Oakland’s Suspect Corners

I understand that hindsight is “20/20.”  And I completely acknowledge that every Front Office around the League has been short-sighted from time to time.  But I am almost positive that the Raiders are regretting they released Cornerback (and current Steeler) DeMarcus Van Dyke before the regular season began.  As it stands, Oakland’s bold move to cut their 2nd year Corner appears especially costly.  Over the last three weeks, not only has the Raiders’ Secondary been decimated by injuries, but their depth chart has been filled with backups and players lacking experience.

If you have not heard already “Steeler Nation,” the Raiders will be without the services of Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer, both of their starting Cornerbacks. With Bartell and Spencer sidelined, Oakland will be forced to work with the combination of Pat Lee (2 career starts) and Joselio Hanson (19 career starts) as their starting Cornerbacks.  Behind Lee and Hanson, the Raiders have become so desperate for any sort of experienced depth and help at the Cornerback position that Free Safety Michael Huff could be in line to see some work there this weekend.

But why is Huff taking reps now?  Well, as the article I linked states, the Raiders’ other backups behind Lee and Hanson are the already well-traveled but inexperienced Phillip Adams and Coye Francies, both of whom were relegated to Special Teams duty against Miami.  Sure, Oakland might have signed former Packers’ Practice Squad member Brandian Ross (to the active roster), as well as former Cowboy and Jaguar Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (to the Practice Squad) earlier in the week.  But to believe these newcomers as well as Lee, Hanson, and Huff will be ready for significant snaps this weekend on at Cornerback, plus perform well on game-day might be a bit of a stretch when one considers the talent they must face.

Antonio Brown could have a big day tomorrow. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Pittsburgh’s Passing Offense & Personnel

Logically, one would expect Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley and Ben Roethlisberger to exploit Oakland’s inexperience and talent disadvantage on the back-end.  And why not?  They do indeed have the types the pass-catching weapons to carve the under-manned Oakland Secondary to pieces.  Between Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, the Steelers have two Pro Bowl caliber players, and in my humble opinion are one of the most formidable “1-2 Punches” at the Wide Receiver position in the game.

Despite the fact that Wallace (9 Catches for 111 Yards and 2 TD’s) missed essentially the entire offseason when he refused to sign his RFA tender, him and the reliable Brown (11 Catches for 153 Yards) are leading the Steelers in Receptions and Receiving Yards, and only look to be heating up at this point in the season.  Unfortunately for the Raiders, the matchup issues simply do not end with Brown and Wallace.  Oakland’s Secondary will also have to contend with the emerging Emmanuel Sanders (7 Catches 88 Yards) and veteran Jerricho Cotchery in the Slot.  Plus, the banged-up, but sure-handed Heath Miller (7 Catches for 69 Yards and 2 TD’s) will be ready to do some damage in the Red Zone and in the middle of the field also.

Targets aside, the Steelers’ Passing Offense will not be able to do anything without a halfway decent performance from their guys up front.  If Ben has to run for his life all day, the weapons and advantages the Steelers are sure to have will mean nothing.  I have given Pittsburgh’s Offensive Line however the benefit of the doubt in terms of their inconsistent performance so far in 2012, and they honestly deserve a growth period to gel before the criticism heats up this year.  The unit only started to play together during Week 4 of the preseason, and require at least some time to congeal and play consistently.  Thankfully, Oakland’s Defense has only recorded a total 2 Sacks this season, and there is nobody on their roster named Dumervil or Miller, or possesses the pass-rushing skills of either player.  So while the task of keeping Big Ben’s uniform clean will always be a tall order, this unit will not have to face the likes of the Broncos or Jets pass-rushes either.

Final Thoughts

Would it be nice to see the running game kicked into high gear tomorrow and the Backs finally begin to click?  Heck yes, and I hope that Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer enjoy a great deal of success.  Yet as much as I would like to see the running game bust-out and completely have a dominant performance tomorrow, I really hope the Steelers can take advantage of Oakland’s weaknesses with Big Ben and the passing game and earn a “W” more.

Look, I am all for Offensive balance, but when matchups exist in the passing game for the taking, I say “Take ‘Em Boss Todd!”  I mean, Lee, Hanson (or even Huff) on Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown?  Those face-offs will favor Pittsburgh essentially every single time the ball will be snapped, and the guys between the numbers could have even more success against Oakland’s inexperienced backups and Linebackers in sub-packages.  Just last weekend the Raiders’ Secondary allowed both Rookie Ryan Tannehill (18 for 30, 200 Yards, 1 TD), and Brian Hartline (9 Catches for 111 Yards) to have successful outings.

