Grimm Finally Gets The HOF Call
By Namaste | February 6, 2010
It was announced today that Skins great Russ Grimm will be inducted into the Hall of Fame after 10 years on the ballot. Grimm was a 4-time pro bowl guard and a member of the all decade team of the 1980s. He was also the most celebrated member of the Hogs and won 3 Superbowl rings with the Skins from 1981-1991. Since his retirement, Grimm has been an offensive assistant for the Skins, Steelers, and Cardinals. Congrats to the first Hog in the Hall.
Topics: Redskins | 3 Comments »
Roethlisberger better than Manning
By Dutch | February 5, 2010
It is undoubtedly a very small group that would take Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to lead their team instead of Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts. But even if you do fall into that select group, there is a good chance that you won’t admit it.
After all, admitting such a thing publicly would only invite ridicule. If you live in southwestern Pennsylvania, as I do, you would be considered a homer to state such an opinion. Your credibility would immediately be attacked. You could be chastised, mocked, publicly humiliated, and perhaps even spat upon for considering such argument.
Yet, through it all, the facts are clearly on your side.
The following is a question-and-answer exchange I recently had with a Manning backer on this subject. Enjoy!
Manning Backer: You only want to talk about Ben having more rings up to this point. That doesn’t tell the whole story. Ben having more rings has nothing to do with him being better than Manning. Can’t you see this?
Dutch Wydo: Roethlisberger has one more Super Bowl victory up to this point because he out-performed Manning at Indianapolis in the 2005 playoffs. Roethlisberger came out throwing and put two early touchdowns on the board and staked his team to what turned out to be an insurmountable 14-point lead. That was the difference in the game and the reason why Ben has one more ring up to this point.
MB: Ok, How many rings do you think Manning would have if he was the quarterback of the Steelers this decade?
DW: Just one. I don’t believe he could have won a Super Bowl behind the current offensive line of the Steelers.
MB: Cmon! Don’t you see that Ben has been in a better situation in Pittsburgh?
DW: Incorrect. Roethlisberger won a Super Bowl with an undrafted free agent at running back. He was throwing to guys like Cedric Wilson and Antwaan Randle El. He even had a rookie tight end starting on that ‘05 team. This is hardly Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark.
MB: I’m sorry, but you need to consider everything. Just look at the stats. What do the stats tell you?
DW: I’m sorry, but maybe you have not considered everything. What if Roethlisberger had played his home games in a dome? Ben has played seven indoor games and boasts a passer rating of 113. He has 14 TD passes against only five interceptions. Roethlisberger has completed 68 percent of his throws indoors at a majestic 9.4 yards per attempt. Unfortunately, he is stuck playing at Heinz Field and has to endure mud, rain, snow, and wind, along with a revolving set of receivers throughout most of his career. Yeah, great situation! Now, let me ask you a question. If you take both quarterbacks and have to choose one to play a road game, which one would you take?
MB: I think the answer is obvious. I’m taking Manning, as he is superior.
DW: Really? What evidence do you have to support that? Roethlisberger has a 91.6 career road passer rating. Manning has a 91.6 career road passer rating. Your perception that Manning is so superior simply does not equal reality, my friend.
MB: You just don’t get it do you? Ben has had a great running game in place for most of his career.
DW: Edgerrin James rushed for more than 1,500 yards four times throughout his time with Manning and the Colts. Roethlisberger has never had a 1,500-yard running back.
MB: Defense, Defense, Defense, Dutch. Peyton would have won at least three Super Bowls with that Steeler defense. C’mon! Can’t you see this?
DW: In eight post season losses, Manning’s offense averaged just 13 points per game. As to how many points his offense scored in each loss, here is the list: 16, 17, 0, 14, 3, 18, 24, 17. Now ask yourself a question. Was his defense really the problem? Even in two playoff losses to the Patriots and Jaguars, Roethlisberger’s offense was able to put 29 and 27 points, respectively, on the scoreboard.
MB: So you are trying to say that Ben is the reason they won their playoff games?
DW: Roethlisberger has the highest postseason third-down passer rating of 121.5 last five years. Should I credit Dick LeBeau for that? Besides, before this postseason started, Roethlisberger had a better passer rating, more yards per attempt, and a higher completion percentage in the postseason than Manning. You clearly underrate Roethlisberger.
to continue reading this conversation, click here……
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers, Uncategorized | 26 Comments »
Casey Hampton going down wrong path
By Dutch | February 3, 2010
As you may know by now, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Casey Hampton will become a free agent on March 5.
The team’s front office has two options available to keep Hampton from hitting the open market.
The first one is that they could negotiate a long-term contract of approximately four years and hope to get a deal done before next month.
The other option is that the Steelers could elect to make Hampton their exclusive franchise player which would guarantee his rights with the Steelers for one more year. By making Hampton the franchise player, the Steelers would have to pay him the average of the top five salaries ($6 million) at his position for next season.
