heels, sox & steelers
lionsbob over at FO has written that Bentley wants to only play guard. So he will not be the saviour at center in case Hartwig isn't. But could he be better than Simmons or Kemo?
Spot on analysis by JJ on the OL. As JJ says, interior OL shouldn't give up many sacks. Cs and Gs mainly go against big, strong, slow guys who end up with few or zero sacks in a season, whereas OTs go against the sack artists. It is like comparing the number of errors that 2Bs and SSs make with those of corner infielders. Several of the sacks that Mahan gave up are ones that are exceedingly rare, and he was a terrible pass blocker by NFL standards. And Simmons was even worse.
As with Neal, I know jack about how healthy Bentley is. But I say they should try out anyone who has a chance of being an NFL average C or G, as it is not clear that we have anyone of that description on the roster now.
Ryan, I will also show my ignorance of the FB position by asking: why does "coaching him up" take more than a week? Don't FBs almost always have either zero or one decision per play?
We have a glut of guards, none of whom I have great confidence in. Unless by "confidence" I mean confidence that Simmons will look GREAT in camp, and as the year goes on will be whipped like a horse. So, if we can get Bentley in for a tryout at the vet minimum, low SB, sure, why not. But he's a risk, and we all know that he might not have it this year.
I'm wondering if what the Fanhouse piece really shows us is a) an OL struggling to adapt to a new coach and blocking scheme, with b) injuries and declining skills (Faneca, Smith) playing a part as well. If that is so, then we might be pleasantly surprised if the OL does coalesce more under LZ this year, and Smith stays healthy. Some players having the ability to play several spots may also bring out a healthy competition. (Stapleton and Mahan, OG and C; Colon, OG and OT; Starks, LT and RT; etc.)
I dunno. Hope springs eternal.
Just here to reiterate my lack of interest in signing Bentley.
Carry on...
I don't necessarily like Bentley, but I like the idea of Bentley. This goes back to the "bullpen" strategy for the OL that I raised a few months ago: teams sometimes bring 10-15 cheap arms to spring training, see if any can make the pen and cut the ones that don't. We haven't done it exactly: I didn't expect us to pay the equivalent of $10mm for Mike Timlin (Starks), and there are already a few expensive guys (Simmons, Mahan) already on the roster. But the more guys like Hartwig and Bentley and Reuben Brown and whoever there are in camp, the happier I'll be. I don't see what other option there is this offseason, assuming, of course, that we can't get someone who is actually good and healthy and not old.
I'm just not sure MORE average OL's necessarily improve the OL. It's not like drinking bad beer -- the more you have, the better. I'm pretty sure it's more like drinking crappy water. The more you have....the more you have.
Hope everyone's summer are going well -- I'm really, really looking forward to being miserable all Fall.
Men...
If you've never watched it...The America's Game Series on NFLN is well worth it. The 1975 Steelers are on tonight.
Given that Sean Mahan was never a real NFL center in the first place, his performance last season shouldn't have surprised us.
But that his performance proved not to be quite as horrible as it first seemed doesn't offer us much solace either.
Let's face it: The guy's a guard. Period. And maybe only a back-up guard at that.
You just have to wonder what the front office and the Steelers' coaches (particularly Tomlin who coached at Tampa while Mahan was there) were thinking when they pursued Mahan in the first place. I'm guessing they took a shot in the dark--and missed.
Let's hope Hartwig, who is, if nothing else, a real NFL center, can perform adequately.
Yet, as JJ noted, the real problem on the O-line was not at center but at right tackle and right guard. Colon may be playing out of position, too. Great. The truth is we probably don't have even an average right tackle playing on this team right now.
But as grim as that notion might be, the bigger problem is right guard: Kendall Simmons repeatedly got beaten like a tin drum last year. And last year wasn't the first time.
(I think the team badly missed Verron Hayes' blocking skills, too, but that's another story.)
Is there a solution? Maybe you put Starks back at RT and move Colon into Simmons' spot. Or sit down both Colon and Simmons and play Mahan there instead.
I don't know, but unless someone comes pretty much out of nowhere during camp, this problem--combined with Marvel Smith's looming free-agency--is going to persist, and we'll all be sitting around our keyboards next year whining about the O-line again.
Oh, and plus a dead quarterback.
Randy..yes..a dead QB is really what we are obsessing over. Ben could get hurt and be out for the season.
He dodged many bullets but that won't last forever. O-line..why hast thou forsaken us?
Amen
In case you haven't planned your summer vacation yet....
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/0...5/889624-
66.stm
JJ Cooper is on a tear at AOL Fanhouse.
The word is that although Benny holds the ball too long sometimes, most of the blame for the sacks still go to the atrocious OL play last year.
Go Hartwig go!!!!
