How did the Taylor/Lewis duo prove that life can move on with out WWW Gay? Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

The Steelers looked to find a groove with their first and second teams on defense against the Colts after a shaky beginning to the pre-season against the Eagles.  There were a couple players on defense I pointed out prior to the game who needed to step up their game.  Let’s take a look at them and others who had notable performances on Sunday night.

With the injury to James Harrison, all eyes were on Chris Carter and how he would begin to settle in were he to ever start at OLB in place of Harrison.  Even though Harrison will more than likely return for Week 1 or 2, Carter will need to be ready.  Harrison and Woodley play explosive and very physical styles of defense – injuries are not uncommon with these two, and Carter will find himself in a series or two each week.  Carter did very well facing a hot handed Andrew Luck and a speedy wide receiver core.  Carter found himself penetrating the line of scrimmage on numerous run blitzes, and actually out ran a couple of plays because of his ability to get through so quickly.  He also had pretty good pass coverage when he was forced to drop back over the middle with his assignment.  There was on questionable holding call late in the 1st quarter, but the receiver’s momentum appeared to be the cause of why he fell down and not because Carter had a grasp on the left shoulder.  Carter ended up with zero tackles on the night but showed that he can help Timmons in a zone and will have plenty of opportunities of making plays in the backfield.

Even though Dick LeBeau said prior to the game against the Colts that Cortez Allen was the nickel corner to start the season, Allen could still vie for the #2 spot over Keenan Lewis.  Allen had several nice coverages while in the nickel slot.  He had the focus to nab a bobbled pass from a Colts receiver, even though his run back was a little suspect.  Allen has matured nicely since his rookie season.  Should Lewis go down with injury, Allen could be a really solid backup as he continues to improve.

Speaking of interceptions – Face Me Ike had a really nice grab.  On what was a clear curl route, Ike Taylor played off his man just long enough to bait Luck into throwing the ball.  Taylor jumped the route early enough and snagged the ball for a nice interception and an even better run back for a touchdown.  Ike said that he wanted to improve his hands over the offseason.  I guess this was a nice step in the right direction to break away from being just a shut down corner.

Casey Hampton came off the PUP list before the Colts game along with teammate Rashard Mendenhall.  Hampton probably won’t be ready to go until after Week 1, so guys like Steve McClendon.  Ziggy Hood is also under that microscope and appeared to struggle a bit against the Colts’ offensive line.  Hood, who is usually a staple at backup to Hampton, was eaten up by blockers for most of his time on the field.  He did have two tackles and assist on the night.  It is still early, there’s plenty of preseason left.  And, NT for the Steelers really isn’t suppose to rack up the tackles in a game.  But from watching the game and going back to the DVR, it seems that Hood is missing some physicality that he usually brings to the position.

Other defensemen had glimmers of solid play Sunday night.  LaMarr Woodley had a sack off of what looked to be a naked bootleg by Luck.  Woodley easily tracked him down.  It wasn’t clear from the replay if it was a blown play or if Luck really was meant to be out in the open, but Woodley handled him with ease.  It was good to see – Luck was elusive for most of his evening and was able to step up away from pursuing defenders.  Keenan Lewis had four tackles on the evening and almost had a tipped ball/pick late in the 2nd half.  He cut the route a little on the late side and found himself with empty hands and a receiver ready to turn up field.  He was backed up nicely by Ryan Clark who stopped the play.  The next time he does something like that, Lewis better tip the ball or come up with a pick or he’ll see his coverage speeding off towards the endzone.

The defense is still finding its groove.  Dick LeBeau had a few new look wrinkles in his defenses, which threw Luck and Arians for a loop at times.  A no lineman ‘amoeba’ set is a new look for most of us.  It will be interesting to see how that formation evolves into the regular season and how this defense will try and find itself as the #1 D in the league once again.

Sort of looks like a hard wrap around that leg with the bad ankle. Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Seriously, check out DBuzard’s post on Big Ben’s recent shellac’ing by the media with his comments about Big Ben sort of but not really whining about having a new offensive coordinator.  Ben’s got a bit of soggy ground to walk around on when he decides to open his mouth and criticize something or someone.  He’s either loved or hated by the masses – either due to his annoying ability to constantly make plays when he should be lunchmeat for a defense or due to his off field ‘incidents.’  It’s only fair that those who criticize the man formally disclose their distrust and hatred for him before they tie him to the whipping post.  Would Big Ben be better off turning off the ‘I Miss B.A. Switch’ for a while?

Then there is the most recent interview with Ben on the Dan Patrick Show.  Every former and current football player is being asked just short of the Spanish Inquisition what their opinions are on Bountygate AND if they have ever been targeted by other players.  The questions are leading and I want to throttle just about everyone over there on ESPN – especially you Cris Carter.  (Think you had a hard time getting in the HOF now?  Just wait.)  Bountygate has exploded into a soap operatic adventure with a huge match of ‘He said, She said’ taking place between offensive and defensive players.  No names are being named, and things are mainly insinuated, but every media outlet is running with something dealing with bounties.

So what does Ben have to do with this? Well turns out when asked if HE has ever been targeted by defenses, he had this to say:

“Um, wow, that’s tough.  I don’t really complain about that stuff, either. But I think when we played San Fran, I felt like there were some things going on, some extra . . . Now, obviously, I did have the ankle and I was playing, so there was kind of a bull’s-eye on there anyway. But for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it. I expect to be tougher than them.”

Wow.  Nice.  Not only did Big Ben decide to let his brain check out for that answer, he picked a very recent moment in history that happened in primetime when millions were watching that ankle.  Of course the due diligent and Steeler hater (Seahawks beat writer and ESPN NFC West blogger) Mike Sando decided to make it his job to watch every single Steelers offensive snap for that game and decided that Ben’s ankle was never targeted.  Now I personally haven’t gone back and watched every snap.  But what I have done and watched stills from that game and seen many low hits on Ben – thigh or lower.  Just take a look at the photo at the top of the page – a low wrap that causes the ankle to turn in the turf.  In a league where high hitting ran rampant all season long, and when a defensive coordinator couldn’t get his players to hit with proper technique if a gun was pointed to his head the 49′ers defense all of a sudden decided to keep the hits low.  Am I now insinuating?  Perhaps.  But I think it’s complete B.S to completely dismiss Roethlisberger’s thoughts about that game.  I’ll find any reason to argue with that jag, Sando anyways.

So, Steeler Nation, Roethlisberger has decided to take it up on himself to suggest that the 49′ers defense was targeting his ankle.  Intent to injure or just knock him out of the game?  A fine line and one that players walk every game.  I actually agree with Bill Romanowski that there’s a big difference with intentions of hurting and intentions of injuring.  You play hard and hit even harder.  You want the offense to feel pain.  Pain equals an advantage.  Star players sidelined for a play, series or half equals an advantage.  Regardless of the 49′ers intent in that game and some of their lower shots taken at #7, should Ben really be taking the time to answer questions like that?