Steelers Morning Huddle 7/7/13

Nov 25, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) in the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The articles in the “Burgh outlets are mostly focused on the Pirates outstanding first half of the season as well as the NFL draft and the personnel moves the Penguins have or should make.   The Steelers  are not in the limelight but they will be soon.  I’m ready for some football, how about you?   I’d almost settle for watching football movies.

Timmon’s Chip on His Shoulder

According to Ralph N. Paulk, a staff writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, defensive  linebacker Lawrence Timmons is focused on doing better than he did last year.  Paulk states:

"Timmons had the numbers: 106 solo tackles, three interceptions and six sacks. Far more impressive was his ability to make big plays when it mattered most.”"

Timmon’s fellow defensive linemen speak very highly of his work ethic which is always good to hear because you like to sense that there is mutual respect among the players.  I think it helps make a cohesive team who focus on one goal.

As far as the defense in 2012, I thought they lacked consistency and the game plan against their opponents didn’t seem to plan for what their opponents could do.  For example, the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs were both poor teams last year.  However, they suddenly became better teams than their records indicated when they played the Steelers.  I suspect beating a team with the legacy of the Steelers would be something to brag about for a team having a bad year.  I’ll bet the game is highlighted, circled and starred on the team schedule.  Maybe I’m wrong and a game against the Steelers isn’t a motivator, but I will bet there is something about playing the Steelers.  That the feel of going into that game, if you are the Bills or the Lions, is just a bit different.  So, I like it that Timmons is focused on getting off to a hot start.  However, at this point, it comes down to how LeBeau’s (and Tomlin’s) game plans are set up.  Yes, it all adds up.  If the defensive players don’t play well, then it doesn’t matter, but it starts with the game plan and the ability to adjust during the game after you see what the offensive is throwing at you.

AFC North Training Camp Preview

Marc Sessler, an Around the League writer for NFL.com, put up “four big question” for the AFC teams.   The question for the Ravens, Browns, and Bengals weren’t surprising, but the “big question” for the Steelers kind of surprised me.  Sessler posed the question “Who will replace Mike Wallace?”  He thinks that both Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders lack all the tools needed to replace Wallace.  From my perspective, I’ve moved on from Mike Wallace.  He’s a special talent, but he’s not the only talent.  The offensive coordinator, Todd Haley, has to find a way to work with the talent the Steelers have.  No one should be looking for a Mike Wallace replacement.  If the teams spend time looking for the single, stand-out talent and fail to find a way to use what they have, then they deserve to lose.  It’s a waste of time to think that Mike Wallace was such an integral piece of the Steelers that the focus needs to be on how to replace him.  In my mind, Mike Wallace moved on when he held out last year and his play was sub-par despite his talent.  I also think that Roethlisberger has a lot to do with Wallace’s numbers.   Yes, I’m biased.  I write about the Pittsburgh Steelers, for crying out loud.  I am sorry that Wallace didn’t fit in with the Steelers anymore, but I don’t think the world ended when he moved on.  Time for Haley to prove he deserves to be the offensive coordinator for the Steelers.

That’s it for today.

Let me know what I missed or got wrong.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend!