, he has only become more dangerous, which is hard to comprehend considering he has led the AFC in yards per reception each of his first two years and has averaged 20.3 yards on each of his 99 career catches. That stat is ridiculous no matter how you spin it.

Antonio Brown has been dangerous since the first time he touched a ball in a regular-season game -- he took the Week Two opening kickoff for a touchdown last year on one of the most perfectly designed and executed reverses I've ever seen. Emmanuel Sanders, a 2010 second-round draft pick, might be the best route runner on the team, and that includes 14-year veteran and prototypical possession receiver Hines Ward.

If the Steelers opt to run the no-huddle, which Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians intend to do more this year, they will likely do so out of a shotgun spread formation, putting all that speed on the field at one time. Baltimore has no answer for all of it, and in the event that they can keep all three of those guys covered, there are still going to be one or two more options for Roethlisberger to check down to, be they Ward, Miller or any of three runningbacks (Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman and Mewelde Moore) who can all make big plays catching passes out of the backfield. From a pure passing standpoint, this is possibly the most fully stacked offense Pittsburgh has ever put on the field, and that includes the prolific lineups of the mid- to late-seventies. Of all the "skill position" players, there's not a single player whose abilities end at filling a roster spot -- they are all able to provide big plays at any given moment, and they all have.

Baltimore LT Bryant McKinnie versus Pittsburgh LB James Harrison

I wouldn't want to face off against James Harrison on the best of days. Facing him with a new team after being cut for showing up to camp weighing almost 400 pounds? Not my idea of a fun task, but that's precisely the situation new Ravens left tackle Bryant McKinnie. Big Mac was cut by the Vikings, who drafted him in 2002, then was signed by the Ravens for a veteran presence on a suddenly suspect O-line. So let's count the problems:

New team and new scheme? Check.

Got cut by previous team? Check.

Got cut for being roughly a large golden retriever overweight? Check.

Deebo is both a speed rusher and a power rusher. The chances that McKinnie will be able to consistently handle either of those is slim to none at this point, so the best he can hope for to have assistance from a runningback. To his credit, Ray Rice is pretty doggone good at picking up rushers despite his relatively small size, so there is some chance that Harrison would be neutralized on most downs. But even though Harrison isn't in peak shape, I wouldn't count on it.

Pittsburgh Head Coach Mike Tomlin versus Baltimore Head Coach John Harbaugh

This is money, right here.

These guys have played each other eight times, twice in the post-season, since Harbaugh became a head coach in 2008. In those games, Tomlin has a 6-2 edge -- that's a .750 winning percentage, if you're counting.

In both of those losses, a backup quarterback was playing for Pittsburgh. Each loss was by three points, and one happened in overtime against Dennis Dixon, when he was making his first career start.

Bottom line: Tomlin, the cool customer, the most even-keeled coach, the man who looks more like Omar Epps than Omar Epps, is money against Baltimore.

Outside of their head-to-head contests, the two have nearly identical winning percentages (Tomlin at .676, Harbaugh at .655). But when their paths cross, then inevitably collide, Tomlin is the victor three out of every four times.

Tomorrow presents the typically tough matchup between two perennial heavyweights. But the odds are stacked against the Ravens.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Ravens 13

Enough is enough

2011-09-07T14:39:00.000-04:00

Some journalists write for nothing more than shock value or to relieve themselves of their own angst in a rush of verbal diarrhea. Others, like FoxSports.com's Jason Whitlock, do both in an ignorant, race-baiting manner. Despite the fact that this blog exists as a vent for me on all things good and bad about the state of sports in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, every now and then I, too, need to release my own angst. I do, however, try to keep proper perspective, something that is lost on modern journalists en masse and is one of the main reasons why I abandoned long ago my pursuit of a career in journalism.

Although I could peruse the Whitlock archives for roughly 17 seconds and find at least a handful of articles in which he plays the race card -- because, well, that's pretty much what he does -- I am going to use his latest Messterpiece as a launching point for a grander tirade.

For those of you who aren't going to read the article, here is the gist: Roger Goodell has abused his power as NFL Commish to become the sole unit of justice within the league. That, in one quick sentence, equals precisely everything I have, and likely will, ever agree with Whitlock on. I am fully aware that disagreeing does not make him wrong. His misplaced sense of justice does.

In the article, it is pointed out that the NFL (read: King Roger) punished former Ohio State quarterback Terrell Pryor, who is black, for NCAA indiscretions by suspending him for six games. Harsh? Perhaps. Wrong? I still haven't decided. But the moronic part is when he points out that Goodell ruined his credibility when he opted not to punish Pryor's former college coach, Jim Tressel, who is white, for his own indiscretions (assumed to be mostly a knowledge of Pryor's violations without reporting them).

For the record, both Pryor and Tressel were to be suspended for half the collegiate season.

But here is where the problem lies: Whitlock claims the reason for the decision was entirely about race. He completely ignores the abundance of other variables:

Pryor is a player, and is part of the product the NFL is selling; Tressel is a gameday replay assistant
Pryor's employment is mostly out of his hands; he and his agent negotiate payment terms but he is limited in his ability to choose who he plays for; Tressel's employment is determined by private terms negotiated bilaterally between himself and for whomever he chooses to work
Pryor is bound exclusively by the collective bargaining agreement, which is determined through negotiation between players and the NFL, with the league, teams and players ratifying the agreement collectively; Tressel is bound by whatever terms are agreed upon between himself and the Indianapolis Colts and is by and large not governed by the collective bargaining agreement except in the few areas where his job is affected by it, such as replay rules
Pryor entered the NFL Supplemental Draft to escape his punishment as an unpaid college player, leaving what was supposed to be a non-profiting role for a profiting one; Tressel voluntarily resigned a paid position within the university and searched for employment elsewhere, undoubtedly taking a massive pay cut as a result

The bottom line is that the two people in question, races aside, are two very separate entities performing two very different roles in two very different capacities under the governance of two very different authorities. Outside of league-wide regulations, Tressel is in the employ of the Colts as a private entity, while Pryor is in the employ of the Oakland Raiders which operates as a franchisee of the NFL, because Pryor exists on the side of a franchise that is league-facing.

Goodell is, of course, trying to take credit for the fact that the Colts are voluntarily suspending Tressel for six games in a likely effort to stave off any sort of backlash before it has a chance to start, by indicating that the league would have done something if the team had not. True or not, it is not within his purview to punish a non-player/non-coach employee of a franchise unless there is some fine print within the CBA regarding replay assistants, which I highly doubt.

But, as much as I despise the job done up to this point by Goodell -- I believe Paul Tagliabue has been turning laps in his grave for years -- this is not about him. This is about Jason Whitlock and his constant playing of the race card to make it seem like those poor black multimillionaires in the NFL, NBA and other sports leagues are getting the shaft when they are actually living in the lap of luxury the other 99.9999999% of the US population could only dream of.

Believe it or not, Jason, race is rarely the reason black players get punished in numerous ways. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it's because they comprise the majority of professional athletes and rich idiots do idiotic things, and because the modern black culture glorifies violating mainstream laws and rules (listen to most rap today and count the instances where it is bragged upon to have broken the law). Of course, I'm sure you would find a way, no matter how invalid it would be, to blame white people for that, too.

Seven things I'm watching this year

2011-09-07T09:37:00.000-04:00

A new NFL season brings promise and hope of Super Bowl victory, of division dominance, of hard-hitting, smashmouth football.

Unless you play your home games in Ohio.

But I digress. This isn't about Cincinnati, Cleveland, or any other team outside of Pittsburgh. This is about me, the Steelers and to some extent ~~Dictator~~ Commissioner Roger Goodell. It's about the things I can't wait to see play out this year, because the 2011 season appears to hold more promise for a good, experienced team than even the previous season, a year in which that team came agonizingly close to winning their seventh Super Bowl and third in six years.

It's going to be a fun ride.

1. Hines Ward surpassing 1,000 career receptions

Sure, Ward's totals in 2010 were his lowest in a decade, but as much as that can be attributed to his age, the fact that his quarterback was missing for the first quarter of the season played a big role in it as well.

