At last!

Friday marked the beginning of training camp 2009 for our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.  Camp Tomlin will be but the first step in what is sure to be another glorious season for the Black and Gold.

The Steelers are very fortunate in that unlike the last time they were defending champs, this team has suffered no major losses during the off season.  Still, as it is with every training camp, there will be some positions up for grabs.  I thought I’d highlight some of the key training camp battles for you now.

Dennis Dixon vs. Charlie Batch for the #2 Quarterback spot – I don’t watch many preseason games.  I know I probably should, being a self-appointed expert on all things Steelers, but I just can’t stay interested in watching third or fourth string guys knowing most will never see playing time during an actual game and many won’t even make the final cut.  However, I did watch one game start to finish last year and if you saw this game, I’m sure you remember it as the “Dennis Dixon Show.”  He blasted off a 47 yard touchdown  scramble that was like a flashback to the glory days of Kordell Stewart.

Dixon is a superior athlete who coming out of college was a Heisman contender and likely 1st Round pick until he totally blew out his ACL.  He wasn’t ready for the job last year but with that injury another year behind him and having another year to learn our offense, Dixon’s tremendous ability could earn him to the #2 QB spot behind Ben Roethlisberger.

Charlie Batch has long been deemed “The best backup in the NFL,” although at 34 years of age and coming off a broken clavicle, his best days are probably behind him.  Dixon is the future.  One has to think if DD shows he can handle the offense at a level anywhere close to equal with Batch, the backup job will be his.

An added bonus to DD taking the job is we may see the Steeler run their own version of the Wildcat with him under center.  NFL rules state a #3 QB can only enter the game when the other two QBs are injured and then cannot come out even if they’re ready to return so that prevented them from going Wildcat last season.  With Dixon as the #2, it could very well be in the playbook.

Which brings up Michael Vick. There has been an absolutely ridiculous rumor floating around that the Steelers are somehow interested in this clown.  First off, we already had a player like him, we called him Slash and he was better than Vick in every way.  Secondly, the Steelers do not welcome felons and criminals with open arms.  Try the Bengals.  Lastly, we invested a high draft pick on DD, who is also a running Wildcat-type QB, why would we then sign a player exactly like him except older and with more baggage than USAir?

The only way this scenario could remotely be  possible is if one of our backup QBs are lost to a season ending injury.  Much like last year, the Steelers would go into a Byron Leftwich scenario where they’d try to find an unemployed veteran on the cheap.  However, even that’s iffy because Vick hasn’t played football for two years.

Carey Davis vs. Sean McHugh for starting fullback - Head coach Mike Tomlin declared this job was up for grabs early in the off season.  About time.  I’ll never understand how Davis won the job and/or continued to hold the job in the first place.  His blocking is terrible, he can’t run with the ball, and the only reason they supposedly liked him was he could catch out of the backfield.  This worked out to the tune of a whopping 5 catches last season.

McHugh, a converted tight end we picked up from the Detroit Lions, isn’t much of a threat, either.  But he can block.  The most effective running attack the Steelers had last year was when they lined up in the I-formation with McHugh leading the way.  I have to think McHugh wins this job unless Tomlin’s odd fascination with Davis manages to win out yet again.

Kraig Urbik vs Darnell Stapleton for starting RG - Stapleton replaced starter Kendall Simmons, who tore his Achilles Tendon in that Monday Night Bloodbath against the Ravens (3 players were lost for the year in that game).  Simmons was released as reports were his rehab was coming along very slowly and he was not expected to be able to play this year.

Stapleton is an undersized RG who survives in the NFL thanks to very quick feet for an OL.  Thus, his strength is in pass protection.  He lacks the power and bulk to be an effective run blocker, though.

Urbik, a third round pick out of Wisconsin, is 6’6 330 pounds.  It’s safe to say he has size and bulk.  We haven’t seen him yet but the book on him is he’s very much like Chris Kemoteau, a big plodding mauler.  He’ll likely act as a bulldozer in the run game with the only question being if he has the quickness to handle NFL caliber pass rushers.

In other words, we have one RG who can pass block but not run block and another RG who can run block but might be a human pylon.  One of them will start for us.  Yay.

Stefan Logan vs. Joe Burnett vs. Mike Wallace for return man - If there’s one area the Steelers are absolutely embarrassing, it’s the return game.  Our best KR last season was Gary Russell.  Yes, a slow third string RB who caught the ball and barreled ahead was our best option at that position.  Sad.

Russell was cut due to character issues so his place is going to be taken by one of three candidates.  Burnett and Wallace are rookies, brought in mainly for their return prowess in college.  Both have good speed and nice credentials but so did Willie Reid and we all know how that turned out.

Logan might be the most intriguing player in camp this year.  He’s an itty bitty guy (5’6) we rescued from the Canadian Football League.  He excelled in their wide open game as a scatback and return man.  Since we already have Mewelde Moore as a 3rd down back, Logan is going to be looked at as a returner, which he did very well in the CFL.  Again, I have not seen him yet but have heard people say he is very Devin Hester-ish in his speed and field vision.  I’ll believe that when I see it.