The latter option would indeed make the most sense because Hampton is 33 years old and probably has only one or two quality years left in him. Furthermore, the Steelers don’t have a young player at that position being groomed to take over for Hampton.
If the Steelers believe they still have the makings of a championship caliber team, retaining Hampton’s services for another year seems paramount.
The problem, however, is that Casey Hampton doesn’t want the franchise tag. He wants a long term deal or nothing at all. Hampton has gone out of his way to say so. He said that a one-year contract worth $6 million would be considered a slap in his face for all that he has done for the organization. Hampton added that there would be problems if he is franchised and denied the opportunity to seek out the highest bidder in free agency.
Well isn’t that just too bad, Casey. Should we have a pity party for you now?
Let’s see. The United States’ unemployment rate is near an all-time high. Thousands of Americans have lost their homes over the past five years. Haiti just lost a couple hundred thousand people to an deadly earthquake and the survivors are left without much of anything. But Casey Hampton would consider it a slap in the face to get only $6 million to play for one season. That’s pretty bold stuff coming from a guy who can’t even play all three downs.
Maybe Hampton should have worried about his contract status when he kept coming into camp 40 and 50 pounds overweight. Perhaps if former Head Coach Bill Cowher and current Head Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t have to babysit him for the last five years, Hampton would have had a new contract by now.
Not only that, but Hampton is going down a long and ugly road by virtually ordering the Steelers to keep the franchise tag off him. Does he really think Pittsburgh will be sympathetic to an often out of shape, part-time player that kicks and screams like a baby because he is “only” getting paid $6 million.
To play football?
For one season?
Good luck with that.
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers, Uncategorized | 17 Comments »
Do NFL General Managers have a shelf life?
By Dutch | February 2, 2010
I can remember the great coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Bill Walsh, saying that coaches have about ten years until they need to move on.
I wonder if it’s the same with general managers.
Kevin Colbert, the Steelers’ Director of Football Operations, has basically been the team’s general manager for the past decade. His work leading up to the Steelers 2005 Super Bowl win was excellent.
Over the past three years, however, Colbert seems to have lost his touch, as he has made some puzzling decisions.
1) Despite having a myriad of other needs, Colbert drafted linebacker Lawrence Timmons when they didn’t need a replacement for Larry Foote. Three years later, it is still questionable to whether Timmons is an every down player at that position.
2) He has destroyed any room the Steelers had under the salary cap by making offensive lineman Max Starks the franchise player for two consecutive years, which paid him $8 million or so per season. It wasn’t as if Starks was a highly sought-after player that would have received a contract offer in free agency that the Steelers could not have competed with. After all, they were apparently willing to give him $8 million for a season. This was a situation ultimately brought on by the loss of All-Pro left guard Alan Faneca. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to have franchised Faneca and worked out a long term deal with Starks? We all know that Faneca did not want the franchise tag, but the situation might have just forced him to work out a long term deal with the Steelers that both parties could have lived with. There was no need to franchise Starks. This was just a knee-jerk move by Colbert who was panicked that he might lose another veteran offensive lineman in successive years.
3) The drafting of backup tight ends and punters in the third and fourth rounds of the 2007 draft made no sense considering that the offensive line needed rebuilding and the defensive line was beginning to age.
4) The decision to roll with William Gay at cornerback and let Bryant McFadden walk didn’t turn out that well.
It would be difficult to ignore the situation the Steelers are faced with. They are in a position where they have to consider resigning Hampton, cornerback Deshea Townsend, and safety Ryan Clark to keep this team ultra-competitive.
Let’s face the facts here. It is not the Steelers’ way is to sign 30+ year old veterans to long term deals. They have always had young guys behind their key veterans that were being groomed to take over.
But, last year, the Steelers did not have a replacement for James Farrior and were forced to sign the aging linebacker to a longer contract.
They do not have young replacements for Hampton, Townsend, Clark, or even Bryan McFadden (as it appears that William Gay, who was exposed in theMonday night game against Denver, is highly questionable to become anything more than a weakness in the secondary). Those are a lot key defensive positions that have no clear direction in the future.
In addition, the much-maligned offensive line is still much-maligned.
With Colbert’s inability to get much from the draft after the second round the last four years, you have to wonder where all these players are going to come from. It’s not a time to panic, but I can’t say that I’m not concerned.
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers | 24 Comments »
STEEL CURTAIN RADIO #59: FOR BEN’S SAKE …..PLEASE RUN THE BALL
By Lance Williams | January 28, 2010
Click Link to Listen: http://traffic.libsyn.com/wtcb/SCR_59.mp3
Show Topics:
- Why the Steelers Need to Run It More?
- The Importance of the Draft
- Why the Steelers Young Players Need to Step Up?