Measured over his many years as a starter, his 59 catches last year eclipsed only his 48 in 2000. But after the first four games he had pulled in just 12 catches, putting him on pace to merely match his turn-of-the-century totals. Once Ben Roethlisberger returned from suspension, he pulled down an additional 47, increasing his average catches per game by almost a full reception. Sure, that's not a lot, but with the emergence of speedster Mike Wallace and the improved running game, his numbers were bound to fall. Pile on the performances of then-rookies Emmanuel Sanders ad Antonio Brown and it's clear it was less his ability to deliver than it was just that there were more targets to hit.

All that said, Ward is and will be Number Seven's favorite target. Expect to see him spending more time in the slot than ever before, though, because he has the swagger and confidence to go over the middle more than any other receiver on the roster, and his lack of speed relative to the other receivers on the team could mean that he spends more time running underneath routes, which are critical to their success given the state of the offensive line in recent years. His numbers should be on par with 2010 -- which is more than enough to give him the 46 he needs to become just the eighth player in league history to put up 1,000 catches, in an offense that was run-first for most of his career to boot.

2. Heath Miller being relevant again

This statement is a little unfair, as it was nothing Miller did or did not do to reduce his production last year. The problem was, again, at least partially due to Roethlisberger's suspension and the emergence of so many new weapons. But the emphasis on the run last season didn't help matters either. I suspect Bruce Arians, long a proponent of pass-first and heavy use of tight ends, will be spending a lot of time finding ways to put one of his favorite players back into the front lines on offense.

The continued development of "Young Money" -- the three-headed beast of Wallace, Sanders and Brown -- will actually help Miller and the previously discussed Ward, as they demand more and more focus from defenses. With the speed available, we should expect a heavier dose of four- and five-receiver sets, and the attention given to the speedsters stretching the field vertically will allow the underneath routes to produce more and more first downs and long drives.

3. A healthy, more rested front seven

Aaron Smith has been the anchor of the defense for a decade but has missed significant time in recent seasons. He's aging and his body may not be able to handle the rigors of a full season anymore -- but the development of Ziggy Hood in his place last year sent a message: this defensive front is deeper than it's been in a long, long time, especially when factoring in long-time backup nose tackle Chris Hoke and the more-than-solid play of Steve McLendon.

Last season, linebackers Stevenson Sylvester and Jason Worilds showed on special teams that they know how to pursue and tackle as well as anyone. The re-addition of Larry Foote after a year in Detroit gives two inside backups who are more than capable holding down the fort when spelling starters James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons -- or, God forbid, replacing them due to injury. Worilds will likely spend more time than expected on the field early in the season as James Harrison rounds into his old form after off-season back surgeries, though it could often mean Timmons sliding outside and Sylvester lining up inside at times as well.

Rookie Chris Carter adds another competent body to the mix, though he may not see much field time with Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and Worilds all ahead of him.

Oh, and did I mention first-round pick Cam Heyward, who has already turned a lot of heads with his pre-season play and could spend at least a measurable amount of time on the field spelling Brett Kiesel, who himself is one of the best 3-4 ends in the league but is no spring chicken either?

Bottom line: the backups for this team's front seven could largely start for 3-4 teams around the league.

4. Can Troy stay healthy?

It's taboo to talk about, really, but it still remains a critical factor in the success of the defense. The simple fact is that this defense is much better with Troy Polamalu on the field. His backup, Ryan Mundy, has progressed nicely and can fill in, and with Lawrence Timmons taking on more of a "roving marauder" role -- much as Number 43 has done most of his career -- the effects of losing Polamalu for an extended period are certainly somewhat diminished, but we saw in the Super Bowl what can happen to a Steeler defense when Taz is not healthy, or not even playing.

It boils down to this: if he stays healthy, this is a top-three defense. If not, top five may be a stretch.

5. The role of continuity amidst the off-season that wasn't

In case you have been, oh, dead for the last six months, there was an itsy-bitsy twist in the off-season of the player-lockout nature. Thanks to the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement that allowed the teams and players to work for the last five years, there was a tense standoff between the two sides that, while ultimately resulting in a new agreement that was better for everyone involved, did wind up entirely erasing the off-season sans the draft in April. That's bad for most teams.

But then you have the Steelers, who return what I would assume to be a league-high 46 of 53 rostered faces. To think that a team could bring in thirty or more new faces during the off-season, not even counting replacements for free-agent departures, and ultimately bring back 87 percent of its previous year's roster is absolutely absurd. Consider teams like Philadelphia which, while bringing in what is largely believed to be top-shelf talent, signed (by my best count) eight free agents, meaning they had more turnover on their roster than did the Steelers before they even signed a draft pick. Assuming they signed four of their draft picks, which is possibly a lowball number, and signed one undrafted free agent, that means they experienced a full 25 percent turnover on their roster. In an off-season that included precisely zero team workouts between the Super Bowl and the start of training camp, that's a lot of new faces to teach a whole new system.

But, on a team that has been called "old" for several years, suddenly that age and experience are a huge, huge advantage. By returning 19 of 22 starters from the latter half of last season (Doug Legursky is new at right guard and Willie Colon returns at right tackle after missing last season with a torn Achilles' Tendon, while defensively the team was without Aaron Smith for the final 12 games), the Steelers are already a leg up on most of the rest of the league. In fact, 21 of the 22 starters for 2011 were intended to be full-time starters last season, with Legursky being the lone addition. It's phenomenal, but I've written about it elsewhere before that no team has more team-years (collective years of experience with the team) than do the Steelers, and it shows year-in and year-out. This year, it is going to be a much bigger deal.

6. Ben Roethlisberger returning to a captain's role

Let's not re-hash what got our outstanding quarterback into a position where he was not voted as an offensive team captain last year. We've worn out that tape by now. But let's look at what has happened since:

Returned from suspension to show a more disciplined, mature form at QB
Led his team to a 9-3 record in his 12 games
Nearly managed to win the Super Bowl
Got engaged and married to long-time girlfriend
Led his team to 38 points in roughly three quarters of pre-season play
Was voted back to a captain's role

That's a far cry from a guy whose future in society, let alone the NFL, was in doubt 18 months ago. By all accounts, he has taken on a huge leadership role within the team and has become much, much more accessible both to the public and to those with whom he shares a locker room. And while it is still early in the process, he has thus far done and said all the right things to make us believe that he really has turned himself around.

7. Roger Goodell and his randomly firing six-guns

In a league that has as many players as the NFL, it is hard to believe that we are still faced with a situation where one man not only serves as judge, jury and executioner, but also that there is absolutely no way to know what your punishment will be for any infraction, be it real or even just perceived.

When the Commish dropped the axe on the first four games of Roethlisberger's season last year, it occurred despite the lack of any charges having ever been filed in either of the alleged sexual assault incidents. Make your own theories as to how that played out; the point is not whether the assaults occurred, but rather whether there was ever a charge levied against the quarterback. The bottom line is that there was not, but still Lord Sith Roger determined it was still punishable by a four-game suspension (which was actually a reduced version of the original six-gamer) for what he called a "pattern of behavior."

Again, despite the lack of evidence that the behavior actually occurred as claimed.

In most sports, there is either a disciplinary group or at least a trustworthy appeals mechanism. While players can appeal in the NFL, even that process remains suspect, considering James Harrison's $100,000 in fines was reduced by a mere $25,000 despite the fact that those fines were for hits such as the one on Buffalo QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in which he made a picture-perfect tackle, though the crown of his helmet slid up the QB's chest and bumped him in the chin. Despite the fact that he has been penalized for "tackling the quarterback in an intimidating manner," as if he was supposed to gently set him down on the grass. It's a collision sport and despite the best efforts of any player, hard impacts will happen and there are too many variables, including decisions made by the player on the receiving end of the hit like ducking at an inopportune time, to be able to cite a single player at fault in all but the most egregious, obviously intentional hits like the one for which Brandon Merriweather was fined last season.

If such absurdity cannot reasonably be appealed -- and as long as the perception exists that one or a handful of players or teams are being targeted because of past, well-deserved criticisms of the commissioner, then any and all punishment doled out by Barney Fife will remain suspect in the eyes of fans and pundits.

In closing, I'd like to wish every team and every player a healthy season, and I'd like to offer up my immediate, proactive condolences to fans on the Cincy Riverfront and the Mistake by the Lake.

