Ryan Clark and his giant helmet takes down Dennis Pitta of the Ravens.

There’s nothing quite like trying to analyze a season before it’s finished but so far Steeler Nation has been on quite a roller coaster ride for this 2012 season.  If there’s anything we’ve learned from it, there are some players who we can’t and quite frankly don’t want to live without.  No disrespect to the rest of the team because I’m sure all the players know by now that no fans love their players like Steeler Nation.  There are just some guys in the Black & Gold that deserve special recognition so far for their tireless efforts day in and day out.

Ben Roethlisberger

How can you select a player for the team MVP when they’ve missed games due to injury?  Because he’s Ben Friggin Roethlisberger, that’s how.  Ben is the Steelers offense.  Again, not taking away anything from Charlie Batch’s performance last week in what will undoubtedly be known as “The Charlie Batch Ravens Game” and I don’t think anyone would have any concerns with Batch under center this Sunday against the Chargers.  But when he’s healthy we want our #1 quarterback on the field no matter what.  Until he went down with one of the most frightening sounding rib injuries we’ve ever heard of, Ben was having an NFL MVP-like season.  His third down efficiency was top in the league by a long shot.  He’s completing over 65% of his passes and has thrown only 4 interceptions.  He was on pace to throw for over 4,000 yards this season with a quarterback rating of 100.00.  The NFL “experts” can argue till they’re blue in the face about whether or not Ben deserves to be on the short list of “elite” quarterbacks in the league but make no mistake he’s definitely on the short list of quarterbacks who you want on your team to run a 2:00 drill to win a game.

Heath Miller

There’s no denying that Heath Miller is appreciated in Pittsburgh.  He’s appreciated all over Steeler Nation.  The best test to see just how many yinzers are in the stands of a visiting stadium is having Heath Miller catch a pass and hear the roar of “Heeeeeeeeeaaaaath!” take over the crowd.  If there are football gods Heath will be voted to a well-deserved Pro Bowl spot but not play due to preparing for the Super Bowl.  Heath’s 7 touchdowns leads the team of receivers, tight ends, and running backs.  Mostly because I firmly believe that Heath lives in the back of the endzone.  All you have to do is throw it back there and he’ll catch it.  When everyone leaves he puts up his tent back there and goes to sleep.  The touchdown last week against the Ravens, which happened to be the equalizing touchdown, was a perfect example of the effort he puts into every play.  When he’s not catching touchdowns in the back of the endzone or flying over the goal line and extending to hit the pylon, he plays an integral part in blocking for the now resurgent running game.  Ok now one last one just for funzies, everyone join in:  Heeeeeeeaaaaath!

Ryan Clark

Ryan Clark is in his eleventh season in the NFL but plays the game with the energy of a much younger player.  If there is a wide receiver that dares catch a ball over the middle of the field, Clark will be there to remind him why that’s a bad idea.  Clark is second on the team behind Larry Foote in tackles but has 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions.  With Polamalu playing only 5 quarters of football up until last Sunday, Clark is one of the main reasons why the Steelers have been doing something they have previously not been able to do and that is win without Polamalu on the field.  Clark has battled back from two concussions so far this season to have only missed the first game in Denver.  He’s even been wearing a gargantuan helmet to help protect himself from further concussions because there’s no way he’s about to let up on any hits.  For a defense that saw the departure of leaders like James Farrior and Aaron Smith and saw Troy Polamalu go out with injury so early, Clark has stood out and has played some of his best football of his career so far this season.  I can only assume that with a healthy Polamalu and Clark playing the way he has been is the last four games should be as entertaining as ever.