Pittsburgh needs to come out in tomorrow’s game and absolutely bury Oakland as early as possible.  This contest has all the makings of a “trap game,” and the Steelers must not take them lightly.  The 0-2 Raiders are desperate, and a desperate team playing in front of their home crowd will do everything in their power to avoid an 0-3 start.  To “play patty-cake” and lolleygag with the Raiders and allow them to stay in the game with an ultra-conservative game plan reliant on a stagnant running game (Steelers Rushing Offense Ranks 30th) might be the recipe for disaster.

Trying to run for too long if Oakland’s Defensive Line toughens up would be wasting valuable time to build an important lead on the road.  And remember readers, the Raiders only gave up a total of 32 Rushing Yards in their Week 1 loss to the Chargers, so that 263 Yard game last weekend might be more of an exception than the norm for their Defense.  Sure, Curtis Brinkley and Ronnie Brown were toting the rock in Week 1.  But are they that much worse than the Redman-Dwyer-Rainey combination?

So before you “establish the run” readers jump on my back, let me state that I am not saying Pittsburgh should completely abandon it tomorrow.  Hey, if Oakland is selling out and using extra guys to mask their issues in the Secondary, then I say “Ground ‘N Pound” until they dedicate more numbers in the box.  What I am simply trying to argue is that Pittsburgh would be wise to utilize the advantages they possess in the passing game, and not ignore some golden opportunities for the sake of “establishing the run.”

Speak up Readers: Should the Steelers go to the air early?  Will the running game perform well?  Etc.

Stats Courtesy of: Pro Football Reference.com

I however, do not necessarily agree that Haley is in as “unenviable” of a spot as Judge believes he is.  In fact, I believe that Haley might be in quite the advantageous position as the new Offensive Coordinator for the Steelers.  Thus, today I would like to discuss why Judge’s estimation on Haley might be a bit misguided, as well as why I believe Haley is in a solid position to help himself as well as help the Steelers’ Offense over the coming seasons.

Haley might have it better than most people like Clark Judge believe. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Talent Everywhere on Offense

How on Earth Haley can be in an “unenviable” spot when one considers the talent he has to work with on the Offensive side of the ball in Pittsburgh is definitely something which makes absolutely zero sense to me.  I mean, just look at a sampling of the players at the skill-positions on this team as they are entered Training Camp today:

Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger

Wide Receivers: Mike Wallace (Hopefully), Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery

Tight End: Heath Miller

Running Back: Isaac Redman, Chris Rainey, Jonathan Dwyer

Not only are their four Pro Bowlers in this mix, but Pittsburgh’s Offensive Line has received a much needed face-lift and should be on the upswing as early as this season with their infusion of talented youth over the last three years.  Between the Quarterback, the five talented pass-catchers which each bring a unique skill-set to the table, the stable of Running Backs, and the revamped Offensive Line, Haley has essentially been given the keys to a fully-loaded Porsche in his new position.  I can say confidently that two-thirds of the Offensive Coordinators around the League probably wish they had some, if not most of the players which Haley has at his disposal entering his first season with the team.

Bar Has Not Set Particularly High and “Arians Factor”

As we all know, famed “Bubble Screen Wizard” and Haley’s predecessor Bruce Arians “retired” this past offseason which paved the way for Haley to be hired in his spot.  And as we all remember, or would choose to forget depending on how one looks at it, the Arians tenure was not something which could be considered “stellar” by any means considering how efficient the Offense was with the talent it had, especially in the Red Zone.

Last season was a prime example of the Steelers’ and Arians’ struggles, as Pittsburgh finished only 21st in the League in Scoring (20.5 PPG), scored a meager 2.2 TD’s per game which ranked them 20th, and scored Touchdowns on just over half of their trips into the Red Zone last season (50.91% 17th).

Because of the Offense’s underachievement under Arians, the bar will not necessarily be set as high for Haley to come in and turn this Offense into a juggernaut from Day 1.  Realistically, Haley will likely only need help this Offense improve from the pedestrian stats and output which they put up under Arians.  By not having to replace any sort of legend, Haley will literally only need to have this Offense operating at an efficient level this season, and that will likely yield a marked improvement over the 2007-2011 seasons.  So many were stoked when the organization made the decision to let go of Arians that Haley will be walking into a situation where any upgrades and improvements will be appreciated and welcomed by “Steeler Nation.”  A fanbase which was sick and tired of game-plans which either ignored the team’s strengths and weaknesses far too often and sputtered when 7′s were needed instead of 3′s.