Guessing the Roster - Take Two

2011-09-02T16:06:00.001-04:00

Sometimes roster spots come down to the wire, with a pretty good player winding up on the short end of a very crowded stick. Other times, they work themselves out without coaches making a decision. That's precisely what happened to the Steelers thanks to a significant injury.
Projected #2 quarterback Byron Leftwich found the injury bug for the second straight pre-season, though the team has not yet given up on his return later this season from what appears to have been a rather severely broken arm. After sustaining a sprained knee last season, Leftwich made his way back onto the roster. There is currently no telling how long he will be out this year, and it's still possible that he could be placed on IR if he is taking up a much-needed roster spot that would otherwise result in a gifted player -- say, a cornerback in the big, jumbled depth-chart mess behind Ike Taylor. The Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette initially expected just that, but there has been no decision. Regardless, though, the near-term fight for the numbers two and three QB spots are moot -- for now.

This will be the final take because, well, final cutdowns are rapidly approaching. Afterward, we'll see if I emulate Nostradamus -- or if I better resemble Matt Hasselbeck during the overtime coin flip of a 2003 Wildcard-round playoff against the Packers, in which he claimed, "we want the ball, and we're gonna score!" only to thrown a pick-six on the Seahawks' second possession of the extra period.

Unlike Matty H., I make no guarantees.

Death and taxes, Matt.

* - Projected Starter
New in this update
~~Out in this update~~
Other status update

Quarterback (3)
4 - Byron Leftwich
Despite his severe injury, he could still return -- and is still the best #2 option on the roster; he stays and the team goes thin at cornerback until his return
*7 - Ben Roethlisberger
Returned from suspension to put up one of his best seasons ever; looks sharper than ever and is playing with a lot of focus and confidence
10 - Dennis Dixon
Charlie Batch is beloved in Pittsburgh but he has only thrown four passes and played in garbage time so far in the pre-season. Dixon played well against the Eagles but was only used for late-game mop-up duty versus Atlanta -- the contest had been decided well before he joined the party -- but he did have one nice throw near the end zone.
16 - Charlie Batch
In my world, at least, Chuck Batch was the odd man out of this four-man race. In the near term, though, it looks as though he will be staying around. But, if and when Leftwich returns, something's got to give.

Runningback (4)
21 - Mewelde Moore
May be last year in Pittsburgh if Baron Batch comes back healthy from a torn ACL
27 - Jonathan Dwyer
Has a ton of power and a lot of speed; looks like a smaller, slightly less shifty Jerome Bettis but struggles to find open holes at times; will only dress if #s 34 or 33 wind up with an injury
33 - Isaac Redman
Absolutely will share more snaps this year; electric every time he touches the ball and has become a big-time fan favorite
*34 - Rashard Mendenhall
Is one of the NFL's elite runners and probably tries harder on every hand-off than anyone else in the NFL since Emmitt Smith retired, but has been used too much; should share more snaps with Redman this season to stay fresh into December and January

Wide Receiver (6)
*17 - Mike Wallace
Speedster has evolved into a well-rounded #2 and could have a massive season -- he has his sights set on 2,000 yards but we'd be happy with 1,200 and ten or so TDs; his presence has opened up the field for Antonio Brown
81 - Arnaz Battle
Special teams ace made his case to get more offensive snaps after great game versus Philly
82 - Jerricho Cotchery
Limited playing time will probably keep him off the field for most snaps early in the season; monster play out of Brown and the expected play of Manny Sanders could go a long way toward keeping Cotch there most of the season -- and given his pedigree, that says a lot about the talent in Young Money
84 - Antonio Brown
Breakout game versus the Falcons with TDs of 44 and 77 yards; the 77-yard catch was caught over the middle and he absolutely burned two defenders on a cut up the middle of the field en route to the end zone
88 - Emmanuel Sanders
Rookie performance guarantees him a roster spot despite foot injury keeping him down
*86 - Hines Ward
Pittsburgh's best ever has slowed but still is the most well-rounded receiver in the NFL; is beginning to hand the torch over to Brown, as evidenced by Brown's electrifying 77-yard scamper on a medium pass over the middle

Tight End/H-Back (3)
44 - Weslye Saunders
Despite limited playing time, his tremendous upside is going to get him a roster spot, where he can be actively groomed by Heath Miller, one of the very best in the game right now
*83 - Heath Miller
One of two or three best tight ends in the NFL; catches like a receiver and blocks like a guard
*85 - David Johnson
Despite being the team's "fullback" Johnson has been solidified as the #2 tight end after showing he's no one-trick pony -- his two 17-yard catches on the Steelers' opening drive against Atlanta set up the first of many Pittsburgh scores
~~89 - John Gilmore~~
~~Expect this to be a one-year roster appointment; Weslye Saunders will probably make the practice squad and could take this spot in '12, or it could be someone else; this is a depth-only choice~~

Offensive Line (9)
NOTE: I am combining these spots going forward because of how much multitasking goes on within this team at O-line.
*53 - Markice Pouncey
Despite re-aggravating the same injury he sustained in the AFC Championship, Pouncey is and will continue to be the best lineman on this team -- 'Kice at 60% is better than almost any other O-lineman on the team at 100%
~~61 - Chris Scott~~
~~Will probably see some time at guard throughout the season, at least more so than at tackle barring injury.~~
*64 - Doug Legursky
Won't have to worry so much about nose tackles now that he's apparently moved into the starting slot at right guard; athleticism should allow him to execute the types of blocks expected of a guard

65 - Marcus Gilbert

If he continues to play as well at left tackle as he did against the Falcons, Gilbert could be the new starting LT before the season

*66 - Tony Hills
Hills had his chance to shine against the Eagles and embraced it, playing as well as any other starting lineman, even after moving to left tackle following injuries to both Jonathan Scott and Marcus Gilbert; though listed as a tackle, he has more opportunity to start as a guard
*68 - Chris Kemoeatu
Incumbent left guard has no challenge to his position; a mauler in the run game, he still has issues in pass protection
XX - Trai Essex
Started 21 games in the last two seasons but was off the team when camp started and when camp broke thanks to weight issues; dropped what he termed a "significant amount" of weight to get back on the team, showing the front office his dedication; should be in the mix at right guard immediately despite being listed as a tackle and could get a crack at starting there one of the final two games of the pre-season
*72 - Jonathan Scott
Initially was shaky after replacing Max Starks last season but had solid if unspectacular play as the season progressed; replaces Starks permanently now but if Gilbert progresses a little more, this position could be up for grabs by mid-season

73 - Ramon Foster

Foster has the versatility to play both guard positions or center, but will find himself higher on the depth chart at guard; regardless, though, this spot is likely still up for grabs and someone like Chris Scott could still sneak in based on potential

*74 - Willie Colon
Returns from a torn Achilles' tendon in '10 but is now the team's best tackle, no question

Nose Tackle (2)
76 - Chris Hoke
Hoke is a gem of a backup. Any 3-4 defense would pay good money to have a reserve of his caliber.
*98 - Casey Hampton
Aside from being this site's (nick)namesake, he's also still a top nose tackle. He's not quite what he was three or four years ago but he still commands the respect of at least two linemen on nearly every play.

Defensive End (4)
*91 - Aaron Smith
When healthy, is still one of the best 3-4 ends in the NFL, but health is a huge question mark at this point
95 Cameron Heyward
Rookie has a nose for the ball but needs to get his emotions in check a little; has played well enough in the pre-season that fans are clamoring for more
96 - Ziggy Hood
Replaced Smith so well last year that he will be sharing a lot of snaps this season
*99 Brett Kiesel
Best beard in the NFL. A darn good defensive end too.

