NFL Week 5

[SomecallmeTim]

You know what I mean. While Bettis may not change the fortune of the club, what he brought to the team might very well be those seemingly simple things like the O-Line knowing they could get that tough third and one.

Maybe they are playing different without him.

I think you're right on in that department - a third and 1 with Bettis in the backfield is a pretty favorable situation. What's frustrating is that the line is composed of the same group that has been pretty dominant over the last couple of years, and the Chargers threw them around like rag dolls on Sunday night.

The only qualm I have about placing so much emphasis on the loss of Bettis is that last year, he was essentially a role-player. A team leader, too...but his overall workload was far diminished from what it had been in years past. The Steelers have been bad in a lot of situations, many of which Jerome wouldn't even be on the field for if he were still on the team. That's my point, basically.

 

[cheezewiz]

I just realized! It's past 10-10. I can take that awful sig Jive made me post down!!!!!!!

Jive...here's a thought for you brotha....

It looks like the Bears are gonna walk away with the North. They may very well wrap up homefield early. If THAT is the case,
they will have NOTHING to play for the last game of the season when they play the Packers again. The Packers will have NOTHING to play for except the pride of sending their rivals off to the playoffs on a losing note. I can see the Bears sitting a bunch of starters, and the Packers playing inspired ball. I do believe I should start thinking of an appropriate signature for YOU to have during the Bears playoff run!!

 

[page]

Well.....the Broncos won!

 

[MJ5150]

The loss of Bettis is HUGE. He changes the entire Pittsburgh offense. I won't lay it all on him, because Ben is clearly not recovered from his surgery and accident. Ben looks weak on the field, and timid. He's going to have to get back to full physical strength and lose that fear of taking a hit.

Back to Bettis......how many times did we see 3rd and long last year? Not as much as we have so far this year. With Bettis on the field, the offense had an awesome change of pace running game. The speed of Parker on first down, and the power of Bettis on second or the other way around. The Steeler offense was used to converting 3rd and four or less all the time, not these continual 3rd and seven or eight. 3rd and shorts were relatively simple with Bettis on the field. Bettis either pounds you into the ground, or Ben hits a WR for a short slant. The defense could not pack the line with Bettis on the field. Now they can, and Ben can't make the throws he did last year when he isn't healthy.

I have no idea what is going on with the defense. All I can come up with so far is a serious lack of tackling ability. Everyone wants to make the big hit now, instead of a solid tackle. I'm seeing all kinds of hitting going on, but not a lot of wrap up tackling. Even Porter has been guilty, and it hurts me to say that.

The Steelers secondary needs to watch film of Champ Bailey. He is the top tackling defensive back in the league.

-Mike

 

[SomecallmeTim]

I have no idea what is going on with the defense. All I can come up with so far is a serious lack of tackling ability. Everyone wants to make the big hit now, instead of a solid tackle. I'm seeing all kinds of hitting going on, but not a lot of wrap up tackling. Even Porter has been guilty, and it hurts me to say that.
-Mike

I've been noticing this too. Polamalu in particular is missing tackles like crazy in an effort to try and lay people out.

 

[jive1]

Jive...here's a thought for you brotha....

It looks like the Bears are gonna walk away with the North. They may very well wrap up homefield early. If THAT is the case,
they will have NOTHING to play for the last game of the season when they play the Packers again. The Packers will have NOTHING to play for except the pride of sending their rivals off to the playoffs on a losing note. I can see the Bears sitting a bunch of starters, and the Packers playing inspired ball. I do believe I should start thinking of an appropriate signature for YOU to have during the Bears playoff run!!

Never thought about that........

By that time, I might have so much pity on you that I may not mind the sig. It may be the only highlight of your season.

 

[cheezewiz]

Never thought about that........

By that time, I might have so much pity on you that I may not mind the sig. It may be the only highlight of your season.

It may be my only crumb of enjoyment this season, so you bet I'll enjoy it!

