It's official. Time to change avatar's from Rudolph to the Steelers!

[derbstyron]

The next Superbowl champs.

Get ready for number 5!!!



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[MalachiConstant]

1. ha!

despite the game being at heinz, they'll still have to go through new england. and there's no chance they'll beat a healthy new england.

[derbstyron]

2. Of course

Because we *all* know that *none* of the steelers were injured for that game.

dillion was hurt...yada..yada..yada

[MalachiConstant]

3. actually

We lost our best Cornerback (Ty Law) in addition to the CB on the opposite side (Tyrone Poole) who did not start. our starting runningback (Corey Dillon) and fullback (Patrick Pass) were out, in addition to a starting OT (Tom Ashworth), and one of our best WR's (Deion Branch).

[derbstyron]

4. Yes, I know

The Steelers, just as well, lost their starting CB, Kendrell Bell, one of the game's premier young ILB and run stuffers and NT Casey Hampton. THE best NT in the league and our BEST run stuffer who stops *everything* at the line.

Duce Staley was also out, or he was banged up and not 100%, I cant remember.

I dont deny that the Pats had injuries. But the Steelers had them as well. And they were just as devastating. Many of us thought the season was over (esp. with Hampton).

The Steelers have managed to adjust (helped with the stunningly strange play of a QB with no NFL experience, no doubt).

Regardless, I think it would be a great game and I hope it happens!

[MalachiConstant]

5. um....

true that Hampton was a good NT, and surely the Steelers miss him... But as for the best NT, well the Steelers are one of the few teams in the league that play the 3-4 Defense. Meaning, that they are one of the few teams that have a "true" NT, as opposed to using two defensive tackles in a 4-3 alignment. ESPN actually lists the Steelers as the only team having a NT.

As for Staley, he rushed 25 times for 125 yards. He played the entire game and was perfectly healthy.

However, I do agree it should be a good game. but i think a different patriots team will be on the field in janary. Regardless, it should be a better contest than the super bowl. most likely whoever comes out of the afc should beat the weak nfc representative.

[Delarage]

6. Will it be the N.England team that played Miami?

That would be awesome :)

[derbstyron]

7. thanks

It's been a while and I didnt remember about Staley. That may have been the before his first injury but I think it was after and he was a little banged up.

as for Hampton, you are correct. I thought there were still 3 or 4 other NTs left in the league. However, his loss cannot be understated. They seem to have been able to overcome the issue of stopping the run (primarily by getting the LBs more involved).

But its his line blocking they miss. He would clog up the middle, tying up the lineman to allow the linebackers to get to the QB. I think this is the main reason they are struggling in that department. It also exposes their secondary, which isnt very good.

The pressure hides their weaknesses. If they don't get pressure on Brady, or Manning, or.... and/or someone picks up their blitz then the secondary will get shredded. I would be willing to bet you now, that if they lose, it will be because of this reason.

I hope that you are wrong about the game (lousy, as usual, superbowl) but fear, and expect, that you will be right.

[Delarage]

9. How dare you

admit any weaknesses to the opposition!!!

But seriously---the secondary is not really a "weakness." It's a MAJOR upgrade from last year. Deshea Townsend is an awesome cover guy. Troy i s pro-bowl material. Hope is fast and a hard-hitter. Willie has stepped up again to save the season for us. Chad Scott is, in my opinion, the only weakness.

Also--Ike Taylor. Lightning fast and athletic. Once he gains a comfort level, he'll be a major asset. Remember the interception against N.E.? Diving through the air, over someone's back, snatching the ball? You don't see plays like that often.

[derbstyron]

10. Keep in mind

that when I say "weakness" I am comparing that to the rest of the team.
Other than secondary, I'm not really concerned about any aspects of the team.

Now to your specific points:

- I actually guess I have to consider myself a Chad Scott "fan" it seems. I'm not saying that he was great, just competent. And fans who knock him always seem to misrember that back when he was playing with Washington it was always Washington who got the knocks for getting beaten on plays. Scott was also a better hitter and reun defender than any CB we have now. People who knock Scott should remember just how truly awful the secondary was before *he* got there. Frightening, isn't it?

- I agree about Troy. He seemed to get knocked as a dissapointment las year because he didn't produce immediately. I never understood that argument that 1st rounders should immediately produce. I mean, other than the top 5 or 10, no one seems to remember that these players have to disavow themselves of an old system and then learn an entirely new system.

