heels, sox & steelers
Another play, this one from the doomed AFCCG against the Pats- when Roethlisberger hit Hines on a little slant in the middle of the field and he turned on the jets and took it eight yards for the score. The highlite of a very bleak afternoon.
Alright, I think I've finally remembered my favorite play of the last several years: Jerome Bettis' total pwnage of Brian Urlacher http://youtube.com/watch?v=P68Vs...related&
search=
I stopped in Latrobe yesterday, and though I only got to see a bit of practice, here are a few notes:
- Willie Reid is healthy, and then some. He was looking good in kickoff returns, and then in passing drills was lining up with the 2nd string. He caught everything in sight, and looked like he was just pulling the ball out of the air. He was running great routes and I will not be surprised if he beats out Wilson and Washington for the slot role.
- ROBO PUNTER - nothing to report, except that he looked like a linebacker while standing next to the other kicking professionals, and he looked like a linebacker while standing next to the linebackers.
- It was interesting to see Roethlisberger, Ward, and Parker hanging out together for about 15 minutes while watching another group do drills. Probably not significant, but good to see the comraderie there amongst those three very important guys on the offense.
- Virginia Tech note: I didn't realize Bryan Randall was the 4th arm at QB for the Steelers. It was just like old times watching him miss open WRs.
- Najeh Davenport was running with the 2nd team, and looking good breaking some long runs after busting through the middle. No surprise there, but I really think he's going to be more than a serviceable backup to Parker. The Steelers would be remiss if they don't use him periodically late in games to spell Fast Willie.
Overall, it was great to finally get back to see a bit of camp. It has been a few years since I have done that. If I think of anything else I'll post tomorrow -- I'll also see if I got any pics worth posting before my camera battery went dead...
That's really good news about Reid. If he becomes the slot receiver then the first 3 picks from 2006 are all making good contributions to the team. I wonder if Wilson is in danger of being cut? It's strange because he seemed to turn it on in the 2005 playoffs and then kinda disappeared last year.
Cedrick won't be cut. Right now, it's Hines, Holmes, Ced, Nate, Willie. I think the battle is for the No. 6 spot, unless I'm overlooking something.
I'd be happy to listen to Fox970, but for the last year every time I try (including today) they tell me:
Due to licensing restrictions, we are not able to allow access to the content you are requesting from outside the United States. We are sorry we can no longer provide access to Canada.
Who gains from this is not clear to me.
Yeah I didn't think Ced would be cut, but I thought maybe the new coaching staff may view him differently. Sounds like a good group of WRs to me.
I'd think Washington would stand more of a chance of being cut than Ced. He busts out an awesome play every once in a while, but he doesn't seem to contribute all that much unless I'm missing something. He seems to have a lot of potential, though.
youtube clips? don't mind if i do.
life is hard for a browns fan. even their youtube clips are sad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4...h?
v=4aiebweo6b8
seriously, if one of your team highlights is that they drafted players that year... well i guess things aren't going that well.
Just to temper the enthusiasm about our (hopeful) punt returner / WR, I'll point out that Reid was running with the 2nd team, it was only one day of training camp, and I was certainly viewing things through an untrained eye.
I really don't think Cedrick or Nate are in danger of being cut, but as I said before I would not be surprised if Reid ends up being the slot WR sometime this season. It was good to see him moving all over the field (and very fast) and grabbing every ball that came his way.
Jerome Bettis' total pwnage of Brian Urlacher http://youtube.com/watch?v=P68Vs...68Vs...related&
search=
Jesse | 07.31.07 - 1:37 pm
I have to second this one.
Hines 80 yard scamper for a TD against the Pats in 05 put a smile on my face.
Ed B is reporting that Simmons has the RG job lock up. And not because of weak play from other RGs but because of his strong play. Good news. Unless a young player really steps up, like many, I'm a fan of continuity on the OL. And it looks like Mahan vs. Okobi will produce the only new starter this year.
The Bus steamrolling Urlacher is an all-time great clip, and I never get sick of it. It was a huge game for the Steelers and Urlacher was the defensive player of that year. The signature play of a Hall of Fame career...
Browns fans don't even know when they are making a parody of themselves. One of the highlights of that clip was Derek Anderson running with the ball.
I upgraded my DirecTV setup from the old Tivo DVR to the new HD-DVR (HR20-700S) I read some on-line reviews beforehand and was a bit apprehensive about the new DVR but I have to say it works fine for me. [I get all my content from DirecTV including both east and west coast network feeds and of course the NFL package.] The DVR is as easy to use as the old Tivo unit and in some ways better! You just have to see a Steeler game on a boom mounted 50" pioneer elite plasma. Its definitely a wow.
ELSM, thats good to hear about Simmons, but don't we hear this practically every training camp? I think I recall reading about how good he has looked in every training camp since he blew out his knee. Hopefully he is for real this year.
stillbill,
It's good to hear some positives about the new DVR. Have you had any difficulty setting it up to record all Steeler games automatically? That is one of the features I like best about my DirecTivo and I heard it's very difficult to do with the HR20. I've also heard that it's difficult to control the fastforward/rewind during playback.