- Why I wouldn’t re-sign Casey Hampton?
- Why Willie Colon will retire as a Steeler?
- Why Jeff Reed will get Tagged?
Master Feeds for all the shows on Whatchatalkinbout.com
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers, podcast | 2 Comments »
Pittsburgh Penguins: The Great, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
By Dutch | January 26, 2010
THE GOOD
Pens are 26-11 against teams that allow more than 29.5 shots per game
Pens are 29-11 against teams that allow more than 2.55 goals per game.
—————————————————
THE GREAT
Pens are a Dominant 23-6 against teams that allow more than 29.5 shots per game, AND allow more than 2.55 goals per game
Here are thost teams and the pens record against each one of them so far this season.
col 1-0
NYR 3-0
Habs 3-0
caps 0-1
stl 1-0
Fla 3-1
Isle 2-1
Tampa 1-1
Ducks 2-0
Atl 2-0
CBS 1-0
Car 1-1
Edm 1-0
Tor 2-1
———————————————
THE BAD
Pens are just 6-12 against good defensive teams that allow 29.5 shots per game or less on the season. (Note, 4 of their wins are against Philly,
Pens are 3-10 against good defensive teams that allow 2.55 goals per game or less.
———————————————————
THE UGLY
Pens are 0-7 against great defensive teams that allow 29.5 or less shots per game, combined with a defensive goals allowed per game average of 2.55 or less.
Those teams are listed below
(team, goals against, shots against, pens record)
Devils 2.18, 27.9 0-4
Chi 2.23, 24.0 0-1
Van 2.41, 28.9 0-1
Phx 2.52, 29.2 0-1
Pens are 0-4 against explosive teams averaging 3+ goals per game or more on the season.
Caps 0-1
Sharks 0-1
Van 0-1
Chi 0-1
Conclusion
Pens have not shown they can beat great defensive teams at all this season. They must avoid Jersey
at all costs some playoff time unless the Pens play changes for the better.
They are also winless against great offensive teams that average 3 or more goals per game on offense.
3 of the 4 teams that the Pens have lost to in this category also have some good qualities on defense.
And teams with bad defenses have little chance of beating the Pens.
Topics: NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sports | 12 Comments »
No Matter How Cool You Think You Are
By i-Maque | January 22, 2010
This guy has you beat.
Topics: Random Musings | 1 Comment »
STEEL CURTAIN RADIO #58: WHEN ART ROONEY II SPEAKS .. FOLKS LISTEN
By Lance Williams | January 22, 2010
Click Link to Listen: http://traffic.libsyn.com/wtcb/SCR_58.mp3
Show Topics:
- The Steelers Coaching Carousel
- Art Rooney II Speaks On: The Running Game
- Art Rooney II Speaks On: The Arian’s Issue
- Art Rooney II Speaks On: Tomlin’s Ability to Coach
- Art Rooney II Speaks On: The Importance of The 3 Game Winning Streak
- Art Rooney II Speaks On: Why the Steelers Should Still be Contenders?
- Art Rooney II Speaks On: Tomlin’s Reaction to Losing
- Art Rooney II Speaks On: Tomlin’s Ability to Coach and Prepare Team to Win
- Art Rooney II Speaks On: The Steelers Future
Master Feeds for all the shows on Whatchatalkinbout.com
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers, podcast | 2 Comments »
Chris Foerster: New Offensive Line Coach for the Washington Redskins
By Biggie, Resident Stat Boy | January 21, 2010
PGH’s Resident Stat Boy makes a rare appearance to take a closer look at the most recent addition to the Redskins’ coaching staff.
As a fan of the Washington Redskins, one of my primary concerns after the disaster that was the 2009 season is the performance of our putrid offense line. With the coming of Mike Shanahan, one of the league’s greatest offensive minds who is well known for the high-caliber offensive fronts he put together while with Denver, I am hopeful that the misery players like Stephon Heyer and Mike Williams put us through is at an end. So, when I heard today that the Redskins had hired San Francisco offensive line coach Chris Foerster to do the same job here, I was curious: who the hell is this person?
Apparently, Chris Foerster was the offensive line coach in Tampa from 1996 to 2001, offensive coordinator in Miami in 2004, O-line coach again in Baltimore from 2005 through 2007 and then in San Francisco from 2008 on. He’s also worked in Minnesota (as an assistant) and in Indianapolis (coaching tight ends). Having no idea who this guy is or how good he is at his job, I decided to take a look back at the performance of his units. While noting the overall results of the offenses he worked in, I paid special attention to stats dependent on the offensive line – sacks and rushing yards. Here’s the raw data I found:
Topics: Football, NFL, Redskins | 7 Comments »
A Day with Dan Bylsma part 2
By Dagger | January 19, 2010
Topics: NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sports | 1 Comment »
Sleeping on the job
By admin | January 16, 2010
All I can say here is What The Hell. This video captures Green Bay Packer DC (and former Steeler coordinator) Dom Capers snoozing during last weekend’s playoff game with the Arizona Cardinals.