Linebacker (9)
47 - Baraka Atkins
Has played very well and shows a combination of speed and strength despite his hulking size (6'4", 271 lbs.) the Steelers have got to love
48 - Mortty Ivy
Local kid (Monroeville, PA) who could make the roster as a backup; finished the pre-season tied for a team-high 19 tackles, but this spot could ultimately go to someone like Chris Carter, too, whose potential may be higher in the long run
50 - Larry Foote
Accepted backup role in return to Pittsburgh last year and still contributes, especially as James Farrior continues to age; could be starting for most teams
*51 - James Farrior
The rare player who seems to be getting better late into his thirties
55 - Stevenson Sylvester
Special teams beast his rookie year; will probably enter into more of a rotation this year
*56 - LaMarr Woodley
Could be the better of the two best outside 'backers in the league this year; signed for six more years of terrorizing Joe Flacco
~~90 - Chris Ellis~~
~~He didn't make much of an impact in Buffalo, where he was drafted #72 overall, but perhaps he can improve under position coach Keith Butler; depth only~~
*94 - Lawrence Timmons
Team's tackles leader in 2010 poised to only get better; first-ever draft pick by Mike Tomlin is no longer questioned and is signed for six more years
*95 - James Harrison
Still a beast but could be slowing down a little, possibly due to back surgeries in March; will still likely pick up 10 or more sacks in '11
97 - Jason Worilds
Outstanding in limited play last season; will probably see more snaps in '11, particularly early as Harrison gets back to top shape

Cornerback (6)
Update: Mike Tomlin has never kept seven CBs, so I think there will be a surprise cut in this group -- especially considering that Byron Leftwich could very well return from his injury. The young guys are too talented to let any of them go, though a guy like Crezdon Butler or Curtis Brown could very well be stashed on the practice squad for now.
20 - Bryant McFadden
Should be looking over his shoulder; Keenan Lewis an rookie Donovan Brown have shown outstanding coverage ability and a knack for making big plays; rookie Curtis Brown could be in play, too
~~22 - William Gay~~
~~Kept mostly for depth, but showed flashes of brilliance against Philly, including sticking to his man like glue on Mike Vick's first toss of the game~~
~~23 - Keenan Lewis~~
~~Picked off a pass that was thrown behind his receiver, but was beaten on the play. Still, has looked more and more like the player coach Tomlin thought he was when he drafted Lewis.~~
*24 - Ike Taylor
Taylor got the contract he wanted after the lockout ended, and is far and away the best corner on the roster; many (myself included) believe he is among the NFL's elite at the position despite his inability to hold on to sure interceptions
28 - Crezdon Butler
In back-to-back games he posted a 95-yard pick-six and then got beat deep for a TD. Up and don so far this preseason but has the assets for at least being a future nickel back
*30 - Donovan Warren
Has quietly had a spectacular pre-season, not allowing any big plays, keeping the play in front of him and defending passes -- everything you can ask of a CB in this scheme; my pick to start against Baltimore since McFadden could still be hampered by injury a week from now
39 - Cortez Allen
Aside from overall play against the Panthers that bordered on spectacular, Allen has too much raw talent and prototypical physical traits to be allowed to reach waivers in hopes that he will make it to the practice squad
40 - Curtis Brown
Played well for the most part but did allow a deep ball to be caught when he was grossly out of position to defend it -- and near the goal line, too, though he made a good play to not let the receiver then slip away and into the end zone

Safety (3)
*25 - Ryan Clark
May be the hardest-hitting safety in the league; has a tendency to make big plays when the situation calls for it but also makes some hits that result in penalties, and got beat a fair amount in the Super Bowl
29 - Ryan Mundy
fourth-year player has become a nicely rounded safety who can tackle very well; tied for team lead in tackles with 19
*43 - Troy Polamalu
Back and playing his trademark style of controlled recklessness; if healthy all year, could be eve better than '10 when he won Defensive Player of the Year after making key plays in huge moments despite an Achilles' tendon injury

Kicker (1)
6 - Shaun Suisham
Replaced Jeff Reed at mid-season in '10 and played outstandingly well; had a shaky post-season but will be retained after knocking down most pre-season kicks, including a 53-yarder against Carolina

Punter (1)
9 - Daniel Sepulveda
Jeremy Kapinos subbed superbly last year after Sepulveda tore an ACL for the third time and has provided great competition in camp, but Sepulveda is much better at placing his kicks, which can be critical in tight games

Long Snapper (1)
60 - Greg Warren
Hard to lose a job if you have no competition, but the Steelers didn't even invite another long snapper to the party because of how solid Warren has been

Sepulveda will win the punter job. Guaranteed.

2011-08-27T23:45:00.001-04:00

Short of an injury, Daniel Sepulveda will be the Steelers' punter once again.

Okay, Jeremy Kapinos filled the role exceedingly well last year. The bar was pretty low, though, considering the last person to replace Sepulveda due to injury was Mitch Berger, whose average punt could almost have been measured on a full set of fingers and toes.

And I will grant you that Kapinos has a slightly -- and I do mean slight -- better average than Sepulveda this season, besting Robopunter's 46.6 by a fifth of a yard.

Everyone seems to be jumping on that number and the fact that Kapinos is going to come a good bit cheaper. But there are a few details that are being overlooked.

First of all, if net average is such a big deal, then Sepulveda still wins. His 37.9 career average bests Kapinos' by 3.4 yards. That's a lot. A whole lot. We're talking about a third of a first down. We're talking a number that is at least approaching the NFL average yards per play.

But here is the biggest reason why Jeremy Kapinos will either be punting somewhere else or waiting for the seemingly inevitable midseason call from the Steelers. Let's face it: RoboPunter has crepe-paper ACLs.

Two words: Hang Time.

Of Sepulveda's five punts in the first two games, three have been downed inside the 20 with no touchbacks. Kapinos, on the other hand, has had two downed with one touchback. The numbers are close, I agree, and you could argue that one bounce, or a player being a step faster or slower, and those numbers are reversed.

But for his career, Sepulveda has dropped 73 of 196 punts inside the 20 (37.2 percent), and a total of 31 of his punts have been downed by his teammates (15.8 percent). Kapinos, on the other hand, has dropped 31 of 106 punts inside the 20 (29.2 percent) with 12 downed (11.3 percent). Sepulveda's control has also resulted in 14 touchbacks to Kapinos' 15 -- 7.1 percent to 14.2 percent.

Punting and kicking often comes down to a yard or a tenth of a second, just like everything else in the game. But despite most people's loathing of kickoffs, punts and field goals, they are no more or less important than blocking, running, passing or catching. And those few feet could be the difference between field goal range and punting for the other team.

McFadds the weakest link?

2011-08-24T11:16:00.000-04:00

Dale Lolley is reporting that cornerback Bryant McFadden, on his second to of duty with the Steelers, could be on the way out despite starting in the NFL for three and a half of the last four years -- including a year with the Cardinals. We all recall that #20 was torched in the Super Bowl. Of course, the entire secondary was pretty much dreadful, but that could be related to both Troy Polamalu not being his usual calculated-reckless self as well as the complete lack of a pass rush.

All that aside, McFadden struggled at times last season after spending most of his season in Arizona getting torched regularly. Given that he is due a pretty hefty sum of money; and that youngsters like Keenan Lewis, Crezdon Butler and Curtis Brown are only a marginal difference at this point -- with a lot of upside in the entire group, too -- it stands to reason that McFadden could be on the way out when final roster cuts come due. I already pointed out that he needs to be worried about his spot in the lineup, but now it looks like his very roster spot is on the line. His nagging injuries aren't helping his case one bit.

Further updates as events warrant.

Guessing The Roster - Take One

2011-08-21T18:02:00.002-04:00

It would be foolish -- downright stupid, really -- to assume that I could guess the entire 53-man roster for any team before even the 80-man cutdown comes due. But, because I do things differently here at Snack's 'Socks, it isn't going to stop me from taking a shot or two at it. It's not like I've ever been afraid of making a fool of myself -- on the Internet, at least.

There is still a lot of time left for someone to make a run at a roster spot, even though the only real battles in camp right now are cornerback, right guard and punter. You could add left tackle in there as well, depending on how quickly Jonathan Scott can return from a hyperextended knee. The real questions, though, are how the depth guys will shake out.

Guys like Keenan Lewis and Tony Hills have spent a few years finding ways to screw up their chances but still managing to slide by. This is their do-or-die season, and right now both are doing rather than dying. Hills is possibly the front-runner for the right guard position, and Lewis currently leads the team in tackles and has a pre-season interception.

