‘Pay no attention to the guy in the hat next to me. Now let’s talk about the inadequacies of the players!’ Courtesy of PPG.com

‘Tain’t nothing funny at all about this particular Colbert Report.  And if Steelers GM Kevin Colbert makes good on what he said on Wednesday, some Steelers will probably wish they were interviewing with the other Colbert on the Comedy Central series instead.

Kevin Colbert sat down with the press on Wednesday and laid into the Steelers roster – more so than we saw back in 2009 when the Steelers last missed the playoffs.  Referring to the ’10 and ’11 records Colbert said:

“When you’re 12-4 and a playoff team, sometimes you get mesmerized by your success and you get a little reluctant to change.  If we don’t change a roster that produced 8-8, we’d be silly to expect a better result.”

When asked about the 2012 offense being the worst offense since 1978, Colbert said:

“Indicative of the talent we had at the position.”

[Record scratch]

Did you just hear what I just heard?  Is Colbert saying that the Steelers 8-8 record was because the offensive roster was full of guys who weren’t talented enough to win more games?  That just doesn’t make any sense.  You sure it wasn’t the guy sitting next to you during that presser that has something to do with it?  Or what about your new offensive coordinator?  You’re really going to peg the roster?  Is that because it’s easy enough then to justify releases and/or deciding to not re-sign someone?

I understand that roster has a bit to do with a team’s problems from season to season.  We’re not talking about performance here either.  Colbert used the word ‘talent.’  That is such a strong word in evaluating what went wrong with your team…. and somewhat damning on his part.  Isn’t Colbert responsible for finding the most talented players with the given salary cap?  Something smells fishy and I don’t think it’s my leftover Colossal Fish & Cheese Primanti’s.  Could Colbert be catching the Rooney Fever – double speak and not really letting on what’s going on behind closed doors?  It just seems so trite – blame the roster and insinuate cleaning house.  It’s too easy.

I’m calling shenanigans on this one.  Maybe the release of Hines Ward last season had something to do with this… I think this is an attempt by Colbert to lay the seeds of ‘Hey don’t come yelling at the front office, Steeler Nation, when some of your favorite veterans are gone next season.  They just don’t have the talent anymore.’

Stand by – I will be doing a breakdown between the 2011 and 2012 roster to find what Colbert was talking about in my next post.

Hoyer (#8) could be a solid backup for the Steelers as they settle their Quarterback depth issue. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE

Hoyer’s Career (2009-2011)

So who exactly is Brian Hoyer, and where did he come from?  Well for those of you readers unsure or unaware, Hoyer held the clipboard as Tom Brady’s top understudy in New England, and beat out three veteran Quarterbacks as an Undrafted Free Agent to make the team in 2009.  Over his three seasons in New England, Brian saw only a small amount of game-time (27 for 43, 286 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 80.2 QB Rating, 1 Rush TD), but was nevertheless able to work in one of the best environment’s for a young Quarterback.  It is not often that UDFA’s are exposed to the teachings and work-ethic of people like his Quarterbacks Coach/Offensive Coordinator Bill O’Brien and Ugg Spokesman and a Three-time Super Bowl winner like Brady.

Unfortunately for Hoyer, his time in New England ended prematurely and probably had everything to do with the rest of the then-Quarterback-needy teams passing on Ryan Mallett in the 2011 N.F.L. Draft.  Mallett, a guy I believed was the best pure-passer and possessed the best potential N.F.L. skill-set (arm-strength and knowledge of passing game) in that Draft Class lasted until the end of the 3rd Round that season due to some character concerns.  To their credit, the Patriots jumped at the chance to take a 1st-Round talent like Mallett so late in the Draft process, and used the luxury they had with Hoyer and Brady in front of him and allow their 3rd Round selection to develop.  This season however, New England felt like Mallett was their Quarterback of the future.  As the #3 Quarterback and set to make $1.9 million dollars (RFA Tender), Hoyer who became the odd-man-out this past August, and was cut.

