Arians bashers are often criticized by a general statement that goes something like this. “You as a fan don’t know what he knows.”

And there is some truth to this.

The problem is that the statement never gets into specifics because the accuser is just playing an assuming role and rarely knows much more [...]

I figured I’d take the time to chime in on the Arians outing.

When it comes to the question of whether Arians should have been back, folks on both sides of the issue had real problems making their case and being 100% correct. Arians backers simply pointed to the number of Super bowl [...]

1.     Ten +1.7 – Defense numbers are schewed due to Browns & Jags offense

2.     Dal +1.5 -  My NFC SB pick is right on schedule ladies and gentleman

3.     Bal +1.1 -  Ravens new WR’s better fit for Flacco deep ball

4.     Pit +0.7 -  Jonathon Scott is the worst player I’ve ever seen in my lifetime

5.     Det +0.7 – [...]

1.  A few months ago the Steelers defense was good enough to get to the Super Bowl, a few months later this defense is all of a sudden too old to keep up with the Ravens offense?  Uh, no.

2.  90% of the Ravens offense is dumps and screens to RBs and TEs.  The [...]

*guys in red are the ones you want to watch tonight; see if they can make a move to get themselves a roster spot

Quarterback (3):  Ben Roethlisberger,  Charlie Batch, Dennis Dixon

Offensive Line (9):  Maurkice Pouncey, Doug Legursky, Chris Kemoeatu, Willie Colon, Jonathan Scott, Trai Essex, Chris Scott, Marcus Gilbert, [...]

Jason Worilds continues to be a no-show.  He has been pretty solid in coverage but he has generated zero pass rush and cant shed a block in the run game.  At some point he needs to start showing us something.

After watching him for 2 preseason games I think you can be pretty pleased with what you see. He plays the game like a Steeler. DL in a 3-4 front isn’t a very glamorous position but he’s all over the field making athletic plays, collapsing the pocket, and looking sturdy at the line of [...]

Random plays that caught my attention for whatever reason…

The “dirty play” talk has been mostly directed at Mike Vick’s tackle on Troy Polamalu.  I didn’t think Vick’s low hit was out of line…take a look at the pic and you make the call:

Perhaps the play we should be talking about is this one.  I actually thought it was an [...]

My early prediction for storyline of the season will be the Steelers ability or inability to deal with multiple WR sets.

It’s nothing new around here but the continued lack of concern from the front office is alarming.   The ONLY way to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers is to throw on them.   The only time they every lose (it seems to me) is when their secondary gets torched or runs into a QB/WR/passing gameplan they can’t handle.  Why the CB spot hasn’t been addressed in ages is unfathomable to me.

Let’s get one thing straight before we get too crazy:  The Steelers are capable of winning a Super Bowl with McFadden and Gay as their #2 and #3 cornerbacks.  Having said that, the only way they can accomplish that goal is with a tremendous amount of luck and good fortune.   Elite passing teams like New England, New Orleans, Green Bay, etc…must be avoided at all costs.   In all honesty, if the Jets don’t beat the Patriots last year in the playoffs, the Steelers probably don’t get to Dallas last year.   Our team has to play near perfect football to have a chance against teams with top notch QB/WR combos and a coach willing to implement a pass-first gameplan against us.   Other high profile teams like the Jets, Baltimore, Philly, Atlanta, etc…don’t worry us as much as these pass-first teams do.   If you want to waste downs by running the ball and trying to impose your will, thank you very much for doing us a favor.   Each run play is a wasted down against our defense.   I know that, you know that, and the rest of the league is starting to pick up on it like never before.  Luckily for us, not everyone has the talent to pick us apart the way Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady can.

We will get more into this as the season rolls along but lets take a look at the matchup Gay and McFadden will have to deal with this season.   (I’m assuming Ike Taylor remove the other team’s top WR from the game so I’m not including any #1 WRs).   Teams have exploited Gay/McFadden with their Tight Ends as well so we’ll include them in this list.

Baltimore: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Lee Evans, David Reed, Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta, Tandon Doss

Seattle: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Mike Williams, Golden Tate, Ben Obamanu, Zach Miller

Indianapolis: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Anthony Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Dallas Clark

Houston: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Jacoby Jones, Dorin Dickerson, Kevin Walter, Owen Daniels

Tennessee: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Nate Washington, Justin Gage, Craig Stevens

Jacksonville: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Mercedes Lewis, Joshua Hill

Arizona: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Early Doucet, Chansi Stuckey, Todd Heap

New England: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Wes Welker, Chad OchoCinco, Ben Tate, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez

Cincinnati: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Andre Caldwell, Jordan Shipley, Jermaine Gresham, Bo Scaife

Kansas City: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Steve Breaston, Dexter McCluster, Jerheme Urban, Leonard Pope

Cleveland: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Greg Little, Ben Watson, Brian Robiskie

San Francisco: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Ted Ginn, Vernon Davis

St. Louis: McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Brandon Gibson, Danny Amendola, Mike Sims-Walker, Billy Bajema

So those are your guaranteed games.   Let’s take it one final step further and say you end up playing for another Super Bowl:

You might see the New York Jets in the playoffs…..McFadden and Gay…..vs…..Derrick Mason, Plaxico Burress, Dustin Keller.

Continue reading My Storyline of the Season: McFadden and Gay vs multiple WR sets

*Total yards indicate that the Steelers got their butts kicked….452 yards to 186.  When one team’s starting QB throws 3 passes and the other teams starting QB throws 26 passes that is to be expected.

*What wasn’t expected (well, actually maybe it was) is the abomination that was the Steelers secondary.  Just [...]

The first preseason game of the Steelers season kicks off on Friday night in Washington.  Who do you have your eye on?

Offense:

1.  OT Jonathan Scott.  He looks to be the most likely guy to take the starting LT spot.  He was solid last season in relief duty but the coaching [...]