Other question marks remain, like whether or not the Steelers will try to trade Dennis Dixon. Interestingly, both head coach Mike Tomlin and personnel director Kevin Colbert attended Terrell Pryor's workout Saturday, and Pryor is a hometown kid who would probably love a chance to play in Pittsburgh. But he is inexperienced, raw and has obviously had off-field issues.

But here I am rambling. Without further adieu...

(* - Projected Starter)

Quarterback (3)
4 - Byron Leftwich
Settled down after the first few plays against the Eagles and had a very solid game; lack of pocket awareness is still a big issue but the Steelers have the luxury of having a once-successful starter backing up their top guy
*7 - Ben Roethlisberger
Returned from suspension to put up one of his best seasons ever; looks sharper than ever if the Philly game is any indication
10 - Dennis Dixon
Charlie Batch is beloved in Pittsburgh but he has only thrown four passes and played in garbage time so far in the pre-season. Dixon got a great audition against Philly and looked sharp aside from a few things that can be fixed with coaching, a far cry from his 1-10 performance against the Redskins -- bit then again, the entire team played just about the same.

Runningback (4)
21 - Mewelde Moore
May be last year in Pittsburgh if Baron Batch comes back healthy from a torn ACL
27 - Jonathan Dwyer
Has a ton of power and a lot of speed; looks like a smaller, slightly less shifty Jerome Bettis but struggles to find open holes at times
33 - Isaac Redman
Absolutely will share more snaps this year; electric every time he touches the ball and has become a big-time fan favorite
*34 - Rashard Mendenhall
Is one of the NFL's elite runners and probably tries harder on every hand-off than anyone else in the NFL since Emmitt Smith retired, but has been used too much; should share more snaps with Redman this season to stay fresh into December and January

Wide Receiver (6)
*17 - Mike Wallace
Speedster has evolved into a well-rounded #2 and could have a massive season -- he has his sights set on 2,000 yards but we'd be happy with 1,200 and ten or so TDs
81 - Arnaz Battle
Special teams ace made his case to get more offensive snaps after great game versus Philly
82 - Jerricho Cotchery
Welcome to Pittsburgh. We'll keep ya.
84 - Antonio Brown
Hines Wards' eventual replacement looks set to build on a very good rookie season
88 - Emmanuel Sanders
Rookie performance guarantees him a roster spot despite foot injury keeping him down
*86 - Hines Ward
Pittsburgh's best ever has slowed but still is the most well-rounded receiver in the NFL

Tight End/H-Back (3)
*83 - Heath Miller
One of two or three best tight ends in the NFL; catches like a receiver and blocks like a guard
*85 - David Johnson
Moderate at tight end but blocks well out of the backfield. More of an H-back than a tight end and gives Bruce Arians an excuse to follow through on his curious belief that fullbacks are useless
89 - John Gilmore
Expect this to be a one-year roster appointment; Weslye Saunders will probably make the practice squad and could take this spot in '12, or it could be someone else; this is a depth-only choice

Center (2)
*53 - Markice Pouncey
Many believe he will be the next on a short list of Steelers' greats at the line's anchor; pre-season play signals that he will follow up his Pro Bowl rookie season with an even better performance
64 - Doug Legursky
Super Bowl starter has versatility to play either guard position as well but struggles in hand-to-hand battles and big nose tackles, but he's still a good player and is well-liked by fans and coaches alike

Guard (3)
*66 - Tony Hills
Hills had his chance to shine against the Eagles and embraced it, playing as well as any other starting lineman, even after moving to left tackle following injuries to both Jonathan Scott and Marcus Gilbert; though listed as a tackle, he has more opportunity to start as a guard
*68 - Chris Kemoeatu
Incumbent left guard has no challenge to his position; a mauler in the run game, he still has issues in pass protection
73 - Ramon Foster
Foster has the versatility to play both guard positions or center, but will find himself higher on the depth chart at guard

Tackle (5)
61 - Chris Scott
Will probably see some time at guard throughout the season, at least more so than at tackle barring injury.
65 - Marcus Gilbert
Rookie played with Pouncey at Florida and has been praised by his former 'mate; needs to recover from a hyperextended knee but should make the roster because of his high draft pick if nothing else, though he did look good in his short stint against the Eagles
*72 - Jonathan Scott
Initially was shaky after replacing Max Starks last season but had solid if unspectacular play as the season progressed; replaces Starks permanently now
*74 - Willie Colon
Returns from a torn Achilles' tendon in '10 but is now the team's best tackle, no question

Nose Tackle (2)
76 - Chris Hoke
Hoke is a gem of a backup. Any 3-4 defense would pay good money to have a backup of his caliber.
*98 - Casey Hampton
Aside from being this site's (nick)namesake, he's also still a top nose tackle. He's not quite what he was three or four years ago but he still commands the respect of at least two linemen on nearly every play.

Defensive End (4)
*91 - Aaron Smith
When healthy, is still one of the best 3-4 ends in the NFL
95 Cameron Heyward
Rookie has a nose for the ball but needs to get his emotions in check a little
96 - Ziggy Hood
Replaced Smith so well last year that he will be sharing a lot of snaps this season
*99 Brett Kiesel
Best beard in the NFL. A darn good defensive end too.

Linebacker (9)
48 - Mortty Ivy
Local kid (Monroeville, PA) who could make the roster as a backup; has nine tackles already in pre-season play, but this spot could ultimately go to someone like Chris Carter, too
50 - Larry Foote
Accepted backup role in return to Pittsburgh and still contributes; played well versus Philly
*51 - James Farrior
The rare player who seems to be getting better late into his thirties
55 - Stevenson Sylvester
Special teams beast his rookie year; will probably enter into more of a rotation this year
*56 - LaMarr Woodley
Could be the better of the two best outside 'backers in the league this year; signed for six more years of terrorizing Joe Flacco
90 - Chris Ellis
He didn't make much of an impact in Buffalo, where he was drafted #72 overall, but perhaps he can improve under position coach Keith Butler; depth only
*94 - Lawrence Timmons
Team's tackles leader in 2010 poised to only get better; first-ever draft pick by Mike Tomlin is no longer questioned
*95 - James Harrison
Still a beast but could be slowing down a little; will still likely pick up 10 or more sacks in '11
97 - Jason Worilds
Outstanding in limited play last season; will probably see more snaps in '11

Cornerback (7)
20 - Bryant McFadden
Should be looking over his shoulder; Keenan Lewis an rookie Donovan Brown have shown outstanding coverage ability and a knack for making big plays; rookie Curtis Brown could be in play, too
22 - William Gay
Kept mostly for depth, but showed flashes of brilliance against Philly, including sticking to his man like glue on Mike Vick's first toss of the game
23 - Keenan Lewis
Picked off a pass that was thrown behind his receiver, but was beaten on the play. Still, has looked more and more like the player coach Tomlin thought he was when he drafted Lewis.
*24 - Ike Taylor
Taylor got the contract he wanted after the lockout ended, and is far and away the best corner on the roster; many (myself included) believe he is among the NFL's elite at the position despite his inability to hold on to sure interceptions
28 - Crezdon Butler
Team is high on Butler and he hasn't let them down -- but he hasn't wowed anyone this year, either
*30 - Donovan Warren
Had a great, great game against the Eagles; started in place of McFadden because of injury and made his case clear to be the #2 corner; the fact that he started over Curtis Brown spoke volumes
40 - Curtis Brown
Came in a little later in the game and played as well as any of the Eagles' vaunted corners -- better, really -- but he was playing against backups mostly

Safety (3)
*25 - Ryan Clark
May be the hardest-hitting safety in the league; has a tendency to make big plays when the situation calls for it but also makes some hits that result in penalties
29 - Ryan Mundy
fourth-year player has become a nicely rounded safety who can tackle very well
*43 - Troy Polamalu
Back and playing his trademark style of controlled recklessness; if healthy all year, could be eve better than '10 when he won Defensive Player of the Year after making key plays in huge moments despite an Achilles' tendon injury

Kicker (1)
6 - Shaun Suisham
Replaced Jeff Reed at mid-season in '10 and played outstandingly well; had a shaky post-season but will be retained as camp competition Swayze Waters missed two of three against Eagles

Punter (1)
9 - Daniel Sepulveda
Jeremy Kapinos subbed superbly last year after Sepulveda tore an ACL for the third time, but Sepulveda is much better at placing his kicks, which can be critical in tight games

Long Snapper (1)
60 - Greg Warren
Hard to lose a job if you have no competition, but the Steelers didn't even invite another long snapper to the party because of how solid Warren has been

Musings on Free Agency So Far

2011-07-28T12:52:00.003-04:00

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed, my wife standing behind me cleaning a few things up before we headed for bed last night.