How the Steelers & Hoyer Can Benefit

With Hoyer on the roster now, the Steelers can properly gauge how well the 4th year pro picks up the Offense and whether or not he can compete for a roster spot next season with six regular season games and an entire offseason under his belt.  Remember, both Batch (38 years old in 2013) and Leftwich (33 years old in 2013) will be potential Unrestricted Free Agents next season, and I have a hard time believing that the Steelers would bring both if either of them back unless Hoyer is a complete and total flop.  Plus, the former Spartan will have the chance to learn under Coordinator Todd Haley, Quarterbacks Coach Randy Fichtner, as well as Roethlisberger and maybe even one of the elder statesmen over the coming seasons as he continues his development.  If Hoyer eventually succeeds and earns a backup spot with the team, he could definitely help to shore up Pittsburgh’s backup Quarterback position and entrench himself as “The Guy..Behind The Guy” (“Swingers” reference I know) as the #2 Quarterback on Pittsburgh’s Depth Chart.

Final Thoughts

Pittsburgh needed to find some way to bolster their depth at Quarterback in the present and in the future, and I believe this move to sign Hoyer can accomplish both goals.  I simply want the Steelers to have some sort of capable, younger (sorry Charlie), and non-injury prone option to turn to if Roethlisberger ever goes down for a significant period of time in the future.  Although the 6’2″ 215 lb. Hoyer is not an elite athlete, he has learned from some of the best Teachers and Students at the craft (O’Brien & Brady), and has displayed enough of a skill-set to establish himself as a legitimate #2 on an N.F.L. roster.

Whether it is Hoyer or somebody else, the Steelers need to have a non-injury prone/non-elderly backup option behind Big Ben sooner as opposed to later.  This will be especially the case when Big Ben enters his mid-30′s and a decade-plus of hits and injuries begin to really take their toll.  If this situation eventually happens and Roethlisberger goes down again, I earnestly hope that Hoyer, another Free Agent, or another Draft Pick can fill in and play adequately.

Hoyer has a golden opportunity to learn and continue to develop behind and under some of the N.F.L.’s best in Pittsburgh.  With the uncertainty behind Big Ben, Hoyer will likely be given every chance to wrestle the #2 spot away from Batch and Leftwich between now and the beginning of the 2013 season as well.  I am crossing my fingers that this deal works out well for both parties.

Chime in Readers: Will the move to acquire Hoyer help?  What do you think of the move?  Should Leftwich or Batch, or both be allowed to walk after the season?  Should the Steelers sign/draft another Quarterback this offseason?  The floor is yours…

Figures and Stats Courtesy of: Spotrac.com Pro Football Reference.com, Team Rankings.com, and ESPN.com

Big Ben must lead his team to more Touchdowns on scoring drives. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE

Pittsburgh’s Red Zone Offense

As I alluded to before, if there is one issue I have had with the Steelers’ Offense this season, it has been Red Zone related.  It seems that each and every time the Steelers have found themselves in the Red Zone this year, things like penalties, drops, missed blocks, turnovers, and any other assorted miscues have prevented Big Ben & Co. from truly “cashing in” with Touchdowns.  In fact, on the season, Pittsburgh’s Offense has only scored Touchdowns on 52.38% (17th in the League overall) of their scoring trips into the Red Zone this season.  Essentially, for every two successful scoring trips Pittsburgh has taken into their oppositions’ Red Zones’ they come away with 10 points.

For a team like the Steelers that ranks 2nd in Time of Possession per Game (34:49), their Red Zone miscues and struggles are a big reason why they have only averaged 23.3 points per game this season (17th overall).  Pittsburgh has possessed the ball for a much longer time than their opponents this season, and ate clock and put together awesome drives because of it (37:00+TOP last weekend).  But too many times these drives have turned into 3′s instead of 7′s on the scoreboard, and the Steelers have allowed all of their opponents to “hang around” and stay within striking distance because of it.  Nothing against the suddenly solid Shaun Suisham, but I would rather see him on the field for Kickoffs and Extra Points as opposed to Field Goal attempts.  Although Suisham has done a terrific job so far this season (14 of 15), and his only miss was due to the genius strategy of Mike Tomlin in Nashville, more Extra Point attempts means more Touchdowns being racked up by the Offense.