Limas Sweed vs. Shaun McDonald for the #3 receiver spot - This is Sweed’s job to lose.  The Steelers invested a 2nd round pick in him which many thought was a steal because he was projected as a late first rounder.  He played sparingly last year and then when he did get a look late in the season/playoffs, he had several horrible drops.  I’m not ready to give up on him, though.   Hands are something that can be worked on, speed and getting open are usually not.  Sweed can get open.  He also showed a nice mean streak when he obliterated Ravens CB Corey Ivy in the AFC Championship Game.

However, if Sweed continues to make groan-worthy drops, the Steelers won’t hesitate to install Shaun McDonald in the slot.  McDonald is a six year veteran although still only 28 years old.   He had a career year in 2007 when he caught 6 TDs and piled up 943 yards.  His numbers suffered last year which isn’t shocking when one looks at the embarrassing string of QBs the Lions had throwing to him.  Unless he comes into camp completely out of shape of makes inappropriate Irish jokes in front of the Rooneys, I can’t see him not making the team.  The only question is whether Sweed will play himself out of playing time or McDonald will play himself in.

Football’s back, baby!

History.

Last night, our country finally embraced the Rooney Rule on a national level when they elected Barack Obama the 44^th President of United States. As you can tell by the picture above, Dan Rooney is probably pretty happy about the result. Regardless of your political leanings, everyone should feel at least a little pride in the historic event which took place yesterday. When a man of mixed heritage, a man raised by his mother and grandmother, a man with such a diverse cultural background can rise to the level of President, it really says a lot about how far we’ve come as a society.

Of course, we all know who President-elect Obama has to thank for his victory.

The Pittsburgh Steelers.

By defeating the Washington Redskins on Monday night, Obama’s victory was all but guaranteed. Forget the polls. Forget Zogby. Forget CNN. The best indicator of who will win a Presidential election is the Redskins. For the last 30 years, with only one exception, the Redskin Rule has been 100% accurate in predicting the outcome. If the Skins win their last game before Election Day, the party in office stays in office. If they lose, the opposing party takes control. Therefore, by pulling out the win, the Steelers made it a lock for Barry O.

Speaking of history, those who don’t learn from it are doomed to repeat it. Two seasons ago, the Steelers were defending Super Bowl champs but QB Ben Roethlisberger ran afoul of a Gray Hair on the Seventh Street Bridge while on his motorbike. Then, the last week of preseason, he was felled by an emergency appendectomy. Replaced by Charlie Batch for the season opener against Miami, the Steelers won easily while Batch had an outstanding game. It was his last action of the season as Ben came back the following week against Jacksonville. He muddled through a terrible performance where neither team scored a TD, ending with a 9-0 loss. He played pretty poorly for several weeks, including in a loss to the hapless Raiders, a team which would only win 2 games all year.

After the loss to the Jags, disturbing rumors surfaced. Some said Ben played the game with a 100 degree temperature. Others said his stitches were so fresh that one of the sacks had caused them to pop. There were other rumblings that the head trauma from the accident had caused a sort of punch drunk effect where Ben was unable to think and react as quickly as before. The question became why was Coach Bill Cowher starting him?

I’m not privy to behind the scenes info so I don’t know exactly what was true and what wasn’t. But I do know Ben didn’t seem right. And not being right cost us at least one probably two games. You know how many games we missed the playoffs by that year? ONE.

That brings us to this year. The press is reporting the MRI on Ben’s injured right shoulder showed no significant change from past weeks. If that’s true, how was he playing before yet couldn’t on Monday night? Are they saying that he’s constantly playing through this excruciating pain, except that one time when it became a little more excruciating? Why would you take a valuable player like Roethlisberger, a player you invested close to $100 million in, and potentially threaten his health and longevity by allowing him to play when he’s seriously hurt?

Not to mention the fact that current coach Mike Tomlin can spin things however he likes but the injury IS affecting Ben’s play. Our offense wasn’t this bad last year under the same set of coaches so you can’t lay the blame entirely on them. I applaud Big Ben’s toughness and desire to help his team but if you’re playing with a crippling injury and it’s affecting your game, you’re actually hindering more than helping.

That’s why I’m hoping Tomlin learns from history and starts Byron Leftwich this Sunday in Indianapolis. The Steeler might get a bye (if they make the playoffs) but otherwise there are no more breaks from here to the end of the season. Ben clearly needs some time off and rest to get his body somewhat back together and this week is just as good as any. You want him ready to go for important games like division match-ups or against Dallas. This week is the perfect week to give him some rest as it’s at home against a rather mediocre Indy team that Leftwich knows very well after playing them twice every year when he was in Jacksonville.

I don’t want to lose games we should easily win because our quarterback is a functioning cripple. I also don’t want him to prove his toughness by playing through a nagging injury that eventually turns into a big huge season ending injury. We need Ben for the stretch run and we need him for the playoffs. But for this week, he needs to ride the bench.

That’s a Lionel Richie reference, son.

You know, ‘cause he kinda looks like Nicole’s dad. Too old for you kids? I’ll try to be a little more hip.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

And I feel fine.