It was moments prior that I had seen that the Steelers had cut Max Starks. Even now, I don't know why I reacted that way. I knew as well as anyone that the fall-off from Starks to Jonathan Scott, who finished out the season at left tackle last year following Starks' season-ending neck problems, was negligible once Scott got his Heinz Legs under him.

Maybe it was me mourning the loss of one of the cooler nicknames on the team: Tacklus Maximus. Maybe it was sadness to see one of the few remaining Cowher draftees take the Long Walk Home. I'm not sure what it was, really. But, in the light of morning, I see it for what it really is: a shrewd move to clear cap space, knowing they have three capable starting tackles -- assuming Flozell Adams returns, that is.

Gone also appear to be Mewelde Moore, whose contributions will be missed but who is likely to be replaced by rookie and all-around great guy Baron Batch, Dan "Robopunter" Sepulveda, who has found every way possible to tear ACLs, and on-again-off-again-Steeler Antwaan Randle El. ARE, of course, fell down the depth chart last year faster than Alice fell down the Rabbit Hole, and found himself above only Arnaz Battle while looking at the taillights of two rookies -- outstanding rooks, to be sure, but rookies nonetheless.

The biggest news was the re-signing of Ike Taylor, which means two things: 1) the biggest threat to the Steelers' season has been averted; and 2) I still have tangible links to one current Steeler, one former Steeler and Bill Cowher. Mostly shallow links, I admit, but sometimes the ego needs a-strokin'. That second item may be meaningless to all but one of the more than six billion people on this planet, but I don't much care.

So that leaves us with intriguing possibilities here in the early portion of a started-but-not-yet-begun, abbreviated period of free agency. Tomorrow will be interesting, as teams can actually begin signing the contracts to which they have committed without committing. We'll see how many guys jump ship at the last minute, realizing at the eleventh hour that they actually do not yet have a contract to honor.

Here are my thoughts on just a few of those possibilities.

Plaxico Burress back in black (and gold)?
Half of me says, "bring it!" knowing that he and Ben worked well together for a season. The other half says, "oh, hecks no!" because the man was dumb enough to 1) carry a gun without a license, 2) bring it into a nightclub, and 3) shoot himself with it. I have known since I was five how to use the safety switch on a gun, and also how important that little feature was. How bright do you have to be, exactly, to possess that knowledge? Clearly brighter than our old friend, Plax.

Tiki Barber to the...
Just kidding. This idea was stillborn. In fact, the only person who actually thought the Steelers were interested in Tiki was -- wait for it -- Tiki! Seriously, the team is carrying six RBs into camp already. There is no room at this inn for a washed-up runner with chronic fumblitis.

Signing another studly CB
Yeah, umm...no.

Anybody worth a darn will be gone by Saturday morning, and at a premium price. This team has a lot of intriguing prospects in the secondary this season, including two drafted rookies and second-year guy Crezdon Butler. In limited playing time, he always seemed to find the ball. And, besides, the Steelers took care of their two biggest problems at corner in one day: they resigned Ike and let William Gay walk. Those two moves right there improved the group, like, sevenfold.

Um, that's all. The team has no other real holes to worry about in free agency, which makes the rest of the period a luxury. If they find the right guy at the right price, they will sign him. If not, they are no worse off. Both lines are loaded with prospects, and with the amount of potential on both sides of the trenches, I don't really feel any anxiety going into training camp. Now, if a vet or five goes down for the year, like they did in 2010, I will revisit any and all predictions. But, until such a thing becomes necessary, there is no sense dwelling on it, regardless of the fact that some of our players could have graduated high school with our coach. And I mean Coach Dad.

How to Rob a Pirate (or a whole team of them)

2011-07-27T13:25:00.002-04:00

1) Become an umpire
2) Wait for the 19th inning of a game that involves the Pittsburgh Pirates
3) Decide you have better things to do
4) Call a guy safe who was tagged before his toes crossed the center of the batter's box

I didn't watch the game. I live in Raleigh, and a Pirates' game here is a rare treat (or, in the preceding 17 seasons, a nightmare). But I heard about it, read about it, and then watched the only moment that matters. And there is only one conclusion to be drawn.

The Pirates were robbed.

It brings back memories of the Sid Bream Game -- yes, to Pirates fans that game has a title.

Some have compared this to the Joyce incident last year, in which a pitcher was unfairly prevented from achieving a perfect game because of an umpire who needed glasses, contacts, a cornea transplant, or some other form of medical eyesight enhancement. Others have claimed that is unfair, because a perfect game is so rare -- but that cost one man a statistic, not a victory. To those people, I say "blow it out your ear."

You wanna know what is rarer than a perfect game? A winning season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. And, with a lineup of people so unaccustomed to success, this is the sort of incident that can destroy a season. This game -- not finally breaking above .500 at any point after spring training, not moving into first place, not taking two of three from the Boston Red Sox -- is the pivotal moment of the season for this team. How manager Clint Hurdle rallies his team, how he utilizes this defining moment, will make or break the year for a team already so far above expectations that it seems like an era ago that this team was suckling at the teat of crapitude.

I'm bitter. I'm ticked off, as should be any fan of this team, any player on its roster, and anyone who cares more about the game of baseball than they do the fortunes of their own team. Because it's one thing to be the victim of a blown call; it's a whole other story to lose a game after 19 herculean innings against the very same ball club that started the Spiral of Suck nearly two decades ago because an umpire couldn't see a tag that happened five feet from his own face with nothing blocking his line of sight.

But, I will raise a glass to a team that has taken everything the league has thrown at them this year and risen above. And I will offer up a prayer that they can do the same thing one more time, and use this not as an excuse for a(nother) failed season, but rather as a rallying point, from which shall spring forth the first legitimate playoff run for the team this millennium.

Here's to you all, Buccos. Now go look the league in the eyes, take this bitter pill, and ram it down their throats.

Three things I hate about the NFL draft

2011-05-02T20:50:00.001-04:00

Before I even post any analysis of rounds two through seven, I need to vent this. I need to vent, because the draft is a maddening experience (not "Maddening", with a capital M, but "maddening"; the other one would entail losing control of my mouth and my weight simultaneously, while trying to figure out how how to shove a turducken-stuffed dodo bird inside and emu inside a pterodactyl, nevermind that two of them are extinct).

Yes, I am hopelessly addicted to the draft. Just like any other serious football fan. We yearn for it from the moment the Super Bowl game clock reaches all zeros. Sure, most years we get partially satiated by free agency but, at least for Steelers fans, we don't have all that much invested in free agency. Kevin Colbert, the Rooneys and Mike Tomlin don't build their team that way, except for plugging specifically targeted holes.

It's not that I hate the draft. On the contrary, I absolutely love seeing which players my team gets to sign. But there are a few things that irk me. And you get to read them (lucky you).

1. "Grading" a team's draft
I don't know how far I really need to go with this one, because to explain it in depth would do it justice, and the concept of grading a team's draft does not deserve such attention. To think that, given the myriad variables, anyone can assign a quality rating to a team's draft is absurd. Sure, we can look at Mike Ditka's mortgaging of an entire draft for the Second Coming of Bob Marley, or the Browns drafting Brady Quinn, or anything the Raiders have done since, well, Al Davis was born, and realize that some drafts certainly are better than others.

It's not that all draft classes or all of a team's drafted players are equal to all others. It's that we assign grades before they have played an NFL down. We try to assume how a player will fare in the league based entirely off college game tapes, playing against mostly lesser talent using playbooks that often have a single thing in common with those of the NFL: they have 11 players on each side.

2. The agony of the green room
I was once a member of the press. I was the City News Desk Editor, which garnered me the title of "ambulance chaser." The motto of any editor is "if it bleeds, it leads."