While the Steelers  must continue to improve their Touchdown Percentage in the Red Zone, this week it is especially important that they bring their “A Games” and take advantage of every opportunity they are able to cross the Redskins’ 20 Yard Line.

Washington’s Offense & Why They Are Dangerous

So what exactly makes the Redskins such a dangerous macthup for the Steelers and will put the pressure on Big Ben & Co. to execute better in the Red Zone and in all areas tomorrow?  Well, it all starts with their running game.

As I alluded on on Wednesday, Washington will likely (and should) lean on their running game and try to exploit the Steelers’ aging and inexperienced Defense.  This type of strategy, if executed properly, will do two extremely important things for the Redskins: First, Washington will be able to take advantage of their extremely efficient and well-executed Zone-based running scheme, and utilize the underrated but talented Alfred Morris (658 Yards) and Robert Griffin III (468 Yards) to control the clock to wear Pittsburgh’s Defense down progressively.  Second, and most importantly, controlling the clock with a run-based attack keeps Big Ben and the Steelers’ Offense on the sidelines, and not in a position to hurt the Redskins vulnerable Pass Defense (32nd in Yards per Game Against overall).  If Washington is able to not only win the Time of Possession battle, but run the ball effectively to do so, Big Ben and the Offense will not be treated to the same kinds of extra/extended possessions they have had the luxury of this season.

Washington will go to the run, and go to it often, because as I alluded to earlier in the Week, the Redskins have one of the League’s best ground attacks, and rank 1st or Tied for 1st in Rushing Yards per Game (177.7), Total Rushing Yards (1,244), and Rushing Touchdowns (11).  The running game is the staple of their Offense, and must be contained at all costs tomorrow afternoon.  Quarterback Robert Griffin III might not have the most statistically gaudy passing stats (133 for 189, 1,604 Yards, 7 TD’s, 3 INT’s), but his completion percentage (70.4%) is fantastic and besides his overall accuracy as a passer, it has much to do with the play-action passing game and the matchups that threat of the run has created for their Offense.  In fact, the Redskins rank 1st overall in Total Yards per Attempt (8.0) through the first six games.

Overall, the Redskins have shown a knack for putting points up on the scoreboard because of their solid play on the Offensive side of the ball.  Washington’s Offense has average 28.7 Points per Game (5th overall), but most importantly, the unit has been able to convert their Red Zone chances into Touchdowns at a higher rate than the Steelers have this year at 59.09% (8th overall).  With these solid and efficient numbers, plus the fact that the Redskins are a dangerous running team and can control the clock because of their ground attack, the pressure will be on Pittsburgh’s Offense to match them if their Defense cannot contain the opposition.

Final Thoughts

Like it or not readers, but “Productivity in the Red Zone” will be the name of the game this weekend for the Steelers’ Offense.  The pressure will be on Big Ben & Co. to not only put points up on the board, but finish drives with 7 points as opposed to 3 points to extend or gain important leads.  I am not at all worried about the Steelers ability to move the ball, especially through the air, as Washington’s Defense has been an absolute sieve against the pass this season.  Washington’s Defense ranks 32nd in Pass Attempts Against (42.6), 32nd in Completion Percentage Against (63.42%), 32nd in Passing 1st Downs per Game (16.3), 31st in Pass TD’s per Game (2.3), and all signs point to Big Ben having an absolute “field day” tomorrow afternoon.

But as much faith as I have in the Steelers’ Offense, their Defense must find a way to stop Washington’s potent Offensive attack.  The Steelers’ Defense got a bit lucky last weekend as they faced a Quarterback with a “Pop-Gun” arm without any secondary weapons behind his All-Pro Wide Receiver, and had a +14:00 Time of Possession advantage.  Pittsburgh’s Defense will have a whole new set of challenges tomorrow as they will face the dual threat “RGIII,” must find a way to shut down the Redskins’ effective running game, and try to shut down an Offense currently averaging close to 30 points per game.

If the Defense cannot hold and has issues getting off the field, “7′s” will be needed by Big Ben and his weapons to stay in the game.  And even if the Defense holds in the early going, “7′s” are just as important because early leads will force the Redskins to begin to turn away from their ground game and look more towards a passing game without the luxury of play-action.