(while I certainly don't enjoy seeing the Bears field a great team, I do appreciate good football, and it's not nearly as painful as it would be if those purple pansies in Minnehaha
were actually good)

 

[Kelly Lee]

Speaking of the Steelers, I think something else is going on.

Personally, I think Ben was injured more in his motorcycle accident than eveyone knows. He played well when the line and everything wasn't perfect his first year so why not now? It's just my opinion with no factual basis but it sure makes me wonder about him.

BTW, I hope I'm wrong and that's coming from someone who hasn't liked the Steelers since '95. I hate to see anyone go out that way.

 

[MJ5150]

Speaking of the Steelers, I think something else is going on.

Personally, I think Ben was injured more in his motorcycle accident than eveyone knows.

I mentioned that a few posts above yours. He was brought back too quickly. It wasn't like Batch stunk up the place in the one game he played.

-Mike

 

[Kelly Lee]

Mike, what I'm talking about is that maybe he suffered some permanent brain damage. That's something he isn't going to just recover from.

His whole demeanor has changed when he is on the field. It's like he can't think fast enough and he doesn't appear to physically move fast enough either.

 

[v-12]

It looks like the Bears are gonna walk away with the North. They may very well wrap up homefield early. If THAT is the case,
they will have NOTHING to play for the last game of the season when they play the Packers again. The Packers will have NOTHING to play for except the pride of sending their rivals off to the playoffs on a losing note.

the way the bears are playing right now (and with their schedule), they could be playing the last game to keep the corks in the dolphin's champagne.....

 

[jive1]

the way the bears are playing right now (and with their schedule), they could be playing the last game to keep the corks in the dolphin's champagne.....

The other possibility is that the Packers lose to the Bears second team.

 

[cheezewiz]

The other possibility is that the Packers lose to the Bears second team.

That would TRULY suck.

 

[Gard]

That would TRULY suck.

But, isn't that what Fluffers usually do?








(Hey, I can toss poo like any other NFL monkey, and do it with a background of really KNOWING what sucking is as a Saints fan! )

 

[jive1]

I've been noticing this too. Polamalu in particular is missing tackles like crazy in an effort to try and lay people out.

I don't think this is anything new. Polumalu can make the big play, and lay out the big hits that make the highlight reels. But just as often, he's out of position and misses a tackle to make the big hit. But he's still young, and has tons of potential to develop.

 

[Morrolan]

I don't think this is anything new. Polumalu can make the big play, and lay out the big hits that make the highlight reels. But just as often, he's out of position and misses a tackle to make the big hit. But he's still young, and has tons of potential to develop.

Why did I just get a disturbing mental picture of Ronnie Lott as Yoda?

 

[Gard]

Why did I just get a disturbing mental picture of Ronnie Lott as Yoda?

Any "up and coming" DB that wouldn't give a non-vital body part up to learn from the Yoda of NFL DB's is a fool.

The only thing I could think of as dumber is any "up and coming" DB that actually sought out the advice of that putz Deion Sanders.

 

[jive1]

Wow the Steelers brought back Chad Brown.

 

[SomecallmeTim]

I don't think this is anything new. Polumalu can make the big play, and lay out the big hits that make the highlight reels. But just as often, he's out of position and misses a tackle to make the big hit. But he's still young, and has tons of potential to develop.

Take it from the guy who has watched every game Polamalu has ever played in a Steelers jersey - I've seen him miss more easy tackles already this year than probably all of last year combined. I'm sure he'll come out of it at some point, though - he's too talented not to.

Edit: Just saw the note about Chad Brown - I loved the guy as a Steeler and even as a Seahawk, but I'll be very surprised if he has much of an impact. Any New England fans with info about how Chad looked last year?

 

[MJ5150]

Wow the Steelers brought back Chad Brown.

Embarassing. He's been out of gas for a couple years now. I'm sure he'll make a big play on his first series, based purely off the adrenaline rush of being on the field. After that, he'll be taking up space on the field.

-Mike