Just Me?: Thoughts on the Steelers (and other things) During Week 8

We are almost at the halfway point of the season and things are looking up for the Steelers for the first time all season – yes it took a three game winning streak to do so.  There’s lots to think about with this team and what’s transpired in the first seven weeks of the season.  So let me share, rant and banter.  But is it just me?

Is it just me, or is the running game becoming a liability to the offense?

Any off-day (or second half) by Roethlisberger and we’ve seen how this offense can tank it real fast, allowing for the opposing team to catch up and take the lead.  The inconsistent performance by Mendenhall and the o-line makes it hard for me to have the upmost confidence that the Steelers can consistently ‘finish’ games.

Speaking of offensive line… Is it just me, or does Chris Kemoeatu need a hearing aid?

Kemoeatu was penalized again this season for a late hit after the play during the game against the Cards.  He was also penalized for similar late hits last season, one during the Super Bowl.  The hair pulling sensation I get about his penalties is the way they happen – jumping onto a pile to hit one guy off the top.  They aren’t about him already engaged in a block and driving a guy into the ground after the whistle.  Which would be somewhat forgivable.  Nope.  Instead, he is jumping onto a pile that has already resulted in stopping the ball carrier’s progress.  Dude – get a clue, or get a hearing aid so you can hear the whistles blowing.

Is it just me, or does Mike Wallace seem scary good enough to get his 2000 yards he promised this season?

Wallace is only averaging 104 yards per game, which would put him at 1,664 yards by season’s end.  That would be 400 yards better than last season.  He and Big Ben always look ‘this close’ to having a couple of huge games if they would only just connect on one or two extra deep routes.  String a couple together and Wallace certainly could eclipse Jerry Rice’s single season record of 1,848 yards done back in ’95.  Interesting Wallace stat: Wallaces biggest game of his short career came against the Pats last year.  He accumulated 136 yards and scored two TD’s – one being a 33 yd strike from Roethlisberger.  Will he have as equally as good a game this year?

Is it just me or are you also really pissed at LaMarr Woodley even more so for his slow start?

Woodley has awoken from his contract slumber and lit up the sack board with 5.5 sacks in the last three games.  He’s all over the field now and is wreaking havoc off the edge on the opposing team’s tackles, running backs and quarterbacks.  And doesn’t that just piss you off?  His sack count in the last three games would put him on pace to tie Michael Strahan for most sacks in a single season.  Had he put together a sack or two against the hapless Colts and Texans, he would be on pace to beat that record.  I know it’s early in the season to be talking that kind of stuff (as with Wallace too), and I’m sure most of us just want quality defensive stops and to win games.  But I’m looking for any excuse for Warren Sapp to eat crow… how about you?

Is it just me, or do you also smell blood against the Ravens in two weeks?

The Ravens looked absolutely terrible against the equally terrible Jaguars last night on MNF.  Flacco ended his night 21/38 for 137 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.  Pretty bad numbers for a guy who is supposed to be one of the ‘elites.’  Average Joe threw for a TD pass late in last night’s contest, and it was his first TD pass in three weeks.  His total stats on the year are 8 TD’s and 5 INT’s.  The rest of the offense looks pretty awful.  No run game, no passing game, no protection… holy shit this sounds familiar.  The defense of the Ravens looks like it will have to cary Joe ‘Cool’ and his offense.  Have the tables turned even before the halfway point in the season between the Steelers and Ravens?  *Sniff sniff*  Can you smell that?  The Dirty Birds are struggling, and I smell blood.  Would it ever be so sweet for the Steelers to hand their asses back to them on a silver platter in two weeks??  Well.. after we get past the Pats.

Is it just me, or does ‘prime time’ mean absolutely nothing these days?

Have you seen the scores of all these Sunday and Monday night contests?  No wonder Broke Girls is higher in the ratings….  Either an idiot is picking these games or there’s just been a really bad run of luck for having good close games against ‘good’ teams.  I think John Gruden was contemplating throwing Jaws out of the media booth last night just for kicks.

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