Just listened to Sirius NFL Radio and caught Adam Schein and Solomon Wilcotts stating that, in their opinion, there is a "50/50 chance" that Najeh gets traded...
Talk amongst yourselves...
The PPG has begun counting it down:
**43 Days Until Camp**
Ahh..the solution to the O-Line problem:
http://www.nflshop.com/product/
i...rentPage=family
Happy Fathers Day!
I'm not a big fan of these things but find them interesting nonetheless:
http://www.whatifsports.com/
beyo...rticle=20080611
I am thinking, at this point in time, that the Steelers are a bit of a long shot to make the playoffs. Bad O-line that we hope can make it to mediocre, a bunch of young guys getting worked in (Woodley, Mendenhall, Timmons,Gay etc.) and a brutish schedule that Julius Ceasar would have balked at.
Its another year of transition for the coaching staff and I expect Tomlin and Co. to really change the face of the team to their liking.
I am not entirely unhappy with the prospect of clawing it out for a playoff spot but I don't believe the chances of making it are all that good. Its going to be a great team again, but another year or so before we see the results.
Rob, I agree that making the playoffs will be difficult, but on the flip side, if they make it, they will likely face teams in the schedule, and will have a second shot at them, which usually gives them a better chance.
"Rob, I agree that making the playoffs will be difficult, but on the flip side, if they make it, they will likely face teams in the schedule, and will have a second shot at them, which usually gives them a better chance.
Rene G."
Didn't Bellicheat once say this very same thing?
Rob D, I share your concerns. But in terms of making the playoffs, the division is the saving grace.
Things are slow, so how about a QOTD: what will the Steelers record be this year?
QOTD: 8-8
O-line mish mash and ST`s being about the same lead to a down year for our Steelers. But the new blood on D, the continued development of BEn with his new weapons, bodes well for the future
Since I'm too lazy to look back at past comments... Who was it that mentioned they use a slingbox on someone's TV in Pittsburgh to get Steelers games every week? I was thinking about copying this idea and want to ask about the details.
I am too lazy to look myself, but I think it was ELSM.
QOTD: I believe a 10-6 is achievable. They know that they have a good shot at the playoffs, and they know that there almost certainly will not be a wild card team in the AFCN next season. So they are going to focus on winning all six intra-division games, the clincher likely going to be @Cleveland in week 2. Of the other games, wins against the Texans, Titans, and Redskins seem achievable. That leaves one win in the games against the top teams, maybe the home game against the Giants.
10-6 and playoff bound. I know there is lots of uncertainty and suckiness in the OL, but they have tons of talent at the offensive skill positions and are adding playmakers to the LB, and getting Polamalu and Clark back healthy.
Should be a better team this year than they were last year.
Dean, Matt is right that I'm the guy with the Slingbox in Pittsburgh. Feel free to email me your questions at oldfrankenstein@yahoo.com.
It's the time of year for football fans to feel unapologetically optimistc about their team's chances, and I am no exception.
Of course, injuries will tell the tale of next season more than any other single factor. But if the Steelers can escape that plague, they have every reason to expect to win the division. If the O-line proves to be at least mediocre, the Steelers' offense has the potential to be a juggernaut. (One worry: Is Arians up to the task? He hasn't really proved it to us yet, has he?)
I don't think we should lose our bladder control because of the Steelers' tough schedule, either. Some of those seemingly championship-caliber teams the Steelers will be facing will fall apart next season--it's the nature of the beast. They will have problems, too, especially Cleveland. There are better secondaries playing in college than the Browns have. Week 2 will be very telling.
Anyway, unless Ben (and a couple key guys on D) leaves the field on a stretcher, this team can win 10 games, maybe more.
Wow, Randy, I usually think of you as being the voice of reason rather than the resident optimist. Either way, I agree with everything you wrote.
Your post raises another QOTD: what changes would people like to see Arians make?
Another QOTD would be why the amount of comments have tailed off so much since the format change...
QOTD #2 - Because there isn't much going on in Steelers land.
QOTD #1 - Arians game plans pretty well, I thought. I think he needs to work on his end of game strategy. Get that right and the Steelers win a couple of games (Jets, Jags) that they lost.
QsOTD:
Record. The sched is killer & the OL suspect. I suspect the Ravens and Bengals remain bad, so the real question is how much will the Browns improve off FAs? Week 2 already looms as an important matchup.
The pre-bye sched opens with Houston (W), then @ Cleveland and @ Philly, Baltimore (W), and @ Jax (L). I say we come out of the Cleveland-Ohilly road trip with a split, so 3-2 for that stretch.