- I agree with you about all the other players (Taylor, Hope, etc).
I would add Farrior to this list. His play, as well, has been stellar. And he, too, deserves a pro bowl selection. My only concern is Townsend and his size. I agree that he has been excellent in coverage but when he gets beat it usually against bigger, more physical receivers.

- Are you truly so confident about the secondary that you would let Peyton Manning have a shot at them. I'm not. Thats why the only two teams in the playoffs that concern me are the Pats and the Colts.

- The last concern is the coaching. I think Cowher is a good coach but his playoff decisions disturb me. The teams often seem to come out flat (unacceptable for any reason) and the laying of eggs at home in AFC championships is well known. I also dont understand his playcalling, which, other than the superbowl against the cowboys (that onside kick alone, will go down as a great call), has been quite confusing to me.

- Belicheck is another concern. A strategy mastermind, what would he come up with for Ben. At least Ben, thankfully, doesn't wilt under pressure, like some former QB I could name.

We'll soon find out! Let's go get number 5.

[Delarage]

11. You make some good points.

I meant to mention Farrior with the pass defense, since he comes up with big picks.

Townsend did O.K. against T.O.

I'm not worried about Manning (I probably just cursed the Steelers), but he seems easily rattled to me. San Diego had him all flustered today and a special teams play saved them. He likes to adjust to the defense, but our defense is often changing at the last second.

I do worry about the Pats, but their defense isn't much better than the Ravens and we handled them. Every "Big Game" we've had so far we've risen to the challenge (Pats, Eagles, Ravens). That being said, I think the Steelers can handle them. The Pats like to come out with novel schemes (they could try all safeties against the Steelers) but Ben is remarkably mature and improvisational--he'll take whatever is there (unlike that other QB you mentioned).

I think Belichek is better at making adjustments than Cowher is, but he's not God. He can and has been out-coached in the past (Remember him in Cleveland?).

I agree that Cowher's post-season work has been sub-par. We had the Cowboys by the throat and let go--all the momentum was with us and we could have run it down their thoats. I think LeBeau, though, has added some much-needed reasoning--the Steelers have not been letting up on people, defensively, this year. They are aggressive the whole game. They know an occasional 20 yard gain will be offset if they keep after it and force a turnover.

[derbstyron]

12. You make some excellent points as well

I agree that Townsend is having a great year and he was pretty good against T.O. I rather not find out against the colts, though, thank you very much.

Having said that, I agree with you about manning. I have watched him in the past couple of games and he wilts and gets rattled. If the Steelers bring consistent pressure and/or blitz he will have a long day.

Good points about the Pats defense. We ran on them before and we should be able to do so again. I, personally, don't feel that this pats defense is as strong as the one that beat us in the last championship game but I'm sure many pats fans will tell me different.

I'm also tired of Pats fans whining about not having Dillion and their CB's...yada..yada..yada. They *always* conveniently forget that the Steelers had lost Scott (starting CB), Hampton (stuffs run, the integral player in freeing up lineman for the blitz), Kendrell Bell (inside LB and our *premier* run stuffer) and others. But, hey, they dont count and the Pats Dillion and CB's do. Why is it our fault the vaunted Bilecheck cant make lineup adjustments as good as the Steelers/Cowher?

I am also pleased, but not surprised, by Bettis' play. I never thought he was washed up, just on the decline and good for another couple of years. I always thought his problem last year was a lame ass offensive line, which made Maddox's more difficult(someone else who I think has been unfairly maligned). The potential of a healthy Staley and the Bus should give any team (or belicheck) nightmares. In short, its hard for Brady or Manning to kill the secondary if they never get the damn ball.

Ben seems to be calm (unlike the other QB). I think we may be ok. And, undoubtedly, are at this position for many years to come.

As far as Cowher goes, I should give him his fair due on a couple of points. First his, and his staffs, ability to make lineup changes. Every year we seem to lose someone important to injury (Woodson, Lloyd, Hampton) and the staff always figures it out. That, simply, is good coaching. One other thing. I agree with you about the super bowl but in defense of cowher if O'Donnell doesn't panic against those blitzes, and the line had picked them both times, and throw those two interceptions. Also, I think the Steelers were nervous for about1 1/2 quarters which also did them in.

I agree with you on LeBeau and all other matters. One caveat: I'm not sure why Steelers fans are happy with home field advantage. It doesn't seem to have done much in the past.

But I'm more confident this year than in many. Other than a rookie QB (admittedly, an important position) and a questionable secondary, I think this is the best Steeler team since 95. And we all know in what game that team ended up.

Here's to number 5:hi: :hi:

[JVS]

8. Go stillers