That's exactly why I am no longer a member of the press.

There is enough suffering in this world everywhere we go. Life is hard, plain and simple. I can walk to five desks at my day job and ask their residents how they are doing, and four out of five of them will have some legitimate complaint about their life. So it confounds me when I try to figure out why the press insists on always highlighting that negativity. Sports editors are as bad as anyone else, too. We always get shots of the loser after a championship game, and for some insane reason the NFL allows cameras in the draft's Green Room. I blame Lee Harvey Oswald, for no reason other than I don't know the name of the NFL press director.

3. Next year's mock draft today!
Look, draft prognosticators the world 'round have one thing in common: they are universally wrong. I have taken a stab at my fair share of mocks, and mine turn out as inaccurate as anyone else's. That's because none of us who write those things have any real idea of what a team's front office personnel believe to be their biggest needs. Not you. Not me. Oh, certainly not me. We can all place our bets, but at the end of they day, half of us will bet red, half of us will bet black, and then the ball falls off the table.

And that's just the the mocks create in the hours, days and weeks before the current draft. But, invariably, the day after the draft we get bombarded with next year's mock drafts. Many of them try to be funny by acknowledging they are absurdly premature. But guess what: it ain't funny. Irony is funny. That's not irony, it's just sad. Please, do us all a favor and wait until next year to prepare next year's mock draft.

Now that I have that out of my system, I will return you to my regularly unscheduled sarcasm, dry wit and pointless banter.

Round One Analysis: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

2011-04-29T14:04:00.005-04:00

Twenty-four hours ago I called for the Steelers to forego a pick in the first round. Then Cameron Heyward, son of late University of Pittsburgh stud Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, managed to fall behind a bunch of defensive ends, which is largely ludicrous.

Most of you, no doubt, had a mostly SportsCenter-based view of Heyward. Sure, the Buckeyes are a top team and spent plenty of time on national television, but with well over 100 D-I teams, those replays can get lost in the noise.

But me...well...my wife is a huge OSU fan. I've spent more than the average Joe's share of time watching the kid.

Well, he's something special.

Let's just talk about his build for a second. His body is a cross between Jevon Kearse's lean, chiseled shape and LaMarr Woodley's brute strength. Basically, he looks like Osi Umenoyira at 125-percent scale. What that gives him is the strength to take on an offensive tackle with a bull rush but the speed to beat him when called upon to do so. Trust me, dude's got wheels.

As far as technique goes, he has very fast feet, slides along the line as well as anyone I have seen and has a complete arsenal of moves.

Possibly the best part is he played four years in the Big Ten where offensive lines tower like Washington Redwoods -- they don't call it big for nothin'. That translates well to the NFL, giving him a full four seasons of experience against larger linemen -- many of whom have or will make it to the NFL -- making him ready to step in and contribute from Day One, even if it does mean simply spelling Brett Kiesel or Aaron Smith from time to time.

So, it doesn't bother me that the Steelers opted to pass on reaching for a cornerback, or even trading out of the round for extra picks. When a top-15 talent falls to the 31st spot, you take him. I don't care if he's a long-snapper, punter or even a waterboy. If he's better than the position in which you are picking, you pull the trigger.

Grade: A - This could have been an A+ only if someone like Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamara had fallen to this point.

Much Ado About Nothing? Steelers Should Trade Out of First Round

2011-04-28T13:10:00.001-04:00

First-round draft picks are a big deal. If you doubt that, consider that the NFL has broken the draft into three days rather than two this year, devoting Day (or, more accurately, Night) One to a single round. This is where the "special" players are drafted -- the guys who can come in and start right away. Last year, the Steelers drafter at #18 and picked Markice Pouncey to play Guard. He merely earned a trip to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. As a center.

So it would seem to be sacrilege on the surface to suggest trading out of the round altogether. Here's the rub: coach Mike Tomlin has said there are 20 "special" players in this year's draft, and the Steelers pick at #31. Even if two or three teams ahead of them reach a little to fill a need position, it's almost a given that all 20 of those players will be long gone before the 31st pick comes around.

In fact, by the time that pick rolls around, all the positions at which the Steelers have a big need may have been picked clean of top-tier talent. That means they will be using a first-round pick on talent that could go anywhere from the bottom of round one to rounds four or five, depending on a particular scout's evaluation or a bad Pro Day.

Case in point: Texas' Aaron Williams (CB) is the chic pick for the Steelers. But he isn't breathing the draft's stratosphere like LSU's Patrick Peterson or Nebraska's Prince Amukamara. He's breathing Los Angeles smog along with Brandon Harris of Miami and New Mexico State's Davon House. These are guys who could go as high as #25 or so, or as low as sometime Saturday afternoon. And, with about six to eight options in the same general range, taking a chance of finding one a little later on is a good thing.

Okay, so if something outstanding happens -- like Phil Taylor (of Baylor, who undoubtedly would have been a favorite of Dr. Seuss) lasting all the way to 31 (not likely) or Florida's Mike Pouncey falling into the 20s (far less likely) -- then I could see Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin giving serious consideration to staying put or trading up a little. But these are unlikely scenarios, no matter how awesome it would be to see the Pounceys playing shoulder-pad-to-shoulder-pad for the next decade or so. You can't trade a pick for "Awesome", so that idea is pretty much hot air and nothing more.

Consider this scenario: any combination of Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton, Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker are still available at pick #31. Six of the next 14 picks after 31 belong to teams in need of a quarterback (assuming they didn't take one of the two or three guys generally assumed to be first-round talent) either immediately or in the next one to three years: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Arizona, Tennessee, Washington and San Francisco. Oakland and Jacksonville aren't far behind, either. That's eight teams vying for four or five quarterbacks who could still possibly be starters in the NFL, and they all pick in the next 18 slots. There are other teams in that mix who would like to start working on a #2 QB, like Cleveland, Dallas and Minnesota, who could snatch up one of these guys. If any one of those teams wants to guarantee they can get their man after drafting at a different position in round one, the Steelers are in a great position to pass on a borderline guy like Aaron Williams and hope to either snag him several picks later or go after someone like Ras-I Dowling -- a first-round talent if you factor out recent injuries -- all while netting another pick or two in the mid to late rounds of the draft.

Given a situation similar to that one, they don't give much up, because this year's draft presents a situation where all the premier talent at the team's biggest need positions are likely to be gone by the time they go on the clock, leaving them to pick from the muddled middle -- a group of guys whose exact order is hard or impossible to figure out.

If one of the top guys plummets down draft boards in the next six hours, then they should by all means snap him up if he is still available around 11:30 tonight. But, if things play out as most pundits expect, the smart move would be to back away from the podium, collect an extra pick or two, and come back when making a pick makes more sense.

Crosby Returns to Ice, Capitals & Flyers Fans Sob Uncontrollably

2011-03-14T19:48:00.000-04:00

Sorry Ovechkin. Our apologies, City of Brotherly Love (if that's not a misnomer, I don't know what is).

Consider this the collective Pittsburgh Apology for the butt-whooping you are going to receive from here on out.

Okay, that's over the top. I admit it. But after all the hate that flowed Sidney Crosby's way before he got hurt, then the oceans of vitriol when he got hurt, consider me -- and an entire city -- a little bitter. And looking for payback.

In case you've been living under a rock -- I sure hope Geico hasn't managed to trademark that -- Sidney "Sid the Kid" Crosby, undisputed Best Player in the NHL, returned to the ice today after missing 29 games due to a concussion and post-concussion symptoms that prevented him from receiving medical clearance to return. And in case you are one of those people who refuses to even hear what a fan of another team has to say, here is a single statement from the anti-Sid movement on Twitter that sums up the polarized attention Crosby receives:

"Why couldn't a tsunami have wiped out Sidney Crosby?" -Copy1Cat

The attribution was added simply so you can go fill that guy's @mention list with your gloating, should you so desire. I do not condone it. But I will be happy to laugh at it.

It's amazing, yet entirely unoriginal, that someone as completely benign as #87 could inspire this sort of utter disrespect. He's as much of a team player as this league has ever seen, and by all accounts a genuinely awesome guy. He has remained humble despite his ridiculous success that has him drawing constant comparisons to Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky, the two best players in NHL history. It's sadly ordinary for people to hate other people's success, and Crosby has made success as ordinary as breathing: air-in, score-goal, air-out. Repeat.