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers | 2 Comments »
Roethlisberger given more freedom than any other QB in the NFL?
By Dagger | January 15, 2010
Found this in the most recent Parade Magazine.
Q: Do any NFL quarterbacks still call their own plays? If so, which ones?—Mike Cabin, Bothell, Wash.
A: Thanks to helmet microphones, very few do so anymore. CBS commentator and former New York Giants great Phil Simms [pictured] tells us: “The two that come closest are [the Colts’] Peyton Manning and [the Steelers’] Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger probably has called more of his own plays this year than anybody in pro football. But the quarterback, no matter how successful and powerful he is, has to work within the rules.” And coaches rule.
This comes on the heels of rumors that the only reason Bruce Arians wasn’t fired last week was because Roethlisberger wanted him kept aboard.
This begs the question….is Roethlisberger pro-Bruce Arians simply because he gives Ben the freedom to call a lot of his own plays? I just read a recent article that suggested some in the Steeler organization feel as if Big Ben has too much of a say in how things go down in the “Burgh. This comment from Phil Simms only adds more fuel to the fire that perhaps Big Ben likes Arians not because he’s a good OC but because he gives him an unprecedented amount of freedom.
Of Course it’s always possible that Big Ben is a Bruce Arians fan because he has a great working relationship with the guy, he won a Super Bowl with BA, they’re good friends, and he’s becoming an elite passer under BA’s offense.
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers | 8 Comments »
Haiti
By i-Maque | January 14, 2010
A little do-goodery for today… A few bucks will go a long way.
Topics: Random Musings | No Comments »
STEEL CURTAIN RADIO #57: WHO SAVED ARIANS? BEN OR TOMLIN
By Lance Williams | January 14, 2010
Click Link to Download
http://traffic.libsyn.com/wtcb/SCR_57.mp3
Mafia Wars Players Learn To Level Up From 1-300 and Become A Master Boss in ONE DAY!
Show Topics:
- Who Saved Arians?
- Does Mike Tomlin believe in the Running Game?
- The Arians Soap Opera Explained
- Did Arians use Zierlein as a scapegoat?
- Why Offensive Line is the Steelers Biggest Need?
- Why the Steelers window maybe closing?
- Why Tomlin wants to imitate the Pats?
- Why deciding the next O-Line coach may decide the season?
- Why The Steelers need to go CB shopping?
- Who will be the next QB coach?
Thanks for all of the Calls.
Master Feeds for all the shows on Whatchatalkinbout.com
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers | 12 Comments »
New Header
By admin | January 13, 2010
We’ll be messing around with new Headers for the next few days. We’ll toss some up there and see if anything sticks….there is probably a real good chance we’ll stick with the old one.
Topics: Uncategorized | 13 Comments »
Steelers sign another CFL player
By Dagger | January 12, 2010
Grabbing Stefan Logan worked out pretty well for the Steelers so perhaps they’re on to something with these CFL signings. Today the Steelers signed LB Derrick Doggett from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers/Oregon State. He looks to be a special teams ace (Doggett finished the 2009 CFL season ranked 4th in the league in special teams tackles) and perhaps a decent backup LB. We shall see. Doggett was not drafted due to the fact that scouts were not sold on his ability to play OLB in the NFL and wanted to see him convert to Strong Safety in the months leading up to the draft.
Here is what NFLDRAFTSCOUT put up on Doggett prior to the 2008 NFL draft:
*Earned 2nd team All-Pac 10 for three years in a row at LB
*Nagurski Award Watch List for the nation’s top defensive player
*Started all 13 games at OLB in 2007 for an Oregon State defense that lead the nation in rush defense
*Defensive MVP of the Emerald Bowl in 2007 vs Maryland
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers | 10 Comments »
A day in the life of Pens coach Dan Bylsma
By Dagger | January 9, 2010
good stuff right here. You never really see this type of behind the scenes look when it comes to hockey. Hard Knocks on HBO has taken us inside NFL locker rooms but we dont get to see inside the NHL very often.
Topics: NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins, Sports | No Comments »
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
By i-Maque | January 8, 2010
I actually have mixed feelings about this. It is, after all, one of my top cherished memories from my childhood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoILTG8UF-A
Topics: Movies, Random Musings | 4 Comments »
Not Your Father’s Gun Commercial
By i-Maque | January 7, 2010
Topics: Random Musings | No Comments »
Special Teams coach fired
By Dagger | January 7, 2010
ST coach Bob Ligashesky has been fired. This is the one move that absolutely HAD to happen and I would have lost a lot of faith in Tomlin if this guy was brought back for another year.
Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers | 6 Comments »