Willie is out Sunday...PANIC!
From Ed B.
"Halfback Willie Parker will not play in the Steelers' first exhibition game Sunday night against New Orleans in Canton, Ohio.
Parker may not practice the rest of the week after missing his second straight day with slight soreness and swelling in his left knee. Parker spent this morning's practice with ice on the knee, and also talked to trainer John Norwig.
The Steelers consider it to be a small matter and are trying to take precautions so it does not become a serious one."
---
Not a big deal to miss a pre-season game, but, it does kind of worry me that we're one play away from Najeh Davenport and Kevan Barlow carrying the load.
Re: Parker out for HOF game
I pray that the Steelers aren't going to give this guy over 300 carries again this year. He is way too small (with too big a heart) and I want him around for more than 2 years or so.
Getting him involved on 3rd down with screen passes etc. is cool. Let's just not pretend that he can be a masher in the middle and expect him to last.
----
Not a big deal to miss a pre-season game, but, it does kind of worry me that we're one play away from Najeh Davenport and Kevan Barlow carrying the load.
Adam Gretz
-----
Yeah, if he goes down, the pickings are mighty slim. I think Barlow, from all reports, is going to get cut and Davenport is not exacly what you might term a feature back. Then you hope that Russel turns out to be a steal, I guess.
Let's not think about it!
There..that's better ...
AP article about Casey Hampton getting one snap at fullback... and getting leveled by Kriewaldt.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com...0755/
index.html
I don't believe it either.
The ideal situation is obviously to have them both available, but I personally think that Davenport could fill in just fine for Parker. It's probably safe to say that at some point we'll probably find out, as injuries are the reality of the RB position.
What about Haynes? I thought he was back, too.
I set my direcTV DVR "search" with the keyword "steelers" and it records absolutely everything with steelers in the description; lots of stuff on the NFL network - NOTE; you always want to set up to record the follow up show after a game because the normal predicted 3 hour window is often not quite enough and you don't want to miss the end of the game or OT. That just sucks!!
Late round suggestion for favorite plays: Harrison's tackle of the Brown's 12th man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-...h?v=-
Am7QJ0Zoto
(not sure why the 10 second clip had to be stretched out to a 3 and a half minute video, but then what do I know about the internets?)
Ryan...quick question for you. I have a classic picture of the Browns top three draft picks that you need to see - how can I forward that so you could post it? The Board would enjoy it..
Oh and FWP is not playing Sunday night
"I upgraded my DirecTV setup from the old Tivo DVR to the new HD-DVR (HR20-700S)"
-- Stillbill
Ditto here, upgraded last year to the HR20 and did not have any problems. The only complaint last year is that very few games were available in HD (which according to DirecTV will change this year), and the "ShortCuts" version of the games were not in HD either. The ones in HD were amazing though...
It is very simple to program for recording, and one of the common problems is when a game extends, you can use stillbill's tip of recording the next program, or you can set on the record settings for the game to keep recording for 30 minutes (or an hour...) after the program ends.
I like to schedule the game recordings manually, because the channel where the steelers game is finally transmitted depends if it is broadcasted on the local channels or not.
hth...
Looking over those favorite plays; you just have to include the Troy pick of a Carson Palmer pass, followed by a winding runback through the entire Bengal team and capped off by smashing through and over Palmer ( his old SC roommate ) and scoring a TD how sweet was that!!
Great advice...
I had my Steeler search set for title, instead of key word..
stillbill, Rene G, thanks for the advice on DirecTV. I feel a lot better about it now.
SteelerBill, just send me an e-mail (pryanwilson@yahoo.com) and I'll throw it up on the 'nets.
I just read Len P's summary of the July 24 practices. Most of it has been covered in other publications and here, but I hadn't read about the tidbit about the playbook:
"[Ben] seems eager to shoulder a bigger leadership role, and has been proactive in helping to install an offense that should enhance his strengths.
The Steelers will be Ben Roethlisberger's team in 2007.
Arians afforded Roethlisberger big-time input into rewriting the playbook, which should help both men."
I'd post the rest since it is behind the paid wall, but it is long and, as I said, not much else is new...
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/t..._len&
id=2949654
I'm taking a half-day today and going to camp.
Cedrick Wilson whining about not getting enough balls:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/0...4/806343-
66.stm
"You shouldn't lose your job on account that you got hurt, know what I mean?"
I'm sure Tommy Maddox agrees.
I just realized this is an evening practice today. And i'm still at work.
Not. Cool.
"You shouldn't lose your job on account that you got hurt, know what I mean?"
--Wally Pip
nyuk nyuk
Curly Joe (aka Rob D)
hoo-raaay fooootball!!
ryan,
glad to hear you and Ike are buying that dream house of yours. I see that you have no predictions regarding everyones favorite DB. I predict too many blown coverages and dropped INT's to count.
Thank God the offseason has left Tim in good spirits.
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