There has been quite a bit to like about the Steelers’ new Offense, but some more scoring and Red Zone effectiveness with Touchdowns can only make the unit as a whole more lethal.  My hope is that tomorrow will finally be the day that possessions which used to be “3′s” begin to turn into “7′s,” especially with a high-scoring team like the Redskins coming to town.  I am sure Pittsburgh’s Offense will improve in said area, but if this team wants to make a postseason push, they had better improve sooner as opposed to later.

Stats Courtesy of: Team Rankings.com, ESPN.com

Rashard Mendenhall enjoyed a terrific 2012 debut. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Tennessee & Their 2012 Run Defense

To say that the Titans have had their issues stopping their opponents’ running games would be a vast understatement.  During their 1-4 start, Tennessee’s Defense has been sieve-like against the run, and their stats are indicative of just how much improvement is needed in said area.  The Titans rank 28th in the League in Rushing Yards per Game Allowed (144.2), 29th in Total Rushing Yards Allowed (721), and 17th in Yards Per Carry Allowed (4.2).  Overall, Tennessee’s Defense has allowed over 100 Yards Rushing in 4 out of their 5 games, 6 Rushing Touchdowns over said span, and allowed their opponents’ Backs to look downright awesome.

Stevan Ridley ran roughshod over the Defense in Week 1 (21 Carries, 125 Yards, 1 TD), Mikel Leshoure had a fantastic N.F.L. debut in Week 3 (26 Carries, 100 Yards, 1 TD), the combination of Jackie Battle and Curtis Brinkley found success in Week 2 (32 Carries, 112 Yards, 2 TD’s combined), Arian Foster coasted to a solid day in a blowout win for Houston in Week 4 (24 Carries, 86 Yards, 1 TD), and Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart were very effective in last weekend’s game (23 Carries, 129 Yards).

What the Steelers Offense Can Do Tomorrow

Had Mendenhall not been available, and Redman not been moved into his effective “Smasher/Short Yardage Back” role, I would have some concerns as to which weakness would give between the teams.  But after watching the Interior of the Steelers’ Line (Maurkice Pouncey, Willie Colon, and Ramon Foster) win the day against Philadelphia last weekend, I have hope that the Steelers can pound the rock with consistency against the Titans.

What will also help the Steelers’ running game tomorrow is the fact that their passing game has so many weapons for Big Ben to target, and will force Tennessee to not completely load the box.  Tennessee will have to dedicate time, effort, and personnel to account for Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and Heath Miller when they are on the field.  Less players stacked to stop the run game means more room to work with for the Linemen and Backs.  But even if the Titans do end up getting cocky and throw more than seven players near the Line of scrimmage, Big Ben should be able to burn them in the passing game.  Tennessee ranks second to last in Passing Touchdowns Allowed (12), 28th in Pass Yards per Game Allowed (280), and have allowed opposing passers to complete a League-high percentage of their passes (74.6%).

With numbers like these, I would not be mad to see Big Ben & Co. slice and dice Tennessee’s Secondary if they are hell-bent on stopping the run.  But to get the Titans to fully worry about the run game throughout tomorrow’s contest, the Offense must find ways to tote the rock effectively on the ground.  If this can happen, it would not shock me to see the Offense as a whole enjoy their most balanced and effective game of the season.

Final Thoughts

As nice as it was to see the running game show up against the Eagles, I hope that Mendenhall and the rest of the Backs are able to exploit Tennessee’s porous run defense and have a huge collective night tomorrow.  Tennessee’s issues with stopping the run (as well as the pass) are clearly evident, and I am sure that “Boss Todd” and Big Ben are ready to give the Titans a steady dose of the running game tomorrow.  The more consistency the Steelers are able to find toting the rock over the next few weeks, the better and more versatile this Offense will become.  And let’s face it readers, this Offense will need to bring their “A Game” every single week for the rest of this season, because their Defense has been too sieve-like too many times already in 2012.

So let’s get excited Steelers Fans, because we could see a return to some old fashioned “Steeler Football” tomorrow night with the ground game!

Figures and Stats Courtesy of: Pro Football Reference.com and ESPN.com

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