Chance to Become Head Coach Again

The final factor which could make Haley’s current job “enviable” is that his position with Pittsburgh would be the perfect stepping-stone for him if he ever wanted to get back into Head Coaching again.  Think about it, three to four seasons of Pittsburgh’s Offense being a Top 5 unit and some forays deep into the postseason could make Haley a hot-commodity on the Head Coaching market once again, and force teams to re-evaluate whether or not he deserves another shot at being the “Head Man” somewhere else in the League.

Coming back to the area which Haley called home for so long might be the perfect opportunity for him to grow as a Coach and get that awful stench of Kansas City out of his system.  Plenty of mistakes were made on Haley’s part in Kansas City, but luckily for him, he will be getting a second chance to prove himself with Pittsburgh for however long his tenure lasts in the Steel City.  Teams recycle Head Coaches all the time in the N.F.L., and Haley’s name could end up being on a short list within the next five to seven seasons for another Head Coaching job if he succeeds with the Steelers.

Final Thoughts

Let me be the first to state that this post is not by any means a statement that Haley’s new job with the Steelers will be a cake-walk.  The biggest issue facing Haley this season (and one Judge rightfully alludes to) will be his relationship with Big Ben.  Haley and Ben will have to co-exist, and Haley will have to tailor the Offense as best he can to his personnel, and at least maintain a cordial partnership.  Granted, Big Ben and Haley might never share the personal bond which Roethlisberger and Arians shared during their time together and continue to this day.  And while Haley and Ben might never be “buddy buddy,” they must (and hopefully will) still share the common goals of mutual success, winning football games, and making this Offense a force to be reckoned with in the future.  If these things can happen, look out though N.F.L., because good things might start happening on the Offensive side of the ball at Heinz Field.

Question marks aside, I cannot refer to nor believe that Haley’s new position is an unenviable one though when compared to others on Judge’s list (i.e. Pat Shurmur, Juan Castillo, Tony Sparano).  Ultimately, I think Judge might have been a bit too quick to refer to Haley’s new position as “unenviable,” because as I laid out above, Haley has some terrific chances to succeed in his new role in addition to the questions which surround his possible relationship with Big Ben.

Will Haley’s current task at hand be a challenge?  Of course it will.  But that is simply the nature of any coaching job in the N.F.L., regardless of where it is on the team’s totem pole in terms of overall responsibility.  Let’s just cross our fingers that the numerous positives can outweigh any negatives which come this Offense’s way in the immediate and distant future.

Now it’s your turn readers:  Is Haley in an unenviable spot?  Will he be just the right man for the Offensive Coordinator job?  Or will this situation go bad like it did in Kansas City?  The floor is yours.

Stats Provided By: http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/team/pittsburgh-steelers/stats

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ILB Larry Foote begins his season as the Steelers "Man in the Middle"

While fans will have very limited access to the happenings this week on the South Side, the Steelers first Organized Team Activities (OTAs) of the 2012 season should bring out the newshounds in the traditional media who have been stumbling through hockey and baseball highlights for the past four months while reporting every miniscule Steelers tidbit as if the season were starting tomorrow.

The OTA season is upon us, and that means very little to us – the “media” or to you, the fan.  Other than giving the football-starved folks of western Pennsylvania some Steelers gossip to chew on between gulps of depressing Pirates game nights, very little happens during the OTA’s.  In a normal year for the Steelers, the team would simply gather a third of their roster – mainly newly signed rookies and free agents – and bring them into the fold to start learning playbooks and terminology.  This is not a “normal” year for the Steelers.  New offensive coordinator Todd Haley has arrived with an entirely new offense that has turned a simple coaching change into a certified Black and Gold emergency, taking fans back in time to the year 1999, when Head Coach Bill Cowher brought offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride into Steeler Nation and helped make the final two seasons at historic Three Rivers Stadium two of the worst campaigns the team ever enjoyed at the old concrete bowl.  Change is a curse word in Steeler Country, a term rarely heard uttered around the most consistent organization in football.  For a team that has had three head coaches since 1969, fans are used to just tuning out anything that happens before the players move into their dorm rooms at St. Vincent College in late summer.  Not this year, folks.  Change is upon us – at least in theory – and both fans and players alike have hit the panic button already in late May.  Since Phase One of the OTA sessions are basically conditioning practice, the only real news we will hear will be if someone shows up grossly overweight (my money is on RB Jon Dwyer) , but it is football so we will be thrilled to hear about it.