At Cinci (W) for the sweep, hosting the Giants (W) as part of the post-SB curse for Eli, @ Wash (W) with a win due to coaching changes. So far, so good, 6-2. Then, hosting Indy (L), hosting San Diego (L), and Cinci (W). 7-4. Does NE still ahve our number? Give 'em the home edge (L), and possibly Dallas (L) taking one at Heinz. Then, three wins, @ Balty, @ Tennesse, and Cleveland. 10-6. I think the range is likely 8-8 worst case, 12-4 best case.
Arians: Arians needs to work on getting plays to unfold faster: RBs seeing holes open and hitting them, passing plays trimming time for release of ball. The line won't help, so the talent needs to really pick it up, and the gameplan needs to emphasize speed. Shock and awe. Mendenhall can contribute right away, IMO.
New format: I've personally been very busy, new job, a week off doing home repair stuff, etc. But I've been ghosting the comments.
QOTD: I'd love to see Heath targeted more, 2-3 more throws to him per game. Also, Arians I feel needs to have more flexibility: too often I feel we are doing well, then the D adapts and we struggle for too long before making changes.
On a mostly Pens blog (that also does other Pittsburgh sports) there is a ranking of Pittsburgh sports writers. Feel free to vote for those you like and the CPW award winners who are up for voting as well.
http://
mondesishouse.blogspot.co...popularity.html
Thanks for the tip on the voting at Mondesi's House, Drew. By the way, I wouldn't describe it as a mostly Pens blog, though it probably was during the playoff run.
Number of comments falling off? I'd say yes, it is because of the vomitous new format. Makes me want to puke just thinking about it.
QOTD (a day late, I'm know):
If the o-line is average and Aaron Smith (and Troy, to a lesser extent) stays healthy, they should be 10-6/11-5 and the prototypical "team no one wants to deal with" in the playoffs. If the line is crappy and Smith goes on the IR after Week 7, we're looking at a 5-11 season for the Steelers. That may be oversimplifying things, but I really think those two factors will determine what happens.
>> "Wow, Randy, I usually think of you as being the voice of reason rather than the resident optimist."
Can't be a grump all the time, Easy.
And thanks for kind note. Now I can tell my wife that there's at least one person on earth who thinks I'm reasonable.
Is it football season yet?
Is anybody going to make it up to Latrobe this year for camp? I usually go once or twice a summer, and follow it up with a night of debauchery at Sharky's or Dino's. Though, you have to push your way through huge crowds of people trying to get a glimpse of a UDFA if you want to play some bubble-hockey.
It could be like, fun, or something.
I've gone to camp every year since 2004 for at least one day. I plan on being there sometime this year, and I'm already dreading te monstrous traffic jam that begins around the Westmoreland Mall.
Mondesi's House isn't really a Pens blog, it's a Pittsburgh blog. It only seems that way because the Steelers' season ended in January, the Penguins's ended in June, and the Pirates suck.
Adam...
I've been saying for years that I was going to attend - but I'm in Chicago, and did make it to the HOF Game last year.
I recall receiving a St. Vincent College T-shirt from my Uncle when I was much younger - ahh memories...
Might have to make the trek this year..
I see that Mark Madden is polling at 50/50 at Mondesi's.
I knew there was a reason that I hate people.
Well, 50% of them at least.
...For those of you dying to know, I'm planning on being at Steelers' training camp, probably early.
...Of the 50 people listed on Mondesi's no Wexell or Lolley. Weird.
...Okay, so Matt absolutely hates the new look. Duly noted. Anybody else prefer the old-timey HSS? To be honest, the new look came about because I was trying to figure out a way to make Haloscan not suck (which would've required switching commenting systems -- as you see, that didn't happen), but if there's a movement for the way it was, I'm certainly not married to the new look.
That said, I'm pretty sure the comments have slowed because it's the middle of June. And then the vomitous new look. In that order, though. I think.
I don't think I'd enjoy watching a game at Mondesi's House. In addition to having Madden around 50%, the poll respondents have Prisuta at 70%.
I think there might be an additional reason why the comments are trailing off: there used to be a big comments link (or button, I can't recall) at the top of each post, as well as the teeny one at the very bottom of each one.
With regards to some of those voting results, I noticed that the "approve" and "disapprove" options switched back and forth from being the first choice, seemingly at random. So if someone wasn't paying attention, they might have clicked on "approve" instead of "disapprove" simply because it was the second choice, and they assumed that the second choice would be "disapprove." Of course, there might also be a few accidental "disapprove" votes for the very same reason.
It's Florida '00 all over again. Somebody get James Baker down there, stat.
Let's take the 'comments slowing' as a good sign. Since it's the off-season, it's a GOOD thing that there is nothing to talk about.
Personally I don't mind the new look - but what do I know?
I just checked out part two of the Mondesi's House poll on the Pittsburgh media members and it appears that Wexell and Lolley have been added.