Most Valuable Non-Player: OL Coach Sean Kugler

Dom called it early on after #1 draft pick David DeCastro went down in the preseason that the team would have to play “Offensive Line Tetris” and boy have they.  Not only did Kugler have the foresight, along with the rest of the coaching and training staff, to designate DeCastro for the IR with option to return, but the changes that have been made to accommodate the injuries and make the necessary adjustments along the way have been outstanding.  Last week, the decision to put Doug Legursky in at center to move Maurkice Pouncey to guard to take over for the injured Willie Colon and the play of those men on the line attributed to the success Charlie Batch was able to have against the Ravens.  The decision to move Colon from tackle to guard at the beginning of training camp has been one of the main reasons this line has performed as well as they have.  The Steelers offensive line will always seem to get a bad rap, always seem to have to adjust to injuries, but Kugler has done an outstanding job this season making adjustments and pulling out the strengths of the big men on that line.

With just a quarter left in the season the Steelers are in position to make the playoffs for a third straight season with a Wild Card spot in hand right now but still the possibility of the AFC North title if they can finish a game ahead of the Ravens.  Any fan of the NFL knows that it’s all about getting hot at the right time and December is the time to get hot and stay hot for post-season success.  If the Steelers are going to make the kind of run we are all wishing they will, it will be because of these players and their contributions.

What are your thoughts Steeler Nation?  Anyone I might have forgotten?  Who out of these three players would your vote for team MVP go to?

Follow me on Twitter @Kimmy_KimKimM and follow all of NPC’s posts @NicePickCowherC

Thank you Baby Jesus. Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

A good bill of health from his doctor and one Tweet later, Max Starks found himself back on the Steelers roster.  The big man from Florida inked a one year deal with the Steelers (financial details yet to be disclosed).  The signing of Starks means good things for the Steelers and their young offensive line.  There’s someone who can benefit more than the Steelers for this signing – and that person is rookie Mike Adams.

Shortly following the draft, the assumption was that Mike Adams would take over at left tackle – eventually and perhaps even immediately.  With Starks recovering from ACL surgery and Jonathan Scott the only option at tackle without having to jockey a bunch of other linemen (like Willie Colon), Adams quietly and comfortably rolled onto the first squad during OTA’s and mini camps.  A quick learner, Adams did well and impressed O-line coach Sean Kugler. And even though Adams looked like he was ‘the guy’ to protect our #7′s blindside in 2012, there were still numerous speculations (and still are) about a rookie starting in that position and being responsible for protecting the Steelers’ $100 million dollar investment.

We here at NPC have been saying for quite some time that it is imperative for the Steelers to re-sign the veteran tackle.  The Steelers have a history of late of having an offensive line that can’t stay healthy for the majority of the season.  Would YOU leave it up to Jonathan Scott to protect Big Ben if Mike Adams were to become injured?  I think not, and to say the team/O-line is taking a step backwards by signing Starks is ludicrous.  Quit drinking your Haterade and see the real value of this guy being on the roster.  There’s experience, mentorship, and talent just waiting to contribute to this team.  Age has nothing to do with it.  If the guy can still use his feet and hands and block the pass rush then he’s doing his job… and doing it well.

The Kug’s a good coach, there’s no dispute in that.  However, Starks has been in the trenches lately and can be there as not only a mentor for Adams, but also as someone who can push Adams by realistically competing for the starting job.  There’s no guarantees in the NFL, and if Adams doesn’t look like he can be the starting guy, then without hesitation he’ll get bumped.  He won’t get cut, unless his old habits with the Lady J creep back – but I strongly doubt that will happen.  He’s a good project for the offense to develop.  He has the potential to be a top notch left tackle, and I think Starks is the guy to help motivate and push Adams into that roll faster.  I’m at ease to know he’s on the team should Adams win the starting job and later become injured.  Starks was called upon last season and performed beautifully.  I believe he could do it again if need be.

I’m sure Ben Roethlisberger is also happy on of his good buddies is back on the squad.  He can go back to wearing his own jersey.  Besides, I think Starks still owes him a wedding gift…..

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This is why you can’t have nice things…

The Pittsburgh Steelers laid a 35-3 beatdown on the outclassed Oakland Raiders yesterday afternoon.  However, instead of talking about the Black and Gold’s finest effort of the season, we’ll probably spend the week discussing the pathetic events which occurred between plays.  This game was a travesty, a sham, a complete mockery of what we as NFL fans expect.  And I hold Roger Goodell, the NFL, and the Raiders responsible for this utter travashamockery of football.