What could possibly have a member of Steeler Nation thinking about the end of the world? What catastrophe could turn a person’s outlook so bleak? What disaster would lead to such depths of despair?

QB Ben Roethlisberger was seriously injured in last night’s 23-6 victory over the Washington Redskins. Preliminary reports are he fully separated his right shoulder on a goal line dive at the end of the first half. He rushed to the locker room, hip checking a defenseless and slightly anorexic Redskin cheerleader in the process, then stood on the sidelines for the rest of the game, his right arm hanging limply at his side. Ben’s a tough guy who plays through a lot of pain but I’m pretty sure he’s missing at least one game considering he couldn’t even lift the arm above his waist when congratulating teammates.

And you want to hear something crazy? I don’t care.

Backup QB Byron Leftwich came on in relief and to say he looked good is a colossal understatement. Whereas other poorly run franchises have lost their star QBs and had to trot out the inept likes of Brad Johnson or Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Steelers turned the reins over to a guy who not only can play but play well. I have no idea what the 31 other GMs in the NFL were thinking when training camp rolled around with Leftwich out of work but that explains why a lot of lousy teams continue to be lousy year after year.

Let’s start at the beginning. Head coach Mike Tomlin began the game with an onside kick which went doubly awry as we didn’t recover and were offside on the play. That set the ‘Skins up on our 40.  I’m not really a fan of crazy gambles although in this case I applaud Tomlin’s call. When you have such a devastating force as the Blitzburgh Defense at your command, you can take a few chances. Indeed, Washington went three and out then kicked a chintzy FG for a quick lead.

This pattern continued throughout the first half as the Steeler D just absolutely stifled the vaunted Redskin offense. QB Jason Campbell was under duress every time he dropped back. Every one of our LBs and DE Aaron Smith had a sack, finishing the game with a season high 7. RB Clinton Portis, who had been averaging over 5 yards/carry this season, was stuffed like a fat kid on Halloween, finishing the game with a meager 51 yards (22 of which came on one bad play). Other than TE Chris Cooley being open on dinky-dunk short check down stuff, the WRs were blanketed all game.  At halftime, the Washington offense had amassed a whopping 71 total yards.

Which would’ve been great except our offense only amassed a whopping 71 total yards. To be frank, our offense in the first half was atrocious. Remember how I said our showings against the Eagles and Giants were bad? Next verse same as the first. Big Ben looked completely confused and out-of-sorts today. He had happy feet and never seemed comfortable with what he was doing. He’d miss wide open receivers, he’d shuffle back and forth unsure of whether to run or stay put, he made several poor throws (one of which should’ve been a Pick-6) and he’d hold on to the ball too long when given time. Only his touchdown plunge which came after a blocked punt by special teams ace Andre Frazier kept the first half from being a total loss.

But the offensive crappiness can’t all be placed on Ben’s sore shoulders. When he did manage to get the ball to the WRs, they kept dropping the passes. I’m not sure when this allergy to pigskin started but it contributed to Roethlisberger starting the game 1 for 9. Worse yet was our playcalling. I know bitching about O-coordinator Bruce Arians is getting old but so are his horrific game plans. Pothole Willie Parker finally returned to the field and looked good, made his cuts, and showed that burst he’s known for. Awesome except for the fact Arians seemed intent on passing every down instead of establishing any sort of running game. He’d give Parker a carry and unless he broke a 8-9 yard gainer, it was pass pass and then pass some more. Establishing a running game means giving your star RB more than 10 scattered carries per half, Arians.

Then the second half began and it was like a totally different team in Black and Gold emerged from that locker room. With the backup QB in there, Arians was forced to focus more on the run. This made the D cheat up more to counter Parker and opened up the Tiffin Thunderbolt Nate Washington for one of his patented Long Bombers. Leftwich was coolly efficient as when he felt pressure he either stepped up and fired or stood in the pocket and absorbed the hit in order to deliver the ball down the field. Say what you want about his Carlos Zambrano-like delivery, the man has a cannon. With FWP and Mewelde Moore providing ground support and Lord Byron firing bullets all over the field, the offense finally clicked.

Two nice drives capped by TDs put the game out of reach for the overmatched Redskin offense.  Our defense held them to 200 total yards, at least 1/4 of which was gained during garbage time.  Honestly, it was like bringing an Uzi to a knife fight.  Best of all, our secondary picked off Lionel Jr. twice, finally putting an end to his Zero INTs streak so whatever terrible announcers work the game next week can shut up about that one.

Obviously, we’ll all be glued to the news and papers awaiting word on the severity of Ben’s injury. We owe a lot of this year’s success to his heroics and I wouldn’t for a second want to diminish his ability or what he means to our team. However, I think if he’s hurting and that is going to limit his effectiveness, then he should be willing to step aside for a week or two, get himself healthy (or healthier) and not come back until he can play up to his usual level. It’s pretty clear that Byron Leftwich is capable of filling in more than adequately and I don’t know about you but 100% of Lefty appears to be vastly preferable to 50% of Big Ben. Tomlin had the guts to call for the fake punt, let’s see if he has the grapefruits to do what Bill Cowher was never willing to do: tell Ben Roethlisberger to take a week off for the good of the team.

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