As of right now, Wexell has a 57% approval rating and Lolley is a perfect 100%.
Bill Hillgrove has an 80% and Tunch Ilkin is also at 100%.
Other than Lolley and Ilkin, the only other person that I've seen to have a 100% is Mike Lange.
Comments being slow is a relative thing. I think most of us have commented here for several years now and I am pretty sure that this offseason the comments are coming more frequently than years past.
I can remember offseasons when one comment/week was a blistering pace.
I like the new look!
Put me down for the new look.
DOWN WITH MATT!
DOWN WITH MATT!
DOWN WITH MATT!
I WAS KIDDING!
I WAS KIDDING!
I WAS KIDDING!
Seriously -- I mean I know it doesn't really count as the height of witty sarcasm if no one gets it, but the change in formats is barely noticeable.
Anyway, the other reason everyone should like me again is that I was the person (or one of them, at least) that got Wex and Lolley added to the poll Chez Mondesi.
A HSS day at Latrobe would be awesome. (No sarcasm intended this time.)
By the way, anyone else watching Euro 2008?
I am workinng hard at trying to make it to Latrobe on either August 1st or 2nd.
Matt, I am of course watching all of Germany's games and some of the other important and good(*) games in part.
(*)I've seen the final hour of Russia-Netherlands, but only five minutes of Italy-Spain, so I'm doing quite well lately in deciding which games are 'important and good'. 
I know this is a Steelers site. But George Carlin died Sunday and I was wondering what everyone thinks about the guy. I'm a huge fan and he ranks number one on my personal list of best comedians of all-time.
My favorite thing he did has to be the airport security bit he did pre-9/11. It's not only funny, it's prophetic. It's on the "You are All Diseased" album.
I like George Carlin, but I wouldn't say he was my all-time favorite. He's certainly one of the most important standup comedians though, in terms of the impact he had on comedy and even on society more generally.
Many of you know that I absolutely love listening to Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan afternoons on Sirius NFL Radio...here is another reason why:
A Browns fan called in this afternoon to discuss how excited he was about the Browns and their chances for this year - unless you've been under a rock you know that the Browns have quickly become media darlings for this year - in any event, Tim Ryan stated '...I realize you are excited but do you realistically think they'll get to double digit wins with 7 playoff teams on their schedule...?'
Pat Kirwan chimed in with '...I really don't like your defensive backs...don't get me wrong, I like the Browns and will be cheering for them but Carson Palmer and Big Ben will have their way with them. I mean they do match up well with Baltimore..'
Real football for real football fans..I love it!
Count me as a Carlin fan. I quoted him here once under a different pseudonym, which led to Ryan posting one of his favorite Carlin clips: http://heelssoxsteelers.blogspot...rge-
carlin.html
Oh, and it is pretty funny to scroll through the comments from back then (Feb 07), including Jesse bringing up Jared Zabransky's name, an early war between FW and someone who has surfaced occasionally since for the sole purpose of ripping FW, and Billick signing a 4 year extension. Good times.
George Carlin used to play Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station. You know. Thomas The Tank Engine.
> George Carlin used to play Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station. You know. Thomas The Tank Engine.
I remember that, because it was my kids' favorite show at the time (I'm old). I thought this to be an ironic wink to the perhaps somewhat bored parents viewing the show, that the show's authority figure (and "responsible" public servant no less) was in real life a one-time drug addict and prior challenger of broadcasting decency standards. And I loved it.
As far as I'm concerned, Carlin was the pre-eminent comedian of my lifetime, and the runner-up isn't very close...
Lots of great comedians, but how many of them really made you think?
You know what you never see? A nun with a harpoon. - G. Carlin
Site seen in Cincinnati (yes I'm here for the day on business)....
Gentleman pushing a stroller rockin' a white Duce Staley jersey...
SteelerBill,
Duce was awesome for 7 games in 2004. I wish I had one.
Men....
The hiring of Bob Papa to replace Bryant Gumbel on NFLN games is a very good thing. Papa is a good listen on Sirius NFL Radio and is also the PBP guy for the Giants:
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2...-bryant-gumbel/
Good article today on Steel City Insider about UDFA Martavius Prince. Although he seems smallish for a nose tackle, with so little depth on our d-line, he may have a pretty good chance of sticking with the team. During the interview he sounded well-grounded, focused, and earnest.
His specs:
"Prince, a 6-2, 285-pound nose tackle from Southern Mississippi is... a run-stuffing nose tackle – he was named Conference USA’s top run-stuffing tackle last season by the Sporting News... A two-year starter for the Golden Eagles, the Fort Pierce, Fla., native registered 49 tackles and a team-high 15 tackles for a loss as a junior. He followed that up with 40 tackles – 11 for a loss – and 6.5 sacks as a senior."
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