We should probably begin with Raiders DT and lead thug Richard Seymour, who sucker punched Ben Roethlisberger after a 22 yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders.  Seymour was ejected for his Rampage Jackson-style right cross but that is not enough.  This was a criminal act the likes of which I have never seen on an NFL field.  The Ginger Dictator loves fining players for legal yet vicious hits in the name of protecting their safety.  How safe is it when you have goons like Seymour physically assaulting defenseless men after a play?

Seymour should not only face the stiffest fine ever levied but suspended for 2 to 3 games for his reprehensible actions.  In fact, I DEMAND IT.

As if the lousy sportsmanship wasn’t bad enough, the officials did everything in their power to ruin the game.  The Steelers set a team record with 14 penalties for 163 yards.  The Raiders as a team only had 182 yards TOTAL.  Ordinarily, I’d lay blame for this fiasco on the players and Mike Tomlin.   But I really have nothing to admonish them for since only about half those calls were legitimate fouls.

There’s a phenomenon known locally as Pittsburgh Paranoia.   It’s a feeling Pittsburgh sports fans have where they constantly feel leagues, networks, and especially the media either ignore or attempt to diminish our teams.  Usually I laugh at these conspiracy nuts even though there is a kernel of truth to their argument.  However, after yesterday, I’m fully on board with anybody who wants to argue the NFL is attempting to sabotage the Steelers.

Even now, some 12 hours later, I can feel myself slipping into a boiling rage over the grossly inept display of officiating.  The Steelers were called for two personal fouls on absolutely clean sacks, one of which negated a pick-six.  James Harrison, after clocking Jason Campbell, was flagged for coming down “with his full weight on the QB.”  So that’s a penalty now?  What about 3/4 body weight?  Or 1/5?  How much weight is permitted to touch a precious QB before a flag is thrown in this increasingly pussified game of football?  It was a form-perfect hit.  What’s he supposed to do?

The Ginger Dictator should just issue a press release saying, “James Harrison is no longer permitted to touch any quarterbacks under penalty of fine and/or personal foul.  Sorry, I just don’t like him or the Steelers.  In fact, if he scowls at the QB in a threatening manner, I may penalize that, too.”  It’s pathetic.

When the Steelers weren’t being called for phantom personal fouls, they were getting flagged for phantom pass interferences.  Ike Taylor, who was the man denied his pick-six, got flagged for PI on a ball that overshot the receiver by about 20 yards.  I could go on and on and on but I don’t know what to say.  This was the most atrociously refereed football game I’ve ever seen.  The league should be embarrassed.

Let’s talk some positives.  Sean Kugler continues to work miracles with the offensive line.  The starting group of Flo-Foster (starting for a benched Trai Essex)-Pouncey-Kemo-Scott was fairly impressive, keeping Ben clean and providing a nice pocket.  Meanwhile, the vaunted run D the mouthbreathers from Oakland who invaded my blog raved about was getting gashed until injuries to our already banged up O-line started piling up.  If this group can get healthy come playoff time, we might have something.  That’s a big IF, though, as Scott and Kemo were both hobbled leading to super-sub Essex entering at various points.  Then there was Pouncey, who was replaced by Legursky after re-injuring his gimpy knee early in the second half.

Big Ben was brilliant.  Of course, a late scratch of Raiders star CB Nnamdi Asomugha helped.  But this was the Ben we expected once he returned from his unfair uncalled for suspension.  Quick, decisive, and pinpoint accurate, the offense was firing on all cylinders after a few rough drives to start the game.  Ben completed 18/29 for 275 with 3 passing TDs and one 16 yard TD scramble.  I particularly enjoyed the 16 yard FU touchdown to Issac Redman with a little over a minute left in the game.

What was most impressive about the passing game was the variety of targets utilized in the attack.  Ben hit eight different receivers, six of whom had multiple catches.  Naturally, Mike Wallace had the big game (3 catches but 116 yards!   52 of which came on his lone TD.) but rookies Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders (whose leaping 22 yard TD catch was sweet) finally made some plays.  Hines and Heath were dependable safety valves, as usual.