Nobody knows who will show up for these OTA sessions, as they are not exactly mandatory for the veterans.  We know that first and second round draft picks OG David DeCastro and OT Mike Adams won’t be there, as they are still putting the finishing touches on their final year of college.  S Troy Polamalu won’t be there because he trains on his own until camp starts.  WR Mike Wallace won’t be there because he is still pouting over his failure to land a “Larry Fitzgerald-sized” contract in his restricted free agency period.  There is a chance Wallace will milk this contract business until he is mandated to be in Latrobe, and his story will be a source of endless debate all year.

So what can fans look for once the news starts pumping out of the South Side Complex this week?  Here are a few items that are worth investigating this week.

1.  Larry Foote takes over the starting “Buck” ILB slot for the departed James Farrior – The last time the Steelers entered a season without #51 calling the defensive plays was 2001.  Foote has been with the team since 2002 – minus a one-year stint with his hometown Detroit Lions – and is going to be counted on as the leader in the middle of this Steelers defense.  The team will be without Farrior, DE Aaron Smith, and DL Chris Hoke – three of the respected, grizzled veterans of the past decade – and will need Foote to divide his time between making a ton of tackles against the run and trying to help develop young ILB Stevenson Sylvester and Sean Spence (who though unsigned, will most likely be in Pittsburgh this week).  For his part, Foote has always been a steady hand as a player.  As a starter between 2005-2008, Foote was a productive linebacker who was always better than he was given credit for.  As a back-up, he has been a consummate professional, understanding his role and just happy to be the Steeler.  It will be interesting to see how he reacts to becoming a major piece of the puzzle again, and taking over the former slot of his legendary buddy, James Farrior.  His battle to become a respected leader can begin this week.

CB Keenan Lewis will be competing for a starting CB spot this summer.

2.  The Cornerback position derby begins – Let’s just call it like it is – not many people are crying their eyes to sleep at night over the though of a Steelers secondary sans William Gay.  Gay took his ball and a nice contract and headed to Pittsburgh-West, leaving the Steelers with only Ike Taylor as a CB with any kind of game experience.  Since Ike can’t “swag” alone, he will need a new “swagging” partner in the defensive secondary.  That player will come from a group that includes Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen, Curtis Brown, and newcomer Terrence Frederick.  The odds-on-favorite for the job is Keenan Lewis, who heads into his fourth season and at 6-foot tall and 208 lbs., has a natural build for the position.  Lewis will be pushed hard for the job by both Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown, second-year players that both turned heads last year.  Frederick comes in as one of the Steelers 7th rounders and has a real chance to make the roster for special teams duties.  No matter who wins the starting job, the Steelers finally seem to have some legit depth in talent at cornerback – a spot they have lacked solid backups for some time.  We should see all four players at OTAs this week, and it will be a good chance to see how their off-season conditioning either thrusts them into the limelight or turns them into the next Joe Burnett.

3.  The new Defensive Line takes shape – The first true team activities without Aaron Smith and Chris Hoke are upon us, and NT Casey Hampton is still nursing his ACL injury.  That means the Steelers will be looking at a defensive line potentially featuring DE Cameron Heyward, DE Ziggy Hood, and NT Alameda Ta’amu -not just for OTA action, but for the start of the season.  We won’t count out another stellar season coming from “The Diesel” Brett Keisel, but at 33-years old he should begin to be phased out this season.  It is a transitional period for the Steelers front three, and we should get a good look at how the young guns on the defensive line are looking this week.  While they won’t be wearing pads, just seeing the new players out there sweating and pushing around offensive linemen should be a sight that warms Steeler fans hearts.

DE Ziggy Hood will be starting for the Steelers in 2012

OK, I know…..this is just an OTA.  There won’t be much actual football taking place this week, but the excitement of seeing the Steelers doing anything is a sight for sore pigskin eyes in May.  The bitter taste of that loss in Denver is still in the mouths of most fans, and certainly the players are ready to move on from that debacle.  This is a minor step towards the new season, but hopefully it is enough to end the “sky is falling because Todd Haley threw out the Arians playbook” garbage we have been shoveled endlessly over the past month.  Let’s hope for some positivity out of the South Side this week, and start the push towards a very interesting and potentially Earth-shattering 2012 season.

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