I tend to get angry when people speak ill of all the good guys in Pittsburgh: Crosby, Kris Letang, Dan Bylsma, Mario, Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, etc. Maybe I don't see their faults because they are "my guys." From what I see, most Pittsburgh athletes really are stand-up guys and generally create way more good headlines than bad, contrary to most other sports cities in America. And Crosby is the model for that mold.

So, while Sid spends the next week or two practicing in time for the late stretch run and the playoffs, I fully expect the harsh words to continue. When you rely on selfish, me-first players like Alexander Ovenchkin, or, well...you live in Philadelphia, it's understandable that you would be jealous of Pittsburgh's constant success. And now that the biggest piece of the puzzle is back in place, that trend should get back on track quickly.

Sorry, Caps and Flyers fans. As long as Superman skates, you will remain powerless.

My Gut Says the Players Didn't Want An Agreement

2011-03-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

One thing became obvious when the NFL Players' Association chose to decertify their union this evening: they never wanted to reach an agreement.

When teams began voting last fall on whether or not to decertify the union, I questioned whether they knew what they were getting into. Now it is plain to see they knew quit well, and that was toward a definite decertification, no matter what offer was on the table.

If you doubt that assertion, I refer you to the offer that had been made. The offer had reduced the amount of money the owners wanted to take "off the top" of all shared revenue, above and beyond the current $1 billion, from the initially requested $1 billion to $325 million -- a concession of almost $700 million, hardly chump change. It had dropped the amount of off-season training required of players by a full one third. The discussion of expanding the season to 18 games would be put off until a later date. The bottom line is that the league was making 90 percent of the concessions, yet the players claimed it wasn't enough.

Clearly the players feel they can take more from the owners through the U.S. court system. My question is this, though: if you are already taking 59.6 cents from every dollar of NFL revenue, do you really deserve a whole lot more? Why is it such a crime if the owners turn a profit? In this day and age, big business is seen as villainous, and the players have tried to paint themselves the victims. But these players are making hundreds of thousands of dollars at a bare minimum, and often times tens of millions. Can you be a victim, can you accuse someone of taking money out of your pockets, when your pockets are already overflowing?

I wish the two sides luck in finding a resolution. I don't care one bit about the plight of either side; I just want to watch football in September.

Tiki to the Steelers? Dear, God, No!

2011-03-10T13:13:00.001-05:00

Today's Totally Awesome Rumor™ has Tiki Barber coming to the Steelers -- amazing, since neither he nor his agent have had any contact with the team. And I believe that, too. Why, on God's green Earth, would the Steelers want to add a running back who physiologically could be their starting back's father?

Okay, that's a subjective view. Let's look at this through the pros and cons. Cons first, because they are going to be a lot more fun.

Cons:

He turns 36 in April
He's been working out for, according to the NY Post, "the last two weeks"
He hasn't played a down in four years
You can't count his season average for fumbles with two hands and your socks off
The Steelers already have Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman, Johnathan Dwyer and, possibly, Mewelde Moore in their backfield

Now for the pros. (This should be quick.)

Pros:

...I got nothin'.

So, to summarize, Adding Tiki Barber to the roster would have the same end result as throwing a single gerbil into the middle of a massive feral cat fight: no one winds up satisfied -- especially the gerbil.

Football In Pittsburgh -- In March!

2011-03-10T12:41:00.009-05:00

Our beloved city of Pittsburgh will have football in 2011!

Sadly, I'm not speaking from insider knowledge of the NFL CBA negotiations, or pretending to be psychic. But I am speaking of something fabout which we should all be excited -- or mildly enthused, at the very least.

It's the Pittsburgh Power!

No, the Pittsburgh Passion didn't change their name to something, well, less chickish (personally, I think it's a great name that is quite representative of the people of The 'Burgh, but it's not something I would recommend if the Steelers ever decided to -- God forbid! -- change their name). The Power are the city's new Arena Football League, owned by some guy named Lynn Swann. You may have heard of him as a former Pennsylvania Gubernatorial candidate for the Republican Party.

Or maybe you know him from one if his several acting gigs.

Or maybe -- just maybe -- you remember him as a Professional Football Hall of Famer who played for the Steelers and was one of a handful of people who made Terry Bradshaw look awesome on a weekly basis.

Before I continue, I wish to point out that I will use any possible opportunity to use the word "gubernatorial" in a post. Count on it.

But, I digress...

Anyway. The bad news is that it's not the NFL. The good news is that any football is good football (the XFL notwithstanding) as long as said football isn't futbol. And, in this case, the football kicks off (pun intended) tomorrow night (Friday, March 11, 2011) at 8:00 p.m. -- on the NFL Network!

I know almost nothing about Arena Football, and even less about the men on the Power roster, so I won't waste your time. But I recommend getting your football fix tomorrow night. If negotiations sour, it may be the only football game in town this year.

Further Proof that Pittsburgh Team Management "Gets It"

2011-03-09T13:58:00.008-05:00

Dan Bylsma just got an extension with the Penguins and will remain the team's head coach until at least the 2013-14 season. You can pretty much count on his contract lasting, too, because Mario Lemieux is Old-School, just like, you know...loyalty.

I don't really have a ton to say on this topic because it's not exactly shocking. There is nothing Earth-shattering about a successful team extending its top guys' contracts, especially a team two seasons removed from winning the Stanley Cup and currently sitting just a few points out of first place even though they have lost ~~their top two players~~ the two best players in the NHL, not to mention almost a whole team's worth of the supporting cast. I bring this up, mainly, to further rub the salts of success in the wounds of perennially losing teams, because the blueprint for success runs rampant in Pittsburgh, at least outside of PNC Park: be loyal to your guys, support them even when they are down, and they will repay you handsomely. But if you sign prima donas and turn over more than half of your roster from one season to the next, you are doomed to long-term failure.

Ask the state of Ohio how well that plan has worked for their professional football programs.

Why I am Thrilled the Bengals Won't Trade Carson Palmer

2011-03-08T12:42:00.002-05:00

Part of me hates that the first post to this site is about a division rival rather than about the Steelers, but it indirectly affects the fortunes of our beloved NFL team, so bear with me.

We, fans of a team in the AFC North not located in Cincinnati, Ohio, should be elated that the Bengals will not trade their leader, Carson Palmer. We should be ecstatic about it, actually. And it has nothing to do with Palmer's threat to retire if he is not traded; let's face facts here. NFL Pundits aside, no one really considers Palmer to be one of the NFL's elite. Aside from a few statistically good seasons, he has never done anything of value, even with a team as loaded with talented individuals like the 2010 Bengals. Carson Palmer is Kyle Orton, basically. Enough to keep his team from imploding (usually) but never enough to push them over the hump.

The 2010 season was actually downright abysmal for Carson. He threw ill-advised passes at inopportune times, resulting in devastating turnovers more often than not. With his receivers, running backs and defense, he should have led the Bengals on a run for the division if he was half the QB so many people think he is, but the bottom line is that he is not. Maybe it was the knee injury, or the elbow injury, or just the fact that he came from USC and was overhyped from the beginning. I don't know. But the fact is that Carson Palmer is not a quarterback I fear much.

So if it isn't Palmer's play, what is it?

Call it the Barry Sanders Effect.

When the Lions refused to trade Barry Sanders, he retired. That was the point when they lost their last shred of dignity. They let egos get in the way of business and progress, and lost an absolutely golden opportunity to get a ton of talent in exchange for one player who had a few good years left in him. They could have pulled off a coup similar to what Jerry Jones did when he traded Herschel Walker for what eventually amounted to three Super Bowl titles in four years.

But they didn't.

Instead, they said, "take that, Barry!" And shot themselves in their collective foot.

Now the Bengals have the chance to get at least some talent in exchange for a quarterback whose reputation may be enough to net him a decent gig someplace like Arizona, where they desperately need a quarterback and have a ton of talent elsewhere to trade away. But Mike Brown is being the same old Mike Brown, and is doing the exactly wrong thing for the given situation.

And I, as a Steelers fan, could not be happier.