On the flip side, the run defense was fantastic.  They held the Raiders to only 61 total yards on the ground, lowering their yearly yards against average yet again.  At the rate they’re going, this may end up being statistically the best rush defense in NFL HISTORY.  Harrison, when he wasn’t being unfairly persecuted, had a monster game, posting five tackles, two sacks, picking off a pass and forcing a fumble.  Ike Taylor also forced a fumble in addition to the pick-six he was denied.

Shaun Suisham made all his extra points so I have nothing to comment on in that regard.  Got a good laugh at the crowd roaring on his first PAT.  Enjoy the love while you can, Suissy.  We’ll be ready to run you out of town as soon as you shank a 35 yarder with the Steelers up by 20 in the fourth quarter.

I’m torn on what to take from this game.   There is the positive of our team playing tremendously on both sides of the ball which is negated by the fact the Raiders are a pathetic team.  I’m sorry, I truly gave them too much credit in my preview as it’s clear they beat up on a bunch of bottom-feeders and in reality aren’t in the same class as the league’s top tier teams.  Then we have the positive of being able to wash the taste from last week’s debacle out of our mouths.  Which is countered by this game being a debacle of a different sort, albeit one which ended well.  I guess at the end of the day that’s all that matters.

A quick reminder: NPC and Hatchette Book Group are giving away two copies of Merril Hoge‘s fantastic autobiography, “Find A Way.” Check out the post below for details on how to enter.

Last week, I noticed a bunch of sites doing mid-season reviews. Great except week eight isn’t really the mid-way point any more. With the bye, most teams don’t play their eighth game until week nine. Since I’ve always been a stickler for details, here are my Pittsburgh Steelers Mid-Season Awards, which we’ll call The Chinnys.

Chinny For Most Pleasant Surprise of the Year:  Maurkice Pouncey

From Mike Webster to Dermontti Dawson to Jeff Hartings, the Steelers have a tradition of excellence at center. Since Hartings sudden retirement in 2006, the position has been in disarray. And as the center has floundered, so has the entire offensive line. If the O-line is the brick wall which protects the fortress, then the center is the keystone which holds the whole thing together.

Yes, Pouncey was a first-rounder. Yes, he was the eighteenth pick in the entire draft. But expecting a rookie to start, let alone play at an All-Pro level, was asking a lot. The center has to recognize the defense and change protection schemes accordingly. It’s a lot of responsibility beyond simply snapping the ball and blocking your man. Pouncey has handled it all and then some.

Chinny For Most Unpleasant Surprise of the Year:  Bryant McFadden

I live-blogged the draft this past April and other than Pouncey in the first round, the biggest buzz from Steeler Nation was over the trade bringing B-Mac back from Pittsburgh West Arizona.  With good reason as William Gay plays corner about as well as he raps.

Unfortunately, the expected improvement hasn’t materialized.  In fact, it’s gotten worse.  The Steelers are currently ranked 24th against the pass as opposed to last year when the much-criticized secondary finished 16th.   B-Mac played well during the Super Bowl run of 2008 but that is looking more and more like an anomaly as time goes on.

The Steelers should have made a play for Antonio Cromartie, a legit shutdown corner who the Jets stole for a lousy 3rd round draft pick.  I mean, let’s not pretend like the Steelers really give a crap about character any more.  Cro hasn’t committed any crimes except banging groupies while riding bareback, anyway.   Think what an unbelievable defense we could’ve had for a middling draft choice and a box crate of Trojan Ultra-Thins.

Chinny for Coach Of the Year (Steelers staff only):  Sean Kugler

When your previous O-line coach’s biggest claim to fame is sending links to Japanese bukkake videos to Dan Rooney, your bar is pretty low.  And having a superstar rookie like Maurkice Pouncey doesn’t hurt.  But when a line which gave up 50 sacks last year cuts that number to 16 half way through this season, the offensive line coach must be doing something right.  Especially considering all the injuries Kugler has had to deal with.

Willie Colon was lost during OTAs.  Flozell Adams was brought in and switched positions.  Trai Essex has missed significant time with an ankle.  Kemo has battled injury.  And I’m sure you’ve all heard Max Starks was placed on injured reserve yesterday, ending his season.

The line has been absolutely decimated to the point Matt Spaeth was practicing his blocking technique last Monday in case they needed him to come in and play tackle.  And yet no matter who shuffles in and who shuffles out, the line play has remained pretty steady.

Chidi Awouma Memorial Special Teams Chinny:  Jeff Reed

Chidi was a special teams ace who seldom failed to deliver.  I was going to go positive with this award, giving it to Emmanuel Sanders for averaging 26 yards yards per kick return and causing that pivotal fumble on Monday’s opening kickoff.  However, Stefan Logan, now with the Lions, is averaging 30 yards per return and has a 105 yard TD to his credit so I can’t really say we upgraded in that area.

Therefore, I’m going negative and giving the Chidi Chinny to Jeff Reed as his farewell present.  I suppose he may be back next season but I wouldn’t count on it.   Skippy was tagged as the team’s Franchise Player during the off-season, then whined about wanting to be one of the game’s highest paid kickers, then whined some more when the season started and he didn’t receive a long-term contract.  He’s only hit 70% of his FGs this season, a career low, while missing clutch kicks in the Baltimore, New Orleans, and Cincy games.

Chinny For Anti-MVP:  Troy Polmalu

I love Troy.  He’s a great player and a true gentleman.  However, something has gone terribly awry with him this season.  After the Titans game where he made that incredible flying tackle on Kerry Collins at the goal line, I was ready to start a Troy4MVP campaign on Facebook.  Where has he been since then?

He’s been a non-factor.  Troy’s made a career fooling QBs into thinking he was doing one thing when he was doing another.  He’s not fooling anybody this year.   In fact, his guessing in the New Orleans game left guys wide open on several big plays.   You know how many sacks he has this year?   NONE.  ZERO.  ZIP.  BUPKISS.

But the crowning moment of suck was Monday when he got his ass hair handed to him by Peko on that goal line stand.  I hope Head & Shoulders gets tire tracks out ’cause he got trucked.

Once upon a time, you could count on Troy making one or two big game-changing plays every week.  This season, I can’t think of any since the second game of the year.  I grant you part of it is offenses staying away from him and part of it is him dropping into coverage a lot more to help our crappy secondary.  But we spent an entire off-season thinking, “If we only had Troy, we wouldn’t give up fourth quarter leads.”  Troy’s back and guess what?  We’re still struggling in the fourth quarter.  This defense is very good but for it to be great, we need Troy to be Troy.

Chinny For MVP:  Lawrence Timmons

NPC readers picked Timmons and I wholeheartedly agree.   It’s funny, last season many of us were discussing if Timmons could be considered a bust.   He certainly had a rough first year as a starter.  When the Steelers re-signed Larry Foote, many (including myself and the legendary Stan Savran) felt Foote should start in the base defense with Timmons playing on passing downs.

This year, Timmons has been an absolute beast.   He leads the team with 58 tackles, including 3 sacks and a forced fumble.   In addition, he has 2 INTs and 6 passes defensed, thus proving he’s as valuable dropping back as rushing the passer.  He’s been stout against the run and is so fast that he’s capable of covering tight ends and slot receivers.   Clay Matthews, who most feel is the front-runner for Defensive Player of Year, is a fantastic player but compare their stats.  Matthews racked up 10.5 sacks but only has 28 tackles and 2 passes defensed.

There isn’t a linebacker in the league who can do what Timmons does.  In a way, Timmons is almost the new Troy Polamalu.   Troy used to be the guy who played all over the field and you never knew where he was going to attack from.   Now it’s Timmons who lines up like he’s going to blitz but falls back into coverage or moves like he’s been fired from a cannon in running a RB down from behind.  When someone as dense as Peter King acknowledges that LT is the best linebacker on a team filled with great linebackers, you know he’s something special.